(6th Century B.C.) My name is Peng Dao and I payed a visit to my good friend Lao Zi in eastern China. He is a man of pure honesty and goodness. Although he is only a simple philosopher, he has ideas of a scholor or genius. His name Lao Zi means "old master" which defines him very well because he is very wise and full of knowledge. He told me about an idea that he had about teaching the ways of peace and simplicity to the people of Asia. "It will be called Taoism," he said "and it shall be practiced for many generations throughout the dynasties." I told him it was a good idea but not many people would like to live by those specific ways because they do not always want to be goverened with a special set of ways. "But they won't have to," as he explain the new way of life to me, "all they have to do is do what they are capable of. Live by three different 'jewels': compassion, love for others with violence, moderation, don't take things for granted, and finally humility, don't take yourself before others." I said that was an amazing idea and I encouraged him to try and hopefully succeed. I really wish the best to him, so I asked for more of a definition of the kind of "religion" he is starting. He said "Well, first of all, it's not a religion, it is a way of life. Taoism is the way of life that tells about the way or path through life. The three jewels, like I said earlier, are compassion, moderation, and humility. I am working on a symbol to represent all the harmony I wish to bestow unto the people, it is a circle with half black and half white with a black cirlce in the white half and a white circle in the black half, it will be called 'Yin Yang.' The principles of Taoism will be Tao-the way, De or Te- power, virtue or integrity, Wuwei- without action meaing no violence, and Pu- simplicity. That is all I am able to tell you for now Peng, so leave and I will think more of it and tell you once I am finished."
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