What is the Dao
It is said that Heaven and Earth came out of the Dao when names were ascribed to them. Names give rise to the conceptualization of everything that is perceivable by our senses, but none of these things are the Dao. It is only in the moments of stillness or emptiness upon which Dao can be touched. An example of this is the idea of an empty bowl. It is not the material of the bowl or its design that makes it useful. It is the space that bowl creates that makes it useful. This is like the Dao.
Chapter 25 of the Tao* Te Ching**:
Before the universe was born
there was something in the chaos of the heavens.
It stands alone and empty,
solitary and unchanging.
It is ever present and secure.
It may be regarded as the Mother of the universe.
Because I do not know it's name,
I call it the Tao.
If forced to give it a name,
I would call it 'Great'.
The Dao that can be named is not the original Dao, meaning that the moment one begins to discuss the absoluteness of the Dao, the assigning of words confines it. Simply put, words define things, usually in relation to something else. Therefore, when we assign a word to something we can conceptualize and categorize that thing. The Dao lies outside of human comprehension; it can only be experienced. The Dao is like the undercurrent of the universe.
Continued from Chapter 25 of the Tao* Te Ching**:
Because it is Great means it is everywhere.
Being everywhere means it is eternal.
Being eternal means everything returns to it.
Tao is great.
Heaven is great.
Earth is great.
Humanity is great.
Within the universe, these are the four great things.
Humanity follows the earth.
Earth follows Heaven.
Heaven follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself.
Daoism is not a religion; there is no worship of any deity. Daoism is a model for proper living and in its purest essence requires complete non-action. It does not interfere with Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or atheist beliefs. Daoism simply tries to bring recognition to the perfection of organic processes in nature and the universe. Have you ever felt that there was a path on which you seemed to be and that the right things seemed to continually drop in your lap? If you have experienced this, you have been exposed to your proper path within the Dao. The Dao requires you to find within yourself perfection and this perfection cannot be found through another person or possession.
Chapter 33 of the Tao* Te Ching**:
Those who know others are intelligent;
those who know themselves are truly wise.
Those who master others are strong;
those who master themselves have true power.
Those who know they have enough are truly wealthy.
Those who persist will reach their goal.
Those who keep their course have a strong will.
Those who embrace death will not perish,
but have life everlasting.
*Note that Dao is also spelled Tao
**The Tao Te Ching was written by Lao Tzu in the 6th century BCE
