The Two Worlds

When your agenda rules you, you think that you love, but you do not. When you are trying to get something out of situations or people, you will find that you face a lot of resistance just because you are going against the natural order of things, the Tao. To be disconnected is hard work and, often, things are not going your way. Parents know this problem when they want to look out for their children. You tell them what to study, which school to attend to, which friends to hang out with and you find that sooner or later they push back and want to have it their way instead. You have a tug of war until the realization sets in that in the end it is about them and not about your agenda. In fact, you have often the hardest struggles with the people you love most just because they are the ones who can teach you a lesson. In the presence of love, your agenda will always drop naturally.

Every spiritual traveler faces the problem that you cannot be in accordance with the Tao all the time. You are oscillating between two worlds, sometimes you are completely tuned in and your agenda is being swept away by the magic of the situation. But then sometimes it is your agenda that tries to rule the situation and the magic of life is drowned by your expectation of what to get out of it. You can always tell whether you are connected or not. Along the Tao there is love, harmony and respect for other people. Along your way there is restlessness, resistance, manipulation and repressed, and sometimes even open, aggression.

So what do you do when you discover that your agenda rules you? What do you do when you face resistance, restlessness and even aggression inside of you? Well, there is nothing that you can do about it. Just accept the situation, the state that you are; just try observing the lack of love that you experience at that moment. The good thing about this situation is that you now can appreciate the struggles of your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members so much better.

How easy is it for you to emphasize with others when you realize that you are exactly like them. In fact, the Tao sets you up to experience restlessness, aggression and lack of love to better understand yourself and the situation others are in. This way you will be full of love and not operating from a perceived higher and "holier" plane. The Tao teaches you humbleness and makes you realize that there is no hierarchy. Every voice matters, every feeling and even every agenda has to be respected and honored.

Dear fellow traveler, you are part of a divine movie plot. You are being set up by your Self every step of the way. Everything is perfect from the perspective of your soul developments. The irritations are as useful as the divine bliss. Please understand that you always have the choice of stepping out of your own world. Accept all the emotions and thoughts that come your way, but similarly, be always on the lookout for Her stretched-out hand. She will always dance with you if only you take the first step. When the divine music is playing you will find that all your resentments, your concerns and your agenda are simply washed away. Learn how to oscillate between the two worlds until one day your agenda is completely washed away and all you experience is love, pure love.

By Christian and Su Zhen

Put on an Oxygen Mask Before you Help Others

Selfishness is all right. Go on, be selfish, as selfish as you like. Make up your mind what you want and go get it. When you've got it, enjoy it to the full and share it with your friends. Enjoy yourselves, have fun!
E. Graham Howe

I remember the story of a young girl who once met a famous Indian guru at an airport in the US and she boldly went up to him and asked if he had some advice. He took one look at her, smiled, and then just said 'Enjoy!' She immediately understood the message and pursued her not-so-holy desires before starting in earnest on her spiritual path.

Going out and helping people in the name of Christ is really hard. Can you really extend a helping hand without looking down on your brother? I have seen so many people who tried to help others but they exuded arrogance which they would never really have admitted to themselves. Perhaps it is better to follow the advice of E. Graham Howe and the Indian guru: go out, express yourself, have fun and get what you want and discover as you run into life's constraints that you truly care for your fellow beings. As they say, 'Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future'. Perhaps it is easier to remember that if you truly face who you are.

In a retirement speech a colleague gave this advice 'Put on an oxygen mask before you assist others.' Yes, she is right, you can only give whole-heartedly if you yourself feel that you have abundant resources. Sure, I am all for it if you like to come and give in the name of the Christ. Just make sure that you have reached that stage. Otherwise, there is no harm in going out and having a little more fun until you do. Make first sure that your well is functional before you share it freely with others.

The Foot in the Door

I observed a young colleague today asking a question in an investor meeting where I wondered whether it was really his place to speak up. When I looked around in the room I observed how everyone felt so comfortable with his question and I was happy for him, he obviously had created the space for himself to be accepted as a thought leader in the investment process. Later I saw him chatting with our director of research and other experts and I thought that indeed he put a foot in the door and the door opened for him.

We all travel our unique journey. The reader of this blog knows that I study the Tao and try to tell others about it. The amazing thing is that if you take an interest in what others do and if you try facilitating their success, plenty of rewards and acknowledgements will come your way too. Doors open for you and you don't even bother to think about it anymore.  It is a magnificent experiment that you can run for yourself and see whether it works for you or not.

 When you follow the Tao you do not exert any energy at all, every door will be wide open for you. With every step you take there will be a fork in the road and one of the available choices will always be to choose love. Soon this choice will be instinctive to you and you will see for yourself that no matter where you go, one of your brothers and sisters will be ready to open a door for you. Enjoy!