The Difference Between Tao and Road

Xuefeng

January 3, 2022

Two remarkable aspects of Chinese culture that surpass those of other civilizations are its written characters and landscape paintings. Chinese characters are undoubtedly divinely created, as they embody the essence of the Tao and unlock its mysteries. Similarly, Chinese landscape paintings are ethereal and transcendental, created by individuals with celestial qualities. Appreciating such paintings is like traveling through time and space to enter an idyllic paradise—a breathtaking realm beyond the mundane world.

Let us explore the profound meanings hidden in Chinese characters to understand the difference between Tao and road.

Tao (道) The character 道 is composed of the radical 辶, which suggests movement or walking, and 首, which means "head." Visually, the character depicts a person walking while carrying a "head" or "mind." However, this "head" does not refer to one’s own mind but rather to the mind of a supreme leader or ruler. Who is the supreme leader of the universe? It is, of course, the Greatest Creator! Thus, Tao signifies walking in accordance with the Greatest Creator’s will or following the Greatest Creator’s guidance. To walk in the Tao means to align one’s actions with the Greatest Creator’s intentions.

The challenge lies in identifying where this "supreme leader" resides. For most people, this is difficult to comprehend. Therefore, the concept can be simplified: walking in alignment with the revelations found in nature—the myriad phenomena of all things—is also considered walking in the Tao. If one’s spiritual perception is dull and they cannot perceive these revelations, the idea can be further simplified: following the guidance of the Greatest Creator’s messengers is essentially walking in the Tao.

Road (路) The character 路 is a combination of 足, which represents walking, and 各, which means "each" or "individual." Together, 路 conveys the idea of "each walking their own path." Essentially, road refers to individuals walking their own paths, free from external guidance or direction. It implies that one follows their inner desires and walks the path they personally believe to be right. If someone does not act or speak according to their inner will, they are not truly walking their own road.

Summary If a person does not act or speak according to the Greatest Creator’s will, they are not walking in the Tao. If a person does not act or speak according to their inner desires, they are not walking on the road.

As a result, we find that most people in humanity are neither walking in the Tao nor on the road—they are merely drifting with the wind.

Why is the Tao of the Greatest Creator the best Tao for life, and the road of Lifechanyuan the best road for life? Because the Tao of the Greatest Creator is the righteous Tao, the ultimate Tao, and the road of Lifechanyuan is the road of blessings—the heavenly road.