Taoism Huston Smith Questions

1. I find the Lao Tzu and the Tao the most intriguing part of Taoism. Lao Tzu is known to have created this religion, but was also known to have been born a wise old man after being conceived by a shooting star and in his mother's womb for 82 years. Known as "the Old Boy", Lao Tzu, created the religion with it's bible, The Tao Te Ching. This book is focused on the means of path and the way of ultimate reality. I find this concept hard to understand as taoists believe that the Tao can be spoken, but is not the true Tao, as the idea of the ultimate reality is too much for humans to comprehend. I find this difficult because I don't get how people can practice a religion if the main idea of it is "too much" for an ordinary human being. 

2. My understanding of the Tao is that it is the bible of Taoism. It is the way of ultimate reality and it cannot be perceived as it is "too vast for human rational to fathom". The Tao is the backbone of Taoism, as it is the "ground of all that follows. The Tao is similar to God as it is supreme to all humans and spreads the ideas of this specific religion. It is different than God as it is a written or spoken text, not a supreme being. 

3. Ch'i is vital energy in the religion of Taoism and is used for the energy of life, and the idea of "energy is delight". I do not believe that there is a direct equivalent in the western culture to ch'i, although there are different things to highlight positive energy. Diet, exercise, and health practice affect our own spiritual beings by increasing our ch'i, as these specific things are good. Exercise and health practices help to calm the soul and to meditate and relax. Eating healthy does the same thing as the purpose of them all if to help the body to fully relax and block the bad internal flow. 

4. I do not believe in magic when it comes to astrology, divination, or psychic healing. I believe that the supreme leader aids in these things but that science is the main reason. Magic holds a very special and sacred spot in the religion of Taoism and is understood as a higher power in the visible world. I believe in miracles, but not in magic. 

5. My understanding of Wu Wei is inaction or "do-nothingness". Wu Wei allows one to have a vacant attitude of idleness and brings them closer to meditation and closer to themselves. The mind must be able to relax so that it can let go of negative energy and increase the person ch'i. Personally, creative quietude is nice because it allows the body to fully relax and lose all of the stress and nervousness of a situation. 

6. Yin is a passive, negative force and yang is an active, positive force. Yin is feminine and yang is masculine. I believe that it is a hindrance to talk about these symbols through femininity and masculinity as it brings in stereotypes and negative thoughts toward yin.

7. I believe that all things, good and evil, are related in some way or another. The good comes with the bad. In every situation there is good and there is bad, but sometimes you just have to look for it. I think they are very different but they are defiantly related in the fact that they usually come up at the same time. 

8. I believe that life ventures outward but then comes back to the origins, making the symbol, a circle, non accurate. Maybe a squiggly circle would be better, showing that there may be bumps in the road, but you're always moving forward. 

9. I think that most religions want you to be able to laugh and be lighthearted on different topics. Taoism is definitely the religion that highlights this concept the most, although it is important in every religion to venture out and take yourself outside the box.