Rara

No, because someone would create a distraction. So yes, environmental factors, being 2020. "Being 2020". Sounds like a teen movie. Cute! I deleted 3 paragraphs because it was pure rambling and it invites a derail. That's all ya gettin'.

Ok, that's clearer. It was the first paragraph in your first response that threw me, because you said Daoism and Jainism are actually similar. I'm just assuming that Jainism would have a more moral/thoughtful approach, as per the video. So I was questioning, "am I reading 1-4 right? I swear it says "No Mercy"" But yes, I understand.

Do you agree or disagree that Daoism at leans more so much one way, that Confuianism is necessary to balance the state? Again, speaking about governance. Or am I now thinking too modern? As before it was said that we had an age where we did live in accordance to Dao, naturally...before the Way was lost, perhaps?

No, not incapable. Daoism teaches that this is the Way, and it is open to all of us. Yes, incapable. People are generally distracted and therefore too occupied to bother with self-governance. Plus, it's all "me, me, me" out there 😒 Pick one. No, not that one. No, not that one. Not that one either.

The synchronicity with me on here sometimes blows my mind. It's not usually with @Starjumper though, that was new.

Ah yeah, the open moderation thing. Carry on!

I've seen the thread, and I know RD/CD well enough to debate if need be

I don't know anything about Jainism, so I cannot really compare in that respect. Also, I'm not sure the DDJ chapter really backs this up. Which part are you highlighting? 1-4 or 8? Don't make me reach for my copy But I agree with how there are always similarities, but different approaches. One religion or philosophy might say "do not harm", but this isn't practical when we have no choice. Laozi's philosophy is to not interfere with the natural order, where harm is a byproduct of living. No snatching that spider's meal! That was not our business!

F*** me running. I literally just posted this in the other thread that @dmattwads started!

I just want to highlight "If" and "goal" You'll get different answers, depending on who answers. "If", well...for me it isn't. "Goal" ... No goal. Sorry, VAR ruled it out. If I eat well, sleep well, practice taiji (keep all the internal balance, lower stress yadda yadda ya) live spontaneously, enjoy art, open my arms wide and let the heavens pour in, breathe into the belly, look left and right as I cross the street...or not cross the street because there's a killer bug outside...oh, and remain in tune with the calling of the winds that are taking me to where I belong.... ...well, I don't know about you, but I'd be happy living tomorrow and the next day and the next. Who dares to tell me what happens after this vessel that's carrying me finally runs its course?

I actually hovered over that like button for a moment before clicking, but that's fair. Yes, most people do like "rules", on a religious level. It gives framework and meaning, and as I mentioned in my last post, from a governance standpoint they are good. I like some rules. I also like to see what I can get away with around them (don't we all?) But it's important to note the semantics here. I'm happy for a law that says not to steal, and you'll be punished if you do. I'm not so happy for someone to tell me to do, or not to do XYZ because of (insert religious goal here)

Because they can be full of s***. So we go believing things that are a waste of time an energy. Occupying our time practicing ritual when we could be out of our heads and experiencing life. I'm speaking in dogmatic religious terms, of course. Rules are important for governance.

Dunno. I read the Daodejing and it just seems true. Like looking out of the window. When I tried getting into Buddhism, I started noticing the rules. Things started to get convoluted and then it just became another organised religion. I always say, I love Buddha, but not Buddhism. Whereas, I don't have to love Dao. I just posted another thread on Dao and amorality, which is a minor attempt to differentiate between a Daoist attitude vs a philosophy with morals and virtues, if that helps.

Haha, yeah...it's an unforgettable name too. Similar story, my friend. Came, went, came, went etc. Stick around. We need to bring some stability back to the place.

Now there's a name I recognise. How long you been back, bruh?

Because gods are constructs. Although, some academics have said that Zhuangzi's Dao is akin to God. Whatever. No one's out there worshipping Dao, but if you want to go and call it "orgin" or something to help make some sort of sense of it, that'll do. But it's not really accurate at all.

Yep. I think your work here might be done. Thread closed 🤣

They are also Dao. I know this gets confusing haha. Practicing any other religion, as RD said, is not Daoism because they are labelled differently, (often) worship other sorts of Gods via prophets etc etc. But all this happens within the Dao. Because the Dao is ultimate, religion falls below this in the rankings...

I know you said "generally", but I want to add that they spawned very good martial artists too

Good schools are online, as are bad ones. You can definitely find the real deal there, but ask around first before committing.

First of all, the three basics good food, sleep and being calm. Without good general health, we cannot cultivate successfully. Try and remain relaxed but sharp during the day at work. Smile - people out there are angry but a good energy will benefit all. My personal practice is taiji, qigong and core strength training. Before, it was full contact martial arts but I'm shifting now as age is kicking in, and my need to be "boysterous" is declining. Oh, and yes, guitar playing, singing, and cooking. I like to let my spirit free.

Sure. So in this lifetime, we can't do everything. My gateway into Daoist life came from gongfu and when I try to divert to more, monkish ways, or to find monastaries, I seem to get spat back out into martial arts practices. I've found that the teachers that "find me" are now taiji. Temples are pit-stops, then it's back to training.

Bless Guan Yin. And I have a mini Buddha, but that's it on the ornament side. I lost a lot of things years ago when I had to leave my home, which I recently returned back to. A friend of mine said that ornaments of Laozi we close to impossible, but sometimes pictures are used. He was born into Daoism, or something that he refered to as tri-dharma. Hence the many deities.

What's with the switch around? Is that to sigify the bond between them? This is important. For me, I am on the martial route. I burn incense for direct relatives but I do not worship. Shifu told me that one was not important for me.

That's a big thing too - methods of learning. We just learn stuff differently here. Even mannerisms and speech. If someone is western and short with you, they are probably rude or pissed off. If they are Chinese and short with you, they are just being themselves and probably mean well. A western person will absorb the DDJ with a western mindset until they remove themselves and become a product of a different environment.