Taoism
The
great difficulty in interpreting this and similar texts for the European mind is
due to the fact that the Chinese author always starts from the central point,
from the point we would call his objective or goal; in a word, he begins with
the ultimate insight he has set out to attain.
The
Chinese character is made up of the character for 'head', and that for 'going'.
'Head' can be taken as
consciousness, and 'to go' as travelling a way, thus the
idea would be: to go consciously, or the
conscious way.
That which exists through itself is called the Way
A Video introduction of the Tao Te Ching
Tao can be anything. I use another word to designate it, but it is poor
enough. I call it
synchronicity.
The
condition of Tao is the beginning of the world where nothing has yet begun - and
it is also the condition to be achieved by the attitude of superior wisdom.
The first 6 chapters of the Tao Te Ching (of 81) give a sound executive summary of what is Tao. Reading them alone will give an excellent introduction and understanding of: Taoism.
(How)
does such a secret pattern become the basis for the word “Li” – reason?
One must naturally think in Chinese terms. You know
that all the cultural patterns in
"The
scholar learns something every day, the man of
tao unlearns something every day,
until he gets back to non-doing."
Lao-tzu – The Tao Te Ching