The perfect world

      The Tao teaches us that great perfection seems flawed, yet it functions without a hitch.  This statement is the bedrock of the universe.  Somehow, man with his world view, believes this universe was made for man, or humans, and that some deity has ordained that man must make sure the universe functions "properly."  This is a flawed view. 

       Nature is not broken.  I repeat, nature is not broken.  It will carry on without a hitch.  All of the problems which we ordain are in need of fixing, have been caused by man.  Every one.  For instance, millions want to live in western deserts, where there is little water.  However, they wish to live, not as desert dwellers, but as if they are living in some big city, near a giant lake, where water is plentiful.  Because there is little water, the population feels cheated, they may see the lack of water as a problem of nature that must be fixed.  Efforts to supply water to the new desert dwellers is seen as a great beneficial endeavor, but it will only disrupt nature.  Thus the problem.

        The Tao's teaching, ages old, provides a view of the world that puts us in harmony with it.  As you go through life, as you look around, do not view nature as flawed, as some unreasonable obstacle in your path.  The ancients knew this and passed on their understandings.  Somewhere in our western world view, we have not given much attention to this wisdom.  We have adopted a world view that views the earth as a "vale of tears," a place where we are put for a test and then we move on to another place, where the true value and meaning of our existence will be manifest.

        The earth, in this world view, is like a bus that is giving us a ride to the next place we are going to.  The rider, who is focusing only on the place where he or she is going, cares little for the bus or the scenery, and upon their departure from the bus, could care little whether it is clean or dirty, their focus is beyond.  However, the devoted bus driver knows the bus will be fine, because he or she will clean it up, re-fuel it, and get ready for the next load of passengers. 

         Nature does not need our help to be perfect.  It is so.  All we can do is disrupt that perfection by our present way of living.  We should try not to disrupt that perfection, that unity of purpose that the ancients knew so well.