Quotes as deep as the sky from Lao Tzu. Taoist wisdom in the sayings of Lao Tzu Laws of Lao Tzu

: Lǎo Zǐ, VI century BC BC), ancient Chinese philosopher of the 6th-5th centuries BC. e., who is credited with the authorship of the classic Taoist philosophical treatise “Tao Te Ching”. Modern science questions the historicity of Laozi, however, in scientific literature he is often identified as the founder of Taoism.

Lao Tzu leaves China riding a buffalo

Already in early Taoism, Lao Tzu became a legendary figure and the process of his deification began. Legends tell of his miraculous birth (his mother carried him for several decades and gave birth to him as an old man - hence his name, “Old Child,” although the hieroglyph “zi” also meant the concept of “sage,” so his name can be translated as “Old Sage” ") and about his departure from China.

Many modern researchers question the very existence of Lao Tzu. Some suggest that he could be an older contemporary of Confucius, about whom - unlike Confucius - there is no reliable information of either a historical or biographical nature in the sources. There is even a version that Lao Tzu and Confucius are one person. There are suggestions that Lao Tzu could be the author of the Tao Te Jing if he lived in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e.

The following version of the biography is also considered: Lao Tzu is a semi-legendary Chinese thinker, founder of the philosophy of Taoism. According to legend, he was born in 604 BC, but the historicity of his personality is in doubt. His short biography says that he was a historiographer-archivist at the imperial court and lived for 160 or even 200 years.

The most famous version of Laozi's biography is reported by Sima Qian: Laozi was born in the kingdom of Chu in southern China. For most of his life, he served as custodian of the imperial archives and library of the State of Zhou. In 517 the famous meeting with Confucius took place. In old age he left the country for the west. When he reached the border outpost, its chief Yin Xi asked Lao Tzu to tell him about his teachings. Lao Tzu fulfilled his request by writing the text Tao Te Ching (Canon of the Way and its Good Power). After which he left, and it is unknown how and where he died.

According to another legend, Master Lao Tzu came to China from India, discarding his history, he appeared before the Chinese completely pure, without his past, as if born again.

Journey to the West

According to the same novel, after Sun Wukong's imprisonment under the mountain, Lao Tzu's buffalo escaped from his master back to earth, having previously stolen his diamond bracelet, as a result of which he acquired supernatural abilities and turned into a one-horned demon. After that, he gathered a gang of werewolves and demons and over the next 7 years terrorized the local lands, kidnapping travelers and eating them, until Xuanzang and his companions came to his domain. The one-horned demon, taking advantage of the absence of Sun Wukong, who went for alms, tricked him into a trap and kidnapped Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha-sen and the horse. Meanwhile, the returning Sun Wukong discovered the disappearance of his mentor and companions, and went to their rescue in the cave where the one-horned demon was holding them captive. Encountering the demon, Sun Wukong fought him, but the one-horned demon defeated him with his bracelet, which he used as a suction device, and took away his staff, forcing Wukong to flee. Sun Wukong turned to Yu-di for help and he sent troops of celestials to help Sun Wukong, but even they could not defeat him - because of the magic bracelet with which the demon took away their weapons. Then, on the advice of Buddha, Sun Wukong went for help to Lao Tzu, who, having discovered the loss of his buffalo and bracelet, hurried with him to the ground, where he again turned the demon into a buffalo, drove him into a stall, took the bracelet from him and freed him. Xuanzang and his companions, after which they continued their journey to India.

Lao Tzu on Truth

• “A truth spoken out loud ceases to be such, because it has already lost its primary connection with the moment of truth.”
• “He who knows does not speak, he who speaks does not know.”

It is clear from the available written sources that Lao Tzu was a mystic and quietist who taught a completely unofficial doctrine that relied solely on inner contemplation. A person finds truth by liberating himself from everything false in himself. The mystical experience ends the search for reality. Lao Tzu wrote: “There is an Infinite Being who was before Heaven and Earth. How calm it is, how calm! It lives alone and does not change. It moves everything, but does not worry. We can consider him the universal Mother. I don't know his name. I call it Tao."

Dialectics

Lao Tzu’s philosophy is also permeated with a peculiar dialectic:

• “From being and non-being everything came into being; from the impossible and the possible - execution; from long and short - form. The high subjugates the low; The higher voices together with the lower ones produce harmony, the previous subjugates the subsequent.”

