The TAO of Heroes

“It is more important to see the simplicity, to realize one’s true nature.”

(TAO TE CHING Nineteen)

Many times in life, people are not happy with who they are. They wish they were different, they wish they were special, important. These people have the desire to make an impact in the world, to change people’s lives. But they think the only way to achieve this is by being someone else. This desire blinds them from seeing the truth. That it is better to make an impact in the world by being who you really are. Not by trying to be someone different. Accepting yourself is the step you should always take no matter what. If you are confident in yourself and you believe in what you do, you will accomplish great things.

People are their own private prisons. Each person wants what they can’t have. Each person suffers because they have a very difficult time being who they are. People care too much on what others think about them and this is why acceptance becomes harder.

PETER: “It happened two more times. Sometimes I'm falling. Sometimes I'm flying. Sometimes you're in 'em.”

NATHAN: “I don't have time for this now.”

PETER: “They're not just dreams, Nathan. I thought they'd go away, but they're not. This morning, when I got out of bed, my foot hovered before it hit the ground. Hovered for a split second. Like I was -- like I was floating. I'm telling you, buddy, I think I can fly.”

NATHAN: “Tell you what, you think you can fly, why don't you jump off the Brooklyn Bridge? See what happens.”

PETER: “Maybe I ought to start with something a little lower first. It's like learning to walk.”

NATHAN: “You're serious?”

PETER: “Oh, I'm serious.”

NATHAN: “You need to snap out of it, Peter. See a doctor. Get some drugs. But do not pull a Roger Clinton on me, man. I'm eight points down in the polls.”

PETER: “This isn't about you, all right? Something is happening to me, and I have this feeling that you're the only person that's gonna understand this.”NATHAN: “Why the hell would I understand that you think you can fly?”

PETER: “Because you're my brother.”
PETER: “Let me ask you something, Nathan. Do you ever ... get the feeling like you were meant to do something extraordinary?”

NATHAN: “Like, becoming a senator?”

PETER: “No, I'm not talking about what you do. I'm talking about who you are. I'm talking about ... being special.”

NATHAN: “Yes Peter, we are all special.”
PETER: “Nathan, you know that’s not what I mean. You know what I’m talking about; you know we’re meant for something more than just this. Why can’t you accept that we are special? Why can’t you accept who you really are?
NATHAN: “Because…”
PETER: “Because you’re afraid.”
NATHAN: “Afraid? Of been special? Why would I be afraid of being special?
PETER: “You’re not afraid of being special Nathan, you’re afraid of what people will think of you if you’re special. You’re afraid they won’t accept you and that’s why you can’t accept who you really are.”
NATHAN: “So what if I don’t want to be special? What does that mean?”
PETER: “It means that you are not accepting who you are, it means you are losing your path.”
NATHAN: “What does not accepting who I am have to do with losing my path?
PETER: “Once you accept yourself, you’ll be able to achieve your true destiny, your true path.”
NATHAN: “My true path?”
PETER: “Yes Nathan, your true path, the right path for you to follow. Your destiny, what you’re meant to be, what you’re meant to do.”
NATHAN: “And, I will achieve that if I accept who I am?”
PETER: “Yes you will, by accepting who you are, you become a better person, you become more confident on yourself and you believe in everything that you do.”
NATHAN: “I see, but I still wonder…How can something so complicated look like something so simple?”
PETER: “What do you mean?”
NATHAN: “Been yourself, accepting who you are, is…should be something very simple in life. Everyone should be born and accept who they are. But actually is not as easy or as simple as it sounds. Accepting who you are, is…is…very difficult, more than hard.”
PETER: “Yes, exactly, you are right.”
NATHAN: “But, I don’t understand, why is this?”
PETER: “Nathan, most people are not happy with who they are. Those who are normal wish they were special and those who are special wish they were normal. Unfortunately this is the reality.”
NATHAN: “Then, there are many people who are not following the right path.”
PETER: “Yes Nathan. There are many people losing their paths, not doing the right thing for them just because they don’t accept themselves.”
NATHAN: “When you accept yourself, you will be confident in everything you do because that’s when you realize that all it takes to be good, to make an impact in the world is being yourself. The only way to not be lost and follow the right path is by accepting your true self. Because when you know who you are and you are content with it, been good becomes easy. It becomes part of your personality, of your being, of your life. Once you accept who you are, you’ll do what you want to do, what you are meant to do. But, when you don’t accept who you are, following the right path, the path of good is not possible. You should never let what others think of you stand in the way of yourself.”
PETER: “Yes Nathan, you are right again. Accepting who you are, believing in yourself is the beginning of following your true path.”

When you realize who you are and you accept yourself, you realize that that’s all it takes to become good, to fulfill your destiny, to follow the right path.

TAO and GO!

As I was playing Go, I thought about the TAO. In Go, your objective is to surround and eliminate your opponent chips which can either be black or white. It may seem easy at first but after playing it gets very difficult. You have to think very carefully every move you make, because one mistake can make you lose. Even though you have to be very thoughtful with your moves, after playing for a while, you realize that the right moves are not always the most complicated. Sometimes the best way to go is the simplest way of all. I was able to relate this with the TAO because the TAO teaches us to don't let bad surround us and eliminate us. Also to be careful and thoughtful with the moves we make because one mistake can make us go on the wrong track. One bad action can lead us to something terrible. And the TAO also tells us that sometimes we are too complicated and that we look at the most complicated solution, when really just by keeping it simple we will make the right choice. In Go we kind of played by the TAO rules, the instructions and objectives were very similar to its teachings.

Keep it Simple

As I was reading the TAO, I read a passage which caught my eye:
"He who makes a show is not enlightned...
He who boasts achieves nothing.
He who brags will not endure.
According to the followers of the TAO, 'These are extra food and unnecessary luggage.'
They do not bring happiness." (Twenty-four)
When I read this, I began to realize how people now in society are so complicated and are always wanting to be the center of attention. Most people do good things just to be noticed, just to "be someone" important. People now don't care about the importance of their actions, they only care on being noticed. So after they do something good, they make sure their actions are known by everyone. All they do is show off and brag and all they want is "fame." Because they think that by being famous and important they're going to be happy and remembered.
But this is not true. Just as the TAO said: "He who makes a show is not enlightned." This is completely right, those people who are commiting good actions just to show off will not succeed. This is because those people will not achieve what they were looking for: happiness. After these people worked very hard in order to be recognized, they may get fame just like they wanted. But they are not happy. They realize that all attention they get is like the TAO followers said: " 'These are extra food and unnecessary luggage.' " All of these things just become an extra problem, an extra weight on the back. When they realize this, it is too late. They regret doing things just to get attention, just to be noticed. And learn that it is way better doing good actions just because they are good actions which will do good to someone. Even though they may not become important or famous, they will feel better. Just by keeping it simple.