Um.. I have come to the conclusion by evaluating the writings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu (who came after Lao, expanding where he left off) for myself... Also the word Tao itself does not mean the "way of life", it is simple "The way" or "the path" and the Tao Te Ching can be translated as "The Law (or Canon) of Virtue and it's Way." (there are other similar transalations if I remeber correctly..) Um.. Please don't assume that I have posted anything without thinking about it (no hard feelings). It's sort of rude. Thanks. =)

Actually, when speaking of the Tao, you have to look at the belief of Yin and Yang. Taoists stress the Yin over the Yang, and the Yin is the negative (passive) side. If you act upon things (agressive), you are altering their outcome. Taoism stresses inaction, allowing for the natural course of events to unfold.

That is not to say that Taoists do not affect the world around them, they simply do it passively. Example: Actively campaigning for stronger laws against littering is an agressive action (Yang). A Taoist is simply more likely to pick up litter and dispose of it when he finds it.

Granted this is not a conclusive definition of the Tao. Lao Tzu's writings were deliberately vague, as he claimed it was impossible to speak directly about the Tao.

In your example of fighting, shoving back is agressive, therefore Yang. A Yin reaction to being shoved would be to talk, and if the person shoved again, to work with their action rather than against it, i.e. using their force against them by sidestepping and helping them along to the ground. That action is passive and works in compliment to the Yang force exerted by the shover.

Shadowborn

Shadowborn, you're such a good arguer! I think i love those words and you just lost my mind. Yeah, that's a good thing to me. heh. Anyway, you just phrased that better than i ever can, i'm just one of those people that watch and see, and react quickly to a situation, not thinking really...sort of, until later...when i get time to reflect on how i reacted to such a thing.
Anyway, it's really good, no one can really ever describe the Tao...it would limit the things and the concepts of the Way. and it would sort of i think, be degrading, heh. "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao." what do you think about that saying? And telll me when you're on, so i can like, PM you and stuff. Heh, i think i love the way your mind works! :p

Annnnnd i still ain't incredibly nosy?!

Oh, and when i say that the Tao is the Way of Life, i didn't mean life as humans or as it should be lived. i meant Life in general as how we live right now, Tao is like behind the scenes kind of thing that pushes life to live forward and to help it along, to show it how and where to go, and then to just open the door...wait for you to walk in, before shutting it and gently, ever so gently, push you along again. it's not backwards...it's so modern and ancient at the same time! Really...really....I love the Tao. Got two cute little books on it. They're about Winnie the Pooh and the Tao! Heh. anyway...i read them both and i own them, thank the gods. i could see sort of how the Tao works, in those books and um...it's so cool, and i don't think i'll tell you the title, it'll make me sound like i'm trying to sell it here. :p i'm not. heh. i won't even mention unless you want to know and read it too. Why bother about books you won't wanna read?