As statistics show, the Chinese, in comparison with the representatives of other countries, are absolutely satisfied with their sex life. It turns out that China comes out on top in terms of the quality of sex life in the world. Of course, the culture of this country has changed significantly over the past centuries, but this nevertheless does not prevent us from tracing the echoes of the past in the modern way of a progressive state. Before embarking on such an extensive topic as the Chinese Tao of Love, let's talk a little about general trends in the cultural and philosophical currents of the eastern country.
A little about culture
At the moment, China is the third largest country in the world after Canada and Russia, and the first in terms of population. Almost all residents of the country are ethnic Chinese. Taoism, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism (Mahayana) are the three religious pillars on which spiritual life in this country is based. And although these currents are different, nevertheless, they are based on some common ideological features.
China's "cosmism" encompasses all spheres of life, including family well-being, peace, government, morality in general, and science.
Cosmism is a doctrine in the center of which is the surrounding world in all its manifestations, it is aimed at the desire of all things to be in harmony. Heaven, earth, man - everything should strive for harmonious coexistence. Thus, we smoothly move on to the topic of Taoism. In the Tao of Love, sex and relationships are an integral part of human life, which must also be perfected. Actually, the very concept of "Tao" ("path") unites in itself the world order, acting, creating, living space and the course of natural things.
The doctrine of Taoism appeared in Zhou China simultaneously with Confucianism as an independent philosophical doctrine. Lao Tzu, a philosopher who is considered the founder of Taoist philosophy, is recognized by modern researchers as a legendary figure, since no reliable biographical and historical information has been found to confirm his existence. According to popular legend, in the 4th century BC, he left China and left his work called "Tao-te-ching" to the caretaker of the border outpost. This treatise includes the foundations of Taoism and the philosophy of Lao Tzu. The main emphasis in the doctrine is placed on the teaching of the great Tao, the absolute and the universal law. The "path" always and everywhere reigns and possesses boundless power. Nobody created him, because he is the creator of everything. Inaudible and invisible, inaccessible to the senses, inexhaustible and endless, formless and nameless, Tao gives rise, form and name to everything in the world. The "Way" is above everything, even the great Heaven. Happiness and the meaning of life is to merge with this universal power.
Taoism reveals to man the secrets of the universe, as well as the eternal questions of life and death. Tao teachings gave people hope for the acquisition of eternal life, more precisely, for those who were able to cognize Tao.
Such prospects attracted both the common people and the nobility. The idea so captured the minds of people that the emperors even sent expeditions in search of the elixir of immortality and generously supplied the Taoist magicians with finances.
Over time, the numerous shamans, magicians and healers who joined the idea of Taoism well adjusted the teaching to peasant superstitions and were able to gain great power.
According to Tao, the human body is a microcosm, which is an accumulation of spirits and divine forces, the interaction of the feminine and masculine principles.
Anyone who seeks to achieve immortality must create for all spirits - monads (and there are about 36 thousand) - such conditions that they do not want to leave the body.
According to the teachings of the Taoists, the restraining factor was achieved through restrictions on food and in conducting special breathing and physical exercises. In addition, a candidate for the ranks of the immortals must do at least 1200 good deeds in a row.
Sex in china
Confucius's philosophy of love says: “Love is the beginning and end of our existence. Real sages worship her power. "
For a long time in China, such concepts as marriage, love and sex were distinguished, polygamy and sexual freedom in family relations were allowed, sexual perversion was not punished, etc.
As in India, a large body of Chinese literature is devoted to descriptions of frank relationships.
Books on the Tao of Love have formulated the principles of intimate life for centuries.
Each civilization has its own structure that determines its sexual practices. For men, the Tao of love carried great attractiveness and pleasure - it was achieved due to the social humiliation of women, the judicious ingenuity of men and freedom from complexes.
If it were necessary to identify a single area of sexual diversity in China, which is not revealed to a greater extent in other cultures, then we can safely call the use of various aids and devices.
Frankly, without any hesitation, art and literature have depicted and described the technique of the Tao of love. Then, instead of a young and attractive person, they could prefer an experienced lover who knows how to enjoy frequent prolonged intercourse.
Taoist doctors considered sex to be a natural part of the relationship between spouses.
Sex in the books about the Tao of love is presented not as a simple everyday activity, but as a real pleasure that must be savored, because it brings benefits and prolongs life.
It is worth mentioning that various forms of sex were prescribed to treat common diseases not related to the reproductive system. Entire manuals on love and sex were developed: various techniques and methods of intercourse, compliments and foreplay were described.
Paintings of an erotic nature were not only instructive, but rather an aphrodisiac for both men and women.
Love Tao Ideas
Ejaculation and orgasm in Chinese eroticology are not synonymous. After ejaculation, the man's ears are buzzing, he feels tired, sleepy, his eyes stick together, his throat dries up, the limbs become stiff and lethargic.
It is known that during the ejection of semen, the stronger sex experiences a second pleasure, followed by hours of fatigue. But when a man is able to control the amount of ejaculation during intercourse, his body becomes stronger, his hearing and vision improve, and his mind is clear.
From the outside, it may seem that a man is depriving himself of an acute and pleasant sensation, but restraint only increases his attraction to his beloved woman, as if he cannot get enough of her. This is what is considered true pleasure in the Tao of Love.
The energy "jing", which is concentrated in our internal organs, is consumed by us throughout life, and therefore the body system begins to give up over time, which, no doubt, leads to illness and death.
Good deeds and proper nutrition are designed to restore a dying source of energy. The Taoists also recommend avoiding negative emotions, fear and anger, as they drain the precious source of Jing energy.
From this follows the logical conclusion of the Taoist sages: the more energy is stored, the healthier a person is.
The Tao of Love says that the sex glands contain huge deposits of high-quality energy "ching", and sexual arousal is able to increase it.
During ejaculation, men uselessly consume a large amount of vital energy. Women also lose their strength during each period, so it was considered dangerous for a woman to be not pregnant for a long time.
