Taoist Philosophy Taoist Philosophy & Religion in & Religion in

China & How it China & How it BeganBegan

Chinese Folk ReligionChinese Folk ReligionTaoism

Here is my favorite Taoist Sage. His name is Winnie the Pooh.

Pooh is a small dumpy bear with one love in life, eating honey. He is not all that clever, and bumbles along through life, arriving at the answer to riddles or problems with little effort and without meaning to. Often, he doesn’t even realize that he has arrived at the answer. His philosophy is a deceptively simple, yet highly advanced mix of expending minimal effort and going with the flow of his natural tendencies as well as working within his limitations to produce results naturally. Even as Pooh solves problems in his steady simple way, he remains joyous and happy-go-lucky. He does not try to discard his desire of honey or remain within his hierarchy of rules and regulations. He just meanders about, doing natural Pooh bear things and living a happy joyful life. Now, that’s my kind of Tao Sage!

Chinese Folk ReligionChinese Folk Religion

Where Taoism beganWhere Taoism began Belief in spiritsBelief in spirits Reverence for ancestorsReverence for ancestors Priests perform blessing rituals:Priests perform blessing rituals:

– purifying space purifying space – Exorcising evil spirits (“hungry ghosts”)Exorcising evil spirits (“hungry ghosts”)

AstrologyAstrology DivinationDivination

Chinese metaphysicsChinese metaphysicsand where Taoism gets its and where Taoism gets its

ideas is about…ideas is about… EnergyEnergy ChangeChange BalanceBalance HarmonyHarmony Inter-relationshipsInter-relationships

Lao TzuLao Tzu**(6th century BC?)(6th century BC?)

and theand the

Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching((Dow Duh JingDow Duh Jing))

*Also known as Laotse, Laozi, Lao-Zi, Li Erh, Li Tan, & Lao Tan.

(The Book of the Way and Its Power)

Taoism’s beginnings are shrouded in mystery.

It is not certain whether the founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu, ever actually existed.

There are accounts, however legendary, about Lao Tzu

The origins are ancient, dating back to the time of Confucius: 551-479.

Origins of Origins of TaoismTaoism

He was conceived by a shooting star. When his mother gave birth to him, he was

already eighty two years old, a wise man with flowing white hair.

He worked as a government archivist. Eventually, he became disenchanted with the

corruption of government. He left his town after taking three days to

write down his words of wisdom, The Tao Te Ching.

Was born in 604 BC in the Chu Province, Had a long career as the royal historian-

librarian-archivist in the Chou capital of Lo-yang, & (after becoming disillusioned as a result of the increasing decline of the Chou dynasty) left China for Tibet or India late in the 6th (or perhaps early in the 5th) century BC.

Before leaving, however, he recorded his philosophical insights in a short book, the Tao Te Ching (also known as the Lao Tzu), which is one of the foundational classics of Taoism.

According to tradition,,Lao Tzu (“The Old Boy” or “Old Master”)

A contemporary of Confucius. (Alternate spellings: Lao Tze, Lao Tsu, Lao Tzu, Laozi, Laotze, etc.), he was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime.

The result was his book: Tao-Te-Ching).

Others believe that he is a mythical character

Authored by Lao Tzu, it is Taoism’s foundational text.It is 81 short chapters, dating back to the 3rd. century, b.c.e.It contains many paradoxes -and profound teachings on living in harmony with nature. Such as: Those who know do not speak; Those who speak do not know.

The Tao Te ChingThe Tao Te Ching

Lao Tzu says that his teachings Lao Tzu says that his teachings are derived from an ancient are derived from an ancient system of principles & that system of principles & that they are easy to understand & they are easy to understand & to put into practice to put into practice but that no but that no one understands & practices one understands & practices themthem..

Many consider my teaching to be Many consider my teaching to be nonsense.nonsense.

But the profound is a lot like nonsense.But the profound is a lot like nonsense. If a teaching does not seem If a teaching does not seem

nonsensical, then it must be trivial.nonsensical, then it must be trivial.

