See what "Tao" is in other dictionaries. The Meaning of the Word Tao - Philosophical Dictionary

Dao- Ancient Chinese philosophy. The meaning of the law: if you have spent insufficient effort on the way to any goal, then you have not reached this goal, but you are on the way to it, and this is the preferred scenario. If, on the way to the same goal, you expended more effort than is required to achieve this goal, then you will achieve the opposite result (you will “slip through” the goal and go to unknown shores).

The law of Tao is reflected in the proverbs: “Make a fool pray to God - he will hurt his forehead”, “It happens that zeal overcomes reason”, “Hurry up and make people laugh”.

Practical conclusions from the law of Tao:
a) you can’t do anything too much (love, think, want)
b) movement towards the goal is always better than the goal itself (the threat of punishment is preferable to the punishment itself).

An unpleasant consequence of the law of Tao: the phenomenon of deep emptiness in people after achieving a goal has been noted by many psychologists. Emptiness, confusion, uncertainty in oneself and in one's future, mental discomfort continue until a person defines a new goal for himself. That is, the goal acts as a guiding thread, as a guiding idea in the organization of human existence.

The founder of Taoism is considered to be Lao Tzu (“wise old man”, Chinese philosopher, VI century BC). The teaching is set forth in the book “Tao Te Chin” (“The Book of the Way and Virtue”), the main virtue is abstinence. “In order to serve Heaven and govern people, it is best to observe abstinence, which is the first step of virtue, and this last is the beginning of moral perfection.”

10 Laws of the Path of Tao

THE LAW OF OPPOSITES

Our life is inconceivable without opposites, it contains birth and death, love and hate, friendship and rivalry, meeting and parting, joy and suffering, loss and gain. A person is also contradictory: on the one hand, he strives to ensure that his life is stable, but at the same time, some kind of dissatisfaction drives him forward. In the world of opposites, a person seeks to regain the lost unity with himself, with other people and with life itself. Everything has a beginning and an end, this is the earthly cycle and the cycle of life. Things, having reached their limit, turn into their opposite. A pair of opposites maintains balance, and the transition from one extreme to another creates a variety of life. Sometimes, in order to understand something, you need to see, to know the opposite of it. One opposite cannot exist without the other, in order for there to be day, night is needed.
THE LAW OF GOOD AND EVIL
The world is not created just for pleasure. It does not always correspond to our ideas about it and our desires. He who is not capable of doing a good deed himself will not appreciate the good from others. For those who cannot see evil, evil does not exist.
LAW OF THE MIRROR
What annoys a person in others is in himself. What a person does not want to hear from other people is what is most important for him to hear at this stage of life. Another person can serve as a mirror for us, helping us to discover what we do not see, do not know about ourselves. If a person corrects what irritates him in others in himself, fate will not need to send him such a mirror. Avoiding everything that is unpleasant for us, avoiding people who cause us negative feelings, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to change our lives, deprive ourselves of the opportunity for inner growth.

LAW OF CHAIN ​​REACTION
If you allow your negative feelings to play out, then one unpleasant experience will follow another. If you live indulging in dreams and daydreams, then reality will be squeezed out by the illusory world of fantasies. It can be difficult for a person to stop the flow of their negative and unproductive thoughts, because. he develops the habit of worrying, worrying, suffering, dreaming, i.e. move away from reality, from active problem solving. Whatever you give more energy to, that will be more. The thought to which you give your time acts like a magnet, attracting its kind. One disturbing thought is easier to deal with than a swarm of intrusive thoughts. In the course of our communication with other people, we tend to adopt their mood through emotional contagion.
LAW OF ACCEPTANCE OR CALM
Life itself is neither bad nor good. It is our perception that makes it good or bad. Life is what it is. You have to accept life, enjoy life, appreciate life. Trust life, trust the power of your mind and the dictates of your heart. Everything will be as it should, even if it is different.
LAW OF FEES
You need to pay for everything: for action and inaction. What will be more expensive? Sometimes the answer is obvious only at the end of life, on the deathbed, the price for inaction is more expensive. Avoiding failure does not make a person happy. “There have been many failures in my life, most of which never happened” - the words of the old man to his sons before his death.
LAW OF SIMILARITY
Like attracts like. There are no random people in our lives. We attract not the people we want to attract, but those who are like us.
LAW OF REQUEST
If you don't ask anything from life, you don't get anything. If we ask fate for something we don't know, then we get something we don't know. Our request attracts the corresponding reality.
TAXI LAW
If you are not a driver, if you are being driven, then the farther you are driven, the more expensive it will be for you. If you didn't book the route, you can end up anywhere. The further you go down the wrong path, the more difficult it will be for you to return.
THE LAW OF CHOICE
Our life is made up of many choices. You always have a choice. Our choice may be that we do not make a choice. The world is full of possibilities. However, there are no gains without losses. When we accept one thing, we give up something else. Going through one door, we miss another. Everyone must decide for himself what is more important to him. Losses can also be gained.

China is far from Russia, its territory is vast, its population is numerous and it has an infinitely long and mysterious history of culture. Having united, as in the melting pot of a medieval alchemist, the Chinese created a unique and inimitable tradition. The country of "yellow dust" was in ancient times a closed world, a world for itself, and although China did not escape the influence of foreign theories and doctrines (for example, Buddhism), this world produced a unique science, professions and crafts inherent only in the Middle Kingdom . China absorbed racial and cultural systems, reworked them like a blast furnace melting everything that was not Chinese into something that will forever be considered exclusively Chinese.

In the era of the early Han in China, a diverse palette of religious-philosophical and moral-ethical ideas was created. They are formed into philosophical schools with a complex hierarchy and an obligatory leader, whose authority is indisputable. Each school developed its own doctrinal approach to the "perfect" state, its own views on the "ideal" ruler and the best policy for the country. But there were also such philosophical schools that were looking only for the path to personal spiritual perfection and did not interfere at all in the politics of the Chinese state. Three philosophical systems have had the greatest influence on the formation of the Chinese way of life throughout history: the spiritual mysticism of Lao Tzu, the moral and ethical teachings of Confucius, and the idealistic agnosticism that spread in China along with Buddhism.

In the article we will consider the concept of "Tao" - the central concept in the philosophical system of Lao Tzu. It should be borne in mind that ideas about the world, space, harmony and man began to take shape long before the advent of Taoism. They are brought to us by ancient legends, chants, descriptions of ceremonies and rituals (especially in the Tang era). Many provisions of the future Taoist system were set forth in the oldest classical books of Chinese education. The most important place among these books is given to the "Book of Changes".

The original cosmogony claims that initially there was only a single and universal substance - Qi, conceived as cosmic breath: Qi filled Non-Being - the Void. At the chthonic moment, the energy of the Emptiness was divided into Yang - a light and warm beginning and Yin - a dark and cold one. Then Yang, as a lighter substance, went up, Yin - went down. The first energy formed the Sky - Tien. The second energy formed the Earth - Kun. Yang and Yin are responsible for the balance in the world, the change of seasons, the harmony of the Cosmos; all things and phenomena in the world originate from them. Therefore, the ancient Chinese believed that duality is inherent in everything, a combination of two opposite principles: male and female, light and dark, cold and warm, light and heavy, etc. The measure of the presence of Yin or Yang in this or that thing determines the properties of this thing and shows its essence, meaning and role. If the measure of presence changes, then the essence of the given thing also changes. In ancient China, it was believed that Tian, ​​boundless and indifferent to people, had its supreme lord Shang-di. The appearance of this cult is directly related to the formation of Chinese statehood. Thus, just as the emperor on earth is one "son of Heaven", always the same "Reborn Dragon", so there must be one ruler in Heaven - this is Shang-di. Later, the Sky of the Celestial Empire was filled with numerous deities and spirits, with whom the Chinese learned to "negotiate", observing complex and diverse rituals and ceremonies. These requirements corresponded to the state style, a certain way of life: a community whose members are connected by ties of consanguinity, common economic activity, shrines, graves of ancestors.

In the fifth century BC. old knowledge ceased to meet the changed conditions of life. Troubled times have come - the era of Django (Warring States). The world has changed beyond recognition, and people have the impression that the gods and patrons have left them. One of those who was ready to help people adapt to the changing reality was Lao Tzu. Information about the identity of the master is vague and debatable. We can get some information about the philosopher from the work "Shi Ji" by the famous historian Sima Qian, but they also seem unreliable. In our study, this information is not important, we only take into account that Lao Tzu was an older contemporary of Confucius and lived in the Djanguo era.

When getting acquainted with the philosophical worldview of Lao Tzu, a natural question arises: where to look for the origins of his philosophical reflections?

In the individual consciousness and mentality of the thinker;

In the historical conditions of the existence of contemporary China.

Historians of philosophy believe that his reasoning can be characterized as contemplative speculation. In the treatise "Tao de Jing" Lao Tzu, trying to penetrate into the essence of phenomena and things, will say: "beautiful - there is only ugly, good - only evil" .. How to understand this? If we argue in the spirit of late Neoplatonism, then we can only see the truly beautiful with the “eyes” of the mind, and only our soul will feel truly good when it approaches the Absolute of the One and dissolves in it. Like the classic of Greek thought Plato, Lao Tzu has everything material is not authentic. This is a reflected, apparent reality - a shadow of the true world of pure eidos (ideas). The fact that the existential reality is changeable proves, according to the Neoplatonist Proclus, the existence of an unchanging, permanent beginning, which contains true being.

The concept of "Tao" is the starting point of the entire philosophy of Lao Tzu and the foundation of his metaphysics. The concept, denoted by the modern hieroglyphic sign Tao, forms several semantic series. In the first - the most common meaning of Tao - path, road, orbit. The second row includes such semantic concepts as morality, ethics, justice. In the third row are the meanings: word, speak, teaching, truth and the way of life. In general, the hieroglyph Tao consists of two parts: “show” - head and “zou” - to go. Lao Tzu did not invent the term, but he was the first to use this name for a supersensible being. The thinker placed "Tao" at the base of his philosophical system. We cannot say what the author of the Tao Te Ching explains. What is Dao. It would be more correct to say that Hokuyan unconsciously translated his sense of perception of the universe into linguistic symbols. Tao cannot be known rationally, but only exoterically. Therefore, in order to understand the Tao, one must resort to mystical experience, penetrate into the nature of one's own sensations and merge with nature, and then unite with the world, and this is not rationally possible. Tao is formless, but possesses omnipresence, spreads both “left and right”, and behind every object, every phenomenon lies the beginning that characterizes the existence of the world. You cannot see it with your eyes, it is available only at the moment of exalted enlightenment. A simple man in the street, even knowing about the Tao, "does not recognize him", - "when meeting with him, he will not see his face." One way or another, the meaning of Tao is so deep that there are not enough words to convey information about it. Let's try to put it this way, Tao is filled with eternity, and at the same time it opposes everything that exists. On the one hand, Tao is existence, on the other, non-existence. "Anonymity is the beginning of Heaven and Earth." The Tao has always existed, endlessly giving birth to itself. This is a moment of utter emptiness. If in the visible world things are really present, then in the void they are in the form of potential rebirths. This Void is a potential space in which there is nothing and the existence of everything is allowed. And "being arises from non-being." At the same time, things are hidden in the nebula of Tao. The birth of things, including actions, and thoughts, and characters, and objects, and in general everything that exists in the world, occurs as a gradual, necessary and meaningful loss of unity: one gives birth to two, two to three, etc. If we again begin to compare this position with Greek thought, then we will find similar reasoning in Pythagoras of Samos. Let's go back to China. We talked about the concept of Tao. But Tao is indivisible within itself, this unity appears as an endless circle in its circular motion: “In the growth of ten thousand things, I see their return. There are countless things, and each goes back to its root. Returning to the root is called rest. This means a return to destiny. The return to fate makes it unshakable.” According to Taoism, in a circle, opposites are depleted, they pass into each other. Where is the maximum of positive (yang), minimum of negative (yin). And vice versa. This is the well-known graphic symbol of bagua. However, the knowledge that Tao is eternally hidden and disappearing - xuan does not exhaust the ideas about the essence of the concept. One can say about Tao that it is an anti-world. Intimacy, which is opposed to the external, visible form of things. Only in Tao, free from being, is the source of life. Since Tao is pre-existence and pre-existence, it is great and reasonable. It is Tao that classifies all things, gives rise to the mosaic and brightness of the world. This formed the basis of the most important aesthetic concept of China. The tangible world is real, but behind it lies an even more real world of Tao. The world, as it were, splits into two opposites - internal and external, and the internal is more valuable than the external, since it is precisely this that allows you to see the Tao. Thus, the main signs of the presence of Tao in the real world were all-penetrating non-existence, all-powerful inaction, all-generating power of the one, support of the passing, received from the world beyond good and evil. The later Chinese philosophical tradition added little to the understanding of the Tao. Confucius transferred the mystical term to the world of real life. He argued that the Tao manifests itself in the world of people only through Te- human virtue, or the ability to perfection. A person acquires his human authenticity when his elemental impulses under the influence of de take a certain form.

We have considered only a certain feature of the concept of Tao, which is undoubtedly not limited to this content. After all, it was not in vain that even contemporaries called the treatise "Tao de Ching" five thousand hieroglyphs of silence. Taoism has remained not fully understood as an elitist doctrine. The history of Lao Tzu and his writings is sad, but, to some extent, natural. Later Taoists saw in the treatise "Tao de Ching" only the rationale for their alchemical and esoteric experiments to achieve personal immortality. Confucianism, as a more practical and vital teaching, managed to gain more admirers among the Chinese elite, and the teaching of the Taoists, the deepest in its metaphysical quest, descended to the level of practices. Despite this, Taoism continues to live, remaining an integral part of the spiritual culture of China.

Tao... In our time, this term is quite widely used in various fields of activity, and the term "philosophy of Tao" is gaining more and more popularity. But, unfortunately, one often observes a distortion of his true understanding. To understand what it means, it is necessary to turn, first of all, to the Taoist Tradition, because it is at its core that the desire to comprehend the Tao and the true nature of reality lies.

Tao is the root cause and source of all things. Tao is the Primordial True Reality, existing, as it were, beyond our reality, our space, time, and in general any categories and forms with which we are used to describing the world around us. This is exactly what the first line of the Tao Te Ching points to: Tao is not the path that can be traveled (named, described in the usual categories) - see below for more on this.

However, existing beyond the ordinary, Tao permeates the entire Universe, exists everywhere, in everything and always, determining the principle of existence of everything else, which, in fact, is only one of the manifestations of Tao. In view of its “otherworldliness”, Tao cannot be understood by the ordinary human mind/consciousness, since the latter is limited, and Tao is unlimited in understanding and manifestations.

Therefore, any attempt to explain with the help of the mind what is beyond it is meaningless and doomed to failure in advance. This concept is well illustrated in the movie The Matrix - you can't understand what the Matrix is ​​from inside it.

A reasonable question arises, how then to comprehend the Tao, if consciousness is powerless in this matter? In fact, our consciousness is potentially as unlimited as the Tao, and the restrictions on it are imposed by the reality in which we live (the post-heavenly aspect of being). From childhood, we see this world, by interacting with people around, we form our worldview, our personality, Ego, and gradually get used to perceive reality through the prism of the picture of the world that is already in our head. This is the limitation. And in order to comprehend the Tao, you need to move away from it, “wake up”, cleanse your consciousness from the Postheavenly, returning to the uncloudedness and purity of your Primordial Consciousness / Primal Spirit.

