Taoism Defined | What Is Taoism
Taoism For Westerners | Daoism Information
Tao which is actually pronounced as “dow” is translated to mean the way or path in English. Tao in reality is not so easily definable. Tao is the power of the universe that encompasses and moves through all things, both living and non-living. The Tao stands for balance and shows the harmony of opposite sides, such as light and dark, love and hate, male and female.
What is Taoism?
More a philosophy than a religion, Taoism is concerned with finding a balance between the way we live our lives and the demands life places on us. Translated literally as ‘The Way’, following the Tao means practicing a form of ‘minimal’ action called the ‘wu wei’.This is described in Taoism as the practice of going against the stream not by struggling against it and thrashing about, but by standing still and letting the stream do all the work. Thus the sage knows that relative to the river, he still moves against the current.
To the outside world the sage appears to take no action, but in fact he takes action long before others ever foresee the need for action. In other words, Taoism is a form of passive resistance, of making sure you are prepared for every eventuality and going with the flow as things happen.
Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life.
“The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment.”
Each believer’s goal is to harmonize themselves with the Tao. Taoism has provided an alternative to the Confucian tradition in China. The two traditions have coexisted in the country, region, and generally within the same individual. The priesthood views their many gods as manifestations of the one Dao, “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.
Some of the basic tenets of Taoism are the following:
- Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking.
- Taoists strongly promote health and vitality.
- Five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth.
- Each person must nurture the Ch’i (air, breath) that has been given to them.
- Development of virtue is one’s chief task. The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility.
- Taoists follow the art of “wu wei,” which is to let nature take its course. For example, one should allow a river to flow towards the sea unimpeded; do not erect a dam which would interfere with its natural flow.
- One should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before making it.
A Taoist is kind to other individuals, in part because such an action tends to be reciprocated.
Taoists believe that “people are compassionate by nature…left to their own devices they will show this compassion without expecting a reward.”
Taoism Relevancy Contribution – ‘If you give a hungry man fish you nourish him a day. If you teach him to fish you nourish him for life’, says Laotian Tzu
Still in the present in different countriesaround the world there Taoism is practiced and fully identified regardless of the language race but the full-of-the-moon designation with the Taoist contains provides and shares.
The Taoist gives us which is told that an old Tao master with decades of experience and inner enlightenment work received ultimate enlightenment about the true nature of the Tao and near passing several disciples who surrounded his bed questioned the wise master as they knew he had entered the cognition of the tin. They asked, ‘Will you tell us now what the true Tao is?’ The old man slowly opened his eyes and with a smile replied ‘the true, is true’ and died instantly.
We add that Taoism was one of the most important doctrine of ancient PRC as well as Confucianism and Buddhism. The essential principle of Taoism is the “No-Do” which does not mean passivity, but intends to avoid unnatural actions. In other words, Taoism suggests spontaneity, letting things take their natural course, flowing, without forcing the actions or interfere with its development. Everything that happens is part of thetai and each man must find the “Way” in it. Daoism longs for harmony between people and between them and the All. For Taoists scientific progress and material culture are harmful, for example, who picks up water with their hands, a bowl made by man is something unnatural. Taoists believe that man should return to its primitive and devoted to the forces of nature. Frankincense the true Tao anchorite becomes.
The beginning of information cited that Taoism was one of the most important doctrine of ancient PRC as well as Confucianism and Buddhism The necessity rule of Taoism is the NoDo which mean passiveness but intends to avoid unnatural actions. In other words, Taoism suggests spontaneity, letting things take their natural course, flowing, without forcing the actions or interfere with its development. Everything that happens is part the each man must find the manner insidelongs Taoism harmoniousness between workforce and between them and the All.
The goal of Taoism is to conform to the ways of nature and the fusion with the Whole. The Taoists believed that the strict rules of discipline, personal or governmental, were artificial and tended to distort human nature and keep them away from the natural yin and yang. In the great work of Laotian TseTaoist found the note as The Taoist that can be known is not the Tao. The substance of the World is just a name for Tao. Taoist is all that exists and may exist. The universe is only a map of what exists and tin exist.
