Spirituality | Mental Health |Tao

Duality and Harmony

Relativity is a principle of Taoism that looks at opposites as two parts of a whole.

Taoism is a philosophy that stresses living simply and honestly while in harmony with nature. It is often called The Way.

While the west would consider good and bad to be two opposites, the Tao focuses on the idea that everything is relative to the perspective in which a thing is viewed. There are two sides to everything.

If you focus only on one side, it’s like seeing a bunch of quarters on the ground and only picking up the ones that are heads side up. Anything that is, there is an equal opposite.

Wu wei is another principle of Taoism.

It means no wasted motion.

Wu wei is letting things follow their natural course.

This applies to our daily actions in life.

• For a leader it might mean relying on delegation and trusting that the work will get done.
• For an individual it might be doing something without an ulterior motive.
• In a pandemic, it might mean doing your best to prepare, then letting go of fear. Events will unfold as they will.

Water is used to describe the way that the Tao has of succeeding in the end.

Water is yielding, and patient. It can be gentle and respectful and makes room for the rocks in the stream.

It accommodates by becoming the shape of the container it is poured into.

It seeks the lowest level, so it is humble.

But it is strong. Over time, water can carve deep valleys into mountains.

The Tao teaches that if you align your daily life to flow with the philosophy of wu wei, you receive grace and vitality in complete balance.

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