Tao te Failed Event

“Failure is an opportunity.” Lao tzu (a 6th century BC record-keeper at the Zhou Dynasty court) (quote is from chapter 79, line 1 of the Tao te Ching) Lao tzu, (the name literally means ‘Old Master’ and he was thought to be a contemporary of Confucius) is typically credited as the author of the Tao te Ching (pronounced ‘dow deh jeeng’ and written as 道德經 in traditional Chinese). The Tao te Ching literally means ‘the way virtue classic’. Too often, we try to create a very one dimensional perspective on the many facets of life. This approach typically produces either an analytic, logical way or a creative, free-form sense. Our goal was to share unique ways of looking at failed events in one’s life, including perspectives that may not fit in your personal way of creating meaning from a failed event, be it linear or non-linear. Here we attempt to bridge the gap between those right and left-brain emphases and provide you with options based on your way of processing information. Many people view a failed event either as a polar opposite of success or as a linear reaction to trial and error. In this final chapter, we share the diverse idea of tao te failure or a virtuous path of failed events, and we describe a philosophical attempt to begin with two isolated seemingly opposite concepts and see the potential for unity so that we can each identify our own personal Tao. The Tao 1 The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao The name that can be named is not the eternal Name. (Lau, 1982) The Tao te Ching begins in a seemingly contradictory manner, as it appears to disagree with itself from the very start. If we are able to tell of the Tao, then it is not the Tao: what does that mean? If we cannot give it a name, then how do we refer to it? The Tao literally means ‘the way’, and as such it provides a way or path for the lives of its followers. Cooper (1981) has interpreted and connected the meaning of the Tao in his book, Yin and Yang: The Taoist Harmony of Opposites. He states, “Taoism is the philosophy of the art of living and relationships; it deals with the whole of Nature and man’s place in it. It is the philosophy of the rhythm of life and simplicity of mind. The aim is the attaining of balance and harmony between the yin and the yang known as the Two Great Powers.” In reference to the message of this book, one might perceive the parallel of a successful and a failed event as two significant powerful moments. To understand the Tao, it helps to first differentiate the Tao from two other well-known eastern philosophies, those of Confucius and Buddha. The best way to explain the difference is through a well known parable called, “The Vinegar Tasters”. “We see three men standing around a vat of vinegar. Each has dipped his finger into the vinegar and has tasted it. The expression on each man’s face shows his individual reaction. Since the painting is allegorical, we are to understand that these are no ordinary vinegar tasters, but are instead representatives of the “Three Teachings” of China, and that the vinegar they are sampling represents the Essence of Life. The three masters are K’ung Fu-tse (Confucius), Buddha, and Lao Zi (author Tao te Ching). The first, Confucius has a sour look on his face, the second, Buddha wears a bitter expression, but the third man, Lao tsu is smiling. To Confucius, life seemed sour. He believed that the present was out step with the past, and that the government of man was out of harmony with the Way of Heaven. To Buddha, life on earth was bitter, filled with attachments and desires that led to suffering. The world was seen as a setter of traps, a generator of illusions, and a revolving wheel of pain for all creatures. To Lao tzu, life should be happy, as the harmony that naturally exists between heaven and earth, and understanding what others may perceive as negative into something positive. From the Taoist point of view, sourness and bitterness come from the interfering and unappreciative mind. Life itself, when understood and utilized for what it is, is sweet.” It may not come as a surprise to you to see why the philosophy of this book leans towards the smiling Taoist as the metaphor for failed events that we have promoted throughout this adventure. To reinforce and connect this ideology, failed events are not only encouraged and absolutely necessary, but the result should be happy and harmonious rather than sour or bitter, which is the usual reaction to failed events. When we view failed events in a negative way, we propagate this stereotype in ourselves and we condition others around us either consciously or subliminally via one or more of the various learning theories we have discussed earlier. The brevity of the Tao projects an intentional metaphor on the simplicity of life, as it consists of only 81 very short poems. It is important to note that this direct approach to spiritualism is unique amongst other religions of the world. The poems address a wide range of topic in life, from religion to politics, money, and practical wisdom. Overall, the Tao encourages a balanced life approach and a Zen-like philosophy (a Buddhist derivative focusing on meditation, enlightenment and awakening) to addressing one’s life, especially in the context of failed events. There are many commonalities with today’s religions, such as wisdom, the love of money, humility, harmony, time, knowing oneself, searching for answers, and knowing when it’s time to stop as well as the duality of life and death and within life, of fear and love.