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In the beginning of this chapter, we read that ‘a good traveller has no fixed plans’ and ‘a good artist lets his intuition lead him’, and we saw that the Taoist never tries to bulldoze a straight path through life. If we believe that the Tao is always at work in and through every circumstance, then it makes sense for us to work with the setting we find ourselves in, rather fight against it while leaving rubble and destruction in our wake. Nothing is useless; nothing is futile. Nothing is pointless; everything has value. I find this greatly encouraging, and it helps me to have patience in difficult times.
Embracing this perspective changes our actions as well as our attitude:
Thus the Master is available to all people
and doesn’t reject anyone.
He is ready to use all situations
and doesn’t waste anything.
This is called embodying the light.
Here is the paradox: when I set myself mandatory goals and a precise, well-defined strategy, I will fail if the circumstances turn against me (and they inevitably do!). But if I let go of my agenda instead, then anything which happens can be used for good! And the ‘good’ that it brings will be better than any of my well-intentioned goals would have been. So the one who demands success will fail, and the one who gives up success will succeed.
I am interested in this phrase, ‘embodying the light’. It occurs to me that when we choose to accept and make use of the rejected and neglected things of the world, it shows their true value and worth for everyone. In this way, we really can be embody the light in an otherwise dark world.
What is a good man but a bad man’s teacher?
What is a bad man but a good man’s job?
If you don’t understand this, you will get lost,
however intelligent you are.
It is the great secret.
Nothing is useless; nothing is futile. If you are good and wise, your reason for living is to help others. If you foolish and flawed, then the universe exists for your benefit. Everything works together for good — for ourselves and for each other — but only if we choose to let it.
Will you?
