Flexibility


40

Flexibility.



When turning to chapter forty of the Tao Te Ching we find the shortest and most precise of all of the work.  Being short does not make it less important, in fact, the opposite may be the case.

Here we find what Lao Tzu said in two short lines, something that contains possibly one of the most important lessons of life.

"Yielding is the way of the Tao. Things exist simply because they are."

It is very simple to stand on our principles, and it may indeed be important that we do when great harm is being caused if we do not. But this is seldom the case. More often than not the way to harmony is to yield, to forgo winning the point or having the last word. How many wars have been started over a refusal to yield over something that could never be worth the loss of thousands of lives?

How many artistic friends have parted company because of some disagreement about some artistic detail? Two friends who when together were an inspiration to one another now deprive themselves of such shared energy needlessly. 

It may be the case that some dictum of our religious belief or faith is very important to us and must be cherished, but is it important enough to part company with another? It is possible to hold dear something that seems important, but it will be of less worth if it costs friendship or peace.

A refusal to be flexible in thought and spirit is often the first step to anger and is seldom the only possible reaction. The first reaction should always be to consider yielding or finding some flexibility of action.



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