The Way

there is a way that runs through the entire universe. it is the way of peace. if we follow the way, we will live happy lives. it may or may not be the path of worldy success, but happiness, being content, and peace are preferrable.

there is nothing that controls this world. this world exists, but it does not follow a set path. we control our fate. we follow the way if we choose.

the way is very easy. it is a straight and narrow path through a world full of obstacles and hindurances. bryars and thorns representing this in Pilgrim's Progress. the difficulty we make for ourselves, getting sidetracked and stepping off the path. we cannot see the path. we only have faith it is there, and if we follow, we will stay on the path.

for me, the way is a path of kindness. if i treat people with kindness, i will always be happy.

if you believe that the path is there, and that travelling it gives you happiness on your journey, then all you have to do is let it carry you.

people speak bad of the path of least resistance, but the way is not far from this. you do not have to struggle in life, and you do not have to let the world around you control your emotions.

P'u:

In Taoism P'u, meaning simplicity, is a central theme of the teachings of Lao Tzu. Its ideogram consists of the characters for tree and dense growth, thus a tree in a thicket, thus things in their natural state. The concept here is that there is power in things in their natural, simple, plain, honest state that can be lost if the thing's simplicity is tampered with. Thus, to be simple and childlike is highly desirable.

The term P'u refers to “The Uncarved Block.” P'u is a natural power that all things possess when in their natural states. The more simple the better. A beautiful tree in the middle of the forest has much more natural power than a tree in the middle of a city, or a tree that has been made into a dining room table.

• Benjamin Hoff, author of The Tao of Pooh”, explains, “The essence of the principle of the uncarved 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 basic Taoist principle, Hoff explains further, applies not only to things in their natural beauty and function, but to people as well.

Te:  
Taoism, an ancient Chinese system of thought, views the Universe as an interconnected, organic whole. Nothing exists separately from anything else. The Universe is governed by a set of natural and unalterable laws which manifest themselves as a flow of continuous change. This natural order and flow is referred to as the Tao, or the Way. By recognizing and aligning ourselves with these laws, humans can attain a state of being which combines the experience of total freedom with one of complete connectedness to life's processes - being at one with the Tao.

To help gain this level of existence, Taoist writings offer us various principles to be followed in the course of everyday living. Understanding and adopting these values presents the opportunity to become whole and complete, to consciously become an inseparable part of life's flow.

A central concept in Taoist thought is that of te, or virtue. This word appears in the title of the famous work by the legendary sage, Lao Tzu, the Tao Te Ching - The Power of the Way. Though virtue is the literal translation of te, the word is used in Taoist literature to indicate power or strength (as the Latin root, virtus, indicates). Te refers to the fact that all things contain an inherent power or strength that comes from their own essential being or true inner nature. This power derives from the fact that our true self is an expression of the Tao, because it is intrinsically connected with the power of the Universe. However, the idea of te is that of power exercised without the use of force and without inappropriate interference in the existing order of things.

In our modern society much attention is devoted to promoting self-awareness: “finding ourselves,” “knowing who we truly are.” Many traditions, including certain schools of Western psychology, regard this discovery and acceptance of self as central to personal well-being, an important step on the path of individual transformation. It also is the belief of certain social thinkers and activists that, without a high degree of individual self-awareness and responsibility, it will remain impossible to resolve the many social and environmental problems currently facing mankind.

What guidelines does Taoism offer in this area? How can we manifest our te, know our true selves in a manner that connects us with the rest of our world?

Our conventional Western outlook is based on the assumption that humans are all separate entities, existing apart from each other and from the surrounding environment. Te, on the other hand, implies a trust and belief in oneâ€^TMs own inner nature and in the interconnectedness of all life.

Lao Tzu writes that “All things arise from Tao. They are nourished by Virtue [their own inner nature]. Virtue is goodness [and] is faithfulness.”

As a first step, we are asked to believe in ourselves, in our own inherent goodness, in the process that is Tao. “The great Tao flows everywhere. It nourishes the ten thousand things. It holds nothing back,” Lao Tzu states, encouraging us not to give in to our doubts and fears.

As a means of developing this trust and belief in the Tao and expressing our inner nature, Lao Tzu counsels us to move beyond conventional values, those social mores and norms which tend to strengthen our view of ourselves as separate egos or selves and which are rooted in doubt and fear. These values only serve to lock us in our sense of separation and rob us of the power of our true being.

The sage tells us: Accept disgrace willingly. Accept being unimportant. Do not be concerned with loss or gain. Love the world as you love your own self. Then you can truly care for all things.

Wu Wei:  

Huston Smith describes wu wei as “creative quietude” and “pure effectiveness”, which he describes as the most efficient and natural way of acting.  The person of wu wei operates in the naturalness, suppleness, and spontaneity of the flow of Tao, not forcing, not self-consciously “achieving” things.  It can also be translated as “not doing” or “do-nothingness”, yet is the supreme activity, arising naturally when the deepest levels of the self are in tune with Tao.

Eternal Tao doesn't do anything,
yet it leaves nothing undone.
If you abide by it, everything
in existence will transform itself.
When, in the process of self-transformation,
desires are aroused, calm them with
nameless simplicity.
When desires are dissolved in the primordial presence,
peace and harmony naturally occur,
and the world orders itself.

[Tao Te Ching 37]

The soft overcomes the hard in the world
as a gentle rider controls a galloping horse.
That without substance can penetrate where there is no space.
By these I know the benefit of nonaction [wu wei].
Teaching without words, working without actions–
nothing in the world can compare to them. 

[Tao Te Ching 43]

In the pursuit of learning,
every day something is added.
In the pursuit of Tao,
every day something is dropped.
Less and less is done until
one arrives at nonaction [wu wei].
When nothing is done,
nothing is left undone.
The world is won by letting things
take their own course.
If you still have ambitions,
it's out of your reach.

