Taoism - Research Paper Example

This paper will introduce the main ideas of Taoism in contrast to Confucianism, and will show how they might be a source of wisdom and inspiration to modern Western life. Taoism: Yang Chu, Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi Three central figures may be identified in the birth and proliferation of Taoist thought. These are Yang Chu, Lao Zi, and Zhuang Zi. Yang Chu proposes a very basic form of naturalism. His main goal is basic to the Taoist view: to preserve life and to avoid injury. But Yang Chu’s way is through what might be called escapism.

It is said that Yang Chu retired in the forest to dwell close to the animals who knew nature. A famous anecdote (Fung 62) says that he refused a calling to be an official precisely because he wanted to preserve his life. A horse does not need more than a few licks of water from a lake to satisfy its thirst. Why would one want more than the humblest abode and a few morsels of food to live? This simplicity advocated by Yang Chu has often been interpreted as selfishness, for he is supposed to have told people to not give up a single strand of their hair even if it meant they would have a whole kingdom in their hands.

But on deeper examination, we find that Yang Chu’s refusal to join the world is really his way of preserving life. Once we give a piece, people will want more and more until we have no more to give; until we have no more. Thus, Yang Chu advises against giving up even a single strand of hair (Fung 63). It is through this view that Yang Chu has earned the description, one who despises things and values life. Lao Zi is the sage identified with Taoism primarily because of the Tao te ching, the book he is supposed to have composed at the request of a guard asking hum for his legacy before he left society altogether.

Unlike Yang Chu, Lao Zi is still concerned with practical life. He does not espouse the escapism of Yang Chu but rather makes sure that in our day to day living, we still followed the way of Nature by preserving the simplicity of life. To do this, one is encouraged to keep in mind two concepts: wei-wu-wei and the principle of yin-yang. The former can be interpreted as doing without doing, while the latter can be emphasized as the harmonious opposition of things. For Lao Zi, to follow the Dao is to let things be, to leave things the way they are.

Suffering is caused by our desire to change things or to control events in our lives. As this will never happen, we fall into frustration. To be happy, one must be content and not meddle in the ways of Nature. To go with the flow, so to speak, is the secret to a satisfying life. Thus, wei-wu-wei allows us to be active without disturbing the natural flow of things. It is not mere passivity, but rather an activity that facilitates the working out of the course of Nature. We do not do more than what is necessary.

“Do you work, then step back. The only path to serenity” (Lao-Zi, chap. 9). “Practice not doing and everything will fall into place” (Lao Zi, chap. 3). The water symbol of the Dao is central to their philosophy. It literally goes with the flow and does not rise above itself, yet it is a very powerful element. Water is soft, yet it overcomes the hard as the river polishes the stones where it