THE DANCE OF LIFE

People often become preoccupied with keeping track of how they compare with others. What is their position in society relative to that of their friends, neighbors and peers? Who will accumulate the most material wealth when they are ready to retire?

Imagine a ballroom dance with many dancers. Some of them are really having a great time. They are the ones who are totally immersed in the dance. When the music is playing, they sway to its rhythm, thinking only about the movements of themselves and their partners. Do you think they bother to check on where other dancers are relative to themselves? When the music comes to a stop, they beam with joy and exhilaration. Do you suppose they care exactly where on the dance floor they are standing?

Life is just like the dance. Let go of any attachments about where you are and where other people are. Such concerns are ultimately inconsequential. Be like the ballroom dancers who are enjoying the dance. Be mindfully aware of yourself, your partner and the grace of it all. Listen to the music of life . . . and immerse yourself in its incredible beauty.

The Tao Today

The dance of life is about the dance itself, not where you happen to be when one song ends and another begins. Thus, there is no need to keep up with the Joneses or anyone else. Where you are in life right now is where you ought to be. The Tao is about the journey, not the destination; it is the process, not the end result.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin