Eternally Nameless Essay

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Eternally Nameless “Doing nothing that is unnatural or out of keeping with the Way” - Laozi (CP 35/78). Daoism is one of the two significant and influential philosophies of China. Daoism thought and customs are regarded as philosophical or religious. Within this intricate body of thought and tradition lies much deep and subtle wisdom which is fully harmonious with a naturalistic worldview. Philosophical Daoism has been ingrained in the classical Daoist texts. Two prominent philosophers that contributed to Daoism were Laozi and Zhuang Zhou. Laozi and Zhuangzi encouraged the open-ended nature and unconstrained thinking of Daoism. The practices and beliefs associated with it have developed and diversified as it spread across time and space. There are some common principles which hold influential, however. The following ideas appear in the Dao De Jing by Laozi and Zhuangzi Zhuang Zhou's classic work of philosophy and the foundation of most Daoist thought. Daoism is a life philosophy and practice of living in harmony with the Dao. Dao can be defined as “path” or “road”. Daoism is vague and has to be experienced, it "refers to a power which encircles, surrounds and emerges through all things, living and non-living (Wong, 2011). Daoism opposes a flight from respectability and the conventional duties of society (CP 34/77). According to Daoism, the entire universe and everything in it proceeds with an enigmatic, unknown forced called Dao. The Dao often controlled the natural processes and their balance while embodying harmony among opposites (Wong, 2011). The way of Dao is the way of Nature, Ultimate reality, the Way of the Universe, or the Way of Human Life. Dao is often described as a force that flows through life. A jovial and pure life is one that is in harmony with the Dao, with Nature. Daoism is a culture centered around nature, mankind fortune, and the death of

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