Remember that ad jingle, "I'd like to buy the world a Coke...?" Well if we could buy the world something,it would be Derek Lin's book The Tao of Joy Every Day.
The Taiwan-born American writer addresses human spirituality with such insight, warmth and remarkable practicality - it is hard not to see yourself within its pages. Lin's writing is simply unlike anything else we've encountered and we see it as a great daily living primer for people of any faith or background.So where are we going with this? The heart of the matter is one vital ingredient that is often overlooked when we work to address issues of gender equality: spirituality!
Scholar Leela Fernandes,(Transforming Feminist Praxis), writes about the need for women to reclaim spirituality in order to evoke lasting change in their communities. At first this seems a bit odd - we hear the word "spirituality" and we are immediately uneasy. It's hard not to think of all of the global conflicts which are rooted in religion. However, Fernandes is not denying the tragic history of war and oppression fueled by religious differences. Rather, she is suggesting that at a certain level we are all connected by a non-religious spiritual thread.
This is where Derek Lin's writing fits in... this writer is most fortunate to work in a forward-thinking environment, and each morning we start the day with reading one or two entries from Lin's The Tao of Joy. Today's reading was number 239 (of 365!) entitled "Differences." Lin's writing is not just for Taoists, and he encourages the reader to view differences as a collective strength. In the spirit of sharing all that is good for the great good, we would like to share this excerpt from Lin's book with you - enjoy:
"Have you ever noticed how people have an irrational need for others to be just like them? They want people to think and do things the way they do. They show a definite preference for those who have attitudes and perspectives similar to their own.
Friction occurs when this need is not met. All too often, people encounter others who have different ideas and opinions. Sometimes, the differences are in terms of beliefs, values and political ideologies. The feeling of irritation sets in. Then, they feel discomfort, and after a while discomfort becomes resentment.
This is not in accordance with the Tao. The teachings of the Tao celebrate the diversity of the myriad things. It is the differences you see everywhere that make life interesting. Imagine a world with only one kind of flower or one kind of fruit, and feel how grateful you are to not live in such a world...
Out of the same spirit of gratitude, affirm the truth that others cannot, and should not, all be the same as you. After all, out of the countless humans who have walked the Earth, there never has been anyone quite like you. You are absolutely unique, and the many differences between you and other are there for you to embrace and enjoy. We should celebrate our differences."
- Author, Derek Lin, The Tao of Joy Everyday, 2011
