The story below is number one hundred of one hundred fifty-eight entries from the chapter entitled “Endeavor and Destiny” in My travels with Lieh Tzu. My commentary now seeks to delve deeper into Chinese history and philosophy to 
explore where the line is drawn between “heaven” and “man.”
The relationship between the decree of heaven and human actions has long been a puzzle and a recurring challenge in Chinese thought, particularly when the emperor was regarded as “the son of heaven”, connecting him to all things through righteous behavior.
Confucians believed that while it’s up to us to choose right or wrong actions, the results—like wealth or poverty, long life or early death—are determined by heaven. Another perspective suggested that wealth and long life are also influenced by us, as they represent heaven’s reward for righteous conduct. Both views were designed to encourage moral endeavor. While Lieh Tzu and Taoists would say that all endeavor is powerless against destiny and meant simply to take us there.
By using examples, we can delve into various aspects of reality and truth, as well as endeavor and destiny, while reflecting on how they connect and give us meaning. Understanding what drives us is essential, as is realizing that there’s no need for competition between them. Teachers can only share what they’ve personally experienced or understood, embodying their knowledge. This can ignite the awakening of our own inner reality, which, once recognized, fosters personal growth and influences our actions, no matter the external circumstances. It leads us to question whether our daily actions reflect our inner truth and whether we align with it or not.
More than thirty years ago the dragons came calling as though they had come looking for me asking to go on a journey with them. 
These kindred spirits were my teachers Chuang, Lao, and Lieh Tzu. My writing was to become the gift of initiation where they were to appear as my spirit guides. Taking me through the past where I was to learn to remember who I had always been, who I am now, and will be in the future. Not simply as hyperbole or a figure of speech and literary device to create heightened effect through exaggeration. To what may sound as overstated or exaggerated. But to both show me the way and to take me there.
To first remind me of talents I had forgotten and had overlooked. That I was to be both a storyteller and conveyor of ancient wisdom that needed telling again. That my task in the future was to re-establish myself in the flow of history and to update these truths and realities saying that there is no need for contention between the two. To embrace what some might see as a form of monkhood, without any formal rite of passage, driven solely by a passion for exploring our past and writing about it. For a Taoist, this begins with clearing the mind through breath control, and daily living as meditation and mental and physical nourishment. Over the centuries, it has meant finding good teachers, harmonizing with them, and learning to tell a good story.
My travels with Lieh Tzu / Interpolations along the Way
Chapter Six – Endeavor and Destiny
99. Destiny transcending human endeavor
Remaining as still as the water at the bottom of a deep pool. As though at rest, watching the movement of the ripples that the wind brings to the surface. Forgetting if you are really at rest or have become a part of the movement or waves above you.
As alike as two brothers Yang Pu and his brother Yang Chu were in age, speech, talents and appearance they were different in their time of death, rank, reputation, and affection given by others. Yang Pu could never understand why.
His older brother, Yang Chu, responded by quoting an ancient saying that had guided him in his endeavors:
“All that is so without us knowing why destiny is.”
Yang Chu continued:
“All that happens for obscure and confused reasons; however, we act or do not act, coming one day and gone the next with no one knowing why destiny is.
For the man who trusts destiny there is no difference between long life and short.
For one who trusts the principles by which things happen, there is nothing to approve or reject.
For one who trusts his mind, nothing which is agreeable or offensive.
For one who trusts his nature, nothing which secures or endangers him and nothing which he trusts or distrusts.
He is true, he becomes genuine. What should he shun or approach, enjoy or grieve over, say or not say, do or not do?”
He becomes one with the dragons, the sage that stays beyond earthly endeavors. He knows neither rest nor movement. Refrains from changing his feelings or expression because others may be watching or fail to change them because they may not be watching. He always comes and goes as if alone without obstruction.
As each person is born and dies following the destiny given to him, how could the two brothers Yang Chu and Yang Pu not be the same yet different? That one is allowed to see his destiny transcending human endeavor only to leave his brother behind is the only way it could be. 6/16/95
Number ninety-nine of one hundred fifty-eight entries.
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