Tao 道

Explained Through Integrated Eastern Philosophy

This chapter is a good primer on Tao for those who want an overview of its meaning.

Tao is formless, shapeless, odorless, soundless. In other words, you can't see, taste, touch, smell, and hear it, which makes it hard to talk about it. Therefore, it must be named and have a symbol to represent it for the sake of exploring it. Image from Shutterstock

Chapter 2 Tao

from "Profound Truths of Heaven's Tao"

A Book of Integrated Eastern Philosophy

Nondual Eternal Mother imparts: Before time began and the universe was created, there was nothing. This nothingness was called the Great Void. In this emptiness, a seed appeared by itself. This seed was like a force but had no shape, form, sound, or smell. It existed forever in endless space, without day or night. It moved freely through the universe and created everything. This force is called Tao, or the Eternal Mother.

Tao has no shape, so it is hard to see or understand. But if you look closely, you may see an image, object, or essence within it. This essence is pure and full of integrity. People have been trying to understand Tao for a long time. Tao is still and silent, but it is not cold or dry. Heaven cannot cover it, and Earth cannot hold it. Tao can be both very tiny and very large. It fills the world and goes beyond it. It is not cold in the winter or hot in the summer. This is the essence of Tao.

Tao creates one, then one makes two, two creates three, and from three comes all things. This is how all things are created. Tao existed before the universe, and it is not old, even though it has been around for a long time. Its essence never changes and can work on everything. Because of Tao, birds can fly, fish can swim, animals can run, and humans can live. Everything that has Tao in it can exist. Everything that follows Tao can succeed. Everyone uses Tao, but no one can truly see it. Tao is One and will be fully understood in the future. Laozi said, “Cherish the vital spirit by abiding in One.” Confucius said, “To understand Tao, I will use One.” So, all things come from One.

Tao is so vast that we cannot see how tall it is or measure how deep it is. Even though Tao is everywhere, we cannot fully describe it. It may look big, but its true size is beyond words. Tao does not change. It cannot be controlled by anything. Everything with life, like Heaven, Earth, the seasons, the sun, moon, stars, birds, and animals, draws from Tao, but Tao remains the same. Even though everything is connected to Tao, they do not change Tao. This is Tao’s secret: it is open and honorable.

People who understand Tao are wise. They know deep things about the universe that most people don’t see, and they can understand the mysteries of life. This shows the principle of “looking deeply to understand Tao.”

To “look deeply” means to examine something carefully to grasp its true meaning. To “understand the depth of Tao” means to gain deep wisdom about life and the universe. If a leader understands the Tao, people will support them. When a leader follows Tao, their community will follow them. When leaders are humble, and those around them are calm, everything will follow Tao. Being “empty” means not focusing too much on yourself. Being “still” means not having worries inside. When we don’t focus on our desires, we can be free of selfishness. Without selfishness, desire disappears. Reaching the state of being “empty of self and desires” helps us connect with Tao.

Integrity means being sincere and not having selfish desires. When leaders connect with Tao, they show others how to do the right thing. They need to teach others to serve the greater good. When there is no conflict, everything changes in a good way, showing the highest form of sincerity. When sincerity is genuine, everything responds positively. To transform ourselves and others in a kind way is the highest practice, leading to harmony with both Heaven and humanity.

Because of Tao, the truth and the right path can be found. When leaders give their people what they need, there will be fairness and no conflict. Everything will fall into place when everyone is given the right roles and responsibilities. This shows that Tao is One. Just as the moon, stars, and Earth follow their paths and cannot change them, airplanes must stay on their flight paths, and ships must follow their sea routes. Cars must obey traffic rules, and pedestrians must use the proper walkways. If these rules are not followed, accidents and danger can happen. So, everything must follow its natural path to stay safe. This shows how Tao works.

Tao is One. It never changes. To understand Tao, we must start with what we know and learn more step by step. We must appropriately respond to wrong things to understand wisdom in any situation. By looking back at the past, we can learn about the wisdom of old times, and by looking forward to the future, we can understand forever truths. Those who want to grow spiritually should follow the Tao and its rules. When we do this, the world will become one again.

Tao is the basic essence of everything. People who understand its importance take great care to protect it because they fear losing it. They do not want to stray from it because they lose their connection to Tao when they do. People who do not have strong values may not know this, but if they follow Tao’s teachings, they can find peace inside and help others. That’s why Tao is the greatest treasure in the world. Those who truly respect Tao and seek it with effort can find it, and even those who have made mistakes can still be forgiven.

[1] This quotation is derived from Dao De Ching. The numbers are not merely numbers; each represents something.  One represents Tao, two represents duality, and three represents all things.  Also, each number implies the sequence of creation. However, the process of creation is not exclusively linear.  It is integrated as well. Try this mental exercise: imagine a dot, stretching into a line, and pulling the line back into a dot.  The dot is the starting point, representing Tao.  When it stretches into a line, it is a sequence.  However, the dot and the line are inseparable.  Both have always been a single thing.  Its state may differ; one is a dot, and the other is a line.  Put concisely, Tao embodies both the dualistic nature of the universe and its totality.

[2] One is capitalized because it is a symbol of Tao.

Here is the introductory video to the chapter. Click on the video image to watch. If you open it through YouTube, you can turn on the caption.

天道奧義

第二章　道

無極老母曰：亙古之初，未有天地之前，原是一片太虛，太虛者，虛而無物也。在虛無之中，混然產生一粒種籽，此種籽似一股力量，但無形狀，亦無固體，亦無聲亦無臭而永遠長在，茫茫而不明，不分晝夜，周流於宇宙之間，毫無掛礙，祂是創造天地萬物之老母，故號其名曰「道」。

　　道既無形無體，恍恍惚惚，彷彿裡面有個象，又彷彿是有一個物，又彷佛是有精，其精甚真，其中有信，自古至今，藉此，可以看到萬物，依之而化生。道，寂靜，不燥不寒，天不能覆幬，地也不能承載，小言之為無內，大言之為無外，充滿於四海之內，猶包其外，在寒而不冷，在炎而不熱，此乃道之體也。

　　道生一、一生二、二生三、三生萬物，由此而累進，庶類繁多也。此道，先天地生而不為久，長於上古而不為老，永遠不變其質，能適用萬物，鳥得之而能飛，魚得之而能游，獸得之而能走，人得之故能生存，萬物得之以生，百事得之以成。人皆用祂，而不能見其形。故，道者一也，傳至後世，老子曰：「抱元守一」，孔子曰：「吾道一以貫之」故，萬物皆由一而起者也。

　　所以，道之高，高而不能察看，深而不能測量也。雖然道很明顯，也無法形容其名，看來很是廣大，也無法形容其廣。道是獨立而不改，萬物亦不能役使祂，天地陰陽，四時日月，星辰雲氣，飛禽走獸，凡有生命之物，皆取之於祂，而祂也不減少，全都合併於祂，祂也不增多。此乃道之秘奧，與光明正大也。

道之明者，聰明有智慧之人，能察考到宇宙的深處，知道一般人所不知道的事，他人之所不能得到的，而聰明修道者可以得之，這就稱為「察稽知極」也。「察稽」，是從紛歧複雜的現象裡，而稽察是非曲直。「知極」，是從宇宙人生的深處，而明白很多的道理。一國之元首，若用此「察稽知極」之道理，則天下歸服矣。為政者，若用此道，則人民不迷惑而服從。在上者虛極，在下者靜篤，而「道」得其正也。虛則無我，靜則無物，無我即無私，無物即無慾，「無我無物」即可進於道也。信即是誠，誠則無欲，為上者，若能如此立於道，則可為民立命，立命就是為民設教也。無爭即無為，無為即是最上的誠，則萬物皆感其誠而應之也。無為是最高的修持，無為才能達到「天人合一」的境界。

　　所以，「道」即理也，軌也，路也，為政者，對於人民，應按其身份，而給以其所應得，自然公平，萬民不爭也。授之以應得知名份，萬物自然平定，此即道為一之理也。天上月球，星辰之運轉，地球之繞行，皆有一定之軌道，決不越軌。世上之飛機，其航空亦有一定之航線，海上之船隻，亦有一定之航道。車輛之行駛，亦要按照交通規則之右行，否則，亂其軌道，就會發生危險與車禍。行人之行路，亦要遵守行走行人道，否則，就會發生危險與事故，所以循道而行則安，逆道而行則危，此皆「道」之用也。

　　道為一，永不變化，得道之本體，應由少以知多，得事之要妙，應操正以治奇，則往前可知到太古，往後可知到無終。凡修道者，應抱著道，即道之本體，執著道之法度，即方法也。如是，則天下可歸於一也。

　　「道」是萬物之深奧處，善人以為珍寶，拳拳而服膺，惟恐失之，未敢須臾離也，離者非道也。不善之人，雖未明道之理，而能依道而行，亦可以安身立命。是故，「道」是天下之至寶，所以重此道者，堅心求之而可得，有罪者求之，也可以免罰也。

Note: This draft is a humble attempt, and it will be finalized at a later date.

Updated on December 8, 2024