The Tao-te Ching is a poem that consists of approximately eighty-one stanzas. While many Taoists have their own personal interpretations the idea of Tao, there are five main concepts that run throughout the stanzas which all Taoists observe; the nature of the Tao, the idea of "the one," the theme of yin and yang, anti-Confucianism, and naturalism.

"Tao is the pointing finger and, at the same time, the direction," or as the beginning of the Tao Te Ching, "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao." "I do not know its name, so I call it Tao. If you insist on a description, I may call it vast, active, moving in great cycles." How then, to describe the indescribable, or to put into words that which is beyond words? The ancient sages say the Tao can only be referred to. It cannot b

More a mode of living that an actual theology, Taoism asks that each person focuses on the world around them in order to understand the inner harmonies of the universe. It is a religious system heavily focused on meditation and contemplation. The Tao surrounds everyone and one must listen to find enlightenment.

Finally, for many centuries Taoism was an informal way of life. A way followed by peasant, farmer, gentleman, philosopher and artist. It was a way of deep reflection and learning from nature, considered the highest teacher. Followers of the Way studied the stars in the heavens and the energy that lies deep within the earth. Taoism encourages working with natural forces, not against them. It teaches the path of wu-wei-the technique of mastering circumstances, not trying to control them. In yielding we can find strength and succor and in softness we can find a way to overcome even the worst tribulations. What is being spoken of is not a mushy, weak kind of softness, but a resilient, decisive softness-the springy softness of the bamboo which bends and springs back in contrast to the hard and stiff oak which is blown down in a hard wind.

In addition, Confucianism was an activist philosophy. It was concerned with the arts of the government of city-states and with social morality. It was "this-worldly," and while the activist philosophers were advocating their theories in the courts and capitals of the city-states, philosophical activities of quite a different kind were taking place in the countryside, outside of society. These were the philosophies of the Taoists.

Since the Taoists believe that the Tao is the cosmic, mysterious, and ult

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Approximate Word count = 1126
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)