What is a Tao Traveler? ( Continued)

There was something formless and perfect

before the universe was born.

It is serene. Empty.

Solitary. Unchanging.

Infinite. Eternally present.

It is the mother of the universe.

For lack of a better name,

I call It the Tao.

 (Tao Te Ching )

We sometimes try to define the way of the Tao but we always end up concluding with Lao-Tzu, the Way is without form and without a name. When we started our journey we probably got a little side-tracked by our spiritual community and expected to always live in bliss and serenity, and to be able to handle everything with ease. This is true and yet it is  wrong at the same time.The Tao includes everything, the good and the bad; the divine and the mundane; the slow and the fast. We Tao travelers don't take sides, we don't judge and - as we have learned the hard way - we don't expect. She is in charge. We are just bystanders who only aspire one thing, to remain next to Her every step of the Way.

 A Tao traveler is someone who is infinitely flexible, yet firm as a rock when need be. We adjust to our environment and we go with the flow; we also change our colors like a chameleon. Yet, we stand out in the crowd and show the Way when we have to. A Tao traveler is Her instrument, and She lets us know what to do. By not having any agenda, nothing can unsettle us. By not having any fixed ideas of how things should turn out to be, we live always in peace.

There is only one thing unsettling in our life and that is the moment when we might miss a beat in the divine song. But then, our dance partners will smilingly push us a little to get with the beat. It is not hard to keep track of the self; every moment you get out of balance you only have yourself to blame. Yet this awareness sets you up perfectly for the next connection with your Self again. Along the Way you cannot falter; every path leads to Her. Observe for yourself how the Tao strips away your self-imposed personality blanket layer by layer. This is why it is hard to predict a Tao traveler.  The longer he walks the Tao, the more versatile he becomes. 

The Tao is a dynamic and energetic, yet it is a serene and loving place. Just as the weather is unpredictable with plenty of sunshine on average, or just as the financial world is incredibly volatile with decent long-term returns. Enjoy the ride with us. We look forward to another eventful year traveling next to Her.

By Christian and Su Zhen