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Taoism - 4/10/2010 7:55:13 PM

LadyAngelika

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Inspired by responses in the What is your faith/spiritual/secular perspective? thread and others over the last little while, I've noticed many people who identify as Taoists.

I have been myself very influenced by Taoism over the years though I have never really fully identified as one. What I'm curious to hear is what Taoism means to you, what it has given you, why you identify as this rather than its sister spiritualities Zen and Buddhism.

Looking forward to reading your responses.

- LA

<edited because I just realised that I referred to Zen and Taoism as religions when they are more commonly viewed as spiritualities.>

< Message edited by LadyAngelika -- 4/10/2010 8:21:12 PM >

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RE: Taoism - 4/10/2010 9:05:04 PM

Musicmystery

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LA,

There's a lot of overlap there. Buddhism came to China, met Taoism, resulting in Ch'an Buddhism, which got a remake in Japan as Zen. I don't see them as necessarily all that different.

That said, I'm not able to answer your question well. So much is experiential. "The Tao that can be told is not the Tao" is not mystical musing--it's literally true. The closest I've come is explaining it through T'ai Chi or music, much as "Zen in the Art of Archery" does.

The key word for me would be balance. It is a Way (Tao) through a seemingly complex world.

(in reply to LadyAngelika)

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RE: Taoism - 4/10/2010 9:08:45 PM

sunshinemiss

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Angelika,
While I generally identify kind of as a hybrid of many things (all the g*ds and g*ddesses are one!).... It is the visual of Taoism has helped me through many difficult situations. In all light there is some darkness. In all darkness, light. We do not experience joy without sadness and vice versa. I studied Taoism many years ago but honeslty can't remember much about it. But that picture has been a source of strength for me in the darkest moments... a reminder to find the beauty amidst filth and degradation. It guides me.

Best,
sunshine

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RE: Taoism - 4/10/2010 9:21:35 PM

sweetboundesire

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss
I studied Taoism many years ago but honeslty can't remember much about it.
Best,
sunshine

this is the most f***ing hilarious quote ever!
omg.

My sis has been talking Tao quotes lately, funny this thread is up here. I've enjoyed reading the quotes so much that i have a library book on hold about it at the library. Seems more like a philosophy and way of life as opposed to a "religion."

it's a very free'ing state of mind...full of wisdom, full of room to identify and understand and room to grow. I support all these things. Anticipating learning more

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RE: Taoism - 4/10/2010 9:49:42 PM

LadyAngelika

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quote:

I don't see them as necessarily all that different.

Neither do I, which is why I haven't identified with any one of these spiritualities specifically (a while back I would say I was more influenced by Zen but I sort of came back to Taoism lately) and also why I started this thread.

I do appreciate all the answers so far, knowing it isn't an easy thing to express in words.

- LA

_____________________________

Une main de fer dans un gant de velours ~ An iron hand in a velvet glove

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RE: Taoism - 4/10/2010 9:54:19 PM

sunshinemiss

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sweetboundesire

quote:

ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss
I studied Taoism many years ago but honeslty can't remember much about it.
Best,
sunshine

this is the most f***ing hilarious quote ever!
omg.

My sis has been talking Tao quotes lately, funny this thread is up here. I've enjoyed reading the quotes so much that i have a library book on hold about it at the library. Seems more like a philosophy and way of life as opposed to a "religion."

it's a very free'ing state of mind...full of wisdom, full of room to identify and understand and room to grow. I support all these things. Anticipating learning more

Can you please tell me why it is hilarious? I was just being honest. I don't remember the precepts. But the visual sticks in my head.

Glad to bring you a giggle, even if it was unintentional!

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Post #: 6

RE: Taoism - 4/10/2010 10:28:48 PM

Silence8

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In 'The Journey to the West', a lot of the bad guys are Taoists.

(in reply to sunshinemiss)

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RE: Taoism - 4/10/2010 11:01:00 PM

BKSir

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I personally like the free aspect of it. Not that it costs nothing, although, it does cost nothing, but that's beside the point. I like that it's basically, "Here's the Tao Te Ching. These are our basic ideas, in a nutshell. Take what works for you, leave the rest, and just basically don't be a dick."

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RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 8:02:43 AM

Musicmystery

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That's a pretty Americanized version.

