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Originally Posted by Master Vigil
Well, for the first lesson on taoism we must first understand it's basic premise. And this premise is Tao. The character Tao is made up of 2 pictures, one meaning walking or movement. And the other meaning mind, or correct. When put together the character denotes a meaning of "correct movement," or "mindful walking."
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That explanation is useful for remembering the looks of the glyph
道, but otherwise useless. Chinese writing doesn't work that way. If you really want to dissect it, the parts are "head" 首 and "辵" go, walk", no more, no less. No deeper meaning, any way you try.
I'm more comfortable with the rest of MV's comments.
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Originally Posted by MV
For Lao Tzu, he saw the Tao as an ever present "force" that was the "Way" of all things. And thus, Tao is known as "The Way."
Unlike god, Tao has no anthropomorphisms. But can be subjected to metaphors. Primarily however, Tao is seen as an ever present force that is unfortunately incapable of being completely understood. Words do not come close, ideas do not come close, and above all, our understanding comes no where close. So how do we come to know the way of the Tao? Nature.
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I've just commented in another thread on the Sikh description of its Supreme Power in terms mainly of what Naam/Wahiguru/etc. is
not. Same same, but different, here as well.
If I were to choose a favourite quote from any Scripture, I would probably go for the first few lines of the Tao Te Ching (or however your favourite transcription would render it):
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The Tao that can be told of is not the eternal Tao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
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From Wing-Tsit Chan,
http://www.bopsecrets.org/gateway/pa...o-te-ching.htm
Confucius was more concerned with the ruling of a country. In spite of this, there are lots of aspects in his writings on human interactions that still are useful today.
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Originally Posted by MV
Lao Tzu saw the Tao as the creator, and humans as below it. The Tao shapes us, not vice versa. This shines through in his humble teachings, and simple writings. And thus, Tao is the force that is the encompassment of all things. The heavens, the earth, fire, water, thunder, mountain, wind, and lake.
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Or, like you said, Nature.
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Originally Posted by MV
In the next lesson I will discuss Chi, and its relationship to the western concept of the "soul."
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Please go on with your views on Chi. I promise I won't agree.