Lao Tzu (pronounced "Lao Suh") lived about 400 B.C.E. and is probably the most widely known of all the Taoist sages. He is the author of the primary Taoist text called the "Tao Te Ching" (pronounced "Dao Deh Jing"). Tao Te Ching translates loosely into English as "the way to virtue book". Other than the Bible, the Tao Te Ching is the most translated book in the world. In the English language alone there are more than 80 versions.
It is commonly said that Lao Tzu was the founder of Taoism, but this isn't the case. Taoism was a philosophy in ancient Chinese culture for possibly as much as two thousand years before Lao Tzu. Proof of this can be found in the book, "I Ching" (pronounced "e jing"). The I Ching is a system of divination believed to have been developed thousands of years before the Tao Te Ching. In their writings, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu (pronounced "Juang Suh") often referred to the "ancients", providing proof of a long linage of Taoists. However, Lao Tzu is credited with being the first to write down his teachings, although this wasn't done by choice.
It is not certain if Lao Tzu is a historical person or a fictitious figure. Many academics believe the Tao Te Ching is a collection of writings from various sages that were simply attributed to a mythical figure called Lao Tzu. Most Taoists find it irrelevant to be concerned if Lao Tzu was a historical figure or a mythical figure. It is the wisdom contained in the Tao Te Ching which is of interest and not the author.
Lao Tzu translates to "old master" and he was believed to be a Court Librarian. Lao Tzu was also believed to be a contemporary of the great Chinese philosopher Confucius. However, Lao Tzu represented an opposite view of life to Confucius. Confucius taught strict adherence to rules and ridged uniformity. Lao Tzu on the other hand proposed a life of non-contention, simplicity and achievement without using force. Legend has it that Confucius and Lao Tzu engaged in many debates in which Confucius was often left bewildered by Lao Tzu.
Ordinarily Lao Tzu would not have written down his teachings, since he had a deep mistrust of words. This is evident in one verse of the Tao Te Ching, "Those who speak do not know and those who know do not speak". Lao Tzu believed words could be misinterpreted and are incapable of explaining the concept of the Tao. However, Lao Tzu was placed in a position where he had to write down his teachings.
In his senior years Lao Tzu had grown weary of the intrigue and artificiality of society. As was often the custom in ancient China, old men would retire to become mountain hermits. Legend has it that as Lao Tzu was leaving the city, he was stopped by a boarder guard who recognised him as a great sage. The Boarder Guard refused to allow Lao Tzu to leave the city until he had wrote down all his wisdom. Lao Tzu is then said to have sat in the gate house and composed the Tao Te Ching. When he finished Lao Tzu left the city on the back of an ox and was never seen again.
So what does Lao Tzu discuss in the Tao Te Ching? Lao Tzu demonstrates the importance of opposites and how all things have a necessary and corresponding opposing aspect. Neither side of anything has more importance than the other. This applies equally to life and death; winning and losing; male and female; sickness and health.
He also addresses the importance of humility by reminding us that people are always despised for their pride and admired for their modesty. He reveals how a low position is more favourable than a high position; since the high always requires the low position for its foundation. He explains that those who desire little will be easily satisfied, while those who desire much will inevitably suffer frustration.
The Tao Te Ching reveals that intelligence is only achieved when one knows how little they truly know and that the truly wise never engage in quarrelling. We should always avoid the use of aggression since it is only the gentle that can live without any fear of retaliation.
He focuses on our fear of death by revealing that no matter what happens to our body, there is something about us that will go on. We should also remember that only Nature knows the proper time for someone to die.
Lao Tzu tells us how to achieve contentment by not relying on the opinions of others or being ambitious. He confirms that success will always go to the flexible and yielding, and be denied to the hard and rigid.
The Tao Te Ching shows that we should accept Nature as it is and not attempt to improve upon it. Nature takes care of all things without demanding either recognition or respect. Nature never acts, yet actives all things and is therefore our best guide.
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