tao – Daoism

Leadership

Leadership is important from the national all the way down to the local level and is major a theme throughout the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching).

Yielding

Nations should abide by the Dao. Laozi (Lao Tzu) taught that nations should be willing to yield to one another.

“A great country is like the lower outlet of a river.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 61

Larger nations should not dominate smaller ones, because this leads to push back and conflict. Large nations should be willing to yield and accommodate smaller ones to create a positive and long lasting relationship.

“If a great country yields to a small country, it will conqueror the small country. If a small country yields to a great country, it will be conquered by the great country. So, some who yield become conquerors, and some who yield get conquered.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 61

Force

The government should resist using force to avoid the inevitable backlash and retaliation.

“Those who advice the ruler on the Way, do not want the world subdued with weapons. Such deeds bring on retaliation. Thorn bushes grow where armies have camped. Battles are followed by years of famine.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 30

In this way, the nation can press without force, take without effort, and push without opposing. One should never underestimate the amount of pushback to the use of force.

“I dare not advance an inch, but would rather retreat a foot. This is called marching without marching, grabbing without arms, charging without enemy, seizing without weapons. No misfortune is worse than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy, I risk losing my treasure.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 69

Wu Wei

The concept of Wu Wei or “effortless action,” applies to government. Sometimes called non-action, a nation should act only when it feels natural.

“Use justice to rule a country. Use surprise to wage war. Use non-action to govern the world.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 57

The government should take action only when necessary and then go no further.

“Therefore, good leaders reach solutions, and then stop. They do not rely on force.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 30

Power

Leaders should never seek power in order to control society. If they do, they are not fit to lead.

“Never take over the world to tamper with it. Those who want to tamper with it are not fit to take over the world.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 48

A leader should never boast to gain popularity or use violence to attain power.

“The more sharp the weapons people have in a country, the bigger the disorder will be. The more clever and cunning people are, the stranger the events will be.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 57

The leader hesitates to support laws that restrict others. These types of laws will create resentment and law breaking.

“As for the world, the more restrictions and prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be.“

“The more laws and commands there are, the more thieves and robbers there will be.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 57

Conclusion

Larger nations should yield to smaller ones to avoid retaliation and promote neighborly coexistence. Governments should resist employing force and act only when absolutely necessary. Leaders should not seek power, control, or use violence. The leader hesitates to support any laws that restricts others.

“Therefore the sage says: I do not act, and people become reformed by themselves. I am at peace, and people become fair by themselves. I do not interfere, and people become rich by themselves. I have no desire to desire, and people become like the uncarved wood by themselves.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 57

The Way

The Dao (Tao) translates to “The Way” and is the flow of the universe and all of creation. It is called Dao for convenience sake.

“I do not know its name. I call it the Way. For the lack of better words I call it great.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 25

Always in Existence

The Dao was in existence before creation.

“I do not know whose child it is. It seems to precede the ancestor of all.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 4

It is changeless, runs in cycles, and has never ending energy.

“There was something that finished chaos, Born before Heaven and Earth. So silent and still! So pure and deep! It stands alone and immutable, Ever-present and inexhaustible.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 25

Created All Things

The Dao created heaven, earth, and all things in existence.

“The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of all things.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 1

It brought about the planets, universe, and sky. It has created plants, animals, insects, and creatures both large and small.

“It can be called the mother of the whole world.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 25

The Dao created the one which multiplied to all things in creation.

“The Way gave birth to one. One gave birth to two. Two gave birth to three.
Three gave birth to all things.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 42

The Dao is in All Things

It can be found on earth, in heaven, and in nature. Nothing escapes it. It is in all of creation.

“Man is ruled by Earth. Earth is ruled by Heaven. Heaven is ruled by the Way. The Way is ruled by itself.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 25

Nothing can escape the Dao. It is found everywhere.

“Heaven’s net is very vast. It is sparsely meshed, yet nothing slips through.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 73

Although the Dao is found in all things, it is also hidden. It has no form and can not be seen.

“Its nature is utterly vague and evasive…How deep and obscure!“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 21

“The Way is hidden and nameless.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 41

The Dao includes both existence and non-existence. Both creation and nothingness.

“Above it there is no light, Below it there is no darkness. Endlessness beyond description. It returns to non-existence. It is called the shapeless shape, The substance without form.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 14

The Dao has both physical form and is without form.

“Free from desire you see the mystery. Full of desire you see the manifestations. These two have the same origin but differ in name.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 1

It is so expansive and unknown that it is unfathomable to the human mind.

“Deeply hidden, as if it only might exist.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 4

It is so complex that it can not adequately be described in human language.

“The Way that can be walked is not the eternal Way. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 1

True Virtue

The Dao is the source of all virtue and morality.

“So, the Way gives birth to them, Nourishes them, Raises them, Nurtures them, Protects them, Matures them, Takes care of them. It gives birth without seizing, Helps without claim, Fosters without ruling. This is called the profound virtue.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 51

This virtue differs from so-called human morality which is capricious and based on different classes.

“The Way is ever nameless. Though simple and subtle, The world cannot lead it. If princes and kings could follow it, All things would by themselves abide, Heaven and Earth would unite And sweet dew would fall. People would by themselves find harmony, Without being commanded.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 32

Yielding but Achieves

The Dao is yielding, yet it still has accomplished all of creation.

“Cautious, like crossing a river in the winter. Wary, as if surrounded by strangers. Dignified, like a guest. Yielding, like ice about to melt. Simple, like uncarved wood. Open, like a valley. Obscure, like muddy waters.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 15

It never seeks acclaim or authority. It is humble and does not strive for greatness.

“Still it demands no obedience. It demands no honor for what it accomplishes. It clothes and feeds all things without ruling them. It is eternally without desire. So, it can be called small. All things return to it, Although it does not make itself their ruler. So, it can be called great.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 34

It is always impartial and never biased.

“Heaven’s Way gives no favors. It always remains with good people.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 79

Conclusion

What is the Dao? It is the natural flow of the universe. It existed before creation and has never ending power. It created all things in existence and nothing can escape it. It has both form and no form, it is creation and nothingness. It is so complex that humans can not understand it or describe it in words. The Dao is the source of true virtue and never seeks authority.

Yin Yang

The Yin Yang symbol is well know in popular culture and can be found on all sorts of items from t-shirts to tattoos. While it is an essential part of Daoism (Taoism), it is often misunderstood. Many see Yin Yang as opposites like cold v. hot or good v. evil, but this is too simple a concept.

Complimentary Forces

Yin Yang do not so much oppose each other as they compliment one another. Yin is needed for Yang to exist. Without ugliness there can be no beauty. Without sour there can be no sweet. They shape each other and define each other.

“When everyone in the world see beauty, Then ugly exists. When everyone sees good, Then Bad exists. Therefore: What is and what is not create each other. Tall and short shape each other. High and low rest on each other.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 2

Taking this even further creation and non-creation need each other. Creation comes from nothing and nothing comes from creation. Another way to say this is that being comes from non-being and non-being comes from being.

“All things in the world are born out of being. Being is born out of non-being.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 40

Constant Change

The interaction between Yin and Yang creates constant change making each moment unique. They create harmony by blending together. Some days its hotter, other days colder. Some days you are more social and other days more reserved.

“All things carry yin and embrace yang. They reach harmony by blending with the vital breath.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 42

Yielding

Although there is a time and place for assertive action, the Dao teaches that it is also necessary to yield. The Dao does not contend, but still achieves. It is laid back, but still plans. The concept of Wu Wei, or effortless action, illustrates this concept. One should go with the flow of life and act only when it is effortless and compliments the Dao.

