Philosophy, as demonstrated by Lao Tzu in Ancient Chinese Philosophy,
is a way to model oneself with Nature. This
is seen in the way he lays out the steps for the development of the sage.
The philosophical problem concerning the absence of Nature in the
world is rooted from the absence of the Way or the Tao in one’s life. This is expressed in the frequent insistence
of man in his own ways of doing things. Because of education and exposure to the
different ideas of the world, man has earned knowledge and learned from it. It is because of this learned knowledge that
man came to think about artificial solutions in solving some problems in
living. In imposing artificial
solutions, man goes against the course of Nature. Examples of these are the different
innovations concerning the researches aimed at lengthening the human lifespan, and
the invention of new machines to aid human labor. These are not bad in themselves. Their objectives are benevolent and they
should be used only in necessary conditions. When they are utilized only when the situation
requires it, there is nothing wrong in them.
Preserving life is a natural inclination and purpose.
However, out of whims and
caprices there are people who undergo medical processes to “lengthen their lifespan”,
and there are those women who undergo Caesarian section even if they have the
capacity for a normal delivery. These
people wanted to replace the natural way of preserving one’s life by proper
attitudes and lifestyle with the modern medical gadget or process. Moreover, these women want giving birth
faster and with lesser pain. I asked my
mother about this. She said that giving
birth has always indescribable pains. These pains are natural. Machines or modern medical procedures on
giving birth become controversial and can spur chaos and disorder when people
use them to shun away from what is natural and necessary. Lao Tzu teaches that a person’s ultimate
purpose in life is to remain in Nature even if there are things and realities
that are against it.
In order to solve the philosophical problem which is the absence of
harmony in the natural state of things, one must go back to Nature or Tao. Going back to the Tao is done by living
according to it. However, this solution
is only done when one manifests Nature within him. This is only done when one becomes a sage.
If the sage is the manifestation of the
solution, then it is only foremost when one gets to know how such state will be
attained. It is only in such a way that
a solution may be possible. This development of the sage is done by knowing the
Tao as unlearning and following the Tao as “non-action”, which are said to hold
the characteristics of Nature itself.
Manifesting Nature can only be done when one empties himself of his
presupposed knowledge. Having knowledge
is not a bad thing in itself. What makes
it bad is the tendency of the person possessing it to become filled with
unnecessary desires. As Fung Yu-Lan
stated in his book, A Short History of
Chinese Philosophy, “Knowledge itself is an object of desire. It also enables people to know more about the
objects of desire and serve as a means to gain these objects.” 1
Fung’s statement implies that having too much “knowledge” about the
things and the ways in acquiring it makes individuals discontented. Indeed when one knows too much about
something, they eventually become too proud and conceited. He can even go the point of abusing himself
and others just to give way to his pride and conceit. These pride and conceit are endless. With these, one is never satisfied with what
he has. He wants more. Thus, they lead one to a life of disorder and
chaos.
This is because of the
“knowledge” of the things that can give him more satisfaction compared that
what he possesses. This is the common
tendency of the intellectual people holding offices in a particular state. It is because of having too much knowledge on
how to twist the laws for their own cause that they never learn contentment. This then breeds many unfortunate events in
the state, like injustices experienced by the marginalized sector of society. Instead of using it for the development of the
state, it is used for personal gain which caused poverty and misery in the
lives of the citizens.
It is in this sense that there is a need to unlearn. Unlearning means that one becomes truly
rooted to his self without being disturbed or ruined by earned knowledge,
acquired wealth, high position in a job and public fame. This unlearning does not necessarily mean
that one forgets or disregards all the learning that he did. Unlearning in this sense would be getting rid
of “unnecessary” knowledge in one’s mind and “unnecessary” things in one’s
life. This unnecessary knowledge and
things only satisfy worldly glory. In
getting rid of such, one can live simply and contented. He even prevents himself from giving any harm
to his community or even to himself.
Getting rid of unnecessary knowledge and things in life is a
manifestation of Nature. This is because
Nature teaches that what one is and what one has are just enough for him. It only has what is necessary. When one observes every plant or tree in the
wilderness, one can see that every root or leaf is necessary to the body or
location which the tree or plant is.
Nothing that is unnecessary found in the parts of this plant or tree. The very system of the plant or tree itself
does not hold anything which can hamper its daily functioning. Every part of it cooperates with each
other. This is because all of these
parts are necessary and sufficient to keep the plant alive.
If a person attempts to apply
something unnecessary to this plant or tree, such as putting dangerous
chemicals on it, the plant or tree will gradually die or will become fruitless. This
principle also goes for knowledge. In
only having what is necessary, a person can function more effectively and
efficiently as he is. He does not overdo
himself and spends only all his strengths and efforts on what is needed to be
done. Thus, living with the Tao or
Nature is choosing and living only with the necessary knowledge and things in
life. In this way, one avoids chaos and
disorder. These make the individual
happy. For example, in showcasing one’s
talents and skills without undue effort, one feels fulfilled. He just simply did his best and found
completeness in it. This then develops
in the individual the values of simplicity, humility, and contentment. It is in this that an individual becomes a
solution of the disorder in the community caused by going against what is
natural.
With such attitude, it cannot
be denied that people in his community will find him a good model of values. This then will influence the people in his
community. This can build a foundation
of peace and order. However, if an
individual lives his life with unnecessary knowledge and unnecessary things
such as too much exposure to the current trends in technology, pornography, and
many others, he becomes somebody who is outside of what he is. He becomes an instrument of disorder; first,
to himself, second, to his community, and third to the world. And as
a result of these, he becomes against Nature. The individual can even cause further chaos and disorder present in the
community. He participates
in things that cause chaos and anarchy. Such
is the reason why unlearning is given primacy in order to realize the solution
to the philosophical problem.
Unlearning can only be done when one deeply reflects about his
life. It is in such way that one can be
able to clearly see the different sides of his actions or deeds. It is only in deep reflection that one can
see the larger picture, other that in his own point of view. It is
only in deep reflection that a person can be able to get rid of what is not necessary
in his life. When one takes time to
deeply reflect of the things that he does, he knows which knowledge and things
to keep and which to discard.
As one keeps only the necessary knowledge and things in his life, he
frees himself of pride, conceit and desires.
Instead, he nurtures humility, simplicity and unity with others. He only keeps the essential things in his
life. Thus, he never goes beyond things
and he avoids the extremes and excesses.
In this way, he becomes more
responsible in his actions. This is
because there is nothing in his mind which can drive him into overdoing things. All that he has are the essential things, may
it be material or immaterial. When one fashions himself with Nature, he
learns the value of non-action. This
does not imply not doing anything. Rather,
this implies responsible actions. This implies letting things and realities
flow freely in life and responding on them with humility and simplicity.
In not overdoing, many things are accomplished. This is because the individual only focuses on
one particular task at hand. Without any
desire to satisfy or selfish goal to fulfill, an individual does not restrict
his movements or gets distracted. He
does not waste his energy or defeat the purpose of his responsibility. This is observable when one does a project out
of his own motivation and not because of vain-glory. A
person dedicated to his work does not seek of any reward or acknowledgement
after the project, no matter how the project will turn out. What matters for this person is that he is
able to do the thing that he loves. In
this sense he is not restricted in his actions, thus, he is able to do things
in a natural pace. However, the person
who seeks for acknowledgement or vain-glory defeats his own purpose. This is because his mind is preoccupied with
thoughts of vanity and pride. This makes
his movements unnatural, and this shuns him away from finishing his project.
Nature has only what is necessary.
This can be observed in the different cycles happening in the
environment. It nourishes plants, animals, humans, and even
the organisms invisible to the human eye.
It embraces and preserves all. What caused all destruction and calamities are
the abuses done by man to Nature. Man
imposes his own rule in Nature. He uses
Nature instead of preserving it. Examples of these impositions would be the
genetically modified organisms suited to man’s preference. This is not doing what is necessary. Rather, it adds more trouble for the part of
the individual. Artificial things are
not like the original things where they are derived from. Therefore, it is possible that such things
hold dangers within them. Cloned animals
may even have new diseases with them.
These brings harm to life. Deeper danger also is their negative effects
on man’s attitudes and preferences in life.
When one philosophizes, he discards all unnecessary knowledge and
things in life. Unnecessary knowledge and things are against Nature. They are against one’s essence and they are
against simplicity, humility, content and happiness. With deep reflection, one can synthesize
ideas, deepen insights, analyze realities, avoid confusions, realize truths and
find wisdom in the process. Without
philosophizing, one will not realize his real purpose in life. That real purpose is to find one’s self
united with Nature or the Tao by simply being faithful to what he is and
everything within it.
Philosophy, as demonstrated by Lao Tzu in Ancient Chinese Philosophy,
is a way to model oneself with Nature.
This is seen in the way he lays out the steps for the development of the
sage, which concerns on knowing the Tao as unlearning and following the Tao as
non-action. Real living is simply being
attuned with Nature. One lives only what
is necessary and finds contentment in it.
Pride, conceit and discontentment are the excesses of desires. However, liberating one’s self from desires
makes him one with Nature. Desires are
unnatural. They are results of wrong
attitudes and thoughts. Lao Tzu teaches that what is natural in man is to go
back to himself, nurture what he is, preserve what he has, live only the
necessary and find happiness within.
This is what is meant by modeling Nature or Tao in one’s life. But only through philosophizing that one can
realize all of these.
Philosophizing is a journey towards one’s union with Nature of Tao. This journey is one that leads a person to
simplicity, humility and contentment.
