Lao Tzu - biography, information, personal life. Large Christian Library

The original teaching of Taoism is contained in the book "Tao Te Ching". It consists of two aspects: political and philosophical. In terms of politics, Lao Tzu taught that the less the government interferes in people's lives, the better. This is also told by the legend about the life of Lao Tzu himself. The main thing in the existence of man, Lao Tzu considered the philosophical side of his being.

The philosophy of Lao Tzu accepts the ideas of Tao, Yin and Yang as reliable and, proceeding from them, builds a philosophy of human life. Tao is an incomprehensible, all-encompassing and invincible force, on the basis of which everything in the world exists and moves, and a person must coordinate his life with it. If every creature, including birds, fish and animals, lives according to the Tao, then there is no reason for a person not to live in harmony with this “way of all things” and allow natural principles yin and yang freely operate his life.

Lao Tzu called this approach wuwei(inactivity or inactive life) and saw the cause of a person's troubles in neglecting the power of the Tao, or in trying to improve it, or in actively resisting it. Everything, says Taoism, should happen naturally. Nothing to click on and nothing to manage.

According to this theory, the difficulty state power arise due to the fact that she often resorts to dictatorial methods, forcing people to act in a way that is unnatural for them. In life, you need to be harmonious and calm, like Tao. Even if it suddenly seems to a person that he has achieved success, despite the fact that he went against the establishment of the Tao, it must be remembered that this is only an apparent, temporary well-being. In the end, he will suffer from his self-will, because Tao is invincible. Only a person who lives in harmony with the power of Tao will achieve success - and not only in relationships with people, but even predatory animals and poisonous creatures will not harm him.

If all people follow the Tao and give up the desire to improve the natural course of development with the help of the laws they create, harmony will come in the world. human relations. So, if property is not considered valuable, then there will be no theft;

if there are no marriage laws, there will be no adultery. In other words, a person who follows the Tao is humble and unselfish: he knows the path of heaven and follows only it. Thus, he is moral without observing the laws and virtuous without being recognized as virtuous.

In this regard, we should also pay attention to the following explanation contained in the teachings of Lao Tzu. If the positive force lies in a calm, inactive existence from the position of wu wei (in people's lives this is expressed by the manifestation of signs of kindness, sincerity and humility), if no one interferes in the affairs of others, human relationships will naturally and simply enter into the channel where the Tao leads them. And then there will be a spontaneous birth true love, real goodness and simplicity in the relationship between people, there will be a feeling of satisfaction with life. The power of goodness (te), being a component of wuwei, prevents the birth of anger and ambition, does not allow uninvited interference in someone else's life. Forcible abstinence from the manifestation of human aspirations cannot but entail negative consequences.

In the monistic system of Lao Tzu there is no place for a Creator God incarnated in person to be prayed to and from whom a response can be expected. A person must solve his own problems and save himself from troubles. The original Taoism differs little from pantheism; atheism is not alien to it. Death, according to this teaching, is as natural a phenomenon as birth. In death, a person passes only into another form of the existence of Tao. In the end, the same Tao that created harmony out of chaos can again bring the Universe into a state of chaos. There is nothing strange about this, and it should not be taken as unwelcome. The path of Tao, according to Lao Tzu, is the only correct path open to man.

Lao Tzu(Laozi, Old Baby, Wise Old Man) is a legendary ancient Chinese philosopher and thinker who lived in the 6th-5th centuries. BC e. He is considered the author of the "Tao Te Ching" ("The Book of the Way and Good Power") - a classic Taoist philosophical treatise, the founder of the religious and philosophical direction "Taoism", although in the historicity of this person many representatives modern science there are big doubts.

Lao Tzu was a legendary character and became the object of deification already at an early stage of the existence of Taoism. There is a legend according to which the philosopher, having spent several decades in his mother's womb, saw this world as an old man (it is connected with this possible translation name as "Old Child"). The mythologized biography, combined with the lack of reliable historical information, provides rich ground for speculation about the biography of Lao Tzu. For example, there are versions according to which this legendary character is none other than great Confucius. There is a legend that tells about the arrival of Lao Tzu to the Chinese land from India, and the Master appeared to the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire as if reborn, without a past.