Taoism started as a combination of Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 when it was into a religious faith in 440 when it was adopted as a state religion. adopted as a state religion. Taoism, Taoism, along with Buddhism and along with Buddhism and Confucianism, became one of the three Confucianism, became one of the three great religions of China.great religions of China.

Taoist Beliefs and Practices:Taoist Beliefs and Practices:

Taoism has provided an Taoism has provided an alternative to the Confucian alternative to the Confucian tradition in China. The two tradition in China. The two traditions have coexisted in the traditions have coexisted in the country, region and sometimes country, region and sometimes within the same individual.within the same individual.

Taoism currently has aboutTaoism currently has about 20 20 million followers,million followers, and is and is primarily centered in Taiwan. primarily centered in Taiwan. About 30,000 Taoists live in About 30,000 Taoists live in North America North America ""acupuncture, acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, herbalism, holistic medicine, meditation and martial arts...meditation and martial arts...“ “ are aspects of Taoism youare aspects of Taoism you

may be familiar withmay be familiar with

Be still like a mountain and flow like a Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.great river." Lao Tzu" Lao Tzu

""We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and we recognize all personified deities as being mere human constructs. We reject hatred, intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, love and learning, as we are taught by Nature. We place our trust and our lives in the Tao, that we may live in peace and balance with the Universe, both in this mortal life and beyond."

TaoismTaoismThe Way of Harmony with The Way of Harmony with

NatureNature

A philosophyA philosophy– Profound and and paradoxical

A way of lifeA way of life– Playful and and practical

A religionA religion

Nature knows bestNature knows best

You must experience to know i.e. mysticism- a direct experience

with the sacred

A pond frog cannot imagine the ocean and a summer insect cannot

conceive of ice. How then can a scholar understand the Tao? He is

restricted by his own learning.

The Tao cannot be understood by the intellect of the brain, it must be felt

by spirit of the soul.

Leading ideas in Taoist Leading ideas in Taoist thoughtthought

The The DAODAO Chi (Ch'IChi (Ch'I,, Qi) Qi) DeDe Yin/YangYin/Yang The natural order (the The natural order (the universe & all things in it)universe & all things in it)

Philosophical TaoismPhilosophical Taoism The Tao (“path” or “way” or it could

be conceived of as the force that moves the universe)– The “nameless”– The “Mother of ten-thousand things”– The “Un carved block”

The Taoist Sage: learns not from scholarly books but by observing the way of nature (flowing water, wind) and letting nature guide his way through life

Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. Each believer's goal is to become one with the Tao.

TAO

DOW

DAO

IndefinableIndefinable UnnamableUnnamable The source of both The source of both

reality & appearancereality & appearance Empty, but never Empty, but never

used up; always used up; always availableavailable

Hidden, but always Hidden, but always presentpresent

Older than the godsOlder than the gods

Invisible, inaudible, Invisible, inaudible, intangibleintangible

The OneThe One Appears in countless Appears in countless

forms; given forms; given countless namescountless names

Without form, but Without form, but completecomplete

The Mother of all The Mother of all thingsthings

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the DAODAO

Creator of all thingsCreator of all things Present in all thingsPresent in all things Returns all things to their origin Returns all things to their origin

(nothingness, no-thing-ness?)(nothingness, no-thing-ness?) Does not contend, but it prevails; does not Does not contend, but it prevails; does not

speak, but it answers; is not called, but it speak, but it answers; is not called, but it responds; has no purpose, but it achieves all responds; has no purpose, but it achieves all of its aimsof its aims

When you seek it, you find it.When you seek it, you find it.

Silent. Empty. Independent. Silent. Empty. Independent. Unchanging. Infinite. Eternal.Unchanging. Infinite. Eternal.

Tao is both the ultimate source and principle of order in the universe.Tao has two components, yin and yang.Taoism regards moral values as relative and avoids absolute moral judgments.Taoism literature says nothing about the afterlife and depicts death as one of nature’s transformations from one state to another.Humans are part of the grand harmony of nature and to live in accord with the Tao is the only way to thrive.

