Afternoon Matinee: War Made Easy, Part 3 of 8

New Voices Along the Path XXV

I noticed that it's been over 6 months since I introduced you to some of the links that have been added to the right sidebar. So, without further ado, here is a brief introduction to some more of the Taoist blogs and websites I've found.

A Taoist Journey to the Stars (added on 3/24/11)
Taoist Rose writes: I am a wandering Taoist who is trying to find her way in life. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Psychology and just published my first book on Amazon.com.

Confessions of a Tai Chi Snob (added on 4/14/11)
Studying the art of Tai Chi and sharing my thoughts on the journey. I do not claim to be an expert, nor will you learn anything from this blog. It is hoped that you will add some of your own experiences and comments about Taiji Quan. A journey of a single step begins the search for the perfect form!

TaoChow (added on 2/10/11)
This is a space for an ad-hoc study of The Tao Te Ching as "reacted" to by David Weber. David began posting his responses to each Chapter of the Tao on his blog, The First Morning, and then also shared the notes on his Facebook wall. A few of us who are David's Facebook friends wished for a study group of sorts, so thanks to Wikispaces, here we are!

Tao-How (added on 7/1/11)
I'll be posting lots of old Taoist, and Zen fables. Okay, maybe they're just plain, good advice. Maybe they're teachings that are still relevant today? I don't know. Some are succinct and brilliant. Some are so paradoxical in their logic and method that a headache is bound to follow. Some are just weird. I will be embellishing these tales to give them some length, but the moral, and the point of these stories will not be changed.

Sometimes I'll add my own commentary after each one. I'll be talking through them, sharing my thoughts and explaining the meanings of some of them while at the same time realizing I have no idea what I'm talking about. One thing I'm always certain of is that I'm never 100% certain of anything. Wait that's contradictory. Yeah, welcome to Taoism.

Tao Trucker (added on 6/17/11)
I'm a former Optometry student and a current truck driver. I’m trying to find my voice and share all the new things that I learn either while I’m on the road or while I’m in my hometown of Bloomington.

The Feng Shui Institute (added on 5/6/11)
An international resource and research centre for the promotion of Traditional Chinese or Classical Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology. Showing the difference between traditional Chinese Feng Shui and new age superstition.

The Secular Sadoo (added on 2/10/11)
Sadoo Pipher lives in an artist colony with 2 cats, a home theater, and no job or money. While he has had fat salaries as a banking executive and professor, while he has been extensively trained in the sacerdotal ways of the Judeo-Christian god, while he has lived with 3 beautiful women in sexual caprice and erotic mayhem, he prefers being poor, profane, and celibate. Why is this? What can't you do about it? And why is his life so interesting? In The Secular Sadoo, Pariah Pipher explores all.

The Tao of Autism (added on 1/15/11)
I'm not generally as serious and thoughtful as this blog may make it seem. In fact, if I were, I don't think I'd be a very good Taoist. If you want to contact me, do so in the comment section of my blog! If you would prefer, however, you can contact me on GMail under the same name (please don't expect me to reply right away, though).

Xing Shen Zhuang - RO (added on 4/14/11)
A site about Qi Gong and Taoism from Romania. It's not written in English.

New Voices Along the Path XXIV

Gosh, it's been 4 months since my last installment of introducing you to new links added in the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar. So, without further adieu, here they are!

Adventures of a Rebel Taoist (added on 10/16/10)
Hi, my name is Jane Alexander. Welcome to my blog. Why ‘Adventures of a rebel Taoist’? I practice Taoist esoterica, I’m a bit of a rebel and I am posting about my adventures.

With Taoism, you have basically three branches. Religious, philosophical and esoteric. Esoteric Taoism is essentially mysticism. My training in the mystic school of Taoism consists of Taoist meditation, yoga, chi kung and nei kung. I am a student and occasionally teacher of Taoist meditation. Although I have practiced some Fire Path methods, I am most experienced with the Water Method of stillness and letting go. What is my experience with Taoist meditation and what qualifies me to teach it much less talk about it? (You'll have to visit her blog to find out!)

Everyday Tao (added on 1/15/11)
David James Lees is an experienced multidisciplinary therapist, Chinese medicine practitioner, ordained Taoist Master, philosopher and broadcaster. David enjoys supporting people from all walks of life on their journey to rediscover their 'authentic self' and reach their true potential. He has a proven track record in helping and healing individuals suffering from emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, depression and phobias.

Faithful Doubter (added on 1/15/11)
Once a frightened radical, now just confused.

Notes from the Outside (added on 12/29/10)
What you read here on this blog are the thoughts and ponderings of a 27 year old guy as he tries to figure things out on this journey of life. Some are more personal than others. Some are poems, some are poetic thoughts, some are serious-minded essays, some are angry rants. I like to read and write, not big on 'rithmatic though.

I consider myself a philosophical person, always interested in looking more deeply into things. I don't consider myself part of any sect or religion; I was raised Catholic, but as an adult am very drawn to Taoism and Zen. Still, I am open to many thoughts and traditions. In practical terms, I also very much respect and accept what science is showing us, though have a feeling there is somehow more to it than their "dead universe" view of things. (This has become one of my favorite blogs!)

Practically Taoist (added on 10/16/10)
I've always had a passing interest and familiarity with Taoism. I don't remember how old I was when I first saw the harmonious symmetry of the well-known "yin-yang" symbol. I've taken t'ai chi and yoga classes at various points in my life. I've listened to guided meditations and even suspected I could feel qi on several occasions. But in all of these instances I was just been dabbling with Taoism. I wasn't investing energy or focus on trying to find the path. The Path.

I think that was at least in part because it didn't seem like something attainable. How could I bring this ancient, respected wisdom into my typical modern life. I just don't have the time to retreat to a cloud-scraping mountain top to spend a few years in a mystic trance - and that's obviously the only path to understanding and practicing Taoism. (Sadly, this blog hasn't been updated for quite a long while.)

Silent Tao (added on 10/16/10)
The authors of Silent Tao study, practice and teach traditional Chinese culture.

Shawn Cartwright has over 25 years of experience training and teaching the Chinese internal arts of Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and Qigong. These arts include Ba Gua, Xing Yi, Tai Chi, Wing Chun, Fukien White Crane, and Kai Sai Kung Fu. He loves teaching, training, and sharing what he learned studying Chinese culture. Mostly he loves the Chinese women, wine, and Alchemy.

Yinong Chong, PhD, is one of the foremost interpreters of the traditional Chinese esoteric arts in the US and China. She has the rare ability to make these ancient teachings accessible and meaningful for today’s practitioners. She is practitioner and instructor of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Alchemy.

Taoish (added on 10/7/10)
This is a living document. By that, I mean that I will update this as my path drifts. And it's a vanity piece. Sorry. Sometimes I'm vain.

I can't remember exactly when I stumbled onto my first translation of the Tao Te Ching. I know it was a result of my looking for something older than Christianity/The Bible as a key to spiritual enlightenment. It was probably in the summer of 2008. I was raised in a mostly Protestant fashion and had left church attendance in my late teens. At that point and up until a few years ago I would have described myself as an agnostic.

Currently I consider myself a Philosophical Taoist. I am not a member of any Taoist group and I consider Taoism a philosophy, not a religion. I am opposed to religion in every form that I have come across so far.

