Tao and Torah

My brother and I had a long talk last night, despite his need to go to bed early. His new phiosophy of interest is "Taoism." I thought it was interesting that the words Tao ond Torah have a similar definition. Torah means alot of things but most simly it's definition is "the way." Tao is best or at least most simply defined "The way of things" or "the way things work." A taoist will not call himself a taoist... Tao is not exactally a label, or they don't like to think of it as one only because it cannot be defined. If you come of with a definition for Taoism it's not Taoism. Think of it like this... if, when you are defining a word you use the word itself in the definition it's not really defining the word. Same with Tao except everything is Tao so whatever definition you give it you're using the word itself. The entire thing, whatever it is, is all about medetation and "getting beyond rational thought" and intellect. It's coming in touch with the world in a way that creates harmony by simply living in a moment without doing anything else. It's simply "being" and "exsisting" in a way that seeks nothing of "the self."

In discussing these things with my brother I began to see that this Idea "Tao" and the idea of "Torah" (living in harmony with God) are very similar. Except the approach might be (I say might because of my limited knowledge of Taoism) different. While Tao asks to separate oneself from "the moment" Christian living is about embracing every moment. Just living in a moment, without an agenda, without seeking yourself, but embracing and affirming the good that saturates the world, the weight of God that fills all things.