These values breed the rest of other values. And all these values rest to one origin, which
is Nature or the Tao. Thus, the journey
is the going back to Nature or the Tao as the root or origin of everything. This is actually the ultimate purpose which
every person has to realize in his life. Only through philosophizing that one finds
find Nature in all realities that he comes along with. Living the values of Nature is uniting to
Nature itself. This is the way of the
sage.
By the time technology and innovation was introduced into society, man’s
life became comfortable. Labor became easy, and other menial tasks such as
cleaning and cooking were done by inventions.
Man’s life became less stressful, and it made man be able to keep up
with the passing times. But although
this poses quite a positive light on the matter, it cannot be denied that with
the increasing comfort man gets, the desire to get more than the current
comfort becomes endless. Whenever there
are new technologies which can lessen man’s labor, man seeks for more comfort,
to the point that artificial intelligence is made. Even so, man fails to see contentment. Even with all the new discoveries of medicine
and many other things, man tends to forget how to stop themselves. Knowledge is used to impose things instead of
preserve what is already there. But
again, Lao Tzu teaches that one needs to philosophize on these so as not to be
ruined by them. Instead, man tends to
become attached to them and forgets to reflect on them. As a result, he also forgets Nature or the
Tao and lives his life in chaos and disorder.
In having too much knowledge
about the things present in this earth, man becomes intoxicated with pride. He
begins to think that he is made to rule over everything, and that everything is
for him to take. Because of these, the
world has all the problems associated with disunity, rebellion, political wars,
armed conflicts, massacres, drug addictions, pornographic addictions, and so on. Instead of preserving the
essential things in this world, man disturbs and even destroys the order
present in Nature because of his too much knowledge and endless desires. All of these are rooted from the very fact
that deep reflection is not done anymore.
The problem with some people is
that they tend to go away from Nature in all the realities that they encounter
in life. They do not philosophize by
reflecting on life’s things. Then,
hardly can they realize values. If one
deeply reflects about realities, things, and experiences in life, he becomes
enlightened with values that only Nature has.
Whether one is a ruler, a
student, a parent, or someone else, going back to Nature means living one’s
life with Nature or Tao by simply being what he is.
In my simple yet so busy life
as a student, I find myself presented by all sorts of worldly and technological
realities. Honestly, I can be either
enriched or disturbed by them. From all the unlimited information I got from
daily lessons, exposures to the Internet, talks with peers and friends, and read
books, I cannot help but become influenced by them in various ways. There are times that I am biased or
closed-minded about the opinions of others. Sometimes, I came to a point where I refused
to understand new perspectives about certain topics or themes I read. It makes learning so hard, and it even
affects my academic performance. As I
deeply think about these, I eventually realized that I should stop being so
stubborn in insisting my own ideas or presupposed knowledge in things. That would be impeding me from the natural
process of learning.
My insistence on what I assumed
I know would only put me in the risk of deceiving myself. I had the realization that all these times I
have been too caught up with everything that I have read to the point that I
had completely forgotten my own thoughts.
I have been too attached to the information that I have learned to the
point that I have completely stopped thinking for myself. Because of this, I decided to make a
change. I decided to reunite with my
original, natural self by distancing myself from what I have read and simply
empty myself of them. I did this by
relating my personal experiences to the reading that I have and getting rid of
my prejudices about a certain topic every time a lesson is being taught. It really went out well. It made me learn many new things. It made me see another side of every topic
which confused me before. It enriched me
inside and out.
Being able to let go of my prejudices about things is a very hard
task. I have always been holding on to
what I know more than anything else. I
have never considered other people’s opinions about it, until my profound
realization came. If I keep being
stubborn, then I will not become a good philosopher. This is what Lao Tzu’s philosophy taught
me. He gave me the idea that I cannot be
a good philosopher, unless I unlearn and do what is only necessary of a
situation. He taught me that true wisdom
starts when one begins to learn again. Unlearning is always an act of humility. He taught me that being wise does not
necessarily imply reading a lot of books. Rather, how I reflect on those that I read and
still find myself completely me without being ruined by them, and that in
everything which I encounter, I will only seek what is natural and live my life
according to it.
Lao Tzu teaches me to just simply do what I can and accept those which
I cannot. I have to accept the things
which I can really do and will avoid forcing myself to things which I cannot
really do well. In my goal to free
myself of unnecessary desires, I decided to join a group of philosophy students
and other volunteers to visit the jail and gave food to the prisoners. We also distributed packed food to the street
children and beggars around the city last February 14. Honestly, I found peace. I felt deep joy
after doing it. I also learned some yoga
exercises that can calm both my body and mind.
I found myself reunited to what I truly am. I shared these experiences to my family and
they agreed with me. They also want to
be part of the said noble endeavor. When
I decided to free myself from desires and joined a group to do a noble task, I
actually philosophized. I really feel
completeness. Happiness is simple with
natural things. But natural things
always begin in simple things.
Source:
1.
Fung Yu-Lan, “Lao Tzu”, (New York: The Free
Press, 1948.), In A Short History of
Chinese Philosophy, 101.