The Sage’s Journey (added on 10/15/10)
Welcome to the Sage’s Journey, an ongoing study of the wonders of wisdom. Each week a new essay by William Martin, author of The Sage’s Tao Te Ching, is posted that reflects on some aspect of aging with power, serenity, and joy. The journey is continuing and open-ended. You are invited to jump in at any time, study and reflect for as many weeks as you like, take vacations whenever you wish, enter and leave as you will. There are no tests and everyone passes with an A.

...You Might be a Taoist (added on 10/7/10)
This is about being a Philosophical Taoist, not a Religious Taoist, a positive alternative to Western and Middle Eastern religions.

New Voices Along the Path XXIII

I'm almost caught up on introducing you to the links added to the various sections in the right sidebar. This post will cover those in the Sites of Interest section as well as 2 others from the Fellow Wanderers.

Fellow Wanderers

Mr. Avenged and NonStampCollector are YouTube channel pages for two of my favorite video authors.

Sites of Interest

ChristWire
(Note: This is a spoof website.) Dear friends, we are living in cruel days. Evil hours. Yes, these are certainly dark times and it’s time for the moral majority to once again step forward to bring freedom and liberty to the world. Our culture was built on the guiding principles of conservatism and Christianity, from which all morality is born. As such American heritage was meant to be passed on from generation to generation, ensuring that our principles…our values…were never compromised.

But alas, the Left Wing Conspiracy and Liberal Agenda is spreading like a plague not only through our fine society, but through lesser cultures as well. Their sinful antics and attempt to pass off their wanton carnal desires into mainstream culture is destroying society and mankind. That’s where we come in. Together, in this community, you and your Moral Leaders will combat the evil liberals of this world and once again ensure that a bit of freedom and righteousness once again permeates every country, and let those who don’t abide by our teachings know the eternal pit of hellfire shall be awaiting!

Epiphenom
I want to know why some people believe in gods, and what the psychological and social consequences of those beliefs are. I read the research, and when I find something juicy I write it up and post it here!

Religious Right Watch
Religious Right Watch is an Internet-based project dedicated to educating people about one of the most important political movement in America in the last 30 years: the Religious Right, which is also known as the Christian Right because the vast majority of the Religious Right's leaders, members, and institutions are Christian.

This web project is essentially a blog; but, in addition to its regularly-posted news, narrative, and commentary, RRW will offer helpful resources, such as a glossary (just what is the difference between an Evangelical and a Fundamentalist, anyway?) and links to important perspectives and information concerning the Christian Right.

Right Wing Watch
Right Wing Watch is a joint project of People For the American Way that monitors dozens of broadcasts, emails, websites, and the activities of Religious and Radical Right political organization. RWW analyzes and distills information that would otherwise circulate widely only within the Right, using our expertise on the radical right to expose risk their agendas and activities present to the country.

Singing Dragon
Authoritative books on complementary and alternative health, Tai Chi, Qigong and ancient wisdom traditions for health, wellbeing, and professional and personal development.

Shambhala Publications
Shambhala has specialized in books that present creative and conscious ways of transforming the individual, the society, and the planet. The notion of translating spiritual insight into action in the world is embodied in the company's name: "Shambhala" is a legendary Central Asian kingdom that symbolizes an enlightened way of life harmonizing the inner and outer worlds. Thus, the Shambhala worldview enables us to publish in a wide variety of subject areas, including psychology and the sciences, the arts and creativity, business and economics, and health and healing. Still, religion and philosophy remain the heart of our publishing program.

Talk to Action
Talk to Action is a platform for reporting on, learning about, and analyzing and discussing the religious right -- and what to do about it.

There is an editorial framework for this site than that is different than you will find on other major blog sites, so please read this carefully: We are pro-religious equality and pro-separation of church and state. We are pro-choice, and we support gay and lesbian civil rights -- including marriage equality. Therefore, debates about the validity of abortion and gay rights are off topic.

We understand that some people who share our general concern about the politics of the Christian Right may not agree on all of these matters. That's fine. Anyone who agrees with the general mission of this site is welcome to participate -- but bearing this in mind.

The Big View
If life is a journey, then philosophy is like a compass. It helps us to find our way through the jungle of possibilities that life presents. This website is about philosophy in the widest sense. It includes science, religion, mythology and other fields of thought that are not within the traditional scope of philosophy. However, it makes not much sense to treat these fields separately. Everything is connected. If one views anything from any possible angle, it can only increase understanding.

The Radical Academy
The Radical Academy is an analysis of the human condition as seen through the eyes of classical and contemporary thinkers in the areas of philosophy, politics, religion, science, and education. We define philosophy as the science of all things knowable to man's unaided powers, in so far as these things are studied in their deepest causes and reasons. We define politics in its widest sense to include the study of government, economics, and social theory and policy.

We discuss traditional and contemporary philosophical, moral, and religious questions; contemporary political, social, and cultural problems and policies; current scientific and technological issues and speculations; challenges to the "conventional" wisdom, "popular" ideologies, and "accepted" paradigms of our culture.

Why Won't God Heal Amputees?
Is God real, or is he imaginary? It is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself. If God is real and if God inspired the Bible, then we should worship God as the Bible demands. We should certainly post the Ten Commandments in our courthouses and shopping centers, put "In God We Trust" on the money and pray in our schools. We should focus our society on God and his infallible Word because our everlasting souls hang in the balance.

On the other hand, if God is imaginary, then religion is a complete illusion. Christianity, Judaism and Islam are pointless. Belief in God is nothing but a silly superstition, and this superstition leads a significant portion of the population to be delusional. But how can we decide, conclusively, whether God is real or imaginary?

Since we are intelligent human beings living in the 21st century, we should take the time to look at some data. That is what we are doing when we ask, "Why won't God heal amputees?"

New Voices Along the Path XXII

Here are some of the recent (and even not so recent) additions to the Fellow Wanderers section in the right sidebar.

AncienTrails
Our lives, even the most idiosyncratic, follow paths worn deep by generations before us. One ancient trail is the simple human story, my story passed onto my children and grandchildren. The blog part of this website is that trail, byte-crumbs laid down so those who know me now and those who do not know me yet will have some sense of who I am; and, eventually, who I was. There is, too, the trail itself, travel; for some nomads it is a constant trail, for others an occasional one.

What are the ancient trails on which you walk?

Bamboo and Plum Blossom
A lot of my endeavors wind up in the East, but my favorite poems are in Phantom Verse And Free, 4 blogs, 4 points of view. My wish is that you find something to your liking.

Borderzone
Borderzone may be of interest to those whose inner sense suggests a reality open at both ends — in the heights and in the depths: angels above and agents below the enzymes, as it were. The posts are exploratory and philosophical; they point to horizons not typically reached by ships or planes.

Illusory Flowers in an Empty Sky
This blog contains journal entries, Zen teachings, poetry, fiction, and commentaries on politics, urbanism and sustainability. The author is the Abbot of The Sitting Frog Zen Center.

On the Other Hand
On the Other Hand is about re-examining what one believes and how one lives. Some of my ideas are fairly common; others are most definitely not. We may not always agree but what really matters is the willingness to push past assumptions about the ways in which we live that are no longer working.

Ox Herding
Zen teachers sometimes use the Ten Ox Herding Pictures to describe the path of awakening. Within this metaphorical framework, the ox symbolizes the secretive, unruly human mind. This weblog reflects my ongoing struggle with the ox.

RealityZone; A New Era?
We are entering a new global, and cosmic era. Do not fear it. Welcome it with open hearts and minds. All beginnings evolve from an ending. Ask your self; the sun i am seeing, is it rising? Or is it setting ? Can it possibly do both simultaneously? (Note: If you read the TRT Tumblr Blog, you will see a slew of links to this blog!)

