Joy or Misery Is A Choice #DailyWisdom
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Who was Lao Tzu and what challenges did he face in his later years?
You know, you've heard of us, a very famous, now famous, not at that time, now very famous Zen master called Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu in his eighties was on his deathbed. He lived a life, he faced many situations, unnecessarily accused of all kinds of things. Through his life, society gave him lot of trouble, but he was unfazed, always joyful, day in and day out, and went about his work, doing what best he can do. Towards the age of eighty, he became reasonably famous.
What did Lao Tzu’s disciples ask for as his final message?
By then he had gathered a few disciples and a small place. So, this is the tradition in the Zen culture, that when the master is dying, disciples gather to ask for the last message. Because of course, all these days, whatever he spoke, they wouldn't have heard. So, they gathered around him and said, Master, your last message, what is the secret of your joy, they asked.
How does Lao Tzu define the secret of his joy?
Lao Tzu said, what? Ah, the secret of my joy? Nothing, no secret.
It's just that every day when I wake up, question arises in my mind, today shall I be joyful or miserable?
Why does Lao Tzu say choosing joy versus misery is a personal choice?
Till now it just happened, I choose joy, that's all. I'm saying it's just your choice. Whether you're joyful or miserable is just your choice. If you do not exercise your choice, we cannot call you a human being, we'll have to call you a human creature.
What distinguishes a ‘human creature’ from a ‘human being’ according to Lao Tzu?
Because this is the fundamental difference between a creature and a being. A creature means it is instinctive, compulsive reaction to the situations around it. or situations, atmosphere around will define the quality of a creature's life. A being means you know how to be. If you know how to be, the atmosphere around you, situations around you should not decide how you are. You know how to be means you decide how you are.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Who was Lao Tzu and what challenges did he face in his later years?
0:02–0:55
2
What did Lao Tzu’s disciples ask for as his final message?
0:55–1:25
3
How does Lao Tzu define the secret of his joy?
1:25–1:39
4
Why does Lao Tzu say choosing joy versus misery is a personal choice?
1:39–2:00
5
What distinguishes a ‘human creature’ from a ‘human being’ according to Lao Tzu?
2:00–2:33