Become totally empty.

Emptiness is no common state of being to be witnessed within our human nature. Oftentimes, pacifism and hopelessness can be interpreted as emptiness, but they are still enveloped in human emotions. Even apathy is an emotion, one distant and detached from the mind but still feeding the soul's urge to not care--great breeding ground for ignorance. Under such influence, artificial peace is generated as a survival mechanism, to relieve unrest and move forward. Regardless of how prevailing this peace is however, it still is not the "real deal" and will eventually prove insufficient. Understanding this, I learnt to appreciate verse 16, by poet Lao Tzu, where he reveals his innermost experience of eternal peace, being "at one with the Tao",which surpasses the understandings of most people today.

Initially my response to the verse was slightly indignant; I believed that I've seen this vision he conveyed, through my own experiences of hunting for truth. It was not long afterwards that my banal attitude and lack of humility caused me to realize that I was already in the wrong condition. Finally, the first three words could sink in: "Become totally empty."

Although this not the original language, the simplicity and serenity of those first three words issued a striking effect. Too few American's today have experienced the "becoming[of] totally empty". Even more than a state of being, it is a state of existence. It is almost unattainable; we are a nation plagued by anxiety, ambition, or self-fulfillment. Without working to advance oneself, others will strive to exceed you. The world will rush on, and you? You are disregarded, left behind. Few are they who are accepting and even willing to allow this to become their perspective.But fear not, and let your heart be at peace. When Tao suggests observing "how endings become beginnings," his perspective rises to the perspective of eternity, the time-frame of divinity. Life comes from a source, and to "flourish", it will always return to that source. Every tree, regardless of how massive, came from a seed that fell from a tree. It's a cycle, and it's natural, and when undisturbed, would continue forever. The life of the tree will never die because every generation contains the same life, and the destiny of this life is to abide in its natural cycle--given that there are no disruptions.

It the same for humans, except for us, there is a greater destiny; for we have a greater sourcea"divinity. There is only one problem. We do not have the divine life, and it's impossible to fake. Like artificial peace, artificial divinity cuts no corners. Mankind has a beginning, and in the beginning man was placed in front of a tree of knowledge of good and evil, and a tree of life. Because the wrong tree was partaken of, our human life has been a trough of striving to attain goodness, flee badness, and thirst for knowledge. Lao Tzu urges us to break free from this perspective, and to "know the constant" that grants "impartial perspective." The simplicity of "being at one with the Tao" sounds pathetically simple, but as human beings, it would require living another life, one that is not of our nature.Trials ensue. Battles between, within, and around us--defeats are unending. Humans endeavor for forward motion, to reach out, but Lao Tzu says "return".

Lao Tzu believes that to return to the "root" of peace, it is to "fulfill one's destiny" which "is everlasting, not endangered by physical death." His interpretation of destiny contradicts the common understanding that every mankind is destined to die. Lao Tzu's personal enlightenment creates a desire in him to inculcate it into others. He witnesses the condition of man,but he also sees that "being at one with the Tao is eternal." Lao understands two paths in eternity, one that "leads to eternal disaster" and one of "being Divine", at "one with the Tao." Being human, our living has countless amounts of distractions that draw us away from destiny and lock us in short-sightedness. Lao Tzu's vision is that of eternity, a word unconceivable to a person who lives for themselves. Without returning to the source, we lose eternity.

As we live our lives, we cannot forget that life is short, and eternity isn't. When we are filled with unnecessary burdens and ambitions of the world, we lose the source. Lao Tzu's message in verse 16 is his way of relaying the constant: "Do not be deceived with the rush of the world, nor indulge in it,lest it steals away your destiny. Observe the source, and you will find that endings become beginnings.You will find eternity." His urgency reveals that in a realm guided with this perspective, nothing--not even our tiresome emotions are worth holding on to, if they would tempt us away from eternity with the Tao. Only when keeping the constant and remaining in this perspective,could we finally become free of everything, holding onto nothing, and totally empty.

// // //---->The Actual Verse.
Tao Te Ching v.16
"Become totally empty.
Let your heart be at peace.
Amidst the rush of worldly comings and goings,
observe how endings become beginnings.

Things flourish, each by each,
only to return to the Source…
to what is and what is to be.

To return to the root is to find peace.
To find peace is to fulfill one’s destiny.
To fulfill one’s destiny is to be constant.
To know the constant is called insight.
Not knowing this cycle
leads to eternal disaster.

Knowing the constant givers perspective.
This perspective is impartial.
Impartiality is the highest nobility;
the highest nobility is Divine.

Being Divine, you will be at one with the Tao.
Being at one with the Tao is eternal.
This way is everlasting,
not endangered by physical death."

// // // ----> an idea
If anybody has the time, I want to suggest reading some of Tao Te Ching by Lao Zhu, all 81 verses of them. And truly consider them. (even compare with the attributes of Jesus) :/ I'll admit he is over-idealistic.. but that's only because we've fallen too far to turn back to when it had the chance of being reality..