“embraces and underlies all being, a vast Oneness that precedes and in some mysterious manner generates the endlessly diverse forms of the world . . . . [U]nknowable as the tao may be in essence, one must somehow learn to sense its presence and movement in order to bring one’s own life and movements into harmony with it. The aim of the text . . . is to impart to the reader, through hints, symbols, and paradoxical utterances, such an intuitive grasp of the tao and the vital ability to move with it rather than counter to it.”

Yin & Yang & the principle of Yin & Yang & the principle of reversalreversal

Non-ado Non-ado (wu-wei)(wu-wei) The The DAODAO-Master (the Daoist hero)-Master (the Daoist hero) Seeking the Seeking the DAODAO & living in the & living in the

DAODAO How to liveHow to live MeditationMeditation EmptinessEmptiness Anti-ConfucianismAnti-Confucianism Political philosophyPolitical philosophy

The philosophical content The philosophical content of the of the Tao Te Ching:Tao Te Ching:

The power (De) of the TAO is expressed in the cosmos in accordance with the Yin/Yang principle.

Yin (dark side) is the breath that formed the earth. Yang (light side) is the breath that formed the heavens. They symbolize pairs of opposites which balance one another and keep the universe in harmony. These are seen throughout the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female. Intervention by human civilization upsets the balances of Yin and Yang.

Yin & Yangfemale

dark

cool

earthly

soft

changeable

moist

passive

negative

evil

malebrighthotheavenlyhardsteadfastdryactivepositivegood

Earth & moon

Heaven & sun

Traits of Yin and YangTraits of Yin and Yang YinYin

NegativeNegative PassivePassive FeminineFeminine EarthlyEarthly

YangYang PositivePositive Active Active MasculineMasculine HeavenlyHeavenly

The cosmosThe cosmos(universe, nature)(universe, nature)

is an ever-changing is an ever-changing expression & blend of expression & blend of YinYin and and YangYang, full of the power (, full of the power (DeDe) of ) of

the the DAODAO..

- Ontology/Cosmology - DAO - Chi (Ch'I, Qi) - DE - Yin/Yang - The natural order

More Taoist ConceptsMore Taoist Concepts

Wei-wu-weiWei-wu-wei (“active non-action”)(“active non-action”)– Passive non-resistance to the natural Passive non-resistance to the natural

forces of lifeforces of life– Natural way to get things done with Natural way to get things done with

least effort and greatest successleast effort and greatest success– ““Go with the flow,” yield to the Go with the flow,” yield to the

natural way of thingsnatural way of things– Applied in all walks of lifeApplied in all walks of life

Wu-wei = primary virtue and means “non-action.

” To practice wu-wei is to be so perfectly in harmony with nature that its energy infuses and empowers the individual.

Humility and non-competition Naturalness and naturalism Nonaggression and passive rule

Wu wei

may be the most misunderstood of all the precepts of Taoism. It's most commonly translated "non-action or inaction," and appears in verses of the Tao Te Ching like:

Act without doing; Work without effort.--Chapter 63

The closest analogy would be when an athlete is "in the zone." The actions are not coming from the thinking or calculating area of the mind, but they are being done. Obviously, this is not the same as doing nothing

The Master does nothing,Yet he leaves nothing undone.

The ordinary man is always doing things,Yet many things are left to be done...

--Chapter 38

Once a writer asked the baseball player Yogi Berra what he thought about when he was hitting.

“Nuthin’” Yogi replied “Ya can’t hit and think at the same time.”

So wu weiis not non-action but effortless action. It is action without

meddlesome, contentious, or egotistical exertion. It's the effortless action that results from combining your inner nature with the

natural laws operating around you. In short, it is being in harmony with the Tao .

In order to do this you must feel the Tao. You cannot harmonize with the Tao if you don't feel it or are not aware of its presence –

thus back to mysticism.

