The Tao says to be like an infant: curious, open-minded and without prejudices or “templates” of what the world is all about.  Infants put everything in their mouth, testing dirt, bugs, fingers, computer mouse–everything with their new-found sensual perception. 

That’s a lot like an addict.  But an addict has this “template” expectation that it will help her escape from the front-row reality of the day.  The infant wants to learn more and more emotional experience of this world.

it is the empty space that makes the teacup functional.  It is the open air in a doorway that gives us a path to the next room.  Thus the unknown next action, the foggy fearful feeling, and the new year “older” that will show us as the brilliant paradoxical being of spirit that I am.