What
is the operating concept here?
How else can we put that concept into action?
(Edward
De Bono)
Virtue
Taoism
measured value in terms of what
something is, rather than what
something costs.
Consider: when you buy a sweater/pullover, you are seeking to fulfil certain
criteria:
These may well be what you would look for in a sweater.
If the sweater were badly made, unpleasant to look at, and did not keep you
warm - it would not fulfil the expectation of what constitutes a sweater.
In taoism, it would be like owning a dog that behaved like a cat.
Purpose
Examining the underlying character of something is important in
taoism.
You
seek
to understand its purpose, but accept that it may serve a function that
escapes our
comprehension.
When things are made by humans, they have a clear purpose.
If you consider the example above; a sweater is only of value to the extent
that it can fulfil its purpose.
Beyond utility
Value is a very subjective term and the
meaning differs from person to person,
culture to culture.
It can be limiting to see the
world in terms of
utility.
There is much in life that is considered valuable without being a commodity.
Chuang Tzu wrote
a story about the
stink tree which
illustrates the benefits of not being utilised.
Our planet has been devastated by mankind's greed and his need to use every
facet of the planet as a resource.
We live in a polluted world with radioactive seas, rainforest depletion and
ongoing animal extinction.
Valuing
A tai chi person values the world we share with others; they act with care
and
consideration.
When your behaviour is imbued with
love, you do
each task as though it were your only task.
Every activity is an opportunity to show your true character.
Incompetence as standard
Why has
society reached a stage where we actually expect incompetence?
When you order goods or contract a service, you no longer have any real
confidence that the job will be done well or the goods delivered correctly.
It is now a matter of luck.
Yet fate has nothing to do with this - it is human attitude, human conduct.
Does nobody care about 'a job well done'?
Apathy and indifference have really left their mark on the world.
We live in a precarious condition of risk from incompetence; where neglect
rather than malice will cause us inconvenience or outright harm.
Why must we expect so little of people?
Page created 2 June 2003