How to do it? The answer to this question lies in another meaning of the term Tao - Tao, as a Way, a method, a set of practices for transforming the body and consciousness of a person and gaining by him ... Tao (as the Highest Truth, the Primary Source). Already in this dual understanding of the term Tao, a distinctive feature of Taoist philosophy is visible: the rejection of clear, unambiguous concepts that once again limit human consciousness. Instead, hints are used, pointers that can move a person to a correct understanding, but only if he is not afraid to lose the “solid ground” of established concepts and stop clinging to the “old slippers” of the usual worldview.

The philosophy of Tao lies in the understanding of its infinity, the impossibility of enclosing it in a predetermined framework and rules. Therefore, she takes a very flexible approach to human self-improvement and explaining various concepts. At the same time, it is always necessary to remember that what is manifested and expressed is not the final Truth, but only a way to indicate the direction of movement necessary for the practitioner here and now, at a given level of mastery. And here it is very important not to take “the finger for the moon to which it points” over time.

Remember that any unambiguous concept (about the origin of the world and a person, about what the Path should be, practice, etc.) only limits a person, since the Higher (Tao) cannot be limited and unambiguous.

Thus, if we do not get attached to words, then any word can be used for a deeper understanding of the Tao. But if we cling to words, then we will never come to the truth, since we will always be limited by them.

Let us consider the hieroglyphic writing of the Tao, since it already contains a deep philosophy, the understanding of which is very important for the correct practice of the Tao. The hieroglyph consists of 2 parts: left and right. The right part, in turn, can be divided into 2 parts: upper and lower.

The upper right part means "one Universe"; the two dashes at the top represent . This means that the entire Universe (the Universe) consists of two polar forces and, at the same time, remains a single whole. The lower right part means "I myself" (自), and looking at it carefully, you can see that the character is a rectangle, inside of which there are three sectors. But, according to the Taoist tradition, a person (“I myself”) has: Jing, Qi and Shen, as well as three most important energy centers - dantian (lower, middle and upper), which represent different levels of the reality of human existence. It is this trinity that symbolizes the hieroglyph "I myself", which must be realized through the practice of internal alchemy.

Above the rectangle is a vertical line, which is located exactly in the middle and is a link between the upper and lower hieroglyphs. It means that when the 3 Treasures are connected and when the central (middle) channel Zhong Mai opens and the “unity of the three original ones” is achieved, the “spiritual channel” opens, making it possible to understand the “single Universe”. From this moment on, man and the Universe become one. After all, only by realizing the state of the One, a person comprehends his True Nature, which is the goal of his spiritual development.

By combining the lower and upper hieroglyphs, we get a new one, meaning "head" (首) and symbolizing that the whole world is "in our head", i.e. is a creation of our mind/consciousness. This statement is difficult to even accept, let alone comprehend its full depth and significance.

The left side of the character Dao is translated as "movement", "to go with stops", "path" (辶). This reflects the second aspect of the term Tao, as a way of progress towards understanding the True Nature of the universe.

Having asked the question “what is the meaning of life?”, a person begins to look for the Way, a tradition that could help him find the answer. If the Path is chosen correctly, then the neophyte begins, first of all, to study himself, to develop the physical, energetic and spiritual aspects. As he continues his studies, he realizes that the division into "I" and "Nature" is a post-heavenly conditioning. And therefore, he follows the Path of unification of particulars to the One, moving from the “branches to the root-primary source”, follows the reverse movement from the manifested to the original. In the course of correct practice, the three external forces (Heaven, Earth and Man) and the three internal ones (Jing, Qi and Shen) unite, as a result of which the practitioner becomes an enlightened being who is devoid of any defilement and comprehends the Tao. The one who has reached this level of realization in the Taoist Tradition is called the True Heavenly Immortal.

Now let's turn to one of the most important Taoist treatises, which is revered in all Taoist schools. It is "" (a treatise on Tao and Te), and there in §1 the first line reads as follows:

道可道非常道 - which is read as "DAO KE DAO FEI CHANG DAO".

To understand what this phrase is is not so easy not only for us, but also for the Chinese, but we will still try to parse it a little. "Dao" ( 道 ) here means the “Path”, which should be known and comprehended in the course of internal practice, as well as the process of movement itself. "ke" ( 可 ) - means "may" or "possibility". "Faye" ( 非 ) - means "not", i.e. negation. "Chan" ( 常 ) means "permanently". Thus, you can try to make up a possible variant of combinations yourself, taking into account synonymous words.