In the Taoist philosophy of love, there are a large number of techniques like intimate gymnastics, which allows you to constantly be in a state of erotic upsurge. This approach allows you to store, produce and pump energy into the brain, direct it to other organs to maintain vigor and youthfulness of spirit.
The primary task of a man is rare ejaculation, and for women, the Tao of Love prescribes getting rid of menstruation long before the onset of menopause, as well as joint sexual activities in a large number, variety and always with pleasure.
The moving partner gives energy to his recumbent lover, who, in turn, accumulates it, processes it and shares it with the partner. Here, everything is not as we are told: the peak of sexual pleasure falls not on discharge (ejaculation or contraction of the walls of the vagina with secretion), but on the process.
The described physiological discharge in Taoist practice is considered only an "external" orgasm, second-rate and energy-consuming.
It is considered the highest pleasure to reach the boiling point and turn off the fire of passion. Such a technique of the Tao of Love allows one to achieve not a physical, "vulgar" orgasm, but a spiritual, "summit", which cannot be compared in the "external" either in intensity or in beauty.
After such intercourse, peace and tranquility descend on the partners, which allows them to feel as if they are in the higher realms.
All ancient texts in China have emphasized that the Tao of love is the single most important factor in lengthening life. If a couple adheres to the established rules, then the man remains young and healthy for a long time, and the woman protects herself from hundreds of diseases. Until the end of their days, such lovers can enjoy love and at the same time retain vitality.
Correct intercourse technique begins with mastering correct breathing - you need to breathe deeply and for a long time so that the bodies can relax and the hearts can calm down. Before mastering the art of love, it is necessary to reach agreement in desires - this will help to avoid conflicts and dissatisfaction.
When the couple has created a fertile ground for intimacy, only then can they start intercourse according to the methods of Tao.
By the way, material and physical factors are also very important: the room should be neither hot nor cold, the stomach should be neither full nor empty.
Reviews of the Tao of Love help to reveal another important factor: the methods of intercourse should not exhaust the man, and the woman should be as relaxed as possible, since only in this way can mutual satisfaction be achieved.
Tao as a way to find harmony
The Tao teachings, created on the basis of Indian tantra, organically absorbed the most effective techniques and made them available for general use. That is why Taoism has long been the dominant religion in China.
But those who choose to follow this path must master control over their own sexual energy.
Guide for men
Men need to learn how to control ejaculation, exercise to increase potency and maintain a healthy sex life. First of all, the focus here is on erection management.
According to the teachings of Tao, every man is able to control his erection and fully satisfy his woman. In this case, neither age nor physical activity matters.
The Tao of Love for Two is the basis of eroticology in China. Even in ancient times, people knew them in the same way as now every schoolchild - the alphabet.
Impotence is a word that will not frighten Taoists. Here ejaculation and male orgasm are completely different things that any man should share, as the doctrine points out.
Control over ejaculation and the possibility of orgasm without it are the result of the Taoist practice of love.
Thanks to this approach, a man is able to make love to his wife for as long as they wish. In addition, Chinese medicine considers semen as a carrier of vitality, therefore, men are strongly advised to spend the energy "jing" as carefully as possible, but not through sexual abstinence, but using a special technique (no more than 2-3 ejaculations per 10 sexual intercourse ).
In order to delay ejaculation, special exercises can be used, including short-term squeezing of the base of the penis.
The couple will achieve harmony only through paired efforts. Improvement of both partners will allow you to reach the heights of pleasure on the matrimonial bed.
Notes for a woman
Love and sex in the life of the fair sex also play a huge role.
Tao will help to acquire real femininity, teach relaxation next to a man, naturalness, listen to your inner feelings and follow them hand in hand with your partner.
To accomplish the above, a woman needs special training aimed at managing sexual energy, as well as exercises that will increase her sexual strength.
Physical exercises for the development of internal muscles, coupled with a strong-willed attitude, will allow you to find endless strength in your intimate life.
In addition, the source of energy in this case will be the Tao of Love, which will lead those who follow it to physical health and longevity.
East is a delicate matter
According to the philosophy of Tao, a person must first of all love the entire Universe and everything that lives in it.
To achieve such a state, a person needs to lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right (this means mainly vegetarian food), not worry about trifles, get rid of bad habits and addictions, be able to enjoy both earthly and heavenly joys.
Only by observing the purity of life can one usefully apply the teachings of Tao in sexual practice.
What is the Ching Retention Method?
In addition to its rejuvenating and therapeutic effects, interrupted intercourse has several other benefits.
Previously, this method allowed the Chinese to prolong intercourse, especially when they had to distribute their efforts among several partners (in the case of polygamy). In such situations, it is vital not to exhaust yourself with constant ejaculation.
However, the technique that was used several centuries ago is still popular with Eastern lovers. The Japanese and Chinese have a reputation for skillful lovers through exquisite yet marathon-length lovemaking.
Eastern philosophy of sexuality
For a European, the approach to intimate life in China may seem very unusual. Human sexuality here is both practical, chaste and at the same time not "under seven locks." The Chinese do not have a sanctimonious denial of sexuality or, on the contrary, an all-encompassing cult of pleasure. They also do not have a fear of carnal love. In the Eastern tradition, sex is not a forbidden fruit, it is seen as an integral part of life.
Sex in China is something that, of course, should be used by a person in everyday life on an equal basis with the mind and body.
However, intimate affairs need to be treated responsibly and deliberately in order to get as much benefit and pleasure as possible as a result.
In the East, sexuality is accepted as it is: it is considered as the completeness of the human relationship to the world, the experience of the one-body being.
The Eastern idea of sexuality is not about the use of effort, but about inaction as a symbol of all activity. This includes the peace of the heart, or the so-called "endless contemplation of the soul."
Finding sexuality in China is considered an act of self-fulfillment, not violence.
Outcome
Chinese writings on the topic of eroticism and sex are striking in their non-violent and unassuming mixture, an almost inseparable unity of a pragmatic view of the most intimate and delicate moments of sexual relations. In these sources, sex is described in an enthusiastic way, which reminds us of how highly intimate intimacy is valued in the East: there sex is revered as intimate, something too serious that cannot be paraded or made public.
