Surrendering Life to the Tao's Arrangement

Xuefeng

Even the four greatest souls, LIFE, and life mentors in human history faced helplessness.

Jesus Christ was crucified—this was both tragic and an act of helplessness. Buddha, Sakyamuni, was powerless against the future disciples’ deviation from his teachings. The Prophet Muhammad was helpless as his successors fell into infighting and mutual slaughter. The sage Laozi voiced his frustration: “My words are easy to understand and easy to practice, yet no one in the world can understand or practice them.” He departed, riding a green ox through Hangu Pass, seeking his own path to enlightenment.

Even Mao Zedong, a great leader with absolute authority and a heart devoted to serving the people, ultimately faced helplessness.

Humans are like drops of water in the vast ocean, drifting with the tides. Life is a small program within the grand program of the universe, bound to its laws. In the face of earthquakes and tsunamis, we are helpless. When confronted with death, we are helpless. In parting from our loved ones through life and death, we are helpless. And in the face of the changing times, we, too, are powerless.

All we can do is accept life as it comes, adapt to our circumstances, act in harmony with our nature, and seize opportunities as they arise.

Sixty-four major factors shape the trajectory of our life. When these combine and rearrange, they create billions of possibilities. Our limited lives cannot grasp all these mysteries. Even the mighty Monkey King could not escape Buddha’s palm. Instead of struggling in vain, it is wiser to follow the Tao.

Surrendering our lives to the Tao's arrangement is the wisest choice. Let fortune and misfortune, longevity and premature death, be guided by the Tao. Leave hardship and adversity to the Tao. Don’t force anything, don’t cling to anything, don’t envy or covet, don’t resent the heavens or blame others. Do not become discouraged. Instead, praise the sun and the grass, drift with the breeze, move with the water, and find joy whenever you can. Treat each day as if it were your last.

Does this sound too passive?

No, this is the path to ultimate freedom and happiness found in returning to simplicity. The mountains remain the same, the rivers still flow, the green hills endure, and life leaves no trace. Sitting in the shade of a tree, legs crossed, drinking wine and chatting about life’s simple matters, we immerse ourselves in the Tao, blending into the fabric of life. We seek neither immortality nor wealth; we mind not narrow paths, nor care for others' judgments. With a clear conscience, we watch the clouds rise and fall, and we find peace in the stillness of our hearts.

After experiencing great storms, soaring highs, and plunging lows, we can look upon the humble farmer tending his fields over generations. We can listen to the roosters crowing at midnight and the streams gurgling softly. We can watch the shepherd, dressed in patched clothes, content with his simple meal. We can observe the small-time merchants, rushing to and fro at dawn and dusk. In those moments, an indescribable feeling of joy arises within us—that is truth, that is life, that is beauty, and that is a breathtakingly beautiful scene under the vast sky.

By surrendering our lives to the Tao's management and arrangement, everything becomes a source of joy and happiness. Today, I am happy because I have filled my belly. Last night, I slept well, and I am happy. Right now, I am fortunate enough to sip tea while writing on my computer, and I am happy. When my beloved brings me a plate of sunflower seeds, I am thrilled and happy! The brothers, sisters, family, and lovers in our community joyfully discuss scriptures, love, and life, and I am so happy! My first love, who disappeared for more than 20 years, called and affectionately said, “I hate you!”—and I am happy! Once thin as a stick, now plump like a happy grandmother, I am joyful! The gentle breeze outside, the soft drizzle, the magpies chirping merrily on the opposite balcony—all these fill me with joy and happiness! There is nothing that does not bring happiness, no time that is not filled with joy, and for this, I am deeply grateful.

We have always sought the Tao, only to discover that the Tao is not far from us. The Tao does not abandon us. Fish are in the water; people are in the Tao. The Tao is within us, around us, in our daily lives, in the myriad forms of existence, in the ever-changing phenomena. Walking in accordance with the Tao is to gain the Tao. To immerse oneself in the Tao, surrendering to its guidance and arrangement, is to gain the Tao.

We no longer strive to control anything, nor do we fantasize about a successful life, desire to live ahead of others, or hope for a better life than others. We no longer exhaust ourselves trying to possess anything. We can simply be a humble blade of grass in the wilderness. As long as there is a drop of dew, I will sing. As long as there is a breeze, I will dance. As long as there is a ray of sunlight, I will shine brightly. And when a few birds fly across the blue sky above my head, I will be filled with joy and bless them.

I came from the Tao and will return to the Tao. From simplicity to greatness is easy; from greatness to simplicity is not. The journey, the striving, the climbing turn out to be a descent—a return from complexity to simplicity, from luxury to plainness, from age to innocence, from the many to the infinite. Am I foolish? Perhaps. Am I not foolish? Perhaps.

When we feel sad and troubled, when we are anxious and restless, when we are heartbroken by life’s difficulties, or when our desires are unfulfilled and we furrow our brows in frustration, why not simply surrender our lives to the Tao's management and arrangement? It will open up a new and magnificent picture of life.