After several attempts, you can see that everything is not so simple and that a simple literal translation will not clarify much here and, first of all, a translation is needed that has a semantic understanding of what this phrase is about. And since each translator has his own understanding and priorities, then the translations can be different and each of them can be situationally correct in its own way. The following are some common translations of the phrase "Dao ke dao fei chang dao":

1. The Path that can be traversed is not a permanent Path. (Torchinov)
2. There is nothing of the eternal Tao-Way in the Path that one can follow (Torchinov)
3. The Tao that can be expressed in words is not the permanent Tao. (Yang Hing Shun)
4. The Path that ends with the goal cannot be the Eternal Path. (Jugs)
5. Chosen Tao - Tao is not permanent. (Yu Kang)
6. The permanent Path is composed of the possibility of choosing the Path and the impossibility of choosing the Path. (Vinogrodsky)
7. Tao that can be expressed is not a permanent Tao (Lukyanov)
8. Truth can be expressed in an unusual way. (Wanderer)

The difficulty in translating also lies in the fact that in the ancient Chinese language there are no declensions, conjugations, specific tense and gender, as well as the frequent absence of conjunctions (and, as if, like, yes, even, barely, if, same, and, or, so, how, somehow, when, whether, or, etc.). All this gives a very wide scope for a possible translation, where the meaning of the translated can be either similar or even different. Therefore, it should be understood that, in principle, there cannot be an ideally correct translation here, just as when reading the original by the Chinese themselves, the text can be understood very differently. That is why all the Traditional Schools talk about the importance of a living Teacher who can clarify all the nuances of theory and philosophy and how they are understood in a particular School.

As a result, it should be remembered that in Taoism there are many different Schools with their own methodologies and philosophical bases, and one cannot lump them all together, naively believing that everything should be the same everywhere. So, for example, what is correct in the School of Zheng Yi may never be used in Quan Zhen and vice versa. And in the School of Wang Chongyang and Zhang Boduan, there were completely different approaches and views on what to start practicing, despite the fact that both of their Schools go back to Patriarch Lu Dongbin. And such examples can be continued for a very long time.

And since our people are completely unfamiliar with the history of different Taoist Schools, they, having learned the position of one School, immediately naively believe that this should be the case with others (this applies not only to practice, but also to philosophical views of the world, of the of a person, on the interpretation of various terms, etc.) and begin to fanatically prove to others that they are unambiguously right, not realizing that this only indicates their narrowness of views.

Here are some excerpts from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching to try to hear and understand his vision of the Tao:

§ 14

Translation by E. Torchinov:

I look at it and do not see it - I call it the thinnest.
I listen to him and do not hear - they call him the quietest.
I catch him, but I can’t grab him - I’ll call him elusive.
This triad cannot be explained in words: it is chaotic and united. Her top is not lit, her bottom is not darkened. It stretches, winds, but you can’t name it; vnv returns to the absence of being she.
Therefore, they say: formless appearance, incorporeal image.
Therefore, they speak vague and vague.
I do not see the beginning when I go to meet her, I do not see the end when I hurry after her.
I hold on to the ancient Path-Tao and thus control the present. I can comprehend the ancient principle and I call it the foundations of the Tao-Way.

Translation by Yang Hing Shun:

I look at it and do not see it, and therefore I call it invisible. I listen to him and do not hear, therefore I call him inaudible. I try to grab it and I can't reach it, so I call it the smallest. There is no need to seek to know the source of it, because it is one. Its top is not lit, its bottom is not darkened. It is infinite and cannot be named. It returns to nothingness again. And so they call it a form without forms, an image without a being. Therefore, it is called obscure and nebulous. I meet him and do not see his face; I follow him and do not see his back.

Translation by A. Lukyanov:

I look at him - I don’t see him, I call him “invisible” by his name.
I listen to him - I don’t hear him, I call him “silent” by his name.
I catch it - I don’t acquire it, I call it “hidden” by its name.
These three cannot be distinguished because they are mixed
and form one.
Its top is not light, its bottom is not dark, it continuously curls,
[it] cannot be named.
[It] found a home in the immaterial.
This is an image without an image, an image without flesh.
This is the misty mixture.
I go towards him - I do not see his face (head).
I follow him - I do not see his back (tail).
Only by steadily following the ancient Tao to rule
existing now, it is possible to know the ancient beginning.
This is the duck (guiding thread) of the Tao.

Translation by B. Vinogrodsky:

You look at him without seeing.
Name name: "Scattered".
You listen to him without hearing.
Name name: "Sparse".
Grab it without holding it.
Name name: "The thinnest."
This trinity cannot be determined by asking questions.
Causality:
Mixing, they realize one.
When moving up, it is not light.
When moving down, it is not dark.
Like an escaping thread.
It cannot be defined by name.
Repeated return
in a state of non-existence.
This is defined:
Vibrant and shimmery.
You move towards him without seeing his head.
You follow him without seeing his back.
Apply the path of antiquity
to control the presence of this moment.
Be able to know the beginning of antiquity.
This is determined by:
Guiding thread.

Section 25

Translation by E. Torchinov:

Here is the Thing, accomplished in Chaos, born before Heaven and Earth!
O silent one! O unseen!
You stand alone and do not change, you surround everything that exists and do not die!
You can be called the Mother of the Middle Kingdom. I do not know your name, but, designating with a sign, I call you the Path-Tao. Making an effort, I call you Great.

Translation by Yang Hing Shun:

Here is a thing that arises in chaos, born before heaven and earth! O soundless! O formless! She stands alone and does not change. It works everywhere and has no barriers. She can be considered the mother of the Middle Kingdom. I don't know her name. Designating with a hieroglyph, I will call it Tao.

