Philosophical Taoism is hidden behind the mists of esoteric and mystical Taoism; a landscape full of alchemy, hermetic mystics, divination, and magic. The ideology in Lao Tzu’s writing is steeped with common sense, that cuts through the confusion, and aids one in cultivating a proper balance of yin and yang energy.
Lao Tzu provides a clear path for one to embark on, no matter what the level of experience or expertise is. The practical wisdom in the Tao Te Ching and the Hua Hu Ching is clear and simple, yet difficult to employ. Without it, one cannot even begin to follow The Way.
According to Hua Hu Ching (Chapter 17), "If you want to worship the Tao, first discover it in your own heart. Then your worship will be meaningful."
Worship and the Tao of Lao Tzu
The confounding host of Taoist deities and Immortals can obfuscate one from reaching the heart of Taoist thought. Lao Tzu focuses on being at one with the Tao, and to work with the nature of the Tao. But if one responds well to worship, then Lao Tzu suggests to worship the following five Taoist things, in the Hua Hu Ching, Chapter 74.
- The sun and the moon: pure yang and pure yin energy
- The spiritual nature of man and woman: benevolent and divine energy
- The eight hexagrams of the I Ching: Heaven, Earth, Water, Fire, Thunder, Lake, Wind, and Mountain
- The sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching: “which illuminate the underlying harmony of the universe”
- The Tao
Lao Tzu shuns the processes of religion and organized worship as well. He stresses an inner cultivation and transformation, not an external expression of faith.
Hua Hu Ching says, "Do not go about worshipping deities and religious institutions as the source of the subtle truth. To do so is to place intermediaries between yourself and the divine."
Cultivating the Mind, Body, and Soul
Taoist practical wisdom stresses how to regulate the mind, and desire; how to cultivate the body, balancing energy, or qi, with yin and yang harmony; and how to nurture the soul, and live in accord with the Tao. The goal is to ultimately transcend to a higher level of existence, or immortality.
It's said that true self-cultivation involves the holistic integration of mind, body, and spirit. Balancing yin and yang through the various practices of the Integral Way, one achieves complete unity within and without, according to Hua Hu Ching (Chapter 58.)
Practical Lao Tzu
Throughout his writings, Lao Tzu addresses simple axioms that transcend a specific religion or philosophy, and remain applicable throughout every era.
According to Hua Hu Ching, (Chapter 75), if you want to eliminate all the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself.
Lao Tzu also lists the Four Cardinal Virtues in chapter 51 of the Hua Hu Ching:
- Reverence for all life: unconditional love and respect;
- Natural sincerity: honesty, simplicity, and faithfulness;
- Gentleness: kindness, consideration, and sensitivity; and
- Supportiveness: service to others without expectation or reward.
In chapter 33 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu writes, “Knowing others is intelligence, knowing the self is enlightenment.”
And in chapter 81 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu writes, quite simply: “Good people don’t argue. People who argue aren’t good. People who know aren’t full of facts. People who are full of facts don’t know.”
The simplicity in the ideology is designed to direct the aspirant attention inward, toward the self. This ideology promotes the realization that change must occur within, and the cultivation of the Four Cardinal Values helps with that inner transformation.
The essence of the philosophical Tao is about harmony, living in harmony with nature, within the body, within the mind, and with all living beings. The magic is in how life blossoms by living in accord with it.
Sources:
Brian Browne Walker, The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu, St. Martin’s Griffin, 1995.
Brian Walker, Hua Hu Ching: The Unknown Teachings of Lao Tzu, Harper Collins, 1992.
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