Most philosophical doctrines prove unrealistic, unworkable, or irrelevant when we apply them to tangible problems. I have no use for philosophical ideals that do not help me improve my life.
The proof of fire for any philosophical ideas is whether they enable us to assess situations accurately and solve problems. If those ideas fail to help me, I want to drop them right away. I don’t want to waste time with speculations that are far removed from reality.
Taoism brings the advantage of accuracy in assessing risks, problems and people. I view Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu as masters in assessing situations accurately, drawing the correct conclusion, and taking immediate action.
The Tao Te Ching contains a large number of sayings and insights to help us perceive reality more sharply. Similarly, the stories written by Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu aim at helping us see things more clearly.
The mosquito and the mountain
Accuracy constitutes a vast advantage in daily life. If we get to understand problems correctly, we’ll be more likely to figure out the solutions. If we assess people’s character accurately, we will be able to stay away from harmful individuals, and avoid plenty of unnecessary heartache.
An ancient Taoist proverb says that a mosquito cannot carry a mountain on its back. This metaphor is warning us against all unworkable undertakings. We should build solid foundations and walls before we place the roof in our home. If the walls are too thin, they will prove unable to sustain the roof, and sooner or later, they will collapse.
The metaphor gains in value when we broaden its field of application. In its narrow meaning, Taoism warns us against a mosquito’s attempt to carry a mountain on its back, and against all feats that are physically impossible.
At the same time, it is warning us against investments that look too good to be true, people who behave obsequiously for no apparent reason, exaggerated promises or expectations, and extraordinary bargains. More often than not, those situations will collapse as surely as a mosquito trying to carry a mountain on its back.
How does Taoism make our judgement sharper in daily life? By enabling us to detect patterns that might otherwise remain invisible, and helping us interpret those patterns accurately and quickly.
Even marginal gains in accuracy can help us avert disasters, injuries and heartache. In my own life, I cannot even count the number of times where I have faced problems because of high expectations that remained unfulfilled, or for having believed stories that, in retrospect, sounded too good to be true.
The Tao means natural law
Chapter 25 of the Tao Te Ching enunciates the core insight from Lao-Tzu, namely, that natural law governs the universe. Lao-Tzu called natural law “the Tao” and placed it above every other element. Human beings, the earth and the whole universe must obey natural law, whether they like it or not.
By keeping this principle in mind, we can increase our level of accuracy in assessing situations and people. We should raise questions every time we are faced with something or someone that contradicts natural law.
Lao-Tzu knew that contradictions would always be settled by the Tao reasserting itself. At the end of every game, natural law is going to emerge victorious. This insight works hundred per cent of the time. There are no exceptions.
I acknowledge the difficulty of determining the correct path in stressful situations, but difficulty doesn’t mean impossibility. Especially in confusing situations, we should re-read Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu, and apply their insights.
Taoist stories provide powerful intellectual shortcuts. They help us assess situations or people accurately even if we do not possess all the details. In a crisis situation, we can draw large benefits from our ability to make quick, accurate decisions.
Contradictions and complications
In one his short stories, Chuang-Tzu praised a cook named Ding because he had been employing the same carving knife for years without ever damaging the blade. Cook Ding had been able to do so because he carved the meat by following its natural structure, that is, he had avoided contradictions and complications.
Contradictions and excessive complications are symptoms of a violation of natural law. For instance, when people favour unintelligible or unfathomable policies, my first reaction is to ask questions. I want to know if those policies are aligned with natural law.
The Cook Ding story is warning me against policies that are unintelligible or unfathomable; even if my questions don’t lead to a detailed explanation, Taoist principles are prompting me to regard the proposal with scepticism. Chances are that it’s not in alignment with construal law.
By passing a quick judgement in this way, I won’t reach one hundred percent accuracy, but I will err on the side of safety. In cases of contradictions and excessive complications, I will opt for staying away from the project until the open questions have been properly answered.
Chapter 19 of the Tao Te Ching provides another element to make accurate decisions. It advises us to walk the simple path, and choose a straightforward approach. This means rejecting in an automatic manner every convoluted, unclear offer.
If we follow Taoist principles, we may occasionally discard a project or proposal that could have worked fine, but this case will not take place often. Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu had based their observations on a lifetime of experience, and it would be foolish for us to ignore their insights.
If you are interested in applying effective principles to real-life problems in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The Philosophy of Builders.”