Wouldn’t it be great if we could improve our lives by using esoteric Taoist tricks? I mean, doing a special exercise that makes us super-strong, or repeating some Tao Te Ching quote that makes us extraordinarily perceptive.
Indeed, it would be great if we could achieve our goals with no effort, no investment, and no risk. It would be wonderful if Taoist philosophy could make such a dream true, but it cannot, irrespective of the narratives presented in martial arts movies.
Misconceptions are dangerous in general, but when it comes to philosophy, they can become lethal. If we believe things that are not true, we will make poor decisions, undermine our goals and bring about our own demise.
Taoism and Chi energy are no exception in this respect. The misconceptions in those areas can prove expensive in the short term, and severely harmful over time. Instead of bringing us closer to the truth, they can make us blind to facts and unable to resist manipulation.
Let me enumerate the most common misconceptions about Taoism in general and Chi energy in particular, and explain the twisted logic behind those misconceptions. In particular, I want to spell out why those ideas contradict the Tao Te Ching.
Metaphors should be placed in context
I will start with the most common fallacy about Taoism and Chi energy, namely, the tendency to exaggerate the importance of water metaphors in ancient Taoism. I am referring to people who pretend to be Taoist experts because they can recite a few stories about water and the virtue of flexibility.
In Chapter 78 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao-Tzu praises water in several respects. He talks about water’s ability to circumvent or dissolve obstacles, and its power to triumph over hardness and rigidity. In several short stories written by Chuang-Tzu, water also plays a central role.
However, the water metaphor possesses little philosophical value if we decouple it from the essential Taoist ideas. If we take Lao-Tzu’s praise for water in isolation, it does not explain the purpose of being flexible. Should we imitate water to grow more powerful?
When we look at monuments that have remained intact for centuries, such as Gothic cathedrals in France, we should ask ourselves why it’s preferable to imitate water? Why not imitate the solidity and majesty of Gothic cathedrals?
Water is soft and adaptable, but so is the wind, which also possesses the trait of invisibility. Why should we imitate water instead of imitating the wind? Why does the Tao Te Ching opt for praising water more often than it praises the wind?
Tai Chi exercises remind me more of the wind than of water or any other liquid substance. They are meant to enhance one’s balance and flexibility, so that Chi energy can flow through our body. Nonetheless, it’s fair to ask why Chi energy would relate more to water metaphors than to other Taoist metaphors.
The knowledge of water metaphors cannot be equated with the knowledge of Taoism for the same reason that the ability to heat a frozen pizza in the oven cannot be equated to cooking. It requires wider and broader knowledge to call oneself a cook or a Taoist practitioner.
Taoists are made through ideas that are grasped, internalised and put into practice day after day. It is a dangerous distortion to claim knowledge of Taoism just because one has memorised a couple of water metaphors or Tai Chi movements.
Taoist principles versus Taoist rituals
I view philosophical pretence as dangerous because it leads to bad choices. Imagine someone who has convinced himself that Taoism revolves around flexibility, and that he can regard himself as the epitome of philosophical depth because he does Tai Chi exercises three times a week.
Such a person may find it difficult to keep a straight course in any area of life. He might come and go, change jobs, careers or friends for no reason other than his belief in flexibility.
How could he possibly tell the difference between good and bad if he has reduced his moral compass to water metaphors or Tai Chi exercises? Of course, he cannot. If he continues to give exaggerated moral weight to flexibility, he will end up making dire mistakes.
In contrast, a knowledgeable Taoist views water metaphors, Chi energy, and other exercises or rituals as accessories, not as central philosophical statements.
Lao-Tzu’s principal insight is that individuals tend to do far better if they align their actions with the Tao. Water metaphors, Tai Chi exercises, and other practices are embodiments of Taoist principles, but shouldn’t be confused with the principles themselves. In fact, there are situations that call for standing our ground or moving decisively forward.
Softness and flexibility will work in our favour on many occasions, but not always. The Tao doesn’t necessarily operate according to water metaphors, Tai Chi exercises, or any other ritual.
Chi energy and Taoist harmony
The concept of Chi energy can help us find harmony, but we should not forget that harmony comes from aligning ourselves with the Tao, not from going through the motions.
The second most common misconception about Taoism and Chi energy is the idea that Taoists will always refuse to engage in debates or confrontations. Apparently, Taoists are supposed to run away at the first sign of tension and their Tai Chi routine would be ruined if they are confronted with stressful choices.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu recommended us to steer away from pointless entanglements, not to run away from problems.
Chapter 63 of the Tao Te Ching advises us to address our problems while they are still small, so that they won’t continue to grow and become unmanageable. If the problems prove hard to solve, the Tao Te Ching advises us to keep working on them until they are solved.
The same applies to Chi energy. It provides a useful concept to assess problems and look for harmonious solutions, but does not tell us to run away at the first sign of trouble. The point of Tai Chi exercises is to remain flexible and resilient, so that we can put those virtues to work for us where it counts.
It is true that Taoists will go a long way to defuse and avoid confrontation, but their prudence should not be confused with cowardice. Chapter 29 of the Tao Te Ching tells us that there is a time to rest and a time to show strength; similarly, it says that there is a time to step away and a time to face danger.
Let’s not be misled by the misconceptions about Taoism and Chi energy. Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu loved to use paradoxes and those should not be taken literally. I am afraid that, if we place things out of context, a little knowledge of Taoism could prove more risky than having no knowledge at all.
If you are interested in putting rational ideas into practice, I recommend my book “Sequentiality: The Amazing Power of Finding the Right Sequence of Steps.”