The higher a person's spiritual realm, the more they give off a feeling of coldness and ruthlessness. Whether towards family or friends, it seems that this person becomes increasingly emotionless and devoid of compassion. But in fact, this is normal. True compassion is allowing what should happen to happen—letting flowers be flowers, letting trees be trees. The closer one gets to the Way, the more ruthless it becomes. This is what Laozi meant in the Dao De Jing when he said, “Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs.”