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Lao Tzu and Taoism

Lao Tzu and Taoism. Taoist Principles. Tao (or Dao) “The Way” or “The Flow of the Universe” The natural rules that everything abides by Yin and Yang- both are inextricably linked and even each other out, harmony is achieved by both Dark and Light- like the day and the night Male and Female

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Lao Tzu and Taoism

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  1. Lao Tzu and Taoism

  2. Taoist Principles • Tao (or Dao) • “The Way” or “The Flow of the Universe” • The natural rules that everything abides by • Yin and Yang- both are inextricably linked and even each other out, harmony is achieved by both • Dark and Light- like the day and the night • Male and Female • Up and Down- like the ripple of a stone dropped in water

  3. Taoist Principles • Wei Wu Wei- action without acting • Be like water/river seemingly yielding to a boulder in its path • Do not try to assert your will upon nature • Naturalness • Value the simplicity of life • Pu- “wood uncut” or the uncarved block • The world imprints itself on us, but we should return ourselves to our natural state; this is harmony

  4. Knowing vs. Being • Taoist teaching emphasize that one cannot know the Dao without experiencing the Dao • The learned person who studies Taoism cannot know what the Dao is • Which is why it is so difficult to talk about Taoist principles • Instead, we learn about it through experience and the experience of others, i.e. through stories

  5. The Tao of Pooh • Who are the characters in Winnie the Pooh? • And what are their characteristics? • And who is the hero or protagonist of the stories?

  6. Why is Pooh Bear the hero? • Benjamin Hoff makes the case that it is because he embodies the values of Taoism • He is simple-minded without being stupid • He sees the beauty in everything (‘Celebrate Thursday!”) • He enjoys the simple pleasures of life (Honey) • He is the Pu, i.e. the uncarved block

  7. Activity • Take your can of Play-Doh • Before playing, notice that it is an “uncarved block” • Full of potential and possibility • What will you do with it? • Now play • Enjoy the simplicity of Play-Doh • Create something, smoosh it, make impressions of interesting things or patterns in the room • Now Reflect • How does Play-Doh reflect Taoist principles?

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