posted on Sep, 9 2013 @ 02:56 PM
Taoism... simply seeing the duality in all things and using a skillful effort to harmonize and balance the two, or put them in the middle ground...
it's a very solid path, because avoiding the extremes is the path. Typically the mind thinks black or white with a small possibility for change or
understanding the other side. You catch the mind or environment in either of the two polarization's, you stop look at the other side to understand it
to bring it into, complete balance and harmony. Be like water. The Yin and Yang eventually disappear and what's left is a circle...
This is what the Taoist masters that converted to Buddhism at the heart of Shaolin, are pointing at when you see the zen circle. There are the ten Ox
herding pictures that show the progression very well. Originally there where only eight pictures, with the influence of the Bodhisattva concept, the
last pictures were added to the set. To explain the iconography, the Bull Ox is the mind, the little fellow is the consciousness... it is a very clear
and simple depiction of the Taoist path even though it is usually only found in Buddhism.
It is interesting how the two blended influenced and grew with each other, unfortunately in some instances these blends have created some sediment to
rise up and cloud the teachings. Like the Hou Tau is a Taoist meditation, brought into buddism, as well as the 10 herding pictures. In the Eastern
tradition, it has been work smarter not harder... if something rose that was quicker and simpler that did the same job, the previous was abandoned.
But looking to the early writings and roots of Buddhism in China, is where you find the most Tao... as most of the masters jumped ship.