However, Lao Tzu understood it not as a struggle of opposites, but as their reconciliation. And from here practical conclusions were drawn:

• “When a person reaches the point of not doing, then there is nothing that has not been done.”
• “He who loves the people and governs them must be inactive.”

From these thoughts one can see the main idea of ​​Lao Tzu's philosophy, or ethics: this is the principle of non-doing, inaction. All sorts of things violent the desire to do something, to change anything in nature or in people’s lives is condemned.

• “Many mountain rivers flow into the deep sea. The reason is that the seas are located below the mountains. Therefore, they are able to dominate all streams. So the sage, wanting to be above people, he becomes lower than them, wanting to be in front, he stands behind them. Therefore, although his place is above people, they do not feel his burden, although his place is in front of them, they do not consider it unfair.”
• “The “holy man” who rules the country tries to prevent the wise from daring to do anything. When everyone becomes inactive, then (on earth) there will be complete peace.”
• “He who is free from all kinds of knowledge will never get sick.”
• “There is no knowledge; that's why I don't know anything."

Lao Tzu placed the power of the king among the people very highly, but understood it as a purely patriarchal power. In Lao Tzu's understanding, a king is a sacred and inactive leader. Lao Tzu had a negative attitude towards the state power of his day.

• “The people are starving because state taxes are too high and heavy. This is precisely the cause of the people’s misfortunes.”

• Sima Qian brings together biographies of Laozi and Han Fei 韩非, a legalist philosopher of the late Warring States era who opposed Confucianism. The treatise "Han Fei Tzu", containing the latter's teachings, devotes two chapters to interpretations of Lao Tzu (《解老》, 《喻老》).

List of works

• Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching: A paragon ebook, LAO ZI most-comprehensive ebook for FREE in PDF & HTM format, contains 50 translations in 6 different layouts, by Sanmayce.
• Tao Te Ching. (“Canon of Path and Virtue”) Translation by A. Kuvshinov. - St. Petersburg, 1991.

Lao Tzu (Old Child, Wise Old Man; Chinese translation: 老子, pinyin: Lǎo Zǐ, 6th century BC). Ancient Chinese philosopher of the 6th–5th centuries BC. e., who is credited with the authorship of the classic Taoist philosophical treatise “Tao Te Ching”. Within the framework of modern historical science, the historicity of Lao Tzu is questioned, however, in scientific literature he is often still identified as the founder of Taoism. In the religious and philosophical teachings of most Taoist schools, Lao Tzu is traditionally revered as a deity - one of the Three Pure Ones.

Already in early Taoism, Lao Tzu became a legendary figure and the process of his deification began. Legends tell of his miraculous birth. His first name was Li Er. The words “Lao Tzu,” meaning “old philosopher” or “old child,” were first spoken by his mother when she gave birth to her son under a plum tree. His mother carried him in the womb for several decades (according to legend, 81 years), and he was born from her thigh. The newborn had gray hair, which made him look like an old man. Seeing such a miracle, the mother was very surprised.

Many modern researchers question the very existence of Lao Tzu. Some suggest that he could be an older contemporary, about whom - unlike Confucius - there is no reliable information of either a historical or biographical nature in the sources. There is even a version that Lao Tzu and Confucius are one person. There are suggestions that Lao Tzu could be the author of the Tao Te Jing if he lived in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e.

The following version of the biography is also considered: Lao Tzu is a semi-legendary Chinese thinker, founder of the philosophy of Taoism. According to legend, he was born in 604 BC, this date is accepted in the chronology of world history adopted in modern Japan. The same year is indicated by the famous modern sinologist Francois Julien. However, the historicity of his personality is not confirmed in other sources and therefore raises doubts. His short biography says that he was a historiographer-archivist at the imperial court and lived for 160 or even 200 years.

The most famous biography of Lao Tzu is described by the Chinese historian Sima Qian in his work Historical Narratives. According to him, Lao Tzu was born in the village of Quren, Li volost, Hu county, in the kingdom of Chu in southern China. For most of his life, he served as custodian of the imperial archives and librarian at the state library during the Zhou dynasty. A fact that speaks of his high education. In 517, the famous meeting with Confucius took place. Lao Tzu then said to him: “Leave, O friend, your arrogance, various aspirations and mythical plans: all this has no value for your own self. I have nothing more to tell you!” Confucius walked away and said to his disciples: “I know how birds can fly, fish can swim, game can run... But how a dragon rushes through the wind and clouds and rises into the heavens, I do not comprehend. Now I have seen Lao Tzu and I think that he is like a dragon.” In old age he left the country for the west. When he reached the border outpost, its chief Yin Xi asked Lao Tzu to tell him about his teachings. Lao Tzu fulfilled his request by writing the text Tao Te Ching (Canon of the Way and its Good Power). After which he left, and it is unknown how and where he died.

