Tao Te Ching and the Art of Letting Go

Letting go is a simple spiritual concept that manyIn a pure state we know what must be done and we
people struggle with. Especially in Western culture thefind ourselves compelled into inspired action. There is
idea of giving up is frowned upon; children are taught tono need to think it over, plan every detail, or worry
be tough and fight through every life situation.about the outcome.
But letting go is the real measure of courage. Do yourFurthermore once we have done our part we are
part in any situation and then allow what is to takefree to release the whole affair. In other words when
over.we take inspired action or add our true intent to the
Our egos rebel against such a notion. We must find aworld by acting from the heart, our next step is to let
way to control everything in our life, and the idea ofgo and trust our work to be carried forward by the
just trusting things to get done is maddening to thenatural flow of life.
mind that has not become still.The paradigm that our society is now emerging from
2,500 years ago the sage called Lao Tsu - if hecannot grasp the value of this philosophy. But those
actually existed - wrote many passages about thewho remain open to the teaching will see the truth.
virtue of doing nothing, and yet leaving nothing undone.The always-busy state of the world has created a
The actual language used on one occasion suggestedsociety addicted to chaos and stress. And yet the
a seeker of wisdom should not work, and thereby allsimplest things like caring for the earth and loving
things would be taken care of.one-another go undone.
Those who lack understanding will suggest this kind ofWhen the world understands the value of letting go
thinking promotes laziness and daydreaming; far fromand flowing from the truth within we will see change.
it! The abstract point being made is that when the mindWe already know what to do, and we already know
is free from thoughts of past and future and onethe right path; but a mind lost in predictions and
resides here in the now, the mind and body arecontrolling the outcome will never be able to take the
connected and work does not seem like difficult laborfirst step.
or striving.