[Taoist Movements - continue from page 1]
One might say that social norms imposed from outside have no relevance whatsoever for a Taoist disciple. In his own book, Chuang-tzu says it directly: what to do or not depends on circumstances, on requests of moment.
The idea of adjusting to the requests of moment is capital in philosophical Taoism. It starts from the premise of a Universe in a continuous change. This is a Heraclitean Universe - a Universe never to crystallize, but constantly to get modified like some sort of vapor that is all the time changing its shape, or like a cloudy structure that is getting the most unexpected shapes and images as well.
A man's behavior under these circumstances results from context: he embraces the attitude of a pine leaf that opposes no resistance to snow when falling down on it, unlike the fir leaf that opposes and breaks under the weight of snow. To indicate a Taoist way or a discipline, an important item has to be specified: Taoist master did not have schools, as understood today: buildings expressly used
for teaching, fixed schedule and teaching curriculum, plus exams which have the gift of stress. They did not even have a systematized doctrine, like the one proposed by Schopenhauer. Taoist masters spoke about what they knew and experienced by using metaphors and comparisons, in the same way that Jesus spoke in the New Testament, when using parables. Taoist masters were taught especially by the personal example.
"The schools" were itinerant and emphasized the dialogue, reflection and, most of all, introspection. Therefore, the teaching was not a dead matter to be learned by heart by disciple. Accordingly, the Taoist "way" was learnt only through emulation, to a certain point, of master's attitude and conduits. To a certain point, as perfect imitation has the lack of perverting the disciple's personality.
It would be more accurate to say that disciples were living together with their masters, serving them unconditionally as domestic servants and accompanying them for long travels. In return, they learned on live from constantly appeared life experiences, without provoking artificially - like in modern schools of meditation - special situations, positions, postures, attitudes towards their equals, etc.
Confronted with different issues, disciples were taught to meditate on them, to free from any ethical-moral and cultural preconceptions, to catch the deep meaning with an empty mind, opened to Reality. At the same time, they got inspired by the presence of master, by the manner used of this one to cope with the events. Thus, teaching is provided by repetition and indefatigable practice 24 hours a day.
In order to give an example out of ordinary life, the way of teaching of former Taoist disciples is like the way of a fresh Law School graduate, who in his first years, being aware of his lack of experience, accompanies the experienced lawyer and assists to its practice. At the same time, he is dealing with those banal, routine works that constitute the "kitchen" of profession. By and by, he substitutes the master for himself, assume his experience, and in the
end, he stands on his own feet. Imitation gets only to a certain point, to learning basic elements of practice. Disciple's personality stays intact and is expressed ulterior in his way of work.
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