“The quintessence of Tao is ‘Tathata’, acceptability. Where there is total acceptability, there is the condition of desirelessness,” states Osho.
A Sadhaka once approached Lao Tzu and said, “I want peace.”
“You will never get it,” Lao Tzu replied.
The youth was startled, “What have I done, what is there in me such that I cannot attain peace?”
Lao Tzu then explained: “As long as you wish for peace, you will not get it. I too desired for a long time and ultimately discovered that the desire for tranquility becomes so great a dissatisfaction, that no restlessness is greater than this. Therefore, give up the idea of desiring peace.” […]
The quintessence of Tao is ‘Tathata’, acceptability. Where there is total acceptability, there is the condition of desirelessness. The slightest unacceptability gives rise to desire. Then longing and passion follow in its wake. Then the race begins.
Mind you, longing is born out of unacceptability. We all live in our longings. If you probe into each desire of yours you will soon come to know which non-acceptability has given birth to which desire. Which thing you wished was not as it is, which ought to have otherwise, which ought to have been different and what desire accrued therefrom?
Osho, The Way of Tao – Discourses on Lao Tse’s Tao-Te-King, Vol 1, Ch 3 (excerpt, translated from Hindi)
Series compiled by Shanti
All excerpts of this series can be found in: 1001 Tales
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