There was a man so disturbed by seeing his own shadow and so displeased with his own footsteps that he decided to rid himself of both. The method he thought of was to run away from them. As he began to run, each time his foot landed, there was another step, and his shadow kept up with him effortlessly. He attributed his failure to the fact that he was not running fast enough. Thus, he ran faster and faster without stopping until he finally collapsed and died. He failed to realize that if he had simply stood in the shade, his shadow would have vanished, and if he had sat still, there would have been no more footsteps.

The Guitar Player’s Insight: Ceasing the Chase

This man’s futile attempt to escape his shadow offers a profound insight for guitar players: to achieve your goals, you must stop chasing them. It is also a lesson about the importance of not disturbing our spirit. Thomas Merton once said, “My opinion is that happiness is never found until one stops looking for it.” Guitar players can create mechanisms of defense to protect themselves from external dangers. These defenses are double-edged: they can shield the person but also trap them, preventing growth. A guitarist afraid of external criticism will never share their work with others. Their ego remains protected, yet they never experience the joy of sharing their art. They prepare for an attack that has not yet come and may never occur. Thus, they never grow.

The Wise Guitarist: Embracing Non-Action

Therefore, the wise guitarist does not worry about their own footsteps or suspect their shadow. This passage clearly illustrates a concept repeated in the study of Tao: “non-action.” In the West, non-action is often misunderstood as literally doing nothing. In reality, it means to act without acting. The man ran to his death when all he needed to do was stop. The learned guitarist, by non-doing, does. By stopping, they advance; by resting, they progress. This seems paradoxical because we are educated differently. Non-action carries the profound teaching of allowing what must happen to occur without pulling or pushing. A stream cannot be pushed, and an unstoppable torrent cannot be halted. To flow gently with the current is to advance in the Tao.

Conclusion: The Path of the Guitar Player

The story of the man and his shadow serves as a metaphor for guitar players and all who pursue mastery in any field. It teaches us that sometimes, the best way to move forward is not to move at all. In embracing stillness and letting go of the relentless pursuit, we may find that we achieve more than when we strive blindly. For guitarists, this means accepting where you are in your journey, embracing the process, and letting your music flow naturally, without force. This approach not only enhances your skills but enriches your experience with the guitar, allowing you to grow in harmony with the rhythm of life itself.