The most famous and widespread biography of Lao Tzu goes back to the works famous historians Sima Qian, who lived around 145-186 BC. e. In his "Historical Notes" there is a chapter entitled "The Life of Lao Tzu Han Fei Tzu." The place of his birth is the kingdom of Chu (South China), the county of Ku, the village of Quren, where he was born in 604 BC. e. For a significant part of his life, Lao Tzu held the position of custodian of the imperial archives and the library of the state in Zhou. In 517 BC. e. his meeting with Confucius took place, which made a very strong impression on the second, especially since Lao Tzu was more than half a century older than him.

As an old man, disillusioned with the world around him, he moved westward to leave the country. When the philosopher approached the border outpost in the Hangu region, he was stopped by Yin Xi, the "guardian of the outpost" and turned to him with a request to tell him about the teachings. This is how a text of five thousand words appeared - the book "Tao Te Ching", which Lao Tzu wrote or dictated and which began to be considered the canonical text of Taoism. After leaving China, the philosopher went to India, preached there, and largely thanks to his teachings, Buddhism arose. Nothing is known about his death or its circumstances.

At the center of Lao Tzu's philosophy is the concept of "dao", a beginning that cannot be known and expressed in words, representing the unity of being and non-being. Using a metaphor, it is compared to water: it is soft, gives the impression of suppleness, but its strength is in fact irresistible. The way of existence dictated by the Tao, the mode of action is non-action, which implies the refusal to fight, non-resistance, the search for harmony. Lao Tzu ordered wise rulers not to wage war and not to live in luxury, but to instill in their peoples the desire to live simply, purely and naturally, according to the customs that existed before the planting of civilization with its morality and culture. Eternal Tao is likened to those who keep peace in their heart, making it impassive. This aspect of the ancient Chinese concept formed the basis for the search for ways to gain physical immortality, characteristic of the later stages of the existence of Taoism.

Laconicism, aphoristic "Tao Te Ching" create fertile ground for versatile interpretations; the book has been translated into a large number of languages, including European ones.

Biography from Wikipedia

(Old Child, Wise Old Man; Chinese exercise 老子, pinyin: Lǎo Zǐ, 6th century BC e.) - an ancient Chinese philosopher of the VI-V centuries BC. BC, who is credited with the authorship of the classical Taoist philosophical treatise "Tao Te Ching". Within the modern historical science the historicity of Laozi is questioned, however, in the scientific literature, he is often still identified as the founder of Taoism. In the religious and philosophical teachings of most Taoist schools, Laozi is traditionally revered as a deity - one of the Three Pure Ones.

According to the records in the "Shijing" of the first Chinese historian Sima Qian (II-I centuries BC), Lao-tzu was a native of the Ku county in the Chu kingdom, bore the surname Li, the name Dan, served as the chief keeper of the Zhou state archive and met with Confucius when he came to him for advice and guidance. Seeing the decline of the Zhou state, Lao Tzu resigned and went to the west. At the request of the head of the border outpost, he wrote a book in two parts, consisting of 5000 words.

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

Many modern researchers question the very existence of Lao Tzu. Some suggest that he may have been an older contemporary of Confucius, about whom - unlike Confucius - there is no reliable historical or biographical information in the sources. There is even a version that Lao Tzu and Confucius are the same person. There are suggestions that Lao Tzu could be the author of the Tao Te Ching 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, the founder of the philosophy of Taoism. According to legend, he was born in 604 BC, this date is accepted in the chronology world history adopted in modern Japan. The same year is also indicated by the famous modern sinologist Francois Julien. However, the historicity of his personality is not confirmed in other sources and therefore raises doubts. In his short biography it is said that he was a historiographer-archivist at the imperial court and lived 160 or even 200 years.

The most famous version of the biography of Lao Tzu is described Chinese historian Sima Qian in his Historical Narratives. According to him, Lao Tzu was born in the village of Quren, Li Parish, 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 there was a famous meeting with Confucius. Lao Tzu then said to him: - “Abandon, O friend, your arrogance, various aspirations and mythical plans: all this has no value for your own self. I have nothing more to say to 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 to the sky, I don’t comprehend. Now I have seen Lao Tzu and I think that he is like a dragon. In his old age, Lao Tzu 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 complied with his request by writing the text of the Dao Te Ching (The Canon of the Way and its Good Power). After which he left, and it is not known 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 clean, without his past, as if reborn.

