CAREFREE WANDERING

Something is lost in translation when Chuang Tzu’s concept of carefree wandering makes its way to the West. The original concept is about the freedom that one attains upon mastering the Tao. Somehow, this has been truncated into the freedom that one attains naturally, without doing anything.

Chuang Tzu’s freedom is the virtuoso pianist who has become one with the piano so he can use it to express anything he wants without having to think about it. This is not the same as the natural but unskilled freedom of the complete novice who bangs on the keyboard and produces cacophony with wild abandon.

To Chaung Tzu, discipline and diligence are not synonymous with strife, and dedicated hard work does not have to be miserable. When you are working on a worthwhile goal, you take the challenges in stride and even relish them. Where others imagine exhaustion, you experience only exhilaration. Where they see hardship, you feel only happiness. This is real freedom of the Tao.

The Tao Today

This lesson is the reason why Tao sages are naturally joyous. They devote themselves to causes and works that bring meaning to existence. To them, being able to contribute is a privilege and an honor. Operating in this mind-set, they handle all of their tasks without strife, and enjoy their carefree wandering through life.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin