dual essays are looked at. The Taoist believes that wu-wei, meaning inaction, is the key to reaching what is called Te (pronounced Da). Since nature just happens the best way to become part of it is through ones inaction. The Te is the power of the Tao, which is the unexplainable essence of the religion. Tao is prior to everything and thus is unexplainable to humans. It gathers everything in the universe to form a unity between objects and beings. Thus the actions of humans can greatly impact the balance of the universe. Humility, non-striving and un-selfing (no self is true self) are also vital parts of the ideal.The first of these two that will be discussed is Chuang Tzu. His work is a collection of short stories with moral lessons on how one should live their life instilled within them. For example, in his story of the cook cutting up the ox, he explains how by the cook letting his cleaver find its’ own path, it has never needed replacing. By becoming free of the distinction of the cleaver and where it should strike, he in turn became a better butcher. This is key to the point that Chuang Tzu is trying to make, mainly that non-action and no concern are key to living life with the Tao. If the cook keeps his senses idle and allows the spirit to become free he turns into the expert and wisest of all. He also talks of the faults of ethical principles and duties and obligations. These are all falsehoods in order to keep people in line he says. They blind people to the truth that one should live life without concern of duty because duty is exactly what we should try and avoid because it is action. It also makes people believe what is right not because they believe something to be, but because they are taught by mankind what to think as right or wrong. The happiness that these people try and obtain through duty can never be reached because they are looking for it. In his opinion, “…you never find happines...