Laozi's journey to the West was a concept developed in the treatise Huahujing for the purpose of anti-Buddhist controversy.

Dao Te Ching

When Lao Tzu lived in the capital of Zhou, he wrote a treatise Tao Te Ching about the way of things and its manifestations, written in ancient Chinese, which is difficult to understand today's Chinese. At the same time, its author deliberately used ambiguous words. In addition, some key concepts do not have exact matches either in English or in Russian. James Leger, in his preface to the translation of the treatise, writes: "The written signs of the Chinese language represent not words, but ideas, and the sequence of these signs represents not what the author wants to say, but what he thinks." According to tradition, the author of the book is Lao Tzu, so sometimes the book is called by his name. However, some historians question his authorship; it is assumed that the author of the book could be another contemporary of Confucius - Lao Lai-tzu. One argument for this view is the words in the Tao Te Ching, written in the first person:

... All people hold on to their "I",
I alone chose to refuse it.
My heart is like a fool's heart,
so dark, so obscure!
The everyday world of people is clear and obvious,
I alone live in a vague world,
like evening twilight.
The everyday world of people is painted to the smallest detail,
I alone live in an incomprehensible and mysterious world.
Like a lake, I am calm and quiet.
Unstoppable like the breath of the wind!
People always have something to do
I alone live like an ignorant savage.
Only I alone differ from others in that,
that above all I value the root of life, the mother of all living things.

Philosophy

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

The word "Dao" in Chinese literally means "the way"; 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 particular care, for "Tao" is wordless, nameless, formless and immovable. 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 from Lao Tzu's lips. He didn't make it up - he just said it at random. But when understanding arises, words will disappear - they will no longer be needed. "Tao" means not only the way, but also the essence of things and the total being of the universe. "Tao" is the universal Law and Absolute. The very concept of "Tao" can also be interpreted materialistically: "Tao" is nature, the objective world.

One of the most difficult in the Chinese tradition is the concept of "Te". On the one hand, “De” is what feeds “Tao”, makes it possible ( option from the opposite: "Tao" feeds "De", "Tao" - unlimited, "De" - defined). This is a kind of universal force, the principle by which the "Tao" - as the way of things, can take place. It is also the method by which one can practice and conform to the Tao. “De” is a principle, a way of being. This is the possibility of the correct accumulation of "vital energy" - Qi. "De" - the art of properly disposing of "vital energy", correct behavior. But "De" is not morality in the narrow sense. "D" is out of bounds common sense, prompting a person to release the life force from the fetters of everyday life. The Taoist doctrine of Wu-wei, inaction, is close to the concept of "De".

The incomprehensible Te is that
that fills the form of things,
but it comes from Tao.
Tao is what drives things
his path is mysterious and incomprehensible.
... He who follows the Tao in business,
...purifying his spirit,
enters into an alliance with the power of Te.

Main Ideas

The development of the universe occurs in accordance with certain patterns and principles that cannot be clearly defined. One can, however, call them - although this is not entirely accurate - "Tao". As for "De", one should not strive for it, it arises spontaneously, naturally. "De" manifests itself as a universal pattern of the revealed, manifested world, as the law of Universal Harmony.

The best way to realize the "Tao" in outside world is the principle of wu-wei - unintentional activity.

One should not strive for excessive education, increase in erudition or sophistication - on the contrary, one should return to the state of "raw wood", or to the state of "baby". All opposites are inseparable, complementary, interact with each other. This also applies to such opposites as life and death. Death is the end of life, which is at the same time the beginning of another life. And the end of "death" is the beginning of another "life". The point is not in words, concepts, but in what meaning each one attaches to them. Just like the entrance on one side is what is the exit on the opposite side. In ancient Roman mythology, the analogy for this is Janus, the two-faced god of doors, entrances, exits, various passages, as well as the beginning and end.

