Difference between revisions of "Tao"

Revision as of 17:22, 23 April 2012

Definition

Lecture and Manual

The ancient Chinese believed that the earth, nature and the cosmos were part of a harmonious order, the Tao, the way, or the experience. The search for the right path is known as Taoism, the second great stream of Chinese though. Taoism is the other half of a balanced life, its natural spirituality complementing the philosophical approach introduced by Confucius. The Tao itself refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living, regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe and embodies the harmony of opposites i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female. It is important to not that Taoism does not seek to reconcile these contradictions as the West does with rationalism, but views them in juxtaposition, side by side.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

a : the unconditional and unknowable source and guiding principle of all reality as conceived by Taoists b : the process of nature by which all things change and which is to be followed for a life of harmony

Sources

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tao

Manual for the Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations Compiled by Rosie Beniretto and Clay Elliot

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