TAO

Dao or Tao literally means "Way" or "Path". The Dao is the supreme reality, the energy of creation, the primal esence, the field of existence and non-existence.  The Dao is the natural order and the harmony of the universe. The Dao is eternal and infinite.  

Daoism is a current of thought that follows the principles of the Dao, which have taken philosophycal, religious and/or esoteric forms. Such principles are reflected in quintessential texts of reference about Daoism, like the Dao De Jing (also known as the 'Book of the Way and Virtue') written by Lao-Tzu (or Lao Zi), followed by the Book of Chuang-Tzu (written by Chuang-Tzu or Zhuang Zi). The dates of origin are still causing dispute, it is estimated that they are from 3 or 4 B.C.  Another text of great relevance in relation to Daoism, or more specifically, about the combinations or permutations of Yin and Yang, is the I Ching or 'Book of Changes'. This classic text is among the most ancient texts of China's history. 

In the words of Alan Watts (fantastic British phylosopher and writer): "El Tao es el camino, la corriente, el flujo, la deriva, o el proceso de la naturaleza". However, the Dao "no es un camino que seguir, es simplemente un camino que es en sí mismo el camino natural, sin más". Alan calls it The Watercourse Way, as Lao-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu used the flow of water as the most pure metaphorical element to describe or explain the Dao. 

The Dao De Jing starts saying: "The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal or constant Dao". This phrase teaches us that the conception and understanding of the Dao escapes our conscious capacity, principally in terms of language. It reminds us that there must be another way to comprehend or live with our own nature, and that this way goes beyond that which we could potentially translate or express in words, and that this way is, in spite of being complex, simply natural.  

In its religious, esoteric or even phylosophical form, Daoism implies that those that consider themselves to be Daoist follow or apply the teachings, precepts, methods, practices or disciplines (See Relation of the Dao with the practices- Qi Gong, Tai Ji, meditation) that lead to the refinement of the Self (in physical, energetic and spiritual terms, as well as in terms of universal values such as love, honesty, humility, respect, forgiveness, compassion, peace, inclusion, etc.), and following this path of cultivation achieve immortality (illumination or ascention). These practices vary greatly and imply the implementation of teachings on a daily basis, as well as the practice of more structured methods, for example, those related to meditation and internal alchemy.  What isnoteworthy about Daoism along these lines, in any of its forms, is that it makes the person responsible of its own life, behavior and attitued, therefore responsible of its own cultivation and ascention. Surrounding religious Daoism, there are deities, spiritual hierarquies, liturgy, temples, monks and nuns, teachers and disciples, and so on.  

Endless scrolls could be written about Daoism, what I would like to highlight is that it poses an organic vision of the universe, this is, that the entire cosmos is implicit in each one of its elements, that each one is or exists only in relation to the rest, and that, therefore, absolutely everything has a reason to exist. Take a tree as an example, it cannot be seen just as a tree, but like a tree that does not exist without the clouds, the rain, the soil, the sun and the moon, hence, the tree truly is and consists on all these elements. Daoism not only suggests interdependence, but that being or existing arises simultaneously with respect to the rest; Watts presents two interesting examples about this: "the sun would not be without our eyes", and "the universe would not exist without consciousness", and viceversa.

The universe emerged with us; with us, all things are one -Chuang-Tzu.

Therefore, the Dao is not a God, someone or something that commands, as there is nothing or no one to command, it is simply a virtuous, wise and natural simultaneous interrelation among all beings and all that exists, which conform the totality or the unity (Oneness), the Dao. 

Besides the vital principle of Yin-Yang (the explicit duality expressing an implicit unity) Daoism also poses other principles such as Li (the order of organic pattern of the universe, which does not follow a lead but exists for and by itself), Wu Wei (non-action, not forcing, flow according to the present moment, according to the Dao) and Te (the natural virtue, the virtue of the heart, the grace of living in harmony with the Dao), among many others of great interest that I invite you to explore in more detail. 

For more information about the relation between Dao, wisdom and religion, see Li Shifu's article