Taoism is far more active than that, particularly cultivating Tao in the body. T'ai Chi is helpful for better understanding this.

http://www.answers.com/topic/taoism
http://www.answers.com/topic/tai-chi-chuan

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Post #: 9

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 8:27:49 AM

Kirata

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Taoism is a difficult puppy to nail down, and the rather decent overview at Wikipedia isn't encouraging in that respect. But I like the basic concept of living in harmony with nature, the acknowledgement that there is more to the order of nature than we perceive, and the stance of not trying to characterize that in ways which must inevitably be inadequate to its description.

K.

< Message edited by Kirata -- 4/11/2010 8:28:05 AM >

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RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 8:31:58 AM

Jeffff

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For what it's worth, the book that got me into it originally was "The Tao of Pooh"

Not the last word by any means, but a nice introduction.

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RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:01:23 AM

LadyAngelika

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeffff

For what it's worth, the book that got me into it originally was "The Tao of Pooh"

Not the last word by any means, but a nice introduction.

Funny Jeffff, it was that for me as well. I actually have the book right in front of me as I considered re-reading it again. I also have a copy of the Tao Te Ching (translated in English of course), which is a little trickier to get through.

BKSir - I'm going to agree with MusicMystery that your version is a North American version. In Camden Benares' Handful of Zen, he writes something to the effect that Taoist / Buddhist monks used to cut off their eyelids in order to not fall asleep during meditation, but for Westerners, if we feel asleep during meditation, it just really meant we needed sleep (apologies for not having the exact reference but someone never returned that book.. grrr).

So at the risk of offending someone here, if you are simply borrowing from Taoism without adopting all of its principles in a formal fashion, can you really call yourself a Taoist?

- LA

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Une main de fer dans un gant de velours ~ An iron hand in a velvet glove

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Post #: 12

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:05:27 AM

pyroaquatic

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Hello! My name is Pyroaquatic. A pleasure to meet you.

:D

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As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.
-Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5

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RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:06:32 AM

rikigrl

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeffff

For what it's worth, the book that got me into it originally was "The Tao of Pooh"

Not the last word by any means, but a nice introduction.

I have the Tao of Pooh!

(in reply to Jeffff)

Post #: 14

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:07:06 AM

Musicmystery

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LA,

Read the overviews posted in this thread.

Taoism is not a unified, ideological approach. It covers quite a bit of territory. It does, however, present some common principles.

No one could adopt everything labeled Taoist--it would be contradictory.

(in reply to LadyAngelika)

Post #: 15

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:08:23 AM

sweetboundesire

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss

quote:

ORIGINAL: sweetboundesire

Can you please tell me why it is hilarious? I was just being honest. I don't remember the precepts. But the visual sticks in my head.

Glad to bring you a giggle, even if it was unintentional!

its hilarious because your commenting about something you have no opinion of. It's like if I were to comment on Argentina's import and export trade....I did this paper in school when i was 16 but i really have no memory of it...lol

_____________________________

and every broken line seems to have a particular design~
and the universe can only expand.
gotta pocket full of dreams and cash in my hand.
and i know, money ain't real...

(in reply to sunshinemiss)

Post #: 16

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:09:26 AM

LadyAngelika

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pyroaquatic

Hello! My name is Pyroaquatic. A pleasure to meet you.

:D

What are you up to, sneaky boy?

- LA

_____________________________

Une main de fer dans un gant de velours ~ An iron hand in a velvet glove

(in reply to pyroaquatic)

Post #: 17

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:10:27 AM

pyroaquatic

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From: Pyroaquatica
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
No one could adopt everything labeled Taoist--it would be contradictory.

Stop trying to adopt everything tao.
Carry Water, Chop Wood.

_____________________________

You are what your deep, driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.
-Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5

(in reply to Musicmystery)

Post #: 18

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:10:46 AM

MichiganHeadmast

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I've tried the church of I-Ching, but I prefer the church of Cha-Ching.

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Post #: 19

RE: Taoism - 4/11/2010 9:10:49 AM

LadyAngelika

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

LA,

Read the overviews posted in this thread.

Taoism is not a unified, ideological approach. It covers quite a bit of territory. It does, however, present some common principles.

No one could adopt everything labeled Taoist--it would be contradictory.

MM, what makes you assume I didn't read the overviews posted on this thread?

It is from reading them that my question was generated.

- LA

_____________________________

Une main de fer dans un gant de velours ~ An iron hand in a velvet glove

(in reply to Musicmystery)

Post #: 20

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