St. Thomas à Becket

For Tuesday, August 16: Choose the path of non-being.

One of my favorite plays is Jean Anouilh's Becket, about the 12th-century assassination of Archbishop St. Thomas à Becket of Canterbury by the henchmen of friend-turned-enemy Henry II. The play explores the psychology of friendship and the poisoning that lust for power has on human relationships. 

King Henry, although he appoints Becket in his position, grows bitterly resentful of Becket's loyalty to God.  He tries to challenge him at every turn, even poking fun at his commitment to honesty:

KING. [ . . . .] You can't tell a lie. I know you. Not because you're afraid of lies—I think you must be the only man I know who isn't afraid of anything—not even Heaven—but because it's distasteful to you. You consider it inelegant. What looks like morality in you is nothing more than esthetics. Is that true or isn't it?

BECKET. It's true, my Lord.

Although affirming that his morality is merely aesthetics, Becket is the epitome of a Taoist Master. He yields to the fate that he has been given, and walks a path of non-being. Although he has the power of the Church, he accepts that he has nothing:

KING. Have you been touched by grace?

BECKET. Not by the one you think. I am not worthy of it.

As recorded in the Tao Te Ching, the characteristics of the Master are the following:

He has nothing,
thus has nothing to lose.
What he desires is non-desire;
what he learns is to unlearn.
He simply reminds people
of who they have always been.

I love Becket's character, despite the unhappy ending of the play, because he lives an authentic life. He is deeply aware of his flaws, but attains a serenity of being that makes him the true winner in the struggle. His presence reminds others of who they are. Unfortunately, Henry II can't bear to be reminded of himself, which is why he has him killed.

For me, there is a lesson here that it is worthy to live an authentic life because of what it means for our relationships. In being ourselves, we have the potential to remind others who they have always been. Hopefully, this will be to their benefit. While the real-life Henry II chose a murderous path, thousands of people flocked to Canterbury to visit St. Thomas's tomb -- in life and death, he touched them all.

From the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16:

Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.

Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.