The Renaissance liberated our ancestors from preoccupation with the afterlife, and empowered them to seek happiness here and now. The lifestyle changed, and the culture blossomed. How could the next such change begin?

Without suitable information to show us the way, we pursue convenience—what brings immediate gratification.

But convenience is a deceptive value, which surprisingly often leads to a less convenient condition.

In its shadow, there are a wealth of insights and opportunities that we can use to vastly improve our condition; through "human development", and "cultural revival".

The way and the paradox

Lao-Tzu

According to tradition, Lao-Tzu or "Old Master", an ancient wise man of China, was on his way out of China to end his life in solitary contemplation. But the border guard would not let him leave, until he wrote down the essence of his wisdom for posterity.

We let the Old Master convey to us two insights:

• Instead of reaching out for the objects of our desire, must focus on our way of life—and harmonize it with the overarching Way of the universe
• The Way (called Tao) to the highest good is hidden from us by a paradox

We let the following excerpt from Tao-Te Ching, the book of wisdom that the Old Master's allegedly left to the border guard, summarize his message for us.

That the weak can defeat the strong—

There is no one in the whole world who doesn't know it,
And yet there is no one who can put it into practice.