THE QUEST FOR ANSWERS

The quest for answers is part of your journey in the Tao, and something that requires the principle of moderation. Between not caring for answers and an obsessive need for answers, there is a happy middle ground for the healthy, curious mind.

Some subscribe to the notion that we should not pursue knowledge at all, based on Tao teachings that warn against book learning, but this is not the message that the sages wanted to convey. What they were pointing out was that being able to recite facts was not the same as being wise, so one should absorb knowledge with that in mind.

The other extreme are those who feel the need to know everything. They are uncomfortable with uncertainty, so they demand answers. This is really fighting a losing battle, because it is simply not possible for any one person to literally know it all. The sages would advise them that rather than looking for all the answers, look for only the answers that they really need, answers that will have a real impact on life. The quest for such answers would be more in keeping with the Tao.

The Tao Today

It is a good thing that you can never be a know-it-all. After all, the desire to show off knowledge comes from the ego. It is also a good thing to not be willfully ignorant. Learn what you can and share your knowledge. The fact that no one can know everything is all the more reason for you to work with others and lean from them as they learn from you.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin