The Secret of Happiness Is to Enjoy the Present

Lau Tzu and Confucius are two of the world's major philosophies that have been bestow by Chinese society. The most simultaneous conflict between Lau Tzu and Confucianism may appear to be indubitable. Such as how Confucius takes more active view in order to accumulate “jen” or good is by knowledge and obedience. Lao-Tzu prefers an inconspicuous approach to life, but both of them had the same ideal process to reach enlightenment. Just expressing them is very distinctive from each other.

To the TaoTe Ching, enlightenment is a continual process. This enlightenment is first obtained by continuous transformation of the self until the Tao can be realized. The transformation is obtained by following the way of the Taoist as passed down from generations. The same is true in Confucian context The Analects. Confucianism is not a philosophy that is only concerned with human interactions and the workings of good government. These are the simple aspects that lie at the center of Confucian philosophy. At the center you will find that transformation of the self that allows rise to all other Confucian ideals and eventually to enlightenment. In Book I of The Analects, Confucius said, "...It is upon the trunk that the gentleman works. When that is firmly set up, the Way grows." The Way that Confucius refers to is the same as Lau Tzu’s Way. This seems like Confucius recognize the attainment of the Tao is the ultimate achievement. In the Tao Te Ching book I, Lau Tzu says, “….The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way; the name that can be named s not the constant name.’’ This describes the need to understand both opposing ideas, so in this Way one will understand the Tao.

If so, then both Lau Tzu thoughts and Confucian thoughts place the Tao at the center of their philosophy and as their goal. Enlightenment through transformation seems to be one of the important parts of both Taoism and Confucianism. Only