The unity of sanity and sensibility is in no way far-fetched and does not carry an inner falsehood.
As the quotes about love in the Tao say, the truth is that only those who are able to overcome them can live by instincts.
Only through inner relaxation can one gain self-control, no matter how absurd it may sound to many. Carnal pleasures are available only to a mature, wise soul.
It turns out that three different dimensions are organically intertwined in the sexual culture of China: morality (insists on the depth of feelings and warmth), revelation (both physical and spiritual), benefit (bodily hygiene).
For the Chinese, sexual relations were considered the most direct and pure expression of the interaction of yin and yang.
If you recall the quote from the "Book of Changes": "One is yin, the other is yang, this is what the Path (Tao) is", one can understand that in the eyes of Taoists sex is a great art that serves to release the instinct of Pure Desire hidden in the depths of - the creative impulse of life).
For the Chinese, the interaction of the sexes is not only an experience that rises to the experience of "fullness of life." Sexual life involves all human emotions in the endless expanse of Desire and thereby manifests itself in all its versatility: here is strength, and peace, and impact, and response, and fullness, and emptiness, natural and cultivated, instinct and speculation.
Such a play of opposites does not enslave a person, but liberates him at the expense of purity and childish serenity.
It is no coincidence that Taoist literature calls intercourse "fun" or "joy." The desire to overcome the sexual instinct by stretching pleasure helps to develop the most profound and direct manifestation of the play element in a person.
The play of love is the beginning of the cultivation of the spirit.
If the world of love turns into an inescapable game, then all kinds of norms and rules are cut off. Instead of the usual plots, situations and circumstances appear that are resolved by creative and sensitive vigilance of the spirit.
Peace of mind is valued in China much higher than any accomplishment. And here it does not matter what a person has achieved or achieved, if he has not developed peace in himself in the first place.
Tao of love: quotes
The only reformer and alchemist who turns everything into gold is love.
The only magic against death, aging, a boring life is love.
In our Universe, all living things are created by the harmony of yin and yang. When yang is in harmony with yin, then all its problems will be solved, and if yin is in harmony with yang, all obstacles in its path will disappear.
When a man loves without losing semen, he strengthens his body. When he loves twice without losing him, his sight and hearing will become sharper; if three times, all diseases will disappear; if 4 times - peace will be in his soul; if 5 times - his heart and blood circulation will be renewed; if 6 times, his lower back will become stronger; if 7 times - his hips and buttocks will become stronger; if 8 times - the skin becomes smooth; if 9 times - he will achieve longevity; if 10 times - it will become like immortality.
Civilization, which in many ways influenced the development of world history. Not every modern person imagines what Tao means, but there are quite a few sages who are ready to enlighten in this matter. A huge number of works have been released. Various eminent authors have repeatedly raised the topic of Tao in their works in an attempt to grasp the essence of this unique phenomenon, the teachings that came to us from Eastern countries.
What is it about?
It is customary to say that Tao is an abstract world order. The phenomenon is absolutely natural, reflecting the development of our world and everything that exists in it. Tao expresses dynamism as the most significant characteristic of space and civilization. There is no real Tao, tangible with hands, accessible to taste or hearing. This term denotes a certain idea, and many even call Tao the essence of the world.
In books about the Tao, one cannot find an accurate description of what the intended general order is, and some find justification for their actions in this ambiguity. If you want, you can call anything Tao, explain the phenomenon by this, and you will not be able to find arguments that can refute the statement. At the same time, this term cannot be used in this way, since such an application conflicts with the essence of Tao.
There is no beginning and no end
Tao is a unique order from which the interaction and opposition of black and white, male and female, Yin and Yang is born. Tao includes opposites as the main phenomenon of our world, its foundation. Taoism asserts: without oppositions, opposites, life would be impossible. White can only exist when there is black - and this is true in the opposite direction.
The uniqueness of the phenomenon of Tao is the simultaneous unification in this term of a specific order of things and our entire world as a whole. Tao cannot be divided into parts - it is an integral and indivisible reflection of the essence of the world. It simultaneously represents all the events happening around, but it is also their absence.
Taoism: a general concept
Among all the philosophical teachings developed by the Chinese sages, Taoism, the school of Tao, stood out especially. It is a philosophical movement founded by Lao Tzu as early as the 6th century before the current era. The author of the doctrine is a contemporary of Confucius, a philosopher who was somewhat older than the famous Chinese sage.
It was he who created the famous work "Tao De Dzin", in which he described the main aspects of ideology. In the future, the trend attracted the attention of prominent minds and actively developed. Significant contributions to Taoism were made by Yang Zhong, Le Zin. A couple of centuries after the first formation, the general trend was divided into two branches: one of them was inclined towards religion, and the other was dominated by philosophical ideas.
Religious Taoism (Tao school) is a direction in which attention was paid to magic and medicine. People who dedicated themselves to this specialized in alchemy and studied demons, and also considered other elements, devoting a considerable amount of time to them, creating significant works on this topic. Many of them have survived to this day. Despite the considerable cultural value of the works, it is worth recognizing that there was very little in common with classical Taoism in this movement.
How did it all start?
The work "Tao De Jing" set the classical course of Taoism. It is in it that it is indicated that this phenomenon penetrates into all areas and spheres of life, is the basis of all that exists. Tao is both reason and the proper path to follow, as well as grace and truth. It is impossible to translate and define Tao in words. Even in the primary teachings it was said: "Tao is an emptiness without limits, but filled with an innumerable amount of information and knowledge."
As follows from the "Tao De Dzin", philosophers adhering to Taoism are obliged to follow the path of Tao, and therefore, follow the natural development of events, taking into account the nature of things. It is necessary to strive to achieve a stable and harmonious existence with the cosmos, the universe. The human task is to comprehend the unity between nature and civilization.
The essence of Taoism is the pursuit of naturalness, by which it is customary to understand the accidental, uncontrolled embodiment of the true nature. The supplement of this idea is realized through “non-action”, that is, the prevention of violation of natural laws by one's activity. In Taoism, special attention is paid to a person's ability to control and regulate their mental reactions.
Theory and application in practice
Speaking of terms, it is worth remembering the sword of Tao. This name was given to a specific blade, developed in ancient times and actively used in eastern countries. Only those who comprehended the path in accordance with the classical philosophy of Taoism could master it perfectly.
In this teaching, a person masters the theory and learns to apply in practice the mechanisms of controlling his behavior. On the basis of this regulation, a combat school was created. The arts of war, including the ability to wield a special sword, were also described in books on Tao, devoted to the applied aspects of philosophy.
Traditions and teachings
Within the framework of Taoism, the followers of this teaching mastered not only the religious nuances and subtleties of the mystical spheres. Special methods of divination, scientific approaches, methods of meditation and even shamanic traditions were developed. The Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu, was a basic work on the great teaching on the Absolute and the Law.
A multi-valued phenomenon that the great Chinese philosopher tried to consider, and to this day attracts the attention of the outstanding minds of our planet. It is not easy to comprehend endless motion, as well as to understand the essence of the cosmos and the rules by which being, the universe, the world develops. Initially, it was declared: “Tao is everywhere, has no boundaries and dominates what is happening. From it comes the beginning. Tao sets the form and indicates what name should be for everything that exists and that happens. The sky, no matter how great it is, also follows the Tao ”- this is what the ancient teachings say.
The Tao Path is dedicated to merging, achieving unity and harmony. A person should strive to unite the soul with the order that rules our world. Achieving fusion is the main topic discussed in Taoism.
Historical panorama
It is worth noting that the basic work of Taoism was not born by accident. The Tao Te Jing, written by Lao Tzu, was created in an unusual atmosphere of the country's relative isolation from the outside world. Ancient China was rather isolated, until the beginning of the last century it had a minimum of close contacts with other civilizations. This explains such a distinctive system of philosophy, religion, medicine, and social structure.
The newest scientific, philosophical, educational achievements of the European powers practically did not reach here, and those that did, did not find a response in the minds of people - they were too far from the usual way of life.
Lao Tzu, who lived many centuries ago, grew up in this specific environment, and his philosophical talent was nurtured by the surrounding society. He himself believed in the development of the universe in accordance with the design, and that is what he taught others. Lao Tzu urged to seek happiness, wisdom in adapting to the order of what is happening around. He taught to recreate the path of Tao within himself without trying to change the movement of the world.
Lao Tzu's reflections on the Tao turned out to be extremely popular and in demand in society. They greatly influenced the life of the Chinese people and the development of a great civilization.
Scientists today say that without the teachings of Tao, the world would be much poorer. Lao Tzu's works became the foundation for an important philosophical movement. True, the modern study of ancient Chinese history only allows one to imagine in general terms what the author of the Tao path was. Vague information makes it possible to present him as a wise, calm person, inclined to philosophy, with a good sense of humor.
However, the image is more legendary than realistic, although many are ready to prove, citing an abundance of documents, that he really lived. Known, for example, is the story of a visit by Confucius. Philosophers have spent a lot of time talking. There are references to Lao Tzu in various works of future generations.
Movement and calmness
It is believed that Lao Tzu's teachings about the Tao were shaped by the problems that worried ordinary people at that time. The author of the first book, which gave rise to Taoism, saw around him many, many Chinese people interested in finding answers to questions that could not be resolved. This is what prompted him to write his work. Even in those days, the inhabitants of China put a lot of effort into trying to realize themselves, their personality, their nuances of life and ways to change it for the better.
Who they could be, how to become better and how to change their lives for the better, what the fruits of an attempt at change can bring - all these doubts tormented numerous contemporaries of the thinker. It is believed that society as a whole was optimistic, and the ancient Chinese looked to the future with confidence, believing in the best.
In his teaching about Tao, Lao Tzu drew attention to nature: its development is natural, not subject to momentary whims, harmonious and consistent. The inhabitants of Ancient China understood and believed: they are also part of nature, and Lao Tzu was an element of this society, having absorbed the understanding of the unity of civilization and the world around it from childhood.
At the same time, he saw how some are trying to fight, neglecting traditions, changing what is given to them, not accepting, and cannot achieve success. It was then that he encouraged people to choose other ways to achieve wisdom and satisfaction.
The methods used by many of his contemporaries made them, according to Lao Tzu, blind. The doctrine is based on his statements about the balance of simplicity and satisfaction, about the correspondence of acceptance and kindness, the analogy between faith and wisdom. He called to understand how the world works, to come to terms with it and adjust yourself to it - but not vice versa.
The path and our world
Tao was first spoken about in life much earlier than Lao Tzu was born. This term was used to designate the path of development of the universe, nature. Do not forget that civilization and each individual taken are only elements of the Universe. Human naturalness is in observance of natural laws. Man is a part of the vast world. If he does not interfere with Tao, allows everything to take its course, the world will develop according to the most positive scenario, since Tao represents perfection and harmony without the slightest flaws.
Tao in life is the source of it, as well as everything that exists. Tao can be called the cause of the appearance of everything that is, including divine beings. At the same time, Tao is not a god, but a reality. Tao preceded our universe, it was created by its forces, through it the world receives energy for existence.
Everything that happens and decays, that comes and goes, are just opposite energetic entities that are present in Tao and give rise to our world. So it was, is and will be. At the same time, Tao does not force an individual person to act in a specific way, but only sets a general direction.
Step by step
At the present time, in many respects, it is close to the classical teaching of Shou-Tao - a philosophical direction that diligently preserves the basic principles formulated by Lao Tzu and his students. They considered Tao to be a way of existence, aspired to nature as a proper order. The early followers of philosophy proposed abandoning customs, rituals, civilization, since all this represents an interference in the path of the universe.
The early followers of Taoism believed that in the past, people existed in absolute harmony, strictly following the natural order of things. They were free, their life was simple, and the benefits to which everyone aspires for civilization have been lost since the end of that period.
However, modern authors can argue with them (a good example is the book "Tao of Life" by Irina Khakamada). In ancient times, the followers of Tao believed that nature can provide answers to any life question and only in harmony with it can one find happiness. Naturalness gives inner peace, allows you to accept everything that is given from the outside. Aggression, ambition are contrary to nature, and a person begins to conflict with himself, thereby excluding the possibility of his own happiness.
Followers and opponents
Lao Tzu's ideas were impartiality, harmony, tranquility, acceptance of what was happening. Among his contemporaries, however, there were many who did not agree with this position. People tried to bring changes to society, were not happy with the existing order and loudly expressed their opinions.
By the way, Confucius, who actively carried his ideas of virtue around the country as the only possible path to prosperity, was one of these. He suggested that everyone and everyone strive to fulfill their duty, responsibilities - only in this way can you achieve happiness. It is worth noting that this Tao teaching camp also referred to the lost times of absolute happiness, but they attributed that period to people's ability to follow their duty. It was assumed that it was possible to revive a happy time if everyone was trained to interact productively with each other.
No less interesting Dao is Viet Vo. This system was completely aggressive, and over time developed into martial arts and was used to eliminate the enemy and for a quick victory. The development of philosophy took this path in Vietnam. And to this day in this country there are many adherents of the martial school, which has established itself for many centuries.
There were some conflicts
Perhaps, a lot of controversy would probably have arisen if adherents of the teachings of Lao Tzu and Confucius from previous centuries, as well as our contemporaries inspired by Irina Khakamada's book "Tao of Life", had met. Each person has his own vision, and supporters of different camps argued a lot with each other in previous centuries. The first Taoists talked about achieving virtue and fulfilling one's duty only through the natural course of things, and the pursuit of good is an erroneous direction of thought. They argued that the good will appear by itself when attempts to achieve it cease, and the search for virtue will not allow it to be obtained.
Typical reformers were disapproved of by Lao Tzu and his disciples, and they considered introducing rules to improve their lives to be the wrong approach. The reformers tried to explain to people how to become righteous, how to achieve purity. Lao Tzu drew attention to the fact that human disputes are not inherent in nature, it is always natural, and there are no arguments that can lead it astray. Earthly forces do not insist on their own, do not enter into disputes, but only work as they should.
Tao does not require strength - the power of this phenomenon is in the absence of tension and in constant action. A person who adheres to such a teaching must abandon the force that destroys goals. The one who tries to remake the world according to his vision harms himself, others, and the stubborn one who achieves selfish goals only drowns in efforts and loses the value of what he is looking for. Man destroyed the ideal with his own hands, which leads to its collapse.
Examples
In Irina Khakamada's book "Tao of Life" you can find many interesting examples, but the most expressive one to this day remains the one that Lao Tzu invented at one time. He suggested imagining a reservoir filled with dirty water. If you mix its contents, the purity will not increase, but left on its own, the pond will gradually clear. Similar processes take place in people even at the level of civilization. This example is especially important to understand and present to the ruler.
Another expressive picture, formulated by Lao Tzu, was the following: a small fish - that the people and the management of people are similar to the preparation of a dish. You need to be careful. You overcook, overcook, stir too actively - and everything will fall apart, crumble and lose its taste.
Lao Tzu also said that he who believes that he knows a lot about others can consider himself wise, but only one who knows himself can master the truth.
To speak or to be silent?
From ancient works, information about Lao Tzu's dislike for conversations has come down to our days. This was also the difference between his first and most important disciple and follower, Chuang Tzu. They argued their position by the impossibility of expressing Tao through speech.
And yet people demanded precise definitions, concepts, and terms from philosophers. Lao Tzu expressed himself as follows: “Tao - as if crossing a river in winter - cautious, indecisive, as if a person afraid of neighbors. At the same time, it is a humble guest and a soft, pliable essence, like ice ready to melt. " It is believed that this description reflects the nature of things and it is for this reason that it has value, and not at all because of the name of the author who formulated it.
The following story is known:
Zhuang Tzu was fishing, and at that moment the dignitaries of the province decided to visit him. Although he did not look up from the rod, officials began to talk to him, praising his wisdom, and also offered to take a post in management in order to gain recognition. Without looking up from fishing, the sage told the story of the sacred turtle that died three millennia ago and was preserved by the prince.
He invited the officials to choose what would bring the turtle more happiness: to be the remains to be prayed for, or to live in a pond. The officials reasonably replied that a living creature is always happier to live in its environment, to which Chuang Tzu replied: "Here I am, too." So he resigned from the government post, choosing instead the natural course of life.
What should be appreciated?
Teaching about Tao pays special attention to understanding what is really worth the effort. Tao does not require a person to sit idle all their life. The difficulties of everyday life surround people, and the philosophy of life should reflect the flow of thought. Philosophers of ancient times formulated three basic values - humility, moderation, love. Love allowed them to be brave, moderation provided security, and humility became a method of controlling those in power.
It is believed that one who has realized Tao can see it in the environment - in civilization, in the Universe, in every creature. Such a person realizes his own well-being as good for others. This also works in the opposite direction. In ancient times it was called "being in a state of love." Having comprehended the Tao, you can begin to do good for everyone and make love your payment, regardless of your attitude towards you. But a different response to hatred, even a fair one, will not bring a positive effect - evil returns evil, and the result is disappointing. Love is a state that gives courage. Having comprehended the Tao, one can trust the world without looking back and feel its trust in oneself.
By following the Tao, a person gains the ability to control, restrain thoughts and actions. Satisfaction is impossible in the presence of excess, and the next Tao cannot say in advance how and when he will act. Deciding in advance how to behave is contrary to the path of Tao. A person who adheres to it must carefully follow the simplest path. Only this allows you to be confident in the commission of the right actions.
Everything has its time and everything has its place
Neither the founder of the classical doctrine of Tao, nor his disciples and followers, sought to occupy positions in government, since this came into conflict with the very idea of Taoism. You cannot help if you direct the actions of a person. It is possible to achieve what you want faster, being in a modest place, and the superiority of one over the other is not characteristic of our world. Mutual help and naturalness are the optimal atmosphere for living in the world, and success, personal wealth are erroneous aspirations.
The earth does not change, and the sky above us is eternal. They are like that, because they do not care about momentary desires, and this allows them to be always. The wise man must deny himself. Nevertheless, he will remain in front, and there will be one who remains on the sidelines.
The main treasures of Tao teachings are available to everyone and everyone, even if there is no personal teacher, a familiar philosopher, ready to convey the essence. Tao is based on inherent characteristics of a person, although we usually do not look at them. To find the Tao in oneself, one must get rid of fears, reject the habitual, abandon the superficial. Not finding the Tao in himself, not trying to realize it, a person behaves unnaturally, does not realize and cannot achieve happiness - he is suppressed.
- another powerful direction of ancient Chinese philosophical thought.
The Taoist system is based on the concept of "Tao" ("way") - the first principle, an impersonal world law, the way of comprehending nature and its laws. Tao is nothing, the beginning and end of the world, since all material things are born out of nothingness, and then, collapsing, again go into nothingness. Hence, only Tao (non-being) is eternal, everything else is transient... Tao is the primary non-being that has no name; by calling it, we transform it into being. Taoists endowed Tao with contradictory signs, i.e. viewed as something in which opposites become identities.
It should be borne in mind that Taoism was formed to a large extent as an opposition to Confucianism. According to historical tradition, Lao Tzu, being the chief archivist at the Zhou court, met Confucius and was well acquainted with his teachings. However, over time, he became disillusioned with the Chinese statehood and went to wander. And it was precisely this disappointment that became the reason that he created the teaching, which was reflected in the book "Tao Te Ching" attributed to him ( "A book about the Path and its manifestations"), created in the 5th - 4th centuries. BC NS.
This opposition between Taoism and Confucianism is manifested in the interpretation of the concept of "Tao", which plays a leading role in both the philosophy of Confucianism and the philosophy of Taoism. Confucius viewed Tao as following the principles of morality, observing the requirement of philanthropy (ren), and improving personality through exercise in the arts: archery, playing musical instruments, calligraphy and mathematics. In other words, Tao is viewed in Confucianism as a social phenomenon. Taoism focuses mainly on the natural aspect of Tao, and this is expressed in the most important position of Taoism: "Follow the nature of all things and have nothing personal in you." Naturalness and simplicity - that is what lies at the heart of the philosophy of Taoism. Many of these ideas would later be developed by many Western philosophers.
Founder of Taoism
Its founder is considered Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu(or "Old Master / Philosopher"). The thinker Chuang Tzu, who lived in the 4th century BC, is also considered a major representative of this trend. NS.
According to legend, the secrets of this doctrine were discovered by the ancient legendary Yellow Emperor (Huang Di). In fact, the origins of Taoism go back to shamanistic beliefs and the teachings of the ancient magicians. He expounded the views of Taoism in his treatise "Tao Te Ching"(Treatise on the law of Tao and its manifestations) legendary sage Lao Tzu. Unlike the sources, they do not contain information about him either of a historical or biographical nature. The legend tells of the miraculous birth of Lao Tzu: his mother conceived him by swallowing a piece of rock crystal. At the same time, she carried it in her womb for several decades and gave birth to an old man. Hence, the dual meaning of his name becomes clear, which can be translated as "old child" and "old philosopher". Legends also tell about the departure of Lao Tzu from China to the west. Crossing the border, Lao-tzu left his work "Tao Te Ching" to the inspector of the frontier post.
Taoist ideas
The main idea of Taoism- the statement that everything obeys Tao, from Tao everything arises and everything returns to Tao. Tao is the universal Law and the Absolute. Even the great Heaven follows the Tao. To cognize Tao, follow it, merge with it - this is the meaning, purpose and happiness of life. Tao manifests through its emanation - de. If a person cognizes Tao, follows it, then he will achieve immortality. This requires:
- At first, nourishing the spirit: - this is an accumulation of numerous spirits - divine forces, to which the heavenly spirits corresponded. Heavenly spirits keep track of the good and evil deeds of a person and determine the length of his life. Thus, nourishing the spirit is doing virtuous deeds.
- Secondly, it is necessary body nutrition: adherence to the strictest diet (the ideal was the ability to feed on one's own saliva and inhale the ether of dew), physical and breathing exercises, sexual practice.
This path to immortality was long and difficult, not accessible to every person. Therefore, there is a desire to simplify it by creating a miraculous elixir of immortality. This was especially needed by the emperors and representatives of the nobility. The first emperor who wished to achieve immortality with the help of the elixir was the famous Qin Shih Huangdi, who sent expeditions to distant countries to find the components necessary for the elixir.
Within the framework of Taoism, concept of non-action- denial of purposeful activity that runs counter to the natural world order. The best sovereign is the one who does nothing for his subjects. The task of the sovereign is to harmonize relations, prevent unrest, and the subjects themselves will figure out what to do.
Forms of Taoism
There are three main forms of Taoism:
Philosophical- served the needs of the educated elite of society, who were looking for an opportunity for self-expression of thought and;
Mystical- attracted uneducated masses who went to Taoist monks for help, advice, recipe. It was in this form of Taoism that a gigantic pantheon of gods took shape: every person who performed virtuous deeds could be deified;
Proscientific - is engaged in the study of the laws of nature and their use in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, etc. It was the official science in China, but the Chinese are known as the discoverers of many technical achievements: gunpowder, glass, porcelain, compass, etc. Many of these discoveries were made by Taoist monks who tried to create an elixir of immortality and made significant scientific discoveries along the way. The Taoists created the teaching that is so popular today Feng Shui(geomancy), breathing exercises - qigong, as well as martial arts, in particular wushu.
Taoists substantiated the idea of universal equality and social justice, which determined the popularity of Taoism, especially during times of disasters and political crises. This happened at the end of the II century. AD, when, under the leadership of Taoist monks, there was a powerful popular uprising, which was called the uprising "Yellow Bandages". The leader of the rebellion was a Taoist magician Zhang Jue. He proclaimed his goal to overthrow the existing system and replace it with a kingdom. Great Equality; 184 was declared the beginning of a new 60-year cycle - the era
"Yellow Sky", which will bring people happiness and will put an end to the era of "Blue Sky", which has become a symbol of evil and injustice. As a sign of their commitment to new ideas, the rebels wore yellow headbands on their heads. The uprising was suppressed by government forces. The surviving rebels fled north, where they united with another Taoist sect to form a theocratic state of Taoist popes, which existed in China until the middle of the XX century.
During the Middle Ages, a network of Taoist monasteries was established throughout China. However, outside of their community, the Taoists had no influence. Taoism did not create a centralized organization, but a certain amorphousness allowed it to penetrate all structures of Chinese society. Taoism was gradually reformed under the influence of other religions that existed in China.
At present, Taoism is popular in the PRC, Taiwan, Xianggang and among Chinese immigrants in various countries. Taoist temples and monasteries are actively operating here, which are visited by hundreds of thousands of believers.
What is the Great Tao?
“The Great Tao has no form, no name. Needs no questions or answers. It is great that it has no boundaries, it is small that it does not contain anything. It is impossible to follow it, even if you have heard of it, you cannot achieve it even if you practice diligently. "
"Zhong-Lü zhuan-dao ji" is the teaching about Tao of the ancient master Zhongli Quan, transmitted to his disciple Lü Dongbin.
This is a medieval Chinese treatise that gives a chance to prolong the years of life and achieve immortality for a long time.
Tao is the source of all living things, and at the same time it is emptiness. It is senseless to inquire about Tao itself, to give an answer is impossible. But when the Great Simplicity of the true source is in separation - “Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three. Bottom is structure, Two is its function, and Three is transformation. Structure and form are nothing but Yin and Yang, and transformation is the result of the fusion of Yin and Yang. "
“The actions of Heaven and Earth are the Path by which the Great Tao manifests itself in the Universe. Up and down, up and down - it moves without dying away. "
The treatise was written over 1000 years ago and originated from the very depths of Chinese culture. The figurative Chinese language is so difficult to understand even for professional researchers of the language, and even the meaning of the text was specially veiled so that the most key points of the practice would not become the property of outsiders.
"Zhong-Lu zhuang-tao ji" tells about the deeds of 8 Immortal Taoists, among whom there is one woman.
"Zhong-Lu zhuan-dao ji" is still one of the most studied texts today, it is included in the compulsory curriculum of schools of modern Taoism - Quanzhen-jiao. Tianshidao and the Green City sects.
Is It Possible to Divide (for Better Understanding) the Teaching in the Treatise?
The teaching presented in the treatise can be divided into 5 sections:
- What is immortality and how to achieve it?
- The small path is the art of healing.
- The middle way is the art of longevity.
- The highest path is the achievement of immortality.
- Signs of spiritual progress and the difficulty of the path.
How Many Kinds of Immortality (according to the Teaching) Are There?
“Inner contemplation helps to focus the spirit, but“ gathering the spirit multiplies the demons, ”which is why obstacles arise. There are 9 of them, these are: the need (until immortality is achieved) for clothing and food; karmic debts; family bonds; attachment to wealth and position; life adversity; false teachers; disputes about the advantages of the path; laziness; immersion in worldly vanity.
There are 5 types of immortality:
- This is the immortality of a ghost
- Immortality of man
- Immortality of the earth
- Immortality of the spirit
- Heavenly immortality.
The small path gives immortality in the human world. His methods make it possible to heal the human body and prepare for higher spiritual practices.
The Earth and the Sky, the Sun and the Moon are eternal, because they follow the laws of Tao. And if a person does not want to taste the taste of death, then he must subordinate his body to the action of these principles - this is the main idea of the treatise.
It was always difficult to meet a real Taoist at all times - the Path imposed certain requirements on a person, and only by wise sayings or advice it was possible to understand that you are a practitioner of the Path.
Nowadays, some people claim to be true Taoists and give interviews to various magazines and newspapers. But, according to the old Masters of Feng Shui, these are ordinary people posing as true Masters of the Way.
The path changes and expands the consciousness of a person - hence the values of life also change. There is no human recognition and fuss in them. They just don't need them!
"Tao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets darkness of things"- said Lao Tzu in ancient times.
The Chinese equivalent of the expression "search for truth" is "search for the Tao." Therefore, the search for Tao is not a search for what is, it is not a search for reality, it is not a search for being. It is also a Search Method and also a Search Method. Therefore, Taoism is not a teaching only about Tao Truth or about the Tao Method. This is a two-fold teaching about the Truth-Path, the truth as the Path and the Path as the Truth.
Taoism is a highly practical and practical teaching. It is not so much the teacher's knowledge that matters as his skills. The world is dominated by changes, "the perfect man opposes them - and perishes." And Tao - the Way - is the great Regulator of changes. Changes (processes) lead to an understanding of the 5 primary elements and their interaction: mutual generation and mutual overcoming.
To put it another way, a number of correspondences are established between the primary elements and certain states of energy in various phenomena. One of these series of correspondences:
Tree = the birth of Yang - East - Spring - Green - Dragon - Humanity - Liver.
Fire = Maturity YANG - South - Summer - Red - Phoenix - Awe - Heart.
Earth = YIN-YANG Harmony - Center - Mid-Year - Yellow - Sincerity - Spleen.
Metal = Origin of YIN - West - Autumn - White - Tiger - Justice - Light.
Water = Yin Maturity - North - Winter - Black - Turtle - Wisdom - Kidneys.
What is Common Between Spring, Dragon and Liver?
The answer is simple - these 3 phenomena (in time, in the animal world and in the microcosm) embody the same state of energy, the state of generation and growth of YAN energy.
Are you interested in Feng Shui? And what about its history and development? If so, read the blog for a lot of interesting stuff. I will be glad to help you.
TAOSISM AND THE TEACHING OF CONFUCTION - TWO MAIN DIRECTIONS OF ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY
The concept of Tao and Taoism.
