The Tao
Huangdi and his six ministers (Fangming, Changyu, Zhangruo, Xipeng, Kunyan, and Huaji) were all cultivators of the Tao. Later in life, they would all attain a high level of spirituality from their cultivation. Together, they became known as the Seven Sages. At the time of this story, they were still learning, still seeking wisdom.
Chuang Tzu wrote about the emperor as a metaphor for the individual, similar to the way Lao Tzu wrote about the king or the ruler. The emperor had absolute power over his empire, just as you have full control over your inner being. The way for the emperor to govern better is simply the way for you to manage your life more skillfully, in accordance with the Tao.
Huangdi’s search for Dawei is similar to our own attempts to look for answers in life. We know we’re not living up to our true potential, but what can we do to turn things around? Like Huangdi and his ministers being lost in the wilderness, we’re not sure which way to go.
When we have this uncertainty, we tend to try anything, hoping to find the right path by exploring everywhere. This is why people flock to teachers of spirituality and read books on self-improvement techniques. They keep adding knowledge, but this does not necessarily lead to the change they need.
Through the character of the boy, Chuang Tzu shows us the better way. The Tao does not accumulate or increase complexity—it reduces, simplifies, and streamlines. It’s not about learning more techniques—it’s about discarding the harmful elements.
When the boy did this for a horse, the horse became healthy and strong. When Huangdi did this for the people, the empire became prosperous and powerful. When you do this for yourself, your life becomes vigorous and vibrant. In every instance, the method is the removal of obstacles to allow the Tao to express itself naturally and completely.
What are the harmful elements you should remove? Everyone is different, but some of the common ones are as follows:
- Habits that are unhealthy or even destructive
- A negative mind-set that leads to frequent complaints
- Tendency to sabotage your own success
- Physical, mental, or spiritual clutter
- Inertia or indecisiveness that prevents effective action
Everyone is different, so you will want to examine your life to identify the harmful elements specific to you. Acknowledge them and write them down for yourself. This is the first essential step to removing them.
Work on the harmful elements one at a time in a subtractive process. Subtract negative influences in your life by creating distance from them. Subtract bad habits by replacing them with good ones that empower you. Subtract malicious, unworthy thoughts by releasing them from your mind. Subtract clutter from your surroundings by donating or discarding them.
The effect of this cultivational work can be dramatic. You will get to a point where you can feel the increase of energy, happiness, and vitality every time you remove a harmful element from your life. You will see that it is more effective than any techniques or “secret” to be found in books.
Huangdi did not actually need the sage in the Juchi Mountain. The only thing he needed was the truth that the boy pointed out. It is the same with you. You do not need to look for answers in the material world. The only thing you need is the Tao that Chuang Tzu has pointed out in this story. There is a power within you, like the vitality of the horse or the might of Huangdi’s empire. It is time for you to unleash this power.