Tao of Pooh, Part Deux

"This is a well known Taoist symbol. 'It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray." (from Religious Tolerance)

More on "pu"...






Taoism was never a unified tradition, but generally speaking...

"The Way" is important both in Confucianism and Taoism, but the former stresses the 'way of humanity', while the latter focuses on harmony which ensures proper conduct. (from Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions)

"The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)" (Religious Tolerance)

Hence, Tai Chi (video 1, video 2, plus "Wu Jing, Master of Tai Chi" and more info at Kung-Fu Cinema)

"Tao Te Ching" was written at a time of warring states in China, with the idea of educating rulers that creative inactivity (wu-wei) is better than frenetic activity. (I.e., "Bisy Backson")

"It advocates naturalness and spontaneity and the idea of yielding ground in order to advance. Central to it is the notion of the Tao which cannot be named but is the sources of all that is and the unchanging principle behind the universe. The secret of life is to live in accordance with the Tao which 'never acts, yet nothing is left undone." (Larousse)

"In ancient Taoist texts, wu wei is associated with water through its yielding nature. Water is soft and weak, it is noted, but it can move earth and carve stone. Taoist philosophy proposes that the universe works harmoniously according to its own ways. When someone exerts his will against the world, he disrupts that harmony. Taoism does not identify man's will as the root problem. Rather, it asserts that man must place his will in harmony with the natural universe." (from Wikipedia)

Lao Tzu (sixth century B.C.) historical or legendary? (Means "Old Philosopher" or "Old Guy")

Not "the dry-as-dust absentminded professor"! Why not? ("Spelling Tuesday")

Not cleverness or "working the problem", either... Why not?? ("Cottleston Pie"/"The Pooh Way")

Taoism Cartoons

Bonus Question: What does the Tao of Pooh have to do with the Myth of Progress??