What is the meaning of Tao?
The Tao alludes to so much, it alludes to the eternal. The Tao is alluded to be responsible for creation and supporting the functioning of the Universe and it was also present prior to creation.
In this sense The Way is quite an insufficient translation, so really it is best to call it Tao!
What will happen as you study and meditate over the Tao and its holy scriptures – an intuitive understanding of the Tao will arise within you and you will come to the realisation that all words that describe The Tao are totally inadequate.
The Tao Te Ching begins with this very problem of describing the meaning of the word Tao.
The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.
The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin
In other words any description of the tao is NOT the true Tao.
The Tao Te Ching (as far as I am concerned) aims to destroy all one’s concepts and ideas of what one thinks of the Tao, or what it may mean. And in this way when all concepts are destroyed one is left with an experience of Nothingness, of Emptiness, and out of this experience of Nothingness, of Emptiness will arise is an intuitive understanding of Tao.
For this reason I have designed the upcoming course so we can sit in Silence together, leaving all concepts and ideas of the Tao to evaporate!
ANAND NIGAM
FURTHER NOTES
The Tao includes several concepts in one word:
- the source of creation
- the ultimate
- the inexpressible and indefinable
- the unnameable
- the natural universe as a whole
“The TAO is to man as rivers and lakes are to fish, the natural condition of life.” Chuang Tzu
“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;
The Named is the mother of all things.
There was something undifferentiated and yet complete,
Which existed before Heaven and Earth.
Soundless and formless it depends on nothing and does not change.
It operates everywhere and is free from danger.
It may be considered the mother of the universe.
I do not know its name; I call it Tao.
All things in the world come from being.
And being comes from non-being. (form comes from formlessness)? “
Tao Te Ching
