On Goals

蔺且问道：“何谓用志不分、乃凝于神？”
庄周回答说：“当一个人的注意力完全集中于某一个事物时，他的精神就会与物合
而为一，佝偻丈人粘蝉的手艺说明，人要想做好任何事情，都必须摆脱名利的束缚，将
全部身心投入进去。养生亦是如此。”

This is an excerpt of the Biography of Chuang Tzu, by Wang Xinmin. I had been reading this book for the last few days.
We had always had goals. In schools we are taught so, in families, the parents set the goal for us. The Tao, however, is goalless. The Tao is in everything, be it spiritual or material. A trader friend told me he forgot how much he is going to make or lose when he was actively trading the stock market. Had he worried about the outcome of the trade, he would have lost. Here he had a taste of Tao in trading. In Yoga practice, the same Tao applies. If the goal is to be able to practice the first Asthtanga Primary Series, the essence of yoga is lost in the goal. If the goal is not to have a goal, then Tao itself is lost. Whatever we do, share concentration is the most important thing, and in fact the only thing that matters. It is only then, perfection is achieved.
Non-attachment is all reaching, in every aspect of life. The obvious ones are fame and wealth, but it also applies to sainthood and spiritual advancement. When true non-attachment is with one person, he non-attachment itself is not discipline for him. A monk meditates all his life in attempt to know the Tao is sadly no different to someone who attempt to achieve fame or wealth all his life.