The Journey Towards Wholeness

A land developer in Brazil goes to a new plot that he acquired from a buddy who works for the local government. A few environmental concerns were overridden, a number of animal conservation policies ignored. When he arrives he doesn't see the beauty of the rainforest. He doesn't appreciate the untouched nature, he cannot perceive the merging of countless  plants into a magnificent landscape, he doesn't hear the cries of the birds, and is not aware of the beautiful sunset. He literally sees only dollar bills! He is already mapping up the location of the farm, the houses, the agricultural plantations and the road to the next city.

Erich Fromm observed in "To Have or To Be?" how the ego, when pushed to the extreme, is in fact mad. Greed, lust, ambition, fear, pride, or whatever else it might be the ego gets excited about, can become so one-dimensional, it is literally as if one wears blinders and while running after the perceived gold on the horizon, you trample everything that is in the way.  Take addiction as an extreme of that disease: at the end of the road the junkie shuts out life itself; only one tormented program runs his system: how can I get the next fix?

You very much have a choice in this. Just as the "I", your personality, your childhood, your cultural background, your fears and aspirations, develop this mental filter, you can let life  help you remove the blinders for you. That is the magic of the Tao. The ability to fall in love with life despite the workings of the "I". Nay, stronger than that, the longings of the "I" make you a perfect recipient of the Tao. Life was created just for you, to bring you Home here and now. All you have to do is to open and listen to Her messengers.

Following the voice of the ego to the end always leads to isolation, depression and unhappiness. The trick is to figure this out early in your journey into nowhere, make a U- turn and drive in the opposite direction. Following a spiritual path will bring you connection, love and joy. You do not sacrifice anything, all your authentic needs will be satisfied that way. But sure, life will encourage you to drop your grandiose plans by the wayside for they will not make you happy even if you get everything you wish for.

Life is one big therapy course. And it comes free of charge. Know yourself, understand your struggles, map out your aspiration and let the Tao work out the road towards wholeness. Sure there is same pain involved next to the love, joy and excitement you feel along the way, but it is merely the pain a child feels when suddenly a friend borrows a favorite toy at a play date. Everything is already forgotten the next day when the child impatiently asks his mother for another play date with his best friend.

Life communicates with you in a deeply spiritual way every moment. When you connect with this Force, the Tao -  the divine Now as Eckhart Tolle calls it - you are already Home.  The Tao works a little different from the religions that you grew up with. Sure, doing "the right thing", that is choosing love always is a golden rule to live by. The Tao will certainly never force you to choose against it. But contrary to all the religious rule books, the Tao will also encourage you  to acknowledge the demands of the "I". The lesson plan of the Tao is to show you that life is perfect as is from the perspective of bringing you Home. Every step that you take along the Tao broadens your perspective just as every step towards your ego goals narrows it. And what you see is beautiful to behold and just perfect as is.