Essay

Intro to Philosophy

Lao-Tzu: Taoism

Porter Treanor
 Have you ever heard of Taoism? If yes, then you might learn something new.

If you haven’t, then this should be interesting and might give you a different

perception on some aspects of life. Taoism caught my attention when I heard that

it was about living life to one’s true nature. Taoism, what does that mean? What

should I understand about it? I will be talking about some concepts of this

religion/philosophy/culture, what it means and what it is.

Lao-Tzu is the father of Taoism. He was a philosopher and a poet from

ancient china. Philosophical and political text proclaim that he wrote the “Daode

Jing” which is the text that people would refer to if learning about Taoism. I

learned that he believed in escapism, which means to separate yourself from

society and large groups of people. I’m sure there were many things that

contributed to his writings of Taoism, but this concept might have an influence on

this philosophy/religion/culture. In some areas and cultures, this now renowned,

newly organized way of thinking and living is one of the 5 or so that are practiced

throughout China today.

The meaning of Taoism (off of Webster): “Chinese philosophy based on the

writings of Lao-tzu, advocating humility and religious piety.” This meaning is very

simple and I’m sure is a condensed one. Someone might think according to the
Webster meaning, that this is a religious philosophy. Well it could be, or it could

be a philosophy that aspires to being exemplary in your Chinese culture. Or yes

one could be more religious with Taoism. It is a kind-of religious philosophy, but it

could be less religious and more just a way of living, like being cultural.

Is Taoism only for Chinese people? Could it be adopted by someone who

isn’t Chinese? I think yes because, personally it is so open to interpretation that it

could be a philosophy that many different people, yet similar people could have in

their lives. The idea of being a Taoist is to fulfill your one-self. Be what you are

meant to be. This is a large part of the ideas of Taoism. So I think that this part is

or can be the philosophy of people all around the world. I don’t think that it is or

could only be exclusive to one region of the world, ethnicity or culture of some

people.

Taoism should be felt by someone as a way of life, a system of beliefs

and like I said before a way to fulfill your one-self. “The path of understanding

Taoism is simply accepting yourself.” This sentence from (Personal Tao) helps me

more deeply understand what it means to be Taoist. I know I am not Taoist myself

and am only doing an essay on it, but I feel I am starting to understand the surface

of this way of life. “Your nature is ever changing and is always the same.” This
makes me think of how you are always going to be that same person you were

when you were a kid when you had your special individual unique personality and

imagination. As you live life you grow and learn new things that change you in

ways that build you, but never truly change you. Those quotes about Taoism

caught my attention and helped influence my decision on writing about this topic.

Taoism is what you make it. Depending on what experiences you have gone

through and how you have lived your life before or while you have or are going to

withhold the ideals of this way of life. Taoism is many different things to many

different people. According to the (Personal Tao) webpage: “Taoism makes no

distinction in applying labels to its own nature.” Taoism is a way of life that

teaches people to follow their hearts and to do what is natural for themselves.

Taoism starts by teaching the “truth”/“The Tao”/“The Way” which is

indefinable. “The Tao” is something that one would find for oneself and accept. It

is a personal yet common feeling. It cannot be externally taught or cannot be

understood but it can be felt. It is like having a gut feeling about something you

cannot really understand but you can feel. Also it is something that existed

“before heaven and earth” “a primal and chaotic matrix from which all forms

emerged.” It is the appropriate way of leading and behaving. It is a personal

knowing of life that can’t be full-heartedly grasped as just a concept but is

experienced through everyday life. “The Tao”; I believe is a pillar for Taoism. To

continue with more, here are some concepts that I will be talking about within the

philosophy: the one (essence of the Tao) which is what was just talked about, Wu

Wei which is what I will be talking about next, than yin and yang, and finally

moderation. I hope these will help you understand more about Taoism.

Wu Wei is important for Taoism. The Wu Wei means to live with or

alongside the natural course of things. Also not to obstruct and change the

natural course of things. So being that, Taoists live a very balanced life through

harmony alongside phenomena and nature. Living a way of life that comes

naturally to them. Like water would flow down a path naturally like a river does.

The “Wu Wei” I think is a very important concept for things to be right naturally

and to keep the Harmony of life balanced.

Yin and Yang. Which are two inseparable and contradictory

elements/beings (In some perception this represents balance). For example males

and females, cold vs. hot, light vs. dark, etc.… one not being able to exist without

the other. “The two opposites attract and complement each other.” in this

popular iconic symbol it shows that each of the opposites have a

piece of each other in their core. One not being superior to the other and both

needing to be balanced. Yin is a female, dark, night, passive, old, water, cold. Yang

is male, masculine, light, fire, warm, young. Both are needed but moderation may

be necessary.

Moderation is a very important principle for Taoism. Moderation is to be

detached from either side of a polarity. For an example of being to excessive,

some people may work a lot more than they play and try not to bring laziness into

their lives. So those people who are attached to that one side of that polarity and

working all the time will bring the opposite polarity to their thoughts which will

end up making them want to play more than them wanting to work. So thereby

not achieving moderation. Excessive working will give perspective to playing but

will not give any purpose to working. “The Tao Te Ching (which is also the Daode

Jing) teaches that playing gives purpose to work, and work gives perspective to

playing.” You can be attached to one pole of any opposites. For example: life or

death, work or play, fitness or laziness, victory or losing. Being excessive in one

will create excessiveness in the other eventually. So to be detached is to be in the

middle of each polar opposite; to do things with moderation, is to not be

excessive and attached on one thing over the other.

 “The Tao”; if you think it is more like a god or goddess type of thing, you

could be right, but you could only be right for yourself. “The Tao”; for me to what

I have learned about it so far, is that it is more of a mutuality between all living

things that is almost a thing like fate like you are going to do what you’re going to

do. That is it, “the Tao” can really be whatever you feel it could be. That is what is

special and unique about it. To me that just makes it seem more believable then a

god that is all mighty and powerful. Those concepts of Taoism are important to

have in your life. I believe that embracing these concepts could be a very good

thing for someone. I believe that life should be lived the way one would naturally

live (like Wu-Wei). Why? Because naturally I think people want to be happy and

therefore succeeding happiness, if lived naturally. I believe that Wu-Wei is the

beginning of becoming happy. Same thing with some of the other principles of

Taoism. I hope you were interested and I hope you have many questions and

thoughts. This was a fun topic to write about because Taoism is a different kind of

thing that can be personal and different to each person. So see if you can try and

incorporate some of these things into your life. Go do more research and find out

what Taoism means to you.

Bibliography:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Philosophy/Taichi/lao.html

http://www.taoism.net/articles/mason/principl.htm

http://www.patheos.com/Library/Taoism

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/beliefs/concepts.shtml

http://www.taoism.net/articles/mason/ethics.htm

http://www.ancient.eu/Yin_and_Yang/