Eastern Beliefs
"DO" - The Path
Many of you perhaps have heard of Bushido, Dao, Yin-Yang, Tao, Zen and other concepts like that, which sometimes are used without knowing their meaning, without understanding them, without any connection with the situation in which they are used. But what are all those things and how are they connected?
I`ll start with something considered to be the basic of those concepts, with the principle of "DO".
"DO" is a Japanese word meaning "way, path". It is a spiritual behavior followed by the sympathizers of a discipline - martial, religious or artistic. The concept of "DO" it is an essential part of the traditional martial arts ("BUDO") without which those would be only simple fighting techniques ("JUTSU"). The proper Japanese noun which corresponds to this Chinese-Japanese saying (from the Chinese term "DAO" or "TAO") is "MICHI", which means "road", "path".
This idea of "path" is long disputed and known as a way of acting or being, morally and socially, in order to achieve the final goal of being one with the Universe, sort of "adding points on your karma" in order to achieve Nirvana.
This "DO" is in a way similar to the well-known "DAO" of the Chinese, a moral, ethical and esthetically concept, in which the search for the happiness of the soul, of its absolute balance is primordial, no matter what discipline you practice (by "discipline" must be understood any activity in which you are involved; at some level, not very accepted, even the "perfect killer" is considered having a strong way of life, a good "DAO"; but in this case, the points are in minus on his karma).
Yin and Yang
Nevertheless, the Japanese concept of "the path" ("DO") is different from the Chinese one ("DAO"), meaning that it has no religious or superstitious connotation; it is just a "road" ("MICHI") that needs to be followed by those who indeed want to live a life as free men, with all the difficulties which this path implies.
This concept is somehow similar to the Greek concept which says that "in order to achieve the self-accomplishment you first have to know yourself and be able to dominate your reactions and feelings by your state of mind".
"DO" is a permanent search for self-perfection; it implies the practice of numerous virtues, which must take an individual to the perfect harmony ("AI") with himself and with all that is surrounding him. "DO" is in fact a healthy way of thinking, whose sole purpose is the spiritual harmony of all beings, the long-searched agreement with the Universal energy.
Over the years of search and practice, adding the interaction of different cultures and philosophies, "DO" philosophy became inseparable with "ZEN" philosophy, whose "active" side seems to be, because "DO" represents the wisdom, different from the simple knowledge, although it doesn't exclude it, because "to believe and to act are one and the same thing".
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