Interpretation and Significance of Lao Tzu's Sayings - Essay Example

Interpretation and Significance of Lao Tzus Sayings Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts 29 May 2009 Daoism and its significance Daoism (Taoism) is a widely accepted philosophical and religious tradition which includes number of organized concepts. It is common knowledge that Daoism has influenced East Asia for over two thousand years. Daoism has transformed and developed from China, Japan and Korea. Unlike Buddhism and Christianity Daoism has no single founder, or single holy messages such as noble truths and Bible. Today Daoism established as a meaningful and highly prominent religious community. (Yijie Tang, and Tʻang I-chieh, 1991.).It has acquired the status of a church organization with formal and religious features. Taoists have developed their principles through the processes of self- realization and self-invention based on a variety of philosophical and environmental contexts. Like other organized religion, Daoism has its own doctrines or scriptures for its followers. In their collaborate effort Yijie Tang, and Tʻang I-chieh have rightly put it: “The early form of Daoism (Taoism) held that its body of belief was made up of the tenet of “the ascent of the three in one “that is,” the unity of heaven, earth, and man for the attainment of the Great Peace; the blending of the essence, breath and shen to become a saint.” (Yijie Tang, and Tʻang I-chieh, 1991, 76 pp.). Daoism (Taoism) is familiar to the world through the famous books Chuang-Tzu and Tao Te Ching. Daoist sayings are more comprehensive, filled with metaphysical principles and these principles emphasis a formation of ‘oneness’ that follow the complex form of diverse world. The book had widely accepted as the great sayings of Lao Tzu. It has considered as the unique ideology in Chinese history. Interpretation of Lao Tzu’s Sayings Saying-1 Tao ko tao fei chang tao. TAO called TAO is not TAO. Names can name no lasting name. Nameless: the origin of heaven and earth. Naming the mother of ten thousand things. Empty of desire, perceive mystery. Filled with desire, perceive manifestations. These have the sane source, but different names’ Gall them both deep- The gateway to all mystery. Lao Tzu explores his ideas through the help of rhyme and rhythm, paradox, analogy, and proportion. In his masterpiece Lao-Tzu remarks, every people have his/her own freewill and desires. The Chinese word Tao/ Dao means the way to the universe. When analyzing these sayings, one can understand that it is difficult to define these sayings appropriately. In the first part of this work, the author tries to give the foundation about the ideology Tao Te Ching. When analyzing the plight of modern man one can easily find that the sayings of Lao-Tzu have enough relevance. The temporariness of material things and pleasures have well expressed in the sayings of Lao Tzu. The followers of Lao-Tzu purport that the ultimate aim of life is to gain the ‘Great Peace’. One cannot attribute it a clear form or structure that it may appear in any name or material existence. Lao Tzu begins the given saying by referring to the philosophical comment that the beginning of everything on this earth comes out of emptiness or nothingness. The first line of the saying provides a serious message which means ‘nothing is real in this world.’ The idea that can be expressed is not the eternal Tao. The material name and status are not the real one. The process of growth that human being acquires desire, and in his childhood he perceives something different which is capable of fulfilling those desires. Human desire is the base of all activities. Even if it has various forms it will lead man in to the world of trials and tribulations. In short, one can infer that, human desire is the gateway of human sufferings in this world. The key stone of human existence on this earth is his unending thirst of knowledge and desire. The unique ability of man to change his nature/ behavior based on the existing circumstances is an example of human freewill. The author tries to urge his readers to drop expectations and desires which is believed to be the best way to expand prospects mind. The world of political boundaries and narrowness of Taoist sayings remind modern man many serious ideas. Saying-2 Heaven and Earth are not kind: The ten thousand things are straw dogs to them. Sages are not kind: People are Straw dogs to them. Yet Heaven and Earth And all the space between Are like a bellows” Empty but inexhaustible, Always producing more. Longwinded speech is exhausting. Better to stay centered. The above given lines are noteworthy for its internal meaning and highly thought provoking ideas. All most all the sayings reveal the deference between the life of a saint and the life of common people. The author shares the idea that heaven and earth are impartial. Sages are different from common person and they are impartial. The ultimate aim of human life is to cross the emptiness between heaven and earth. Through his selfless actions, a sage will attain self-realization and the ability to overcome the luxuriousness of earthly life. Like the ideology of Buddhist philosophy, the exponents of Daoism also believe self-actualization or Nirvana .The wise men see the common folk as straw dogs. At the time of Globalization and industrialization, the activities of man in this world are quite meaningless or futile. In a world of war and terrorism, these sayings have much importance and one can easily find out the futility of earthly life. John Gillie’s book entitled Shakespeare, and the geography of difference, gives enough descriptions about the futility of modern life. When Gillies John attempts a study about Shakespeare he remarks: “The world was a theater in the sense of its delusiveness and emptiness. It was in Macbeth’s words,” full of sound and fury, signify nothing” (Gillies John, 1994. 76 pp.). However, these sayings have enough significance; one can see some variations that force him to express disagreement Lao-Tzu. Each man has his own personality and abilities. The comparison between common person and Sages are little bit of difficult for common man’s comprehension level. Work cited: Yijie Tang, and Tʻang I-chieh, Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, and Chinese culture. Edition: Illustrated, 1991. 76. pp. Gillies John, Shakespeare and the geography of difference. Cambridge University Press, 1994. 76. pp. Read More