Unlike
the ideas of Confucianists who are more tailored to the concerns of
society and functioning within society, Taoists are more concerned with
natural elements and paying attention to nature’s relation to the
experience of being human. Taoism can be traced back to Lao Tzu. There is speculation as to whether Lao Tzu was a single philosopher or collection of individuals.
The humble beginnings of Taoism include being the folk religion of the
Chinese people in rural areas. The Tang Dynasty saw Taoism as the
official religion of the country. As the Tang Dynasty ended Taoism was
replaced with Confucianism and Buddhism.
The word “Dao” or “Tao” was used in Chinese philosophy before the inception of Taoist teachings. “Dao” means “way,” “path,” “course,” or “method.” From a broad perspective, the Taoist disposition is acceptance of the natural course of the universe. Taoists typically hold a positive attitude towards the supernatural and other phenomena. Taoists hold the Dao very sacred. They believe the Dao is within everything and resisting the Dao is unnatural. Dao is an explanation for the process of reality. Dao is how things come together as a whole while also constantly changing. The Daodejing (DDJ) is a Chinese text with 81 chapters that is believed to be the founding text of Taoism. Sometimes called the Tao-Te-Ching, the
DDJ is comprised of poems that illustrate how to live through the Dao
and be at peace with one’s self and surroundings. Living for change and
letting go of the past are key teachings of the DDJ. Readers of this
text have found it to be a nudge in the direction of realizing the
connectivity human beings have to the world around them. Taoism
and the DDJ embody the principle of yin-yang, so it is safe to say
balance is very integral concept of the Tao. Taoism presents life as
harmony, and dismisses the concepts of “good” and “evil” as mere social
constructs. To follow the Tao is to believe that life is nature and
within that is balance.
Taoists
believe in Sacred Time and living in Sacred Time is to accept the
continuity of creation. Every process of nature flows effortlessly
through the Tao such as the cycle of day and night, or the cycle of
seasons. This aligns with the harmony and balance Taoists strive to
exist in. The DDJ states, “Returning is the movement of the Tao.”
Taoists believe that Sacred Space exists alongside Sacred Time. A
Sacred Space is created for use in a ritual and then returned to its
original state afterwards. This is similar to the flow of Sacred Time in
that everything will return to its originality through the process of
change. A Sacred Space symbolizes the cosmos and represents a link
between Heaven and Earth. The Taoshi are Taoist priests and many will come to the when they have a problem or have fallen ill. The Taoshi will listen to the person’s problems and then scribe a talisman that is either to be carried or ingested by the person. Taoshi
undergo a rigorous process to gain their title. This includes
understanding rituals and texts of the Tao, breath control, fasting,
periods of abstinence, etc. Common among the Taoshi
are visualization practices that visualize deities within the body or
journeys to outer realms. These practices are observed to remain in
harmony with the Cosmos and the flow of Sacred Time.
Quiz ?’s: 1. Who or what can Taoism be traced back to?
2. What is the founding text of Taoism?
3. What Taoism present life as?
4. Who are the Taoshi?
Discussion ?’s: 1. What is your personal opinion of the “Tao?”
2. Do you believe life has a natural cycle?
Posts I commented on:
https://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2019/12/pyrrhos-concept-we-know-nothing.html?showComment=1575740310858#c790577891791309563
The attempt to live harmoniously and in balance with nature is one of those quests that bridges east and west, with Stoics being one western analogue to the Taoist ideal. But the Tao of Pooh remains my favorite trans-cultural philosophy! Seems to me Pooh integrates elements of Taoism AND Confucianism effectively, harmonizing with nature and the society of his peers in the Hundred Acre WOod.
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