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I don't mean this at all judgmentally, but a lot of this stuff just seems too complicated to me. Remember that Taoism emphasizes simplicity. Of course, the problem could be that I'm just not smart enough to understand all this stuff

What about their similarities? Some basic, obvious ones would be: - pantheism - emphasis on meditative practices - compassion I know this is very simple, but simplicity is a key concept in Daoism.

Don't deliberately engage in negative speech or thinking. Harsh or unloving words and thoughts reinforce suffering.

Silent thunder helped me understand the idea of just being, effortlessly. I feel that that's a very Buddhist and Taoist principle, and is what the meditative mind is about. Thanks ST!

In TM, one doesn't use concentration. Yet, TM can greatly improve one's ability to concentrate. That's just TM, though. Concentrating on a mantra is also an effective technique. For mindfulness of breathing, it's good to effortlessly bring your attention back to the breath whenever your mind wanders. You can eventually get very, very good at keeping your attention on the breath. I do TM regularly, and occasionally mindfulness of breathing, and also choiceless awareness. But mainly I meditate in the way Fa Xin said- just sit there and be, without effort or a technique. I call it non-meditation.

Thanks for sharing this. I think I'll buy that book.

Accept yourself as you are and do what feels great. Growth happens naturally that way. Don't try so hard to figure everything out. Guidance and answers will come when you're ready for them.

Accepting yourself as you are, including negativity, may be the key. If you TRY so hard to be positive, and fight against negativity, it can just make things worse. The Buddhist approach, as I understand it, is to just be aware of negativity and accept it. Doing this gives one the power to let go and be positive naturally.

Wade, Have faith and be positive. Do what makes you happy, what gives you peace. Know that everything is okay, and that your experiences are right for you. We don't always see the good in things, but it is there. When you have a positive attitude and trust that everything is happening as it should, problems get solved and healing happens. I've experienced similar things, and it worked out for good. Everything eventually does. All is well.

Wade, It's very possible that you have a strong desire for oneness, intimacy, and a deep connection with others, and out of that desire, you absorb others' energy, as a way of connecting. But the thing is that taking on others' energy comes from a MISUNDERSTANDING of oneness. You're ALREADY one with everyone. Separation is an illusion. When one has 'separation anxiety', they can engage in false and unhealthy forms of joining, including absorbing others' energy. Just know that you already have total oneness.

What not to do: try very hard to change, grow, and become more perfect. What to do: know that you're already perfect, accept yourself as you are, and just enjoy your life. Change and growth happen naturally when you take that approach.

I'm sure this website will be a place where you can connect with like-minded people. The internal arts such as qigong are something most people here take a special interest in, as you do.

That's very wise imo. And congratulations on your breakthrough.

My feeling is that, if the belief is correct (an idea that is actually true), then it's liberating, not imprisoning. ACIM says that an idea can be, 1. wholly false (a lie) 2. partially true (a "half-truth") 3. wholly true (an "absolute truth"). I guess I'm saying, but not with the intention of arguing, that I feel that beliefs can create freedom, or bondage if false.

Fear of the truth. That's the problem imo. Why do we fear it? Because truth is the demise of illusion, of our false self.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, LimA. Scientific and pragmatic; a great combination.

"Wisdom comes from LOVE, not 'intelligence'. There have been many 'intelligent' people who have done great evil." There's a book called "Why Smart People Do Stupid Things". Well, I haven't read the book. But I can tell you that the reason is because being smart has almost nothing to do with being wise. Maybe the common definition of intelligence is inaccurate. J. Krishnamurti said, "The only intelligence is the intelligence of compassion." As Forest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

I don't know what the definitions of "religious Taoism" or "philosophical Taoism" are, but it would seem that "religious" would imply some kind of supernatural concept, such as immortality, reincarnation, or a non-physical existence of some kind. "Philosophical" would be more like an atheistic perspective. Or is there another definition of them that has to do with the precise approach to the study and practice of Taoism?

Pride. Or you could put it, specialness. Another word, ego. That's what I've been taught and in honesty I fully agree with it.

I just want to add something, because the thing is that it's very apparent and obvious that, while people may be pure in their "true essence," many people certainly don't act like it or have thoughts and emotions that reflect it. In Buddhism they teach that it's like peeling away the layers of an onion, after which you get to the core of it. We have layers of illusions, underneath which is love and goodness. Meditation, according to most Buddhist teachers, is a way of releasing or letting go of those layers. Another way to put it is "polishing the mirror". Another thing is that it's supposedly quite possible to let go of ALL of those "layers" in one feel swoop- "instant enlightenment". Although I would consider that to be a virtually superhuman feat which almost no one is capable of.

I guess one could define it in several different ways. I mainly see it as a basic goodness, that everyone is loving and pure in their true essence. Do you believe there's a Buddha nature, a divine nature? Being a website devoted mostly to Eastern kinds of spirituality, probably most of the people who interact here do.

Even ideas like, "Everyone has a 'divine nature'"? I take a different pov but I respect your opinion.

You must be WILLING to see the truth. That's the key. Krishnamurti called this the "awakening of intelligence". People usually "see what they want to see". They believe what they want to believe, what they think "works for them". If a person wants to see the real truth, they have to overcome this problem and become willing to know what's really true. To put it another way, if you want to see the truth, you have to TRULY want to.

These 32 Bruce Lee quotes really blew my mind. wellnesscom.info/32-powerful-bruce-lee-quotes-will-change-life edit: I just realized it didn't do a link....I guess you'll have to type it in if you want to read the quotes...sorry

Three quotes from A Course in Miracles are: "To see yourself as attacked is to believe you are a body." "True perception has one law, that you see the Son of God (which is all beings) as not a body." "The advanced Teacher of God no longer believes he is a body." We HAVE bodies, but the body is not your actual self. You have a mind, a personality, consciousness, a divine nature......you are the life within you.