Is it Dao or is it Tao?
It is both.
The first Romanization of Chinese was the Wade-Giles system, this is where we get 'Tao Te Ching' from this is pronounced 'Dow' as in 'Dow Jones' so we get 'Dao De Jing'.
The 'Dao De Jing' way writing it is a more modern 'Pin-Yin' system attempting to do away with the misconceptions Wade-Giles leads to.
Either use is accurate so don't worry about it too much, in this web site I will try to stick to Dao De Jing but 'Tao' and 'Tao Te Ching' may creep in occasionally.
This is not intended to confuse you but to allow you to let go of the worry abut which form is best. As you travel your Path you will find your own instincts guiding you to what feels right for you.
Dao means “path” or “way” the way of all things, often
shortened and seen as “The Way of Nature”.
Imagine Dao as the Ocean of life. Oceans and water
is often used as a metaphor for Dao.
Water falls into the earth this feeds streams which
come from the mountains, the streams then turn to
rivers and rivers flow into the Oceans. Life all life from
galaxies to ants are as drops of water journeying in
the nature of water to the Ocean. In essence each
drop of water is from the Ocean remains part of the
Ocean and returns to the ultimate Ocean.
So it is with Dao.
This is of course over-simple in many ways, but it is a
beginning, a foundation of basic understanding we can
build on.
Although Daoism has its foundations approximately
5000 years ago from Fu Hsi; the most well known
Daoist work is the Dao De Jing/Tao Te Ching.
The Dao De Jing explores amongst others these
basic principles;-
· Simplicity
· Compassion
· Humility
· Moderation
· Wisdom