The concept of Tao in the history of Chinese thought is the most universal and comprehensive. Being the ideological core not only of all natural philosophy and ontology, but in many respects of sociology, ethics, medicine, astrology, this concept can rightfully be called the quintessence of the philosophy of traditional China. Tao as the original supreme universality, as the great law of nature and the root cause of all that exists as the highest absolute reality (One), from the gigantic path-stream of which the phenomenal world is born, in order to eventually go there and then reappear, but already renewed, on for millennia it was perceived in China as the general norm of being. Outside of the Tao, the Chinese, since he sometimes thought about it at all and knew at least a little about it, did not think of the principles of being in the philosophical sense of the word. It is not surprising that Tao as a fundamental category of Chinese philosophy was accepted everywhere and always by all schools and trends.
Tao cannot be defined unequivocally as any category in European philosophy. This is some of the most primary category, the Supreme Mind of divine being. The Supreme Being, having Mind and Word, Logos, God, Absolute. This category has different semantic levels: Tao-law, Tao-origin, Tao-the unified essence of everything. Tao is general, immanently inherent in all single objects and phenomena at every moment of their existence. This is how it is said about it in one of the main Taoist treatises "Tao-Te Ching": "The Great Tao spreads everywhere. It can be located both to the right and to the left. Tao is not exhausted in the huge, in the smallest it is not absent. Therefore to all the darkness of things. Vast-vast it embraces everything in itself. " "Man follows the laws of the earth. The earth follows the laws of the sky. The sky follows the laws of Tao, and Tao follows itself." According to another ancient Taoist treatise, "Chuang Tzu", "Tao unites in unity both the beam and the pillar, and the ugly and beautiful Xi Shi, and generosity and deceit, and the strange and monstrous", Tao is a universal law of the universe, having cognized Tao, we learn this pattern. "The sky cannot but be high, the earth cannot but be wide, the Sun and Moon cannot but move - they receive this from Tao." The entire order of the cosmos is generated by Tao and determined by it in all its manifestations. Departure from the natural order harms not only nature itself, but also apostates from its true essence - Tao. Human willfulness, violation of Tao leads people to death. "Whoever does not observe the Tao will die prematurely" - it is written in the "Tao-te Ching". But the necessity inherent in Tao is not rigid or uncontested. The single true necessity, symbolizing Tao, in Taoism is associated with the ultimate Beauty, Truth and Harmony, acts as an initial predestination, and Tao acts as the true meaning of life.
The second important category of the ancient Chinese is qi. Qi is a subtle energetic primary matter, a common Chinese unified universal substance, a category, the concept of which was widely developed in the early Daossian treatises. Qi - matter, air, ether, gas, spirit, life force, life energy - is not only a material substance, but also some fluids, elements of the spiritual principle. Among the early Taoists, qi appears on a cosmically universal scale, qi is directly connected with the entire universe, with Tao, with yin and yang, with heaven and earth, with the four seasons of the year, forming the basis of both physical and mental life of a person. It is impossible to name a single phenomenon considered or mentioned by the ancient Taoists, the substrate of which was something other than qi. If we conditionally single out Taoist cosmology and cosmogony, anthropology and anthropotony, ethics - all stand on the doctrine of qi. Qi is a category common to all natural philosophy in China. The concept of qi has also been transferred to Chinese medicine, where it is practically tested. According to the views of Chinese doctors, illness is a violation of the movement of qi, a violation of the state of human energy. The birth of a person is simply an accumulation of qi ether. "Ether gathers, life is formed, scatters - death is formed."
Thus, in early Taoism, "any phenomenon is included in the world unity through the immanent single essence of Tao, and is a formalized way of existence of the universal energy substance - qi." But the ancient Chinese dasas not only gave definitions to the main categories, they urged people to comprehend the beauty of Tao, the teaching of Tao: "Those who in ancient times acquired the teachings rejoiced both in trouble and in luck. Their joy did not depend on either misfortune or luck. Falling into error, abandoning Tao, not being able to see beauty and rejoicing is an untrue state. " "All those who are unable to enjoy their thoughts and desires maintain life for many years without understanding the path."
If Tao (the mother of qi, like everything else) can be understood as substantiated regularity, then the substantivized content of qi has features of regularity in Taoism. Perpetual motion in the world, as a universal law, is the manifestation and deployment of the inherent attributes of the universal substance. The transition into each other of the substantial and the regular expresses the specificity of the consistent monism of the Taoists. There is no clear line between what is substantial in space and what is regularity; for Taoists, the primordial unity of the world is more essential. Along with monism, the Taoists developed the principle of binarity. This principle is secondary, but significant for the architectonics of the world building ("there is nothing one-sided, everything has a reverse side"). Duality is expressed in global patterns (yin-yang, heaven-earth). Tao is inherent in all binars, it is their source, their immanent law and essence. Thus, the Taoists put the principle of monism above the principle of binarity. In addition to the above two categories, the Taoists define the category de - as a category related to the levels of being in the form of life. Te acts at the level of organic life as a guarantee of the unfolding of Tao into a single entity. "Tao is the master of de, life is light from de, and character is the essence of life." The highest meaning of life for Taoists is to calm and purify qi, in meditation, in comprehending Tao, the one. The ideal of the Taoists is a man-sage, returned to Tao, to nature, alienated from being to the point of forgetting himself. People who have comprehended Tao acquire long life or immortality, possess magical properties - they do not burn in fire, do not drown in water. The Taoists transfer the human-nature relationship to the society-nature binary. According to their ideals, both society and man should correspond to nature, occupy a subordinate place in relation to the cosmos, to nature. The social ideal of the Taoists is the kingdom of established te: man, having merged with nature in a state of universal unity, is the personification of the full realization of the principle of naturalness, which is a necessary condition for the deployment of te.
For Taoists, life substance, consciousness and wisdom are closely related. They are united by the installation of Taoism to begin considering all problems from the physical existence of the human body, which is explained by the main goal of the teachings of Tao: the inclusion of the physical body of a person into the natural sacred space for transferring cosmic attributes to the mortal flesh of a person: eternity and perfection, gaining longevity and immortality, turning on the body man into space and the correct position of the body in space, meditation and psychophysical training, the search for miraculous talismans and the elixir of eternal life, the "golden pill", dissolving without a trace in Tao or becoming a miracle-worker saint.