Taoism and the Yin Yang Philosophy - Essay Example

? Taoism and the Yin Yang Philosophy Introduction The objective of this essay is to explain the Taoism and yin yang philosophy. Taoism refers to an ancient tradition of religious beliefs as well as philosophies that are deeply rooted in the Chinese customs and comprehensive view of the world. Through a number of martial arts, Taoist views have become popular worldwide. Yin Yang philosophy refers to the ideal state of everything represented by balance and harmony among opposites. According to Chinese Taoism philosophy, complementary principles are responsible for the rhythm of life through-out the universe. Taoism Taoism serves as both a philosophy and a religion. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Shamanism. The Tao Te Ching which is the second most translated book in history codifies Taoism. Lao Tzu the sage wrote the 81 poems in 500 BC. Taoism is centered on a number of fundamental principles. Just like any other philosophical point of view, it gives a way of perceiving and comprehending reality. The word “Tao” means the way. The meaning is inclusive of both the way in which individuals view the world surrounding them and the way they interact with life. Our path of action and way of being in the world is influenced by how we view reality. The key principle of Taoism is that all manifestation and life is part of a whole which is inseparable. It is an interrelated organic unity that originates from a mysterious, deep and basically unexplainable origin that is the Tao itself. This principle comprises of everything imaginable. A number of Western translators have likened this concept to the idea of God, absolute reality or universal mind among others (Centre of Traditional Taoist Studies, 2009). Basic principles of Taoism All aspects of existence are unified by the Tao Te Ching. It brings together both the spiritual and earthly dimensions with principles that operate at the same time in metaphysical, mental and physical realms. Classical Taoist instruction therefore included philosophy, meditation, physical exercise and religious ceremonies to strengthen how core principles exceed dimensions. There are nine key Principles of Taoism that precisely explain its cornerstone religious doctrines. The first principle is that the goal is contentment. Contentment is defined as the only measure that should be used to estimate personal success. Taoism teaches that a physical existence that is content will best make the soul ready for the time when the body will be cast off (Centre of Traditional Taoist Studies, 2009). The second principle is oneness-a holistic view. Taoism as a religious and philosophical system is built on a view of reality that is holistic. It uses principles that cut across the seen as well as unseen dimensions to unify all existence. Universal oneness is represented with white and black colors that rotate in a circle using its renowned yin-yang symbol. The third principle is the manifestation of the Tao. Since reason alone cannot be trusted, Taoism avoids conceptions that cannot be tested and affirmed by practical application. This requires a Taoist to not only rely on speculation but learn by looking at concrete demonstrations of larger universal forces. The fourth principle is that nature is unkind. Seemingly, since all effort is committed towards survival, there is little compassion in the natural world. Taoists are therefore encouraged by Lao Tzu to adopt an outlook of harsh unconcern towards everyone except a few loved ones. The fifth principle is that of society versus the individual. Taoism is mainly a philosophy for the individual. It perceives society to be inclusive of confused individuals that freely resign to alluring social patterns. The Taoist therefore distinguishes effective beliefs from ineffective ones. This is by understanding the presence of useful individual beliefs and possibly useless social values (Centre of Traditional Taoist Studies, 2009). The sixth principle is that humanity and justice are artificial values. According to Lao Tzu humanity and justice may be attractive values, but are harmful to personal contentment. He recommends versions of justice and humanity that are more romantic and personal which bring out man’s honest natural character (Wong, 2011). The seventh principle is that of non-interference. Taoists are advised to devote all their energy towards attaining individual contentment and not waste their precious time in interfering with others’ lives. This implies not concerning oneself with matters that are not of personal gain. The eighth principle is camouflage. This discerns that a person may hold beliefs that differ with members of society. Values of Taoists may appear selfish as they are characterized with natural self-interest. To avoid resentment from an individual’s surrounding community one should use a camouflage strategy to disguise such beliefs (Centre of Traditional Taoist Studies, 2009). The ninth principle is that of desires and limitations. It requires individuals to see that there are clearly defined limits in the natural world (Blofeld, 2000). It is therefore advised that individuals utilize practical checks so as to continuously check whether their desires are achievable. Philosophy of Yin-yang symbol The Taoist principle of yin-yang has for 2500 years been shown by a familiar circular symbol which is renowned worldwide. Since Taoism is built on a holistic view of reality, its yin-yang symbol is firstly a representation of universal oneness. It has black and white colors that alternate within a single circle. The symbol is half black and half white with each side being a representation of the polar opposite. This represents the balanced proportions of the universe as found in nature. Although they are opposites, yin and yang never disturb each other. Furthermore, each needs its asymmetric pair in order to exist. They are equal in importance since they are equal in magnitude. The symbol also shows a rotating pattern between these two colors. This indicates a movement or exchange which is continuous from black to white and vice versa. These natural yin-yang principle manifestations indicate how for harmony to be attained, opposites must balance. Of the healing principles in Chinese medicine, yin-yang forces are the most important (Kardash, 1998). To build one’s path through life successfully, it is crucial to understand yin-yang forces. The yin-yang symbol has a distinct contour that distinguishes the two colors. The need for clarity in all of life’s aspects is symbolized by the clarity of color. The symbol doesn’t have the color gray. Clarity calls for one to devote to do something fully and not halfway. In order to determine the suitable action it is necessary to clearly understand what is happening. When black and white mix to make an uncertain gray, it is necessary to practice caution. It is however unfortunate that when faced with new situations