Islam # Taoism

Taiji_Tao wrote:   Take for instance a few interesting points that are often mistranslated  Tao Teh Ching: Tao (means God, it is the ancient Chinese word for God, like Allah is Arabic for God), tao (means the Way or path, you use this term when referring to the Way to God or the Path to God), Teh (means highest virtue), Ching (means Classic Holy Text, and only a few books in China have this title).  Now when you put the title together Tao Teh Ching you have a profoundly simple yet powerful title: "The Classic Holy text of God's Virtue".  This clearly now becomes one of the ancient texts referred to in the Quran as being given to man in ancient or earlier times regarding instruction to other non Arab people....  the Sage Lao Tzu (author of Tao Teh Ching) said ....unless one becomes like a child and returns to that state of simplicity, humbling oneself, lowering oneself to Tao and submitting his will to the Will of Heaven then he cannot enter the gate of Heaven.....  If that does not clearly show the same message then I can find more.  Peace be with you on your journey. Tom

"....unless one becomes like a child and returns to that state of simplicity, humbling oneself, lowering oneself to Tao and submitting his will to the Will of Heaven then he cannot enter the gate of Heaven...."

Edited by Caringheart - 05 January 2013 at 12:11pm

786SalamKhan wrote: Asalamualaikum, Taiji_Tao your points interest me but what about Chapter 4 of the Tao Te Ching when it says "It is older than God..." and another statement when it says "The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things..." How are they compatible with Islam when it says God came after the Tao and also the Tao Te Ching denies Oneness of the Tao?

Edited by Caringheart - 05 January 2013 at 12:10pm

Edited by Taiji_Tao - 24 November 2015 at 6:00pm

Taiji_Tao wrote: Salam,   Unfortunately, there are many terrible translations of the Tao Te Ching, especially those by Orientalists.     Chapter 4 of the Tao Te Ching says no such thing.  Chap. 4 is showing how Tao cannot be used up or filled it is everlasting and the source of the 10,000 things (the entire universe[s]).    Regarding Chapter 42: The Tao begot one, One begot two, two begot three, and three begot the ten thousand things....   This is the oldest treatise on evolution and physics, I will rewrite it in the actual terms for better understanding. "The Tao (God) created one [the Original Energy-first building block of life], The One [Original Energy] created two [Yin and Yang], The two [Yin and Yang] created the three [Liang Yi, which is Yin/Yang balanced with the third particle], the three (Liang Yi] created the 10,000 things.  A modern term for Liang Yi is the Atom (Protons, Electrons and Neutrons; or Positive [Yang], Negative [Yin] and Neutral)"   Would you not agree that God created the original Energy, then created the building blocks of all life including the individual parts of the Atom and that Atoms make up all life in the Universe?  This is what the verse is referring to....And yes, very consistent with Islam.  In fact, the Taoists and Muslims have a very long history together, very much like siblings. Also, all of the Taoist Classics; especially the Tao Te Ching and I-Ching speak of the Oneness of Tao (God).  There is even a similar expression: Muslims say Allah u Akbar (God is Great), in the classics the Taoists said Da Tao (Great God or God is Great).  .  I hope this helps bring clarity for you.

Salam,

Jazakallah for your answers. But which Translations of the Tao Te Ching do you use? I also suspected that when it says "The Tao became one, one became two, two became three..." it could mean "The Tao created one etc." I'm still not sure about chapter 4, I think I need a better explanation please.

I was also already aware of the hadith to go as far as China to seek knowledge although I do not know how that means that the Prophet himself had been to China.