The Stroppy Rabbit
I love cats, people, the Earth, the Moon and stars, and the simple pleasure of being alive. Everywhere is sacred, everything is part of the dance.

The Zen Parent
This is Bill's blog about Zen, which is to say, everything. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and children, and two very Zen cats.

Warp, Weft and Way
Warp, Weft, and Way is a group blog of Chinese and Comparative philosophy. Its primary purpose is to promote and stimulate discussion of Chinese philosophy and cross-tradition inquiry among scholars and students of philosophy, whatever their level of training.

What Is Really Good?
An empowering and inspirational look at what life really is. A blog that challenges the reader to take a look at the way in which they view the world and themselves; and determine what it is exactly that sets their standards in labeling something as 'good' or 'bad'. It's all about perspective.

New Voices Along the Path XXI

It's been awhile -- over 3 months -- since I last introduced some of the new links added to the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar. One of the reasons is that I haven't added as many as usual. So, this list won't be as long as some of the previous ones.

Daoyin Chuan (added on 7/3/10)
The Daoyin Chuan Study Group was organized in August of 1998 for the purpose of providing an environment for people to explore and practice the Chinese Internal Martial Arts and Qigong. Currently the group meets in the South Davis County and Salt Lake City areas.

Just as the rosebud contains within it the innate form of the perfect flower, so do we all contain within ourselves the innate form of our own perfection. Under the proper conditions of sun, water and nutrients, the bud unfolds to reveal the rose. Likewise the simple conditions of the practice helps us break through a lifetime of old habits and programmed patterns of posture and movement, allowing what is essential in us – physically, mentally and spiritually – to naturally unfold.

Qigong Research & Practice Center (Added on 7/3/10)
Qigong is a powerful and enjoyable way to enhance health, vitality, awareness, and athletic performance. Qigong includes both personal wellness training and Therapeutic Touch-type therapies to treat clients or patients. The Qigong Research & Practice Center was founded by renowned Qigong Master Ken Cohen (Gao Han) in 1981 in the Indian Peaks Wilderness region of the Colorado Rockies. The Qigong Research & Practice Center offers lectures, workshops, classes, and teacher training both in Colorado and throughout the world. We also offer consultation, referrals, and educational materials.

Tao Teachings (Added on 8/7/10)
Taoism is not Religion with God removed: Taoism is God, with Religion removed.

The Journey Within (Added on 7/3/10)
Every journey begins with the first step. And every step may carve out a new journey. I think we all started our Journey Within us a long time ago, probably as early as when we were born! We struggle to open our eyes, we struggle to crawl, to stand up, to walk…At each instant of struggle, we took a look at ourselves and instinctively understood why we fall, and we try again until we got it. Somehow, as we grow older, we stop taking this Journey. We stop reflecting on our actions. We stop looking at what we’re actually doing and do the things we do blindly. I want to remind us in my own small way that the Journey Within is worth it. I want to remind ourselves that we can take this Journey anytime we choose to. The trigger is everywhere! We only need to know where to look. We need to look not just with our eyes, but with all the senses that we have. We also need to look at the things that’s not there rather than just seeing the things that are right in front of us.

Way of Complexity (Added on 10/2/10)
My discussions here will all be related to how one can achieve effectiveness in this complex world we live in. Who am I? I'm just a guy striving for simplicity in an unnecessarily complicated world. Even if you find the smallest piece of what I write to be useful, I will have achieved my goal for creating this blog.

Non-English Blogs
Chantao's Blog - German (Added on 7/3/10)
YodaL's Welt - German (Added on 7/3/10)

New Voices Along the Path XX

Here's a brief introduction to each of the new links added to the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar. Hopefully, these will represent a few blogs or websites that you may wish to check out.

Bao Pu (added on 6/24/10)
Scott Barnwell, a.k.a. Bao Pu, is a Canadian autodidact interested in ancient China, especially early Daoist philosophy. This is my blog for my broodings and babblings on early Chinese philosophy, history, religion and language. Much of it will revolve around early Daoism (Taoism).

Brave New Life (added on 6/22/10)
Live Simple and Be Fulfilled.

Duckdaotsu Media Arts (added on 6/22/10)
A very interesting blog that examines the Tao Te Ching and Taoist principles several times per week.

1peacefulyogi (added on 6/22/10)
A new blog -- only three entries old -- that looks like it will discuss some Taoist themes.

Pyjama Dharma (added on 6/22/10)
Ta Wan is at it again!! The blogger who brings us Tao Wow, Daily Cup of Tao and Meaning of Tao Te Ching has added to his Taoist blogging empire with this blog that will focus on "expounding the virtues of the supposedly lazy."

Real Taoism (added on 6/24/10)
At REAL TAOISM we teach authentic Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Gung, Ba Gua Zhang and Taoist meditation systems which have been transmitted from generation to generation of practising Taoist teachers in China for the past 2500 years. (Located in London.)

New Voices Along the Path XIX

With this post, I'll finally be caught up with introducing you to all the new links added in the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar. I hope I don't allow myself to get so far behind again! If you know of a Taoist-based link not shown here, drop me a line.

Belief in Life
I can't copy and paste their introductory statement because they've disabled this function because of worries of plagiarism. They advertise themselves as the "New Naturalist Assembly" which is a combination of Daoist, Existentialist, Naturalist, Objectivist and Pantheist thought.

81 Months in Contemplation
I am a soul that recently became aware that it was. Nothing has spoken to me as clearly as Teilhard de Chardin’s quote “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

I am writing this blog for many reasons. I love to write and I missed it. I am capable of transforming myself so I want to start today. Based on results, I don’t finish what I start. I will finish this. I fear confrontation and criticism. I will take comments, ackowledge them, learn from them, and learn to let go.

Houston Elemental Tai Chi
Tai Chi Chuan (taijiquan, or taiji) is an ancient Chinese martial art, practiced by most as a health exercise. Characterized by slow, flowing movements that can approach a state often called "meditation in motion", it offers a gentle, nonagressive approach to strengthening muscles and cultivating chi (qi), the essence of our breath/life energy.

Too much of modern life is devoted to rushing through our "multitasking" activities. For practitioners, taiji is the perfect counterpoint: to slow down, de-stress, and re-focus our lives as we regain a connection to our inner being. This is not some spaced-out sense of feeling good: it provides very real and noticeable physical benefits, external as well as internal.

Meeting the Shadow
Just a simple blog about moving through midlife as a recently (to be) divorced man, nearing age 50. Mixes in a little Taoism along the way.

Tao Ox
A look at a variety of martial arts, Taoist beliefs, and what ever else comes up.

Taoist Path
The Taoist Path School of Alchemy has been designed as an interactive platform for Master Pedram Shojai to be able to teach, consult with, and update students of Qi Gong. Pedram will be conducting a number of seminars and retreats throughout the year and this website will be the “glue” which will allow students to continue learning from home.

Non-English Blogs
Daoism (Romanian)
Urban Daoist (French)

New Voices Along the Path XVIII

In my continuing efforts to introduce you to the new links listed in the Taoist Wanderers section of the right sidebar, here are some more!

Chad Hansen's Chinese Philosophy Pages
This site contains segments of an extended interpretive theory of Classical Chinese philosophy that takes Daoism (Taoism) as the philosophical center. The interpretive theory turns on a new, more philosophical reading of the Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi (ChuangTzu 莊子). My analysis highlights skeptical and relativist themes in his thinking. The crucial novelty is the assumption that Zhuangzi was a philosopher of language, like his close friend and philosophical interlocutor, Hui Shi, . He was deeply engaged with the linguistic and other insights of the Later Mohists (sometimes called Neo-Mohists or Dialectical Mohists) and the School of Names. His relation to the other famous Daoist, Laozi (Lao Tzu) is rather more indirect but their views are complementary in that both deal with 道daoguide at a higher level than do Confucians or Mohists.

Equivocality
Hi, I'm Jeff. I’m 29 years old and I live in Ottawa, Canada. I’m half-Taoist, half trapped in Western thought. I’m also part pho­tog­ra­pher, part writer, part film­maker, but all lover.

Taiji on Maui's Blog
This is my site for posting all things about Taiji (Tai Chi) as a service to students and to archive information. First off, my attitude is, “if it’s not fun; forget it.” I love Taiji, Qigong, Meditation, and Taoist Philosophy. Not only do I think these things are “Fun”, but they saved my life. I do not profess to teach or help anyone, really I just show them a Way that worked for me. For me, claiming to “Teach Taiji” would be pretentious; for it is The Great Way itself that is the teacher and Taiji is a path that leads there. You need to help yourself, all I do is show the Way. When I started my “Taoist life” it was full time immediately, devouring everything I could read and training all day, I was like a monk on a mountain. I’m a little more relaxed now….

The Dao
A site similar to Wikipedia. It provides loads of information on Daoism/Taoism.

The Effortless Way
My name’s Jacob Godwin. I am an acupuncturist and teach martial arts. I earned my Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Academy of OM at Austin. My practice focuses mostly on mental-emotional problems. I also treat pain and many other conditions. My own self-cultivation practice through martial arts and meditation has helped me to have more insight into problems of the mind than other conditions. The mind (spirit) runs the show. Focusing on that has made me successful in my practice.

The Entry Level Urban Monk
A self-proclaimed Entry-Level Urban Taoist Monk's journey towards harmony, vitality and immortality within the depths of a megalomaniac human society.

The Old Stinger
Just a wu wei dude.

The 712
712 entries, of 712 words each. The focus being on virtue. In fullness, the writing will be nothing but the accumulation of generous acts. Communicative acts as those left by Lao Tzu for the gatekeeper. Joy, Love, Knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, wholesome thoughts, courage, and more to enrich readers. As Ayn Rand steeled others’ wills and self-esteem, and Orwell changed minds and worked to alter the way the public see totalitarian administrations, there is a need for a writer to point away from the current culture, to establish a philosophy through writing which established hope, strength and empowerment to the misguided, disheartened and defeated. I’m giving it a go.

The Unforced Life
I am a T'ai-Chi Teacher and Singer/Songwriter living in Ashland, OR. This blog is dedicated to musings about what I like to call "The Unforced Life".

The Way of the Consultant
A new English mistranslation of the Dao De Jing.

Zen and Dao: Notes on the Way
One seeker's search for the Zen of Tao and the Tao of Zen.

New Voices Along the Path XVII

I'm continuing to try to catch up on all the new links added to the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar. In addition, it should be noted that I have removed some of the links to older, inactive blogs -- this information is still retained in my Tao Links spreadsheet. As always, anyone interested in a copy of the spreadsheet can contact me and I'll be happy to send it along.

American Taoist
I’m going to use this blog to try and convert of the more worthwhile thoughts I come up with into a more permanent and easily accessible medium. The focus of these thoughts will be questions I have or conclusions I come to for living a modern American life as a Taoist, and how following the Tao can apply to the average every day person.

AncientWay
I’m Kevin O’Neil, a human in Southern Oregon who spends much time practicing acupuncture, working with Chinese herbs, and studying alchemy and Daoism, while staying on the edge of tech. With tendencies towards introversion, but an academic passion for sharing and helping increase knowledge, I am blogging to keep a ‘live’ conversation going about the these things.

Divine Tao
Taoism includes basic principles or "theories" regarding the body, diet, breathing and physical exercises, uses of herbs, philosophical inquiry and, of course, meditation. The Taoist is in a constant process of transformation, knowing that balance is an ongoing process of coming into closer alignment with the "natural order".

Nothing Just Is
Nothing just is is an assertion: Nothing is what it is. It is a rejection of a certain sort of simplicity: There is more to something than what it claims to be; and simplistic accepted truths must be subject to the same skepticism as complex conjecture. This is not simple contrarianism so much as it is a guard against the assumption. More precisely, it is a prompt to seek how something came to be understood as it is, and even how something comes to understand itself as it does.

Paperdubs
My name is Mike Bigtime, and this blog is called Paperdubs. A woman at Blockbuster thought it meant that I was rolling on twenty inch rims made of paper. That was not correct, but it was entertaining. This blog was going to be focused on music, but I have decided against that. Instead, it will hold my thoughts on several topics, including things like music, science and skepticism, books, Taoism, my new-found interest in minimalism, Robert E. Howard’s Conan, my attempts at self-improvement, tools that I enjoy using, and more. Some of it will be inspired, but most of it will be banal. I love discussion and will respond to the best of my ability to any comments or e-mails I receive.

Siu Tao
You want to learn about the Tao or you already know a lot, but you need more...Here's how to get it! May be you know a lot about Tao, but what does it exactly mean? SiuTao.com organized by Taoists with the purpose of providing information about Tao. SiuTao.com allows you to read all the articles about Tao. Want to solve your puzzle or share your opinion? Visit the Discussion Area. We hope by visiting SiuTao.com, You can obtain a knowledge what Tao really is.

Taoist Arts Center
The Taoist Arts Center was established in New York City in 1990 out of a long term commitment to practicing the internal arts and creating a vibrant community where people can learn about the internal arts and share what they know. Our students come from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. We invite you to come by and check us out.

Taoist Online
A site with loads of information and a blog plus Taoist-related items for sale.

The Dude De Ching
Dudeism is a religion deeply inspired by The Big Lebowski, as well as several other traditions that predate Lebowski - most particularly: Taoism, Zen Buddhism, American Transcendentalism and humanism. However, it is not affiliated with the film in any way.

New Voices Along the Path XVI

I've been adding so many links lately that I'm getting behind in introducing them to you. So, without further ado, here are some more new links added to the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar.

All the Words of a Language
I'm Racheal Anilyse! I visually communicate, which means I'm an illustrator, graphic designer, and indie publisher. I am the creator of Underground Art School Magazine, I am a contributor on the art + illustration blog Pikaland and am working on a career in children's books. Hello! (Blog includes weekly image with text on Taoist themes.)

Annastao Blog
When I was in my early 20′s I met a person who introduced me to Chinese philosophy; I learned T’ai chi and how to use the I Ching. I read the “Tao te ching” by Lao Tze – over and over again in my efforts to understand the meaning behind the words. I could grasp that I was on to something bigger than I had hitherto known, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it – make it my own. I copied the book, by hand, into a note-book that still is with me, 26 years later. I have since that time studied Chinese philosophy and healing as part of my profession. During these years I had a yearning to actively live the Tao, but I didn’t know how until, 9 months ago, I realized that the time had come.

Daodejingle
The Daodejing is a poem, a collection of aphorisms, that talks about the natural design of life, the Dao, and the way we humans can live in accordance with this design rather than oppose it. It celebrates simplicity and spontaneity, naturalness and freedom. Above all, perhaps, it shows us the way to a wholeness of vision.

Daoist Studies
The main items on the website can all be accessed from the menu bar on the top. Additional options become available depending on whether you are logged in. To create content you must be logged in, and then the relevant menu items will become visible on the right hand menu. The bibliography contains information on books and articles that are relevant to Daoist Studies. Of note is the complete index of Chinese and pinyin titles to the Ming Zhengtong Daozang. This index can be searched using the search function on any page, and the first 334 of the titles (so far) have been uploaded in PDF format. The bibliography database now features the 991 titles of the Zangwai Daoshu with links to PDF facsimilies of the texts.

Dynamic Tao
We have published the first attempt to understand Tao philosophy in the book: The Dynamic Tao and Its Manifestations in 2004, after an intensive study of the underlying principle of Tao.. We have further achieved significant understanding of the Tao Te Ching in the last five years. The principle behind the cryptic verses is rather simple as the Principle of Oneness. We are hopeful that we may be able to provide an ultimate interpretation of this Chinese classic without leaving much mystic speculations.

Tao Practice
The Tao Practice is a holistic philosophy and practice based on the culture and tradition of Tao, incorporating elements from Buddhism and other spiritual traditions from the East as well as the West. The Tao Practice offers a fresh perspective on these ancient teachings and provides practical methods and ideas to help us achieve more clarity and well-being.

Tao of the Day
Tao of the Day is a site for all things related to the Tao (also spelled Dao). We'll cover the entire Tao Te Ching several times each year, with one chapter being the center of attention each day. You can always comment on past days, but let's try to keep it flowing as the days progress.

Tao Te Ching Project
On Sunday, April 11th, 2010, we started a new series on You, Simplified where each week, we review and discuss a passage of the Tao Te Ching. You can follow all 81 passages as they get added on this page.

Taoism-UK
Taoism refer to many fundamental truths that have been observed in Nature. Some of these fundamental beliefs that influence the teachings: The Tao - The Path - understanding of the true nature of mind and reality and by application the way of living in harmony with the changes in Nature; Wu wei - The Natural order, harmony with which allows for effortless doing; P'u - openess; and Ch'i - fundamental energy that forms the Yin and Yang. The search for the Tao and application of Taoist practices leads to exercises both physical and mental.

The Taoist Center
Located in Portland, Oregon, The Taoist Center is a place where students of the Dao can gather to study, discuss and examine their connection to the Dao. The Taoist Center also provides practice space for acupuncturists, body workers and students of Asian influenced medicines.

Non-English Blogs
(I'm simply going to list them)
Tao in Image & Word (Dutch)
Taoisme (Dutch)
Taoismo en Espanol (Spanish)
365 Meditaciones Tao (Spanish)

New Voices Along the Path XV

It hasn't even been one month since the last installment, but I've been adding a lot of links to the Taoist Wanderers section on the right sidebar. The link count for this section alone now stands at 163. So, before I get too far behind, here are some more new voices along the path.

Daoism/Taoism Blog
What can I tell you? This is a very odd blog. It defies description. You'll have to check it out for yourself!

Daoist Qigong
Daoist qigong is a spiritual discipline that cultivates body and mind simultaneously. Originally called daoyin, which means 'guiding the flow of internal energy (qi), it has been practiced for over two thousand years in China. Laozi, the founder of Daoism, was said to have been the first to practice techniques of conserving, gathering, cultivating, nourishing, and transforming energies that are the source of a healthy body and a clear mind. The techniques of Daoist qigong were systematized during the Han dynasty (3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE) by the father of Chinese medicine Hua Tu. From then on daoyin, or qigong, has been incorporated into Daoist spiritual practices up to the present day.

Elizabeth's Taoism Blog
Elizabeth Reninger is a freelance writer and Taoist practitioner, currently living in Boulder, Colorado. She is a practitioner of the Taoist arts of qigong, acupuncture, tuina and poetry; and has been exploring the terrain of Inner Alchemy (Yoga/Qigong in various forms) for upwards of twenty-five years. She has had the privilege and good fortune of receiving instruction from a number of great Taoist, Buddhist and Hindu Teachers.

Mountains, flowers, & poetry - and those Beings who somehow (in large or small ways) embody the essence of mountains, flowers & poetry - have been a continuing source of guidance and inspiration. A deep bow of gratitude to you all! In defense of attempting the ultimately impossible task of talking about Daoism, I will cite the words of the Daoist poet, Lu Ji: "Out of non-being, being is born; out of silence, the writer produces a song."

I Ching on the Net
The I Ching or "Book of Changes" is an ancient Chinese divination manual and book of wisdom. Especially since the 1960's, its poetic text and extraordinary symbolism — to say nothing of its strange effectiveness in divination — have gained it a following in the West.

These pages provide links to I Ching resources on the Internet, and include a brief introduction to the I Ching and to my own translation, Rediscovering the I Ching, with my versions of hexagram 1 Strong Action, and hexagram 21 Biting Through.

Lucky Honu
This is a fun site. You type in your question and The Oracle provides an answer from the I Ching. What will you ask it?

1yogi2many
If you keep looking at life through a dirty window you'll never see or understand what's really going on because the first thing you'll see is the muck on the window of your life. The intelligent thing to do is to STOP right here and NOW to clean it . . . Of course the real problem is that most people are stuck so far up their own backsides all they can see is their own excrement; and that’s on a good day . . . . . . So, the only way you’ll ever see beyond the crap in your life will be to remove your head; POP . . . ah, that’s better, no more excrement! Now there's a chance that you can clean the windows of your eyes and start to see things more clearly . . . But what do I mean? Ah, read on . . .

Tao Te Chill
One does not attain chill immediately; it requires great practice and form. The first step in attaining chill is the path of least resistance. One must live in harmony with the world. A chill life abides by the natural forces in our world. One must seek the path that comes naturally. Follow this path and you will find harmony in life.

The Great Tao
This site provides a lot of articles that discuss Taoism from many angles. It provides good information for someone interested in learning more about this ancient philosophy.

The Philosophy of Me
I am a published author; my first book “My Descent into Madness.” is a collection of poems I wrote while in a deep depression and was meant to be my final words to my family. Through a series of events and with the love and support of my family I was able to emerge from the darkness.

I am currently working on a children’s book series, theology book, and two other poem books. I am the founder of The Bucket List Foundation. This non-profit was created to enrich the lives of our elderly, and to ensure no one dies alone. I enjoy blogging because it keeps my mind fresh and allows me to express my thoughts and feelings.

The Sacred & the Space In Between
My name is Siroj Sorajjakool. I was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand and was privileged to pursue my undergraduate in Singapore, my graduate degree in religion from India, and my doctorate in California. I have one son, one wife, and I believe in one God. My current position is professor of religion, psychology, and counseling at Loma Linda University. My training is in the application Christianity and Eastern philosophy to the field of spirituality and mental health. My area of teaching consists mainly of spirituality in relation to health and mental health. In the past couple of years I have been involved in a number of qualitative research such as spirituality and cancer, spirituality and chronic pain, spirituality and chronic depression and I am starting another study on spirituality and schizophrenia. One burden that weighs heavily on me is the issue of poverty and children who are at-risk for sex trafficking and prostitution. I hope to be able to touch some lives while I am still breathing.

Regarding the concept “The Sacred and the Space in Between,” I’ve come to believe that the Sacred in life is that space in between. It is both/and. And it is neither. It stands between the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the heaven and the earth, the joy and the sorrow, life and death.

