True Taoism is not an ideology or a new age movement, it is a living philosophy. It is a way of thinking, a way of looking at life, a way of being; being with change rather than against it. It is a way of utilizing the natural energy of our bodies and minds in a healthy and graceful way.There are so many different ways to describe the philosophy of Taoism and, while this definition is in no way THE definitive one (since there is no definitive one), it resonates with me a great deal.
~ from Gathering of Cranes: Bringing the Tao to the West by Solala Towler ~
If someone asked you to define YOUR Taoism in a sentence or a brief paragraph, what would you say (or write)?
"Philosophical Taoism is a framework, not the structure itself. There are no membership requirements nor a formal community. There are no creeds. There are no set principles. (As George Carlin might say, "We have no special building where we gather once a week to compare clothing.") About all that any person who considers themselves a Taoist might agree on is the use of certain metaphors and imagery derived from the Tao Te Ching. How those metaphors and imagery are interpreted is up to each individual." - portions excerpted from your website and posted on my website.
ReplyDeleteYou know, that did sound sort of familiar. :-)
ReplyDeleteHmm...
ReplyDeleteTaoism is about not forcing things, by being centered in the silence and emptiness within. From that spaciousness, which exists in the moment, you flow with nature's own force, with the weight and strength of the entire current behind every move you make. This is harmony.
Or as you said recently:
Tao is.
How strange, I just asked Solala to send me a copy of this book (because it has an interview with Deng Ming-dao in it.)
ReplyDeleteFor me...Taoism is about maintaining balance in a world that is always in flux; it is also about being outside or beyond all the dichotomies society erects. To paraphrase Bob Dylan, Don't want to manage no one, don't want to be managed.