According to another legend, Master Lao Tzu came to China from India, discarding his history, he appeared before the Chinese completely pure, without his past, as if born again.

Lao Tzu's journey to the West was a concept developed in the Hua Hujing treatise for purposes of anti-Buddhist polemics.

The central idea of ​​Lao Tzu's philosophy was the idea of ​​two principles - Tao and Te.

Word "Tao" literally means "path" in Chinese; one of the most important categories of Chinese philosophy. However, in the Taoist philosophical system it received a much broader metaphysical content. Lao Tzu uses the word "Tao" with special caution, for "Tao" is wordless, nameless, formless and motionless. No one, not even Lao Tzu, can define “Tao.” He cannot define “Tao,” because to know that you do not know (everything) is greatness. Not knowing that you don’t know (everything) is a disease. The word "Tao" is just a sound that came out of Lao Tzu's lips. He didn't make it up - he just said it at random. But when understanding appears, words will disappear - they will no longer be necessary. “Tao” means not only the path, but also the essence of things and the total existence of the universe. “Tao” is the universal Law and the Absolute. The very concept of “Tao” can also be interpreted materialistically: “Tao” is nature, the objective world.

One of the most complex concepts in the Chinese tradition is the concept "De". On the one hand, “Te” is what feeds “Tao”, makes it possible (a variant of the opposite: “Tao” feeds “Te”, “Tao” is limitless, “Te” is defined). This is a kind of universal force, a principle with the help of which “Tao” - as the way of things - can take place. It is also a method by which one can practice and conform to the “Tao.” “De” is a principle, a way of being. This is also the possibility of proper accumulation of “vital energy” - Qi. “De” is the art of correctly using “vital energy”, correct behavior. But “De” is not morality in the narrow sense. “De” goes beyond common sense, encouraging a person to release life force from the shackles of everyday life. Close to the concept of “De” is the Taoist teaching about Wu-wei, non-action.

The process of deification of Lao Tzu begins to take shape in Taoism, apparently as early as the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 2nd century BC. e., but it took full shape only during the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century AD. e. In 165, Emperor Huan Di ordered a sacrifice to be made to him in Lao Tzu’s homeland in Ku County, and a year later he ordered it to be performed in his palace. The creator of the leading Taoist school of heavenly mentors, Zhang Daoling, reported the appearance into the world in 142 of the divine Lao Tzu, who transferred his miraculous powers to him. The leaders of this school compiled their own commentary on the treatise “Tao Te Ching”, called “Xiang Er Zhu”, and established the worship of Lao Tzu in what they created at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 3rd century. theocratic state in Sichuan province. During the era of the Six Dynasties (220-589), Lao Tzu began to be revered as one of the Three Pure Ones - the highest deities of the Taoist pantheon. The worship of Lao Tzu acquired particular scope during the Tang dynasty (618-907); the emperors of this dynasty revered him as their ancestor, erected shrines to him and endowed him with high ranks and titles.

LAO TZU

Biography of Lao Tzu (Li Er), who lived at the end of the 7th century. BC e., is shrouded in the mystery of past centuries. Only legends have survived about his life.

Already in the 2nd century. n. e. Lao Tzu was deified and turned into one of the three main deities of the Taoist pantheon, where he began to be called “Lao-jun” - “Mr. Lao”. It is believed that he sits on the highest heavenly “floor” - in the halls of “Great Purity”. It is about this mythological Lao Tzu that there are the greatest number of stories and legends. According to one version, Lao Tzu’s mother, whose surname was Li (this is the clan name of the future sage), once looked at the sky. Let us present what follows in the language of an ancient treatise: “His mother (Lao Tzu) saw the sun's seed rush down like a meteor and fly straight into her mouth, and after that she carried the child, who was born at the age of 72, under a plum tree that grew in the region of Chan, and was born from the left side of his mother. Pointing to a plum tree, he said: “This will be my surname” (in Chinese “li” means “plum”; the same hieroglyph actually denoted Lao Tzu’s family name.). He was born with a gray head, and therefore they gave him the name Lao Tzu (Old Child).”

