Everyday Taoism
The Tao might sound mystical and esoteric, but actually when one understands it, it isn’t. I remember in my teens how I would take a cynical attitude towards such “alternative” ways of thinking, and would ridicule the hippies who held such views. Fortunately many unusual people came into my life, and eventually I was fortunate enough to let go of my preconceptions. Then, when I had shaken off some of my old ego, I was receptive to the new and more accurate knowledge. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
The Tao is actually already a well established part of our western style lives except we know it in other ways, not by the word Tao. The proverb which I have just referred back to – “none so blind…” describes exactly how it is that people who have ego are unable to learn – it is because they think they know it all that they choose to close their ears to new input which questions their old way of thinking. And because they are then impossible to teach they are actually making themselves much weaker people. If one thinks “I don’t know much!” then one has a small ego, and that person is receptive to new knowledge, and can therefore learn and become more powerful as a consequence. It is what Taoists call de – the power of the small.
Our English proverbs again and again refer to the Tao. Here are a few examples:
Pride comes before a fall. Again, if one has an egotistical, inflated view of oneself, the situation is certain to change. Complacency is vulnerable to attack. This also describes the cyclical nature of the Taoist symbol – the T’ai Chi. In this, the black feminine yin is perpetually chasing, and being chased by the white masculine yang. Like waves, when one part reaches its zenith it changes to its opposite; a wave is followed by a dip, a fall comes after the pride of previous excellence. Put another way what goes up must come down.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The Tao is the practice or reality. This proverb reminds us to stick with what is real, and not pursue an illusion which may or may not be better – the two in the bush.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Ditto – the reality will only occur after the eggs have all been given chance to hatch.
There’s many a slip ‘twixt cup and lip. Much the same lesson in avoiding the temptation to predict the future – all such predictions of the future can only possibly be illusions – the future is not yet a reality, and if we try to base our decisions on the illusion of the future, we are making ourselves prone to failure.
If the cap fits wear it. The Taoist principle of going with the flow. Sometimes it is easier and more likely to succeed by doing what our environment is dictating. If that’s what we seem to be, go with it. Much the same as horses for courses. Certain things have certain roles. A