Taoism Three Meanings of Taoism,

Taoism

Three Meanings of Taoism, Different Schools of Taoism

Although Taoism has given its name to one of the major religious traditions of China, the meaning of the world the "Tao" often remains elusive to Westerners. One way of understanding the Tao is that the Tao is the way of ultimate reality, a reality that cannot be penetrated by human understanding (198). The Tao that is the way of the universe cannot be spoken of, even while it is the origin of all things. That which can be spoken of is not the Tao. But while the Tao is transcendent the Tao is also the force that drives the universe. It is the way of the universe, what makes flesh alive, the "norm" and rhythm and driving power of all life (198). It is inevitable as the laws of the universe, like gravity, the coming of fall, and even evolution, thus rendering Taoism complementary to scientific as well as religious understandings of the world. In its third sense Taoism is the way that human life should be governed as it meshes with the ways of the universe, yielding rather than clashing with the world's natural forces (198).

There are also different forms of Taoisms within China. Philosophical Taoism was a relatively unorganized application of Taoism. It was influential but not institutionally based; much like Transcendentalism in 19th century America (199). Taoist teachers might coach or advise their students, but would not issue religious mandates. Some Philosophical Taoists tried to conserve their te, in contrast to more active, vitality Taoists who focused on increasing their internal energy's available supply.

Philosophical Taoism, as it was not institutionally based, was most influential abroad. It is most famously embodied in the writings of Lao Tzu and Chang Tzu in the Tao Te Ching. Avoid conflict and friction with the ways of the universe, was their advice, to become one with the Tao (200). "Creative quietude" was key to these men's interpretation of the Tao and wu wei, or the second life-giving force of the Tao which flowed through human beings without the force of will, if only it was allowed to do so by a yielding spirit (207-208).

The contrasting camp of Philosophical Taoist were adepts who emphasized using rather than bending with the Tao through herbs, yoga, breathing, and other active methods deploying matter, movement, and their minds to use the Tao with maximum efficacy (201). Meditational Taoists tried to use the Tao to enhance the community, fusing Taoism's spirit with Confucianism (200). Selflessness, cleanliness, and calm and purity of mind were the ideals of this brand of Taoism. Virtually all forms of Philosophical Taoism rejected worldly competition and the pursuit of world values, as well as anything but total simplicity in art and life (213) Simplicity and an emphasis on nature rather than the world separates Philosophical Taoism most strikingly from Confucianism.

While Philosophical Taoist formulations might seem to embody self-help movements, or small, intellectual or spiritually driven schools of thoughts, Religious Taoism was a far more popular and populist incarnation. Although its use of magic talismans and hypnosis might seem contrary to the simplicity of the Tao and the philosophical schools, it is worth remembering that many popular forms of religion including Christianity have exhibited such elements when combining with folk religion and local culture (207).