idea. Chuang Tzu did for Taoism what Mencius did for Confucius. Lao Tzu is the legendary founder of Taoism. He and Confucius were both servants of the state before they founded religions. Some say that Lao Tzu is merely a mythical figure. His name means “little old child”(e1). It can also mean “old boy.”(g1) Legend has it that he was born an old man with white hair. Some legends say that he was conceived by a shooting star, which his mother carried in her belly for eighty-two years. This is how he was born a wise man. Some say that he belonged to the occult, but others say he was a very down to earth man. After Confucius met Lao Tzu, this is what he said: “I know a bird can fly; I know a fish can swim; I know animals can run. Creatures that run can be caught in nets; those that swim can be caught in wicker traps; those that fly can be hit by arrows. But the dragon is beyond my knowledge; it ascends into heaven on the clouds and the wind. Today I have seen Lao Tzu, and he is like the dragon!”(g2) Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching, which is the chief scripture of Taoism. It is the Taoist bible. It says that everything revolves around Tao itself. Tao Te Ching translates into The Way and It’s Power. It is the basic text of Taoist belief. Lao Tzu says “man takes his law from the earth; the earth takes its law from the heaven; the heaven takes its law from Tao; but the law for Tao is it’s own spontaneity.”(e2) He also says “to know the law is to be enlightened, not to know it is misery and calamity. He who knows the eternal law is liberal minded, he is just; being just he is kingly; being kingly he is akin to heaven; being akin to heaven he possesses Tao; possessing Tao he endures forever.”(e2/e3) Lao Tzu said that many problems come from action, so stay inactive and you shall find happiness. “Occupy yourself in doing nothing.”(e3) Recom...
