Constancy.


55

Constancy.


There is something marvellous about new-born children, how they respond to circumstances that they have never encountered. They are desperately trying to make some sense of their surroundings and react, without thinking, to external stimuli. Think of the child as it instinctively grasps with its hand the finger of an adult. When it is hungry, it lets it be known by screaming, some would call it crying, at the top of their little voice, seemingly never getting hoarse or running out of breath. 

Being new to the world, it is amazing how they can have their needs fulfilled and their desires met. They live and act in childlike harmony and with an almost mature constancy of action.

Now consider the adult. They have lost this childhood innocence and constancy of behaviour. Creative persons frequently allow their lives and the decisions they make be swayed by circumstances. When an artwork goes wrong, and there is a constancy to some extent that we can be sure such will on occasion occur, they show their disappointment. They submit their work to an exhibition and despite how hard they worked on their submission it is not accepted, it can happen, they feel they have failed, despair can take over and rule their actions. 

They do not act, like the child, with constancy and those around can be confused.  

Lao Tzu speaks to us of this type of behaviour by saying, "It is not wise to rush about this way and that, with foolish desires." Accept things as they happen, accept them as they are. It is foolish to build up false hopes, or as the old saying states, "Do not count your chickens prior to their hatching."

We would all, including every creative person, like to have a steady constancy in our lives. We can, in fact, have just that by being in harmony with Tao.

Finding this constancy of living, for many, will be the closest they ever get to full enlightenment. To reach a point of understanding and peace in a contented life, begin by being at one with the Tao.




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