For too many westerners, Taoism can be a difficult philosophy to understand and grasp. We've been educated and socialized in a completely different direction and so Taoism seems unnatural and foreign. To make matters worse, a lot of westerners are prejudiced against anything Asian, though this prejudice often is subconscious.
There is another reason why Taoism is often misunderstood; certain people misappropriate Taoist themes for use in very un-Taoist ways. I don't know how many times I've seen a blog post entitled "The Tao of x". More often than not, the author believes their way of doing something is THE way everyone else should do it to be successful. Unfortunately, this flies in the face of the philosophies of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu who remind us again and again that each of us must find our own way, that there is NO one singular way.
Last night -- while performing my daily search for blogs talking about Taoism -- I ran across a post that set my blood boiling. The post, in question, comes from a very popular marketing blog called Copyblogger. The post that got my ire up is entitled, "The Tao of Online Marketing". I left a comment, but it was moderated out because it didn't fit in with all the sycophant-inspired drooling of the other comments.
It starts off with "The Tao that can be blogged is not the true Tao." The author then states, "this article is not going to teach you anything significant about Taoism (and still nothing on motorcycle maintenance). But it turns out that Taoist principles can actually help you become a better online marketer..." He then proceeds to mangle most of the key principles of Taoism.
For starters, he applies wu wei to online marketing which is all about providing eye candy to your readers to manipulate them into to thinking you have scruples and you care about them. He then turns what he calls the three "Jewels of the Tao" -- Compassion, Moderation and Humility -- on their heads.
What I found so sickening about this post is that the guy knows just enough about Taoism to be able to make himself appear that he knows what he's talking about! Most of his readers will go away from the post with a most perverse idea of what Taoism stands for.
I had some other points I wanted to raise, but I'm so irritated by his post that I can't see straight. You might want to read it for yourselves, but don't expect any type of negative comment to be posted there. This appears to be one of many blogs that only allow lap-dog responses that inflate the ego of the particular blogger.
There is another reason why Taoism is often misunderstood; certain people misappropriate Taoist themes for use in very un-Taoist ways. I don't know how many times I've seen a blog post entitled "The Tao of x". More often than not, the author believes their way of doing something is THE way everyone else should do it to be successful. Unfortunately, this flies in the face of the philosophies of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu who remind us again and again that each of us must find our own way, that there is NO one singular way.
Last night -- while performing my daily search for blogs talking about Taoism -- I ran across a post that set my blood boiling. The post, in question, comes from a very popular marketing blog called Copyblogger. The post that got my ire up is entitled, "The Tao of Online Marketing". I left a comment, but it was moderated out because it didn't fit in with all the sycophant-inspired drooling of the other comments.
It starts off with "The Tao that can be blogged is not the true Tao." The author then states, "this article is not going to teach you anything significant about Taoism (and still nothing on motorcycle maintenance). But it turns out that Taoist principles can actually help you become a better online marketer..." He then proceeds to mangle most of the key principles of Taoism.
For starters, he applies wu wei to online marketing which is all about providing eye candy to your readers to manipulate them into to thinking you have scruples and you care about them. He then turns what he calls the three "Jewels of the Tao" -- Compassion, Moderation and Humility -- on their heads.
What I found so sickening about this post is that the guy knows just enough about Taoism to be able to make himself appear that he knows what he's talking about! Most of his readers will go away from the post with a most perverse idea of what Taoism stands for.
I had some other points I wanted to raise, but I'm so irritated by his post that I can't see straight. You might want to read it for yourselves, but don't expect any type of negative comment to be posted there. This appears to be one of many blogs that only allow lap-dog responses that inflate the ego of the particular blogger.
Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 56
ReplyDeleteThose who know do not talk.
Those who talk do not know.
Keep your mouth closed.
Guard your senses.
Temper your sharpness.
Simplify your problems.
Mask your brightness.
Be at one with the dust of the earth.
This is primal union.
He who has achieved this state
Is unconcerned with friends and enemies,
With good and harm, with honour and disgrace.
This therefore is the highest state of man.
;^)
Thank you for pointing this out. Many blogs that focus on marketing provide garbage material. I cannot stand it when they take out things from context and turn it into this self-help bs. We both know, that they do not know what they are talking about. IT's just a few words here and there. Most of the people who visit his site, think that he knows what he is talking about. However, in reality, no one tells them that making money online is quite difficult and no half ass philosophy is going to help them. Tao is a different breed. Not many people can grasp such a vast "thing." Thanks for being you and writing with your heart.
ReplyDeleteperhaps this guy is very good at what he does- using respected or popular ideas to make himself look good, which is, unfortunately, good marketing. :P not a very commendable thing to be good at, which is why i absolutely hate marketing.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of it before, but it must be quite irritating indeed, these trite uses of the word Tao. Every time you turn around, it's yet another variation on "The Tao of ________________."
ReplyDeleteI have a book of Taoist exercises (called "The Book of Internal Exercises") that somebody gave me a long time ago. I don't pretend to know anything about Taoism, but the exercises in the book seem to be a precursor of Yoga, Tai Chi and Chi Gung.
Good points all!
ReplyDelete