The experience without ego to sense the universe and experience to understand it. The 2 types of experience are the Lapp within the Taoist. They are different only among men. Neither experience conveys Taoism which is infinitely greater and more subtle than the World.
Being Honest Prevents Deception.
Not Putting A Value on Things Prevents Loss.
Not flaunting beauty prevents lust.
So the sage controls people: Emptying their hearts, filling their bellies. Weakening their ambition and strengthening their bodies. If people lack knowledge and desire the most skilled among them is unable to act. If you avoid action all live peacefully. We add also that we not forget that Taoist is a depthless vas Used by itself is not filled with the universe tin not be cut knotted dimmed or stilled its depth are hidden ubiquitous and eternal not know of whence came before Nature
It also indicates that Embracing the Taoist you volition be embraced. Easily, smoothly, as you will be reborn. Clarify your vision, you will be enlightened. Feed your compassion, you will be impartial. Open your heart, you will be accepted. Accepting the universe you embrace Tao. Sustaining and nurturing, Creating but not owning, Giving without demanding.Controlling without authority.
This is the virtue.
The Taoist has no form and spirit and cannot be seen or heard and their application cannot be exhausted. If you offer music and nutrient stranger stop by your side but if you agree with the Taoist People of the universe volition will keep you in safety health, company and peace.
He who seeks knowledge, acquired as much as you can every day;He who follows the Taoist loses as much as possible each day; Be within a range a state of inactivity that may do nothing then nothing is left undone.
Ultimately say Taoists is the fundamental virtues of peace, repose and silence. Their model is nature, which in turn is a good model for man, since she does not prolong indefinitely storm or hurricane. Therefore, we can say that the essential principle of the Non-Ado (wu-wei), which does not mean passivity but proposes to perform unnatural acts. In other words, that suggests spontaneity, and let things take their natural course, flowing, without forcing the actions or interfere with its development. Everything that happens is part of the Tao and every human being should look inside cumin. Taoism longs for harmoniousness between people and between them and the All.
Qingchen Shan Mountain And Home Of Taoism
Qingcheng Shan holy Taoist mountain, an early home to Taoism and its teachings dating back in time to about 100AD. For a student and believer in Taoism it was going to be something of a revelation and catalyst. After the public bus ride from Chengdu there is a naturally serene and tranquil setting, adjoining the vast and extremely fertile Chengdu Plain and the UNESCO World heritage listed Dujiangy an Irrigation Project which still services around one million acres of irrigation.
Qingcheng Shan Taoist temples set amongst towering cypress pine, plum, and ginkgo trees, vivid escarpments and ridges and cascading streams. An area naturally endowed with reliable rainfall, fertile soils and ambient climate. Probably temperate in nature and conducive to sustained lush vegetation growth, the mountain known as ”green place”.
It was impressive with its sense of tranquility and penned onto my trusty notepad three words, Abundance, Sustenance and Harmony. These are Taoist words and represent a place at one with nature and that of balance and stability. Although a major earthquake in 2008 virtually destroyed many of the mountain’s ancient structures.
Visiting the mountain on some form of pilgrimage to see firsthand what ancient Taoists saw in their landscape about one thousand years before. They too would have accepted nature’s willingness to enclose around them and sustain them in its simpleness. Those Taoists not wanting to impose themselves on the landscape but stay within its bounds and these form true Taoist beliefs and that of acceptance. No wonder they aspired to respect nature in this place for it provided what they needed without too much effort or need to change.
Walking up many steps and then meditating upon a perched lake, like some modern day people and with Western logic thinking, ”I think they were lazy people”. This is disrespectful because this is making broad assumption to people who started to inhabit these mountains two thousand years before. Maybe the forest was writing those words and the Taoists accepted and tolerated rather than seek and foster change which would have taken effort and expenditure of different energies to the ones they choose to follow. If the season was abundant, they flourished; if not so they suffered as the animals and plants of the landscapes and tolerated it. The Mountain possessed a special energy and could give what the Taoists wanted. Nature was there to do their bidding and them recipient.
