At the foot of a serene mountain, there lay a small village where a young man named Li Xuan lived. Li Xuan had been intelligent since childhood, yet he showed no interest in worldly fame and fortune. Instead, his heart was filled with awe and curiosity towards the heaven, the earth, and nature.

 

One day, he heard that deep in the mountains there was a highly accomplished Taoist master who could solve all the puzzles of the world and understand the principles of heaven and earth. Thereupon, Li Xuan resolutely packed his bags and embarked on the journey of seeking the Tao. The mountain path was rugged and overgrown with thorns, but the belief in his heart never wavered.

 

During the climb, he encountered an old man. The old man had snow-white hair, but his eyes were deep and wise. The old man asked him, "Young man, where are you going? There are numerous dangers in this deep mountain. Why are you so persistent?" Li Xuan replied respectfully, "Sir, I heard that there is a Taoist master in the mountains who can impart the great Tao. I wish to seek the Tao to understand the true meaning of life, so I'm not afraid of the hardships and dangers." The old man smiled slightly and said, "The Tao lies within your heart and also in all things in the world. You're searching so painstakingly; don't overlook the Tao that is right before your eyes." After hearing this, Li Xuan was lost in thought.

 

After several days of arduous trekking, Li Xuan finally found the Taoist temple where the legendary Taoist master resided. Incense smoke curled up slowly in the temple, presenting a scene of tranquility and peace. The Taoist master was sitting on a rush cushion, looking at him calmly. Li Xuan quickly stepped forward, bowed in reverence, and poured out his heart's longing for seeking the Tao. The Taoist master nodded gently and said, "The path of seeking the Tao is long and arduous. One needs to have an unwavering and persevering heart and also the ability to perceive the subtleties of the world. The Tao is not an unreachable and mysterious thing; rather, it exists in your daily life, in your every move and every word. You were able to abandon the prosperity of the earthly world to seek the Tao, which is a sincere act. However, to truly understand the Tao, you need to practice meditation in this mountain, experiencing the harmony between nature and your inner self."

 

Li Xuan then began his life of meditation in the Taoist temple. Every day, he would chant scriptures and meditate with the Taoist master, observing the changing of the four seasons and the flourishing and withering of flowers and plants. At first, his heart was restless and he couldn't calm down. But as time went by, he gradually realized that everything in the world has its own laws, just like the movement of the sun, the moon, and the stars, which proceeds neither too fast nor too slow, following the natural way. And if a person can conform to this way and not be deluded by excessive desires, he will be able to attain inner peace and tranquility. This is the manifestation of the Taoist thought of conforming to nature and purifying the heart and reducing desires. By discovering the existence of the Tao in ordinary life and facing the disturbances of the world with a calm heart, remaining unmoved by external things, one can take a solid step on the path of seeking the Tao.