Note: Everything but italics is the exact copy of my 22 page History term paper (Which I got an A+ on). Steal it and my fat panda paw and your face will become great friends.
Professor P. Andas walks into the lecture hall. He is wearing a long, flowing, brown colored robe which was probably stolen from the hobbo who lives outside of the school. Twirling a finder through the long white beard, Professor Andas takes out a few pieces of paper from the many folds of his robe, and begins the lecture.
Lesson Plan:
Session 1: Taoism - An Introduction
Session 2: Taoism - Tao
Session 3: Taoism - Wu-wei and Wu
S1
Taoism is an idea surrounded by so much legend, symbolic terms, texts, history and different sects, that no sane man could successfully cover even half of all the information Taoism has to offer, in a simple term paper. In fact, the only full-length Encyclopedia of Taoism comes in two volumes, has 1000 total pages, approximately 1750 entries, and costs $315. Even still, it only burrows about halfway into each entry. This term paper will only cover the most important subjects, and attempt to scratch the surface of the more intermediate.
Taoism is one of the most ancient and obscure philosophies and religion currently in existence. It was founded in China approximately 2500 years ago by Lao-tzu, a philosopher considered on par with Confucius and Buddha. Lao-tzu wrote Tao Te Ching, the most important and well known text of Taoism. This text covered the majority of the terms associated with Taoism and most notable the Tao, or the “Way”. The Way is the core of Taoist with all beliefs branching off of it. While Tao is the core of Taoism, “non-doing”, wu-wei is its main belief.
At first the two statements seem to contradict. How can there be both a core belief to Taoism, yet there also be a central belief? If one understands what they both mean, then the answer becomes clear. The two ideas in fact compliment each other, and at times are one and the same.
S2
Tao is roughly translated as path or way, as in the Way one must go about his/her life. Every path of human endeavor has its own Way, or path the must be followed in order to be successful. For example, in order to be successful in governing one’s people, one must attain the loyalty of them. One attains that loyalty by following the specific Way for that endeavor, which in this case would be to govern with compassion and integrity. Thus by following the Way, one attains success.
Yet there is another type of Way: the Way of Heaven and Earth, or more specifically, the Way in which one should live his life. By following this Way, one comes into touch with the Tao, or the Way. The Way of Heaven and Earth involves mastering the ideas of wu, and wu-wei. Only by doing this can one become one with the Way, also known as the Great Way (Tao).
It may sound confusing, probably because three different meanings for the Way have been defined, but also because Taoism is just a confusing subject. In summary so far, there are three types of Tao, the Tao which is specific to a certain task, the Tao that is the path of life and encompasses the ideas of wu and wu-wei, and the Great Tao, the idea that one reaches by practicing the two former Taos.
As mentioned before, the ideas of wu-wei, and the lesser known wu, are quite important to Taoism, on both its philosophical and religious sides. They are both the main factors in achieving the Great Tao, and both are main factors by themselves in the beliefs of Taoism.
S3
The importance of wu-wei is considered to be on par with that of the Tao. Taoists believe that one of the main ways to go about one’s life is to practice wu-wei, or the idea of non-doing. Non-doing can be plainly described as not forcing things on their way, but rather letting it go by itself in its own motion, and flowing with that motion. Go along with the natural order of all things. Aikido, an ancient form of martial arts, is a prime example of this. One experienced in this martial art moves with his opponent’s attacks rather than resisting them.
Taoists generally believe that one’s life can only become bad or sour if one makes it so. By going against the natural flow of nature one’s life become less enjoyable.
The way Lao-tzu saw the world was different than that of the other many religions and philosophies during his time. This is cleverly expressed in an old Chinese painting named the Three Vinegar Tasters. In it, the three main Chinese philosophers, Confucius, Buddha, and Lao-tzu, are huddled around a vat of vinegar. Each one of them is shown tasting a vinegar dipped finger. Each has their own expression on their faces, depicting the general beliefs of each philosopher’s beliefs. Confucius, who wanted to maintain a strict order in society, has a sour look on his face. Buddha, who saw the world as a harsh place, filled with pain and suffering, has a bitter expression on his face. The final man, Lao-tzu is smiling. He saw that the world was governed by nature and not men, and that the only way to see it as bitter or sour was to have an interfering and unappreciative mind. By not interfering with the flow of nature, one expresses the idea of wu-wei.
Wu, the second idea important in achieving the Great Tao, also has correlations with the Three Vinegar Tasters. Wu’s main concept is the idea of having an empty mind. Wu in reality is translated as emptiness. Empty mind can be interpreted as quite a few different things, but there are two main interpretations.
The first interpretation asks the Taoist to have an empty mind without desire, much like the beliefs of Buddhism. The second main understanding of wu is to have an empty, open, and uninfluenced mind towards the world, and the flow of nature. This latter interpretation explains how wu can agree with the Three Vinegar Tasters. By having an accepting, unbiased mind, it is impossible to see the world as an unhappy place.
"Any questions?"
