Modernity has brought with it significant changes to our lifestyle and value systems which in turn have impacted our mental health and identity. The increasingly fast paced and consumption oriented lives we live often give rise to dissatisfaction, competition and burn out.
The philosophy of Daoism might be one way to counteract some of these negative influences.
Taoism or Daoism is a philosophy school of thought supposedly founded by the legendary Lao Tzu during the late 4th century BCE. The Dao De Jing which is believed to be written by Lao Tzu remains a foundational text in Taoism.
Dao De Jing in Taoism
The Dao De Jing can be quite counterintuitive when it comes to some of its advice but we will focus on the main themes of simplicity, non-competition and Wu Wei (effortless action).
The Dao De Jing is structured in the format of short poems that explain topics in very short sentences. This leaves much of it free to interpretation by the reader. I will mostly be following the translation by Ursula K Leguin for this article.
Firstly on some central themes of the philosophy in the Dao De Jing. The name itself refers to two central concepts in Taoism, Dao (the Way), De (Virtue/ Power/ Essence) and Jing simply refers to a text or treatise.
The Dao (the Way) and De (Virtue/Power/Essence) in Dao De Jing
The Dao or The Way is the conception of a natural dynamic state of the universe and all the components within it.
Lao Tzu holds that by acting in accordance with the Dao we can live happy and fulfilled lives in contrast to not following the Dao which leads to conflict and disharmony.
It is interesting to note that the Dao De Jing was written during the Warring States Period in China which was an incredibly fluid and dangerous time filled with war and political machinations.
Meanwhile, De refers to a person’s moral character or weight but can also refer to qualities and strengths of an individual. A person’s De is an individualized expression of the cosmic Dao.
The Dao is considered to be the beginning and is eternal. It is always there at the lowest places and the highest.
The Dao is all-encompassing, everything is within it and it is within everything. It is difficult to perceive yet easy to find if in the right state of mind.
Lao Tzu stressed living in accordance with the Dao to be the key to harmony within and without (in wider society).
The Dao is often considered to be something beyond the limitations of language. As such, while the Dao De Jing provides useful guidance and examples, it cannot fully encompass the meaning of the Dao.
For example, Lao Tzu, in pointing at the moon, wanted to make sure that we didn’t focus on the finger.
Below is an excerpt from the Dao De Jing describing the Dao (rendered as “way” in the translation below) as well as Lao Tzu’s understanding of how the universe and its principles originated:
“The way you can go
isn’t the real way.
The name you can say
isn’t the real name.
Heaven and earth
begin in the unnamed:
name’s the mother
of the ten thousand things.
So the unwanting soul
sees what’s hidden,
and the ever-wanting soul
sees only what it wants.
Two things, one origin,
but different in name,
whose identity is mystery.
Mystery of all mysteries!
The door to the hidden.”
The Philosophy of Daoism Tip #1: Live Simply
One piece of practical philosophy advice that Lao Tzu consistently gives throughout the Dao De Jing is to live simply, which is to be in accordance with the Dao.
Lao Tzu has also expressed a consistent distaste of excessive power and wealth. He preferred instead to advocate for living a simple, quiet and fulfilling life. Lao Tzu prized simplicity as a way to unburden the soul and keep it light.
Not only does Lao Tzu prefer material simplicity but also moral simplicity; eschewing overt intellectual concepts of morality and righteousness, Lao Tzu instead advocates acting naturally and simply:
“Stop being holy, forget being prudent,
it’ll be a hundred times better for everyone.
Stop being altruistic, forget being righteous,
people will remember what family feeling is.
Stop planning, forget making a profit,
there won’t be any thieves and robbers.
But even these three rules
needn’t be followed; what works reliably
is to know the raw silk,
hold the uncut wood.
Need little,
want less.
Forget the rules.
Be untroubled.”
The Philosophy of Daoism Tip #2: Non-Competition
Additionally, Lao Tzu advocated for non-competition in all things. He noted that competition in any terms often created more evil than good:
“And so the wise soul
predominates without dominating,
and leads without misleading.
And people don’t get tired
of enjoying and praising
one who, not competing,
has in all the world
no competitor.”
To Lao Tzu, we should act naturally and do what needs to be done.
Focusing too much on riches, glory and fame (both big motivators of competition) can only give rise to dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
Competing breeds jealousy, envy and ill will, causing people to create strife where there should be none.
Lao Tzu also heavily criticized war as a cause of unnecessary death and destruction, suggesting that war victors be received with funeral rites.
By acting naturally and living simply, one fulfills his/her basic needs while living in harmony with all:
“Even the best weapon
is an unhappy tool,
hateful to living things.
So the follower of the Way
stays away from it.
Weapons are unhappy tools,
not chosen by thoughtful people,
to be used only when there is no choice,
and with a calm, still mind,
without enjoyment.
To enjoy using weapons
is to enjoy killing people,
and to enjoy killing people
is to lose your share in the common good.
It is right that the murder of many people
be mourned and lamented.
It is right that a victor in war
be received with funeral ceremonies.”
The Philosophy of Daoism Tip #3: Wu Wei (Effortless Action)
The next concept we’re going to tackle is Wu Wei. Wu Wei is referenced almost constantly in the Dao De Jing. There has been a number of interpretations of this concept, including natural action or effortless action, but how do we act effortlessly?
Some feel that action is effortless when we let go of purpose and pursue the action for its own sake.
In another view, effortless action occurs when we enter a “flow” state where we’re so focused on doing something that we ignore everything else, almost becoming one with the action and thus achieving perfection.
This entering of the “flow” can, in my opinion, be another view of how to enter and become one with the Dao or the Way.
Lao Tzu believed that effortless action leads to harmony because it would always be the right amount at the right time, ensuring perfection:
“The Way never does anything,
and everything gets done.
If those in power could hold to the Way,
the ten thousand things
would look after themselves.
If even so they tried to act,
I’d quiet them with the nameless,
the natural.
In the unnamed, in the unshapen,
is not wanting.
In not wanting is stillness.
In stillness all under heaven rests.”
Some Caveats
In contrast to all that has been said above, it is important to consider some criticisms of Taoism.
After reading the Dao De Jing, I have noticed a consistent strain of anti-intellectualism:
“So the wise soul
governing people
would empty their minds,
fill their bellies,
weaken their wishes,
strengthen their bones,
keep people unknowing,
unwanting,
keep the ones who do know
from doing anything.”
The second criticism of the Dao De Jing is that it is in many places incredibly vague.
Lao Tzu never really tells us what the Dao (the Way) is which brings into question what the Dao represented to Lao Tzu.
Was it a literally existing force of nature, a concept of mind or some sort of divinity?
Due to the vagueness of language in the Dao De Jing, this is a question to which we may never know the answer to.
Another point to note is that Taoism as expounded in the Dao De Jing is very steeped in mysticism which might not be to everyone’s taste.
This Could be the Way
In conclusion, we have discussed some of the context surrounding the Dao De Jing and its writer and three key concepts found within it. Namely, simplicity, non-competition and Wu Wei.
In our increasingly hectic and competitive world, people are finding it harder to be satisfied despite material wealth and prosperity reaching levels never before seen on a global scale.
Perhaps it is time to take a step back and realize the Dao that exists within us all. Maybe the solution is to let go and enter the flow.