Daoism

Bend and you straighten, Empty and you fill, Decay and you renew…

Daodejing Chapter 22
Great minds reputedly influenced by the Daodejing:
Confucius Samuel
Johnson
Frederick Nietzsche Karl Jung
Eugene O'Neil Leo
Tolstoy

Yin Yang - This popular Daoist symbol represents the balance of

opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is
calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion
and disarray.

The 'yin' represents the feminine: being soft, cool, calm, introspective,
healing and night... and "yang" the masculine: being hard, hot,
energetic, moving, sometimes aggressive, and day.

Since nothing in nature is absolute, the symbol includes a small black spot in the
white, and a corresponding white spot in the black.
The sun is constant. In a world of change, the moon holds all the secrets. Thus the
curved line in the Yin Yang symbolizes a constant waxing and waning of life.

The five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five elements are
show below. (Couldn’t find which orifice fits with which element… which do you
think?)

Direction/Force Element Color Symbol Season

East/yang Wood Green Blue dragon Spring
South/yang Fire Red Red bird Summer
West /yin Metal White White tiger Autumn
North/yin Water Black Dark warrior Winter
Center Earth Yellow

Daoists believe that man is a microcosm of the universe; by understanding himself,

man may gain knowledge of the universe. Each person must nurture their Ch'i
(intrinsic energy). Tai Chi is believed to balance energy flow. Alchemy, astrology,
martial arts, and qigong breath training has been intertwined with Daoism
throughout history.
The Three Jewels
love
moderation
humility
also translated as compassion, simplicity, and modesty

Wu wei = without action or "effortless doing"; is associated with water which is soft and weak, but it can carve
stone. Daoist philosophy proposes that the universe works harmoniously according to its own ways. When someone
exerts his will against the world, he disrupts that harmony.
Pu = literally “uncarved block” is a metaphor for receptiveness; there is no right or wrong, beautiful or
ugly - only pure awareness, free from learned labels.
 The Tao of Pooh
Benjamin Hoff

The essence of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity
contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when
that simplicity is changed. This principle applies not only to things, but to
people as well. As Piglet put it, "Pooh hasn't much Brain, but he never
comes to any harm. He does silly things and they turn out right."

Owl is Knowledge for the Sake of Appearing Wise and who keeps what he
learns to himself, rather than working for the enlightenment of others.
Eeyore's is Knowledge for the Sake of Complaining about Something and
Rabbit's is Knowledge of Being Clever.

The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not. To demonstrate what we
mean, we can think of no one better than Tigger, who doesn't know his
limitations (“Tiggers can do everything”), which brings him into lots of
trouble. Piglet instead knows his limitations and that's what makes him
sometimes braver than one would expect from such a small animal. So, the
first thing we need to do is to recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and
not lose sight of it.

Sources:
www.symynet.com/tao_te_ching/chinese_symbols_meanings.htm
http://www.daoism.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism
Porter, Bill, Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits, 1993, Mercury House, San Francisco
http://www.daoistcenter.org/Daoism.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm
http://rainbowuniverse.org/poohfun/id216.htm