Category: What Is Tao

Updated on March 5th, 2018

Nature doesn’t remain hidden from us any longer. We have telescopes that look into the far heavens, and scans that unveil the universe inside us. As a result blind faith is no longer possible for those who think. To be able to live both rationally and spiritually, we need a vision of a higher power that is aligned with science. Not opposed to it. Two thousand five hundred years ago, an old Chinese sage revealed such a higher power. He called it Tao.

So, what is Tao? I will answer this question in a Taoist way. So, I need for you to join me in the following thought experiment. Imagine that an alien had visited our planet a few Billon years ago. He would have seen a rock. If he came back today he would see that the rock is covered by water, earth, vegetation, and all kinds of creatures. He would see that since his last visit, something populated the rock with these wonders. That Something is Tao.

Tao is not a thing, and is not a being. Tao is a force. It’s like the Law of Gravity. It’s the force that guides the process by which everything is created. It’s how everything is created.  It’s the emptiness from which everything came. Everything works according to Its design.

And, how do we know Its design? This is exciting—we can know It by studying how creation works. Tao reveals Itself through Its creation. In the same way that an architect reveals himself through a building. When you look at a building you learn a lot about the Architect that designed it. Even if you don’t know his name, or anything else about him. By looking at his building you will be able to know what style of architecture he prefers. You can understand the purpose that he intended for the building. You will know if he intended to design a factory, a home, or an office building. You will learn how to use the building best, following its design. Not using a luxury condo as a factory, for example.

In the same way, when we look at creation. When we study Nature. When we uncover our Human Nature; we understand the purpose of our design. We understand what our Creator/Designer/Tao created us for. And, if we live according to our design, we can reach our full potential.

When we live according to our design, we live aligned with the force that Created the Universe. We share in Its power. When we live aligned with the force that created the Universe, we manifest our full potential. When we live manifesting our true potential we are Whole. We are Holy.

So, any true spiritual path has to be a path that lead us to live in accordance with Creation, and its Creator. That’s where the power is. A path that opposes Nature opposes Its Creator. A path that opposes Creation, and Its Creator, cannot be a spiritual path.

A true spiritual path is enriched by knowledge, not threatened by it. The knowledge of Science, Psychology, and Technology enrich our knowledge of ourselves. It reveals Creation, and move us closer to the Creator without contradictions. A Creator that reveals Itself through science and knowledge is a Higher Power that we can embrace in the 21st Century.

Updated on February 28th, 2018

Taoism is a philosophy that emerged from China 2.500 years ago. This philosophy is beautifully illustrated in an ancient painting called “The Vinegar Tasters”.

In the painting you see 3 figures. They represent the 3 great Philosophers of the East. One of the figures is the Buddha. One is Confucius. The third one is Lao-Tsu.

In the painting, the Buddha, Confucius, and Lao-Tsu are standing by a vat of vinegar. This particular vat of vinegar represents the world, and the vinegar represents life. In the painting, each philosopher has dipped a finger into the vinegar and has tasted it. The Buddha appears grimacing after having tasted the vinegar. Suffering is central to the philosophy of Buddhism. Actually, The First Noble Truth of Buddhism is that life is suffering: for the Buddha life was bitter.

Confucius is also grimacing after tasting life. He taught that the world was out of order and this disorder brings suffering. He taught that the only way to bring the world into harmony again was through discipline. He taught that honor, duty, and worshiping the ways of our ancestors would restore order. For him, life was bitter also.

But Lao-Tse is smiling after tasting the vinegar. Why? Because, according to the Taoist view, life can indeed be bitter—but that is not the whole story. On the other side of bitterness, you will find sweetness. According to Taoism everything brings its opposite with it—at the same time. Think about it, if you had never known the bitter, how would you know the sweet?

If you had never seen darkness, how would you know the difference between day and night?

For a Taoist bitter suffering is just one side of life. Suffering doesn’t come alone. It brings its opposites along for the ride. Joy, knowledge, experience, or any number of positive things come on the back of suffering. Taoists believe that if we didn’t know suffering, we couldn’t know happiness. They believe that male and female complement each other. Believe that hot and cold regulate each other. That success and failure educate each other. That gain and loss value each other.

Nothing can exist without it’s opposite. Anything that is one-sided can’t exist. It wouldn’t be whole. Life is indeed suffering and vinegar is bitter. But mix bitter vinegar with its opposite flavors and it becomes a delicious dressing.

Learn to see the opposites of creation. Learn to embrace the opposing forces of creation joyfully. Let creation blend them according to its design. And you will taste the richness of the full spectrum of life. And you will smile like Lao-Tsu.