I can answer in two directions, I can mention that Taoism is anti-intellectual in nature, that it has it's roots in shamanism the same as Native American beliefs or African/Caribbean religions. I can say Taoism is often interpreted as dualistic, but that true devotees argue that it is monastic, because everything is one indefinable and characterless whole called the Tao, or "way". I could say that Taoism preaches dealing with situations and opportunities in a naturalistic way and not in a structured or "thought out" manner. All of this explanation is the height of how Taoism DOESN'T WORK.
As a Taoist I would say "Look at your hand. See where it goes." Now you are a Taoist master.
One idea is that there is a 'way' or a path that one follows. This idea is more complex than it might appear because Taoism both recommends that one should follow this path, and that one is necessarily on the path.
Not a valid Internet question for a sound-bite answer. That's how we do things in America now. It all has to be an answer for the 10 second attention span person. They can stuff it in their homework essay, get credit for it, as if they thought something -- who would know? It's the world of quick answers to fill a homework assignment.
The best short book on the subject is Benjamin Hoff's "The Tao of Pooh". Hoff goes back 30 years as a Taoist scholar -- about the same as me. His insights are very deep, very pure, the real stuff. His book would take you 3 hours to read.
Also good is Alan Watts "The Watercourse Way". Watts was a Buddhist not a Taoist. But his teacher T. D. Suzuki was a Zen Buddhist, which is very very close to Taoism.
Philip Kapleau, Roshi is also a Zen Buddhist, but his writings are very close to Taoism.
The Tao that can be spoken of in an Internet post is not the true Tao. (see also the first line of the Tao Te Ching -- the Classic on the Way of Power)
Read, think, live, find it ... your Te ... your way of power
Chinese people became virtually monotheistic; they concentrated their worship on the One Truth, later known as the Spirit of Heaven, the universe ruler. And the yellow race never fully lost this early concept of Deity, although in subsequent centuries many subordinate gods and spirits insidiously crept into their religion.
The Brahman-Absolute concept of the Indian philosophers, coupled with the desire to escape all evil. Perhaps the greatest extraneous influence in the eastward spread of the Salem religion was exerted by the Indian teachers of the Vedic faith, who injected their conception of the Brahman--the Absolute--into the salvation's thought of the Salemites. Jerusalem was Salem at one time.
The Salem religions are seen to day in Judaism, Christianity. and Islam.
Taoist believe human nature is good. However, human rebel against their own natural instinct and act unnaturally (evil deeds).
Therefore, if every human return to their roots and follow their human nature ( act naturally ). There will be peace and happiness.
The following are part of Tao De Jing
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Knowing things makes you smart,
but knowing yourself makes you wise.
To rule others, you must be powerful,
but to rule yourself,
you must be strong.
If you have only what you need,
you have true wealth.
If you never give up,
you will find a way.
If you stay true to yourself,
you will never be lost.
If you stay alive your whole life,
you've really lived.
what are some major ideas of taoism?