The name Lao Tzu perfectly conveys the very essence of the sage's teachings. It can be translated both as “old sage” and “old child”, because the hieroglyph “zi” has such polar meanings. This play on words is easily explained from the basic concepts of the Daode Jing itself, where a true sage is described as having become like a baby and, thus, having completed the process of “reverse development” and “self-concealment.” He combines the wisdom of an old man and the fresh clarity of the feelings of a small child. He perceives the world outside of any cultural attitudes, in its pristine, unadorned form. Its “reverse development” has been brought to the extreme stage, and the border of any limit is emptiness. That is why wild animals do not attack such a sage, and the fierce warrior has nowhere to thrust his weapon.

The main work of Lao Tzu is traditionally considered to be “The Book of Tao and Te” (“Daode Ching”). Legends say that Lao Tzu served for some time as the keeper of the archives in the kingdom of Lu, and then decided to go “to the West.” Therefore, already at the beginning of the new era, at the time of the penetration of Buddhism into China, Lao Tzu is depicted riding a black buffalo, setting off towards India, the birthplace of Buddhism, to become the father of Buddha. As if the head of the city outpost, seeing him off, asked him to leave the essay as a souvenir. Later rumors made Guan Yinzi, a Taoist scientist, who discussed his teachings with Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu left a book that talked about Tao (literally means “Way”, “method”) and Te (“grace”, “good power”). This was the famous “Book of Tao and Te.” Written on bamboo slats, it filled three carts and contained five thousand characters. The “Book of Tao and Te” briefly outlines in a mysterious aphoristic form the foundations of the teaching that later became known as “Taoism.” It proposes a model of the world where all the gods, including the supreme deity - the Heavenly Lord, are dominated by a mysterious and powerful force that controls the universe, whose name is Tao. Lao Tzu says this about him:

Here is a thing that arises in Chaos, Born before Heaven and Earth! O silent one! O formless one! Stands alone and does not change! It acts everywhere and has no barriers!.. Giving it a name, I will call it Great.

Tao is the origin of “all things,” including heaven and earth, the “womb,” the source from which the universe and everything that composes it comes. “There is a being that exists earlier than heaven and earth. It is motionless, incorporeal, original and knows no revolution. It goes on in an endless circle and knows no limit. She alone can be the mother of heaven and earth. I don’t know his name, but people call him Tao.” It is one, that is, it has no opposites, and, unlike all things, it is constant, eternal and unchanging. “I don’t know whose son it is, but it predates the Heavenly Sovereign.”, says the Book of Tao and Te.

Moreover, Tao is the universal ruler. It not only gives birth, but also brings everything into proper agreement and harmony. This harmonious order also includes the Celestial Empire - this is how the Chinese have long called the land of people. Tao balances everything and assigns its place to everyone. Tao observes the law of the movement of life in an invisible and intangible way, and everything happens as if by itself, naturally directed by its Good power (De) and for the Good of the whole. Tao is a path, method, pattern, teaching, truth...

De operates on both the cosmic and natural levels, promoting the growth and maturation of all “things” - from small to great. Among men it operates through the medium of a select few who have “wisdom.”

The “Book of Tao and Te” also formulates ethical standards, rules of conduct for everyone necessary for the implementation of the Good. Here they are:

“don’t be proud of your merits, don’t humiliate the weak, live in peace and harmony with others, don’t desire wealth and luxury, be content with little, don’t steal” etc.

The universal law of Tao also contains other practical instructions: live without opposing the Tao, do not break the order given from above, honor it, reverently follow it, and everything will straighten out by itself.

Thus, Taoism offers a morality that can be defined as natural-cosmic. This is the very essence of Taoism: follow the natural nature - and you will be happy and healthy both physically and spiritually.

Lao Tzu addresses his appeal not only to people in general, but also to those who rule them on earth - to sovereigns, for now people live not in a community, but in a state, and the sovereign must first of all have “wisdom”.

So, Tao is the universal principle, law and rule, which embrace the universe, nature and human society.

