The Meaning of Life and the Tao's Compass

Religions and the Moral Conflict#

At times I find myself thinking and questioning internally about teachings and different doctrines, and how some of them distort and manipulate something that should be so simple.

Religion should not turn its back on science, or philosophy, or all the intrinsic aspects of the human being; we cannot ignore our thoughts and embrace something that contradicts our essence out of fear or guilt.

I am very fond of Taoist thought; I do not dare say I am a Taoist, for I have a long way to go. While other doctrines preach that you must feel guilt, renounce your desires, and live in constant fear to achieve a liberation that may never arrive, using this as a way to discipline followers and keep them strongly tied to the religion and the institution, Taoism preaches acceptance. We should not deny who we are, let alone feel guilt or remorse for things that happened, or anxiety for things yet to come. We should, in fact, accept who we are, our flaws, our weaknesses, and our qualities, and gradually find ourselves and evolve, not by denying or regretting what has passed, but by accepting it as part of our history, and judging whether it should be maintained or changed.

The Tao as a Spiritual Compass#

The Tao is change as much as it is permanence; we cannot ignore the present or the past, but rather use our experiences as a compass to chart our path and find our Tao.

What is the point of living in fear and suffering, waiting for spiritual liberation to magically come at the end of our lives? What if there is nothing, if liberation never arrives? And who guarantees that, even by renouncing everything, we will be worthy of such liberation? Wouldn't it be better to live a life of lightness, relief, and serenity? Could we not anticipate it and free ourselves from suffering, so that when we reach liberation, we are already accustomed to joy? For he who lives in bitterness can never accept joy, can never enjoy peace and tranquility, because he will always be waiting for suffering.

One of the greatest problems plaguing us today is anxiety, caused by the anticipation of something that may never materialize, the longing for something that may never be reached. I am not saying we should not have dreams or goals; however, we must not let those very goals become our shackles. Goals serve to move us toward a path; they should not become the end of that path, but rather a direction to follow. The Tao is the path, just as it is the walker and the act of walking itself. The path never ceases to exist, but if no one performs the action of walking, it vanishes into the weeds. Just as those who cling to high expectations become slaves to anxiety, those who cling to the past become slaves to themselves and their regrets. Those who live in the past lose themselves from the "now," thus compromising "tomorrow." The memory we have of the past should not be an attachment to what is gone, and future planning should not be a fantasy of tomorrow; living in the present means not complicating today. There is a quote from a manhwa that I carry as a teaching:

"Living is like walking backwards in a flowery field; only when you reach the end do you realize how beautiful such a path really was. Do not forget that this path only filled with flowers because you walked through it." - Transcension Academy

This passage makes me think about the meaning of life. What good does it do to live a life of uncertainties and cling to suffering by worrying about the obstacles ahead, when one should be enjoying every moment, however simple it may be, and just trusting the walk, filling this field with flowers, so that in the end, one can have a vision of this field full of life and color? It is not worth cultivating bitterness, thinking one is walking in search of liberation, judging the choices of others, and blaming oneself for things that have already passed. We must seek to cultivate patience, happiness, and acceptance, because each of us has a path to follow, and each step taken on this path brings us closer to humanity's most important and enigmatic question: "What is the meaning of life?" A simple question, with an answer as simple as itself: to live.

"First accept yourself, become aware, know yourself, and then try to change and transform naturally; the path is long."

There is a truth I can tell you beforehand: the fewer certainties you have, the closer you are to the essence of the Tao. For just as your certainties can lead you to the right path, they can also be your brakes and keep you stuck. A mind of uncertainties is what makes the scientist seek knowledge, just as it makes the philosopher seek explanation. Clinging to certainties will surely prevent you from accepting new ideas and new paths. The more you allow yourself to experiment and accept new things, the closer you get to the path. He who is full of certainties surely does not abandon them; he who is full of uncertainties never stops searching for the truth. Curiosity is the purest form of seeking the Tao, especially when we turn that curiosity inward. Every question is a new step on the journey of seeking the Tao.

"What differs a wise man from an ignorant one is that the ignorant man possesses many certainties, while the wise man possesses many questions."