Taoism - Learn to live like a Taoist
It is said that the hardest thing anyone can do is nothing. To sit idly and trust that nature has everything in control without interference. To accept life in all its beauty and wonder without judgement or bias of good or bad. A more natural way of living without pressure or force.
The Tao Te Ching written by the philosopher Lao Tzu around 500 B.C.E and is the main book of Taoism and seen by many as a pathway to enlightenment. A way to live in harmony with life rather than fighting against it.
When someone first discovers Taoism many feel an instant sense of relief as if a huge weight has been lifted from their shoulders. An understanding that it was not their job to control outcomes, people or events and a deeper realisation that we really don't control much at all.
We don't control when we will die. We don't control the weather. We don't control what other people think and a lot of the time we don't even control what we think. The belief that you can somehow control such things will only leave you feeling anxious and ironically more out of control.
Wu Wei is the key principle behind Taoism which teaches by effortless action all things can be achieved.
By following the principals behind the Tao Te Ching we are able to let go with a new lightness free from worry and stress. An unshakable trust that everything is going to be alright. Life will always carry on perfectly without our worry or need to control.
Taoism is life in balance and Wu Wei is the way.
Feel free to read the Tao Te Ching for yourself and discover the brilliance of Lau Tzu's teachings on Taoism.
Do not seek to control but trust in the Tao the mother of ten thousand things.
Each month one of the chapters of the Tao Te Ching is reviewed and a simplified explanation given to help others on their path. If you would like to receive an alert when a new chapter is featured use the button below to enter your email address.
This months chapter review.
Simplified Explanation
This passage is talking about the impartial nature of the universe and the Taoist Master's approach to it. It says that Heaven and Earth are impartial and treat all of creation equally, like straw dogs, which were used in ancient Chinese religious ceremonies and then discarded. Similarly, the Master doesn't take sides and treats everyone equally, regardless of their status or position. The space between Heaven and Earth is described as being like a bellows, which is empty but still has power. The more it is used, the more it produces, and the more one talks about it, the less one comprehends. This is because the universe is vast and mysterious, and the Tao is beyond human comprehension. The passage also suggests that it is better not to speak of things that one does not understand, as this can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications. The idea is to live in harmony with the universe, accepting its impartiality, and avoiding the trap of trying to impose one's own understanding on things that are beyond comprehension.