A Portrait
by Dr. Douglas K. Chung
Professor at Grand Valley State University School
of Social Work, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Li Erh (6th century B.C.E.) commonly known as Lao Tzu
(the Old Master), was a contemporary of Confucius. He was the
keeper of the imperial library, but in his old age he disappeared
to the west, leaving behind him the Tao Te Ching (Book
of Tao and Virtue).
Taoism derived its name from this profoundly wise book, only
about five thousand words in length. It can be used as a guide to
the cultivation of the self as well as a political manual for
social transformation at both the micro and macro levels. The
philosophy of Taoism and its belief in immortals can be traced back
to the Yellow Emperor, Huang-Ti. That is why Taoism is often called
the "Huang-Lao" philosophy.
Taoism believesTao to be the cosmic, mysterious, and
ultimate principle underlying form, substance, being and change.
Tao encompasses everything. It can be used to understand
the universe and nature as well as the human body. For example,
"Tao gives birth to the One, the One gives birth to Two,
and from Two emerges Three, Three gives birth to all the things.
All things carry the Yin and the Yang deriving
their vital forces" (Tao Te Ching, ch. 42).
Tao is the cause of change and the source of all
nature, including humanity. Everything from quanta to solar systems
consists of two primary elements of existence, Yin and
Yang forces, which represent all opposites. These two
forces are complementary elements in any system and result in the
harmony or balance of the system. All systems coexist in an
interdependent network. The dynamic tension between Yin
and Yang forces in all systems results in an endless
process of change: production and reproduction and the
transformation of energy. This is the natural order.
Tao and virtue are said to be the same coin with
different sides. The very title Tao Te ching means the
canon of Tao and virtue. Lao Tzu says, "The Highest Virtue
is achieved through non-action. It does not require effort,"
because virtue is natural to people. This is what is meant by
"Tao creates and Virtue sustains" (ch. 51).
Taoists believe that Tao has appeared in the form of
sages and teachers of humankind, as, for example, Fu Hsi, the giver
of the Pa Qua (eight trigrams) and the arts of divination
to reveal the principles of Tao. The Pa Qua is
the foundation of the I Ching and and represents the eight
directions of the compass associated with the forces of nature that
make up the universe. There are two forms of the Pa Qua of
Later Heaven (Lo Shu), which describes a state of
disharmonious existence. The path of the Return to the Tao
is the process of a reunification with Tao, of being
transformed from a conflicting mode to a harmonious mode.
The conflicting mode is the destructive or waning cycle of the
Five Elements (metal, wood, earth, water and fire). The destructive
cycle consists of metal destroying wood (axes cutting trees); wood
dominating earth as the roots of the trees dig into the ground
(power domination); earth mastering water and preventing the flood
(anti-nature forces); water destroying fire (anti-nature causes
pollution that destroys the beauty of the world); and fire melting
metals (pollution).
Taoists believe that through both personal and social
transformations we can convert the destructive cycle of the Five
ELements into a creative cycle of the Five Elements—to change
from a conflicting mode of life into a supportive way of living.
The creative cycle of the Five Elements is this: metal in the veins
of the earth nourishes the underground waters (purification); water
gives life to vegetation and creates wood (nourishment); wood feeds
fire to create ashes forming earth (nature recycling). The cycle is
completed when metal is formed inthe veins of the earth. The path
of the Return to the Tao is clearly needed in light of
today's concerns about energy and environment.
Taoism believes in the value of life. Taoists do not focus on
life after death, but rather emphasize practical methods of
cultivating health to achieve longevity. Therefore, Taoism teaches
people to enhance their health and longevity by minimizing their
desires and centering themselves on stillness. Taoists firmly
believe that human lives are in our control. For example, Lao Tzu
promotes chi-kung (breathing exercise) to enhance life
(ch. 5, 20, 52). He offers three methods of life enhancement:
- Keeping original "oneness," that is, to integrate energy,
chi, and spirit;
- Maintaining one's vital energy in order to retain the
flexibility and adaptability a newborn baby has;
- Persisting in practice for longevity (ch. 10, 52, 59). To
practice chi-kung is to practice the path of the
Return to the Tao on an individual level to integrate
physical, emotional, and spiritual development for health and
longevity.
Taoism advocates nonaggressive, nonviolent, peaceful coexistence
of states. For example, Lao Tzu describes an ideal state as one in
which people love their own country and lifestyle so much that,
even though the next country is so close the citizens can hear its
roosters crowing and its dogs barking, they are content to die of
old age without ever having gone to see it (ch. 80). Lao Tzu
regards weapons as the tools of violence; all decent people detest
them. He recommends that the proper demeanor after a military
victory should be the same as that at a funeral (ch. 31).
Taoism advocates a minimum of government intervention, relying
instead on individual development to reach a natural harmony under
Tao's leading. To concentrate on individual development is
to practice the path of the Return to the Tao on a macro
level. Lao Tzu writes:
The Tao never does anything, yet through it all
things are done. (ch. 37)
If you want to be a leader, you must learn to follow the
Tao. Stop trying to control. Let go of fixed plans and
concepts, adn the world will govern itself. The more prohibitions
you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you
have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you
have, the elss self-reliant people will be. (ch. 57)
Act without doing, work without effort. Think of the small as
large adn the few as many. Confront the difficult while it is
still easy; accomplish the great task by a series of small acts.
The Master never reaches for the great; thus achieves greatness.
(ch. 63)
Prevent trouble before it arises. Put things in order before
they exist. The giant pine tree grows from a tiny sprout. The
journey of a thousand miles starts from your first step. (ch.
64)
Lao Tzu's view of social distribution is this:
Tao adjusts excess and deficiency so that there is perfect
balance. It takes from what is too much and gives to what isn't
enough. Those who try to control, who use force to protect their
power, go against the direction of the Tao. They take
from those who don't have enough and give to those who have far
too much. (ch. 77)
Basically, Taoists promote a way of life that exhibits six
characteristics (Ho, 1988):
- determining and working with the Tao when making
changes;
- basing one's life on the laissez faire principle—let
nature follow its own course as its guideline for change;
- modeling one's life on the sage, on nature, and thus on the
Tao;
- emphasizing the Tao's strategy of reversal
transformation;
- focusing on simplicity and originality;
- looking for intuitive awareness and insight and deemphasizing
rational and intellectual efforts.
These characteristics are the essential Taoist guidelines for
personal and social development.
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