Taoists! Please tell me about how you follow the Way?

Question

'My' Taoism is 'Western' and somewhat philosophical. Being true to yourself, enjoying the simple pleasures of life and a perhaps more 'Pollyanna'ish than 'Vinegar tasters' attitude to 'good' and 'bad'. Not much reliance on books, though I still like 'The Tao of Pooh'. No gods, just ‘the Tao’. Not much more than that really.

Is your journey similar or do you follow a more 'religious' Taoism? Do you believe in Gods? Practice fengshui, T'ai Chi Ch'uan or use the I Ching? Do you read a lot, think about it, or just have an idea of the ‘flavour’ of it and go with the flow?

Please tell me more. And yes, I’m aware of the irony of trying to talk about it, but, hey. Why not give it a go?

Answer 1

I am another Western Toaist but I have never read the Tao of Pooh. I read the Tao Te Ching. The I Ching is heavy reading though. Personally I'm not into religious Taoism. Lao Tzu seems as though he didn't really agree with it either from my reading of the Tao. Following the way is observing nature and seeing how nature would do it. When the cues are not easily observed you reason it out based on your experiences. I'm not sure if you ever read the Hua Hu Ching. If not I highly recommend it. Also, read the parable of the Butcher and the Ox. You should be able to find it online. I try to live my life like that. (Pay attention to the tricky parts)

There is the link.

Answer 2

I have a few ways of following the Tao. To begin with, I practice Xing Yi (hsing i, spell it how you like), a form of internal martial art that has become a part of some Taoists practice. Beyond that, I do my best not to judge or apply preconceived notions when I am experiencing the world. I would also put forth the idea that Tao does not accept the concepts of "good" and "evil". Either one is merely a measure of the lack of the other. They define one another, like high rests upon low. If "evil" occurs, it must have been for some reason. The goal of the Taoist is not to judge the world, but learn from it in all its natural glory, unfettered by our own personal notions of right and wrong.

Answer 3

Religiously, I float between believing there are many deities or none at all...but regardless, I can see that the Tao philosophy exists. I've never seen or experienced anything without at least two sides. The Tao just is. Kinda like there are trees. You can believe or not but they're still there. I've done Tai'Chi and, after a while, it just feels good to stretch and move my muscles. I haven't tried Feng Shui but that's b/c I'm too lazy and have never heard anyone swear by it to bother trying.

Answer 4

The great thing about Taoism is that anyone can be part of it and is part of it whether or not they know or choose to believe it. The tao is everything and nothing, good and evil. It is a way to seek absolute truth. It is the very essence of all and anything you want it to be. To follow the tao you must discover it by understanding nature.

Answer 5

I find Daosim fascinating but I'm not sure I am a Daoist. I could talk all day about what this means to me but I'll spare you that. Suffice it to say I practice a form of "Small Dao". Every existent has it's unique dao. I am agnostic about a Great Dao (an overarching dao of everything.)

I look for what is unique about appearances and perceived entities and try to understand their behaviour and ramifications.

Answer 6

Have you read the book by Lao Tze

Answer 7

"THE WAY IS NOT. And when it comes one must lift one leg against the pole quickly." -- Mugda Dhuti 1289

Answer 8

I have always been interested in tatoo artistry, its fantastic.