Basic Taoism Lesson One – What is the Tao, and What Does That Mean to Me?
The philosophy of Taoism, (pronounced Dow-ism) founded in ancient times by an elusive figure known only as Lao-Tzu (The Old Teacher), holds the key to helping us get rid of the stress in our everyday lives. Taoists throughout Asian history have made a huge impact on the countries they lived in and the lives they touched. They were and are renowned for their ability to triumph over difficult situations without buckling and for their ability to create wholesome and stress-free lifestyles for themselves. In this preliminary lesson, we’ll be looking at what the Tao of Taoism is, and how we can try to understand it. This will build the foundation of your further introduction to Taoism. The word Tao means “Way,” with a capital W. It signifies the understanding that there is a Great Way to the workings of the universe. Many people take this to mean a belief in predestination or fate, but this isn’t exactly correct. This Great Way is best imagined as a wide river flowing to the sea. Throughout
