It happens often that the practitioners of certain ideologies, philosophies or doctrines will claim that theirs is superior to all others. Taoism does not claim any such thing, but there is one element that enables it to deliver excellent results. I must leave to each reader to assess how Taoism compares to other systems of ideas.
In contrast to other ideologies, philosophies or doctrines, we don’t find in Taoism any absolute commands. Neither Lao-Tzu, nor Yang-Tzu, nor Chuang-Tzu gave us specific instructions, nor did they banish people who ignored their advice.
Why? Because they regarded Taoism as contextual. Its ideas are to be interpreted and implemented according to our context in terms of personal, social, and economic circumstances. Each Taoist saying, story or ritual needs to be adapted to our context in order to deliver its benefit.
Chapter 8 of the Tao Te Ching compares Taoist practitioners with water. How can they align themselves best with the Tao? By imitating water, the Tao Te Ching explains. By being flexible in their attitudes, adaptable to the circumstances, and smooth in their social interactions.
The Tao Te Ching and harmony
Taoist philosophy helps us flow and thrive by removing the obstacles from the path. It does not favour exerting excessive pressure, nor employing violence, nor aggressing people orally even in case of conflict.
The Tao Te Ching presents the Tao as contextual in its shape and intensity. It is up to each practitioner to assess the context, identify the alternatives, and choose the most promising.
Lao-Tzu indicated in Chapter 23 of the Tao Te Ching that, if we follow the Tao, everything will be fine. I have seen various translations of this verse, some of them saying that everything will become aligned, or that every element will fit, or that we’ll be in harmony with the world.
Those wordings revolve around harmony, which is a crucial characteristic of the Tao. Chapter 23 of the Tao Te Ching tells us that the world soon recovers its harmony after a storm. The rain and wind go away, and the context changes for the better.
Compared to other ideologies, philosophies or doctrines, the Tao is non-prescriptive. It gives us clues and principles to find out the right answer, but does not tell us the answer in advance.
Lao-Tzu: adaptation to the context
Chapter 25 of the Tao Te Ching describes the Tao as natural, universal, and perennial (depending on the translation), but it is not giving us specific commandments to follow. Depending on the circumstances, we will have to make the right choices.
The words of Lao-Tzu describe the adaptation to the context as “following the Earth.” Chuang-Tzu employs similar terms in his exhortation to “accept what is given by the circumstances, and make our decisions accordingly.”
Taoism emphasises harmony and balance as a way of life. It calls for flexibility and adaptation, but only to the extent that nature dictates. On the other hand, man-made disasters should be systematically avoided. Those are not natural in the sense of the Tao Te Ching.
Lao-Tzu mentions rain, wind, storms and seasons as factors that require us to adapt. Those elements are natural and call for harmonious integration. In contrast, Chapter 46 of the Tao Te Ching mentions war as the consequence of deviating from the Tao. By war, I would understand all sorts of aggression.
The contextual nature of its principles makes Taoism unique and very difficult to compare to other ideologies, philosophies or doctrines. It also renders Taoism extremely pacifistic.
Yang-Tzu was particularly war-averse because, in his view, nothing in the world possesses as much value as human life. I can only encourage readers to study his sayings and stories. No other ancient Taoist placed so much value on the existence of the individual.
If context is so important, how can we follow the Tao when circumstances turn against us? If we face failure, setbacks, and illness, does it not mean that the universe is against us, and that we should give up all attempts to improve our situation?
No, but we should take action to regain harmony. The action may entail relocation, a change in profession, in relationships, in health habits, or in our approach to business and money. The Taoist practitioner seeks to flow like a river, not to stagnate in a quagmire.
Taoism and the error of Galileo Galiei
Let me give you an example drawn from history. In the case of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), I cannot speak of someone that was familiar with Taoism, but we assess his choices in the light of the Tao Te Ching, and see to which conclusions we come.
Galileo developed a solid career as a mathematician in Pisa, Padua and Florence, producing many inventions and designs in the two decades of his professorships. However, in 1614, his book about the solar spots was taken badly by the Church.
A criminal process ensued, in which Galileo faced threats of torture and personal ruin. Eventually, he was forced to adhere to the Church’s doctrine and accept that the Earth is the centre of the universe, and that the Sun and all planets turn around the Earth.
What would have Taoism advised in such a situation? Lao-Tzu would have probably moved abroad at the first rumours of an upcoming criminal prosecution. Galileo opted for enduring the trial, and was glad to come out physically unscathed.
If Galileo had consulted the Tao Te Ching at that point, he would have been confronted with the recommendation to flow like water.
The Taoist message was clear and loud. The Tao Te Ching cannot be misread in this case. Galileo was to leave Italy and relocate to a place where he could continue his scientific career without fearing prosecution. Amsterdam would have been an excellent choice.
Instead, Galileo opted for staying in Italy, where his friends and family resided. It proved to be the wrong choice because a second criminal prosecution followed in 1632, resulting in dire living conditions for Galileo.
The second criminal prosecution rendered the last decade of Galileo’s life miserable. I wonder how many times he lamented that he had not relocated to Amsterdam, where he would have been welcome in academic and scientific circles.
Taoism is not a theoretical philosophy, but a set of practical principles. It is up to us to interpret and adapt them to our own circumstances.
In retrospect, we can easily grasp that Galileo should have followed the Taoist advice to flow like water, but if a similar conundrum confronts us tomorrow, will we be able to keep a clear head and make the right decision?
If you want to apply effective ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “Asymmetry: The shortcut to success when success seems impossible.”