Winter Posted Friday at 11:45 AM I should preface, I'm no expert or academic. I grew up Christian. I grew up poor. Most importantly, I grew up a poor Christian. Â I turned away from faith, because I demanded so much in terms of knowledge to fix my mistakes and find some avenger for my tribulations. But since I turned 30, I decided that I can't continue like this. My life felt like a grotesque sludge that encased me, and above me, in a blackened mirror sustained on the ceiling, I saw what I was and what I was becoming. Cynical. Miserable. Angry. Hateful. So long, I've been lost. And lost, I think, is an odd way to describe it. I had no path. To be lost, is to have a destination. And there was nothing I was moving towards. Â And then, recently, I discovered the Tao De Ching. I just finished it, and have found two translations of the Secrets of the Golden Flower to next read. This has... Changed my life. Â I don't feel lost anymore, because I realise I'm not pursuing anything. For so long I've had the GPS open, wondering why it wasn't showing me the best route, and yet I had no destination in mind in the first place. Â For so long I've wanted out. Out of the present. Out of the past. Yet I seldom considered tomorrow anything but a lamentable fact. And now I see that tomorrow is a blessing and I'm lucky that I have yet another day to try and understand the Dao. The quiet is no longer overbearing. My racing mind is no longer a curse. Â I have read a hundred books with 100,000 words laid out, all that say nothing. Yet the Tao Te Ching, with 1/20th the words of even a single one of those pieces has my eyes opened. I just wanted to thank this subreddit. I found it today, but I'm just glad there are others out there. Â The world feels so much more gentle. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Master Logray Posted Friday at 12:13 PM 26 minutes ago, Winter said: I should preface, I'm no expert or academic. I grew up Christian. I grew up poor. Most importantly, I grew up a poor Christian. Â I turned away from faith, because I demanded so much in terms of knowledge to fix my mistakes and find some avenger for my tribulations. But since I turned 30, I decided that I can't continue like this. My life felt like a grotesque sludge that encased me, and above me, in a blackened mirror sustained on the ceiling, I saw what I was and what I was becoming. Cynical. Miserable. Angry. Hateful. So long, I've been lost. And lost, I think, is an odd way to describe it. I had no path. To be lost, is to have a destination. And there was nothing I was moving towards. Â And then, recently, I discovered the Tao De Ching. I just finished it, and have found two translations of the Secrets of the Golden Flower to next read. This has... Changed my life. Â I don't feel lost anymore, because I realise I'm not pursuing anything. For so long I've had the GPS open, wondering why it wasn't showing me the best route, and yet I had no destination in mind in the first place. Â For so long I've wanted out. Out of the present. Out of the past. Yet I seldom considered tomorrow anything but a lamentable fact. And now I see that tomorrow is a blessing and I'm lucky that I have yet another day to try and understand the Dao. The quiet is no longer overbearing. My racing mind is no longer a curse. Â I have read a hundred books with 100,000 words laid out, all that say nothing. Yet the Tao Te Ching, with 1/20th the words of even a single one of those pieces has my eyes opened. I just wanted to thank this subreddit. I found it today, but I'm just glad there are others out there. Â The world feels so much more gentle. Â Which part/sentence attracted you most? Â Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve Posted Friday at 12:38 PM 49 minutes ago, Winter said: The world feels so much more gentle.  Such a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing your process. If I may, I would suggest you consider connecting with a living teacher and engage in some body centered Daoist-related practice like taijiquan, qigong, baguazhang, xingyiquan, zhan zhuang, It sounds like you've been very much in your head and the Daoist path is so much more than that! Fine to continue your reading and study of course. It also needs to be experiential to really show its full potential, IMO. Really nice to hear you have found a home in yourself, good luck on your path. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winter Posted Friday at 05:31 PM 4 hours ago, steve said:  Such a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing your process. If I may, I would suggest you consider connecting with a living teacher and engage in some body centered Daoist-related practice like taijiquan, qigong, baguazhang, xingyiquan, zhan zhuang, It sounds like you've been very much in your head and the Daoist path is so much more than that! Fine to continue your reading and study of course. It also needs to be experiential to really show its full potential, IMO. Really nice to hear you have found a home in yourself, good luck on your path.  You're not wrong. I've trusted my own intellect for everything. Yet... Where did that lead me?  I do intend to find a senior to assist, but I'm also excited to hear from my own heart what comes next. I am a very simple amateur, though, so forgive me in the mistakes I'm sure to make on the way. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Foote Posted 21 hours ago On 8/8/2025 at 4:45 AM, Winter said: Â The world feels so much more gentle. Â Â Â That for me is a hallmark of the things I love in Eastern culture, that and the importance that is laid on action out of union with one's own nature, as opposed to in opposition to one's own nature. Â Â 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigSkyDiamond Posted 21 hours ago On 8/8/2025 at 4:45 AM, Winter said: The world feels so much more gentle. Â Yes, this, thank you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites