| Copyright (c) 2007 Stephen Lau | | | | succinctly expresses the art of living well |
| TAOISM | | | | according to Taoism. |
| Taoism, cultivation of the self, provides guidelines | | | | The Chinese have an ancient tradition that does |
| to health and longevity. According to Taoism, you | | | | not share the limitations of the Western approach |
| are in control of your own life, in particular, your | | | | to cure. Taoism health and practices, which affect |
| healthy longevity. | | | | all aspects of life, should be embraced at an early |
| Taoism is a way of life. It encompasses | | | | age, and healthy longevity is not just a problem |
| everything – from the universe and nature | | | | for elderly people. |
| to the human body. Essentially, it focuses on | | | | HEALTH REJUVENATION FOR HEALTHY |
| harmony of "yin" and the "yang." | | | | LONGEVITY |
| Zen (which I have mentioned in several of my | | | | Lao Tzu has this to say about the attainment of |
| previous articles) is a "practice" of Taoism, and is | | | | longevity through the process of rejuvenation: |
| sometimes interspersed with Buddhist teachings. | | | | "The way of Tao is like a newborn baby. . . .The |
| Unlike Buddhism, Taoism believes in the value of | | | | baby's bones may seem weak and his sinews |
| life, but does not focus on life after death. Taoism | | | | soft, yet his grasp is strong. He knows nothing |
| is not a religion. | | | | about sexual conjugation, yet his penis may |
| Taoism was initiated by Lao Tzu, a contemporary | | | | sometimes be erect, showing the perfection of |
| of Confucius (both were among the greatest | | | | his vital essence." |
| philosophers in ancient China). | | | | According to Lao Tzu, when you were born, your |
| Lao Tzu says, "The highest virtue is achieved | | | | body and mind were in natural harmony. |
| through non-action. It does not require effort | | | | However, as you grow up, you become subject |
| because virtue is natural to people." In other | | | | to pressures and worries, undermining the |
| words, the wisdom in doing things is innate in | | | | flexibility of your body and the openness of your |
| every individual. | | | | mind; as a result, there is disharmony. |
| You act without doing and work without effort. | | | | Healthy longevity is the attainment of harmony of |
| You prevent trouble before it arises. You put | | | | the physical and spiritual aspects of human life. |
| things in order before they exist. The giant pine | | | | When you concentrate your attention on fasting |
| tree grows from a tiny sprout (like the Biblical | | | | the spirit to the body, as well as on correct and |
| mustard seed). The journey of a thousand miles | | | | healthy breathing, your whole being becomes |
| begins with your first step. | | | | flexible – just like that of a baby. This |
| Taoism offers a much broader concept of health | | | | flexibility and suppleness of the body and mind are |
| and longevity than contemporary Western | | | | achieved in Eastern forms of exercise and |
| medicine. | | | | meditation, such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Yoga. |
| For example, most of the forms of sport and | | | | Lao Tzu also comments: "There is no mistake |
| exercise practiced in both the East and West | | | | greater than that of being ambitious; there is no |
| today are highly competitive. They emphasize | | | | calamity greater than that being discontented; |
| strength and quick reflexes, with strenuous | | | | there is no fault greater than the desire for riches. |
| training (and sometimes reinforced with drugs) | | | | Therefore, true contentment is an enduring and |
| designed to increase strength and stamina for | | | | unchanging happiness." |
| ultimate success. If you cannot complete | | | | Keeping up with the Joneses, attractions and |
| successfully, you are out of the game. Taoism, on | | | | distractions of contemporary society, personal |
| the other hand, offers spontaneity. You do what | | | | ambitions and desires often create tension |
| you can, and do the best of what you can. | | | | between your physical and spiritual aspects, |
| Another example, many people today tend to | | | | making your body rigid and your mind unyielding. |
| think of health only in terms of curing sickness, | | | | You begin to lose the original integration of the |
| and longevity only in terms of avoiding fatal | | | | body and mind of a baby, and you deteriorate |
| diseases. Taoism, on the other hand, focuses on | | | | and die. This is the way of all flesh. |
| the art of living longer and healthier, not merely | | | | Lao Tzu says, "When a man is alive, his body is |
| surviving into old age. The Yellow Emperor of | | | | soft and flexible; when he is dead, it is hard and |
| ancient China once asked his sage how he could | | | | rigid. So it is with all things. Trees and plants are |
| live long. The sage replied, "There is nothing to be | | | | soft and pliant when they are growing; when they |
| seen, nothing to be heard. Just hold your spirit in | | | | die they are dry and brittle. Thus, to be had and |
| stillness, and your body will be healthy. You must | | | | rigid is the way of death; to be soft and yield is |
| be still. You must be pure in mind and spirit, not | | | | the way of life." |
| subjecting your body to toil, not disturbing your | | | | Lao Tzu has shown you the wisdom of living a life |
| vital force. Then you may live for long." This | | | | of healthy longevity. It is all within your control. |