Lao Tzu Page - Taoist Concepts

Lao Tzu Page

Taoism Concepts

Summary of Taoist Concepts

The main concepts abounding in the Taoist classical books like Tao Te Ching could be grouped around a few essential ideas: Tao, emptiness (wu), nondoing (wu-wei), and adaptation to the temporary demands.

Dance

Our life is the intercourse
of two natural forces:
yin and yang.

- Tao is the main concept of Taoism. In Tao Te Ching it is described as the creator and sustainer of the universe. It points also to the Taoist Heaven and the way or method of attaining the unity with the Creator which is the Taoist goal.

- Wu (translated as emptiness) is the concept of keeping your mind empty in order to achieve the the natural state of the mind (buddhahood, in Buddhism).

- Wu-wei (translated as nondoing) refers to the philosophy of non-action in Taoism. Non-action is not mere inactivity/passivity, but action according to the Tao or the Way of Heaven.

- Yin-yang is the basic principle of everything (human and things too) existing in the universe. This principle governs all the changes in the universe and also the individual.

Adaptation to the temporary demands

There are a lot of examples of this concept in the ancient Taoist literature. In short, it is about the art of seizing the trends of the momentary conditions and matching your action with them. In this respect there are two methods or ways:

1. The cultivation of flair or natural intuition (that is, practicing the emptiness);

2. Working with the I Ching as an oracle (more about I Ching may be found here).

Both ways are fully explained in the Initiation into Taoism online course at the Way of Perfect Emptiness (learn more...).

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