The Complexity Of The Way | The Odyssey Online
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.
friends
Kristin Buggy

College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life. However, it is also one of the toughest transitions to make. There is so much anticipation and excitement leading up to moving into college. It doesn’t truly hit you until move in day when your parents say their final goodbyes and you see their car drive away. You truly are on your own. I was blessed to meet my best friends within the first week of school. Your college friends are so important and here’s why:

Keep Reading...Show less
13 Real Thoughts Every College Student Has At Some Point
Good Call

There are a few thoughts that go through a college student's mind on a day to day basis. Some of those thoughts come from class, some of then come from when you are bored in class. Here are sixteen thoughts that college students think of on a day to day basis.

Keep Reading...Show less
mouse with a cookie

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone does not try to help their self before asking others. How can someone else be expected to help you if you do not first do that yourself? I'm all about helping those that need it when the time comes, however whenever someone does not even attempt to help him or herself first then that becomes a huge problem. As we all have learned, people tend to take advantage of us in one way or another. I am sure we all read this short story when we were younger and it follows that same principle:

Keep Reading...Show less
39 Traits You Know You Have If You're A Libra
Flickr

If you were born between September 23rd - October 22nd, then you are a Libra. Let's be real, Libras are the best because you are the perfect balance of all things in life. Some may find this boring, but they don't know anything about what it means to be all things at once. As Libras, we hold much on our shoulders that no one can understand. These are traits you know to be true if you are a Libra:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

12 Types Of Drunk Girls You'll See In Every Friend Group

"Getting drunk with your best friends is an experience in and of itself. It takes us on wild and ridiculous adventures with the people we trust with our lives."

1668
friends
Cloud Front

Getting drunk with your best friends is an experience in and of itself. It takes us on wild and ridiculous adventures with the people we trust with our lives. Each one of you plays a vital role in making sure the night goes (relatively) smoothly.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments