Tao Are You? » taoism

Christianity vs. Taoism

Brian — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:33:55 +0000

I came across several tweets about an entry at the Let Jesus Be Your Talkshow Host blog and decided to take a look. I left a comment, but in case it doesn’t get approved (not suggesting that it won’t) I’ll post it here as well:

Concerning the Taoist views of the afterlife, there can be various views as it’s not really a matter of doctrine. However, Chuang-Tzu wrote:

“The true men of old did not know what it was to love life or to hate death. They did not rejoice in birth, nor strive to put off dissolution. Unconcerned they came and unconcerned they went. That was all. They did not forget whence it was they had sprung, neither did they seek to inquire their return thither. Cheerfully they accepted life, waiting patiently for their restoration (the end). This is what is called not to lead the heart astray from Tao, and not to supplement the natural by human means. Such a one may be called a true man. Such men are free in mind and calm in demeanor.”

Basically, we are all from Tao, and we return to Tao. The human body is built from the sustenance and DNA provided by the parents. As you grow, your body is built from what you consume. When you die, your body decomposes and eventually returns to the planet from which it came. The life which powers our body is drawn from the body of all energy that surrounds us and it is there it returns.

In essence, life is a cycle that ebbs and flows like the oceans.

We do not profess to understand the entirety of that energy, just as Christians sometimes say “Only God knows” or “we cannot fully understand the will of God” or even “the Lord works in mysterious ways”. We all recognize we are part of a greater whole. We believe we are part of the energy of the Universe, just as Christians believe they are are the children of God.

Certainly there are fundamental differences between Taoism and Christianity and I always tell people to follow their instincts when searching for what is right for them. I agree that the teachings differ in many ways but I also recognize there are similarities.

For me, I don’t find a need to focus on the differences and pointing at one or the other to say “this way is absolutely right and this way is absolutely wrong”. Jesus taught to love each other. Anyone who has read the core Taoist doctrines knows that the three great treasures are compassion, moderation and humility. These are very compatible with the teachings of Christ.

Christ didn’t tell anyone to love only those who followed him. We are to love, respect, and just be good to each other. We don’t have to agree with everyone else’s viewpoint, and likewise everyone else doesn’t have to agree with ours.

And just a thought, you will be hard pressed to hear about a Taoist killing anyone because of their beliefs. We don’t shoot doctors because we don’t like abortion, we don’t blow ourselves up in marketplaces because our religion will reward us for killing infidels. We are loving, tolerant, compassionate and try to live with as little conflict as possible.

That’s all I have to say, and good work on the blog. I found you via Twitter. Be safe.

A Closer Look at Tao

Brian — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:13:52 +0000

Purposefully, the Daodejing does not define Tao. In fact, it specifically states it as undefinable, unable to be named. Yet it also describes Tao as an empty bowl, unable to be filled. It says the Tao is intangible but the source of all things, tangible and intangible.

Translations are often literal, and it’s certainly difficult to translate a concept as it was understood thousands of years ago into other languages. Yet I think Tao is a concept that’s not limited to Taoist philosophy. The Latin word “potens” which means powerful or able is the root for the English word “potential” which means ” existing in possibility, capable of development into actuality”.

Tao translates roughly into “the way” or “path”. However I think a more understandable translation would be “potential”. The words are sensibly interchangeable.

We all have potential. It can never be used up. Potential is not something you can point at, it exists only as possibility. Yet it is the starting point for all things.

Every choice and every action realizes possibilities that are brought into actuality. Some outcomes are positive, some are not, yet potential remains ambivalent and continuous.

The path is comprised of what? The ongoing series of choices we make from moment to moment. An endless stream of possibilities or potentials that result in both tangible and intangible outcomes.

Many of the people I have studied with lean towards keeping Tao as some mystical energy that should ever remain vague. My understanding is very different. To me, the Daoist is the epitome of practicality. Live simple. Less is more. Be direct.

The idea that Tao cannot be defined is not to be mystical. I believe it means that Tao is potential, undefined because its nature is possibilities. Being mindful that everything you do (or don’t do) is to be aware of the Tao, or the ever present potential that is within us and around us.

Defining Tao

Brian — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:35:16 +0000

The Daodejing classically begins by stating the Tao that can be named is not the true Tao. Whatever you call it, is not what it is. It is defined as being undefinable. This leads many people who feel they understand it to also feel anyone who explains it does not understand it.

I don’t feel this was an attempt to purposefully obfuscate the meaning, but mearly a way of conveying the entirety of the idea.

Growing up, I attended church. As a Christian, I was taught nobody could understand the mind of God. The phrase “God works in mysterious ways” is probably said by countless people every day. These concepts are exactly the same in my opinion.

In quantum physics, as I understand it, one can know the speed of an electron, or direction of motion, but not both at any given time. It’s position can only be described as a probability. So in a way, any precise measurement falls short of a true description.

I was taught that “God is everywhere, in all things”. Science tells us all things are, at the most basic particle level, made from the same thing. In popular culture, Yoda tells us the Force surrounds us, binding us to all things.

All of these are facets of Tao. Although it is the essence of all things, us included, it’s not entirely vague in its universality. There is predictability to it. The Daodejing often pairs opposites together, as being directly related to one another. Newton brought even more clarity to this.

He describes the basic symmetry of the universe. All forces occur in equal but opposite pairs. There are no “isolated” forces, meaning nothing can exert a force without an exactly equal force oppositely directed. This is very central to understanding “just how deep the rabbit hole goes”. While we are familiar with the applications of symmetry in relation to motion, we don’t consider how this applies to other energies (such as emotion and thought) we guide and direct.

Although words and even ideas are unable to fully convey the extent of Tao, it does not mean we cannot know it enough to embrace the symmetry which is its core nature.

In my belief this is called finding the Way.