Wu-weiWu-wei (non-ado) (non-ado) Therefore, the Dao-Master acts with non-adoTherefore, the Dao-Master acts with non-ado

& teaches without speaking.& teaches without speaking. Things come & go.Things come & go. He lets them come & go.He lets them come & go. He creates, but he does not own.He creates, but he does not own. He achieves, but he takes no credit.He achieves, but he takes no credit. He completes his work & then forgets about He completes his work & then forgets about

it.it.

Practice non-ado, & your accomplishments Practice non-ado, & your accomplishments endure.endure.

The Value of Emptiness & Non-The Value of Emptiness & Non-BeingBeing

Thirty spokes are joined in the hub of the wheel,but it is the center hole, where it is empty,that makes the wheel useful.We make a clay pot,but it is the emptiness inside that makes the pot useful.We cut windows and doors to make a room,but it is the inner emptiness that makes the room useful.

We seek to take advantage of what is,but we also find much use for what is not.

In the Star Wars series, those strong in the Force are constantly talking about feeling the Force.

In Star Wars, when Luke is learning how to use the light saber against the remote, Obi Wan counsels him: Obi-Wan: Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him .

In The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda admonishes Luke to feel the Force during his training saying "A Jedi's strength flows from the Force."

Yoda: Concentrate. (Equipment slowly rises into the air.)Yoda: Feel the Force flow. Yes.

When you are aware of the Tao and feel it, you can flow with it, and the right action appears for itself, spontaneously. Lao Tzu says

humans lose their way because we are not in touch with nature and our own nature or natural selves.

Basic principles of TaoismBasic principles of Taoism

Te (“power” or “virtue”) One’s natural ability brought to One’s natural ability brought to

peak potential by following “the peak potential by following “the way”way”

TeTe (“Duh”) (“Duh”)

“denotes a moral power or virtue characteristic of a person who follows the correct course of conduct . . . . [In Daoism], te is the virtue or power that one acquires through being one with the Tao, what one ‘gets’ from the Tao.”

””

Pu’

One of the basic principles of Taoism is P'U; the Uncarved Block. The essence of the Un-carved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed. This principle applies not only to things, but to people as well. Or Bears (The Tao of Pu’- get it?)

Which brings us to Pooh, the very epitome of the Uncarved Block. When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few, other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Un-carved Block: Life is Fun. Along with that comes the ability to do things spontaneously and have them work, odd as that may appear to others at times

A second major primary A second major primary source of Philosophical source of Philosophical

Taoism isTaoism is

The Book of Chuang The Book of Chuang TzuTzu,,

byby

Chuang TzuChuang Tzu(also known as Chuang Chou, Zhuang-(also known as Chuang Chou, Zhuang-

Zi)Zi)

(c. 369-286 BC)(c. 369-286 BC)

Relativity: “good” and “bad” is a matter of perspective– The Taoist sage is non-

judgmental

Confucius said to Chuang Tzu "The Prince of Wei gave me a seed of a large-sized kind of gourd. I planted it, and it bore a fruit as big as a five bushel measure. Now had I used this for holding liquids, it would have been too heavy to lift; and had I cut it in half for ladles, the ladles would have been too flat for such purpose. Certainly it was a huge thing, but I had no use for it and so I broke it up.""It was rather you did not know how to use large things," replied ZhuangZi. "There was a man in the Song Dynasty who had a recipe for salve for chapped hands, his family having been silk-washers for generations. A stranger who had heard of it came and offered him a hundred ounces of silver for this recipe; whereupon he called together his clansmen and said, 'We have never made much money by silk-washing. Now, we can sell the recipe for a hundred ounces in a single day. Let the stranger have it.'"The stranger got the recipe, and went and had an interview with the Prince of Wu who was fighting a war with The Yueh, and the stranger offered the salve to the Wu who won the battle because they were able to hold their weapons better without chapped hands. The stranger was rewarded with a piece of the King's territory. Thus, while the salve cured chapped hands was in both cases its applications were different. Here, it secured a title; there, the people remained silk-washers."Now as to your five-bushel gourd, why did you not make a boat of it, and float about over river and lake? And you complain of its being too flat for holding things! I fear your mind is stuffy inside."

