To be a Tâoist means to be a follower—but an intelligent follower—of the doctrine attributed to Lâo-tze, which is condensed in the famous and obscure Tâo Teh King.
Tâo means “the way.” But in Tâoism it means the principle, the germinating force of the world. This principle, from which all being is derived, animates the world continually as Teh, that is, as potential energy. The development of Teh is Wû-wei, or “inaction.” In other words, when nature acts spontaneously it is perfect. Even so man should act, relaxing himself. If he tries to modify, to check, to rule, to find a purpose, he ruins everything. Man has set reason and knowledge over against natural spontaneousness, has tried to do too much; and for this cause he is unhappy. On the contrary, he should but obey his own body, living in purity, that is, in accordance with nature. Thus the spirit itself is saved, all else is transformed into spirit, and perfection and immortality are attained.
Tâoism in its most constant aspect is then a sort of Rousseauism extended from the human creature to the entire field of existence. It implies acceptance, non-resistance, inaction. It is, in short, a recognition of that uselessness which is inscribed at the end of all human exertion. When Tâoism got down to the poets and the people it lost itself in incantations, in materialistic