New Voices Along the Path XIV

Earlier today I featured some the new Taoist links in the right sidebar. In this episode, we'll take a look at the new links added recently to the Fellow Wanderers section plus one from Sites of Interest.

Both Eyes Shut! In a Real World, This Would Be Happening
(Because of space parameters on the right sidebar, I don't list the full title.) I’m going to make this short, because I’ve never read the “Mission Statement” post of anybody else’s blog before, and I’m not real sure I care if anyone reads mine. It isn’t going to be anything like the actual posts. It’s not going to shed any light on what I’ll write later, and what I’ll write later won’t follow any scripted guidelines. It won’t tell you what to expect, what reasons to visit, or why I have to write. It’s not going to inspire any immediate bookmarks or passionate replies, and when you get right down to it, its purpose will seem vague. In the end I will reflect on it the way a plastic surgeon probably regards his having facially reconstructed a professional boxer.

It’s a fine non-representation, though. It isn’t what it is, does what it’s intended to do without doing anything, and somehow manages to show some character through an embarrassing failure to provide substantial content. Like a good pop album. Or Rice Crispies treats. You know — like life. Anyhow, before this actually goes somewhere, I’d better run. I hope you have a good time! And if not, well, I’m sure there’s a more objective blog somewhere very, very close at hand. Something on nude celebrities, perhaps.

Cloudscape
The ideas of a novelist, philosopher and artist.

irReligion.org
Your last stop before eternal enlightenment!

Peace Is Possible!
Another world is possible: a world of peace, social and environmental justice, and ecological and economic sustainability. A nonviolent world where people don't hurt each other. A world based on mutual respect and prosperity, and partnership (rather than economic domination, subjugation and cruelty.) A world of joy, light and love...such a world IS possible. And in a world that is full of violence, including war, it is important to remember that peace is possible!

Short Sleeves Insights
Howard (Hal) Thomas Manogue was born in Philadelphia, and is a forerunner to the Indigo children, a new age term for misfit with an intuitive nature, a desire to know his truth with a gift of giving and sharing. Hal retired from the shoe industry after 35 years of sole searching, and discovered his real soul. He enjoys art, music, philosophy, psychology, nature and people. I am a spirit having a human experience. I create my reality through my thoughts and beliefs. I am a fragment of consciousness connected to different qualities of consciousness. I take responsibility for the choices I make and the dreams I dream. I am energy filled with the source of all energy and I live simultaneous lives. I am here to experience emotions and to feel the wealth of value fulfillment. I express myself multidimensional and appreciate the opportunity to be human.

Swimming the Sacred River
The Sacred River Project is dedicated to promoting a naturalistic approach to spirituality that is grounded in (a) progressive, humanistic principles, (b) a rational understanding of the universe informed by scientific inquiry, and (c) a reverent orientation towards the natural world.

The Broken Bokken
Your Source for Karate Training Tips...Healing Arts...Chaotic Wisdom...Zen Stuff. My Dharma name is Shinzen. I began studying Goshindo Karate under the watchful eye of Shihan Paul Dean in 1969. Yes, I now have gray hair. I am also Lay-ordained in Soto Zen under the tutelage of Rev. Nonin Chowaney of the Nebraska Zen Center.

The Laughing Coyote
Expanding Your Imagination ~ Expanding Your Life.

If you will let her, she will guide you to the outskirts of town, to the borders of your own thinking, but she will take you no further because it is for you and you alone to travel down that profound path which begins on the other side of WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW.

If you will let her, she will teach you to get over yourself so you can realize that EVERYTHING IS SACRED and, at the same time, NOTHING IS SACRED. Go figure.

Thurman's Notebook
For more than two decades I dealt with my dysfunction the wrong way, by hiding inside a thick cloud of cannabis smoke and occasional psychedelic drugs. I was one of a very fortunate few who travel that road and don’t end up addicted, jailed, dead, or insane (the insane part is open to debate). I don’t know how I managed to do the things I did and not destroy my life and I don’t recommend anyone else follow in my footsteps, it usually ends very badly. Like I tell my kids, don’t follow my example – learn from my mistakes.

When I gave up trying to destroy every brain cell I’ve got and decided to rejoin the world, I began to dream, and paint, and write again – things I’d enjoyed long ago, before this evil world did its best to break my spirit. As I climbed slowly out of the grave I tried to dig for myself over the years I began to finally put many things into context and have hopefully gained a small amount of wisdom in the process. (RT: One of my favorite blogs!)

New Voices Along the Path XIII

It's been a while since I last introduced you to some of the new links added to the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar. So, without further ado:

Advice by Lao Fzu

I offer free Taoist counseling services to anyone who is experiencing challenges in their life, or are just looking to gain a better understanding of the world in which we live. The essence of Taoism is acceptance, balance, harmony and understanding. My counseling services can be a very valuable tool in achieving these goals. (This also is the source of a Daily Quote mailing list.)

Drake Keenan's Journal

This Texan discusses Taoism as it relates to his life as a technical writer and fiction author.

I Ching You Ching

This blog offers articles on philosophy, wellness and transformation. No new posts since late February, though.

Live the Tao

Quietness and effortlessness. Taoist insight that you can apply to your life right now.

Livingiching's Blog

Using Ancient Chinese Wisdom To Shape Your Life.

Mak Ching Yuen's Cool Taoism Blog

This is a very cool blog that I will write about my coolest Taoism journey and it is not about getting old fashion or strict about anything, it’s just pure COOL TAOISM. The old way of Taoism is TOO outdated and yes, this is said by the deities too. So I will be introducing you to the cool Taoism world here, enjoy your visit! (RT: To be quite frank, this is probably the oddest Taoist blog I've run into yet!)

Misha's House

Taoism is considered a religion or philosophy, but really Taoism is a way of living. Tao means Way or Path, Te means virtue or nature and ching means text. The main Taoist text is the Tao Te Ching, written approximately 2500 years ago. I became a Taoist when I read the first chapter of the Tao Te Ching as translated by Ellen Chen.

Practice the Tao

When East meets West… when Lao Tzu wrote down the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching 2,500 years ago in ancient China, he may not have realised the impact its philosophy would have millenniums later in the West and the newly-emerging profession of life-coaching.

When Julia from Taiwan met Nick from England on a coaching course, they didn’t realise at first that they had a common interest in the work of Lao Tzu. This joint interest soon became a course project. As we explored a few verses of the Tao, we began to see how Lao Tzu’s teachings could be related to personal development and coaching principles.

On this blog we intend to continue this work by exploring one verse of the Tao Te Ching each week. We invite you to join us on our journey and add your own thoughts to deepen our learning. How do you interpret Lao Tzu’s message? And how does it speak to you as a coach?

Tao te Tweet

The Tao Te Tweet is now complete, featuring Twitter-length (140 characters, including spaces) transcreations of verses from the Tao Te Ching. It begins at the beginning, and will work itself in numerical order to the end, hopefully. Since I don't know a lick of Chinese, I have primarily been using the translations and commentaries of Ellen M. Chen (amazing research and depth), as well as the translations by David Hinton (an impeccable translator of Chinese poetry) and Jonathan Star (who has created a grid containing each Chinese character of each verse and its possible translations). I have also used translations by Stephen Mitchell and Red Pine, as well as others included in the links below. But in almost every case, the verse has worked itself into its twitter length through that muse of intuition and rhythm.

The Gaiam Blog

The link features a series of pages which offers quotes predominantly from books about Taoism.

