Centuries ago, even before the ancient religion of Christianity was founded, a philosophy called Taoism existed. The Tao, or translated into English: "the way", is something that all followers of Taoism strive to achieve harmony with. The Tao itself is personal and has to be experienced; it "refers to a power which envelops, surrounds, and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the universe. It embodies the harmony of

When the government is nitpicking, the people have anxiety." Another shared view between the two philosophies is self-mastery of government. Thoreau's idea of an anarchical government would only work if every person was morally devoted to both their own and the rest of civilization's beliefs in all situations. The Citizen's only obligation would be to do what is right. Thoreau argues with Confucius's idea of government, yet Lao Tse's ideas agree with Thoreau's entirely.

Transcendentalism is a western idea that was said to be created by two great philosophers: Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau-who has been called a "Western Taoist" by many. The philosophy itself is based upon individuality and self-reliance. Thoreau composed a book entitled Walden-a volume of his personal experiences during his endeavor to find his own personal truths. It includes sections on essential living which is something also included in Taoist works. Thoreau was often thought of as Emerson's muse, since both men had great minds and had similar views on life. The two often collaborated and much of Thoreau's work echoes Emerson's transcendental ideals.

"Can you be like an infant? In purifying your insight: can you un-obstruct it?" (Tse 10). The Taoist philosophy parallels with transcendentalism in the belief that a child's mind is pure. A goal of both the Taoist and transcendentalist is to become like a child -an unpolluted spring. This aspect is idolized in both philosophies; the child has not yet been affected by the imperfection of society, and to attain this mental position one must un-learn and re-learn everything that has ever been presented to him/her; to go back to being an "uncarved block" or the original mind. "Be the valley for everyone...in doing this you are always in virtue without lapse, and you return to infancy" (Tse 28).

Thoreau experienced firsthand the idea of essential living: to live minimally and still be content, and this was the main influence of his book entitled Walden. Ideas of essential living are also shown in Lao Tse's Tao Te Ching. Both books encourage readers to "Lessen selfishness and decrease desire" (Tse 19). Thoreau believed that living essentially gives the soul time to be stripped naked of all excess, and essentially to find one's own truth. "It is the way of heaven to remove where there is exc

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Approximate Word count = 1576
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)