Rabbi Michael Kagan
Dept. of Philosophy
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY 13214-1399
2. The way of the universe;
3. The way one should order one's life in accord with Tao.
1. Efficient
power Philosophical Taoism: concerning the way of life in tune with
the way of the universe. This, too, functions from wu-wei, "creative quietude."
"Spontaneous action without ego involvement."
2. Augmented power: Taoist Hygiene and Yoga; discuss chi/qi and t'ai qi Quan.
mystical or Esoteric Taoism; social healers of the community through their
own mastery; yogic practices used to attain this result;
3. Vicarious Power: Religious Taoism rituals "magic"
Begin with readings from Lao Tzu:
i ineffability
ii truth not = popular acclaim to work
iii not to honor men of worth
v interpret with morality
xi on the empty
xii the five colors make men's eyes blind
xviii negative view of standards and law [ALSO XXXVIII] see also LVII--the
better known the laws and edicts the more thieves . . .
xxii bowed down then preserved
xxvii one who excels in traveling . . .relation between teacher and student
{*discuss the cat pictures*} [XLIII MORE ON NON ACTION, also xlviii when one does nothing at all there is nothing left undone] ] [xlv great perfection seems chipped]
xxxviii he who knows others is clever he who knows himself has ...
xxxvi on giving in order to take
xli the different kind of students
xlii "the violent will not come to a natural end"
xlvi when the way prevails
xlix the leader as follower and returning good for evil
L the paradox of bravery in service of fear; this is also famous source for mystical Taoism, also see LV
lxii dao as strategy ; see also lxiv
lxvii compassion and courage
lxviii on excelling as a warrior
lxix on taking arms and fighting
lxxi strategy of taking difficulty seriously, also lxiii
lxxiv to kill on behalf of the executioner
lxxvi the way of the living is yielding .. ., see also
lxxviii in the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water . .
iii on not valuing goods hard to come by [specific non-actions]
xxxvii, xlvii, xlviii on non-action
[note, according to Lau, the uncarved block is a non-vessel.]
xvii the invisible ruler
Lau Zi ["old one"] probably about 50 year solder than Confucius.
"DAO" Some useful material on the translation of this word can be found on
p. 12 ff., esp. notes**. Note that Wilhelm's translation is heavily influenced
by his New Testament Christianity which dwells deeply on the Gospel of John