The common man cannot see things objectively, because his mind is clouded by anxiety about achieving his goals. Seeing clearly means not projecting our goals into the world; acting spontaneously means acting according to the needs of the situation. Western moralists will ask what is the purpose of such action, but for Taoists the good life has no purpose. It is like swimming in a whirlpool, responding to the currents as they come and go. ,I enter with the inflow, and emerge with the outflow, follow the way of the water, and do not impose my selfishness upon it. This is how I stay afloat in it,‘ says the Chuang-Tzu.
John Gray Straw Dogs