INITIATIVE

Let us not be confused

With kaleidoscopic reality.

Using wisdom and courage to act,

Let us not add to the confusion.

The world is a storm of myriad realities, yet we cannot allow

ourselves to be swept into the vortex. To do so is to be lost and to

lose the true center where all understanding will come. We must act, but

in the right way.

Action must be guided by both intellect and experience. We learn

from teachers, elders, and others. But we must also test what we learn

in the world. It is not enough to simply meditate, and it is not enough

just to have theoretical knowledge. We need both in order to be wise.

Only when wisdom, courage, timing, and perseverance are combined can

one have a sound basis for initiative. The action must be complete. It

must burn clean; it cannot leave any bad ramifications or lingering

traces. An act that leaves destruction, resentment, or untidiness in its

wake it a poor one. Then initiative is insufficient, and Tao has not

been attained.