Taoism > Presentation
About Several Ways
of Approaching Taoism
1. The ethical approach, where Taoism is seen as a whole of ethical-moral
norms, such as looking for harmony with the world, to love people and not to commit crimes against living creatures. From this perspective, Taoism resembles the great religions. Most of the Taoism presentations on the Internet, embrace this position. 2. Another type of Taoism is metaphysical: union with Tao, with the supreme Power or with Nature is propagated here. Still, it isn't very clear who or what is
Tao, this Power with capital letter, or the Nature, and how this union is actually possible. This sort of presentation goes on well with the first. We can find here all sorts of ethical and metaphysical mixtures, together with dietary indications. 3. Sinologist's Taoism, who see it as a rarity and describe it as such, therefore a dead and ineffective Taoism. This approach can be found on the sites of university specialists, sinologists, etc.
4. Finally, there is the approach of Taoism seen as a way of life. But a way of life not limited to primitive world, to Chinese ancient times, but one lasting even today with the same necessity and efficiency, with reflection and rational understanding, as in the old days. Taoism as a way of life has a precise representation about Tao and the meaning of union with it or, in common terms, adapting to temporal conditions. It becomes, thus, a usual practice.
Copyright 1999-2008, Way of Perfect Emptiness. All rights reserved.