The Tao of Chaos

Thoughts on Taoism, alcoholism, recovery, and life in general.

New Voices Along the Path XII

Over the past two months I've added quite a few new links to the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar. So, I'll introduce you to approximately one-half of them today.

Daily Cup of Tao
Written by the bloke who brings us Tao Wow, "This blog will have one short post per day. No particular order or quality. Though, I must say, some of the ones later in the year are very good." He's being modest. Almost EVERY daily entry is a keeper!!

Digital Taoist
The tag line reads: "Actively Knowing Nothing," but it's patently obvious that this blogger knows a thing or two.

Stationary Pilgrim
(Written by a Taoist.) With any undertaking there has to be a motive/reason for starting and for the direction we take. As often happens in a busy life, competing demands may cause us to set aside the good habits that we know should be a daily part of our lives. Good habits can of course be replaced not just by neutral habits, but by one that are negative and work against our physical well being, our spirituality and connectedness with other people. Last summer I pondered the idea of making a pilgrimage/long walk to “spiritual sites” in the region where I live. However, life demands (financial and family) made me realize this was not feasible. After seeing the movie Julie and Julia I realized that a Blog could act as the thread with which to bring together my motivational, creative and spiritual needs.

Tao for Life
An Online Journal Of Learning The Way Of Tao. Like this blog, it has undertaken to explore the verses of the Tao Te Ching as it applies to modern life.

Taoismo in Espanol
If Spanish is your native language, then this blog may be for you!

The Tao of Autism
Taoism and autism seem to go hand-in-hand. Taoism almost seems designed with the autistic in mind. There is so much wisdom from Taoism that can be applied to an autistic's life. I bring that wisdom here, as well as wisdom from elsewhere, to share through my unique lens. Unfortunately, the blog hasn't been updated since December.

WSR Taoism
This blog combines the eye of a photographer with the heart of a Taoist.

New Voices Along the Path XI

Here are some recent links added to the right sidebar in the "Taoist Wanderers" section.

Aspiring Taoist
I’m not a Taoist, but I aspire to be one — to approach life as a Taoist approaches life. I’d love to be able to deal with the craziness of life, its ups and downs, its stresses and demands, and still maintain a sense of inner serenity, relaxation, quiet, tranquility. I live a hectic life, with a terrific wife (Good Enough Mom, GEM) and 2 wonderful, very young sons, and a very demanding job, and constant busyness, emails, deadlines, rushing, time crunches etc….like many people in America….at least those lucky enough to have a job.

Daily Tao
The Tao Te Ching was written some 2,500 years ago by a man named Lao Tzu. It is one of the oldest texts still in existence and certainly one of the wisest. Its wisdom is timeless and its message is as relevant and important now as it was back then - if not moreso. It is vital that we learn to come back into balance with the natural world, to live in a more harmonious and selfless way...and the Tao Te Ching beautifully instructs us in bringing ourselves and our lives into alignment with the 'Tao'.

Finding the Li
A few years back, I began working on my first novel, Requiem of the Human Soul, which was published early in 2009 by Libros Libertad. I wanted to write about where I saw our world going, and what it means for our human soul. Not the Judeo-Christian immortal soul, but the kind we mean when we say: “That’s got soul, man.” I wanted to explore how genetic engineering may put the final nail in the coffin that Western civilization’s been building around our soul for the past 500 years. I tried to make the story believable – not some angst-ridden dystopia, but a realistic view of our future may hold for our species.

How to Win Without Fighting
A wise man once said "When trouble is solved before it forms, who calls that clever? When there is victory without battle, who talks about bravery. How to Win Without Fighting is a posting of Taoist based strategic management strategies mixed with Urban street sense designed to assist individuals and organizations in winning while avoiding the stress of conflict.

Tao Are You?
Taoist Thoughts, Poetry, Artwork, Guidance.

Tao Manor
Tao Manor is a place on the Web where you can read about Taoism (especially philosophical Taoism) and find places to meet Taoists and read even more.

Tao Te(a)Ching
Wit and Erudition? I think you've got the wrong number.

The Jade Cove
Taoist writings and realizations.

Zen and Taoism
I feel drawn towards Eastern philosophy, art, architecture, food and martial arts. I am exploring Zen Buddhism and Taoism at the moment. I'll be writing in this blog about the books I read, CDs I listen to and DVDs or programmes that I watch. I hope it's of interest to other people.

New Voices Along the Path X

Here are some recent links added to the right sidebar in sections others than "Taoist Wanderers".

Asperger Square 8
Talk about squares, Asperger syndrome and the number 8.

Confessions of an Aspergian
A look into the mind of someone with Aspergers Syndrome.

DQ's Windmill

Writing about life with a dusting of Dharma. A philosophy instructor wary of philosophy. A Zen practitioner and a Yoga teacher. A walker. A writer. An enthusiast of such diverse things as music, tea, and languages. An animal lover.

Pieces of Zen

Zen is certainly not for everyone. Its rewards are hard, and almost impossible to define with words. Zen communicates through experiential practices that words are inadequate to describe.

My writings here in my Zen blog, in themselves answer nothing. They come from my zazen (Zen meditation) and aim to pose more questions within each mind. I hope the words on my Zen blog help take the reader further down his/her path to enlightenment.

Polynomial

Polynomial, originally consisting of two friends, is currently just one person… Karl Richard. He is a futurist, plane warping, mind altering, tree hugging hippie who’s not so hip he has trouble seeing over his own pelvis. He resides with his feet firmly on the earth and his head in the clouds. Yet he’s still aware of the spaces in between and the beauties beyond. Some say he’s searching for an illusive “something”. But all he really does is look at the same things from all the infinite perspectives that the human condition affords him.

As for ever getting bored here on Earth… He reckons that there is simply too much to hear, see, do and think about to become bored. And, as if to provide a tonic to anyone’s own self imposed ennui, he wants us all to remember what we seem to so readily forget in the daily melodrama of human life… Namely how fortunate and improbable it is that we are all alive and here today.

Practically Zen

Almost zen, but there are too many other good pieces of testable philosophy out there to stick to the one path for now. I have always motivated to find trouble and then address it. This is good and helpful for problems involving things or data, but it doesn't apply to people. Especially to one's self. I studied psychology and sociology to learn about the underlying forces of how we act as animals and how we act as groups, but something was missing. Philosophy. [Note: Currently writing a verse-by-verse examination of the Tao Te Ching.]

Skeptic's Play
Critical thinking... for fun? Written by an undergraduate physics major. I like to think.

Sojourner Haven
A blog dedicated to the ideal of dispelling illusions.

Spiritual Drifts from the River Karma

A blog that captures the thoughts of an Energy Healer on his Spiritual path as he figures his place in the world, learning along the way how energy really does affect our lives, yoga practises all whilst doing his beloved religion justice. As such, the aim of this blog is to help other spiritualists on their part.

The Reason Project

The Reason Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.

Walking in Stillness
This blog has a most simple (yet eloquent) tag line: I am ...

Weirdly Wonderful World!!!

Parenting, teaching, loving, and living with two children on the Autism spectrum. TWINS......my son has High Functioning Autism and my daughter was diagnosed recently with Asperger's Syndrome!!!!

New Voices Along the Path IX

In my efforts to keep you apprised of new links added to the right sidebar, here's another episode in the ongoing saga. :>)

A Little Detour
My journey that was set in motion on August 24, 2009, by a diagnosis of brain tumor.

