SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION FOR LAO TZU

Lao Tzu presents Philosophy as a way which reveals the ways of Nature to man. Through philosophy, man has a better understanding of the origin of all things, the nature of opposites, and the way to model, govern, and live in harmony with Nature.  This is shown in the way he presents the philosophical problem of the absence of natural harmony in the world and how he addresses and specifies the solution for it, which is, going back to the Tao.  This “going back to the Tao” is the essential element for one to become a Taoist sage.  

The philosophical problem of the Taoists rests on the absence of natural harmony rooted from the insistence of men in their ways and failing to follow the course of Nature.  This depicts a life leading to injury and overdoing of things.  The solution presented by the Taoists then is all about living one’s life and achieving his goals in such a way that he would not injure himself or anything around him.  As Fung Yu-Lan stated in his book, A Short History of Chinese Philosophy:

 “Such is the way in which a prudent man can live safely in the world and achieve his aims. This is Lao Tzu’s answer and solution to the original problem of the Taoists, which was, how to preserve life and avoid harm and danger in the human world.” ¹

To live in accordance with the laws of Nature makes one live more safely and be more capable in achieving his aims without arousing enmity between himself and everything around him.  Learning the values of humility, simplicity, and contentment, one becomes more open to all possibilities of Nature.  It aids him in preserving life, in the sense that wars and other forms of violence would not arise because of his humble attitude.  An individual fashioning his life in accordance to Tao avoids harm and danger in the human world for he does not overdo things and only focuses his attention to what is necessary in his life.  In this sense he gets rid of any unnecessary desire which can impede him into being effective and efficient.  It is in this sense that one becomes a sage. 

Another way of looking at such point would be that such preservation of life and avoiding harm and danger also extends outside of the individual.  Living in accordance with Nature also makes one realize that in order to really preserve life and promote natural harmony, one needs to take the responsibility of leading others towards the attainment of such preservation and natural harmony. Being able to understand Nature then, is to be able to go out of oneself and be more involved in one’s community. 

Lao Tzu gives us the lesson that in living a happy life, man does not need to have the best job or even the biggest income.  Rather, it is about being happy with what he is and what he has.  He lives life without being overtaken by desires.  He does not contradict things but let them flow naturally.  He is never overtaken by opposites.  Instead, he understands the nature of the opposites and learns to live with them without being harmed by them.

 One’s task to unite with Nature calls for social responsibility.  This responsibility, however, does not imply one to impose an artificial solution.  Rather, the responsibility being talked about in this sense would be having the patience to act at the right moment.  It is deeply reflecting about one’s actions and not interfering too much in the natural problems inherent in one’s life.  The problem with most individuals is that they do not have the patience to think about the necessary things to do in the situation if ever they are faced with a problem.  They tend to act impatiently and try to remedy the situation by insisting on a solution rooted from their own, which worsens the problem instead of solving it.   

Every problem that one faces in his life must be taken as something which is naturally occurring in the movement of Nature.  That is why Lao Tzu teaches one to befriend Nature, and not go against it.  Nature reveals the essential pattern by which one has to connect his life in order to know more himself and find the truth of simple and happy life by letting Nature roll out its course without interference. 

 Through Philosophy, Lao Tzu wishes each individual to realize that Nature is not the enemy which one needs to subdue.  Rather, Nature must be treated as a teacher that can form him into a sage.   

Source:

   1.       Fung Yu-Lan, “Lao Tzu”, (New York: The Free Press, 1948), In A Short History of Chinese Philosophy, 99.