There are really three great views of the world. The Western view sees the world as a built artifact, such as in ceramics or carpentry. Then there is the Hindu view, which is dramatic and looks on the world as a great drama. And then there is the Chinese view, which is organic, and looks upon the world as an organism — a body.

The Tao is roughly what we would mean by the basic energy of the world — not in the sense of chaos, but equally not in the sense of what we mean by order. The Tao does not rule. Lao Tzu says, “The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right. It loves and nourishes all things, but does not lord it over them.”

The Buddhist doctrine is called the Middle Way and it is summed up in the Four Noble Truths —duḥkha (frustration), tṛṣṇā (desire/clinging), nirvāṇa (exhale/liberation), and mārga (the path).

The first step of the mārga (path) is samyak darshan or “right view.” But samyak is a very curious phrase. It doesn't mean right in our sense of correct. Sam is from the root of “same,” as in our word sum, total, complete, all inclusive. We might use the word integrated, as when we say a person has integrity. 

Tao is alway yielding; it’s feminine in a way.  Lao Tzu teaches that suppleness and tenderness are the marks of life. By sailing with the winds of life, you will open yourself up to be a universal channel.

The Taoist manner of life follows wu wei, non-forcing. As you go through life, you may need to use a rudder, but don't ever go against the stream. If you are caught in a strong current, you will drown if you swim against it. You must swim with it and edge to the side. That's wu wei.

The idea of a yāṇa, or vehicle, comes from the basic notion or image of Buddhism as a raft for crossing a river. This shore is ordinary, everyday consciousness — mainly the consciousness of being an ego locked up inside a mortal body. The other shore is nirvāṇa or “release.” Nirvāṇa is often incorrectly understood as a kind of consciousness in which you are absorbed into an infinitely formless ocean. But really, nirvāṇa is this everyday life, but seen, understood, and felt in a very different way.

Zen is trying to have you understand and appreciate certain concepts that are quite obvious. The problem is you are looking too hard in the wrong places. So, to get students to look in the right direction, teachers of Zen use all sorts of skillful techniques such as koans (riddles) and zazen (seated meditation).

The term fūryū adds to the idea of going with the stream. However, you aren’t merely passively going with the waters, but rather you know you are flowing with them. Self-consciousness adds something to life. It's one thing to be happy and not know it. It's another thing to be happy and to know it.

What does meditation feel like? Alan Watts guides you on a 20-minute journey that both describes meditation and gives you a felt experience of the present moment, just as it is.