Practise Tao Writing

To become a Tao Writer, it is first useful to familiarize yourself with the philosophy of Tao-te-Ching. I have been interested in Tao since I was a teenager. I was always fascinated by the simplicity of this philosophy, which had the ability for a person to search and find the answers to anything that needed to be resolved. The first book on Tao which I read was the “Tao of Leadership” by John Heider, which I read and re-read several times.

“Embracing Tao, you become embraced.

Supple, breathing gently, you become reborn.

Clearing your vision, you become clear.

Nurturing your beloved, you become impartial.

Opening your heart, you become accepted.

Accepting the World, you embrace Tao.

Bearing and nurturing,

Creating but not owning,

Giving without demanding,

Controlling without authority,

This is love.”

― Laozi, The Teachings of Lao-Tzu: The Tao-Te Ching

The absolute principle underlying the Universe and which combines the principles of Yin and Yang signifies a code of behaviour that is in harmony with the natural order. Taoism is the religion that developed from the philosophy of Tao in the Tao-te-Ching by the ancient philosopher Lao Tzu and means how things work in the world. Tao is the road or the path and the way in which one does something. Tao refers to the natural order, the laws of physics, the laws of science, and the nature of the world.

The four teachings of Tao to help you navigate through life are Simplicity, Patience, Compassion, and going with the Natural Flow of the Universe. We need to let go of things in order to be in harmony with the natural world. These are the core elements of Tao-te-Ching by Lao Tzu. Read a copy of the book when you have an opportunity in order to absorb this powerful philosophy.

I have walked the path of Tao Writing for a number of years now. The way in which I use Tao for my writings is by falling a simple method which anyone can learn. Here are a few of the principles I keep in mind when waiting to do a literary piece of any kind.

1. Meditate: Sit in quiet meditation for a few minutes and wait for ideas to emerge, now that you are ready to write an article or story that could have some importance to you.

2. Clear Your Mind: Detach yourself and your mind from the environment and let your mind become a blank page or a blank screen, which needs to be written on.

3. Ask: It is important to ask the universe to provide you with an idea, which is suitable for you to present in a literary piece while doing justice to the subject.

4. Patience: Practice patience and wait for the ideas to arrive in your mind naturally. Remember that this is a natural process. The idea or ideas will emerge in your mind seemingly out of thin air.

5. Ideas: When you are ready the ideas will begin to form in your mind’s eye or on your mental screen. This is the time to sit down and jot the ideas so that you do not forget them. Sometimes and with practice there is a floodtide of ideas. During these times I immediately write down all the ideas I receive and keep them aside to develop them later. These simple ideas are sometimes the seeds, which develop into complete stories, novels, poems, and articles for me.

6. Create: Now that the ideas have entered your mind, it is time for you to use your imagination and develop those ideas into your next literary piece. Go with the natural flow of your creative juices and start developing the idea for your next story, article, poem, or novel. There are times when one idea can be presented in a variety of forms. I always like looking at one idea from a number of perspectives. Inevitably, this results in me creating a number of writings, based on one simple idea.

7. Writing Principles: The 12 Principles of the Tao of Writing are as follows:

(i) Writing can be created in multiple forms, styles, and perspectives.

(ii) Writing is a natural way for writers to express their creativity.

(iii) The best pieces of work are done when the writing is natural and reflects the feelings and the identity of the author.

(iv) Writing is about Creation. The writer creates worlds from his or her mind.

(v) Writing is about detachment, where the writer can write about a situation, though he or she is not in it.

(vi) A writer discovers himself or herself through his or her work, as writing is about self-discovery.

(vii) Writing is also about change. It is about the changes the author would like to have in his or her real world and in the imaginary worlds he or she creates.

(viii) Writing is a unified process, where several ideas are brought together. This unification of ideas multiplies the impact of the literary work by the author.

(ix) Writing should be about simplicity. Simple ideas are sometimes expressed in complicated ways, which confuse the reader. The purpose of every literary piece should be to present simple and complex ideas in an interesting, entertaining, and palatable manner for the reader.

(x) Every author should seek to provide clarity on the subject so that the reader is empowered by reading that particular literary work.

(xi) Writing is a personal process and it is up to every author to discover their way on the path to becoming a Tao writer. Start with simple steps, keep practicing, and soon you will be a prolific Tao writer.

(xii) Remember the fact that writing is universal and we all possess the innate human skill of expressing our creativity in words.

I do hope that my tips and guidance will assist you on your exciting road to becoming a Tao writer. Your most valuable asset is your mind, with all its gems of unlocked treasures of ideas, waiting to be unleashed onto the world for your literary success.