as well as Taoism, is descended from the literature of wise classical Chinese scholars of the first import; and from the writings of Lao-Tau and Chuang Chou comes that wisdom known as Taoism.
Being more a moral code of conduct than a religion, the philosophy of Taoism provides man with a deep and ready communion with reality.
The contemplative nature of this Oriental Wisdom expresses a Sudden Awareness of "life" which is not so openly emphasized in Christianity.
Taoism is the way of the Tao, of which no definition can be given. Suffice it to say that Tao is the One which is beyond, yet including, all op-posites; it appeals to the intuition, and the conceptual Western mind may be driven mad in attempting to understand.
According to Thomas Merton. "Wisdom is not penetrated by logical analysis." Nevertheless, the Tao is being brought to the West, and we would be wise in getting ready to receive it.
Again Thomas Merton in The Catholic World of May. 1962 announces that "Christian Culture Needs Oriental Wisdom" and asserts that "A Christian culture that is not capable of such a dialogue (i.e., a reaction with "all that is pure, wise, profound and humane in every kind of culture") would show, by that very fact, that it lacked catholicity."
Many alterations will necessarily be made in adapting the Western mind to Oriental Wisdom. However, it is comforting to know that we are not completely without the "primitive intuition" so basic to Taoism.
Christianity itself possess a mystical nature which finds expression in "liturgical celebration of the mystery love."
And pure Love is not opposed to Tao. The similarity is astounding, and our discovery of it will be commensurate.
Thomas Merton has initiated a bold and enticing step toward the cultural unity of mankind. It is not folly to suppose that this Eastern journey promise more success than the endeavor of Columbus who started out to find Great Cathay by girdling the globe and ended merely by discovering America.
CHINATOWN NEWS, APRIL 18, 1966
R. H. (BOB) LEE, B. Comm.
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