“Heaven’s way does not contend, yet it certainly triumphs. It does not speak, yet it certainly answers. It does not summon, yet things come by themselves. It seems to be at rest, yet it certainly has a plan.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 73

Lessons for Government

Nations should also abide by the Dao. Laozi (Lao Tzu) taught that nations should follow Wu Wei and be willing to yield to one another. Larger nations should not dominate smaller ones, because this leads to push back and conflict. Larger nations should be willing to yield and accommodate smaller ones to create positive and long lasting relationships.

“If a great country yields to a small country, it will conquer the small country. If a small country yields to a great country, it will be conquered by a great country. So, some who yield become conquerors, and some who yield get conquered.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 61

Lessons for the Individual

The constant change of Yin and Yang has important implications for the individual. It is foolish to think that life will always remain the same. Yin and Yang are constantly interacting creating change. The individual should assume that change is constant and develop a flexible attitude staying in the moment and reacting accordingly.

“People are born soft and weak. They die hard and stiff. All things such as grass and trees are soft and supple in life. At their death they are withered and dry. So, the hard and stiff are death’s companions. The soft and weak are life’s companions.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 76

A person should be willing to embrace both Yin and Yang. Sometimes they should be outgoing while other time more reserved and contemplative. They should embrace both the masculine and feminine.

“Knowing the manly, but clinging to the womanly. Knowing the you become the valley of the world. Being the valley of the world, eternal virtue will never desert you, and you become like a little child anew.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 28

Wu Wei

One should live according to the Way by using Wu Wei or “effortless action.” This involves not forcing but accomplishing without doing. In most cases, no action should be taken. In rare cases, an action may be taken after much reflection. However, any action should be as minimal as possible.

Non-Striving

Wu Wei never strives. It is never forced. It is easy, yet resolves difficult situations. All great accomplishments must begin with a small action. It does not struggle for greatness but still achieves it. It teaches by example and avoids unnecessary words (Dao De Jing, Chapters 3, 6, 38, 43, 48, 63, and 77).

“The highest virtue does nothing. Yet, nothing needs to be done. The lowest virtue does everything. Yet, much remains to be done.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 38

Non-action

Wu Wei is non-action. It does without doing, works without working, and talks without talking. It does not speak or call, yet all come to it. It decreases efforts and does not take useless action. It does not seek praise (Dao De Jing, Chapter 24, 48, and 77).

“The Way is ever without action, Yet nothing is left undone.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 37

Yielding

Wu Wei is the “Virtue of not Contending.” It yields to avoid a reaction. The Law of Aggression states that aggressive acts provokes even more aggression. Wu Wei does not injure but still accomplishes. If you force something you will destroy it. If you grasp something you will lose it (Dao De Jing, Chapter 22, 64, 68, 69, 73, 77 and 81; Taoism: The Parting of the Way, Holmes H. Welch Jr.).

“Heaven’s way does not contend, Yet it certainly triumphs. It does not speak, Yet it certainly answers. It does not summon, Yet things come by themselves.”

Dao De Jing, Chapter 73

Government

Wu Wei also applies to the government. The government can press without marching, seize without using weapons, and push without opposing. Leaders should never take power in order to tamper with society. They are not fit to lead. One should never boast and never use violence to attain power (Dao De Jing, Chapters 30, 48, 57, and 69).

“Those who advice the ruler on the Way, Do not want the world subdued with weapons. Such deeds bring on retaliation. Thorn bushes grow where armies have camped. Battles are followed by years of famine. Therefore, good leaders reach solution, and then stop. They do not dare to rely on force.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 30

Minimal Action

Wu Wei achieves its desired outcome and then stops. It does not force, destroy, or act arrogantly. It does not boast or use violence (Dao De Jing, Chapter 30)

“Solutions without arrogance, Solutions without scorn, Solutions without pride, Solutions without benefit, Solutions without domination.“

Dao De Jing, Chapter 30

Conclusion

Wi Wei is action aligned with the Dao. It never strives and is always easy. It takes action without action. It yields to others to avoid aggression. It guides leaders to accomplish without using violence. It always takes the minimal action and then stops.