from Verse One Hundred Seventy-TwoIn high antiquity, real people breathed yin and yang, and all living beings looked up to their virtue, thus harmonizing peacefully. In those times, leadership was hidden, spontaneously creating pure simplicity. Pure simplicity had not yet been lost, so myriad beings were very relaxed.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
Let's get one thing straight -- this time never existed! While Lao Tzu appears to be speaking of an earlier historic time, he's really referring to his ideal of the perfect state of humankind.
It might be nice to try to convince ourselves that, at one time, people embodied the Way and nothing else. It makes a lovely fairytale, doesn't it? But our species has wrestled with the same questions, mysteries, traits, and basic desires since Day One. And I imagine it will be that way forevermore.
This is not to suggest that any of us cannot rise above the general state of humanity. We can, but it will be fleeting. No matter how wise any person can become, there will always be so much more that he/she can learn. No matter how mindful or virtuous we might be, none of us will ever reach a state of mindless perfection.
We are each saddled with the human condition; for better and for worse. For me, the main thrust behind philosophical Taoism is not to run away from ourselves, but to learn to accentuate the positive, compassionate and just sides of our being. It is to become the full measure of our own internal nature, while at the same time, embracing and celebrating the interconnection of all things -- the community of life.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
It might be nice to try to convince ourselves that, at one time, people embodied the Way and nothing else. It makes a lovely fairytale, doesn't it? But our species has wrestled with the same questions, mysteries, traits, and basic desires since Day One. And I imagine it will be that way forevermore.
This is not to suggest that any of us cannot rise above the general state of humanity. We can, but it will be fleeting. No matter how wise any person can become, there will always be so much more that he/she can learn. No matter how mindful or virtuous we might be, none of us will ever reach a state of mindless perfection.
We are each saddled with the human condition; for better and for worse. For me, the main thrust behind philosophical Taoism is not to run away from ourselves, but to learn to accentuate the positive, compassionate and just sides of our being. It is to become the full measure of our own internal nature, while at the same time, embracing and celebrating the interconnection of all things -- the community of life.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Ah, you took the words I was going to type from my fingers.
ReplyDeleteNo, there is no proof that in the old times humans were better. In fact, there if proof that they were worse.
He was quite idealistic, wasn't he? It's stuff like that that turns me off from most philosophies.
I don't think people were worse off in days of old. I think the human condition is about the same, only the technology is different.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, there is nothing wrong with idealism. We already know HOW we are as a species; it's nice to think what we COULD be.
Well, I don't know. I'd always understood the Chinese looking-back was to small, primitive agrarian communities where the members were very in tune with nature. There are many values of simplicity and harmony like this stressed in ancient Hawaiian culture (about leadership and respect for the land), and also in tight communities like the Amish. It was what back-to-the land commune types in the '60s were looking for, but of course, none of them were really separated from modern culture and technology adn their own heritage.
ReplyDeleteI think in some times and places among some people, these conditions have existed, and may still in jungles and deserts. It looks like idealism to US, but in fact, it could have been real.
I realize what a strange comment "in fact, it could have been real" is.
ReplyDelete