Tao 2
Being useful is a central
value of taoist philosophy - how something is useful, why it is useful, and
for what. The context could be anything you could possible conceive of,
regardless of perceived value, including health, wealth, social interaction,
morality and ethics, spirituality, or a tai chi movement.
Practicality is the mantra.
Instead of asking if you ought to be conventionally moral or if it doesn't
matter, taoists would ask "is it useful to be moral?" The answer would be
yes. Rather than focussing on your narrow self-interest or the wrath of God,
taoists genuinely consider what the natural consequences are to yourself,
human relations, the entire society, and spirituality if you are not moral.
(Bruce Frantzis)
Zen
Zen has evolved from the study of tao.
Not to be confused with the religion called zen Buddhism.
Students of zen are encouraged to see existence without the clutter of
conscious thought and memory.
Zen poetry is stunning in its simplicity, beauty and clarity of perception.
Chuang Tzu
Chuang Tzu wrote the second main book about
tao.
He had a great sense of humour.
Tao & tai chi
Tai chi was
developed as a means of aligning
both body and mind with tao.
The body must be returned to a condition of organic wholeness, both within
itself and in relationship with everything else.
Correct practice of tai chi requires the student to feel the flowing
smoothness of nature; to change and move like water.
The physical shape of the tai chi should be natural and comfortable.
Nature
It is not necessary to become 'green' in order to learn
tai chi but a
healthy respect for nature will help you to learn.
Feng
shui
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art concerned with the alignment of the physical environment in accordance
with tao.
At its heart is a deep sensitivity to the
natural order that makes it
especially relevant to our environmentally-conscious times.
Page created 13 December 1998