Wen Tzu - Verse 7, Part III

from Verse Seven

Clear serenity is the consummation of virtue. Flexible yielding is the function of the Way. Empty calm is the ancestor of all beings. When these three are put into practice, you enter into formlessness. Formlessness is a term for oneness; oneness means mindlessly merging with the world.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

Have you ever tried to make a difficult decision when your attention is divided and your mind is jumbled? More often that not, decisions made under these conditions will be poor ones. There will be obvious factors that you somehow didn't take into consideration. There will be ramifications that you forgot to include in your analysis. There likely will be facts that you completely misinterpreted and key opinions that you never sought.

When the mind is packed full of worries, anxieties, longings, facts, figures, and assorted thoughts, it's like a crowded room. This lack of necessary space means you can't move the furniture around, so you plunk down the chair or sofa (the decision) you're holding wherever you can squeeze it in. It's only later that you realize that this was the worst possible place to put it!

It is only when we clear out the debris and make ample space that the furniture can be arranged in a way that is artistic and useful. In this same vein, when we empty the mind and quiet the voices in our head only then can we make decisions that flow with the situation.

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.