What is Great Knowledgein Taoism? 什么是大知
Paul PengWhat is Great Knowledgein Taoism?
Great Knowledge refers to the profound wisdom that enables one to comprehend Dao.
This term originates from Zhuangzi·Qi Wu Lun: "Great knowledge is broad and unconfined; small knowledge is narrow and contentious."
What is Great Knowledgein Taoism?Small Knowledge means using the mind of deliberation to distinguish all things and their right and wrong, falling into the whirlpool of endless disputes and unable to extricate oneself, and drifting far from Dao. Great Knowledge lies in regarding all the myriad things in the universe as manifestations of Dao. It abandons deliberation, embraces humility to respond to things, shows a broad and magnanimous demeanor, does not distinguish between self and other, confounds right and wrong, equalizes all things, unifies life and death, attains absolute tranquility of the mind, acts naturally and non-action, and unites with Dao. The Great Knowledge that Zhuangzi advocates is the true wisdom of experiencing and comprehending Dao. Cf. the entry on "Small Knowledge".
