The busy do not understand the un-busy. “Are you keeping busy?” they blurt, which leaves the un-busy three choices—to lie, prevaricate or stare fixedly ahead. The story of Martha and Mary is devoted to this tension. Jesus makes plain where his heart is.
Don’t want anything. Don’t regret anything.
“Are you able to do nothing?” How easily Lao Tsu arrests the mind! As we know, any fool can do something, but rare indeed is that man, the one who can do nothing.
A gentleman does not: (1) claim credit, (2) curry favour, (3) deflect blame.
If I do not desire anything and I am not afraid of anything, then the mind is quiet. Not asleep or chewing its cud, but alert, watchful and ready. Like a top-of-class majordomo.
Men's Work 