Tao is the way of the universe. Tao is a force that should not be reckoned with.

Things were aligned for a reason and should not be altered. Trying to go against it will cause disharmony. Causing disharmony with the universe leads to suffering. For example, Confucius explains that, suffering comes from trying to conquer nature, altering the way of the universe, and establishing artificial human organization, (ARCHTYPES OF WISDOM pg. 185). Natural forces must be respected and worked with. If you follow Confuciuss ways you will then be happy. What is Tao? Tao can be split into two parts, yin and yang. These two principles are the underlining connection to human behavior. This is what keeps the universe in harmony. These two terms can be defined as simply as yin is bad (dark, negative, cold, etc.) and yang is the opposite and can be defined as good (light, positive, warm, etc.). How do yin and yang keep the universe in harmony? You cannot have one without the other. They are closely interconnected that it is described as having a little bit of bad in good and a little bit of good in bad. This is depicted by the yin and yang symbol. This symbol is a circle with a wavy line splitting the middle evenly. On one side it is shaded in with black but contains a small white circle in it. On the other side it is left white with a black circle inside of this. This shows that there is a little yin in yang and a little yang in yin. They cause to universe to completely balance out. Confucius strived for humans to maintain social and political order. He believed that balance and order is what is needed to follow the way of the universe. Go with the flow and follow the order of the universe. Going against the Tao will only cause it to smack you back in line. It wants everyone to work as wholes rather than individual parts. The Tao is selfless, All things depend on it for growth, and it requires nothing from them, it accomplishes its work, but

makes no claim for itself, it clothes and feeds all, but does not control them, (Chinese by Tam C. Gibbs *34.). There is nothing more powerful than the Tao. Follow the way of the Tao and you will avoid suffering. You can start becoming a superior person. How can you do this? Chung-Yung: Moderation The best way to describe Chung-yung is moderation. It is following the middle path. This path is set by the Tao. It is the Universal Moral Law. Do not stray far from the path or else you will find yourself lost. The power of the Tao wants you to follow this path or else you will learn suffering. Jen: The Virtue of Virtues Jen seems so simple when it is described, but how simple is it? Jen is described as being fully human. Someone who is fully human can understand someone elses feelings. Do not do onto others what you do not want done to yourself. This is also known as the, Silver Rule. This is the ideal relationship between two or more people. Everyone is human and has feelings, which makes that one common ground that we all share. Can Jen be obtained? To be explained, There is the belief that Jen can be obtained; indeed, there is the belief in the natural perfectibility of man. Hence, he rejects the way of human action where one satisfies likes and avoids dislikes, (Philosophy 312: Oriental Philosophy Main Concepts of Confucianism). Moreover, Jen is a selfless act of kindness. We should seek to pay it forward. Pass on Jen to anyone that you can. This can be done by being human. Show empathy for one another. Understand one anothers feelings. This action can be hard for some. If you can accomplish this then you can lead by example. This is how you can pay it forward.

Confucius believes that humans should work for the sake of the whole rather than the benefit of the individual. Kindness should be out of the interest of the other and not out of gaining power. If you are able to be completely selfless in your heart and actions, only then you can achieve Jen. This is the first step to following the way of the Tao. Te: Paying it forward Te was described in class as, the power to affect others without physical force, (class notes: 09/05). Leading by example is the way to do this. Leading is not meant by gaining power of influence over others, but by a selfless act of showing empathy. This is not an act that can be accomplished overnight. Te is usually found in a wiser man, someone who understands and is able to teach by experience. Where Jen is the ideal relationship, what is Tes role in this? It is the role wiser man to the less wise man. For instance, this can be shown in a fathers or mothers role in raising a son/daughter. The parent spends most of their childs life teaching and preparing them. Some day that child will become a wiser person who then could pass on to many below him/her. A wiser person has lived, loved, and experienced many feelings. These feelings they understand and can relate to others. This is a never ending cycle of life. This is why one of Confucius keys to harmony is Te. Without it then the universe would fall out of line. One missing piece does not make a whole. We are better as wholes instead of selfish individuals. This wisdom can be passed through many different relationships. Relationships such as, one between an older sibling and a younger sibling. These wiser beings lead the way. It is their choice to lead by good or to lead by bad. Confucius strives for humans to use the good to pass on to one another.

