Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.– Lao Tzu
A few months ago, I met a very passionate young man who had recently dragged himself out of drug addiction, and had been making all sorts of exciting spiritual discoveries with his newly clear and sober mind. He was really excited by all the truths he was discovering, but he found himself with a new problem: he wanted to shake some sense into all of his old friends who were still living in the limited reality he had left behind, and tell them to wake up! Instead of being wholly happy, his heart was breaking for everyone who was still struggling with problems he had figured out how to solve. Though he agreed that there was no way anyone could have gotten through to him before he was ready, it took a couple of hours of deep conversation before he could see that everyone is just where they need to be and learning whatever it is they most need to learn right now. It’s common to feel as he was feeling when we first see the light, of course. Later, when our understanding grows deep, sound and true, we no longer feel the need to engage in philosophical debates or try to convince others to see things our way, for we no longer need to prove our views to anyone, least of all ourselves.