Category: Taoism
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The Taoist path to happiness
It was not long ago that universal history used to be part of the curriculum in secondary schools. A solid understanding of the key historical periods, their ideas and leading figures was a precondition for graduation. Students were required to grasp the historical sequence that began with Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome,…
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The Taoist approach to happiness
Happy people do not waste their time telling the world how happy they are, and Taoists are not an exception. Neither Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu or Chuang-Tzu made any effort to gain adepts to their philosophy. They simply wrote down or dictated their insights, making them available. If you want to adopt their ideas, or some of…
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Taoist parsimony in daily life
I was naturally inclined to parsimony long before I became acquainted with Taoism. The ideas of Lao-Tzu, Chuang-Tzu, and Yang-Tzu have only given me extra arguments to stick to a simple lifestyle; they have supplied philosophical justifications for a mentality that I had already adopted. The Tao Te Ching calls for parsimony in actions, processes,…
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Taoism is not minimalism
When reading the ancient Taoist works, it is easy to conflate Lao-Tzu’s doctrines with minimalism. The same applies to the stories written by Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu. One gets a clear impression that happiness requires discarding the unnecessary, and focusing exclusively on the essentials. However, such an impression is false. Taoism does not call for renouncing…
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Taoist accuracy in daily life
Most philosophical doctrines prove unrealistic, unworkable, or irrelevant when we apply them to tangible problems. I have no use for philosophical ideals that do not help me improve my life. The proof of fire for any philosophical ideas is whether they enable us to assess situations accurately and solve problems. If those ideas fail to…
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Taoist smoothness in daily life
Smoothness is a synonym for a Taoist lifestyle. It enables us to get things done with absolute minimum effort. Similarly, the Tao Te Ching shows us how to steer away from trouble, focus on the essentials, and enjoy our days to the maximum. Lao-Tzu’s teachings are meant for people who want to lead a smooth…
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How to apply Taoism in daily life
It takes a long time to become a Taoist, but it’s also possible to draw immediate benefits from Taoism. We can benefit right away from applying its principles even if we do not understand all their ramifications. I have witnessed how some people improved their situation practically overnight by applying Lao-Tzu’s insights. I believe that…
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The cost of Taoist harmony
Peace of mind is great, but not at the expense of losing our savings, job, reputation, friends and family relationships. Can we afford to practise Lao-Tzu’s philosophy? Is it really worth it to seek balance and harmony? The images of Zen monastic poverty are not appealing to the Western mind. Asceticism may look cool in…
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Taoist harmony in the middle of chaos
I feel sympathy for people who question the practicability of Taoism nowadays. They find it difficult to believe that one can achieve harmony in the middle of chaos. I mean economic, financial, environmental, social and other types of chaos. Is it possible to apply Lao-Tzu’s ideas in those situations? Yes, it is possible, but only…
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The hidden balance in Taoism
When analysing setbacks, Westerners will immediately look for patterns to avoid in the future. If an employee suffers from excessive stress, was he leading a balanced life? If his back is hurting, is it because he had adopted an unbalanced posture? In his works “Nicomachean Ethics” and “Eudemian Ethics,” Aristotle (384-322 BC) had called for…
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Recent Posts
- The Taoist path to happiness
- The Taoist approach to happiness
- Schopenhauer: How to stop making the same mistakes twice
- Taoist parsimony in daily life
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