'Virtue'
in taoist China also has the connotation of power. It is not power that
wrestles from the universe what the self demands, but the power that is
given by the universe to those who are selfless because they move with the
way of the universe.
It is the consequence of being in a state of oneness with the
undifferentiated wholeness of things, of a profound synchronicity in which
the distinction between inner and outer disappears.
This virtue is not the result of righting something wrong or resisting
something evil; it is a letting go of control in order to move with the
inherent beneficence of things.
In such a state of virtue/power, a person does not behave as a wilful and
individual agent. To have virtue/power is to be selfless and, therefore,
with neither virtue nor power.
(Ray Grigg)
Being
Self-consciousness prevents people from acting in accord with their own
nature, and virtue is lost.
Consider the flamenco dancer:
There must be a total
immersion in the event itself.
The divide between the dance and the dancer must cease to exist; they must
become one: a joining of femaleness and physical expression.
It is the dancers femininity and passion that makes the flamenco the
flamenco.
Differences
In taoism, men and women are seen as uniquely different.
The
yin/yang symbol represents the balancing of these differences; the
perfect harmony of opposites.
Women are yin and men are yang; each
has attributes unique and specific to their own gender.
These were never intended to be clichés or stereotypes; they arose through
observation rather than thought.
Yin and yang are equal, yet different to one another.
Power
The power, the virtue of the female is found in being a woman; rather than
emulating the characteristics of a man.
Hence, a woman is
balanced by being
womanly.
Masculinity of manner or dress is seen as discordant with the
essence of a woman.
The same principle applies to men.
You cannot be other than what you are, and any attempt to change your innate
qualities is considered futile.
Taoism sees strength in being true to what you are, in following your own
nature.
This is part of
wu wei; going with the flow.
Wu wei explores how power can be
gained by keeping to the grain rather than going against it.
When travelling in water, it is simpler to be carried along than to fight
the current.
In taoism, people seek to take this one step further by asking what they can
do to capitalise upon the virtue.
What can they do to improve their harmony with the flow?
In water, it might mean using a sail.
With people, it could be attire or a consideration of posture and speech.
The art of
feng shui specialises in this skill.
More...
Page created 26 December 1998