Tao Te Ching (道德經): Tao – The Interior Life of Wisdom

By K.Wong

Tao Te Ching (道德經), also known as Lao Tze (老子), is Chinese theosophical classic which has been rendered into many English versions  by both the Western and Chinese scholars  of philosophy. It was originally composed in the classcal Chinese language by the celebrated Chinese saint known as Lao-tze. ‘Tze’ connotes ‘Teacher’. ‘Lao-tze’, means ‘ Old Teacher’. This highly celebrated Chinese Classic ‘Lao-tze’ was subsequently designated as ‘Tao Te Ching’ after it was declared as a ‘Classic or Scripture’ pertaining to the highest Truth of Ultimate Reality(究竟真理) or esoteric journey to the Origin (返本還原). The book was then divided into two portions. The first portion pertains to the ‘Tao’ which denotes ‘Path’ or ‘Principle’(道). The second portion deals with ‘Morality or Virtue ’(德). The self-realization of Tao gives rise to the manifestation of supreme virtue or morality. The entire Classic contains about 5,000 Chinese characters.

It is a guidepost or pointer which guides one to the Origin or Root of all phenomena of the multiplicity or all the creatures in the cosmos.It is actually an excellent theosophical literature as the esoteric teaching of all major esoteric religions can be discerned from the penetrative insight of ‘Tao Te Ching’. The major esoteric religions are Zoroastrianism, Vedānta, Hinduism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam or Sufism. ‘Tao Te Ching’  mirrors that Truth is one and not two. The Vedic seers and Śākyamuni Buddha. concur that Truth is one and not two (Ekaṃ saccaṃ na dutiyaṃ).

Origin or Tao

Tao is the Origin of everything. This Origin is the foundation or root of all phenomena or creations. In the Classic of ‘Tao Te Ching’, Tao is compared to the metaphor of Divine grain like a mother which reproduces the offsprings. Tao is mysterious because it can not be seen nor heard and yet it exists supramundanely. Succinctly put, it is ineffable(不可說) or can not be described linguistically. It can not be comprehended intellectually but it can be intuitively discerned or self-realized.  It is like a divine grain because it enables the consumer to grow and expand. It is like a female reproductive organ which reproduces  babies or offsprings . It is mystical because it is neither existence nor non-existence. It is the existence of non-existence (真空妙有). In this sense, Tao is synonymous with the concept of Emptiness (Śūnyatā空) expounded in the Mahāyāna tradition(大乘). Personally, as a Buddhist Theosophist, I conceive that Tao is Emptiness in terms of Dependent Co-arising (Pratītyasamutpāda緣起). From the Islamic perspective, I opine that it is synonymous with the Islamic doctrine of Tawḥīd  (Divine Unity) or al-wābidīyah (Oneness or Unity) . The Oneness or Unity of the infinite cosmos awakens us to the truth of  the universal brotherhood of humanity and all other myriad beings or things. It is the unmanifest Absolute which give rise to the manifest of the multiplicity or manifoldness of the world. The unmanifest is the Ultimate Truth (Paramārtha Satya) of Unity (Dharma Realm of Unity) from the Buddhist perspective. It is the Absolute or Truth called God in the tenets of the mono-theistic religions, such as Zoroastrianism, Vedānta, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam or Sufism. It is called Buddha in Buddhism. They are all identical in the sense that they all refer to the one and only Truth of Unity.  The manifest is the multiplicity of all phenomena or the creatures of God. All phenomena are the creation of the human original nature called Buddha-nature (壇經:自性能生萬法). Likewise, all creatures are created by God (上帝創造萬物). They are dissimilarly expressed, but they refer to the same Truth of cosmic Unity. In Buddhism, it is declared that all phenomena are illusion and unreal and only the Buddha is real. All phenomena are like the metaphor of the reflected moons in the waters. The Buddha is akin to the only real moon in the sky.  In the monotheistic religions, it is declared that all creations are unreal and only God is real. Both Buddha and God, like the real moon in the sky, refer to the ultimate Truth located at the Centre of the human Heart – the original nature of Man. In the ultimate analysis, whether it is designated as  Brahman, Kṛṣṇa, Buddha, God or Allah, it refers to the same Origin of all human species called Tao. Since Brahman, Buddha, God and Allah refer to the same effable  Truth of cosmic Unity or Holism which can be intuitively discerned from the centre of the human heart or pure human  consciousness, there is one and only Truth. This Truth is beyond all religions as it can not be expressed by any word or words. If we are compelled to designate it, it is called ‘Tao’ according Lao-tze. It is called ‘Emptiness or Buddha’ according to Mahāyāna Buddhism. It is called ‘Brahman’ in  Vedānta or Hinduism. It is called ‘Allah’ in Islam or Sufism . The variable  designations are  immaterial. Most importantly, we ought to train ourselves live in the Spirit or Wisdom of cosmic Unity- the universal brotherhood of humanity and non-humanity. This Spirit or Wisdom ensues only after  the annihilation of the illusive self or ego.

