Very Brief History

China, as with many empires in the West, has had a long history filled with changing dynasties, technological advancements, periods of high art and culture as well as long periods of war. During a tumultuous warring period known in Chinese as Chūn Qiū (722 b.c.e.- 476 b.c.e.), two contemporaries emerged who would influence thinking in China, thus eastern Asia. One man was K'ung Fu Tzu and the other man was the semi-legendary figure Lao Tzu. Confucius, the Latin form, focused on a way of thinking which urged a proper gentleman to be deeply devoted the arts, his family and the state. His thoughts and works were a sort of code for living in society. Lao Tzu had a point of view for a way of living which was far broader in scope. A point of view that was as deep as the ocean and as vast as space.

Lao Tzu, as the legend has it, was a librarian of a kingdom's royal library and was considered very wise (Lao is Chinese for "old", Tzu could be seen as "Master"). He was fed up with the wars and decided to hit the road and live the life of a recluse in the wilderness. A guard stopped him before he left the gates for good and asked Lao Tzu to pass on his knowledge before he left. He kindly obliged. What he left was truly beautiful poetry and an enriching philosophy.

Make Up of the Book

The collection of poems is in 81 chapters. It has been theorized that the beginning works were done by Lao Tzu, if he really existed, and later added on to by a variety of disciples who carried on his thoughts. Regardless of who penned them with brush and ink, the words are profound and cut to the core of a spiritual life. It is a life that is easy to see and very pleasant to lead, but quite difficult for the average person who is caught up in the way of society to follow. But such is often the way with any spiritual pursuit. The destination of the path is showed by Lao Tzu to be the true realization of the way to lead a life, which ultimately will bring harmony to one's existence.

The Essence of the Poems

As is suggested by the title of the book, it is a collection of a variety of descriptions (not really a direct, step-by-step "how-to" book) of what the Tao is and its many benefits. It starts off in the deep end of the pool by suggesting that the Tao, or way, that is spoken of is not the true Tao. It is something that cannot be seen or felt, heard or smelt. Rather, it is realized through "inaction" in life, or, in a sense, using intuition as your guide (as opposed to literally doing nothing). It cannot be grasped by logic or on a sensory level filled with the desire to attain it. One must perceive it on a level in which words fail to completely describe.

He suggests the nature of the Tao is infinite, yet empty. He uses the paradigm of an the emptiness of a house. It is the space inside which makes it livable. In a similar example, it is the emptiness of a container which allows it to be used for its proper function. Emptiness of self is a key element in his writings. The Tao is emptiness which is filling. To be a vessel filled with the Tao, one should be empty.

Flexibility in life is also a common theme, as well. He demonstrates this point with a look at a tree and and a reed. In a strong wind, the tree will break because of its rigid nature. The reed in the stream will survive the same wind, for it can bend to the situation. Such theories inevitably influenced the Chinese exercise practice of Qigong, where flexibility helps in the flow of the life force that preserves the body.

There is a purity within children which should be aspired to by the would-be follower of the Tao. Life's basic energy flows through children allowing them to scream without tiring, have a softness of skin which is usually maintained at the beginning of life and a care-free, untroubled mind that knows nothing. For a Taoist, it is a benefit to have such energies flowing through them. It is an energy provided by the universe and conducted through the Tao.

Lao Tzu advocates not clinging onto differentiations between things which are common dualities in life. For example, if you perceive one thing to be beautiful, then other things are ugly. People get hung up on the differences, not realizing that it is just two different sides of the same coin. The coin is what is most important, not what is etched into it. He often uses juxtapositions and contradictions to make points.

There are also some insights into leadership within the Tao Te Ching which defy standard modern practice. Lao Tzu said that the people should be governed without being governed. Again, it is like the "inaction" he mentions often. The people who seek leadership should be lead in a way that the people feel like they are leading themselves. As studies show, a happy employee is more productive and like any young child would say, having the freedom to make their own decisions in life brings about great satisfaction, without the busy parents always telling them what to do. So perhaps there is some truth to Lao Tzu's method.

Violence and war was prevalent in Lao Tzu's time, so he touched on those subjects in several chapters. He advocated peace and harmony, and his philosophy was definitely one of peace. War and fighting are fruitless. Sun Tzu and his Art of War　may also have been influenced by Lao Tzu's thinking, as far as Sun Tzu's main point was that not fighting is the perfect victory. Lao Tzu would have gone one step further by saying just being non-competitive and losing desire would provide no grounds for war in the first place.

Like Buddhism, the Tao Te Ching has an emphasis on rejecting the material, as it is a hollow pursuit. "Have, but do not possess" is what Lao Tzu would have advised. The way to a spiritual path is, according to Lao Tzu, just giving up everything to gain everything, including the idea of self.

The Results from the Book

For many people, the Tao Te Ching has been a powerful tool for getting on a spiritual track in life. The words, as simple as they are, convey a deeper and higher sense of existence and explanation of life which can be difficult for the logical mind to bite into. It turned into a philosophy which inspired many other Taoist sages, such as Chuang Tzu and Lieh Tzu (also good sources for spiritual living).

Like any good philosophy, Taoism was eventually turned into a formalized religion with rituals, practices and stories dealing with immortals. The goal of the Taoists became the ultimate quest for most human beings throughout the ages and in every culture: becoming immortal themselves. As with most organized religions, Taoism had strayed from the way of the original thoughts and intents of the one who first attempted to explain it.

Taoism is a powerful philosophical movement and the exploration of it, starting with the Tao Te Ching, is a well-worn path that is worth every step taken. As Lao Tzu suggests, the path of a thousand miles begins with one step. Making that first step can be done at any time... but there is no time like the present. Just try to stick to the path.