Who is Tao?
At about the same time in history that the great teacher, Confucius, was busy teaching people about the right way to do things, 2,500 years ago in ancient China, there was another young man who was also a teacher. His name was Lao-Tzu. The teachings of Taoism are his teachings. Lao-Tzu believed that physical actions had a spiritual effect. If the body and mind were in good health, the body’s spirit would be in good health. Many people in ancient China followed both the teachings of Confucius, whose rules told you how to do things in the right way, and of Lao-Tzu, whose teachings taught you how to think about things in the right way. Many people around the world are still following these teachings today.
What is Taoism?
Tao (pronounced Dow) means “The Way” (to happiness). Taoism is not a religion. Taoism is a philosophy, a way of looking at life and a way of thinking about things. Taoists believe if you look at life and think about things in the right way, you’ll be much happier. To do this, it’s very important to understand The Way Things Are. This does not mean that there are not things we need to change about ourselves, but it’s important to recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and discover who we are. In the story of “The Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Andersen, when does the duckling stop feeling ugly? – when he discovers he’s a swan. When he recognizes who he really is, a beautiful swan, he finds his Way to happiness.
Taoist Philosophy
A clever mind is not a heart
There is more to knowing than just being correct
The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not
