Cultural values are so embedded in the minds of individuals that opposing viewpoints are often viewed as unworthy, absurd, or just plain wrong. This attitude, known as ethnocentrism, can be seen within cultures as well as between cultures. It is an attitude that makes one feel superior to those who are different, and it provides such obvious answers that a person does not examine his or her own thoughts and behavior critically. Ethnocentrism and cultural distance work together to create perceived dissimilarity. Dissimilarity results in conflict, and conflict results in negative stereotypes. To view everything about an individualist culture, such as Canada, as better than that of a collectivist culture, such as China, or vice versa, or to ask questions that lead to choosing between the two will only propogate the problem further. The traditional Taoist philosophy of China which places humankind in, not apart from, nature has already contributed essential elements to the personal philosophies of some Canadians who once held strict orthodox Western views of humankind as sinners and masters of all. I will attempt to show how acceptance of Taoism, through a spiri

t of tolerant disinterest, can bridge the gap caused by ethnocentric attitudes. Further, I will show that even though the concepts of ethnocentrism, individualism, collectivism, and other terms used to distinguish dissimilarities may appear useful, they are, in fact, useless when viewed from the reality of Tao.

The Taoist uses the term wu-wei to describe the action of non-action or, more precisely, "action without effort." (Yu-lan, 375) It means both action and non-action. Initiation of action is symbolized by yang and yin, both beginnings and endings, both initiations and completions, both activity and passivity. Tao "is at once the beginning of all things and the way in which all things pursue their course." (Chan, 136) People should be themselves, "go with the flow," act according to their natures, rather than meddling in the affairs of others. Although we should accept activity and passivity, each in turn, we should not be either over-active nor under-active. Tao acts spontaneously, and willingly accepts its action as its own. It does not wish to have more will than it has nor less will than it has. "What is contrary cannot fail to be injured, what moves [when it shouldn't] cannot fail to be wrong." (Watson, 135) What is best for each person is to act naturally without deviating from what is inherent in one's nature and without causing others to stray from the ways of their own inner natures. A Taoist enjoys life because he/she accepts his/her own nature and present circumstances as good without wanting them to be different than they are. It is equally natural to work to produce food and then to enjoy eating it. Rather than preferring the means to ends or the end from the means, both ends and means are present all the time as yang (beginnings) and yin (endings). Both are in the spirit of willingness to enjoy life. What would happen if everyone followed his or her intuitive nature? The Taoist answer would be, "Seek Tao for yourself; that is all you need to do."

A spontaneous action can be defined as a movement that is caused by natural impulse; one that is not forced or compelled or planned beforehand. Sponteneity combined with tranquility or calmness is the essence of freedom for a Taoist. This type of freedom is not based on the conventional meaning usually applied to it, but a meaning of being internally liberated from conventional forces. Taoism accepts the individuality of people. Desires and satisfaction are part of the instinctive nature of human beings. Thus, the Taoist believes that concepts of human society restrict the fruitation of individual freedom. Individual freedom can only be realized in the Tao, where all things are equalized. Chuang Tzu tells the story of Chaos, who lived happily by his own nature without the need for sense organs. (Wason, 45) Two friends, with good intentions, bored holes in Chaos to provide the sense organs they thought he needed, whereby Chaos died. This illustrates the principle of freedom from restraint and gives us reason to reflect not only on the profoundness of our cultural and societal indoctrination, but on our single-minded ideas of the human world as the only reality.

I will conclude with a brief description of an attitude important to understanding foreign perspectives. Skepticism is an attitude of questioning and reflecting and of not accepting conventional norms, rules and values on blind faith. A healthy dose of skepticism also implies a healthy open-minded attitude. Open-mindedness is essential to considering that acceptance of Taoism may well show that differences are mere illusions. Accepting them in this light would prove beneficial in eliminating prejudicial attitudes and the language that goes along with those attitudes, such as "ethnocentrism," "collectivism," "individualism," and others that classify and divide the world's people. We should keep in mind one tried and tested truth: Things are never the way they seem

Some common words found in the essay are:
Harry Triandis, Chuang Tzu, Joseph Wu, Indoctrination Cultural, Seek Tao, Tao Tao, West Western, Lao Tzu, Ltd Burnaby, Tao English, human nature, ethnocentric attitudes, type education, nature human, instinctive nature, people view, own inner, acceptance taoism, means means, action non-action,
Approximate Word count = 3082
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)