According to the tenets of Taoism, Tao is conceived as the universal "first-cause." The aspiration of
humans should be to become one with the Tao.
Taoism teaches that the principle task of humans is to cultivate virtue or the
so-called Three Treasures or san pao: compassion, moderation and humility.
The Yin and the Yang
The cosmic symbol in Taoism is the yin-yang symbol--the bifurcated circle
whose white and black portions signify the complementarity of the universe
and all things within it. The yin (the dark side) is described as the feminine half
and the primal creative energy. The yang(the light side) stands for the masculine elemental
force. The yin and the yang are also symbolic of opposite though complementary forces
such as good and evil, light and dark, heat and cold, male and female and so on
Taoism teaches that human actions tend to disrupt the balance between
yin and yang. Hence, care must be taken in all areas of life--everything from
maintaining the yin and yangbalance in our bodies,
to the balance of yinand yangin the environment--to ensure the constancy
of cosmic equilibrium.
The Concept of Wu-wei
The concept of wu-wei 
or not doing is different from the notion of "doing nothing." The
principle of wu-wei involves moving with the tide rather than going against it. One of the main
ideas on Taoism is that there is a universal current or energy. The metaphor of water, its ability to
flow,(or to change its form and to adapt itself to the shape of a vessel, hence its inherent power)
is frequently evoked in the Tao Te Ching.
In human affairs, aligning oneself with the current is thus said to lead to success,
while opposing the stream of natural law ultimately leads to failure. Wu-wei
thus requires that one needs to be in tune with the current tide of things, hence the admonition to:
"Practise not-doing. Work without doing"
from the Tao Te Ching63
Some other quotes from he Tao Te Ching that support the idea of "going with the flow" include:
"Water gives life to ten thousand things and does not
strive. it flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao."
from theTao Te Ching8
"Alignment with the flow of natural order without struggling
against it" requires what Taoists term "not-doing."
"Not-doing," or wu-weiis different from "doing
nothing."Wu-wei has been described as non-purposeful
action--doing what has to be done without secondary thoughts,
agendas, intentions or goals. Non-purposeful action
has been likened to water which is able to take on
many forms,but is sufficiently powerful to erode rocks and stones.
Affirmation of Nothingness
Taoism places value on nothingness, and facing the void is not a source of dread.
On the contrary, the acquisition of material goods, knowledge,
wordly power are, in terms of Taoist values, the source of human ills.
Seeing value in nothingness and in non-structured perceptions is ultimately
the way humans can be at one with cosmic order. The following are a few quotations that affirm
the value of nothingness:
"Thirty spokes surround the hub of a wheel.
It is the hole in the middle which makes the wheel useful.
Shape clay into a vessel.
It is the space within that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows.
The holes make them useful
Gains come from what is not present.
Utility comes from what is not there."
from the Tao Te Ching11
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