Xuefeng
April 24, 2026
What is a Celestial?
One who can live with open ease and unrestrained freedom, moving in effortless accord with the natural flow; one who can be at ease wherever one is, adapt to conditions, act according to one’s nature, and act when the time is right; one who is forever satisfied with one’s own present state, with not the slightest sense of self-contempt, inferiority, or self-belittlement; one who can always delight in oneself, entertain oneself, take pride in oneself, and remain romantic, optimistic, graceful, and free-spirited—such a one is a Celestial.
How, then, can a toe become a Celestial?
By willingly being a toe, never envying or resenting the fingers, and still less longing to become an eye or an ear; by being content with one’s present position and role within the whole human body; by often feeling grounded, happy, and proud because one stands upon the earth; by frequently feeling compassion and sympathy for the fingers because they labor so hard; by from time to time feeling fortunate that one is always protected by socks and shoes; by feeling sorry for the head, which is constantly exposed to sun, rain, wind, and dust—such a state of mind and consciousness is already that of a Celestial.
So long as a toe is content with its own role and place in the human body and lives in carefree ease, it is a Celestial.
But once a toe is dissatisfied with its own role and strives to become a finger, struggles and exerts itself in hopes of becoming an eye, then its whole life will be a life of sorrow and misery.
As a toe, one should understand one’s own coordinate system and coordinate point. The human body is one’s coordinate system, and the toe is one’s coordinate point. The moment one is born, one’s position is already determined. This is a reality one can neither resist nor alter. Since it can neither be resisted nor changed, once one gladly accepts the present reality, everything opens up: one’s vision brightens, one’s heart grows light, and one becomes free and untroubled.
A mouse should never envy or resent a cat, still less attempt to become a dog. To be a mouse is an arrangement of nature. One’s coordinate system is the animal world, and one’s coordinate point is precisely that of a mouse. To be a good mouse is one’s mission.
A blade of grass should not envy or resent a great tree, still less vainly dream of becoming a flowering plant or a Chinese cabbage. So long as it peacefully and joyfully remains a blade of grass, the sunlight, the rain and dew, the breeze, and the moonlight are all its friends and kindred spirits.
An enlightened person will discover, from the human body, the plant kingdom, the animal world, and the sun, moon, and stars, that every being has its own role and position within the system. To try to change one’s own role is not only impossible, but also futile and harmful. Whether in the world of ants or the kingdom of bees, whether one is born a worker ant, a worker bee, a soldier ant, or a male bee is determined from birth. The queen ant and the queen bee are likewise determined from birth; they are not attained by some soldier ant or male bee through hard work, study, struggle, or effort. This order cannot be changed.
What about human society, then?
Human society is not essentially different from the world of ants or the kingdom of bees. What role each person is to play is already determined at birth. A shepherd cannot become a scientist; an engineer cannot become a politician; a merchant cannot become a farmer; a wage earner cannot become an entrepreneur. The character and gifts bestowed on each person at birth determine that person’s role and place in society.
Suppose someone is born in a remote rural area, into a poor family, and in very poor health—can such a person still become a Celestial?
[2026/5/4 4:30] Susan Qinyou qy: Yes. If one regards oneself as a toe within the coordinate system of human society, then one can become a Celestial. But once one wants, through struggle and effort, to become an urban middle-class white-collar worker, then one should no longer dream of becoming a Celestial.
Who is most pitiable in human society?
A beggar is just as pitiable as a king;
a rich man is just as pitiable as a poor man;
a scholar is just as pitiable as an illiterate person.
Who is happiest in human society?
A Celestial.