Taoism

Taoism Pronounced: Dao-ism Created By: Lao Tzu >
 * Chinese for "Way"
 * Tao is a force, which is unbiased - Good things happen and Bad things happen to any person
 * Going against Tao is a life of strife and challenges (Tao points you in the right direction for a reason
 * Taoists free themselves from concerns while emptying their minds
 * Does not label things, for this makes things fall short from the way they are
 * knowledge is not needed, because you will never understand the universe
 * following dreams

Tao Tzu:
 * dissagreement about Tao Tzu's existance
 * made ying yang
 * chinese word for 'virtue'= Tao te ching

Gods in Daoism: + The Tao is a force that moves the universe to it's will without sense of morals, and you cn never understand how it works, so why question what it does with you? Accept it and move on.
 * sage= god
 * spirits
 * heaven is there
 * highest expierience (what will get you to heaven) - occupying earth w/o striving
 * bad found in good (dark vs. light)
 * god favors no one, everyone is equal
 * gods didn't play huge role in government

another tao overview:
 * Tao is the power of the universe
 * don't let things interfere
 * the universe will flow the way it wants to flow
 * taoism was amoral- morals don't exist (not moral or immoral)
 * you will never understand the Tao
 * cause yourself the least possible amount of pain and unpleasantness
 * education is not important, you will never understand anything
 * the sages know what to do
 * individuality vs. solid society (confucianism and Legalism)
 * how is taoism a reaction to the warring states period?
 * Taoism taught people to not do anything about it... the universe will do what it wants to do (just let the wars end, don't interfere with them)
 * government
 * should have a light touch
 * shouldn't be going to war, let people be who they want to be
 * almost like a religion
 * but, Taoism is also very frightening compared to Legalism and Confucianism


 * Taoism says that the Dao is the ultimate power of the universe and it is uncontrollable.
 * you can't learn it so education is pointless.
 * you can't control it so government should do as little as possible.
 * you can't change it so let the Dao take you on its path.

Naming and describing things will always fall short of the way things are. If you describe things as beautiful, you also get ugly as a result. If you describe something as good you get bad from that. Being and Non being give birth to each other.