— Note: Any resemblances between Lo Zu’s utterances and Thomas Peace’s apparent philosophical stance may be purely coincidental. —

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The aged Lo Zu remained resting upon the large, steadfast boulder — his meandering walking-cane there by his side — and the inquisitive students who had been asking him questions continued on with their inquiry. One of the students asked, “Lo Zu, how should one deal with one’s desires and fears?” Lo Zu sat in silence a while, and said, “Desires and fears are not what are held by some internal, central mental manager; such a ‘manager’ or ‘controller’ is what you were erroneously taught. Rather, they are what you actually are (at the time of their occurrence). When fear takes place, one is that fear… not something separate that ‘has it’ or that sees it via some separative distance. What seems separate from the fear is a concoction of the thinking process (that had been learned from others). That concoction is false and is a waste of energy. So ‘fear’ is partly what you are when that fear takes place. Look at that fear without pretending that it isn’t there, without trying to subjugate it, or run away from it. Look at it as you would look at a precious jewel, for it can reveal understanding and wisdom if looked at without distortion or prejudice (i.e., saying that it is something ‘bad’). One can deny that the fear is actually there, which would be denying the reality of ‘what is.’ Distorting inward reality does not help true learning to take place. Operating erroneously from a fictitious center (which really isn’t there) certainly wastes energy and extends distortion.”

Then Lo Zu remained quiet for some time; a bit later, he resumed talking, “Similarly with desire; when desire takes place, one is not something separate from that desire. To internally deny that the desire exists is to deny the reality of ‘what is’ and is a foolish waste of energy. Examine that desire as it takes place; examine it not as something ‘separate’ that one has. Learn from it and move on. Great wisdom may exist when the mind transcends beyond mere fears and desires. That transcending has nothing to do with a mentally fabricated ‘controller.’ If greed occurs as what ‘you are,’ for instance, be that greed, learn from it, and move on; don’t be a hypocrite and pretend that it is not greed; be immensely honest and be true to ‘what is.’ That is real integrity. Supreme order is goodness; that goodness is not strangled by internal conflict, false denials, separative friction, and illusory ownership. Understanding the mind is an immense, wonderful adventure. It is the greatest adventure that can ever exist.”