However, it is already obvious to Lao Tzu that not everything among people is as the universal law requires for the good of the whole. According to the ancients, all people are born virtuous, their earthly and heavenly natures are balanced (hence the Taoist ideal - an infantile state). But earthly life affects a person, and above all, by the abundance of things in the world. Carried away by the desire to possess more and more things, to receive more and more benefits and pleasure from communicating with them, people upset the natural balance of soul and body: the mind rushes in pursuit of “things”, the heart - the ruler of life - cannot contain passion, and itself comes to excitement. As a result, its previously clean and smooth surface, likened to the surface of a mirror, becomes clouded, and the world appears to consciousness in a distorted form. Only a “sage who has comprehended Tao” is able not to lose control over the earthly, carnal nature and not to cloud the heart with passions. Only he never loses sight of the “guiding star” - Tao and Te, and acts in concert with them. The activity of people, prompted by passions, no matter how noble the goals it may be justified, is called “action”; if it is imbued with the desire to follow the Tao without violating the natural order, it is called “non-action”, “wu wei”.

Lao Tzu appeals to the world: be simple and pure, abandon self-interest, moderate desires! Alas, people don't hear him. “My words are very easy to understand, very easy to follow. But the Celestial Empire cannot understand, cannot follow!”- he complains. Awareness of this truth gives the “Book of Tao and Te” a special mournful tone. At times her text sounds more like an internal monologue than a sermon.

In addition to Lao Tzu, one cannot fail to mention another Taoist thinker, Zhuang Tzu (IV-III centuries BC), the author of the treatise named after him. However, I don’t even want to call “Zhuang Tzu” the dry word “treatise”: there are so many paradoxes, parables, eccentric images, mythologies reinterpreted in the spirit of Taoist philosophy and literary brilliance.

For the Zhuangzi worldview, the concept of “equalization of existence” (qi wu), according to which the world is a kind of absolute unity, was of great importance. There is no place for clear boundaries between things, everything is fused with each other, everything is present in everything. In this world there are no absolute values, nothing in itself is either beautiful or ugly, large or small, but everything exists only in relation to something else and in the closest internal connection and interdependence.

Taoism was not just a theory, since it set itself the goal of showing the path to supernatural perfection. This is how the doctrine of immortality and the methods of achieving it, which was formed by the beginning of our era, came to be.

The belief in the immortality of the soul was uncharacteristic of traditional Chinese culture. Only the single psychophysical integrity of a living being was recognized as real. The spirit itself was understood quite naturalistically: as a refined material and energy substance (qi). After the death of the body, "qi" dissipated in nature. In addition, Taoism inherited from shamanism the doctrine of the plurality of souls - animals (po) and thinking (hun). The body was the only thread connecting them. The death of the body led to separation and death of souls. Therefore, already in ancient times, great importance was attached to means of prolonging physical life, and longevity (show) became one of the most important values ​​of Chinese culture. Gradually, a belief arose in the possibility of achieving immortality through the use of special drugs of plant or mineral origin. There were also ideas about the presence of special islands in the ocean inhabited by immortals, and the famous emperor and unifier of China Qin Shi Huang (3rd century BC) even sent a naval expedition there.

However, Taoism was not satisfied with the ideal of a simple physical, even infinite, extension of life. A true Taoist immortal (xian, shenxian), in the process of moving along the path of immortality, radically transformed and transfigured his body, which, according to Taoist teaching, acquired supernatural powers and abilities: the ability to fly through the air, become invisible, be in several places at the same time, and even compress time. Consciousness also underwent a radical transformation in the process of practicing Taoist meditation: the immortal fully felt and experienced the Taoist picture of the world, realizing the ideal of unity (oneness) with all that exists and with Tao as the mysterious fundamental principle of the world.

The path to immortality according to Taoist teachings involved meditation and mysticism, reminiscent of Indian yoga. It seemed to involve two aspects: improvement of the spirit and improvement of the body. The first consisted of practicing meditation, contemplating the Tao and the unity of the world, and unity with the world and with the Tao of the practitioner himself. Various complex visualizations of deities were also used, symbolizing special states of consciousness and types of vital energy.

The second consisted of specific physical (Dao Yin) and breathing (Xing Qi) exercises to maintain the body’s energy balance and alchemy. It was alchemy that was considered the highest path to achieving immortality.

Alchemy was divided by Taoists into two types: external (wai dan) and internal (nei dan). Of these, only the first was alchemy in the proper sense of the word.

By the 10th century “external” alchemy fell into decline, providing the most valuable empirical material in the field of chemistry and medicine, enriching traditional Chinese pharmacology. It was replaced by “internal” alchemy.

