Taoism is the way of man's cooperation with the course or trend of the natural world, whose principles we discover in the flow patterns of water, gas, and fire. In short, tao-chia is a way of life which tries to accommodate the tendencies of nature. Alan Watts You can't find a more perfect Taoist than my friend, the heron. If you look carefully you will see him where the water meets the rocks, nestled in his little cubical. I greet him every morning while walking Oskar although he gives no indication that he is happy about being discovered.
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To quote from my 365 Tao book, "When you know how to hide, you avoid the attention and scorn of others, but retain the strategic advantage of surprise. You need to do this not for personal advantage, but to manage yourself and your skills well." 365 Tao goes on to say, "Once you can follow Tao with skill, hide your abilities. Privately accumulate extraordinary knowledge and skill, but keep a plain appearance. There is great wisdom in being inconspicuous. Do not brag or try anything beyond your means. Don't let yourself become unbalanced before you have fully mastered an art.
My heron's "strategic advantage of surprise" is impeccable. Sometimes he leaves his cubicle and stands in the water without moving a muscle for what seems like an eternity, blending softly into his environment, a small statue waiting for the perfect fish. When he takes flight it is as if it happens by itself, a perfect example of "totally mastering his art." Suddenly he is soaring into the sky, a glider glancing at we poor struggling fools down below.
The 365tao website, http://www.365tao.net/, has daily podcasts, downloadable on either your desktop or ipad. I have read my 365 Tao book until it is literally falling apart so this is a nifty alternative if you are so inclined.
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