Looking at the Whole Picture

It has been snowing a lot in New England. Normally snow is such a wonderful thing. New England is already so beautiful, but after 8 inches of snow it get transformed in a winter wonderland especially after the blue sky returns. Yet, today we hear many people complain about it. Businesses get shut down, people have sore backs from the endless shoveling, and one literally feels the weight of the accumulated snow on people's shoulders.

This is how we are carried away by the inconvenience that we perceive. We spiral down and cannot perceive the whole picture. You might as well say that the weather in New England is fantastic. Yes it is cold but most of the time there are blue skies, a radiant sun and picturesque landscapes. There is so much to appreciate, an abundance of trees, open spaces, beautiful houses, many parks, great schools and a multi-cultural community. Why do we forget all this after a few snowstorms?

Or take friends and family. How often does it happen that we get stuck on a particular issue that really annoys us. Negative habits, annoying traits that we can either see in ourselves or our spouse, or mistakes that everyone makes. Yet, when we step back back and look at the whole picture how different everything looks. Has it ever happened to you that you look at someone and suddenly can see the most magnificent piece of art right in front of you? You wonder how should the person look like if you adjust some features but no matter what you do you come to the conclusion that your friend is just perfect as is.

Perhaps you can think of yourself as a painter. You zoom into details but you also step back and absorb the thing as is. The Tao will help you with that. Yes, you will be pulled into trifles and the inconveniences of people and situation but you have a choice not getting caught in it. The Tao will remind you over and over to look at the big picture and it is - in our experience - magnificent! With this complete perspective, it is much easier to forget and forgive and to offer a reconciliatory hand. Like a painter you experience the energy of "the thing as is". Why don't you try to see the world with this whole perspective.

By Christian and Su Zhen