Cook Ting was cutting up an ox for Lord Wen-hui. As every touch of his hand, every heave of his shoulder, every move of his feet, every thrust of his knee — zip! zoop! He slithered the knife along with a zing, and all was in perfect rhythm, as though he were performing the dance of the Mulberry Grove or keeping time to the Ching-shou music.“Ah, this is marvelous!” said Lord Wen-hui. “Imagine skill reaching such heights!” Cook Ting laid down his knife and replied, “What I care about is the Way, which goes beyond skill. When I first began cutting up oxen, all I could see was the ox itself. After three years I no longer saw the whole ox. And now — now I go at it by spirit and don’t look with my eyes. Perception and understanding have come to a stop and spirit moves where it wants. I go along with the natural makeup, strike in the big hollows, guide the knife through the big openings, and following things as they are. So I never touch the smallest ligament or tendon, much less a main joint.“A good cook changes his knife once a year — because he cuts. A mediocre cook changes his knife once a month — because he hacks. I’ve had this knife of mine for nineteen years and I’ve cut up thousands of oxen with it, and yet the blade is as good as though it had just come from the grindstone. There are spaces between the joints, and the blade of the knife has really no thickness. If you insert what has no thickness into such spaces, then there’s plenty of room — more than enough for the blade to play about it. That’s why after nineteen years the blade of my knife is still as good as when it first came from the grindstone.“However, whenever I come to a complicated place, I size up the difficulties, tell myself to watch out and be careful, keep my eyes on what I’m doing, work very slowly, and move the knife with the greatest subtlety, until — flop! the whole thing comes apart like a clod of earth crumbling to the ground. I stand there holding the knife and look all around me, completely satisfied and reluctant to move on, and then I wipe off the knife and put it away.”“Excellent!” said Lord Wen-hui. “I have heard the words of Cook Ting and learned how to care for life!”

Religious TaoismReligious Taoism

Deification of Deification of Lao TzuLao Tzu The Jade Emperor and the eight The Jade Emperor and the eight

“Immortals”“Immortals” Taoist temples with images of Lao Tzu and with images of Lao Tzu and

other “immortals”other “immortals” Taoist PriestsTaoist Priests combine Taoist meditation combine Taoist meditation

with purification rites of folk religion with purification rites of folk religion exorcism practicesexorcism practices

Taoist sects Taoist sects develop beginning in 1develop beginning in 1stst century, additional teachers and textscentury, additional teachers and texts

On the religious side of On the religious side of Daoism,Daoism,

There is major interest in There is major interest in conserving, increasing, &/or conserving, increasing, &/or gaining control over gaining control over DeDe & its & its vital energy (vital energy (chichi).).

There are numerous rituals There are numerous rituals aimed at the veneration of aimed at the veneration of the gods & good spirits & at the gods & good spirits & at placation of & protection placation of & protection from demons.from demons.

There are also magical & There are also magical & occult practices (oracles, occult practices (oracles, divination, astrology, divination, astrology, mediumism, healing rites, mediumism, healing rites, etc.) aimed at gaining etc.) aimed at gaining control over the powers of control over the powers of nature (nature (DeDe).).

The concern with increasing the The concern with increasing the supply of supply of De’sDe’s vital energy ( vital energy (chichi) ) is expressed in practices is expressed in practices involving diet & nutrition, involving diet & nutrition, pharmacology & folk medicine pharmacology & folk medicine (including acupuncture), and (including acupuncture), and yoga-like concentration on the yoga-like concentration on the inner self (sexual experiments, inner self (sexual experiments, breathing exercises, breathing exercises, tai chi tai chi chuanchuan & other martial arts, & & other martial arts, & control of the mind through control of the mind through meditation techniques).meditation techniques).

Daoists also believe that DAO-Daoists also believe that DAO-Masters who have realized a Masters who have realized a surplus of surplus of chichi can radiate from can radiate from themselves a healing & themselves a healing & harmonious psychic influence harmonious psychic influence to the communities in which to the communities in which they live.they live.

