INTELLIGENCE

In the West, people prize physicality. Our star athletes are millionaires. We lavishly reward entertainers who can express and inspire feelings with the way they move. In movies and television shows, it is the action hero who uses brawn to defeat the evil genius.

In Asian societies, intelligence gets the spotlight. Scientists, inventors and mental prodigies are more admired than athletes or entertainers. Winning by using one’s mind instead of one’s muscles is the cultural ideal. Teachers are given more respect than in the West, and parents want their kids to do well academically above all else.

In the Tao culture, both physical intelligence and cognitive intelligence are greatly valued, but it is emotional intelligence that is recognized as being closest to the wisdom of the Tao. It is the power over one’s emotional states and the ability to deal with the challenges of life without anger or frustration. The more you cultivate, the more your emotional intelligence will increase, until you attain the level of total mastery.

The Tao Today

What is your current level of emotional intelligence? Do you have power over your internal states, or do they have power over you? Do you sometimes have trouble dealing with your coworkers? Do you sometimes get angry with your loved ones, only to regret it later? Keep up your cultivation, and see how your answers to these questions change over time.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin