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Foreword:
Introduction:
The Text:
The History: Once upon a time, in The Middle Kingdom (AKA: China), there was
a man known as Lao Tsu (which is
the old pinyin, i.e., Romanized Chinese), {in new pinyin, He
would be known as Lao Zi, He is credited as being the father of Taoism. He wrote a text entitled: "Tao Te Ching" (Way, Virtue Text) or (Book about the Way of Virtue). Some of his teachings are: 1. All straining, all striving are not only vain but counterproductive. One should endeavor to do nothing. Meaning: Do not kick against the pricks. Do not go against the natural order of things. To do so will only lead to disappointment, sorrow, pain and suffering. 2. The Tao abides in non-action, Yet nothing is left undone. If kings and lords observed this, The ten thousand things would develop naturally. If they still desired to act, They would return to the simplicity of formless substance. Without form there is no desire. Without desire there is tranquility. In this way all things would be at peace. Meaning: a laissez faire* attitude toward things is best. * 1 : a doctrine opposing governmental interference in economic affairs beyond the minimum necessary for the maintenance of peace and property rights (from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary)
3. The Taoist sage has no ambitions, therefore he can never fail. He who never fails always succeeds. And he who always succeeds is all- powerful. Source: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Philosophy/Taichi/lao.html
See My Essay on "The Road to Happiness" and/or my HAPPINESS page
which one is correct? I'm asking 'cause I don't know.
Comparison Between Taoist Wisdom
I found this information on a website about ancient wisdom of various ancient religions... "Taoists purposely say things that are paradoxical and downright confusing, but it only seems that way when you're analyzing the words with logic. If you understand the words at a deeper level, that of your intuition, or whatever else you might want to call it, it can be very profound. Entire philosophies of life can be derived from just a few single words. But insist on analyzing, and it will seem like nonsense. "When a superior man hears of the Tao, he immediately begins to embody it. When an average man hears of the Tao, he half believes it, half doubts it. When a foolish man hears of the Tao, he laughs out loud. If he didn't laugh, it wouldn't be the Tao. Thus it is said:
1. The path into the light seems dark. "...and when I waited for light, there came darkness." (Job 30:26) "Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness." (Isaiah 59:9) 2. The path forward seems to go back. "No man knoweth her [her = wisdom] way, nor thinketh of her path." (Apocrypha) "Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them." (Proverbs 5:6) 3. The direct path seems long. "If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?" (4Ezra 6:59) "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (Jas. 5:11) 4. True power seems weak. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Matt. 5:5) 5. True purity seems tarnished. "Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you [Pharisees]." (Matt. 21:31) 6. True steadfastness seems changeable. "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding." (Isaiah 40:28) [Note: God is everlasting and unchangeable forever, but seems to change over time]. 7. True clarity seems obscure. "And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday." (Isaiah 58:10) "For at the first she [personification of wisdom] will walk with him [wisdom-seeker] by crooked ways, and bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her laws. Then will she return the straight way unto him, and comfort him, and shew him her secrets." (Apocrypha). 8. The greatest person seems unsophisticated. "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18:4) 9. The greatest love seems indifferent. The parable of the two sons. (Matt. 21: 28-31) 10. The greatest wisdom seems childish. "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." (Matt. 11:25) 11. The Tao is nowhere to be found. Yet it nourishes and completes all things. "Canst thou by searching find out God?" [rhetorical question]. (Job 11:7)
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways
past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?" (Romans 11:33-34)
Leon.
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, (which means "elder")}.
That was not his real name, it was a title. His real name was Dan1
(say: /dahn/).
or 
