Diligence and Discipline

Question from a good friend: "It would be great if you can elaborate on the reasons discipline and diligence are perfectly congruent with Tao and why indifference and apathy are not in keeping with the Tao as found in Chinese Culture."

My answer:

Tao sages observe nature, note the way nature functions, then look for correspondence in daily life.

The ancient Chinese were an agrarian society, so their insights tend to come from that perspective. They note the way plants grow - a little bit every day, keeps going without pause, and although it is not possible to see much difference from one day to the next, over a time span of months it makes very definite progress. Over a time span of many years, a sapling becomes a mighty tree.

This is the pattern everywhere in nature. Events that seem quite sudden (perhaps lightning or volcanic eruption) are invariably the result of a gradual buildup of force. Far from being exceptions, they prove the rule.

As the plant grows, its growth is not subject to whim. That is, it doesn't only grow when it feels like growing. It grows consistently and it sustains this growth over a long period of time.

Is the plant taking contrived action in its growth? No, it is simply being itself, following its nature, fulfilling its potential.

Everything above is mirrored in a long journey (i.e. the journey of a thousand miles). The best way to take on this trip is steady progress, carried out at the natural rate of speed, which is not too fast and not too slow.

The important thing is being consistent. The fable we all know about the tortoise and the hare illustrates the exact same principle.

This pattern is also reflected in life. To achieve your purpose, go toward fulfilling your potential, whatever that may be for you, you also need to take myriad journeys of a thousand miles. Just like walking, the best way to proceed is one step at a time, slowly but surely. Before you know it, your dream becomes reality.

This is the mechanics of how "disciplined and diligent" gives you real, long-term, measurable benefits.

Again, let me emphasize the practical nature of the Chinese way of thinking. The ideal is achieving prosperity in every aspect of life: materially as well as spiritually. Chapter 1 clearly tells us the two are one and the same. Being rich but suffering from stress falls short of this ideal; in the same way, feeling at peace but not able to afford the good things in life you want - that is also falling short.

Reference: chapter 64 of TTC.

How Many Mystics Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?

The following are the witty, hilarious responses from the members of the Tea House online community:

• One. However many it takes to change the light bulb, all are one.

• No particular number – one to change the bulb and the rest will simply experience the moment.

• None, they don’t need light bulbs. They are already enlightened.

And the following are answers by group orientation:

• New Ager: None, because the light bulb is perfect as it is and doesn’t need to be changed.

• Philosopher: What does the light bulb represent? What do you mean by mystics? Change? Define change.

• Buddhist: There is no mystic. There is no light bulb. It's all illusory - just a dream that we wake up from when we become enlightened.

• Christian: Only one, but it won't matter. That mystic is sinning against God by practicing mysticism and nothing will save him from God's wrath and retribution.

• Confucianist: One. The changer shall treat the light bulb respectfully as it is removed. The old bulb shall be praised for being of service in the past, and the new bulb shall be equally praised for taking up the responsibility. Only then will the house owner, the old bulb, and the new bulb live in harmony and mutual respect.

• Tao cultivator: It is the emptiness of a socket without a bulb that makes it useful as a receptacle.

The above is from my recollection, which may be spotty. For the original posts and proper credit attribution, please use the following link:

Tea House 2.0

Dynamic Balance

Question: What does "dynamic balance" mean?

It refers to a real-world situation where you make constant adjustments to move closer to the point of equilibrium.

Think of a trained seal balancing a club on its nose. At any instant the club is slightly off-balance, but the seal moves accordingly to compensate and bring it back around a closer approximation of balance.

Many high-level Tao cultivators seem to intuitively grasp the understanding that balance in life does not mean a stagnant and changeless state. Instead, real balance is a dynamic, living, breathing thing. To attain it, we remain perceptive of the situation, the environment around us, and other people. We maintain flexibility and agility, so that we can adjust quickly and calmly from one moment to the next. That, to me, is the meaning of dynamic balance.