#25

Meaning harbors the prime principle in the body
while purpose describes its function. 
Mutually interdependent 
together they complete Tai Chi. 
To perceive that which is between purpose and meaning 
first begin with meaning. 

That which holds everything is meaning.

* * *

Meaning harbors the core within the soul, 

A silent force that makes the body whole. 

Purpose moves, it dances, it aligns, 

Guiding meaning through the threads of time.

Together they breathe, a unified art, 

Each playing its role, yet never apart. 

Tai Chi flows in their embrace, 

In purpose and meaning, they find their grace. 

To glimpse the space where both do meet, 

Start with meaning—silent, deep, complete. 

It holds the world, a quiet thread, 

Binding all that lives, and all that's said. 

Meaning, the source, the endless thread, 

Purpose, the path, where it's gently led. 

In their dance, all truths unfurl, 

Together, they shape this quiet world. 

 * * * 

In the heart of an ancient forest, where the trees whispered secrets older than time, there lived a master who had devoted his life to understanding the delicate balance of Tai Chi. His name was Jian, and though his body was worn with age, his spirit was as fluid as the river that flowed near his home. 

Jian often meditated by the water's edge, watching how the currents shifted with the wind, how the leaves danced and fell without resistance. He had long understood the physical movements of Tai Chi, the graceful balance of body and mind, but there was a deeper question that gnawed at him—what was the true source of this energy? 

One evening, as the sun began to set and the world softened into twilight, a young traveler named Mei arrived at Jian's home. She had heard of his wisdom and sought his guidance, for she, too, had felt something stirring deep within her, a longing she could not name. 

Jian welcomed her with a warm smile and led her to the stream. "You seek purpose, do you not?" he asked, his voice low and steady. 

Mei nodded, eager but uncertain. "Yes, Master. I feel as though I am searching for something. I want to understand my path, my place in this world." 

Jian gazed at the water, his eyes reflecting the soft light of the moon rising. "Purpose," he said, "is like the river's current. It carries you forward, guiding your actions, your choices. It gives you direction. But it is not the river itself." 

Mei frowned, puzzled. "If purpose is like the current, then what is the river?" 

Jian smiled. "Meaning is the river. It is what holds everything together. Without meaning, there would be no current. Without meaning, there would be no purpose." 

Mei's mind whirred, trying to grasp the connection. "But how do I find meaning?" 

Jian stood and gestured for her to follow him. They moved in silence, their steps in harmony with the natural rhythm of the world around them. As they walked, Jian continued, "To perceive that which lies between purpose and meaning, you must first understand meaning. It is the foundation, the quiet force that shapes everything. Meaning is what holds the world together, even when you cannot see it. It is not something you can grasp with your hands or words. It is felt in the stillness, in the spaces between your thoughts." 

They arrived at a clearing where the trees formed a natural circle. Jian closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Stand with me," he instructed Mei. 

Mei did as she was told, and together they stood, facing the earth, the sky, and each other. The stillness was profound, like the moment before the first light of dawn. Jian’s voice was barely above a whisper. "When you are still, when you listen deeply, meaning reveals itself. It is not found in action, nor in striving. It is found in surrender, in being present to the moment, to the world as it is." 

For the first time, Mei understood. It was not the doing that brought purpose; it was the being that held the meaning. Purpose flowed from meaning, like the river from the source. And in that moment, with the moonlight filtering through the trees and the soft wind brushing her skin, Mei knew that her journey had just begun—not in search of purpose, but in the quiet embrace of meaning. 

And so, under the watchful eyes of the ancient trees, Mei and Jian stood together, knowing that in the dance of purpose and meaning, all things would find their place. 

 * * * 

In a small village nestled between rolling hills and vast, untouched forests, there was an old man named Li Wei who lived alone on the edge of the woods. His house, built from time-worn wood, stood beside a serene lake that mirrored the changing sky. The villagers often spoke of his wisdom and how he seemed to know the answers to questions that others had not yet thought to ask. Yet, he was also a mystery. He never seemed hurried, never troubled by the world’s chaos. 

One crisp autumn morning, a young woman named Lian arrived at Li Wei's home. She had heard whispers of his insight, and though she was skeptical, she sought him out. Lian was burdened with a deep sense of unrest that she could not explain, a feeling of being lost, even though she had everything she needed. She had purpose—she worked tirelessly for her family, tended to her garden, and did all the things one would expect. But something was missing. 

Li Wei greeted her with a quiet smile. “What brings you here, child?” he asked. 

“I seek answers,” Lian said, her voice tentative. “I don’t know what’s wrong. I have a purpose, but it doesn’t fill me. I do all the right things, but still, I feel empty.” 

Li Wei nodded and beckoned her to sit with him by the lake, the water calm, reflecting the brilliant colors of autumn leaves. “Tell me,” he said, “what is purpose to you?” 

Lian hesitated, then spoke. “Purpose is what I do—my tasks, my responsibilities. It’s the meaning behind each action I take. It’s what keeps me going. It’s why I wake up each morning.” 

The old man smiled, but his eyes were knowing. “Purpose is like a leaf drifting on the surface of this water. It moves and changes with the current, guiding your actions, directing your life. But there is something deeper beneath the surface.” 

Lian frowned. “What do you mean?” 

Li Wei gestured to the stillness of the lake. “Meaning, child, is the depth that holds all things. It is not visible to the eye, but it is the source of everything you see. Without meaning, there would be no current. Without meaning, there would be no purpose. Meaning is what holds the world together.”

Lian’s heart stirred, and she felt an unfamiliar calm wash over her. “But how do I find meaning?” 

Li Wei leaned back, his gaze turning inward, as though he were listening to something only he could hear. “You begin by being still. Purpose moves you outward, but meaning is felt in the quiet. To find meaning, you must listen—to the space between your thoughts, to the stillness between your actions.”

He stood and motioned for Lian to follow him as he walked toward the edge of the lake. With each step, he moved slowly, deliberately, as though every footfall held a profound weight. “Purpose is important,” he said, “but it is meaning that grounds you. When you understand meaning, purpose becomes a reflection of your true self, a dance that flows naturally, without effort.” 

Lian walked beside him, feeling a deep pull within her, as if the air itself was charged with some ancient truth. She realized that she had spent her life focusing on purpose, on doing, on achieving. But she had never stopped to listen to what lay beneath, to understand why she did these things, or what held it all together. 

As they reached a quiet spot by the water, Li Wei stopped and turned to her. “Close your eyes,” he said softly. “Let the stillness surround you.” 

Lian did as he asked, her breath slowing, her mind quieting. She could feel the cool breeze on her skin, the earth beneath her feet, the rhythmic sound of the lake lapping gently against the shore. And in that stillness, she felt it—the presence of something vast, something deeper than purpose. She felt meaning. 

It was not something she could grasp or explain, but it was there, in the very fabric of her being, woven into every breath, every heartbeat. It was the quiet force that held the world together, that made everything whole. 

When she opened her eyes, she looked at Li Wei, and for the first time, she understood. Purpose was the path, but meaning was the essence. One could not exist without the other. 

Li Wei smiled, as though he had been waiting for this moment all along. “Now, child,” he said gently, “you may walk with purpose, for you have found meaning.” 

And Lian, with her heart light and clear, knew she would never again be lost. She would move forward, not only driven by purpose, but anchored in the deep, quiet meaning that held everything together.

* * *

Designing the gap between divine omniscience

and mortal awareness.

Find your truth. Know your mind. Follow your heart. Love eternal will not be denied. Discernment is an integral part of self-mastery. You may share this post on a non-commercial basis, the author and URL to be included. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2025 C.G. Garant.