Taoism is a philosophy that stresses living simply and honestly and in harmony with nature. It is often called The Way.
Relativity is a principle of Taoism that looks at opposites as two parts of a whole.
While the west would consider good and bad to be two opposites, the Tao focuses on the idea that everything is relative to the perspective in which a thing is viewed. There are two sides to everything.
If you focus only on one side, it’s like seeing a bunch of quarters on the ground and only picking up the ones that are heads side up. Anything that is, there is an equal opposite.
Wu wei is another principle.
It means no wasted motion.
Wu wei is letting things follow their natural course. This applies to daily actions in life, as well as government, war and business. For a leader it might mean relying on delegation and having trust that the work will get done. For an individual it might be doing something without an ulterior motive.
Water is used to describe the way that the Tao has of succeeding in the end. Water is yielding, and patient. It can be gentle and respectful and makes room for the rocks in the stream. It accommodates by becoming the shape of the container it is poured into and it seeks the lowest level, so it is humble. Over time, water can carve deep valleys into mountains.
“I’m riding the change in my life rather than resisting it.” – Seducing Aliveness.
The Tao teaches that if you align your daily life to the flow of the Tao with the philosophy of wu wei, you receive grace and vitality in complete balance.