Spontaneous Nature Of Tao Principle
While preaching a practical philosophy Confucius repeatedly highlighted the greatness of man. Quite contrary to that Lao Tzu said man cannot transcend nature. Nature is not only something out there, it also works within man. Since man is a bundle of desires. greed and competition is inevitable. Moral standards get compromised because of conflicting interests. Hence, says Lao Tzu, the course of action which is guided by desires should be suspended. Giving up action means living in tune with the universal law, and Lao Tzu calls it Tao. In Tao Tee Ching, he says the important difference between God and Tao is that God produces the world by making it but Tao produces it by not making it. It lets things grow. The Tao principle is spontaneity; it cannot be defined in human terms. The Tao is blurred and indistinct and yet within it there are images designed by subtle spiritual power. Lao Tzu says that our head looks like nothing to our eyes and yeti is the source of our intelligence. TREE So is the case with Tao. It is the intelligence which shapes the world but it is beyond our understanding. It is the basic principle of existence; yet, the Tao is devoid of any characteristic. Tao is a state of non-being. Although the Tao is non-being but it is not simply nothing. On the contrary it is the source of everything. Tao also is beyond all names, because Tao is a non-name. It indicates and absorbs each and every particle of the universe. It enables things to be what they are. The great Tao, according to Lao Tzu, flows everywhere. All things depend upon it for their existence and it does not abandon them. To its accomplishment it lays no claim. It loves and nourishes all things but does not lord over them. The difference between the doctrine of Confucius and Lao Tzu is that Confucius differentiated between goodness and nature. But Lao Tzu sees man and nature as a unity and does not accept any division between the two. He does not consider it necessary to depend upon a false duality. between the known object and the subject trying to know it. Man can lead a happy life if man knows the principles that regulate the universal laws. Tao is a doctrine that can be shared by anyone who is in tune with nature. The unfulfilled desires of many individuals lead to conflict and hostility. In order to provide comfort and mental peace to every individual, standards of morality must be devised in accordance with the laws of nature. Since imposition of moral standards does not deter people from breaking rules due to their overriding ambition, the best thing would be to regulate competition and reduce strife. But complications because it does not remove the hostility which is a by-product of competition and does not provide for total satisfaction to the individual. Who is a slave of his desires. How then people should act? Lao Tzu answers this question by saying that people should adopt the 'easy way' to Tao that is, not inflicting their desires upon nature, but following her. With regard to society, Lao Tzu suggests a government of the people which functions according to the easy and natural way of Tao as a solution. This solution according to Lao Tzu lies in 'Te'. Lao Tzu's 'te' is the happy combination of yin and yang. Tao is the source of both being and non-being. Te is the smooth interaction of yin and yang. And 'ching' is the spiritual capacity of mind.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Kailash Vajpeyi kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Kailash Vajpeyi Speaking Tree,Times of India
Spontaneous Nature Of Tao Principle
While preaching a practical philosophy Confucius repeatedly highlighted the greatness of man. Quite contrary to that Lao Tzu said man cannot transcend nature. Nature is not only something out there, it also works within man. Since man is a bundle of desires. greed and competition is inevitable. Moral standards get compromised because of conflicting interests. Hence, says Lao Tzu, the course of action which is guided by desires should be suspended. Giving up action means living in tune with the universal law, and Lao Tzu calls it Tao. In Tao Tee Ching, he says the important difference between God and Tao is that God produces the world by making it but Tao produces it by not making it. It lets things grow. The Tao principle is spontaneity; it cannot be defined in human terms. The Tao is blurred and indistinct and yet within it there are images designed by subtle spiritual power. Lao Tzu says that our head looks like nothing to our eyes and yeti is the source of our intelligence. TREE So is the case with Tao. It is the intelligence which shapes the world but it is beyond our understanding. It is the basic principle of existence; yet, the Tao is devoid of any characteristic. Tao is a state of non-being. Although the Tao is non-being but it is not simply nothing. On the contrary it is the source of everything. Tao also is beyond all names, because Tao is a non-name. It indicates and absorbs each and every particle of the universe. It enables things to be what they are. The great Tao, according to Lao Tzu, flows everywhere. All things depend upon it for their existence and it does not abandon them. To its accomplishment it lays no claim. It loves and nourishes all things but does not lord over them. The difference between the doctrine of Confucius and Lao Tzu is that Confucius differentiated between goodness and nature. But Lao Tzu sees man and nature as a unity and does not accept any division between the two. He does not consider it necessary to depend upon a false duality. between the known object and the subject trying to know it. Man can lead a happy life if man knows the principles that regulate the universal laws. Tao is a doctrine that can be shared by anyone who is in tune with nature. The unfulfilled desires of many individuals lead to conflict and hostility. In order to provide comfort and mental peace to every individual, standards of morality must be devised in accordance with the laws of nature. Since imposition of moral standards does not deter people from breaking rules due to their overriding ambition, the best thing would be to regulate competition and reduce strife. But complications because it does not remove the hostility which is a by-product of competition and does not provide for total satisfaction to the individual. Who is a slave of his desires. How then people should act? Lao Tzu answers this question by saying that people should adopt the 'easy way' to Tao that is, not inflicting their desires upon nature, but following her. With regard to society, Lao Tzu suggests a government of the people which functions according to the easy and natural way of Tao as a solution. This solution according to Lao Tzu lies in 'Te'. Lao Tzu's 'te' is the happy combination of yin and yang. Tao is the source of both being and non-being. Te is the smooth interaction of yin and yang. And 'ching' is the spiritual capacity of mind.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Kailash Vajpeyi kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Kailash Vajpeyi Speaking Tree,Times of India