A Story About Mangoes

Two men went into a garden. The worldly-wise man no sooner entered the gate than he began to count the number of the mango-trees, how many mangoes each tree bore, and what might be the approximate price of the whole orchard. The other went to the owner, made his acquaintance, and quietly going under a mango-tree began to pluck the fruit and eat it with the owner's consent. Now who is the wiser of the two?

Eat mangoes, it will satisfy your hunger. What is the good of counting the leaves and making vain calculations? The vain man of intellect is uselessly busy in finding out the 'why and wherefore' of the Tao, while the humble man of wisdom makes acquaintance with the Tao and enjoys serenity in this world.
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New to Taoism? Taoism Founded by Lao-Tzu (604-531 BCE) and recorded in the ‘Tao Te Ching’, Taoism is a collection of teachings for living in harmony with nature, other people and within yourself. The Tao (simply translated, ‘The way’ or ‘path’) is considered to be a transcendent force and the source of all creation.

Fate

Often people will bring us the subject of fate. Fate to them is a pre-ordained life. This is not so. Fate is decided by us. Creating good karma will result in good events. Creating bad karma will come back to hurt us. We are faced with decisions each day. Whatever our choice is, it leads to our fate.

Stagnant Water

Do not find yourself trapped in ritual. Impermanence is all pervading in this world. We must learn to live with it. Perhaps your rituals are trapping you in a great rut. Try meditating in a different place, do not use incense or candles for a while if you always use them. If you have a preferred interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, try reading another with fresh eyes. Sometimes comfort becomes a stagnant pool of water that needs refreshing.

Great Joy Perhaps

It has been said “why mourn for the cocoon after the butterfly has flown?” When one leaves the body, do not mourn the body. Mourn the loss yes, but celebrate the gain of the spirit. Until we are dead, we do not know that perhaps in death, there may be great joy. A new beginning, a new journey.

Sweeping

Sweeping. Such a simple activity. Sweeping the leaves that fall, each one in its perfect resting place. When we sweep mindfully, there is no broom, no path, no leaves, no us. Just everything as one.