Into the disinterested depths of Tao
A classical chinese garden reveals as a intimate „garden of ease“ the Taoist symbolism behind the placing of gnarled pine trees, winding covered pathways and ancient limestone formations.
A youth came to the Zen Master Huang Po and said: "I have attained serenity." "Why have you come here then?" Huang asked. "Go, away, for here I treat only those who are untranquil." The youth found it impossible to leave for he felt Huang Po to be serene in quite a different way. He said, "No. I not go. Allow me to stay here a few days. Huang Po said, "There is no permission for tranquil people to stay here. Go, ponder -- are you really tranquil? I do not feel you could have undertaken this long journey of 200 miles, just to tell me that you have become tranquil; and if you have, the matter is finished. May you really become tranquil! But I suggest you go outside and ponder over the question." The youth began to step out of the room but Huang stops him: "Stop! There is no need to go out. Come back. If you have to ponder whether you are serene or not, then you better come in. Your hesitation has given you away. The fact that you are going to ponder whether you are restless or not, is restlessness enough. Wherever there is choice, there is restlessness. You are definitely restless and I can be of use to you. But only when you understand your mind's clever deception, can I be of any help to you."
There are always two ways to any problem. Now for instance, it is sunny outside. One way is, that I use the Umbrella to keep the sun away. In that case, I treat the sun as my enemy and I prevent its rays from reaching me. There is another way also -- I can make my body so strong and healthy that it can withstand the rays of the sun. Lao Tzu would say: "Make your bodies strong. Then you will feel the sun to be your friend for it is never so sunny as to be unbearable to a healthy body. The sun seems a foe only to weak and unhealthy bodies." A new Science will be born -- in accordance with Lao Tzu's way of thinking. And if we understand Lao Tzu thoroughly Lao Tzu implies the Eastern mind -- the Eastern way of thinking. Aristotle means the Western mind -- the Western way of thinking.
