In the world to come, I shall
not be asked, "Why were you not Moses?"
I shall be asked, "Why were you not Zusya?"
(Rabbi Zusya)
Being you
It is quite easy to be yourself. In some ways you have no choice
in the matter.
Trying to be somebody else, or to live up to somebody else's image or
expectations of you is taxing and ultimately pointless.
We are who and what we are, and there is no changing that.
Taoism and zen encourage each person to slough off the
accumulated persona and be themselves.
It is much more pleasant and comfortable.
Nuts
People do not really grow up. There is no clear stage where child becomes
adult. We do not mature.
In many cases people just become boring and staid.
Responsibility becomes a
burden, and work saps both mind and body of energy.
This is not how it needs to be.
Our classes free people of the image of being an adult. You rediscover the
joy of play.
The exuberant fun of childhood is remembered and few people finish the night
looking quite as careworn as they started.
Most people are
fun at heart. They have character. They are
nuts.
We just forget, that's all.
Zen
Zen is sometimes referred to as 'the
perfection of character'. What does this mean?
In the West, the word 'character' often has a
moral undertone. In zen, this is not necessarily the case.
Character refers to the qualities that make a person unique and different.
Taoism calls this 'virtue'.
Quirky
Zen and taoist history are filled with eccentric people who are
portrayed as crazy rogues.
They are
mischievous and
natural.
Following your own essential nature means listening to urges, impulses,
intuition and instinct.
The rational mind does not really feature.
This may make your behaviour seem sometimes odd or quirky, but you are
you.
It is not healthy to live a life of
fear and conformity.
Wu wei
Wu Wei is the principle of following your own
nature, of going with the flow. Of being the real you.
Huanchu Daoren's Back To
Beginnings book is filled with little stories concerning character.
Taoism does not advocate being 'saintly' or even 'proper'.
It just encourages you to be true to who you are and to allow others to do
the same.
Zen asks: what was your true face before you were born?
Page created 16 January 2000