Life is "soft" and "flexible". Death is hard and hard. Best Principle solving problems in accordance with the "Tao" is a renunciation of aggression, a concession. This should not be understood as a call for surrender and submission - one should strive to master the situation with as little effort as possible.

The presence in society of rigid normative ethical systems - for example, Confucianism - indicates that there are problems in it, which such a system only exacerbates, being unable to resolve them.

The main virtue is temperance.

Ideas are close to the teachings of Advaita - non-duality.

Lao Tzu on Truth

• “The truth spoken out loud ceases to be such, for 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 a quietist in modern understanding who taught a completely unofficial doctrine that relied solely on internal contemplation. A person acquires the truth by liberation from everything false in himself. The mystical experience completes the search for reality. Lao Tzu wrote: “There is an Infinite Being who was before Heaven and Earth. How serene, how calm! It lives alone and does not change. It moves everything, but does not worry. We may consider him the universal Mother. I don't know his name. I call it Tao."

Dialectics

The philosophy of Lao Tzu is also permeated with a peculiar dialectic:

• “From being and non-being everything came; from the impossible and possible - execution; from long and short - form. The high subjugates the low; the higher voices, together with the lower ones, produce harmony, the former 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 comes to 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: it is the principle of non-doing, inaction. Anything violent the desire to do something, to change something 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 rule over all streams. So the sage, wanting to be above people, he becomes lower than them, wanting to be in front, he becomes behind. Therefore, although his place is above the people, they do not feel his weight, although his place is in front of them, they do not consider this an injustice.
• “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 calm.
• "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."

The power of the king among the people Lao Tzu put very high, but he understood it as a purely patriarchal power. In the understanding of Lao Tzu, the king is a sacred and inactive leader. Lao Tzu had a negative attitude towards contemporary state power.

• “The people are starving because they are too big and heavy state taxes. This is precisely the cause of the misery of the people.”
• Sima Qian brings together the biographies of Laozi and Han Fei, a Legalist philosopher of the late Warring States era who opposed Confucianism. The treatise Han Fei Tzu, which contains the latter's teachings, devotes two full chapters to the interpretation of Lao Tzu.

Cult of Laozi

The process of deification of Laozi begins to take shape in Taoism, apparently, as early as the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 2nd century BC. e., but it fully took shape only in the era of the Han Dynasty to the 2nd century AD. e. In 165, Emperor Huan-di ordered a sacrifice to be made to him in the homeland of Laozi in the county of Ku, and a year later he ordered to perform it in his palace. Zhang Daoling, the creator of the leading Taoist school of celestial mentors, reported the appearance of the divine Lao-tzu in the world in 142, passing on his miraculous abilities to him. The leaders of this school compiled their own commentary on the Tao Te Ching treatise, called the Xiang Er Zhu, and established the worship of Laozi in the BC they created at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 3rd century. theocratic state in Sichuan province. In the era of the Six Dynasties (220-589), Laozi began to be revered as one of the Three Pure (San Qing) - the highest deities of the Taoist pantheon. Worship of Laozi acquired a special scope during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the emperors of this dynasty revered him as their ancestor, erected shrines to him and bestowed high ranks and titles.

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

Already in early Taoism, Lao Tzu becomes a legendary figure and the process of his deification begins. Legends tell of his miraculous birth. His first name was Li Er. The words "Lao Tzu", meaning "old philosopher" or "old child", were first uttered by his mother when she gave birth as a son under a plum tree. The 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 greatly 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 historical or biographical nature in the sources. There is even a version that Lao Tzu and Confucius are the same person. There are suggestions that Lao Tzu could be the author of the Tao Te Ching 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, the 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 also 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 brief 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 the biography of Laozi 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 Parish, 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 there was a famous meeting with Confucius. Lao Tzu then said to him: “Abandon, O friend, your arrogance, various aspirations and mythical plans: all this has no value for your own self. I have nothing more to say to you!" Confucius walked away and said to his disciples: “I know how birds can fly, fish can swim, wild game can run... But how a dragon rushes through the wind and clouds and rises to heaven, I do not comprehend. Now I have seen Lao Tzu and I think that he is like a dragon. At an advanced 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 complied with his request by writing the text of the Dao Te Ching (The Canon of the Way and its Good Power). After which he left, and it is not known 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 clean, without his past, as if reborn.

