There is a Japanese folk tale about an old man walking up the mountain with a bamboo basket strapped to his back to pick mushroom. On his way up he met a group of young strong men coming down. They greeted the old man and asked where he was going. The old man said,

I am going to pick some mushrooms.

The young men with their baskets full of mushrooms teased him:

The sun is coming down and it is late. You wont find any mushrooms at this hour. You better turn back and go home.

The old man smiled and said,

Thanks for your advice. You may think it is foolish of me to ask, but tell me, which way did you go?

They described the route they had taken, and the old man said,

Good. Then how about a little friendly competition? Lets meet back here in two hours and well see who has the most mushrooms.

So the old man set off on a different path and came back in only an hour with a basket full of mushrooms, more than anyone of them.

There is a saying, Heaven will not block our way. If one path comes to an end, we must search for another one.

The universe has a purpose for us and caters for all our needs. The only exception is if we proceed in the wrong directions and trap ourselves in dead ends. It is through human effort that successful cultivation is achieved. Similarly, it is through our own efforts that new paths are pioneered. History tells us many great men of the past who discovered new lands. As time passes, discovery becomes easier and Neil Armstrong was able to step on the moon. We can talk and see each other immediately thousands of miles apart unlike the past where people have to walk for days or months in order to meet. Risk the high seas where one may not survive the journey.

As long as we can recognize the real aims and directions in our lives and dont deviate from our goals, then all roads lead to Rome. In other words, we can all return to the origin. Most sentient beings live with illusions of selfish desire and prejudice. We are constantly deluded by appearances and enslaved by our attachments to environmental conditions. As a result we always find ourselves beset with obstacles and restricted by thorny barriers that make it very difficult to move forward.

The old man in the story was able to open a new path that led him to great abundance of mushrooms in a short time. He acted in an active and positive manner rather than a passive and negative way in relation to his circumstances. In the sayings of The Wisdom of Vegetable Roots, it is stated that:

Those who gain mastery over physical conditions and objects feel no great joy in success or gain. Neither are they anxious or grief stricken in the face of loss. Whether they win or lose they have a tranquil and unwavering heart. In their lives between heaven and earth they experience true freedom. Those who are passive in relation to their environment become slaves to physical conditions and objects. In times of hardship and adversity they hate and despise their circumstances. When life is easy, they feel loving and complacent. But sometimes as trivial as a hair can keep them in captivity.

Worldly people like to have a good time. Where there are gold to be acquired or profits to be made they move in and buzz around like a swarm of bees. Where there is nothing, they stay away. The great unity of the world comes when everyone shares one common goal and works together to achieve it. Regardless of class, race or circumstances, everyone is able to play a role with appropriate respect and dignity. The realization of this unity is dependent upon the wisdom and effort of many and not a few.

A great Saint said,

Times of turbulence and instability give rise to people who are extraordinary and outstanding. People who guide the world into a truly positive era must make their bodies be like walls of steel, let wisdom be their weapon and their two hands work as shovel and hoe to create a network of pathways through the vast and desolate desert.

In the teachings of Tao of Heaven, there are many lost sheep. The sudden enlightenment upon initiation of Tao will pave many pathways through the desert. By the great grace of Heaven, the divine purpose bestowed is to carry out and complete the work of the past saints and sages. Like runners in a relay race, we take up the baton from the forerunners, carry on their intentions a little further in our lifetime and pass the baton on to the next generation. The new path is opened because of the heavenly time that has arrived in this cycle of Heaven and Earth. It is the great salvation of mankind.

Author: T.A Chew