The priesthood views the many gods as aspects of the one Dao, like Hinduism sees Brahma“ which could not be represented as an image or a particular thing." The concept of a personified deity is foreign to them, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Thus, they do not pray as Christians do; there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. They seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation.

Taoism as a Way of LivingTaoism as a Way of Living Seeking Health and Longevity: Seeking Health and Longevity: through diet, through diet,

meditation, exercise, and a stress-free lifemeditation, exercise, and a stress-free life Alchemy: Alchemy: seeking the chemical “elixir of life”to seeking the chemical “elixir of life”to

achieve immortalityachieve immortality Meditation: Meditation: “Inner Alchemy Meditation” – seeking “Inner Alchemy Meditation” – seeking

spiritual rather than chemical transformationspiritual rather than chemical transformation Natural/holistic healing: Natural/holistic healing: herbal medicine, herbal medicine,

acupressure, acupuncture, exercise…acupressure, acupuncture, exercise… T’ai-Chi-Ch’uan T’ai-Chi-Ch’uan (“grand ultimate boxing”)(“grand ultimate boxing”)

– A slow, graceful martial art stressing movement A slow, graceful martial art stressing movement in balancein balance

Can you keep body and soul togetherand find your wholeness in the One?Can you make your breathing as soft as anewborn child’s?Can you cleanse your inner visionuntil you see with perfect clarity?

""The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find everyone must listen to find enlightenment.enlightenment." "

Taoists generally have an interest in Taoists generally have an interest in promoting health and vitality.promoting health and vitality.Five main organs and orifices of the body Five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five elements of the sky: correspond to the five elements of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth.water, fire, wood, metal and earth.

Each person must nurture the Each person must nurture the Ch'i (air, Ch'i (air, breath)breath) that has been given to them. that has been given to them.Development of virtue is one's chief task.Development of virtue is one's chief task.

Chi (Ch'i, Qi)Chi (Ch'i, Qi)

Arises from the DaoArises from the Dao Vital matter and energyVital matter and energy All things (other than Dao and All things (other than Dao and

Chi itself) are composed of Chi Chi itself) are composed of Chi – the basic "stuff" substance of – the basic "stuff" substance of naturenature

Chinese MetaphysicsChinese MetaphysicsMovement of cosmic energies:

Rising

Falling

Expanding

Contracting

RotatingRepresented by and expressed in the “five elements” of nature…

The “Five Elements”The “Five Elements”

Wood

Water Metal

Earth

Productive cycle

Fire

The “Five Elements”The “Five Elements”

Wood

Water Metal

Earth

Fire

Destructive cycle

The Daoist perspective on human The Daoist perspective on human nature & the human predicamentnature & the human predicament• Humanity is merely

one of the “Ten Thousand Things” manifested in nature, one animal species among others.

• However, human beings (unlike other animals) have the power of free choice. This enables them to act contrary to nature (contrary to the DAO), to become alienated from the “Way.”

• Humans can choose to separate themselves from the natural order, and they can pursue things they want in addition to things they need.

• This leads to an unnatural existence filled with various kinds of pain & suffering.

The solution to the human The solution to the human predicamentpredicament

Back to nature; back to the Back to nature; back to the TAOTAO.. The The practice of practice of wu-weiwu-wei (non-do, (non-do,

effortless action, action without effortless action, action without friction & conflict, swimming friction & conflict, swimming with the current, -- the simple, with the current, -- the simple, natural life.natural life.

Go with the flow.Go with the flow. Chill out.Chill out.

Ethical DoctrinesEthical Doctrines(guidelines for right conduct(guidelines for right conduct))

Tune in to Tune in to DeDe (the power of (the power of DAODAO), & follow ), & follow the the DAODAO..

Practice Practice wu-weiwu-wei (non-ado). (non-ado). Follow the path of least resistance (like water Follow the path of least resistance (like water

does); practice relaxed action through does); practice relaxed action through yielding.yielding.