Laozi's journey to the West was a concept developed in the treatise Huahujing for the purpose of anti-Buddhist controversy.

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

Word "Tao" in Chinese, literally means "way"; 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 particular care, for "Tao" is wordless, nameless, formless and immovable. 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 to know that you do not know (everything) is a disease. The word "Tao" is just a sound from Lao Tzu's lips. He didn't make it up - he just said it at random. But when understanding arises, words will disappear - they will no longer be needed. "Tao" means not only the way, but also the essence of things and the total being of the universe. "Tao" is the universal Law and Absolute. The very concept of "Tao" can also be interpreted materialistically: "Tao" is nature, the objective world.

One of the most complex in the Chinese tradition is the concept "De". On the one hand, "De" is what feeds "Tao", makes it possible (opposite: "Tao" feeds "De", "Tao" - unlimited, "De" - defined). This is a kind of universal force, the principle by which the "Tao" - as the way of things, can take place. It is also the method by which one can practice and conform to the Tao. “De” is a principle, a way of being. This is the possibility of the correct accumulation of "vital energy" - Qi. "De" - the art of properly disposing of "vital energy", correct behavior. But "De" is not morality in the narrow sense. "De" goes beyond common sense, prompting a person to release the life force from the fetters of everyday life. The Taoist doctrine of Wu-wei, inaction, is close to the concept of "De".

The process of deification of Laozi begins to take shape in Taoism, apparently, as early as the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 2nd century BC. e., but it fully took shape only in the era of the Han Dynasty to the 2nd century AD. e. In 165, Emperor Huan-di ordered a sacrifice to be made to him in the homeland of Laozi in the county of Ku, and a year later he ordered to perform it in his palace. Zhang Daoling, the creator of the leading Taoist school of celestial mentors, reported the appearance of the divine Lao-tzu in the world in 142, passing on his miraculous abilities to him. The leaders of this school compiled their own commentary on the Tao Te Ching treatise, called the Xiang Er Zhu, and established the worship of Laozi in the BC they created at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 3rd century. theocratic state in Sichuan province. In 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. Worship of Laozi acquired a special scope during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the emperors of this dynasty revered him as their ancestor, erected shrines to him and bestowed high ranks and titles.

Lao Tzu is a legendary Chinese sage, according to legend, the founder of the religion of Taoism and the creator of the treatise "Tao ze ching". According to this book, Tao (the eternal way) is metaphorically compared to water, the ever-flowing element.

The Legend of Lao Tzu

He was born in a village called “Distorted Kindness” in the “Bitterness” county of the “Cruelty” province. Having stayed in his mother's womb for more than 80 years, he came out of there a deep old man, but every year he became younger. His name can be translated as " Old child”, although some researchers translate it as “Eternal teacher”.

Having spent his whole life as a keeper of books and having gained wisdom from them, in his old age he sat on a black-and-red bull and set off towards the distant Western Mountains in order to leave China forever and find a blessed country where there are no sorrows and sufferings.

At the request of the guard standing on the border, he drew five thousand hieroglyphs, which later compiled the book "The Tale of Tao", which contained all the wisdom of the world.

After leaving China, he moved to India and became a Buddha.

Facts from the life of a sage

Lao-er was born at the beginning of the 7th century BC. c, served as an archivist in the Chu book depository. Already being an old man, he communicated with Confucius and had a great influence on the formation of his worldview.

Shortly after this fateful meeting, Lao Tzu was about to leave China forever, but at the border he was stopped by a wandering monk, who asked him to dictate the basic postulates of Taoism and the possible moral and ethical laws of the existence of people in society. According to legend, Lao dictated to him more than five thousand words, this is with the famous book "The Book of Tao and Te". Then he continued his journey to India.

According to some legends, he is considered the father of the founder of the first world religion of Buddhism - Gautama Sidhartha.

How did Taoism originate?

Why can't people live in peace and harmony? Why does the strong always hurt the weak? Why do terrible wars take thousands of lives and leave orphans and widows?

