Tao is only a name, it is a name outside of duality, it is the one thing with no anti, no, or opposite. The name Tao was given to the "unnameable" unwillingly by the first person to use the term, Lau Tzu. Lau Tzu did not wish to name Tao at all but was in a corner do do so as he was writing a book. Giving names causes problems and some chapters point to just that. So the name is just an aspect of language and not anything in itself.
Tao is an all embracing concept; which, due to its nature, can not be put into words. Therefore the first line anyone reads from the most famous book on the Tao "The Tao Te Ching" is something like "The Tao that can be told is not the Tao", the book then goes on to give a further 80 short enlightening verses pointing towards the Tao.
No thing or description is the Tao yet nothing is independent of the Tao. Think "There is all that is, so there must be all that isn't" -The Tao is both of those.
Tao almost equates to Interdependence mixed with an idea of motion - yet is neither. Motion could not exist without stillness, and nothing with properties can exist without something without those properties - the Tao has no properties yet contains them all - words fail it!
This may be unclear to newcomers but Tao is not a religion. Taoism is a religion and is probably the hardest to pin down as anything from Chinese life, simplicity, the arrangement of a house, and more, can all be called Taoism. I am open to the good in all but do not follow a religion as I find they are exclusive and thereby restrictive of ones true nature.
"I let go of religion,
and people become serene."
"When they lose their sense of awe,
people turn to religion."
Tao therefore is a philosophy or a way of thinking - it can be used by anyone non-exclusively; It is the notion of seeing from the centre, seeing that all points exist do to polar complementaries (not opposites). Things exist due to the notion of an opposite yet are complementary, mutually arising, in total interdependence of each other.
Often explained by the idea of a Clay Pot - the pot, decorated or not, is seen to be that part of value. Yet if it were not empty, it would have no use.
Here I would like to encourage modern, plain talking, about the Tao; how it relates to us now, and not the "ye olde" translations unless they carry direct relation to life now.
Talk about the Tao Te Ching
New Taoist Philosophy Short Book: "Pop!"
Introduction: Buy The Book
In the stream bubbles appear one new one a second and as we watch old ones pop every second, pop, pop, pop. These bubbles represent humans coming into the world by birth and leaving by death, each second is this swirl of bubbles, pop, pop, pop, pop, and one day that pop will be you!
The thought of a death a second is not such a nice one as to dwell on it and so we do not, the thought though of the ongoing mass game of Russian Roulette where your number is guaranteed to come up at some unknown time should force a smart adjustment in perspective and awakening to the moment and living, now.
You do not spend your time sitting mourning each and every pop, considered though the thought of your own popping may be of some concern. Will you pop out of the blue unprepared or will you feel your pop coming? Part of your concern over your pop is sadness and loss you'll leave behind in others.
Each moment a pop, pop, pop, each moment people suffering that. Aren't you though, the stream?
In the stream bubbles appear one new one a second and as we watch old ones pop every second, pop, pop, pop. These bubbles represent humans coming into the world by birth and leaving by death, each second is this swirl of bubbles, pop, pop, pop, pop, and one day that pop will be you!
The thought of a death a second is not such a nice one as to dwell on it and so we do not, the thought though of the ongoing mass game of Russian Roulette where your number is guaranteed to come up at some unknown time should force a smart adjustment in perspective and awakening to the moment and living, now.
You do not spend your time sitting mourning each and every pop, considered though the thought of your own popping may be of some concern. Will you pop out of the blue unprepared or will you feel your pop coming? Part of your concern over your pop is sadness and loss you'll leave behind in others.
Each moment a pop, pop, pop, each moment people suffering that. Aren't you though, the stream?
Thoughts on the Tao Te Ching
These are very casual thoughts on looking at the Tao Te Ching. I have much more to add but leave it open now to discussion in the comments sections of each post.
For my more up-to-date thoughts related to the Tao, please join me over on Tao Wow for regular updates of the Tao in daily life, conciousness, the mind, the one, and life itself.
For my more up-to-date thoughts related to the Tao, please join me over on Tao Wow for regular updates of the Tao in daily life, conciousness, the mind, the one, and life itself.
Tao te Ching Chapter 81
This is quite a brilliant summary of the Tao Te Ching, I often find myself dipping into various copies at random but on the times I do read a copy fully I quite often read from back to front. This chapter is a great ending but also a great introduction to living by the Tao.
"The more you yield to others, the more they yield to you,
Those who think they are right can talk all day, the wise do not argue."
and more along these lines too, mainly making the point of true balance and that one who is right with Tao does not even know it and is unlikely to even mention it unless asked.
"The more you yield to others, the more they yield to you,
Those who think they are right can talk all day, the wise do not argue."
and more along these lines too, mainly making the point of true balance and that one who is right with Tao does not even know it and is unlikely to even mention it unless asked.
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