Defining The Dao (for Right-Brained People)

Defining the Dao (for Right-Brained People)

A while back I posted my attempts to explain the Dao in a manner that would be helpful for those who are more logically-inclined. I feel like the world has become more left-brained in recent years, what with the popularity of the internet and the ease of sharing information around the world and such. This isn’t a bad thing, simply an observation. But since I’m not solely left-brained (like everyone else in the world), I thought it would be good to post a follow-up for more intuitively-minded folks. This is actually much easier, since it allows me to post my thoughts in fuzzy vagaries, using the meandering analogies I’ve thought up over the years.

So what is the Dao then? In my previous post, I talked about how it’s a lot like gravity: always around us, encouraging us to take the path of least resistance down the mountain. This is a somewhat simple analogy to understand, but I feel that it implies that following the Path requires no effort, no input or agency from us in our lives. We still need to actually walk down the mountain, as opposed to simply falling over on the side of the road and laying there until the end of eternity.

It might be beneficial to think of the Dao as sort of like the rhythm of the Universe, a constant beat resonating through our lives to keep us on the same page as everything else. But it’s not like a marching band’s rhythm, where there is a single conductor and everyone is moving in lockstep with everyone in pursuit of some grander design (perhaps this would be a monotheistic interpretation of the Dao?). Rather, I think of it more like a big music jam session that we’re all apart of at the same time. There’s a single rhythm filling the room that we’re all in on, one that we’re all playing to completely by feel and improvisation. Some people are out of sorts with the group, whether because they haven’t caught the beat yet or because they don’t want to play along with everybody else. But for the people all playing together in harmony, truly wonderful and beautiful music can be made. Some folks will play louder, some softer, some will play out grand and intricate solos, and some will just be keeping a steady accompaniment.

The most important thing to remember is that it works best if we’re all playing with each other instead of against each other.

It doesn't necessarily need to be spiritual, I believe this is simply "Awakening."

As a martial artist, I agree with all of the above.

Often times you hear the cliche phrase that martial arts require mental as well as physical strength. Many martial arts practitioners like myself often forget the truth that there is to this “cliche” phrase.

“What do people even mean when they say it takes mental strength?” I...

“A “NO” uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a “YES” merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.”

Mahatma Gandhi

The Path, after all, is about truth.

Remember what I was saying about labels?

If you love the sacred and despise the ordinary, you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion. Lin Chi

Very broadly stroked, but not without merit, I suppose. To me, the biggest issue with definition for Taoism is that the joke only works if your life "sucks." This, of course, is simply a matter of perspective. In the end, if you're happy about it, it must not really suck as much as you thought.

Hinduism: your life sucks and it’s going to suck over and over again Buddhism: your life sucks, but follow this very strict path and it won’t Confucianism: your life sucks and here are some solutions to apparent problems Taoism: your life sucks, and we don’t really care as long as you’re happy about it

(I’m not disrespecting peoples beliefs. I’m just stating what I learned)