The Taoists to me maybe not wanting to touch transform or take. Call them extremists in our world but here they are simply ”middle way”. And maybe the notion of a middle way was born in the need to survive within natural bounds but transfer something of it to something more sustainable e.g. cultivation of rice and fruit trees.
Great symbolism in the trees, their trunks and shapes and the mountain slopes and movement of water flowing through it. The Qi (Chi energy) flowing from the mountain peaks and slopes to the plains and the water from the mountains providing life and in Qi or life-force as much as the air we breathe. The Feng Shui of the mountain relies on the mountain folding into gentle slopes becoming that of the Chengdu plain. The Qi of the mountain present in its clean oxygen charged air and the freshness and purity of water flowing from the springs within.
Three words were apt (abundance, sustenance and harmony) and expressed the notions of Taoist thought for such a place.
If you visit this place, it’s a place of steps and more steps so bring your walking shoes, plenty of time and if possible take the cable car to a viewing platform. You may also notice the Yin and Yang of the area remains in balance through the shapes and colors of all things. The mountains Qi falling onto you as you become embalmed within the confines of the space and present in the health and vibrancy of the landscapes and movement of living things (including the trees) within it. It is also a place to test the eight elements of light, shadow, shapes, colors, sounds, smell, movement and temperature and notice their presence and balancing in their individual Yin and Yang. You’ll also become aware they balance with each other to form a cohesive unit and that of harmony.
More a philosophy than a religion, Taoism is concerned with finding a balance between the way we live our lives and the demands life places on us. Translated literally as ‘The Way’, following the Tao means practicing a form of ‘minimal’ action called the ‘wu wei’. This is described in Taoism as the practice of going against the stream not by struggling against it and thrashing about, but by standing still and letting the stream do all the work. Thus the sage knows that relative to the river, he still moves against the current.
To the outside world the sage appears to take no action, but in fact he takes action long before others ever foresee the need for action. In other words, Taoism is a form of passive resistance, of making sure you are prepared for every eventuality and going with the flow as things happen.
What are the main principles?
Man is generally a social being who more often than not, would find a sense of purpose from his or her relationship with others and with the higher being. It is said that the purpose for which you do something, will largely determine just how you do it. This is the case in life, the purpose and belief by which you live, will determine the quality of life that you will have. Taoism is about a ‘path’ in life, it provides a purpose for life and the principles that would guide the believer. Below is summary of the principles that guide Taoism.
Tao:
Analysts have said that Tao promotes principles that are consistent with nature laws. This is not far from the truth. After all, the Tao principles describe the way for the doctrine that every man needs to follow. This principle is also an attempt to provide answers to what really is the force behind the universe. It is an attempt to explain what is and what is not. This principle asserts that the energy or qi and its direction of flow determines the state of being for both the universe and the individual. If you want to be peaceful, you need to apply this principle of Taoism.
De or Te:
This principle stipulates the how to activate the Tao principle. It emphasizes the need to tap into the power of Taoism with humility and integrity. As a way of life, De emphasizes that the actively pursuing the Tao principle is the only way to realize its power.
Wu Wei:
Translated directly, Wu Wei refers to the ‘effortless doing’. This means that the as a Taoism believer, one need not force things their way. This is different from most principles that are applied in the West. Compared to principles such as capitalism which expect one to take advantage of others and use all their might to achieve their goal. A Taoist is not expected to fight to make things to work his or her way. Instead, one is expected to surrender to the higher powers that ultimately control the events of man. By being able to surrender to the power of the universe leads to a sense of peace.
