This document summarizes the philosophical ideas of Lao Tzu, a 6th-5th century BC Chinese philosopher who authored the Tao Te Ching. Some of his key concepts discussed include Wu Wei or non-doing, which advocates effortless and natural action by flowing with the Tao or nature. Lao Tzu also believed the weak can overcome the strong through softness. The document then discusses how some of Lao Tzu's ideas like Wu Wei and concepts of emptiness and interconnection were compatible with and influential on later Buddhist teachings introduced to China. Both philosophies saw harmony with nature as important.

1. The Philosophical ideas
of Lao Tzu

2. Lao Tzu
❑ China philosopher
(6th-5th Century BC )
❑ Same period with Confucian
(Kong Zi) , Greek Philosopher
Thales, Heraclitus and
Gautama Buddha.
❑ The author of “Dao De Jing”
(Sutta of the way and virtue )

3. Philosophical idea of Dao:
Wu wei – Non-doing
❑ Dao means “the way of
life” or “order of nature”.
❑ Wu wei (無爲) is a key
concept of Lao Tzu’s on
Dao, means “doing
nothing”, or “non-doing”.

4. Effortless doing
❑ People misinterpreted “doing
nothing” as something
passive, lazy or negative.
❑ But means “effortless action” .
❑ If no action is needed based
on the laws of nature, doing
anything is overdoing.

5. Just fit actions
❑ Ex: planting a tree, need
sunlight, fertilizer and water.
❑ Watering the plant everyday,
and let it grow naturally.
❑ Don’t water too much,
without excessive or wasted
effort is non-doing.

6. Balancing effort
❑ Ex: learning ride a bike.
❑ Struggle too much,
over “doing” or “acting”,
easy fall down.
❑ Found the balance and
momentum, ride with
little effort, move
ahead effortlessly!

7. Flow with nature
❑ Know when to do and when
not to do, flowing with
nature.
❑ “Seem like doing nothing,
but one could accomplish
everything”.
❑ Wu wei: Unity between the
self and nature, a loss of self-
identity.

8. Philosophical ideas on relationship:
Weak is good
❑ Normal ideas: People must
strong, smart and clever.
❑ Ex: Teeth and tongue
❑ Ex: Tree and grass
❑ Lao Tzu: Don’t strong,
don’t smart, be humble,
simple and less desire.

9. Softness overcoming hardness
❑ Ex: Water and mountain.
❑ Water is soft, but can penetrate
stone, mountain and earth,
change its shape.
❑ What is strong not really strong,
what is weak also not really
weak.
❑ Soft character can go further,
sharp character easy get
conflict .

10. The influence of Lao Tzu to the Buddhist
❑ After Master Bodhidharma达摩
from India introduced Ch’an (Zen)
Buddhism to China, the two
philosophies interact harmonious.
❑ Many concepts and ideas taught
by the Buddha and Lao-Tzu are
comparable and complementary .

11. Zen and Wu wei– Non doing
❑ Zen seeks simplicity,
mentioned more on
“Emptiness”, simple
life; simply “flow” with
nature.
❑ Very similar to the
Lao Tzu concept of
‘Wu-Wei’ (non-doing).

12. Suññata and Interconnectedness
❑ Wu wei similar with
emptiness (Suññata) and
Interconnectedness in
Buddhist.
❑ Suññata is more about
inter-connectedness
(Dependent Origination)
than nothingness.

13. Dao give rise to all beings
❑ Dao does not have “being”, it is not a thing or a substance in
the conventional sense.
❑ It cannot be perceived, but it can be observed through the
things in the world.
❑ Dao gives rise to all beings, but itself
does not have being.

14. Suññata -- Nothing is independent
❑ Suññata is
recognizing that
nothing has an
independent stand
alone existence, all
existing is dependent
origination.

15. Live harmony with nature
❑ Both Lao Tzu and Buddhist
encourage on live in
harmony with the nature.
❑ Lao Tzu’s work is
important, serve as a
reminder of the
importance of naturalness,
emptiness and openness,
that flourished Eastern
philosophy.

16. END