World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 952

The Tao controls and regulates all things in the universe.
Tao is the force that flows through all life. It refers to a power, which envelops and flows through all things - living and non-living. Taoism believes that behind all material things and all changes in the universe, there lie a fundamental principle Tao- the Way or path. This principle or Reality gives rise to all existence and governs everything. It regulates natural processes and maintains and nurtures balance in the universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites, like day and night, male and female, love and hate , life and death and light and darkness and so on. Huai Non Tzu ( 122 B.C.) states that " because of It, animals run and birds fly. The Sun and the Moon shine and the planets revolve by it, the unicorn emerges and phoenix soars" [ [1] 19-20.6B).
The Brahman is the Inner Controller and Ruler of All
In the Upanishads, Brahman or Atman is described as ruler of all and inner controller[ a) antaryamyeshah.-Mandukya. Up.6. ; b) ayamatma sarvesham bhutanamadhipatih. Bru.Up.II.v.15]. Yajnavalkya in Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad states that " Under the rule of this very Absolute, O Gargi, the Sun and the Moon are held in their own courses. Under the rule of this very Absolute, heaven and earth hold their own positions. Under the rule of this very Absolute, moments, muhurtas [minutes], days and nights, fortnights, months, seasons and years are maintained in their respective places. Under the rule of this Absolute, from the white mountains some rivers flowing east word, others flowing westward and still others flowing in different directions ] keep to their respective courses" (Bru.Up. III. VIII.9.). Taittiriya Upanishad says, under the rule of this Brahman, fear of Brahman, the wind blows and Sun rises in the east, the fire and the Indragod of gods function and god of death f runs.[bhishasmad vatah pavate, bhishodeti suryah, bhishasmadagniscendrasca, mruturdhavati[ II.8). Unity :
Tao is that principle in which all dualities are resolved into unity. There is unity behind everything. Chuang Zu thinks that, it is imperative that we transcend all dualities of existence. Seeing nature'at work and the way in which it reconciles these polar opposites pointed the way to the Tao where all dualities resolved into unity. The universe is the unity of all things. If one recognizes his identity with this unity, then the parts of his body mean no more to him than so much dirt and death and life, end and beginning, disturb his tranquility no more than the succession of day and night. (Chuan Zu: The Next Voice, p3) Again, he states, 'when the self and the other (the This and the That) loose their contrariety, there we have the very essence of Tao.' (W.M. Theodore, Dey Barry et al, p68, 69). 'In the universe, there are these individuals and continuous transformations, each in its own natural
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