Why Pride Is the
Primary Cause of Human Miseries
Humans often set life goals, which generate expectations
that necessitate judging, picking and choosing. Disappointments and
frustrations are their byproducts. In Lao
Tzu’s mind, everything in life is to
be welcomed and embraced, not avoided.
“Everything that
happens to us is beneficial.
Everything that we
experience is instructional.
Everyone that we
meet, good or bad, becomes our teacher or student.
We learn from both
the good and the bad.
So, stop picking
and choosing.
Everything is a
manifestation of the mysteries of creation.”
(Chapter 27, Tao Te Ching)
According to Tao wisdom (the wisdom of Lao Tzu, the author of Tao Te Ching, the ancient classic on human wisdom), the root
cause of all human miseries is pride,
which is to satisfy the ego-self delusively created in the flawed human mind.
“The Creator is
above,
and we are below
The Creator is in
front,
and we are behind.
Because this is the
nature of things,
humility is only
natural to us.
Yet many are
desirous of the top
fearful of lagging
behind.
Humility is the
Way.”
(Chapter 66, Tao Te Ching)
Humility makes us want to become “dull like stones” instead
of “shiny like jade.” But with humility, we also become dependent on the Creator, instead of on ourselves—this is the
foundation on which the healthy relationship is built.
“Dependent on the
Creator,
our horizons
broaden and expand,
our souls inspire
and nourish,
our relationships
grow and flourish.
Everything around
us becomes oneness with the Creator.
Dependent on
ourselves,
our horizons
contract and shrink,
our souls wither
and die,
our relationships
break and crumble.
Everything around
us becomes depleted and damaged.”
(Chapter 39, Tao
Te Ching”
Humility initiates the process of letting go of everything that distracts us from our pursuit of wisdom
of the Creator.
“Possessing little,
we become content.
Having too much, we
lose the Creator.
Having no ego, we become
humbled, and our actions are enlightened.
Having no desire
for perfection, our actions are welcome by all.
Having no
expectation of result, our actions are selfless and non-judgmental.
Having no goal, our
actions are under-doing and never over-doing.
Accepting what is,
and finding it to be perfect is not easy.
But that is the
only Way to the Creator.”
(Chapter 22, Tao Te Ching)
Indeed, distractions in modern life come in many different
forms that ultimately distance us from the Creator.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© 2018 by Stephen
Lau
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