The currently hugely popular and historically famous Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius said “the obstacle is the path.” This implies ‘meeting one’s challenges head-on’, rather than going around, or avoiding them.
If you haven’t heard of this emperor who embraced Greek Stoicism, he is the one portrayed as the old Caesar played by Richard Harris–in The Gladiator, staring Russell Crow.
Lao Tsu is credited with having said to practice non-doing–which, of course, doesn’t mean ‘don’t do anything’, but rather to not micromanage—to use a popular phrase from the 80s and 90s–and rather ‘let things unfold, naturally, allowing them to progress or devolve as part of the natural order. This is hard for many of us to do, especially with the histories that precede us, the examples set before us, the accomplishment-focused heroes we elect to worship–in politics, business, education, sports and even in relationships. Capitalism (often conflated with democracy), is an inspiration in over-doing, itself–feeding selfishness, blind greed and war….
Sometimes, in issues and situations big and small, a combination of the two ideas–if we take the Roman’s statement to mean, “go after it”, as Chris Cuomo would say–is in order; or–maybe always.
Let us say you apply for a job (and let us assume that not having one, or the trying to obtain one, is the “obstacle”)–or, in my case, for tens or hundreds of jobs; after you have applied for one, you have to move on to applying for another—or not–but in waiting to find out whether you will be hired–you find have to let go, and… wait.
The above examples do not, perhaps, make the best lessons for the statements we read from the great philosophers in question, but they work and relate to my situation, which satisfies an autobiographical tone for this blog.
A better example would be in talking about having to do something and not wanting to do it, or in the opposite vein, overdoing it. Do the things you are afraid to do–if they must be done, but once on the path, don’t overdo it.
Joseph Campbell famously told us “the cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” This statement matches that of Aurelius, I think. If we add the wisdom of Lao Tsu, we might say, enter the cave, conquer the fear of that obstacle in the dark, but once you have gone in and approached your goal, let go of it.
Carl Atteniese II
Currently in Baganuur, Mongolia
© 2025 卍道 (“Mändō” / Carl Atteniese)/ All rights reserved
