The Wisdom of No Man Is an Island

To be happier, you must become a better individual. Being better means you see your connection with others as well as with everything else. The truth of the matter is that we are all inter-connected with one another, whether we like it or not; no man is an island. This perspective enables you to diminish your ego-self. With a diminished ego, you become not only a better individual as well as a happier one. An inflated ego prevents you from seeing your true self: who you really are, and not who you think or wish you were.

The wisdom of Tao begins with the power of intent in the mind to know and to learn more about the true “self”— after all, wisdom is about self, and about how the self reacts with everyone and everything around. In the quest of wisdom, the revelation of having no ego-self is the turning point, where you may begin to embark on a different life journey with a different mission. Your “conditioned” mind thus begins the journey of “reverse thinking” which will ultimately change your life, making you a better and happier you.

Tao wisdom enables you to see the wisdom in the oneness of all life—that everything exists because of its “opposite” and that everything will ultimately become its opposite, just as youth becoming old age, and life becoming death. Spontaneity, which is following the natural laws of nature, holds the key to attaining true human wisdom to live your life as if everything is a miracle.

Be A Better and Happier You With Tao Wisdom

Part One of my book explains the prerequisites of human wisdom. Without true human wisdom, it is almost impossible to perceive the innate human goodness in self, as well as in others. Human goodness leads to the attributes of genuine human happiness.

Part Two is the complete translation of the 81 short chapters of Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" in simple English for readers to understand the complex and controversial wisdom of “Tao Te Ching.”

Part Three highlights the essentials of Tao wisdom, and shows how it can be applied to contemporary living so that you may live as if everything is a miracle to be a better and happier you.

To be a better and happier you is both easy and difficult: Tao wisdom is easy to understand with an empty mind, but difficult to assimilate its depth and profoundness

To download the digital copy of my book, click here; to get the paperback edition, click here.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Turning Grief and Sorrow Into Happiness

Happiness makes your life meaningful and living worthwhile. Nearly every one of us pursues happiness. Unfortunately, happiness is like a carrot stick in front of us, forever unattainable. Why?  It is because life is never a bed or roses: it is forever filled with grief and sorrow.

Given that everything is this world is impermanent, grief and sorrow are as inevitable as death.  But don’t let your grief and sorrow make you unhappy over the long haul; protracted grief and sorrow may lead to depression and negative thoughts that may haunt you for the rest of your life. Overcoming grief and sorrow requires an understanding of how you should process your grief and sorrow. Above all, it demands an honest understanding of who you really are, and why you are here.

To illustrate, after the death of a dear friend or someone close to you, you may experience a period of denial—refusing to accept the harsh reality of death. This is the human mind's self-delusional way of shielding us from painful emotions associated with grief and sorrow. 

Then next comes anger: anger with yourself or whoever responsible for the death of your loved one. The human mind always looks for an answer or explanation of why something undesirable happened. If you blame yourself, then guilt and regret may ensue; if you blame others, you cherish anger or hatred towards that individual.

The last phase is bargaining with God or with a higher power about reversing what has happened to you. You may even beg God (or fate) for second chances, using "what if?" and "if only" sort of pleas.

These are the phases that make you unhappy. How do you turn your grief and sorrow into happiness? You need wisdom to know your true self -- who you really are, and not who you wish you were.

Be A Better And Happier You With Tao Wisdom is based on the profound human wisdom expressed in “Tao Te Ching” written by Lao Tzu, an ancient sage from China. The book not only contains the translation in simple English of the complete text of this 5,000-word immortal classic, but also shows you how to attain true human wisdom through asking self-intuitive questions, creating an empty mindset with reverse thinking to let go of the ego-self in order to become a better and happier you.

Happiness plays a pivotal part in the art of life and living well. The mind plays a pivotal role in shaping one’s personality, which is responsible for one’s happiness or unhappiness. In other words, your personality is all in your own thinking, just as Descartes, the famous French philosopher, once said: “I think; therefore I am."

Stephen Lau 

Copyright© by Stephen Lau