It was alchemy only in name, since it was nothing more than an ordered set of complex psychophysical exercises aimed at transforming the consciousness of the adept and changing a number of his psychophysiological parameters. It is no coincidence that “internal” alchemy is sometimes called “Taoist yoga.” she borrowed from alchemy itself its terminology, methods of describing practice, making the names of minerals and substances symbols of psychophysical processes and their structures. This led, however, to the fact that at first glance it is difficult to distinguish the actual alchemical text from the treatise of “Taoist yoga”.

The followers of “internal” alchemy proceeded from the position of complete similarity between the microcosm and the macrocosm, the human body and the universe. And since the human body contains everything that exists in space, then there is no need to create a model of it in crucibles and retorts: the body itself is a similar model. Consequently, it is possible to create a new immortal body from the substances, juices and energies of one’s own body. Like “external” alchemy, “internal” alchemy has also collected very rich material for Chinese medicine.

All Taoist literature was eventually collected together and formed a gigantic volume of the “Treasury of Tao” - the “Taoist Canon” (Tao zang), which began to take shape in the 5th century. and finally formed in the 15th–17th centuries. His texts are a valuable source for studying all aspects of Taoism and are studied by scientists from many countries around the world, including Russia.

Taoism historically existed in the form of separate schools and movements. The most famous of them is the school of Heavenly Mentors (also known as the school of the Path of True Unity), created in the middle of the 2nd century. AD Taoist magician Zhang Daoling. According to legend, on Mount Hemingshan (modern Sichuan province), the deified Lao Tzu appeared to him and declared him the Heavenly Mentor - his viceroy on earth. This title has been passed down through the Zhang family until the present day. Now the 64th Heavenly Master lives in Taiwan, although there are representatives of his family in the PRC. This school is characterized by a developed practice of mysterious actions endowed with complex symbolic meaning. They are carried out to renew the elements of the cosmos and are like an alchemical act, presented in the form of a ritual cult.

A short excursion into Taoism introduces us to the rich experience developed in the field of self-improvement, all of it is built within the framework impersonal pantheistic system, where Tao and Te are diffused in everything.

Lao Tzu's main ideas are presented in this article.

Lao Tzu main ideas

Lao Tzu is the founder of the teachings of Taoism, the original teachings of which are set out in his book called “Tao Te Ching”. It implied two aspects: philosophical and political. In the political aspect, the dominant idea was that the less the government interferes in the life of society and each individual, the better. But the main aspect of Lao Tzu’s philosophy was the philosophical aspect, which covers the following ideas:

• The philosophy of human life consists of the ideas of yang, yin and dao. Tao is an incomprehensible, all-encompassing and invincible force, thanks to which everything in this world moves and exists. Yin and yang are the natural principles of human life, with the help of which he operates his life.
• The cause of human troubles is Wuwei - inactive life or inactivity.
• The cardinal virtue is abstinence.
• State power has difficulties because it resorts to dictatorial methods and forces people to act contrary to their will.
• You can achieve success in life only in harmony with the Tao. Then even poisonous and predatory animals will not cause any harm to humans.
• To avoid theft, it is necessary to destroy any valuable property.
• The absence of marriage laws will save a person from adultery, make him humble, unselfish and virtuous.
• The main traits of a person are sincerity, humility and kindness.
• In Lao Tzu's system of ideas there is no place for the Creator God, who is embodied in personality. It’s also not worth praying and waiting for an answer from him. Only a person can save himself and solve his problems.
• Death is just as natural a phenomenon as birth. Only in death does a person live in another form.
• It is necessary to give up aggression and concession.

We hope that from this article you have learned what the main ideas of Lao Tzu are.

Taoism is a unique and amazing ancient teaching about the great path of Tao; it studies the multi-valued and endless movement of forces in this world. The teachings of Tao can be compared to the study of the laws of existence, space and the universal unity of the whole world. Such a cosmic universal path of Tao dominates literally everywhere and is in all objects located around us, this path is limitless and gives origin and form to everything that is located around a person.

The amazing and great Lao is an ancient Chinese mystic and philosopher who founded the school of Taoism in China, he is the author of the Tao Te Ching. This man lived for a long time in the kingdom of Zhou, where he was in charge of a large book depository, he had two names, such as Er and Dan, and his surname was Li. Lao explored the true path of Tao and always tried to learn more about the great virtue, his main desire in life is to hide from the world and not have a name.

