1. WHAT IS TAO? 道 Arnold Wang February 4, 2012 English Tao Class Kuang Ming Saint To Temple

2. Synopsis  According to Tao Te Ching, the Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. But it is unavoidable for human beings to use words to learn about Tao. We will learn together that Tao is the Truth, the God, the source of all phenomena, the origin of all things, and the essence of all beings. This presentation will help us recognize that Tao is our conscience and our spirit. We can apply Tao to our EVERYDAY life.

3. INTRODUCTION  Tao is unspeakable.  Tao is the source of all things.  Tao is the nature of living beings.  Tao is the key to eternal life.  Tao is the path to happiness.

4. TAO IS UNSPEAKABLE   Tao Te Ching, Chapter One   "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things."

5. TAO IS THE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS   Tao Te Ching, Chapter Forty-two   "The Tao begot one. One begot two. Two begot three. And three begot the ten thousand things."

6. TAO IS THE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS  Holy Bible, John 1:1-5  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

7. TAO IS THE NATURE OF LIVING THINGS  Tao is within everyone.  Doctrine of Mean: “Tao may not be left for an instant. If it could be left, it would not be Tao.”  Everyone has the inherent perfect wisdom, which the Buddha called Maha Prajna.

8. TAO IS THE KEY TO ETERNAL LIFE  Energy is neither created nor destroyed.  The Buddha taught that the Truth can "neither be created nor annihilated, neither be polluted nor cleansed, neither be increased nor decreased."

9. TAO IS THE PATH TO HAPPINESS  Applying Tao to our life will help us make conscientious and wise choices.  Do the right thing!  Conscientious choices will avoid hurting others.  Wise choices will also avoid hurting ourselves.  Wisdom will lead to happiness.

10. RECEIVING TAO  What does receiving Tao mean? –an environment created to experience Tao directly –Rediscovery, Recognize, Reconfirm  Receiving Tao is not converting to a religion –Conversion has three prerequisites  adoption of teachings  acceptance of teachers  abandonment of other philosophies

11. RECEIVING TAO  Receiving Tao is not converting to a religion –Prerequisites of receiving Tao are different  conditions are ripe  promise to be good  faith in the True Nature  We all need guidance.  How do we receive Tao?

12. CONCLUSION  Tao will guide us to do the right thing; Tao will lead us to eternal life; and Tao will bring us true happiness.  Receiving Tao is to rediscover our True Self.  We should cultivate Tao.

13. Discussion Questions  Tao is unspeakable. But when you have to talk about it, how would you describe it?  Is receiving Tao different from converting to a religion? Why or why not?