I found this website with a table that pretty accurately describes some of the main differences between Eastern and Western thinking. Although the information in the table is sort of bias, it gives a pretty good idea of what distinctions can be made. The way I like to think of it as is the East is the monk in the forest or the thru hiker on the PCT, and the West is the American family in the suburbs or the businessman in New York, or something. Neither are good nor bad- just different. However, when you can put yourself in the "Eastern mindset," you can more easily understand Taoism.
http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/cultures_east-west-phylosophy.html "Broadly, speaking, Western society strives to find and prove "the truth", while Eastern society accepts the truth as given and is more interested in finding the balance. Westerners put more stock in individual rights; Easterners in social responsibly." [I was going to copy and paste the table in here, but the format got all funky. I have the link as a reference, though. EAST = INTRINSIC , WEST = EXTRINSIC]
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![]() Today in Psych class, we were talking about motivation and its place in what some psychologists call the "Human Condition." Before Abraham Maslow (1908-1970), psychologists were concerned with was why things went WRONG in the human brain and to human behavior. Maslow, however, desired to figure out how and why things went right. Upon this, he created a little pyramid which is now called "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." It looks like this: Essentially what it means is that you must meet basic needs before you can meet the other psychological and cognitive needs on the chart. You may move up the chart once you've "completed" (so to speak) one level, and you can swivel back and forth at any given moment in time. Transcendence is what I'd like to talk about though. Essentially, when you've reached transcendence and self actualization, you are at your "maximized potential," or so to whatever you see fit as that definition. Happiness. It's when you are living an authentic life and a life for you. He characterizes these people as problem-solving oriented (for self and others), able to accept the good and bad within themselves and others, able to laugh, autonomous, and valuing privacy. Sounds a lot like Taoism, right? Another thing Maslow emphasized was spirituality. Not in a religious way, but rather knowing where your place in the universe. That also sounds a lot like Taoism. And I think that's such an important point that I'd like to make in the end- know your place in the universe. Whether that be through religion, through traditions, through passions, through X, Y, or Z. It is indeed possible to reach self-actualization and to live a thriving life. I hope one day I am able to say, hey man, I am "self-actualized" and it feels great. Or whatever it is you're supposed to say you're not seventeen anymore and are actually able to claim that sort of thing. The great thing about Taoism is it relates to everything and everybody, and you can make cool connections like this one. I have put a lot of thought as to where I want to go with this. As I said before, this topic for me is mostly internal, and it's not easy to explain or share. However, I hope I am able to get the point across to people. I want to emphasize the fact that you cannot think about Taoism in a western mindset, and I also want to emphasize how influential it can be to every day life. I am really hoping that after these last few weeks of cold, slow February trickle out I am able to begin really going in depth with some of the books and lectures that got me into Taoism. I think those will be the most helpful in my preparation for presentating. Overall, I think I have become more in-tune with this topic. Taoism is super rad and super important to me, so I am very happy to be able to spend my free time listening to lectures and reading books about it- and it counts for something, too!
![]() Alan Watts was most of the reason I got into Taoism. I am super into philosophy, so I started out by simply listening to his lectures about money, life, and all that stuff, but as I started listening to more of his lectures and reading more of his books, I was introduced to Taoism. He's a western guy, but he's an eastern philosopher, and he expresses Taoism in such a brilliant light. Or so in my opinion. Hands down, I find his work more intriguing than anyone I've ever come across. It makes you think, and I like that. This lecture is one that I find particularly intriguing. If I'm not mistaking, it was one of the first I ever listened to. He gives a western perspective to it, and that makes it easier to understand. I found a transcript of it and took notes on my own, but I'm not going to type them up here. Besides, one can't simply... "summarize" Alan Watts. Only Alan Watts can summarize Alan Watts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98mrQmymLnE “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.” ~Lao Tzu The past few weeks have been very hectic, and I have been struggling to find the time for appropriate research... So I have compiled a list of things I'd like to analyze and read and re-read and what not during the next few months:
Alan Watts- The Game of Black and White Benjamin Hoff- The Tao of Pooh West vs. East Wu Wei Taoism and Confucianism Intertwined The Real Self "Am I Real or am I just a Puppet?" Alan Watts http://www.sacred-texts.com/tao/tgl/tgl008.htm
Wu Wei: A First Examination I found a really in depth analysis of the concept of Wu Wei, so I will utilize a few days to try and pick it apart and decipher what it means. Wu Wei is a concept in Taoism that essentially means “not doing.” While attempting to explain what this means, we must remember (reference chapter one of the Tao Te Ching) that the literal meaning is not the true meaning. Some people think that people that maintain Wu Wei are those that spend all of their time in serenity and meditation- one that is not driven by any force. However, Wu Wei is much more than that. Wu Wei is doing and not doing all at once (reference Dynamic Balance). Here are some quotes that might help explain: “"The principle of wu wei, non-action, is also Confucian. Confucius says that Shun ruled the empire by non-action.” AKA his people obeyed him for admiration of his virtue. “It will happen, it does happen” “I do nothing, but the thing is done.” |