The Dao of the Everyday

Whenever I tell people that I follow traditional Daoist philosophy, I usually one of three reactions.

1. "...What's Daoism? "
2. "Oh, really? That's... different. How did you learn about that? "
3. "You don't really strike me as that kind of guy. "  

 I've pretty much learned how to discuss my philosophy well enough to get the point across to a member of any of these groups. One question that I've always received (in one form or another) is, "How do you know when someone is living in the Dao?", which is sometimes asked more like "How do Daoists go about everyday business?" It's a difficult question to answer, because the Dao is completely inexplicable in every way.

"The Way that can be expressed is not the real Way. "

That's the FIRST THING that is taught about the Dao. So, it's always easier to explain the effect that the Dao has on the individual.

• Simplicity.  Daoists will always go about their business in the simplest possible way-- The easiest metaphor is the image of water flowing around a rock. When an obstacle is present, it is always easiest to flow around it and try a different way. Daoists conserve their energy and are often content with what they have. It's not that they aren't ambitious; They simply go after the easiest way possible.
• Sensitivity. Daoists are incredibly observant people. They try and avoid aggression whenever possible and do what they can to help those in need. Daoists have a mysterious affinity for nature and oftentimes spend hours in wilderness learning from the seasons, studying life, and absorbing nature's creative anima. Nature is not the same thing as the Dao, but it is an expression of the Dao and is thus completely flawless and a window into the Dao.
• Flexibility. One of my good friend's name is the word for "Bamboo" in her native language. She once told me that her family gave her that name because they wanted her to be flexible, and in that flexibility she would have strength. Whether she knows it or not, that's a perfect illustration of the Dao. The Dao De Jing (道德经）says that newborn life is strong because it's soft and supple, and dead bodies are rigid and brittle when they are dead. The Dao holds that everything in the world is relative, and that nothing is absolute. Choices are always made from circumstances, not from preconceived notions.
• Independence. People who follow the Dao often don't pay attention (or even really care about) what society says. They don't pay attention to fads, trends, common-spread morality, or even most political movements. It isn't because Daoists are immoral-- It's because they act from a very profound, deep level of the spirit. Because of this, many religions and politicians throughout ages have accused Daoism of being dangerous or complacent. Those who follow the Dao value wisdom and affirm experience over government and etiquette.
• Focus. Those who follow the Dao have an intense inner focus. They accept who they are, and view that as the first step towards accepting all things as they are. They know how futile it is to try and be someone they are not. They accept that they were born and that they will die. This offers an opportunity to view the distance between those as a journey to be traveled. Many Daoists meditate on these precepts and gain a very focused view on the world.
• Mindfulness. Though strictly speaking a concept stemming from Buddhism, Daoism also participate in it. Tying in closely with the previous attribute, Daoists learn to see everything within everything. The old animistic teaching comes back: "Everything that is, is alive." If you ask a person what bread is, often times one who follows the Dao will describe it as being made of grain, water, heat, soil, the sun, air, time, et cetera. They will describe it as being made completely of non-bread elements. Seeing as we are made of non-human elements in the same manner, we know we are within the bread just as the bread is within us. This can be a source of great happiness-- all from mindfulness. As Jostein Gaarder wrote: "We, too, are stardust."
• Discipline. Most Daoists believe in the value of longevity, and try and live in a way that will prolong their lives as much as possible. At the very loosest, this means many abstain from drugs and tobacco. At the absolute strictest, many Daoists live on vegetarian diets and forbid any alcohol from entering their bodies, many even taking it so far as to live on little more than rice and water. The Dao shows patience, kindness, and love in every case.
• Joy. When a person glimpses into the Dao, it forever changes them. Sometimes it's described as seeing God or achieving Enlightenment. The experience can never be erased. The Dao grants a sense of connectedness to the source of life, to a force of sustenance. One who sees the Dao does not fear tyranny-- No tyrant can take the Dao from them. She does not fear poverty, because the Dao grants a profound wealth beyond imagination. She does not fear loneliness, because through the Dao, every living thing is surrounding them. She does not fear death, because through the Dao, everything that is is alive.

The Dao has fascinating effects on the self, but understand that this is not to say that only Daoists may experience this. In fact, the people I have met who best act through the Dao have been Christians, Buddhists, Atheists, and Shintoists. acting in wisdom, patience, and love.