The Way Things Appear to Be is Not the Natural Way (the Tao)
THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE Stop thinking, and end your problems. What difference between yes and no? What difference between success and failure? Must you value what others value, avoid what others avoid? How ridiculous! Other people are excited, as though they were at a parade. I alone don’t care. I alone am expressionless. Like an infant before it can smile. Other people have what they need. I alone possess nothing. I alone drift about. Like someone without a home. I am like an idiot, my mind is so empty. Other people are bright. I alone am dark. Other people are sharp. I alone am dull. Other people have a purpose. I alone don’t know. I drift like a wave on the ocean. I blow as aimless as the wind. I am different from ordinary people. I drink from the Great Mother’s breasts. -Lao Tzu- (Tao Te Ching, chapter 20, translation by Stephen Mitchell) Yesterday, we were talking about the need to do some Spring cleaning. There are things that we need to throw away. Things tha...