Translation by A. Lukyanov:

There is something that creates chaos and lives before Heaven and Earth.
Silent! Empty!
It stands alone, does not change, rotates in itself tirelessly.
You can consider him the Mother of the Middle Kingdom.
I don't know his name.
I give him a nickname - I call Tao.
I choose a name for him - I call the Great

Translation by B. Vinogrodsky:

The thing in stock is formed from a shapeless swirl.
Born before Heaven-Earth.
In silence, in serenity.
It stands independently, without changing.
It moves in cycles without dying.
Thus, it is possible to realize the generative principle in the Celestial Empire.
My essence does not know this name.
Let's designate it with the sign "Path".
Trying to find a name for him, let's define him as "great".

Section 21

Translation by E. Torchinov:

Tao is such a thing: obscure and vague, faceless and foggy.
Oh obscure! Oh troubled!
There are images in your center.
Oh faceless! O foggy!
There are things in your center

Translation by Yang Hing Shun:

The Tao is hazy and uncertain. However, in its nebulousness and uncertainty there are images. It is hazy and uncertain. However, things are hidden in its nebulousness and uncertainty.

Translation by A. Lukyanov:

Tao is something vague, indistinguishable!
Oh indistinguishable! Oh foggy!
Within Him are images.
Oh foggy! Oh indistinguishable!
Within Him are things.

Translation by B. Vinogrodsky:

The path is realized in things
just like a flicker, just like a flutter.
Here is the flutter, here is the shimmer.
And in the core - the presence of the image.
Here is a flicker, here is a flutter.
And in the core is the presence of a thing.

Calm and sunny day. Sakura leaves fly by with the fresh breeze. In the temple, a monk sits in a motionless pose and looks into nowhere with a detached expression on his face. His body is relaxed, and his breathing is slow and measured. It seems that around him there is emptiness and at the same time fullness. Not a single phenomenon can affect a deep immersion in the mysteries of this monk's own "I".

So it goes for a long time. The sun, having met a lonely figure with its rays, is already slightly beginning to say goodbye. At this moment, the body of the monk comes to life and begins to move. Awakening is not quick, it takes time to recover in the full sense of the word. So he got up and walked quietly along the path that leads to a small house. There, simple food and the same room await him. There is nothing superfluous in the monk's house, only the most necessary for life.

It was a small journey in time in order to see the image of the great thinker Lao Tzu and the essence of his teaching, which has become one of the three main

Who is Lao Tzu?

According to the legend, this is the son who was born by a woman under a plum tree. She carried him for 81 years and gave birth through the thigh. He was born old and with a gray head. This greatly surprised the woman, and she called him "old child", which is what Lao Tzu means in Chinese. There is also another interpretation of his name - "old philosopher". His birth took place in 604 BC.

It is worth noting that there is no reliable information about his life and birth. Research is still underway on whether there was a person with that name at all. Therefore, here are the data about him that are written in authoritative sources.

As an adult, Lao Zi served the emperor and was a library tutor during the Zhou Dynasty. For many years, studying and reading ancient treatises, the thinker matured and gained wisdom. Being in old age, he decided to leave his native country and went west riding a green bull. At the border point, he was stopped by a servant of the emperor and recognized the great thinker. He asked the sage to leave his wisdom to posterity before leaving. It was at this request that the famous book of Lao Tzu - "Tao Te Ching" was written. Its length is five thousand hieroglyphs.

The concept of Tao

Tao literally means "the way". The basis of all things and the law by which everything happens in this world. so multifaceted and deep that it is impossible to specifically designate it in words. Sometimes this concept is referred to as the force that moves the world. It has neither beginning nor end. It is in every particle of being, and it permeates the world through and through. Without this power, the future is impossible and the past crumbles. It is she who defines the concept of "now" as a way of existence.

In a treatise on the Tao, Lao Tzu describes how power moves the whole world and fills all beings. The structure of the world is completely determined by Tao, and it cannot be otherwise. But at the same time, Tao is an infinite number of options for how the existence of a separate object can go. Therefore, there are opinions that with the help of this book, any creature can gain immortality. This stems from the fact that the Tao, the path of which a person must pass, can lead to the eternal source of life.

The concept of "De"

All changes in the world are caused by regularities or, in other words, by way messages between the past and the future. This path represents the Tao. At the same time, this power manifests itself through another facet of this world - Te. Hence the name of the book "Tao Te Ching".

The concept of "De" is a property or an ideal concept of the existence of everything in this world. Tao manifests itself in reality through the existence of Te. This is the best variant of the manifestation of matter, which is a flow from one form to another through the path of Tao. Some interpretations describe the similarity of this concept with determines how an object will exist, and to some extent has something in common with this concept.

The treatise describes the correct existence of a person, which personifies Te. If you get rid of passions, pride, excesses and other vices, then a person will open the way to a perfect life, in which he will be filled with energy through Te.

What is the Tao Te Ching about?

The title means "The Book of Tao". The author took the liberty of describing what governs the whole world. This treatise consists of individual sayings and short descriptions. It is written in very ancient Chinese characters, which the modern inhabitants have almost forgotten. The main theme of the treatise, so to speak, is a description of how one should behave, live and feel in this world in order for a person to discover true enlightenment.

