What is the “Tao,” really? We see many things today labeled as, the Tao (pronounced Dao) of this, or that, even a popular book entitled, The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff (Penguin Group, 1983). Winnie-the-Pooh, is an exceedingly simple, yet lovable, bear starring in a series of children’s stories, written by A. A. Milne in the 1920’s. Since the “Tao” is a Chinese term that translates roughly as the “Way,” The Tao of Pooh, can be translated as, “the Way of Pooh.” Author, Benjamin Hoff, conveys, for Spiritual seekers, that Pooh’s “Way” is his strong inclination of going with the flow of Nature, while tending to his business, in a simple manner. Pooh is well known to conduct himself in a “Wei Wu Wei” fashion. “Wei Wu Wei,” is a Chinese expression translated as, “Doing non-doing,” and meaning, “Doing without great effort,” which is just so, Pooh.
In Chinese Medicine, the “Tao” refers to a philosophy based on the “Way of Nature.” Taoist philosophy has a prevailing theme that there exists a unified field into which all life is born, evolves, decays, and inevitably dies. Within this field, all living things are interconnected and dependent upon one another, the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon, as if entwined in a universal web.
Phenomena within the Tao follow universal laws. One such law is that everything in the Universe is vibrating energy, or Qi, pronounced Chi, that follows cycles or phases of transformation, in set patterns of continuous motion. In the Tao, the only thing that doesn’t change, is that everything does change.
Another law of the Tao is that the Universe possesses two polarities, Yin and Yang; with the Earth being Yin, and Heaven being Yang. Humankind exists between these two polarities as a juncture where the two meet with their dual influence rendering humans both Heavenly, and Earthly beings. Yin and Yang are complimentary opposites, each possessing a seed of the other. Yin tendencies are cold, damp, dark, structural, and passive, while Yang tendencies are warm, dry, light, functional, and active.
Taoists believe that the human organism is a microcosm that mirrors the macrocosm of the Universe. They believe that the innate processes of humans are a reflection of the innate processes observed in Nature, such as the Earthly phenomena of seasons, natural elements, weather climates, and polarities. For example, Taoists equate the progressive stages of human development of birth, youth, maturity, old age and death to the Earth’s seasons of spring, summer, Indian summer, autumn and winter. Additionally, Taoists correlate the elements of Nature such as wind, fire, earth, metal and water to various human personality traits, as well as physical and emotional states. Taoist also correlate the weather climates of wind, heat, dampness, dryness, and cold to the causes of human pathologies. Furthermore, Taoists connect the negative (Yin) and positive (Yang) poles of the Earth, to the feminine and masculine qualities found in humans; with Yin being feminine and receptive, and Yang being masculine and assertive.
Since the Taoist view is that all illness is caused by a blockage somewhere in one’s Chi flow, a Chinese Medicine practitioner’s aim is to restore and maintain Chi balance in their clients’ mind, body, and spirit throughout the various stages of human life. The Chi flow is harmed when there is imbalance with the Tao’s seasons, natural elements, weather climates, or polarities. Conversely, when balance with the Tao is consistently maintained within the human organism, the Chi flows freely, and the body does not become ill. When a Chi imbalance has occurred, and illness has set in, the Chinese Medicine practitioner will use corrective measures to restore balance and proper Chi flow enabling the body to rid itself of its pathologies.
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