Don't try to prove your worth and reduce yourself to a commodity. The greatest experience of life comes not through what you do, but through love, through meditation.
Lao Tzu was traveling with his disciples, and they came to a forest where hundreds of woodcutters were cutting down trees. The entire forest was almost cut down, except for one huge tree with thousands of branches. It was so big that 10 thousand people could sit in its shadow. Lao Tzu asked his disciples to go and inquire why this tree had not been cut down. They went and asked the woodcutters, and they said:
- This tree is completely useless. You can't make anything out of it because each branch has so many branches - and not a single straight one. You cannot use it as fuel because its smoke is harmful to the eyes. This tree is completely useless, that's why we didn't cut it down.
The disciples returned and told Lao Tzu. He laughed and said:
- Look like this tree. If you are useful, they will cut you down and you will become furniture in some house. If you are beautiful, you will become a commodity and will be sold in the store. Be like this tree, be absolutely useless, and then you will begin to grow large and vast, and thousands of people will find shade under you.
One great Taoist died. Lao Tzu went to pay him his last respects. But a lot of people gathered at the funeral. He was surprised and turned back. The disciples accompanying him asked:
- What's the matter? Why did you decide to return without paying your last respects?
“He could not be a man of Tao,” replied Lao Tzu. - So many people are crying and sobbing. Apparently, he became something irreplaceable for them. This means that it was of some benefit to them. That's why I'm coming back. He did not follow the teaching truly.
He told them: “Be the last. Walk through the world as if you don't exist. Don't be competent, don't try to prove your worth - that's not necessary. Remain useless and enjoy."
You judge people by their usefulness. I'm not saying you shouldn't do anything useful. Do useful things, but remember that the real and greatest experience of life and ecstasy comes from doing useless things. It comes through poetry, painting, love, meditation. The greatest joy will fill you only if you are able to do something that cannot be reduced to a product. The reward is spiritual, internal, it is manifested by energy. So, if you feel useless, don't worry. You can become a huge tree with a large crown. And people who have entered into useful activity sometimes need to rest in the shade.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru