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strawdog65

What is Taoism in it's most basic form?

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Please tell me what you think Taoism is,

in the simplest form you can imagine.

 

At it's very least, Taoism is...what?

 

Is it the principle of Wu-wei?

 

Is it Uncorrupted Love?

 

Is it Total acceptance of all that transpires?

 

Perhaps, just the most simplistic nature of all... to just BE?

 

I understand that life is never simple, and the complexities we

all face dictate our view of what anything is to us.

I just want to hear the simplest explanation possible

of what Taoism means to you.

 

To me, Taoism is to be the best person I am able to be, at this moment.

With no focus on anything other than what is happening now.

And to do so with honesty and sincerity.

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Taoism is the most refined and explored concept we have of what is now called SOMATIC Psycology. The mind and the body, or yin and yang. But taoism is somatic Psycology. FROM those PRACTICES came realizations. not the other way around.

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Please tell me what you think Taoism is,

in the simplest form you can imagine.

 

At it's very least, Taoism is...what?

 

Is it the principle of Wu-wei?

 

Is it Uncorrupted Love?

 

Is it Total acceptance of all that transpires?

 

Perhaps, just the most simplistic nature of all... to just BE?

 

I understand that life is never simple, and the complexities we

all face dictate our view of what anything is to us.

I just want to hear the simplest explanation possible

of what Taoism means to you.

 

To me, Taoism is to be the best person I am able to be, at this moment.

With no focus on anything other than what is happening now.

And to do so with honesty and sincerity.

I have the answer for you ... oh wait up ... no I don't.

 

Darn it!

 

Would you like a cup of tea instead? :D

 

green-tea.jpg

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I have the answer for you ... oh wait up ... no I don't.

 

Darn it!

 

Would you like a cup of tea instead? :D

 

green-tea.jpg

 

 

 

Thanks for the cup of tea!

 

Lets drink deeply of Tao together.

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To me, Taoism is to be the best person I am able to be, at this moment.

With no focus on anything other than what is happening now.

And to do so with honesty and sincerity.

To me, this sounds like a focus on moralistic. Or dare I say Confucian morality with a Zen nowness?

 

I don't see nature as focused on being the 'best' or doing anything with 'honesty and sincerity'. But -isms have a way with creating such ideas.

 

a simple picture of Tao for me is a flower. But I can think of 10,000 more things.

 

But that flower is the product of the eternalness of the way; past, present, future.

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In its most, most basic form?

 

Find some way to restore one's foreskin. Cant get any more basic than that.

 

(bad joke, i know. I am sorry, Strawdog. But then, all is Tao, right? :unsure: )

 

 

 

Serious note...

 

In its most fundamental aspect, i'd venture to say this:

 

Man is constantly insatiable in their search for meaning - there is the hunger of the senses, like an itch that never can be reached at.

 

This gives rise to desire (the metaphor being the 10k things).

 

The Tao shows the futility of propagating these seeds of desires. Waste of energy. Just give up searching.

 

Simply let things be, and the seeking will subside. Even if it does not, dont worry.

Non-subsiding is simply the other side of subsiding. The essence of both is the same.

 

When this is realized, all anxieties fall away.

 

When anxieties fall away, there is peace and serenity.

 

Even if peace does not come, and serenity is just wishful thinking, dont worry.

 

At the very least, there will be a diminished sense of anxiousness about things.

 

Even if this sense of anxiousness persist, dont worry.

 

At the very least, Nature will still be saying Yes, no matter how calm or distraught one is.

 

Either you sink with distraught, or you swim in calmness...

 

Because there is constant Flow, both are essentially equal in baseless substance.

 

In all the manifestations of the universe, the longing for unity is ever-present.

 

When this longing reaches its full potential, expansion and diversity again manifests.

 

Let them all go.

 

Freedom.

 

The Way.

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@ramon25 somatics is our nervous system, right? some people think our nervous system = our spirit

@cowtao the way i kinda agree

@dawei a golden flower, maybe?

@thelerner nature/truth

@stigweard maybe it is a cup of tea what variety of tea are we sharing?

@strawdog your view of the tao is almost exactly like my definition of wisdom

knowledge, wisdom.enlightenment all diferent things enlightenment is not the tao either

a common definition is it is the basic eternal principle of the universe

@strawdog this is a very abstract and deep question . is anyone's answer wrong? yet the answers are not

quite right , always seek the tao. what comes from the tao returns to the tao.

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In its most, most basic form?

 

Find some way to restore one's foreskin. Cant get any more basic than that.

 

(bad joke, i know. I am sorry, Strawdog. But then, all is Tao, right? :unsure: )

 

 

 

Serious note...

 

In its most fundamental aspect, i'd venture to say this:

 

Man is constantly insatiable in their search for meaning - there is the hunger of the senses, like an itch that never can be reached at.

 

This gives rise to desire (the metaphor being the 10k things).

 

The Tao shows the futility of propagating these seeds of desires. Waste of energy. Just give up searching.

 

Simply let things be, and the seeking will subside. Even if it does not, dont worry.

Non-subsiding is simply the other side of subsiding. The essence of both is the same.

 

When this is realized, all anxieties fall away.

 

When anxieties fall away, there is peace and serenity.

 

Even if peace does not come, and serenity is just wishful thinking, dont worry.

 

At the very least, there will be a diminished sense of anxiousness about things.

 

Even if this sense of anxiousness persist, dont worry.

 

At the very least, Nature will still be saying Yes, no matter how calm or distraught one is.

 

Either you sink with distraught, or you swim in calmness...

 

Because there is constant Flow, both are essentially equal in baseless substance.

 

In all the manifestations of the universe, the longing for unity is ever-present.

 

When this longing reaches its full potential, expansion and diversity again manifests.

 

Let them all go.

 

Freedom.

 

The Way.

 

 

 

CowTao,

 

 

I am humbled by the beauty of this vision

you have presented to me.

 

Thank you for speaking so clearly to

to the essence of what I feel inside.

 

Nature saying yes and feeling at ease and

calm knowing that all is as is should ever be.

 

The beauty of nature is effortless.

 

-----------------------------

 

With this question now resolved I can devote

more time to Restoring my foreskin to it's

full unhampered potential!!! LOL!

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@ramon25 somatics is our nervous system, right? some people think our nervous system = our spirit

@cowtao the way i kinda agree

@dawei a golden flower, maybe?

@thelerner nature/truth

@stigweard maybe it is a cup of tea what variety of tea are we sharing?

@strawdog your view of the tao is almost exactly like my definition of wisdom

knowledge, wisdom.enlightenment all diferent things enlightenment is not the tao either

a common definition is it is the basic eternal principle of the universe

@strawdog this is a very abstract and deep question . is anyone's answer wrong? yet the answers are not

quite right , always seek the tao. what comes from the tao returns to the tao.

 

 

Zerostao thanks for being so straight forward.

 

I endeavor to understand the Tao...and all of you

help me on this path. I thank you.

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To me, this sounds like a focus on moralistic. Or dare I say Confucian morality with a Zen nowness?

 

I don't see nature as focused on being the 'best' or doing anything with 'honesty and sincerity'. But -isms have a way with creating such ideas.

 

a simple picture of Tao for me is a flower. But I can think of 10,000 more things.

 

But that flower is the product of the eternalness of the way; past, present, future.

 

Dawei,

I see that maybe I think into it too much.

The image of the flower is helpful...Thanks!

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From "The complete works of Lao Tzu"

Translated by Hua-Ching Ni

 

Please enjoy this translation as much as I have!

 

Tao Teh Ching- Sixty-Three

 

------------------------------------------------

 

Do that which is not done by doing.

 

Make that which is not made by making.

 

Taste that which cannot be distinguished by taste.

 

Hold the same regard for the few and the many.

 

Requite the unkind with kindness.

 

 

Thus, one of subtle virtue desires

 

what is not connected with desire,

 

sets no value on the rare goods of the world,

 

learns what is not learned through learning,

 

and induces people to return

 

to that which they have overlooked.

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Balance

Spontaneity

Compassion (which we call Everything Furthers)

 

Nature

Emptiness

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From "The complete works of Lao Tzu"

Translated by Hua-Ching Ni

 

Please enjoy this translation as much as I have!

 

Tao Teh Ching- Sixty-Three

Due to your recent fondness for Hua-Ching Ni's translation, check out his ending of Chapter 32:

 

"The universal subtle essence is to human beings what the great ocean is to the rivers and streams of the earth"

-- universal subtle essence=Dao

Edited by dawei

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Due to your recent fondness for Hua-Ching Ni's translation, check out his ending of Chapter 32:

 

"The universal subtle essence is to human beings what the great ocean is to the rivers and streams of the earth"

-- universal subtle essence=Dao

 

 

Dawei... Thanks for that!

 

I am really impressed with this translation,

it speaks to me in a way that resonates very well.

 

Peace to You!

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Please tell me what you think Taoism is,

in the simplest form you can imagine.

 

At it's very least, Taoism is...what?

 

Is it the principle of Wu-wei?

 

Is it Uncorrupted Love?

 

Is it Total acceptance of all that transpires?

 

Perhaps, just the most simplistic nature of all... to just BE?

 

I understand that life is never simple, and the complexities we

all face dictate our view of what anything is to us.

I just want to hear the simplest explanation possible

of what Taoism means to you.

 

To me, Taoism is to be the best person I am able to be, at this moment.

With no focus on anything other than what is happening now.

And to do so with honesty and sincerity.

 

Taoism doesn't have a specific form, and asking for the most basic one just makes no sense. Taoism can't be summarized briefly unless you already have immense background of wisdom and experience, in which case it can be summarized by drawing on that background.

 

But I'll say something anyway. It's not exactly a summary, but it might be better than nothing: "everything is cyclic; deal with it."

Edited by goldisheavy

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Greetings..

 

From the experiences i have had, the most basic form of 'Taoism', is 'stillness'.. a still mind, reveals what 'is'.. and that 'is' Tao..

 

Be well..

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Taoism doesn't have a specific form, and asking for the most basic one just makes no sense. Taoism can't be summarized briefly unless you already have immense background of wisdom and experience, in which case it can be summarized by drawing on that background.

 

But I'll say something anyway. It's not exactly a summary, but it might be better than nothing: "everything is cyclic; deal with it."

 

 

goldisheavy, thank you for your observation.

 

I too realize that The Tao is not able to be labeled,

categorized, or nailed down to just one thing.

 

I was and still am seeking opinions on what Taoism means to

all of us as individuals, because, regardless of what the

true Tao is...it is nonetheless filtered through us as

imperfect, and limited beings. Where as, I do believe, the

Tao is perfection in it's very imperfectness. A true Balance.

 

I do believe a more positive representation of what Taoism is,

would be more beneficial to creating an environment into which

deeper understanding may flourish.

 

Peace to you.

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Greetings..

 

From the experiences i have had, the most basic form of 'Taoism', is 'stillness'.. a still mind, reveals what 'is'.. and that 'is' Tao..

 

Be well..

 

 

Greetings to you TzuJanLi!

 

I appreciate your post's very much. They reflect a peaceful stillness

of your mind that is of great service to TTB forum.

I will endeavor to cultivate the stillness within myself.

 

Thank you for your contribution..

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From the experiences i have had, the most basic form of 'Taoism', is 'stillness'.. a still mind, reveals what 'is'.. and that 'is' Tao..

 

Don't mean to be argumentative, but nothing in nature is still.

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Here is one more point of view, not that it makes any difference whatsoever, and not that it is any more correct or incorrect than any other points of view. All are merely just points of view. :D

 

Taoism is not a religion, nor folk religious practices, nor ceremonial practices, nor philosophy, nor shamanic practices, nor self cultivation practices, nor rules of conduct, nor external alchemy, nor internal alchemy, nor meditation, nor nei gong, nor qigong, nor magic practices, nor geomancy, nor divination, nor healing practices, nor internal martial arts, nor yoga; but, what is known as Taoism has contained or does contain various combinations of all of the above depending on the time period one is referring to and the particular group or individual 'Taoists' one is focusing on. Many of the above listed practices are also at various 'levels of awareness' as well with some 'Taoist' practices being potentially harmful to oneself or others all the way up to the highest level of practices that are benefical for one and all.

 

Taoism most certainly is not the romanticized notion that many Westerners have of it of care free Taoists being one with nature at all times and doing just as they please day in and day out as they move freely about through pristine nature and floating about through foggy high mountain passes in perpetually clean flowing robes living off of nothing but pine cone seeds and dew, or just the air itself, and sometimes lounging about discussing the finer points of philosophy with their fellow Taoists, although there may have been/are some Taoist immortals who pass their time somewhat like that some times, or so it has been said. :D

 

To summmarize: Taoism is just a word that is interpreted to mean almost as many different things as people want it to mean these days, and which has been taking on a very 'new agey, raise your energy vibrations and listen to your higher self' and 'go with the flow, man' and 'do by not doing, dude' and 'don't forget to buy our latest DVD's, books, and Tee Shirts, folks' kind of feel to it here in both the East and the West now, but still mostly in the West. :D That which is called Taoism has been evolving, changing, and branching out throughout its history and that does not appear to have changed at all in modern times, although what is being called Taoism seems to be covering a broader and broader range of practices and ideas as it meets modern and Western thought and ideas.

 

I guess it would have been more to the point to just say your guess is as good as anyone else's, and yes, I am being completely serious. :D

Edited by The Way Is Virtue

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