Understand Nonbeing
Center of Life
To benefit from the power of Tao, learn to distinguish between being (有）and nonbeing (无); or the something and the nothing.
It is a central concept of Tao Te King of Lao Tze.
To understand what they mean, look at your drinking cup.
The cup has a body and a handle, so it is a being. It is the something.
But before the cup came into existence, it was in the mind of a craftsman. So, it is derived from nonbeing, or the nothing.
So the nothing is relevant to the cup not only before its existence. It is also relevant during its existence.
Now, think about it. What is the purpose of you having the cup?
Obviously, you want the cup, because it helps you to hold water. Cup that cannot hold water is no longer a cup.
Then look closely at the cup. Which part of the cup do you find the water?
It is not the handle. It is not the cup body. It is the space within the body.
So although cup – or the somethig -- is what we own, it is the space – the nothing – that we use. We own the something -- the cup -- for the nothing -- the space.
Knowing this helps us to stay close to reality.
Now, let's look at the house that you live in. Apparently, the house is a something. It has pillars, walls and furnishings.
The origin of the house, however, was in the minds of an architect. So it is derived from the nothing.
What's the use of the house?
The use of the house is not in the pillars, the walls, nor the furnishings. It is in the space. A house without space is useless, however fine the pillars and the rest are.
In order to know the center of life and the things we do, in addition to knowing what being is, we must know the nonbeings associated with it. For the same token, when we are working on being, we must work also on the associated the nonbeing, for our actions to be meaningful.
In the cases of the drinking cup and the house, it involves asking questions like what we want from the cup and the house.
Being aware of the concepts helps us to have clear mind. It cut through noises and go to core of issues.
As Lao Tze puts it:
”Spokes are connected to make a wheel;
yet it is the hole within the hub that moves the wagon.
Clay is molded to shape into pot;
yet it is the emptiness within that makes it an utensil.
Doors and windows are cut to make a room;
yet it is the inner space within that makes it livable.
Therefore, advantage comes from what is;
usefulness comes from what is not.” (11)
Exercise:
What are the ‘being’ and ‘nonbeing’ associated with a car?
Suggested answer:
Car is a being. It is derived from a car designer's idea. Its uses include transportation, efficiency and comfort. They are nonbeings.
Related articles:
Click here to read more about key Tao concepts, in addition to nonbeing.
Click here to read about applying the concept of nonbeing to goal and priority setting in life.
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