Dao

Taoism is full of stories to teach these ideas. One of the foundational stories is of three people tasting a pot of vinegar.

The first is Confucian. They taste the sour nature and think rules and regulations are needed to keep people in line. That person will spend their whole life unhappy as they try to control the uncontrollable.

The second is Buddhism. They taste bitterness. They understand that this suffering can only be eliminated by escaping the material world and entering Nirvana. They will spend their life trying to achieve the unachievable: true enlightenment.

The third is Taoist. They smile. Vinegar is a part of nature. It is what it is. There is no need to attach too much emotional response to it. There’s a range of flavors and experiences in nature. All can be enjoyed in their own way.