According to Lao Tzu, Tao is something faceless, which, however, can take shape in everything that exists. Any attempts to fit this concept into a specific framework stumble upon contradictions. The phenomenon has a form, but you look at it and do not see it. It is written about Tao that you hear it, but you cannot hear it, you catch it, but you cannot catch it.

Such contradictions run like a red thread in the texts. The main factor in this situation is the author's desire to describe what is beyond the understanding of an ordinary person, which he considered himself to be. If you try to define a concept, then it inevitably slips away, taking on a different appearance or manifestation. As a result, there are attempts in the texts to describe the Tao as something vague and dim.

Taoism

Based on the written treatise, a whole religion with the same name arose. The followers of this teaching tried to comprehend the full depth of the meaning set forth through renunciation and conformity to the way of life that is described. Often the interpretations of what was written were different, and many monks entered into an argument about the meaning of what was written. This situation gave impetus to the spread of various schools of Taoism, which understood the essence of what was written in different ways.

With the help of the teachings, one can understand that Tao is a combination of the human mind with the wisdom of nature. This is the main goal of many followers who have introduced various techniques to speed up this process. Complexes of gymnastic exercises and breathing techniques were developed. Such methods have gained great popularity in the modern way of understanding ancient scriptures.

Taoist teachings

Assessing the ideals of Taoism, one can understand that the main role in it is played by calmness and simplicity, as well as harmony and naturalness in human behavior. All attempts at active action are considered meaningless and only waste energy. When existing on the waves of the flow of life, efforts are not needed, they only interfere. Tranquility results in peace in society and a harmonious life for everyone.

Sometimes actions are compared to water, which does not interfere with anyone when moving and flows around obstacles. A person who wants strength and power should take an example from the water that flows, but does not interfere. To achieve the best results in life, you need to go with the flow and try not to disturb the flow with your actions. Also, according to the treatise, a person should not have addictions. They blind him and create the illusion that he cannot live without them.

The path of everyone in Taoism

If a person is driven by passion or has excesses in his actions and aspirations, then he is far from his true path. Any attachment to earthly things creates conditions in which a person begins to serve not himself, but specific things. This is possible if you do not listen to the aspirations of the soul and do not search for your own path.

A detached attitude to material goods and pleasures allows you to hear the voice of your soul and, in accordance with it, begin your Tao Tzu - the path of the sage. On this path, there are no questions about whether he is chosen correctly. A person becomes comfortable, and his mind clears up. If you linger in long reflections and listen to your inner voice, over time, an understanding of the world will come as a universal substance for the life of every being.

Management of inaction

When China was ruled, the development in the country was stable and calm. The figures adopted the principle of Taoism, which meant that there was no need to interfere with the development of society. The inaction of the authorities in terms of management allowed the people to live in peace and prosperity. They applied their strength to the development and improvement of living conditions.

Modern writers and Taoism

Many personal growth and success coaches have adopted the principles of Taoism into their practice. In her book "The Tao of Life" Khakamada Irina describes the principles that are taken from this religion. According to her, she made a kind of squeeze out of the entire text. Not all provisions are equally suitable for application for a Russian person and a Chinese. Therefore, there are now a great many such truncated manuals. The Tao of Life is a guide book. It most specifically describes the ancient principles that must be followed for a harmonious life.

In addition, at least one full translation of a treatise from an ancient language into a modern one is published every year. All of them represent another interpretation of the truths that were written more than two and a half thousand years ago.

Khakamada Irina also presents her own book “The Tao of Life” as one of the translations, but it was made more for the Russian people.

Followers who write their book "Tao"

One of the famous followers of Taoism is Anna Averyanova, who publishes books under the pseudonym Ling Bao. She did a great job of transcribing Taoist texts. He has his own understanding of this religion and writes a sequel to the book "Tao". Bao Ling has been studying ways for a person to reach beyond consciousness for many years. In addition, she also deals with issues of the subconscious and the immortality of the human mind.

Bao Ling describes the secrets of the Tao in the same style as the original texts of Lao Tzu. Thanks to all-round development and long practices around the world, she developed her own system of understanding this religion. This is one of the differences from what Irina Khakamada writes, whose “Tao” is more practical.

Martial arts

Martial arts also appeared on the basis of spiritual perfection. One of them was Vovinam Viet Vo Dao, which literally means "the military way of the Viet."

This martial art originated among village wrestlers and soon grew into a whole hobby of the Vietnamese people. It practiced, in addition to the technique of strikes and grips, high moral and spiritual training. She was placed at the head of all technology. It is believed that a Viet Vo Dao warrior without a spiritual foundation will not be able to defeat the enemy.

Energy "Tao"

At the heart of the path is the energy "Qi". She, according to scripture, is the absolute energy of all life in this world. There is the concept of "Qi", a person and the whole world that surrounds him. This energy helps a person to establish a connection between the mind and the outside world.

The Taoists have developed a whole technique for comprehending the power of "Qi". It is based on correct breathing with the help of Tai Chi Chuan. This is a set of exercises and techniques that help the body tune in to receive energy. The most talented Taoists who practiced this technique could go without water and food for a long time. There were also cases when it reached unimaginable limits.

In Taoism, there are several techniques that allow you to reconnect with the Qi energy. They are part of the most ancient Qigong technique. In addition to the Taoist breathing practice, martial arts and meditation are used. All these systems are designed to serve one purpose - filling with Qi energy and comprehending Tao.

