The Story Of The Useless Tree.

The story of the useless tree.

The Crooked Tree

Hui-tse said to Chuang-tse, “I have a large tree which no carpenter can cut into lumber. It’s branches and trunk are crooked and tough, covered with bumps and depressions. No builder would turn his head to look at it. Your teachings are the same, useless and without value. Therefore, no one pays attention to them.”

"As you know," Chuang-tse replied, "a cat is very skilled at capturing its prey. Crouching low, it can leap in any direction, pursuing whatever it is after. But when its attention is focused on such things, it can easily be caught with a net. On the other hand, a huge yak is not easily caught or overcome. It stands like a stone, or a cloud in the sky. But for all its strength, it cannot catch a mouse."

"You complain that your tree is not valuable as lumber. But you could make use of the shade it provides, rest under its sheltering branches, and stroll beneath it, admiring its character and appearance. Since it would not be endangered by an axe, what could threaten its existence? It is useless to you only because you want to make it into something else and do not use it in its proper way."

Om.

Hey there, I've been reading The Tao Te Ching, books about Lieh-Tzu and listening to Taoist podcasts for almost a year now. Still trying to navigate Taoism in my own life as a university student. I am unsure how the concept of just being fits in with someone like myself who lacks motivation but also has great ambition? I don't know whether to kick back and let my emotions steer or what... what really is the Tao way to approach things there?

I'd say the first thing is to take a moment and step back, to take a breath and try to look at things with fresh eyes.

What is your ambition for? Do you want to make a great impact, or climb to the top of the social ladder, or be widely known across the world, or something entirely different? Defining our goals clearly is one of the simplest things we can do to find direction in life, but it's often overlooked. It's understandable to not know the EXACT path or destination we want out of life, but the more honest you can be with yourself, the better.

And if your ambition is truly great, with it comes the motivation to pursue it. In my experience, when people say they lack motivation it often actually means that they have motivation, but also have a lot of self-doubt or fear preventing them from embracing that motivation. We must all learn to release those doubts and fears, and remind ourselves that our desire to achieve our goals should always outweigh those obstacles in the way.

Letting our passions guide us is the ideal, especially when those passions keep us moving forward towards that which truly makes us happy. This is different, however, than letting our emotions steer us around, which can just as easily lead to heartbreak and sadness as it can to joy. When we find something we are passionate about, we will march on ever forward, through the hard work and setbacks and negative emotions that come along the way. It won't feel like kicking back, but more like running down a hill towards your great ambition. That is where your motivation will come from, and this is how the Path will guide you.

keep it simple, keep it classy.

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” -Daniel Boorstin

Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.

Bell Hooks (via childrenofthetao)

How often do you meditate and what recommendations would you give to someone trying to make mediation a daily habit?

I find that there are three elements to beginning a meditation practice. 

They are: the benefits, the resolve, and the practice. 

The Benefits

Before beginning a meditation practice, it can be helpful to take a moment to recognize the benefits the come from meditation. This in turn will help to generate an urge to meditate. 

Meditation:

Helps you to calm down.

We live with more restlessness than we realize. 

This restlessness is the source of many problems for us. 

A feeling of numbness or emptiness that needs filling, a sense of being separate from our sources of happiness, and a general background of anxiety. 

Aids in emotional balancing.

We experience a range of emotions in daily life. Some are wonderful and others are traumatic. 

The experiences are not the problem but rather the traces they leave in our mind and body. 

Meditation helps you to find balance with the past, openness in the present, and readiness for the future. 

Has numerous physiological benefits.

Meditation helps with insomnia, depression, PTSD, irritable bowl syndrome, asthma, chronic pain, and many other dysfunctions. 

It’s free!

Nuff said. 

The Resolve

This aspect is a bit more philosophical. We know of many things that would be good for us–eating better, exercising, doing our homework, etc. Yet that doesn’t always mean we will actually do those things. 

It is useful to contemplate how meditation is a privilege. 

Humans are uniquely positioned to meditate. 

Most if not all animals are locked in a cycle for survival. 

Seek food and eat. 

Don’t get eaten. 

Reproduce. 

Few creatures can actually take time away from their physical needs and be able to sit and go inward to experience their full consciousness. 

Not all humans can meditate. 

Some humans suffer from severe mental disability. 

Some humans are fighting for their survival every day.

Some humans have never heard of meditation.

Acknowledge your good (enough) health and your opportunity take up a timeless practice that has existed in various forms for thousands of years. 

The Practice

Now that you’ve gotten yourself motivated to make meditation part of your life, it is time to actually hammer out the details. 

Pick a time of day that best suits your schedule consistently. 

Do you have time in the morning to sit for a meditation? When would be best?

When you first wake up? Before or after breakfast? Before or after you shower? Think about what works for you. 

Or do you have more time in the evening after your day is done?

Before or after dinner? Before or after you brush your teeth?

The trick is to examine your daily habits and see where meditation would most readily fit in. 

Pick a single meditation technique and stick with that technique for at least a month. 

I have written a lot about meditation here. 

There are many kinds of meditation. Pick whatever kind you feel drawn to and give it a good few weeks of daily practice before coming to a decision about whether or not it is for you. 

Let go of expectations. 

This is the hard part. 

Meditation does more for you than you realize. If you just focus on what you expect, you may overlook the unexpected ways meditation will help you. 

Meditation may not feel good right away. 

You may experience intense sadness, anger, fear, or any other emotions. 

Be persistent anyway. 

Stay motivated. 

Reading spiritual books help. 

Anything by Eckhart Tolle, Adyashanti, Pema Chodron, or Judith Blackstone will be useful.

My current schedule allows for me to meditate in the evenings. I come home from the library after studying. Before I do anything, I sit in my reading chair. First I just breathe and allow myself to be present. I recognize my current life situation and how it is temporary. I appreciate the space of my room and that I have this time to myself. 

Sometimes I may do a little mantra meditation to start off. Then I sit in silence, eyes closed, and just be. If thoughts or feelings come, I don’t let them pull me into further trains of thought and feeling. I keep my attention focused on the meditation. And that’s it. 

I’ll usually do this for twenty minutes or so and then get up to fix myself some dinner. 

Namaste :) I hope this helps.