Avoid self-assertion & competition; practice Avoid self-assertion & competition; practice humility & non-combativeness.humility & non-combativeness.

Disdain worldly prizes.Disdain worldly prizes. ““The way to do is to be.”The way to do is to be.” Other specific ethical principles the same as Other specific ethical principles the same as

in Confucianism, but with an individualistic & in Confucianism, but with an individualistic & non-political emphasis.non-political emphasis.

How to Live(Ethical Prescriptions)

DDJ 8 DDJ 9* DDJ 12* DDJ 33* DDJ 52*

It is good to be like water. It nourishes without effort. It flows without contention into

low places that people scorn. Thus, it is like the Dao. In dwelling, live close to the

land. In thinking, go deep. In relating to others, be gentle.

SelfSelfBeing in favor or being in disgrace: either way, trouble.It is all within the Self.

What does this mean?

Being in favor, we fear falling out of favor.Being out of favor, we fear remaining there.

This fear is within the Self.No Self, no fear.

Do you value the world as you value yourself?You may be trusted to rule.Do you love the world as you love yourself?The world may be entrusted to your care.

The DAO is the highest reality. It is the Ground of Being; but it is not “God” or “a god.” It is the absolutely transcendent and incomprehensible Source of the natural world (the universe). The DAO is beyond sensation, beyond thought, beyond imagination, beyond words, etc. It is knowable only through direct mystical experience or intuition.

Gods, good spirits, and demons exist as expressions of the power (De) of the DAO. These spiritual powers can be accessed and harnessed through various magical rituals.

Daoist theology

(Daoist metaphysics, continued)

Daoist Political Philosophy(an application of wu-wei)

Limited government & a laid-back prince --

a kind of libertarianism?

The Tao never acts, yet through it everything gets done.If rulers could reside in the Tao,everything would fall into place all by itself.Action is restrained by the Tao.Action restrained, no desire.No desire: tranquillity.All things at peace.

Characteristics of the DAO-Master

Detached Selfless Cautious Alert Courteous Yielding Undefined Open Murky Quiet Calm &

unperturbed

Good to people who are good

Good to people who are not good

Trusts those who are trustworthy

Trusts those who are not trustworthy

Radiates peace & harmony

Thoughts of a Thoughts of a DaoDao-Master-MasterNo more learning, no more trouble. Is there any real difference between “Ahhh!” and “Yuk!”? What about “good” and “evil”? Must I fear what others fear? Ridiculous! Everybody else is smiling, having fun as if at a festival or carnival. I alone am drifting, not knowing whether I’m coming or going, like a baby before it has learned to smile. Others have what they need; I have nothing. I might as well be homeless. I’m a fool. Very confused. Others are bright; I am dim. Others are sharp; I am dull, lost at sea, without direction. Others have plans; I am aimless. I am different from others. I am nourished by the Great Mother.

When a thoughtful man hears of the Tao, he tries to follow it.When an average man hears of the Tao,he wonders about it, but then tends to forget it.When a fool hears of the Tao, he makes fun of it.If someone didn’t make fun of it, it wouldn’t be the Tao.

Therefore, when seeking the Tao,light seems dark,advancing feels like retreating,the simple appears difficult,power is like weakness,purity seems tarnished,true virtue seems deficient and unsteady,and the clear seems obscure.

The true square has no corners.The true vessel never sails.The true sound is hard to hear.The true form has no shape.

The Tao is hidden, beyond definition; but it alone fulfills.

Much talk is contrary to nature.The wind doesn’t blow all morning.The rain doesn’t fall all day.Wind and rain are caused by nature,If nature restrains herself, shouldn’t people do the same?

He who follows the Tao is one with the Tao.He who is virtuous is one with Virtue [Te].He who loses the Tao becomes a loss.

Surrender to the Tao, and it will be your home.Practice virtue [Te], and it will be your abode.Lose the Tao, and you will then reside in loss.

No trust given, no trust received.