(all links will open a new window, you have been warned)
 

There is a new interest in Taoism in the world today. There is a certain curiosity in a philosophy that says you should raise a sail rather than row against the current. In many ways this curiosity began when the new found freedoms of the 60's looked toward religion, and in so doing cast their gaze to the East. It continued through the late 60's and 70's with such thinkers as Alan Watts as they pondered life in the light of the ancient way of Lao-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu. It grew through the 80's and 90's with the expansion of New Age thought and Paganism. It finds fertile soil to stretch out its roots in the growing individuality of today, for Taoism has always been more appealing to the individually minded than those who find comfort in the masses. It shows signs of remaining healthy well into the future.
 
 

And yet, as the Tao Te Ching tells us, "the Tao that can be told is not the Tao." The way that is the Way is not a way! (Don't worry we Taoist are always this confusing. It makes sense in time.) In short, what is usually passed on as "Taoism" has only a passing resemblance to what Taoism really is. If you stick close, and try not to get lost I will let you in on a few esoteric secrets though. Stay close now, and keep quiet, we wouldn't want just anyone to find out.
 
 

One of the first big hurdles to understanding all this mess, is that Taoism is assumed to be a religion. Lots of people (many who call themselves Taoist in fact) will tell you that it is. First secret, it ain't. In fact, Taoism is barely a philosophy. It is in fact closer to being a point of view than anything. I sometimes joke that there are 3 types of people: Optimists see the glass half-full, Pessimists see it half empty, and Taoists see that there is beer in the glass when they ordered wine.
 
 

I feel I must take this opportunity to quote Stephen Russell in the "Barefoot Doctor's Guide to the Tao:"
 
 

Taoism is simply an idea, a collection of methods for restoring peace and prolonging life..... Mind you, if you do, [call yourself a Taoist] do it in a jocular manner because the word is a contradiction in terms and is a bit of an in-joke.
 
 

Tao can be roughly translated as "way." Lots of overly clever people assume this means a path or method of some sort. They are only occasionally wrong. A better translation would be "the way in which things take care of themselves" or perhaps "that which happens of itself." Now "ism" on the other hand is borrowed from the greeks, and is used to make an "action noun of a verb." Yet Tao already is an action noun! Even the word itself is confusing! How you can you possibly be a Taoist then? See what I mean?
 
 

In other words, you are allowed to be a Taoist and also a Catholic, or Taoist and Pagan, or Taoist and Buddhist (we call that Zen you know) or Taoist and Pantheist (I am) or Taoist and anything-it/ic/ian whatever. Relax. Despite all those who claim otherwise Taoism ain't what you think.
 
 

In fact some of us "philosophical Taoists" spend a lot of time laughing at the religious Taoists. The original Taoist thinkers said "things change, nothing lasts, relax and go with the flow, trust your own nature." The later religious Taoists said "yeah, we agree with every word! Now lets find a formula to live forever, try to earn eternal life and take our problems to priests and the gods!"
 
 

You can see the humor too, can't you?
 
 

The second problem is that to understand Taoism you have to start from a frame of mind that most people lost long ago. There is a show that has been around for awhile (that I don't watch, as I don't watch much TV) called "Kids say the Darndest Things." I disagree. Kids are usually the better observers, and often call it like it is. Adults are the ones that make little sense. Most adults edit themselves in not only what they say, but what they see. Kid are much more simple in their approach to life. And simple is good. More to the point, simple is natural, and nature is in charge here. As the joke goes, humanity has been hitting it pretty hard to mother nature, but always remember nature bats last.
 
 

It is no coincidence that the Taoist title "tzu" originally meant child. To the Taoist mind we do not stop at "adult" as we grow from child to adolescent to adult but rather there is a final stage. The wise child. The sage. One who has gone through life to return to the simple, accepting stage but with the knowledge life has bestowed.
 
 

Taoism is, in the end, about living in a way that simply, effortlessly, gracefully, responds to life. It is in direct contrast to the way most of us (practicing but still not perfect Taoists like me included) fight our way though life. Taoism is the path of least resistance.
 
 

One of the most used symbols of Taoism is that of water. Water is in many ways a Taoist ideal. Water behaves just as the Tao does. Water stays low (seeks the lowest level) and humble, as the Tao does. Water nurtures all life, as the Tao does, yet does not seek to control. When water comes to an obstacle it doesn't fight or worry or even think about it. It just reacts. Yet because it is patient, and always act in accordance with its own inner nature, there is nothing water can not overcome.
 
 

To paraphrase Benjamin Hoff, when a river comes to stones in its path it simply goes over, around or under, and as it does so, it sings.
 
 

This idea is even better shown by an old Taoist story about a belligerent mule:
 
 

There was, in a small chinese village, a mule tied up in a narrow alley. Each time someone would try to pass the mule, it would kick them. Soon enough a small crowd had gathered to try to find a way around the animal. All were stumped. Soon though someone ran up to the crowd. "The old master is coming! He will know what to do!" Everyone waited and watched as the old master walked around the corner, looked at the crowd and the mule in the narrow space, turned, and went down another street.
 
 

What else can I say?
 
 

I recently heard a very good summation of Taoist's belief in the Tao. I pass it along because I like to borrow things, and not return them.
 
 

While the Atheist sees that it is his job to convince the Theist of the error of his thinking, and show him that god is a product of his imagination, and the Theist likewise knows that it is his moral duty to show the Atheist the sin of not believing so that he may go to heaven, the Taoist does neither of these things. To the Taoist it does not matter whether there is a Tao or not a Tao. He is too busy being happy enjoying it to question it or argue for or against it. As the Theist and Atheist argue the Taoist sits quietly, likely in a glade or near a stream, possibly by a river side, probably with his paints or poetry and almost certainly with a drink at his side, and smiles.
 
 

In most belief systems, martial arts, social systems, etc. there is a ranking of some sort.. Generally this is used to show a persons experience and/or competance in that area.  Someone (I forget who but I promise to unpdate this if I remember.  Really!) has suggested the ranks for Taoism should be as follows:

1. The Great Know-et-all:  This is the stage when you have not yet learned enough to know you know anything.  The first stage.

2.  The Big Potato:  This is the second stage when you actually know something and begin to think you are wise.

3.  Banana Head:  The third stage comes when you realize that not only do you NOT know it all but you will NEVER know it all.

4.  Nothing Special:  The final stage comes when you have forgotten everything and can be called Nothing Special.  Some Taoist award themselves titles at this stage, like "The Big Dumb Taoist."

For the record, I myself have only recently become a "Banana Head" and am looking forward to the day I can call myself "The Stupid, Lost and Wandering Taoist."

I once had a link to a great story here, but the site keeps moving, so here it is on MY site The Way of Wu Wei