The Vinegar Taster

We see three men

standing around a vat
of vinegar.

Each has dipped his

finger into the vinegar
and has tasted it.

The expression of each

man’s face shows his
individual reaction.
Confucius - Sour
• Life seemed rather
sour. He believe that
present was out of step
with the past.

And that the government

on earth was out of
harmony with the way
of heaven
Buddha - Bitter

• Life on earth was bitter, filled with

attachments and desires that led to
suffering.
Lao –Tse - Smiling

• Harmony between heaven and

earth could be found by anyone at
any time.

• Earth was in essence a reflection of

heaven, run by the same laws.
The Founder
 Lao – tzu “ meaning Old master”

Attracted many followers. Yet he refuse

to write his ideas because he did not want
to become a formal dogma.
He want it a natural way to life with
goodness, serenity and respect.
He believed that
poverty and
starvation
in society were
caused
by bad rulers.
 That
greed and avarice
caused wars and
killings and that
desires for wealth,
power and glory
were bringing about
the destruction of
society.
Human life is constantly influence by outside
forces. Hence to acquire truth and freedom, one
should practice simplicity.
Lao Tzu wanted his followers to observe and
thereby understand the laws of nature.
Ocean
Storm
Forest
Wind
Leaves
Birds
Water Falls
River
Rural Settlement
Irrigation
Mangroves
River to sea
Understanding the ways of nature in order to develop
intuition and build up personal power.
This power can be used in order to lead life
with love and without force.
Confucianism Taoism
• Guidelines - Virtue • Guideline – Nature
• The way (Tao) • The other way (Tao);
origin of creation and
• Ethical and religious the force.
basis Of institutions • Offered Alternatives
and arrangement of to Confucian way.
the Chinese empire.
• Placed importance to • Unknowable in its
people. essence, observable in
its manifestations .
 Before Taoism Principles

Yin – Yang
were
known
Yin North side constellation, denotes qualities as
shade, darkness, cold, negativeness
weakness, femaleness etc.
Yang South constellation, denotes light, heat,
strength, positiveness, Maleness
Interaction of this makes changes in the universe.
Taoist
gave the
importance to
the harmony and
perfection of the
nature.
They believe that in
order for a
human person to
find peace and
contentment.

Each and everyone

should follow the
Tao or Way of
nature and they
should become
one with the Tao.
Taoism sees nature and humanity as a unity and
does not see any difference between the two.
Its key principles are natural, simplicity,
effortless, action, spontaneity, and compassion.
That’s why the
principle that
should guide
life and
regulate the
actions of
human beings
is the same
principle that
regulate
nature.
• Tao is always without desire.
• The good is
accomplished
not by action
driven by
desire, but by
inaction
inspired by
simplicity of
the tao.
• Tao does not force or interfere with things,
but lets them work in their own way in
order to produce results in a natural way.
• For him, if everyone will follow the way of
nature, then there will be no need for harsh
laws, conscription, punishment, and wars.
Lao Tzu believe that humility, self denial,
simplicity, patience, and acceptance in the
face of suffering must be maintained.
Like Buddha, Lao Tzu, taught power of
meekness over evil . Of love over hatred, of
non violence over violence.
Human beings
are often
unhappy
because they
pretend to be
what they are
not, because of
pride,
dishonesty,
lust,
insincerity, and
worldly
attachment.
Unless they
separate
themselves.
For Lao Tzu, the human person who has able to
master life is someone who knows the Tao or the
way.
This is because he must have listen to the voice within him.
The voice of wisdom and simplicity,
• The voice that reason beyond cleverness
and knows beyond knowledge.

• Everyone is capable of listening to this voice.

There is no calamity greater than lavish desire

There is no greater guilt than discontentment

And, there is no greater disaster than greed

Acting without doing
Lao tzu