For a long time, Lao Tzu researchers could not compile his biographical information, since there is no clear information about his life and no one has yet found out even where he died. It is known that he comprehended the secrets of great longevity and, according to some sources, lived up to 160 years, and according to others, more than 200 years; the specific biography of Lao Tzu is still being studied today.

The Mystery of Three Births

According to ancient unique treatises, Lao Tzu was born three times, the first through his mother Yao Tzu, the second through Mother Li, who carried him for 81 years. The birth was done through the armpit on the left, it can be compared with the Buddha, since he was also born through the armpit, but only on the right, which speaks of many similarities, both in their teachings and in the secret of childbirth. Immediately after giving birth, and this was still during the Han Dynasty, the sage’s hair turned gray, so they began to call him Lao Tzu, that is, the Old Child.

The third birth was associated with the image of Buddha, when the mystic Lao himself entered the body of a woman living in India through her mouth, and then was born through her armpit, the born child was able to walk immediately after birth. The philosopher Ge Hong, who lived in the 3-4th century, said that he saw Lao Tzu in a trance dozens of times and he was more than 2 meters tall and wore special clothes from 2 amazing colors, this creature had a cap and a sharp amazing sword.

The mystic philosopher also had a nose and eyebrows that were too long, and his head was also too long. Now such a template is actively used as an image of saints and immortals in Taoist art; the biography of Lao Tzu is almost unknown and is being compiled to this day. Today, numerous interesting facts have been established about the life of this man and many aspects of his existence are amazing and simply fantastic.

Biography Research

Lao Tzu, or the Old Child, lived around the 6th century BC and is known today as an active figure in Taoism and the author of the Tao Te Ching. The very first attempts to research and find out biographical data were made in 145-89 BC, and then in 90-104, now this biography is kept in Shi Ji.

The most important and fundamental research is Sim Qian, who established that Lao’s true name is Er Li, although there were assumptions that his name could also be Lao Tang. A number of sources began to deny the point that Tang and Lao Tzu were one person, although there is definitely no evidence here and it is too difficult to verify, Qian had other theories, he believed that Lao Lai Tzu also lived in Zhuang.

It is known that this mystic philosopher definitely lived under Confucius and they knew each other; the biography compiled by Qian claims that Lao worked for a long time as an archivist in Zhou. Amazing and very famous today, Lao decided to retire to the West in old age and leave China, then he met with Yin Xi, who was the caretaker. It was Yin Xi who insisted that Lao quickly write down his unique world knowledge on paper and indicate his achievements to the world. This is exactly how the two parts of the book were compiled, which were called Tao and World Virtue, then the mystic, having completed his work, left to wander further and no one knows exactly where the path of life took him. Today Lao Tzu and his ideas are valued by mystics and philosophers all over the world, his great works are truly amazing and interesting.

Other sources of history, myths about the Tao

Sima Qian had two very interesting legends, one of them stated that Lao appeared as Lao Tang, the researcher Qian claims that Tang was the teacher of Confucius. This identification of different citizens in one person does not have clear evidence, however, Tang and Lao became literally synonymous. There was another famous historian, Liu Xin, the author of a work on the Life of the Immortals, where a number of unique records were made about Lao Tzu and Yin Xi, the latter, that is, Xi, asked to be taken with him to the West and accepted as a student. The text of the work indicates that Lao Tzu is one of those teachers who practiced immortality through wisdom, as well as the comprehension of eternity through various methods of development of thought.

The amazing teacher began to be revered in China so much that Emperor Huan, who lived in the 2nd century, built his unique palace where the sage-philosopher was born and even issued instructions to everyone to honor this man. In 166, Peng Shao first deified the philosopher and cited the unique moments of his metamorphoses in terms of the Cosmos and portrayed him as an adviser to the rulers of China. China literally considered Lao Tzu to be divine, as he was the personification of the Divine Way and even the Emperor of Peace, who knew about harmony and how to bring peace to humanity, the philosophy of his teaching is truly amazing.

Amazing transformation, treatises on the path of Tao

Another very famous historian and mystic, referred to as Wang Fu, wrote down the treatise Huahujing, which states that Buddhism is only a branch and form of Taoism. Further, this work increased in volume to 10 books and is evidence of the dispute between the path of Tao and Buddhism; even a legend was put forward that Lao Tzu turned into Buddha in India. The emperors of China then even began to ban these books, and Cheng Tsung, that is, the emperor of the 13th century, issued a decree to burn all Taoist treatises.

