A Beginner’s Guide to Taoism Part 4: The Tao is Not Moral
I Promise This Will Make Sense
A Beginner’s Guide to Taoism
I Promise This Will Make Sense
One of the Taoist books I’ve enjoyed the most is by Raymond Smullyan, titled; The Tao Is Silent. In it, the stage magician and comedian uses funny stories and dialogues to teach Taoist concepts. One of the chapters I loved the most is chapter 23; The Tao is Good but not Moral.
What is moral?
We need to break down our definitions to understand how the Tao can be good but not moral. First, morality can be defined as follows:
Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
It’s important to understand that people create this distinction between what we know as “good” and “bad” actions. These actions are inherently just ACTIONS. What makes them good or bad depends on who performed the action, our relation to the person, and who was on the receiving end of the action. So in this way, the Tao can not be moral since it has no notion of right and wrong. In Tao Te Ching chapter 8, Lao-tzu writes,
The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
Water nourishes every man, woman, and child regardless of their actions. It doesn’t judge or withhold itself based on what we believe or can accomplish. Water is water, and we use it accordingly.
Such is the Tao. Tao is there, and we are Tao. It runs through everyone and everything and does not withhold itself based on our actions or beliefs. For example, if you were a fish swimming in a stream, the Tao would be the river’s water. Predators and prey would all benefit equally, even though one fish kills every fish it sees.
This may shock those who grew up in different religions that teach that their God is moral and just and that there is a specific set of right and wrong actions.
What is good?
So, by now, I’m sure you’re thinking, if the Tao isn’t moral, how can it be good?
As I stated at the top, we must return to our definition. As a noun, here is how you can define good:
A benefit or advantage to someone or something
A ha! Now we are onto something!
Conclusion
If you skipped and scrolled down to the end, here is your answer:
It’s not morality that makes the Tao good. It’s the LACK of morality that makes the Tao good.
Treating all things, and everyone, beneficially and advantageously, just like water, is why the Tao is good…but not moral.
Thank you so much for reading part 4 of “A Beginner’s Guide to Taoism.” You can find parts 1–3 below, and join me every Friday for more!
Don’t forget you can purchase my book of poetry on all major ebook stores & follow me on Mastodon!
