Alternative to God

[Boleo]

The Tao, the Way, the Path

Taoism is not a religion, nor is it a philosophy. Rather, it is a "way” of life or “path” of nature. The Tao is the natural order of things. It is the origin of all creation and a force that flows through every living, physical or sentient being, as well as through the entire universe. Taoism can also be called "the other way," It has coexisted alongside other formal philosophies and religions for thousands of years with little or no conflict. In fact, when Buddhism was banned in parts of China, some of their membership merely started calling themselves Taoists and the Government left them alone.

The Tao that can be talked about is not the true “Tao”. Tao cannot be represented as a particular entity, thing or image. The Tao can be transmitted but it cannot be received. Tao is not directly translatable to “God”. Any word which we can define is not “the” Tao. The concept of a personified deity is foreign to a Taoist, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking. Tao is unknowable in “essence” but observable in “manifestations”. The Tao belongs neither to knowing or not knowing. It is paradoxically “nothing”, yet it is “in everything”.

How can it be described? "Thirty spokes on a cart wheel go towards the hub that is the center — but look, there is nothing at the center, and that is precisely how it works!" Tao is explained as being the “nothing” within all things. The Tao does nothing — yet nothing is left undone.
Translated literally Tao means "stillness and movement". However this is just the virtual Tao which is itself a paradox. Everything is explained as being full of contradiction — for life there is death, for happiness there is sorrow; when one exists its opposite also exists — the Tao encompasses the contradictions and at the same time supersedes them. Opposite and contradictory aspects (yin/yang) are present in all things.

The Tao, in the broadest sense, is the “way” the universe functions, or the “path” taken by natural events. Tao is the first-cause of the universe as opposed to the creator of it. It is characterized by spontaneous creativity and by repetitious cyclical alternations of phenomena (such as day following night) that proceed without effort. Effortless action (wu wei) may be illustrated by the conduct of water, which unresistingly accepts the lowest level and yet wears away the hardest substance. As the Tao operates without prejudice in the universe, so should mankind disavow assertive, biased or purposive action. The Taoist life is not, however, a life of total inactivity. It is rather a life of unbiased action (wu-wei).

Much of the essence of Tao is in the art of “wu wei” (action through inaction). Non-forceful, going with the grain or flexing with the wind. This does not mean, "sit on your ass and wait for everything to fall into your lap." What it really means is a practice of minimal harmonious action. It is the practice of going against the stream not by struggling but by standing still and letting the stream carry you forward. Water nourishes everything yet strives at nothing.

Taoism is based on the recognition that the reality as perceived is included within but not comprehensive of the Tao (a tree is not made of wood, a tree is wood). So long as there is a notion of ourselves as something different from the Tao, all kinds of tensions build up between “self” on the one hand and real world “experiences” on the other. Cultures which limit the definition of self to the facility of consciousness, attribute unconscious workings to an external God. To label the Tao as an unconscious energy is as much off the point as to conceive of it as a personal ruler, such as God. Tao often goes unnoticed because the true Tao wishes to remain anonymous.
Stated positively: Tao is a life expressing the "self-so" (essence of spontaneity). This allows self to manifest the simple, reduce selfishness and have few desires. Each believer's goal is to become one with the Tao. In realizing that you are one with the Tao, you automatically “manifest” the power of Tao. However, power, as with grace, is something which no one individual should lay claim to. The power lies outside the individual.

Tao people never try, they “do”. To “do” means to provide the action and let the Tao provide the results. Tao people are detached from judgment and do not waste time on self-criticism. Tao people never struggle to be great, which is how true greatness is achieved.

Just as superior Taoists do not aim at the Tao, superior virtue is not aimed at virtue. Superior virtue is not intentional virtue, intentional virtue is considered to be inferior virtue. Superior virtue uses no force yet leaves nothing left undone. Inferior virtue struggles by using force but leaves much left undone. When good deeds are accomplished, we should not claim or point to them (humility). Those who know they do not know are on the quickest road to wisdom.

Taoists believe that "people are compassionate by nature...left to their own devices they will show this compassion without expecting a reward." A Taoist is kind to other individuals; largely because such an action tends to be reciprocated (what goes around comes around).
The ancient Taoists understood the “secret of art” and “the art of living”. Living with Tao is like working with wood; one must never go against the grain. To be skillful and creative, they had to have inner spiritual concentration and put aside concern with external values, such as monetary rewards, fame, and praise. The “Three Jewel Virtues” to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility. Art, like life, followed the creative path of nature, not the values of human society.

They saw in Tao and nature the basis of a spiritual approach to living. Human beings, following the Tao, must refrain from all striving and judgment. The Tao teaches us to take control of our lives by facing our fears and surrendering our wants. Tranquility in disturbance leads to perfection. The ideal state of being is simplicity and freedom from desire, comparable to that of an “innocent child” or an “uncarved block”.

[Alera]

Thanks for this post. I will be rinting this out. It has some great points I think I can apply to my life.

[freespirit1980]

Originally Posted by Boleo

.......Taoism is not a religion, nor is it a philosophy. Rather, it is a "way” of life or “path” of nature. The Tao is the natural order of things. It is the origin of all creation and a force that flows through every living, physical or sentient being, as well as through the entire universe......

Boleo:

This is a great alternative to God. I have been into Eastern Mysticism for quite a while, and it works for me. I struggled with 12-Step recovery, but this has been a real winner. Buddhism also functions in similar fashion, as does Confuciusism -- all a part of the same thread and without the obligation to worship something I just don't believe in.

Thank you for sharing this.

[stone]

Taoism seems similar to Buddhism,

simplicity and freedom from desire

which I also see as more of a guide than a religion.
My knowledge of Tao is limited to the 'Tao of Pooh' at the moment. I don't have the book but there are some excerpts online.

[ananda]

I'm not sure, but if i remember right, chinese zen buddhism and taoism and several other chinese philosophys sort of morphed together very early on...so zen and Tao and others have some very common elements.

Thanks boleo!

[windysan]

dangit

[Emimily]

my dad gave me his copy of the tao te ching before he passed away... he was a christian, but he believed that j.c. read the tao and applied its principles to his life - pretty cool concept. i believe in the big guy in the sky, but i also believe in being compassionate and mindful and living well. breathing for myself, breathing for others. a big grab bag of zen buddhism, taoism, faith that something bigger than me is running the show, faith that everything happens for a reason, and knowing that change is the only constant.

cool topic.

[ksplash5]

the TAO is talked about in the book, "the four agreements" i believe

I loved that book

[LogCabin]

Originally Posted by Emimily

my dad gave me his copy of the tao te ching before he passed away... he was a christian, but he believed that j.c. read the tao and applied its principles to his life - pretty cool concept. i believe in the big guy in the sky, but i also believe in being compassionate and mindful and living well. breathing for myself, breathing for others. a big grab bag of zen buddhism, taoism, faith that something bigger than me is running the show, faith that everything happens for a reason, and knowing that change is the only constant.

cool topic.

I agree with your Dad. I do believe JC was alive...I just don't agree with how they say he got here. But I also have read about and watched shows on how between the age of 13 to 26 his life is not written about in the bible. And many people believe he was learning Tao or some kind of Buddhist religion. And it certainly makes sense with the messages he was trying to give.

[cave]

.............howdy folks.........me and the tao gitalong jest fine.....that there "God" feller gives me the heebee jeebees,though..............Jesus and Kurt Vonnegut were both great guys

[sugErspun]

For anyone who has a deep interest in Taoism I would suggest the following book as probably the best peice I have read on it.

The Way of Chuang Tzu - Thomas Merton

You can find it at most bookstores, especially online.

~enjoy

[ananda]

every AA group that I attend has different formats and "styles"...some are closer to the "cult" like definition and others are way far away from it.

So it really depends. I find that I can sucessfully practice a program and attend AA without believing in god as I understand the term. A smaller town might be harder to find the variety we have here....but my plan, should I not find a group in my town, was to find an AA meeting that might envolve driving a ways and attending it once a week or twice to get what I need and participate without the sort of cult like atmosphere that a FEW aa meetings can have.

Best of luck in your search for a recovery base!

[freya]

Originally Posted by Boleo

It is the origin of all creation and a force that flows through every living, physical or sentient being, as well as through the entire universe......The Tao that can be talked about is not the true “Tao”. Tao cannot be represented as a particular entity, thing or image. The Tao can be transmitted but it cannot be received. Tao is not directly translatable to “God”. Any word which we can define is not “the” Tao. The concept of a personified deity is foreign to a Taoist, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking. Tao is unknowable in “essence” but observable in “manifestations”. The Tao belongs neither to knowing or not knowing. It is paradoxically “nothing”, yet it is “in everything”.

Well, for me, this would pretty much "describe" "God as I understand him" at this point in time. It seems, to me, to be pretty pointless to get hung up on the words or the imagery (or, conversely, on the lack thereof)...because, as you have pointed out, whatever we call "IT," the bottom line is that "IT" is way beyond our understanding and our language....and that bottom line is perhaps the most important thing to always remain aware of. (Personally, I hate referring to IT as "IT," but for the purposes of this thread, it seems best.)

Early on in my college carreer, I actually had a philosophy/theology professor at a Catholic college, who defined "God" as existence both devoid of all essence and inclusive of all essence...in other words, nothing and everything....which then raises the question of how something that is both nothing and everything can possibly be an alternative to anything?

...and one cannot go very far down this path without having to realize pretty quickly that one is going somewhere that human intellect, let alone human language, cannot possibly follow....so, for me, that means that, in aligning myself with "IT," the Force, the Tao, God, Goddess, whatever-you-want-to-call-it, I need to rely primarily on faculties other than my intellect.

freya