in life confusion is bound to arise. Just like every day transitions from twilight into night, periods of confusion should be expected. However, it is the goal of the Taoist to keep his period of confusion (twilight) as short as possible. Just like in nature, twilight doesn’t last for twenty four hours (Letourneau, 2010). Some individuals seem to embrace confusion as they chase the twilight. The strategy of Taoism however, is to not stay in the middle and gain clarity. It is important to differentiate between purity and clarity. Expectations of purity that are unrealistic should not be the basis of decisive navigation through life and a clear vision of the world. The uselessness of looking for total purity is shown by the small black dot in the white area of the symbol and vice versa. For most phenomena to work correctly, it is vital to embrace the power of opposites. A natural path does not therefore search for purity that is unrealistic but a harmony of opposites instead (Kardash, 1998). Implications of the yin-yang philosophy at a personal level The Western way of thinking has for over the past 2000 years been dominated a dualistic approach on issues. The approach can be termed as the either-or approach; something is desirable or undesirable; good or bad; someone is either a friend or an enemy. We see experiences on the basis of whether they are positive or negative and try to eliminate what we consider negative. However, from a Taoist viewpoint this is like attempting to remove the negative current from electricity since it is not ‘positive’. In order to reconcile opposites, every great mediator and negotiator surely looks beyond what is right and what is wrong. We learn how to flow with the myriad of life’s changes by being receptive and yielding. This can also be done by sustaining relationships with other people as well as ourselves. We ourselves can become ambassadors of change instead of resisting it whilst hanging on to one perception or experience as being the right one. We frequently find ourselves in opposition to others just because we see ourselves to be separate from them. This can be merely based on difference in beliefs, language or color of skin. This may lead to arguments, fights, breakdown in relationships or even killing in extreme cases. We even do the same with our individual selves whereby we do not like or even disown some parts of ourselves. We struggle to change what we do not like not trusting our inner nature to move towards a harmonious balance. As an expression of the Tao our inner selves are bound to find a way towards balance and harmony. According to Chuang Tzu, we can become true men and women of Tao by following the responsiveness and acceptance path. The true person does not attempt to help Tao along or in any way fight it. Application of the philosophy of the yin-yang symbol Given the unity of Taoism, There are various applications of the yin-yang symbol in the metaphysical, mental and physical realms. Just as the yin-yang symbol is not a square but a circle, nature doesn’t have any straight lines. Any dynamic motion is as a matter of fact more efficient when one follows a trajectory that resembles the yin-yang contour. The physical motions used in Chi Quong and Tai Chi are therefore not straight but circular. This is so as to speed up the body’s natural energies better. By utilizing optimal accelerators and anatomically correct yin-yang motions, martial artists develop increased power (Vallee, 2006). Death is a phenomenon that haunts us. It is unavoidably among the most crucial driving forces in life. The fact that its arrival is beyond our control makes it feared and leads to grieving due to the loss of loved ones. The yin-yang symbol however shows a deep philosophical viewpoint that offers comfort. The rotation of colors of the symbol symbolizes the soul’s journey and raises a question. The question is whether one shouldn’t wonder where the soul came from before entering the body if he/she fears what will happen to it after it departs the body. This implies that the soul came from somewhere at birth since it goes somewhere when death occurs. It is reassuring to realize that at the time of death, the soul goes back to its home (Wang, 2012). It therefore does have a deep implication on the purpose of life. The yin-yang symbol is a valuable tool for making difficult decisions and sorting out life's priorities in the intellectual realm. It turns out that rather than comprehend what is desired, it is easier for the mind to perceive what is not wanted. It therefore turns out that an easier path to enlightenment is often provided by investigating any phenomena’s opposite side. The more direct approach does not work quite well. This valuable technique can be utilized right away without requiring any specialized training. Just like religions have icons, companies have logos and countries have flags, symbols play a vital role. The yin/yang symbol of Taoism is striking since it represents the cornerstone principles of the faith for instant use in handling the big challenges of life. For Taoists, the yin-yang symbol is surely the philosophy’s Rosetta stone (Kardash, 1998). Conclusion It is quite clear that like with much of Chinese culture the yin-yang concept is a complex as well as mysterious philosophy. However, from the above deductions, it is clear that the connection between Taoism and yin-yang is undeniable. Tao deals with the force behind the natural order or the flow of the universe. This keeps everything in order and in balance. It is considered a source of existence and non-existence. Attainment of balance is the beauty of the approach of yin-yang philosophy in Taoism. Too much concentration on either side will result in disintegration and imbalance in nature. The key coordinating principle of Taoism is the interconnection of all life with the flow of change that is continuous. The yin-yang concept expresses this idea in quite an exquisite and unique manner. The concept gives a description of the inherent unity of life brought about by the interplay of opposites. References Blofeld, J. (2000). Taoism: the Road to Immortality. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications. Centre of Traditional Taoist Studies. (2009). Tao. Accessed on 10th March 2013 from http://www.tao.org/tao.html Kardash, T. (1998). Taoism - Ageless Wisdom for a Modern World - Part 3:  Yin-Yang - The Principle of Harmony and Change. Accessed on 10th March 2013 from http://www.jadedragon.com/archives/may98/tao.html Letourneau, M. (2010). The Yin Yang Universe (3rd Ed.). Montreal: Marc Letourneau. Vallee, L. (2006). Yin Yang: in Classical Texts. Richmond: Monkey Press. Wang, R. R. (2012). Yin Yang: the Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture (New Approaches to Asian History). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Wong, E. (2011). Taoism: an Essential Guide. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications. . Read More