INVULNERABLE

What happens when you get really good at cultivating the Tao? Lao Tzu answers the question with the following lines:

Traveling on the road, they do not encounter rhinos or tigers

Entering into an army, they are not harmed by weapons

Most people immediately grasp that traveling on the road simply means journeying through life. However, the other elements may be more difficult to decipher. They are metaphors popular in ancient times but no longer in use today.

The horn of the rhino, in this context, represents pointed criticism. Similarly, the claws of the tiger represent damaging accusations. The army may be a bit puzzling at first, but think of it as the arena of social competition and it will become apparent that the weapons are personal attacks. These are all hazards that we can encounter on a daily basis. However, a skillful cultivator, by virtue of the Tao practice, will not be vulnerable to them at all.

The Tao Today

This may sound too good to be true, but as you progress in the Tao and gain more experience, you will see for yourself that this is actually an accurate description of those who have mastered the Tao. They have let go of the need to be defensive, and those who would attack them with horns, claws or weapons quickly discover that they have nothing to attack.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin