Tao Te Ching Book Report

Defining the Tao can be complex because it is a multipart concept, so an easier definition of the Tao would be claiming it is the “way”, or the “path” of life. There are many virtues of the Tao, and they include humility, non-intention, and non-contention. Ultimately, living a life of Tao is considered to be a peaceful and simplistic life. Taoism was developed by a man named Lao-Tzu, or Laozi. This man was both a great philosopher, a great poet. Estimation of birth was between the 5th and 6th centuries. Laozi left the world a book entitled “Tao Te Ching”. This book was where Laozi stated “The Tao that can be told of it not the absolute Tao. What this statement meant, is that a person cannot communicate the true Tao with another person through words. The reason for this is that the Tao must be experienced. This is similar to describing light to a blind man. The blind man may know what the concept of light is, and how light works but he will never truly

The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of all things.” What Laozi is saying is that we (as a society) should stop trying to name and control everything because we like to have meaning attached to the aforementioned objects or people. What we do not realize is that the objects and people already have meaning. Everything in life is connected to each other in one way or another, and it all works together to make up the Tao. Instead of attempting to control nature, let nature run its course. Laozi is also saying that the action of naming came after the creation of the universe, not before. So whatever name we are apply to the Tao (whether it be God, Buddha, or anything else) is not the true name for it because it existed before the concept of naming was created. “The nameless is mother of all things” statement is placing importance on the natural processes of life which all things are derived