Who was Lao Tzu? The name is an honorific which literally means "Old Master". Was he a contemporary of Confucius, and how much influence did they have on one another?Of all the legends attributed to Lao Tzu, are any of them based on truth?
Historians can quibble over these questions. Of greater import is what message was Lao Tzu trying to convey in his magnum opus Tao Teh Ching? The only book to be translated into more languages is the Bible. It would seem these two most widely read texts have several things in common.
Both Books delve into the mystery within us. Lao Tzu makes liberal use of paradox and analogy, and often makes references to ancient sayings. Jesus, in the New Testament, often uses parables and frequently refers to the words of the prophets who came before him.
What is this mysterious Tao of which Lao Tzu speaks so cryptically? Could it be at all related to the Holy Spirit of the Bible? Most Christians would be hard-pressed to define or agree upon who or what the Holy Spirit represents.
This Tao also seems reminiscent of the concept of The Spirit which Don Juan introduces to his protege Carlos Casteneda. Lao Tzu advises his readers to return to a simpler, more humble state. Is this similar to the invitation to renew and strengthen our connection to the Spirit, as Don Juan implores Casteneda?
Then there is the concept of Wu Wei or non-action, which flies in the face of Western concepts such as Science or causality. Western society is driven by the concept of doing, or cause and effect. The very precept of non-action is mysterious and without precedent in our world, yet seems to parralel Don Juan's concept of not-doing.