Li: It is Your Rites Li is the idea of the way things should be. This all resolves around what could be called, The Universal Moral Law. Who is to determine what is right and wrong? The Tao of course. It is the all mighty power over humans best interest. This all narrows down to things such as, morals, etiquette, manners, customs, and rites. This can go back to do onto others what you would want done onto you. Proper manners are only something that should be taught to all humans. It is kind to have manners and etiquette. It shows the people around you that you care and respect them. These customs are brought up through tradition. The way that things have been done and the way things should be. Li comes from practicing these customs. If taught properly, they will achieve this much faster. This also ties into leading by example. A human will be taught at a young age what is right and wrong. They will watch those around them who have experience. They will absorb their patterns and ways of living. When one masters Li they then are defined as socially acceptable in the eyes of everyone. When it comes to leading by example the government plays a huge role. They are the leaders of tradition in the human culture. A properly led government will reflect on the humans that it governs. They will follow what the government believes is the right way of living. This is why Confucius said once, In carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors (Chn-Tzu) and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend, when the wind blows across it," (Confucius Kongfuzi). Chn-Tzu: The Cultivated Gentleman

Chn-Tzu is a morally superior person. This person has taken Jen, Te, and Li and uses them for the sake of leading the people to peace. That is what a government aims for, is it not? Chn-Tzu is someone who is fully human, who knows the way things should be, and is able to affect others without physical force. This is a person with much experience in life and human feelings. Confucius ideal human to govern. What makes them a cultivated gentleman is the fact that they have perfect manners and etiquette. This is the kind of person that Confucius believed good bring peace and balance to the Tao. Confucius says, "The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions," (XIV.29). A superior person is humble and does not seek to gain power or riches from his actions. He only seeks for perfection and to lead the way for the race of man. To be a Chn-Tzu could be unattainable, but should what is strived for. Everyone should try to be a superior person. In the eyes of Confucius, this would make the world perfect. He believes that everyone can be a superior, which you just have to follow the examples of the people before you. We Are All Interconnected Confucius believes in a way that if we follow the path of moderation (Chung-yung) and become a superior person (Chn-Tzu) that we will be following the way of Tao. One Chun-Tzu cannot affect everyone and lead everyone. This is another reason to lead by example. If you set the right example then others will follow. Those who follow will then strive to be superior. Then those who were following will then be able to lead by example as well. Learn, live, and teach is the cycle that is set. If the world is governed by good rather than evil then the world will be more likely to be good.

In order to be a Chun-Tzu you have to follow the way of the universe. You have to be wise and understand the unwritten moral law. First you must learn to be fully human (Jen). You will then be more understanding when it comes to feelings for other humans. You will understand that we all share common ground starting with the fact that we are all human. They will have manners and customs that they have learned from tradition (li). They have taken in Jen and Li and used these to pass it on to others. Confucius wanted people to pass on what they had learned. People who do no teach or lead would be selfish. A Chun-Tzu is a selfless person who is willing to lead by example. We are all connected and affect each other. We all work better as wholes rather than individual parts, which is Holism. The Tao does not like individual parts and if you veer away from the whole you will suffer and it will try to knock you back in line. Confucius philosophy summed up is that if you follow Te, Li, and Jen to become a Chun-tzu you will then be following the Tao. The Tao is an indescribable and unwritten law that is meant to follow. If we cant describe this law and it is not written down, then how do we know what it is? The Tao is everything that we see. It is the nature that is around us. The Tao does not want to be changed our altered. Why would we want to change and alter nature? We do this to gain more power and to gain more wealth.

References:

http://faculty.jwu.edu/esmith/confucian_ethics_and_the_tao.htm (Chinese by Tam C. Gibbs *34)

http://philosophy.lander.edu/oriental/main.html (Philosophy 312: Oriental Philosophy Main

Concepts of Confucianism) class notes: 09/05

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/analects.html (Confucius Kongfuzi) (XIV.29)

The Way of the Universe

Cody Bandley