Taoism

Front 1

Monistic vs Dualistic

Back 1

Seeing the world as a single process of change. The separate things we in the West see are actually manifestations of the one changing whole.
vs
Seeing the world as composed of separate things and events, i.e. subject-object, mind-other, mountain-valleys, etc.

Front 2

Intuitive vs Rational

Back 2

Rationality is limited. The world can be intuitively apprehended. Intuition is the criteria for truth. Truth is subjective. Explanations of particulars are not sufficient to understand the whole.
vs
The world or reality can be rationally ordered and understood. Every thing/event has a reasonable explanation. Reason is the criteria for truth. Truth is objective.

Front 3

Organic vs Mechanistic

Back 3

The world is considered to be an organism. An organism is not composed of an assemblage of parts. Through growth the organism differentiates -- the minute nubs of the fetus evolve into forearms, wrists, hands, fingers, nails, etc...
vs
The mechanistic world view is a product of Newtonian physics and Cartesian philosophy. The world itself and everything in it is considered to be a machine and composed of parts. Man is consistently compared to the computer.

Front 4

Non-Linear vs Linear

Back 4

There are no separate things with a beginning and an end. The written language consists of characters which are pictures of the world. Making progress in one area is a trade-off in another area, i.e. cheap hamburgers and the diminishing rainforest or fast transportation accompanied by pollution.
vs
All things/events have a beginning and end. The written language is a series of letters and words strung out in linear grammatical order. We are making progress by coming from somewhere and going somewhere. Making progress presupposes that there is some sort of timeline.

Front 5

Realistic vs Idealistic

Back 5

The East is considered realistic because the immediate experience of the world right now, in the present, is real. The past and future are distortions and therefore, not real. Abstractions are not real.
vs
Ideas such as mathematics, laws of science and linguistic distinctions are real. The ideas of good, truth, justice are real (from Plato). Abstractions are timeless, sure and certain, therefore real.

Front 6

Synthesis vs Analysis

Back 6

Seeing that all things are interdependently related and are actually just attributes of the one process of change. Understanding is to realize this.
vs
Things can best be understood and known by breaking them down into their smallest component parts. Knowledge of things is knowing what they're made of and their cause.

Front 7

Internal vs External

Back 7

Emphasis is on internal development. One trains and practices an art form which becomes a meditation for spiritual growth, inner peace and awareness.
vs
Emphasis is on knowledge of facts, scientific methods, and skills. The learned individual has accumulated knowledge external to the self.

Front 8

Means/Present vs Ends/Future

Back 8

Actually there is no separation of means/ends. Emphasis is on the present experience, right now. The means is the ends and the ends are the means.
vs
Whatever is being done now (in most cases) is a means to a greater end that will be realized tomorrow, i.e. this life is a means and a stepping stone to realize the greater eternal after-life later.

Front 9

Harmony vs Conflict

Back 9

Opposite natures are in harmonious balance. One makes the other possible. There is no bitter without the sweet, good without the bad, winners without losers.
vs
Opposites are seen in conflict, with one trying to overtake the other; good overcoming bad, winners have beaten their opponents, men at war with nature, etc. In business one corporation overtakes and absorbs competitor.

Front 10

Relativity vs Absolutes

Back 10

All absolutes are ideas, therefore not real. Good and bad are relative to the situation at a particular time. What is good becomes bad and what is considered bad at one moment becomes good in the next.
vs
There are absolutes that are considered to be real. They don't exist in the world like tables and chairs, but in the mind, like the ideas of a straight line or the meaning of good.

Front 11

Change vs No Change

Back 11

Eastern thought teaches that change is real and the one thing that is permanent. The individual adapting to change can reach a stillness in the eye of the hurricane.
vs
Western thinking gravitates towards abstractions which are sure and certain because they don't change, i.e. mathematics. All western disciplines of science try to be as mathematical as possible.

Front 12

Body Knowledge/Wisdom vs Intellectual Knowledge/Wisdom

Back 12

Knowledge is being able to perform, to do. This is acquired through training and practice so that the action is spontaneous and effortless. The spontaneous action is not ego directed but is appropriate for the situation and circumstances.
vs
Knowledge and wisdom are associated with the intellect and its powers of rationality and manipulation of words and concepts. Spontaneity is associated with irrationality and loss of control.

Front 13

Freedom/Control vs Freedom/Control

Back 13

Freedom is being free from the domineering ego with its accompanying hates, desires, illusions, jealousies, angers, etc. Control is within and a result of training and meditation. One controls one's thinking by not controlling. 100% of attention is given to the task at hand and accomplished through practice.
vs
Freedom is being free to decide and choose. Freedom is legislated. Control in general is forced onto people and nature.

Front 14

Li

Back 14

natural patterns (snowflakes, waves) and the reason or principle of things; the pattern of behavior which comes about when one is in accord with the Tao

Front 15

Pu

Back 15

Simplicity, like an infant; uncarved block

Front 16

Yin/Yang

Back 16

Opposites are polar/interdependent; the whole is constantly changing/no absolutes (yin = nonbeing, yang = being)

Front 17

Shih Shih Wu Ai

Back 17

(Fa-tsang) Between one thing-event and another is no obstruction; jewels in net; everything depends on everything else

Front 18

Wu Chi

Back 18

Fa-tsang - empty circle, nothingness

Front 19

Wu Hsing

Back 19

Tsou Yen - 5 elements

Front 20

Hsing Sheng

Back 20

order of the elements and how they arise from one another; inseparability (building up/breaking down)

Front 21

Wu-Wei

Back 21

no action, no ego action; get so good at something that it is second nature

Front 22

Chi

Back 22

(breath/oxygen) force of life within all living things; chi flows through meridians

Front 23

Tzu Jan

Back 23

Spontaneity (result of training and practicing)

Front 24

Te

Back 24

the grace of living that comes naturally from being one with the Tao; perfect virtue

Front 25

Lao-Tzu

Back 25

Creator of taoism

Front 26

Kung Fu Tzu

Back 26

Confucius

Front 27

Chuang-chou

Back 27

Chwanza (butterfly)