Lao Tzu or Laozi ( Chinese Philosophy : Daoism)

Laozi or Lao Tzu is claimed to have existed in the 6th century BC in China. He was a Philosopher ,writer and founder of Taoism or Daoism Philosophy. 

Though very little is known about his life , popular claim is that he was a record keeper in the court of the central Chinese Zhou Dynasty in the 6th century B.C., and an older contemporary of Confucius. Some legends say he even met confucius and criticised him for his pride and ambition , and Confucius was so impressed by his criticism and advice that he described him as " a dragon that rides on the breath of the cloud and feeds on the purest yin and yan."

Fig : Laozi leaving the kingdom on his water buffalo

According to popular belief, when Zhou dynasty was on the verge of  decline, it became morally corrupt so Laozi decided to leave the place in search of serenity. While he was leaving and reached the Xiangu pass, which was the entrance to the state of Qin, he was stopped by the gatekeeper who recognised him and asked him for his wisdom . It was then he wrote the book "Daodejing " or "Tao Te Ching", this book laid foundations for the philosophy of Daoism.  After writing this, Lao Tzu is said to have crossed the border and disappeared from history, perhaps to become a hermit. In reality, the Tao Te Ching is likely to be the compilation of the works of many authors over time. 

What is Daoism?

 It is a philosophical or religious tradition of China,  which emphasises living in harmony with the Dao meaning Path or way . In Kanji, Dao is represented as  道 ie michi (road or way).   "Tao Te Ching" and "Zhaungzi " are the two most sacred philosophical texts of Daoist religion. 

 The Zhuangzi written by Zhaung Zou ,consists of a large collection of anecdotes, allegories, parables, and fables in which main themes are of spontaneity in action(wu wei) and of freedom from the human world and its conventions.  The fables and anecdotes in the text attempt to illustrate the falseness of human distinctions between good and bad, large and small, life and death, and human and nature. While other ancient Chinese philosophers focused on moral and personal duty, Zhuangzi promoted carefree wandering and becoming one with "the Way" (Dào 道) by following nature.  Zhuangzi believed that the key to true happiness was to free oneself from the world and its standards through the Daoist principle of "inaction" (Wu wei wúwéi 無為).

Tao Te Ching is somewhat like bible, it gives instructions (at times vague and ambiguous) on how to live a good life. It discusses the “Dao,” or the “way” of the world, which is also the path to virtue, happiness, and harmony. This “way” isn’t inherently confusing or difficult. Lao Tzu wrote, “the great Dao is very even, but people like to take by-ways.” In Lao Tzu’s view the problem with virtue isn’t that it is difficult or unnatural, but simply is that we resist the very simple path that might make us most content.

Laozi described Dao as 

"Tao (The Way) that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao’

The name that can be named is not a eternal Name.

Nameless, is the origin of Heaven and Earth;

The named is the Mother of all things.

Thus, the constant void enables one to observe the true essence.

The constant being enables one to see the outward manifestations.

These two come paired from the same origin.

But when the essence is manifested,

It has a different name.

This same origin is called “The Profound Mystery.”

As profound the mystery as It can be,

It is the Gate to the essence of all life. "

Dao is considered as the source , pattern and everything that exists .  It is "the One, which is natural, spontaneous, eternal, nameless, and indescribable. It is at once the beginning of all things and the way in which all things pursue their course."  The Tao also is something that individuals can find immanent in themselves.The active expression of Tao is called Te (also spelled—and pronounced—De, or even Teh; ) often translated with Virtue or Power; 德; dé, in a sense that Te results from an individual living and cultivating the Tao.

Daoists interprets the universe as a thing that changes spontaneously without a conscious God or will driving it, and argues that humans can achieve ultimate happiness by living equally spontaneously. Daoist ethics vary depending on the particular school, but in general tend to emphasise wu wei (action without intention), "naturalness", simplicity, spontaneity, and the Three Treasures : 慈 "compassion", 儉 "frugality", and 不敢為天下先 "humility".  

There is a story about the three great Asian spiritual leaders (Lao Tzu, Confucius, and Buddha). All were meant to have tasted vinegar. Confucius found it sour, much like he found the world full of degenerate people, and Buddha found it bitter, much like he found the world to be full of suffering. But Lao Tzu found the world sweet. This is telling, because Lao Tzu’s philosophy tends to look at the apparent discord in the world and see an underlying harmony guided by the ‘Dao’. 

In order to follow the Dao, we need to go beyond simply reading and thinking about it. Instead we must learn wu wei ("action without intention" or “flowing” or “effortless action”), a sort of purposeful acceptance of the way of the Dao and live in harmony with it.

Fig : Buddha, Confucius and Laozi tasting vinegar