Mysterious Mother

The Origin or Tao is expounded in the chapter six of ‘Lao Tze’ or ‘Tao Te Ching’ thus:

轂神不死,
是謂玄牝.
雲牝之門,
是謂天地根.
綿綿若存,
用之不勤.

The divine grain is immortal
Said to be like the mysterious reproductive faculty
And the mysterious gate of the mother’s body
Said to be the Origin of Heaven and Earth
It is seemingly incessant 
Its utility is endless

The grain refers to Tao (designated dissimilarly as Brahman, Buddha, God or Allah). Ignorance of Tao (The Absolute Truth)  leads to the continuous creation of the multiplicity of the world or cosmos. Self-realization or intuitive discernment of Tao enables one to return to the Centre of the Heart or Tao to redeem oneself. Owing to the continuous ignorance of the worldlings, there is a continuous creation of the multiplicity of the world. The multiplicity is merely the shadow of the Tao. It is unreal and illusive and only Tao is eternal and real. The moon in the sky is real and the reflected moons in the water are unreal. The worldlings are perverse and they grasp upon the reflected moons as real without perceiving the real moon in the sky. All esoteric religions point to us the direction of the Moon in the sky. When the real Moon in the sky is perceived, all religious teachings can be abandoned  as the self-awakened mind itself is Spirit of Truth and it embodies the Scripture as a result of the annihilation of Self or Ego. Whoever has entered Tao is godly, divine or noble  in all his or her character and conduct. In Buddhism, it is said that the Buddha-nature is manifested and the Buddha-mind directs the all sense activities of the Awakened One. The Dharmabody directs all his or her activities. In Christianity, it corresponds to a saved believer who has received Jesus Christ with absolute faith and the Holy Spirit of God directs all his or her life activities. In Hinduism, the Ātman has united with the Brahman which directs all the sense activities. Whether it is Self-realization or God Realization, the compulsory requirement is that the illusive Self or Ego must be annihilated to purify the heart to gain self-redemption and salvation.

Conclusion

The birds fly in the sky. The rockets accelerate into space.  Dancers dance and singers sings. Monks, nuns  or householders cultivate, practise and realize. The livings things are born, live and pass away…… All myriad beings or things have come into being because of Tao. Tao is actually Brahman, Kṛṣṇa, Buddha, God or Allah which differs in designations or names but they all  refer to one and the only Truth of cosmic  Unity – the Origin or Root of everything. The discernment of Tao perfects human character formation. Its  practice  benefits oneself and others. A maximally perfect man in knowledge and conduct called a saint or sage emerges not to teach but to awaken others to perceive the Tao.  The Tao is the innate Buddhahood,  Godhood or Truth of  Divinity existing intrinsically in all human species. We are all potentially divine, virtuous and wise. In short, we are intrinsically or originally supreme. It is generally admitted that human body is the temple of God. In Buddhism, it is expressed that there is a Buddha-nature in every person. The goal of all esoteric religions is to redeem oneself to this Original-nature - the Centre of the Heart. Having redeemed oneself, one has entered the Tao and practise the Tao which benefits oneself and others through wisdom and love. Likewise, the saved Christian says, “I’m born of God.” Similarly, the emancipated Hindu says, ‘I’m Brahman.’ The liberated Buddhist utters, “I become the Buddha.” All these assertions connotes that the saved religious believers live in tune with the eternal Truth of Unity called Tao. Their notion of I or Mine has vanished. 

The late Sri Chinmoy,a religious instructor of some of the United Nations officials,  affirmed that all religions lead to the same Truth but perhaps by different routes. He also asserted that spirituality does not negate the outer life. I concur fully with his spiritual thought especially his Middle View that spirituality does not collide with secularity and in fact enhances it. In fact, when secularity and spirituality are separated, this becomes  the source of human chaos  and anguish ! Different esoteric religions, including theistic and non-theistic ones,  are expounded dissimilarly by their masters  to suit individual interests, abilities, temperaments and needs of the adherents. Different religions serve merely as different expedient devices or skillful means (upāyas) to teach human beings. But eventually, all religious teachings converge at the common soteriological goal located in the Centre of the human Heart or pure consciousness. When the religious saints declare that  all esoteric religions expound one and the only Truth of cosmic Unity, they do not utter their declaration by mere dogmatic or emotional speculations. They are the direct seers of the Truth of Unity  ! No one, who speaks falsely,  can become a saint! When the saints are questioned or challenged, it is tantamount to questioning or challenging one’s own Lord – the religious Master or Messenger ! Every genuine saint or sage carries the Dharmabody of the Buddha or the Holy Spirit of God.  This Dharmabody or Holy Spirit is generally called the Tao. The Tao is characterized by wisdom and love. It is the Spirit of Truth of Unity. Worldlings perceive multiplicity and the saints perceive Unity. The distinction sets them apart.