The amazing Taoist school was strengthened by the manuscript Book of Transformations published in the year 100, which talks about the conscious and clear transformation of living beings. It also said that the philosopher turned into a mother, who then gave birth to him; he literally gave birth to himself again, which became possible thanks to the Tao, which is the maternal principle for all living beings. This man is associated in many treatises with the reincarnation of the Tao itself; further, they talked about the imminent reappearance of Lao Tzu and the miraculous liberation of humanity from the problems and difficulties in life. It is known that the mystic regularly visited the leaders of many cults of his time, giving them instructions and amazing revelations of the Tao.

Taoism. Legend of birth

Lao Tzu became known as Lord Lao, who can easily manifest himself wherever he wants and can even bring peace to planet Earth. During his lifetime, this amazing philosopher and mystic passed on talismans and unique teachings in the form of treatises to all his students. Taoism is a unique teaching that has survived to this day, although hundreds of years ago the teachings of Tao, Buddhism and a number of other mystical movements had complex relationships. The oldest treatise, called the Inner Explanation of the Three Worlds, known since 420, says that Lao was born as the Tao of energy to become God; in the form of a human philosopher; like Buddha after the general campaign to the West.

What is Taoism

Taoism is a unique philosophical doctrine of Ancient China, and this mystical movement was founded by Lao Tzu, who lived in the 7-6 centuries, although very little is known about his life. The terminology Taoism was made by Europeans, since in China they speak only as the Doctrine of Tao, calling this teaching Taoism will not be correct and in Asia they simply will not understand this person.

The teaching is set out in the treatise Daodejin, which was written down even before Lao Tzu's journey to the West; there are many doubts about the name of the treatise itself and it is difficult to establish even the time of its creation. The concept of Tao itself is quite abstract and complex; the main definition of Tao is the root cause of existence, since everything came from this mysterious and great symbol.

It is definitely not possible to see the Tao with the senses, and what a person can hear, feel and see is not the Tao. Lao Tzu was also a unique politician who opposed difficulties and terrible moments in society; he believed that the main thing in the state was harmony and peace. The famous and highly respected Lao Tzu often spoke out against problems in society and called on the state authorities to achieve harmony in life. Another clear direction of Taoism is hermitage and asceticism, this was also called for by its founder, who recommended seclusion in the mountains and getting rid of everything worldly in life.

Immortality

The teaching has a clear desire for holiness, the word Saint itself in Chinese consists of two parts, that is, Man and Mountain, meaning a hermit who should live alone in the mountains. The main principles of the Taoist religion are the Doctrine of Immortality; many amazing legends have already been created about these details of Taoism. Among such legends is the tale of the goddess Sivanmu, who has a fantastic garden where peaches grow that bloom only once every 1000 years, and if you taste this fruit, you will definitely become immortal. There are also legends about magical islands where a wonderful unique herb can grow, which can also make a person immortal.

Another clear path to Immortality among the Taoists is special breathing exercises and various exercises to achieve longevity. Taoists have other ways of immortality, such as ancient alchemy, through which the ancient Chinese tried to invent an elixir of general immortality. It will be difficult to call Taoism a common world religion, since it is rather a philosophical doctrine that was created to achieve immortality.

Taoism in China

Taoism today is one of the three main religions in China and in this triad serves as an alternative to Confucianism as a philosophy, as well as Buddhism as a world religion. Now in China, Taoism is divided into Tao Jia, that is, philosophical teachings and opinions, and also into Tao Jiao, that is, unique streams of spirituality. This division is very conditional, since spiritual and philosophical practices are closely related, Tao Jia is associated with Lao Tzu and Zhuang Tzu, that is, with the patriarchs of the philosophy of ancient China. Today, Taoism and Confucianism have become the most important in China, although the latter teaching is now coming forward, the term Tao ren and Tao shi can apply to adherents of both teachings equally.

Lao Tzu, that is, the unique and amazing patriarch of Taoism, is a mysterious figure in many respects and at least three people spoke under his name. Lao Tzu now belongs to the highest deities of the Taoist religion; this amazing man is considered the embodiment of Tao itself and belongs to one of the Most Pure Ones of the World, that is, to San Qing. The treatise Tao Te Jing indicates wisdom in a formulaic, clear form, and it is there that the principles of the philosophy of Taoism indicated by Lao Tzu himself are presented.

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