The Complexity Of The Way
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Complexity Of The Way

South East Asian perspective on how to love yourself through going beyond dualistic logic

26
The Complexity Of The Way
The Tao Of Survival Blog

Tao or in other words, The Way, is based on the complexity of contradictions. Trying to make sense of statements in Tao - try to understand them through logic - would yield a 404 human error. This is not a trick, it is an ideology based on what makes you lose your mind if you use your logic to understand it, and love yourself if you give up on the idea of understanding. This is the way. The riddle’s coma is not death, it is finding the way. At least that is how Tao would put it. It is the truth that may not be learned.

Tao said:

“As soon as beauty is known by the world as beautiful, it becomes ugly.

As soon as virtue is being known as something good, it becomes evil.

Therefore being and non-being give birth to each other.

Difficult and easy accomplish each other.

Long and short form each other.

High and low distinguish each other.

Sound and tone harmonize each other.

Before and after follow each other as a sequence.”

This idea is the essence of strange loops. Being and non-being giving birth to each other is a doubt. A doubt that we need to get rid of to live the loop not break it. A doubt that everyone has. A doubt that Rene Descartes had when he said: “Cogito Ergo Sum; I think, therefore I am.” A doubt that William Shakespeare had when he said: “To be or not to be.”


What to do to understand the complexity of the way? To understand consciousness? To try and understand any strange loop? The first step has to be not to pin two sides as opposites. Harmonize our understanding between the sound of strange loops and the tone of logic. This view was mentioned in John Hospers’s Philosophical Analysis when he mentioned the second and third way to view consciousness introduced by Rene Descartes and the English School of philosophers; mainly John Locke and Bishop George Berkeley. The metaphors used were consciousness as a mirror and as a clean slate of sense-perception. Hospers goes on and say that: “The allied metaphors of both lead to an insoluble problem.” And he asks the right question which is: “How can consciousness be of something distinct from and outside of consciousness?”
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51524
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33080
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956061
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180997
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments