old fellow or Grand old master

6th century BCE

Taoist text

the Way and Its Power

experience of Lao Lzu/his teachings

teachings of other great Taoist writers

teachings of one's individual Taoist master

one's own experience of Tao

Tao is ultimate reality

source of all, but can't be described

belief in a pantheon of deities

way of the created universe

principle through which nature is ordered

relativity of all values and identity of opposites

sense, emotions, and mind

cluttered- need to empty then fill with Tao

harmonize one's daily life with the Tao as the way of the universe

experience truth, joy, and power of the Tao

to gain full knowledge of the Tao of human life

philosophical Taoism

vitalizing Taoism/Taoist yoga

religious Taoist

Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching

relatively uninstitutionalized self-improvement program

easier for outsiders to comprehend

efficiency maximizes Te

uninstitutionalized self-improvement program (more active than philosophical yoga)

increasing/augmenting Te

soothsayers, shamans, faith healers

aroung 2nd century AD

priests accumulate and pass on Te to the masses who attain it vicariously

following teacher

embracing humility

naturalism

being natural/embracing simplicity

maximizing Te

guide understanding (philosophical)

guide practices (vitalizing)

do rituals and pass on Te (religious)

efficiently using Te

increasing or augmenting Te

gathering Te and passing it on

(philosophical Taoism)

through wu wei

the way to DO is to BE

pure effectiveness, creative quietutde

action taken with little friction

prototype- water

(vitalizing Taoism)

maximize chi

literally- "breath"

in usage- "vital energy"

matter

movement

mind

nutritionally

sexually

breathing exercises

shutting out distractions

emptying mind

(religious Taoism)

Taoists priests gather and pass on Te to masses