Why are we constantly dissatisfied with our lot? Why are we jealous? Why are we greedy, as if we are going to live forever and be able to spend all the riches of the world? Why do we change our beliefs and having achieved what we want, we again begin to wish for something unrealizable?

The Chinese sage gives us the answer to all these questions. We are too subject to someone else's opinion, and at the same time we want to subordinate people to our will. We live our desires, obey the body, not the soul. We cannot change our views and beliefs, and, most importantly, we do not want to change them if they run counter to our desires.

We do not think that the world is ruled by the DAO - the great and unshakable path to comprehending the truth. DAO is both the basis and the world order, it is he who rules the world and all things, material and spiritual, in this world.

So if man goes in the right way, the way of DAO, he gives up his carnal unrighteous desires, refuses money and precious things, rethinks his beliefs and turns into a naive child who comprehends new laws of being. In this case, he follows the path of harmony with nature and the universe, the path of DAO.

It is believed that you need to start the path of comprehending Taoism by reading the book of Lao Tzu. It is difficult to understand and comprehend the truths contained in it, but you need to read it over and over again and then learn to read between the lines and understand the inner meaning of what is written. Intuitively, you will comprehend the previously incomprehensible, and your mind will change and be able to expand the horizons of knowledge.

One Taoist liked to repeat: “If I don’t read the Tao for two or three days, then my tongue becomes stone and cannot preach the doctrine.”

The main dogmas of Taoism

“Heaven and earth endure because they do not exist for themselves.”, - Lao wanted to say that both heaven and earth are eternal and unshakable, they are needed by every person and give joy to everyone. If the sky is always above your head, and the earth is under your feet, then nothing more needs to be sought and nothing more needs to be achieved, except for self-improvement.

"For real a wise man he never sticks out his knowledge, he puts himself below others, but he is ahead of everyone, ” this saying of the sage is so clear that it does not require any interpretation, it is very similar to the saying of Socrates: "I only know that I know nothing."

The more knowledge a person has, the more he understands that he has only touched the truth of knowledge, and it is impossible to know everything, and only a fool will boast of his knowledge.

Lao Tzu considered water to be the basis of life, he said that there is nothing more tender, softer and weaker than water, but in an instant it can become a cruel and destructive element and can destroy a strong stone.

By this he meant to say that with the help of tenderness and weakness, one can defeat the strong and the strong. Any person comes into the world tender and weak, and leaves it strong and tough. Everyone understands this, but no one acts accordingly, because he tries to be cruel to the cruel, and gentle only to the gentle.

Even the sage wanted to say by this that it is the mind and knowledge that are the most powerful weapons, although it can be called “gentle”. Aggression causes reciprocal aggression, and tolerance and tolerance will help to achieve mutual understanding without cruelty.

“He who knows people is smart, who knows himself is wise” and again we return to the philosophy of antiquity. The ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus said: “What is the hardest thing? Know yourself." Indeed, it is difficult for a person to look into his own soul and know the origins of his actions. And if you can understand the deep sources of your actions, then you can recognize other people, because people are the same in many ways.

“If you do not allow yourself to look at what causes desire, then the heart will not flutter.”

By this, the Chinese sage wanted to say that people are constantly striving for superfluous things: they want money, jewelry, silks and luxury, but if you don’t know about their existence and never see such things, then you won’t want them. And if you strive only for fame, honors and wealth, instead of leading righteous life full of thoughts and knowledge of the world, then over the years you will have to be sad about missed opportunities.

“He who does not care about life is wiser than he who understands life,” at first glance, this statement is somewhat vague, but it is this idea that runs through the entire world philosophy. A person must live every day and appreciate every minute of his existence. A person needs to overcome the fear of death and go through life without fear of meeting it face to face. This fear makes us weak and prevents us from going to the intended goal.

Only by getting rid of this fear can you live full life breathe deeply and enjoy every moment.

DAO is the eternal and unshakable Absolute, to which all living things aspire, even the eternal Heaven obeys the laws of the DAO, and the meaning of life of any person is to merge with it in eternal harmony and fast the divine ecstasy of unity of cosmic souls.