There’s a famous religious painting commonly translated from Chinese as The Vinegar Tasters. It depicts three men gathered around a large vat of vinegar. The first man wears a sour look on his face. The second man looks like he’s tasted something bitter, and his face contorts accordingly. The third man is smiling, even after tasting the vinegar.

The painting represents China’s most influential mentors: Confucius, Buddha, and Lao-Tse (pronounced LAOdsoo), and their responses to the pain of existence.

Confucius advocated for the preservation of tradition, high regard for elders and ancestors, and a strong ethic of hard work and honesty. Disharmony arises when the present becomes discontinuous with the past, when human governments are not aligned with heavenly law. This makes us sour and upset.

For Buddha, Life is full of suffering, and this suffering arises from our attachments. Nirvana, which literally means “no wind,” is our escape from endless pain. Until arriving at no wind, we will be buffeted by the bitter winds of loss and misfortune.   

Lao-tse is the only person who responds positively to Life’s vinegar. Why is he smiling?