Considerate Harmony

In this blog, I would offer health/wellness tips, recipes and information in form of polished and unpolished posts. These posts would be reflections of my personal experiences, so you are welcome to try at your own risks. Be careful when using herbs! I do follow all the tips I give. I have a background in science. I practice qi gong (meditation) and martial arts on a daily basis. I follow Daoist/Taoist diet. You will see the influences of such factors in my posts.

Daology

For centuries philosophers and theologians have been studying the problem of duality in life: good vs. evil; the beautiful vs. the ugly; the sacred vs. the profane or, put another way, body vs. spirit. In the modern era we've refined this duality to the distinction between the realm of the spirit and the realm of the material world or Religion vs. Science where the polar views are religion is the realm of superstition and magic and science is the new arbiter of all truth as to the nature of reality. In the pages that follow I hope to discuss this duality and the hope for a more integrated approach to life that seems to be dawning on the new horizon. It gives us something to look forward to as we approach the cusp of the 21st century.

Tao 61-Yin & Tao 61 - Yang

Two companion blogs by baroness radon. In keeping with the theme of Taoism, there are two central forces in the universe, yin and yang. So, she explores her life and shares her thoughts utilizing this motif. Really creative, don't ya think?

The New Legalist

Across time and space, the Chinese civilization is the only one not based on any religious mythology, but on pure Reason. The naturalist world outlook of the Tao school is not only the spiritual guide for the Chinese people in their thinking and living for thousands of years, but also a great philosophy, based on which the Chinese people have built up a unique and comprehensive thought system covering medicine, economics and politics. This system aims at a dynamic balance between different parts of the human body, between different groupings of people within a society, and between human society and nature. All its subsystems follow the principle of “guiding changes towards balance” (from The Yellow Emperor’s Four Cannon): economically, arranging production and consumption in accord with the change of seasons and with nature’s productive capabilities at the time; and politically, allocating limited resources among people according to their respective contributions to the society…

The Walk of Ten Thousand Steps
Tao is the way, Zen is the walking.

Transformations

I have decided to publish a series of my thoughts on the Tao Te Ching, a work of Chinese philosophy that is influencing me as I ponder it. I hope to introduce others to (my interpretation of) this philosophy and make some space for discussion and feedback, which I would greatly appreciate.

Wisdom of Tao
A little place where life can flow, wisdom can breath, and tranquility exist.

Taoist Voices Today

In my last post, I discussed not eschewing contemporary visionaries for those from our ancient past. While there have been and continue to be several capable Taoists who have written books, in this post I simply wish to draw your attention to Taoist blogs.

I'm only going to mention a few and, if I don't mention yours or one you favor, it's in no way meant as a slight. There are more quality Taoist-based blogs than I care to shake a stick at right now. : ) I view this as a very positive development.

If you like the writings of Chuang Tzu, then I can suggest no better blog than Tow Wow. The Aussie who writes this blog uses the simple moniker of Tao and Tao shares great insights in an often humorous and metaphysical manner.

The Taoist blog I have kept track of the longest is The Useless Tree. Written by Dr. Sam Crane of Williams College, this blog covers both Taoist and Confucian thought in terms of contemporary national and international affairs. If that wasn't enough, Sam also applies the philosophy of Taoism toward understanding disability in the memory of his late son, Aidan.

If you're looking for a modern take on Taoist principles, one of the best blogs around is Personal Tao Musing by Casey Kochmer. Before heading off to his Hawaiian paradise, Casey used to call Washington State home. He offers personal contemplations and helpful advice that are both practical AND inspiring.

A great blog from across the pond is The Path of Water - 21st Century Taoism. Written by Woody, he is the main founder of the New Taoist Community. He offers a lot of ideas to ponder and I've followed his writings for quite some time.

We all know that I'm not overly enthralled with the Christian religion, but I do need to give a shout out to HK at Christian Taoism and CM at Transformations as both seek to apply Taoist principles and insights to their faith. Both pull it off magnificently, in my opinion.

There is also a new Taoist blog I want to call your attention to -- A New Shade of Black. Authored by Mr. Methodic, he has been tackling some of the core issues of this philosophic outlook.

The final blog I will mention here is not really a Taoist blog. Church of the Churchless is hosted by Brian Hines, the only blogging compatriot I've had the pleasure of meeting in person! Brian does cover Taoist themes, from time to time, but his main focus is on living a vibrant life without the need for a religious faith of any kind. Of all the blogs listed in the right sidebar, I've have been a fan of his blog the longest.

New Voices Along the Path VIII

Time for another episode of information on new links added recently to the Taoist Wanderers section in the right sidebar.

A Tao Girl
The way of a Tao woman, single homeschooling mom of three, animal rescuer, full-time graduate student, work-at-home writer, community volunteer, children's spiritual leader, nonprofit founder, and more.

I Ching Meditations
I’ve been working and re-working my personal Interpretation of I Ching in various forms for what feels like forever. Recently I started to post I Ching Meditations on a Blogger hosted site and got sidetracked when I began to learn how to do a self-hosted Blog on WordPress for my Yoga Babe Cafe. So now I will transfer what I have on Blogger to here and change my form of presentation somewhat by adding more posts about my creative process, dreams and stuff I’m not thinking about as I write this.

I want the reader to have some understanding of my purpose and goals for this I Ching blog. I first became obsessed with I Ching in 1970. This interest coincided with the feminist movement where I was frequently asked, “Why are you interested in that sexist book that talks about the superior man all the time?” I Ching developed as the Chinese language developed over three thousands years ago so that question was not something I could respond to in a sound bite.

Persephone's Box
Like Pandora's Box, but messier. A mixed bag of home-birthing breastfeeding mum stuff, rants on feminism, politics, religion, and the environment, and philosophical explorations of human nature. I've lost my virginity, but I've still got the box.

Tao Spiral
Bringing together people interested in all things Tao: healing, qigong, taichi, taoist sexual practices and more!

Tao Wizard
TaoWizard.com grew out of Stuart Shaw's avid involvement (under the name "Stigweard") over at the Tao Bums.

As part of his service to the TaoBums, Stuart started a comprehensive FAQ and directory and, wanting to provide a clearer and easier to use format, TaoWizard.com was born. As such TaoWizard.com is intended to be a comprehensive resource providing the most reliable sources of online information on the various aspects of Daoism.

Taoist Philosophy For The 21st Century
This website is an introduction to this ancient wisdom in modern terms, a new interpretation. We believe that life is for us to enjoy, and joy resides in satisfaction with a simple life. Life should turn away from highly oriented goals which are institutionalized into modern society. Ancient primary society was genetically coded society, and modern secondary society was created by man to solve problems or achieve institutionalized goals.

Taoist Tai Chi Society
The ancient Taoists were renowned for their study of the arts of health and longevity. The Taoist Tai Chi Society™ internal art of taijiquan conveys the essence of this tradition to the modern world.

In more than 25 countries around the globe, people are enjoying the many benefits of practising these arts of holistic health in the friendly atmosphere of our volunteer, non-profit organization. We invite you to experience one of our classes for yourself and discover a genuine path for health and tranquility.

The Pure Mountain Path
From the Tao we can learn from nature and live in harmony with the world. We seek the balance of yin and yang which allows us to be one with the universe. It permits us to be in harmony and gives us liberation from suffering. We hope you enjoy our information and find it helpful along your path.

The Universe Next Door
Will (The Smiler's) latest disjointed chronicle of La Vida Literati, hopscotching the Tao, and the endless quest for sex or jazz or soup.