[Tao Te Ching 48]

Three Treasures of the Tao:

The Three Jewels (or Treasures) of the Tao are: compassion, simplicity, and patience. Alternate translations render them as Love, Moderation, Humility. They are derived from the following from the Tao Te Ching:

“I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

Simple in actions and in thoughts,

you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies,

you accord with the way things are.

Compassionate toward yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world”

(Chapter 67,68,69)

Tao (pronounced ”Dow”) can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way.
It is basically indefinable.
It has to be experienced.
It ”refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)”

It is a universal principle that underlies everything from the creation of galaxies to the interaction of human beings.

The workings of Tao are vast and often beyond human logic.
In order to understand Tao, reasoning alone will not suffice.
One must also apply intuition. In My study of Tao, my source material is Tao Te Ching (pronounced “Dao De Jing”) by the ancient sage Laozi, a.k.a. Lao Tzu.

The most ancient system of knowledge recorded on earth ( possibly 4,000 yrs old ) –preceding even the traditions of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, India, Greece, and so forth. The Ancient Taoists developed a complete, detailed, and scientific system of knowledge which comprises many principles of food preparation, exercise, healing, sexology, etc.

Some of Lao Tzu's most significant teachings are as follows:

• Non-contention. Lao Tzu noted that violence and conflict, no matter how tightly controlled, could not help but cause negative side effects. The Taoist ideal is to solve problems through peaceful means.

• Non-action. The foolish expend a great deal of energy and time trying to do everything and end up achieving nothing. On the other end of the spectrum, the truly wise don't seem to do much at all and yet achieve whatever they want. This magic is possible, indeed unavoidable, when one is in tune with the Tao.

• Non-intention. So often we perform virtuous deeds hoping to receive praise or recognition. That's no virtue at all. True virtue is a state where such actions flow forth naturally, requiring no conscious effort or thought.

• Simplicity. The basis for our reality and our existence is elemental and uncomplicated. Human beings create a lot of trouble for themselves by making everything more complex than they need to be. If we learn to simplify our lives, we can experience a profound satisfaction that is infinitely more meaningful than the rewards of the material world.

• Wisdom. Logic has its place in human affairs but isn't everything. There is a limit to what we can understand through rationality and reasoning. To transcend that limit, we need to engage our intuition fully. This is the key to insights as opposed to knowledge, and the difference between living the Tao and reading all about it.

• Humility. The more you learn, the more you realize there's still so much more to learn. This tends to make you humble. Arrogance and egotism come from ignorance - knowing a little bit and assuming you know a lot.

• Duality. Lao Tzu pointed out that all qualities in the world possess meaning only by the existence of their opposites. Something can only be big if there is something else that is small by comparison. “Good” exists in the world so long as “evil” exists as well. One cannot do without the other.

  Taoism certainly has a philosophical aspect, which can be compatible with other religions. Many Christians, for instance, freely explore the concepts of Taoism and add whatever they think is useful to their own beliefs. The idea is to explore and learn the correct way or the better way to live and to conduct our personal affairs by understanding some of the principles that govern our lives.  

“In a nutshell, Taoism is the consolidation of a number of concepts and practices that make up the “Path”, or “Way”, of living. The consolidation of ideas and concepts include basic principles or “theories” regarding the body, diet, breathing and physical exercises, uses of herbs, philosophical inquiry and, of course, meditation. All of which the Taoist feels brings a human being into closer alignment with the “natural order” of life and living - a pathway that humankind appears to have gotten derailed from.”

That's a pretty complete definition. But it lacks the poetry inherent in Taoism. Let's quote straight from the source, Lao-Tze's the Tao Te Ching.

“The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao.
The Name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth.
the named is the mother of all things.”

Tao is a force. It's not a God, it's not some sentient being controlling the universe. It just IS. It's everywhere, all at once. It flows through the entire world, and we're all affected by it, even if we don't realize it. Here's an example of someone experiencing Tao.

A Boy throws a baseball into the air. The baseball comes down and smaks said boy in the forehead.

That's Tao right there. Tao is everything that's natural, all the laws of physics, the laws of science, the nature of the world. It affects every squirrel, every raccoon, every person. In other words, Tao is the world and the way it works.
 

Taoist concepts, beliefs and practices:

• 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.
• 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 Taoists 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.”

• The Tao caused the creation of the universe.
• The Tao is the energy that flows through all life.
• The Tao surrounds everyone in the form of nature.
• Everyone must observe and reflect on nature to find enlightenment.
• An adherent's goal is to become one with the Tao.
• Everything is of the one Tao.
• Everything is cyclical.
• Each person must nurture the Tao or 3 bodily energies (Jing, Chi, Shen) through activities such as exercise and meditation.
• One should be prudent and think before acting.
• People are inherently good.
• Follow the art of wu wei: let nature take its course.

Delight in Living



If we take time to watch animals, we see that they have a zest for life that seems to engage them totally in whatever they are doing. A cat chasing its tail, a dog going after a ball, a horse running along the shore, a dolphin leaping and diving -- all are actions that reveal energy and delight in simply being alive.

Life, we say, is to be enjoyed, but how many of us manage to put this theory into practice? We often associate pleasure with guilt or with acting out or with hurting or being hurt, and so we stand back from the full enjoyment of our power to be really alive.

Letting go of our shame and feelings of unworthiness will help us to let go and live. If we can tap into the spontaneity that runs through the animal kingdom, we will rediscover the sheer joy of being alive.

I'll try to take time to watch animals at play and learn from their vitality and enjoyment.

Look at everything

as though you were

seeing it for the first time

or the last time.

Then your time on earth

will be filled with glory.