Channels for filling a person with energy

According to the treatise, a person can receive energy at any time and anywhere. To do this, he uses special channels. But not all people work at a good level. Often the pathways for energy are clogged with improper diet and a sedentary lifestyle. The modern model of man implies the use of technological progress in order not to waste one's strength. This way of life entails many negative consequences. A person becomes passive, and he is not interested in developing. For him, everything performs things and devices. He becomes a consumer.

With low consumption, the energy channels of Dao Te become clogged, and a person literally becomes dependent on external stimulants. It can be chemicals or other methods.

Special techniques are used to activate and expand channels. They represent a diet and a certain composition of it. Special exercises allow you to develop the spine and other parts of the body. It is through the spine that the main and largest energy flow passes. Therefore, special attention is paid to it.

Self-healing through listening to the body

Many practitioners have taken the secrets of how to listen to the body and understand the work of the internal organs from the Tao book. Such mastery is available only to those who have been engaged in the techniques of Taoism for a long time. After reaching a certain level, a person begins to feel his body in the literal sense of the word. All organs seem to be transformed into a system that can be changed for healing.

Sometimes masters resort to the practice of healing other people. For this, special centers of alternative medicine are opened, where patients are admitted.

Symbolism of Taoism

The famous Yin and Yang symbol is used to explain the essence of the Tao. On the one hand, the symbol shows that everything changes and flows from one form to another. On the other hand, opposites complement each other. For example, bad cannot exist without good, and vice versa. There is no absolute victory of one element, only a balance between them can be achieved.

The symbol simultaneously displays the struggle and balance of two elements. They are presented in the form of a cycle to which there is no end. At the same time, the black and white parts cannot be absolute, since they have opposite particles in themselves.

tattoos

To identify a person with the religion of Taoism, there is a technique for applying tattoos. They are also smooth lines. Often they are symmetrical and contain images of mythical characters. The culture of applying such tattoos came from ancient China, where they were very popular.

Wellness system

There is also the so-called “Show Tao” school. Literally translated, it means "The Path of Tranquility". It is a set of measures for better health and true peace of mind. They include both martial arts and breathing practices that help to gain good health and peace of mind. The Show Dao system is very close to the philosophy of Taoism and is therefore considered to be part of it. Pupils of the school call themselves "calm warriors" and improve their skills for peace of mind.

There are many practical guidelines in the world that help lead a healthy spiritual and psychological life. For example, there are tips to find peace and harmony in life:

• Relieve stress with an inner smile. You may not show it on the outer level, but it must appear inside the person.
• Talk less. Every word that is spoken in vain or inappropriately wastes Qi energy.
• Anxiety dissolves into action. Instead of being nervous with folded arms, you need to start taking action.
• The mind must develop. If it is not involved, then degradation begins.
• You need to control your sex drive.
• Be moderate in your diet. You need to move away from the table when you are still a little hungry.
• Moderation in all influences on the body.
• The more joy in life, the more Qi energy comes to a person. Therefore, you should be happy with everything around you.

Taoism and love

The concept of "Tao" is inextricably linked with love. Through the relationship of two people of the opposite sex, the tree of life grows and fills both with energy. Taoists considered having sex something so natural and necessary that they wrote practical manuals for this. At the same time, there is not a shadow of lust and perversion in the texts with frank illustrations. According to the Tao of Love treatise, a man must begin to fully control his sense of pleasure and manage it effectively. This is necessary, first of all, to satisfy a woman who needs special participation.

The doctrine of love has three main concepts:

• A man receives tremendous power and wisdom if he correctly selects the mode of his ejaculation and attraction. New opportunities will open up for him when abstinence is practiced. Thanks to this, he will be able to satisfy the woman to the fullest.
• The ancient Chinese believed that the uncontrolled pleasure of a man is not the most pleasant moment in sex. There is a deeper experience described in The Tao of Love that is truly enjoyable. To achieve this skill, you need to practice for a long time.
• The central idea is the obligatory satisfaction of a woman. It is considered a source of pleasure for both partners and is therefore so important.

Meaning of Taoism

Due to their popularity, Taoist schools have penetrated other continents and infiltrated different societies. Some critics unreasonably reject this teaching as unsuitable for other people. In their opinion, it was created for the Chinese and does not have significant benefits for representatives of other nationalities. However, many people around the world practice the principles of Taoism and achieve exceptional results in the field of body, mind and spiritual development.

As it turned out, this teaching can be used by both the Chinese and all other nationalities. Its principles are universal and, when studied, help to improve the quality of life of every person. It was this goal that Lao Tzu pursued when he wrote his treatises for future generations.

For China itself, this resulted in a whole religion, which for many centuries has remained the same mysterious and multifaceted. It may take a lifetime to realize it.

For a Russian person, separate abbreviated versions of ancient scriptures have been made, which are maximally adapted to this culture. Basically, such manuals have many practical recommendations on psychology and self-improvement.

Conclusion

In the light of modernity, Taoism has taken on the form of a spiritual practice that helps a person cope with the problems that have arisen today. By adopting the principles outlined in the book, each person can independently improve in several directions at once. It can be physical health, psychological and spiritual.