Daoism

Bend and you straighten, Empty and you fill, Decay and you renew…

Daodejing Chapter 22

Great minds reputedly influenced by the Daodejing:

ConfuciusSamuel Johnson

Frederick NietzscheKarl Jung

Eugene O'NeilLeo Tolstoy

Yin Yang - This popular Daoist symbol represents the balance ofopposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray.

The 'yin' represents the feminine: being soft, cool, calm, introspective, healing and night... and "yang" the masculine: being hard, hot, energetic, moving, sometimes aggressive, and day.

Since nothing in nature is absolute, the symbol includes a small black spot in the white, and a corresponding white spot in the black.

The sun is constant. In a world of change, the moon holds all the secrets. Thus the curved line in the Yin Yang symbolizes a constant waxing and waning of life.

The five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five elements are show below. (Couldn’t find which orifice fits with which element… which do you think?)

Direction/Force / Element / Color / Symbol / Season
East/yang / Wood / Green / Blue dragon / Spring
South/yang / Fire / Red / Red bird / Summer
West /yin / Metal / White / White tiger / Autumn
North/yin / Water / Black / Dark warrior / Winter
Center / Earth / Yellow

Daoists believe that man is a microcosm of the universe; by understanding himself, man may gain knowledge of the universe. Each person must nurture their Ch'i (intrinsic energy). Tai Chi is believed to balance energy flow. Alchemy, astrology, martial arts, and qigong breath training has been intertwined with Daoism throughout history.

The Three Jewels

love

moderation

humility

also translated as compassion, simplicity, and modesty

Wu wei= without action or "effortless doing"; is associated with water which is soft and weak, but it can carve stone. Daoist philosophy proposes that the universe works harmoniously according to its own ways. When someone exerts his will against the world, he disrupts that harmony.

Pu = literally “uncarved block” is a metaphor for receptiveness; there is no right or wrong, beautiful or ugly - only pure awareness, free from learned labels.

The Tao of Pooh

Benjamin Hoff

The essence of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed. This principle applies not only to things, but to people as well. As Piglet put it, "Pooh hasn't much Brain, but he never comes to any harm. He does silly things and they turn out right."

Owl is Knowledge for the Sake of Appearing Wise and who keeps what he learns to himself, rather than working for the enlightenment of others. Eeyore's is Knowledge for the Sake of Complaining about Something and Rabbit's is Knowledge of Being Clever.

The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not. To demonstrate what we mean, we can think of no one better than Tigger, who doesn't know his limitations (“Tiggers can do everything”), which brings him into lots of trouble. Piglet instead knows his limitations and that's what makes him sometimes braver than one would expect from such a small animal. So, the first thing we need to do is to recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and not lose sight of it.

Sources:

Porter, Bill, Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits, 1993, Mercury House, San Francisco