P’u:
This principle of Taoism emphasizes the need to be simple and at peace with self. This principle which is translated as uncut block, emphasizes on the need to have a pure perception of events. A Taoist is therefore expected to accept the control of Mother Nature on events without trying to read more than is visible. A believer therefore always surrenders and accepts the results of Mother Nature. Therefore to such as believer and practitioner, there is never anything as being beautiful or ugly, everything is beautiful.
Confucianism and Taoism both have been most influential societal philosophies in the Chinese societies for many years and their impact is still present in the East Asian countries.
It is emphasized that Taoism suspects the Confucianism for being rational in their approach towards the progression of societies through moral values. Taoism states that in order to keep the balance of the universe, a society must follow the rules of the nature. Taoism believes in peace, vitality, flexibility, the ways of speaking with honor and respect and committing of actions in a better guided way. Taoism was formed after the Confucianism prevailed and some philosophers who studied the social and moral values of Confucianism described some missing objects in this society. Taoism looked towards providing some moral values to the Confucianism but in the end moved in another direction away from the educating aspects of Confucianism. Tao means the right path or channel and philosophers believe that in order to progress in the healthy manner, the Taoism seems to be the best path because it is close to nature and doesn’t require any changing in the manner that are being made to the individuals in the Confucianism.
Taoism believed that it is better not to touch the personalities of the individuals by making models and inscribing changes on their attitudes as they may require. Lao Tzu was the founder of Taoism and he emphasized that nature is one of the three forces of universe; others being expansive and contractive forces. He also believed the way of nature is unchanging and will remain eternal. However, the approach of Confucianism as described earlier stated that human beings are wise and must use all their abilities to live by the way require. The mind is given to the humans not just to follow the trends but to distinctively observe and take decision accordingly. According to Confucianism individuals are virtuous and honest in nature but that doesn’t simply account for their success in any society.
From the above analysis of both the philosophies it becomes evidently clear that these two societies cannot prevail together. They both are completely opposite each other in every approach. Critics emphasize on the importance of both the societal models but for a man as he is, he has to make certain decisions to live properly in a way that is better for himself and the others. Different aspects reveal different information but on the real perspective it seems that Confucianism is the better societal approach that can completely shape the moral values of the humans. Confucianism is what that provides purposes to the lives and the meaning to the survivals. The understanding of what is right and what is wrong should be done with careful studying the requirements of a single society. This is where Taoism completely flops in front of Confucianism.
Qingyang Taoist Temple
Situated in the suburbs of the northwest part of Chengdu is among the oldest and most popular Taoist Temples in the Chengdu district. Qing Yang Gong or Bronze Goat Taoist Temple is a must visit if you are interested in Taoist culture and is easily accessible and a wonderful place to visit and marvel at the magnificent architecture and sculptures present in the temple.
At a time when Taoism was flourishing in china, the temple was initially created in the Tang Dynasty but most of the structures now present were added during the restorations carried out during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty was reportedly escaping from Changan and sought refuge in the temple and later decided to change the name to Qingyang from Xuanzhong Taoist which was its original name.
Sanqing Hall, Hunyuan Palace, Doulao Hall, Lingzu Hall, Wuji Palace and the Eight Trigrams Pavilion are among the structures added during the restorations of the Qing Dynasty. The Eight Diadrams Pavilion stands out among others for its extraordinary majesty and vigor of its aura is mesmerizing. Depicting the age old Chinese philosophy; ‘the earth is square and the sky is round, the foundation is in the shape of a square whilst the roof is structured with glazed colored round tiles. The pavilion is held up by eight great pillars with carvings of dragons in relief and there are also two great bronze goats beside the altar of Sanging Hall with interesting features of a mix of a number of animals and is supposed to have been brought from Beijing. The stone sculpture of Patriarch Lv Dongbin and some collected Taoist scriptures’ abstract are among the other noted cultural relicts found at the temple. There is an annual fair held on the fifteenth of the 2nd lunar month at the cultural park celebrating the birthday of Laotze, Taoism’s founder which you would like to attend.
