Expert: Joe McSorley - 6/16/2008

Question
Hello

Taoism asserts that right being leads to right doing and Confucianism says that right doing leads to right being. What does that mean?

Answer
Dear Siana,
   These are both folds in the same cloth, just two different ways of viewing things.  In Taoism the person that has achieved harmony with nature will act according, or right doing, in nature.  They will naturally, through right being, do what is right and proper for them to do.  In nature animals do what is right and necessary for their survival because they are one with the Tao.  Humans are broken from their root in nature and therefore don’t do what is right because they don’t know what is right.  If we have become one with the Tao then we will live in natural harmony and do what is right because the core of our being is right and now we follow that path effortlessly.
  In Confucianism it is our attempt to live by right doing that is meant to lead to this harmony.  Confucianism is more of an ethical system and not as philosophically bent as Taoism is.  It is the goal of Confucianism to live in one’s right place in the family, society and the world while in Taoism it is the goal to harmonize with nature which will lead us to living in harmony with family, society and the world.
  In a musical analogy to this there are some people who play inspired and those who do not.  Those who can do this naturally will do it from their core and have an intrinsic understanding of what they do.  Someone who is not inspired will practice scales and exercises in the hope that this ‘right doing’ will lead to inspired playing or ‘right being’.   Right doing for someone training for the Olympics would be to eat right, exercise right and do those things that are conducive for their development.  Someone on a spiritual path would do the right things, conduct right thoughts and be in a healthy mental environment so that they might achieve a profound realization of their goals.  This only makes sense in that you can’t live a life of drunken debauchery and expect to have some great spiritual or athletic achievements.
  I hope this has helped you. Take care,
          Joe