What is Taoism?

What is Tao?

          It is just this.

          It cannot be rendered into speech.

          If you insist on an explanation,

          This means exactly this.

                      -Lu Tung Pin  (Reninger, 2010)

Taoism is a philosophical and spiritual way of life prescribing adherence to the laws of simplicity and the natural cyclic order found in this universe as a means of attaining inner peace and self-realization.   Taoism is based on the observations of the surrounding world; it is a belief system reliant upon the gentle acceptance of one’s lot in life as it naturally occurs.  Taoism is living consciously with faith in the cosmos as a spontaneous but wisely regulating force of all aspects of existence known – physical, spiritual, and mental – as well as those aspects yet to be discovered.  This natural, permeating, and indescribable “way” is depicted by the Tao Te Ching, and has spread throughout the Orient, markedly influencing the development of Japanese Shinto as well as Buddhism, which is evident in their poetry and writings.

            Though generally accredited with authorship of the Tao Te Ching, there are many legends surrounding Lao Tzu’s role in the origination of Taoism. These range from Lao Tzu being the literal human writer of this sacred book to not having existed at all.  The fact is there isn’t any real evidence of his existence, let alone authorship.  Even the name, Lao Tzu, means “Old Master,” denoting a figurative personification for wisdom itself.  Regardless of its origins, perhaps the most obvious literary example of Taoism can be found  in the Beck's translation of the actual manuscript of the Tao Te Ching itself:

Whoever is desireless, sees the essence of life.

Whoever desires, sees its manifestations.

These two are the same,

But what is produced has different names.

They both may be called the cosmic mystery:

From the cosmic to the mystical

Is the door to the essence of all life.

When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty,

There arises the recognition of ugliness.

When they all know the good as good,

There arises the recognition of bad.

Therefore being and non-being produce each other;

Difficult and easy complete each other;

Long and short contrast each other;

High and low distinguish each other;

Sound and voice harmonize with each other;

Beginning and end follow each other.

Therefore the wise manage affairs without interfering

And teach beyond the words.

The poetic simplicity with which the Tao Te Ching is written is an artifact of the depth of belief in Taoism within the author.  It does not bother with flowery words, but focuses on the fruit of what is said in a natural, down to earth way written in the perfect step of language.  It does not force words to adhere to rhythm or rhyme – that is not the “way.”   The poetry’s beauty comes from lack of emphasis on beauty, an achievement without striving, which is the perfect demonstration of the “way” the Tao Te Ching portrays.

Japanese Shinto and Buddhism have intertwined so often throughout the past that it is sometimes difficult to separate the two in their philosophies.  Though Shinto and Buddhism have become more ritualized and traditionalized over the millennia, the straightforward simplicity of the Tao can still be seen in both the wording and subject of their writings.  A common Shinto saying compiled by Sri Swami Sivananda is as follows:

Where you have sincerity,

There is also virtue.

Sincerity is a witness to truth.

Sincerity is the mother of knowledge.

Sincerity is a single virtue

That binds Divinity and man in one.

Buddhism also portrays this honest and direct manner of writing in the words of Buddha from the Metta Sutta (Sangha, 2010):

This is what should be done

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and gentle in speech.

Humble and not conceited,

Contented and easily satisfied,

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,

Not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing

That the wise would later reprove.

The art of the Tao is simplicity.  The acceptance of the natural order of life as the “way” to enlightenment has influenced Shinto and Buddhist Philosophy from the very beginning.  Its beauty is not only seen in the thoughts that these Eastern writings convey, but as Beck portrays, is naturally depicted in the writing style formed as the authors attempt the paradox of explaining the unexplainable.

Empty yourself of everything. 

Maintain a steady serenity.

All things take shape and become active,

But I see them return to their source,

Like vegetation that grows and flourishes,

But returns to the root from which it springs.

Returning to the source is serenity;

It is to realize one's destiny.

To realize one's destiny is to know the eternal.

To know the eternal is to be enlightened.

Not to know the eternal

Is to act blindly and court disaster.

Whoever knows the eternal is open to everything.

Whoever is open to everything is impartial.

To be impartial is to be universal.

To be universal is to be in accord with heaven.

To be in accord with heaven is to be in accord with the way.

To be in accord with the way is to be eternal

And to live free from harm even though the body dies.