World Religion and Thoughts

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HUM 2633: Taoism Notes (McMahon) Taoism is the sixth most practiced religion globally, with at least 300 million practitioners worldwide.

As was the case with Buddhism, it is difficult to get exact numbers on the number of individuals who practice Taoism because many individuals identify as both Taoist and another religion (often Buddhist), and many polls only count one of the selected traditions.

Just as Buddhism was an ideological reaction to Hinduism, Taoism is an ideological reaction to, and critique of, Confucian philosophy.

Taoism was founded in China in the 6th Century BC.

The primary text of Taoism is the Tao Te Ching (The Way and Its Power). Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching and is the founder of Taoism.

Apart from his Chinese ancestry, the true identity of the founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu, is not known. Lao Tzu is an honorific reference as opposed to a family name. It means Old Master.

METAPHYSICS: The fundamental principle of Taoist thought, and foundation of Taoist metaphysics, is the Tao. The term Tao translates to The Way.

The term refers to a metaphysical first principle and first cause. Taoists understand the Tao to be the source of all things.

The Tao is understood not just as a first cause, or catalyzing agent for the universe, but also as a critical metaphysical constant that operates within it.

The Tao does not sit apart from existence, but resides in, pervades, and sustains it. The Tao is therefore an immanent force as opposed to a transcendental one (it permeates the universe rather than operates outside it) even while it is understood to be transcendent (beyond us) from an epistemological standpoint (from the standpoint of understanding).

Though the Tao is not conceived of in personal terms as a deity, the Tao operates in a similar manner to the way in which God is understood to operate in other religious systems.

Like Brahman in the Hindu tradition, the Tao, although it is impersonal, is the originating force, it sustains the system, and it establishes a standard of order for the system.

The symbol of the Tao is the aspect of Taoism with which most westerners are familiar. This symbol embodies critical features of the Tao. They include:

1.The Tao encompasses binaries (yin and yang).

2.The Tao embodies balance.

3.The binaries exist in dynamic (fluid) and interdependent relation.

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4.The Tao is eternal.

5.The Tao is holistic (has dual aspects but is ultimately one).

Taoism is a naturalistic philosophy. It counterbalances the more socially oriented rule-based philosophies that prevailed in China at the time of its origin (Confucianism). It emphasizes the natural perfection of the world and humans, particularly those who operate in harmony with nature.

ESCHATOLOGY: Taoism presumes the eternality of the Tao and its creative abundance. It does not postulate and end of the material universe in the same way that some other religious traditions do.

SOTERIOLOGY: Salvation is achieved through being in harmony with the Tao. Though Taoism emphasizes the eternality of the Tao and the fact that all things are part of a larger whole, it does not tend to encourage belief in an eternal soul. It does suggest that one can find contentment in the fact that one will always be part of reality (which is everlasting) even after one dies insofar as one’s life serves to bring more life forth and remains integrated with the whole.

ETHICS: Taoism stresses spontaneity and creativity. It assumes that people are naturally good and that we relate to one another best in more natural settings and ways. Taoism is suspect of undue regimentation and rationalization. It encourages humility and simplicity. It opposes extravagance and conspicuous consumption, lifestyles that encourage confusion between want and need, foster waste, and involve unsustainable use of natural resources.

Like other religious traditions, Taoism regularly uses metaphors as guides. Individuals are aided in understanding how to live well by being presented not primarily with “rules,” but instead with natural metaphors and analogies that illustrate model action. Arguably, the most significant one in the Tao Te Ching, is water.

Water embodies the power as well as the softness and adaptability of the Tao, traits we should emulate if we want to live well.

The Tao Te Ching, although it us cryptic and difficulty to understand at times, is nonetheless renowned for offering practical advice for better living to its readers. For instance, it reminds us

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that we needn’t be overwhelmed by big things because: “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Like Hinduism and Buddhism, it stresses detachment from desire as a means to greater contentment.

Because of their holistic nature, their lack of a theistic focus, their common emphasis on the interdependence, the importance of emptiness, and the virtue of compassion, Taoism and Buddhism are kindred ideologies and are often practiced in concert.

Taoism is an ideological reaction and critique of Confucian thought.

The tradition offers many stories to illustrate the advantage of wu-wei. One well known story is that of a butcher whose knives never dull. When asked why this was the case, he replied that rather than force the knife and try to cut through bone, he instead took a softer

approach, finding the spaces (emptiness) between the joints. A similar technique can be used in other areas of life.

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