Rara

This has been recommended via a YT channel I've been following, promoting a Wudang school of Tai Chi. I want to give it a go!

Cool to see this pop up again...I was just looking for something else. What a nice surprise! Looking back 5 years, it's crazy to see how I used to write. Anyway, applications of the above post have certainly helped me through. Those "symptoms" I had still remain, but I'm thoroughly aware of them now and know when enough is enough, so to speak.

Yep, I like "Tzu/Zi"and "Tao". When you see me using "Tse" and "Dao", I have officially let go If you see me using these, I have found "Dao"

Well, it's a matter of semantics, right? There's "logic", the human construct, which is an intellectual approach and not Taoist. Then there is common-sense/spontaneity, arguably still logical approaches but more associated with Taoism. Put an intellectual and a Taoist in a room to debate (see what I did here?) "what is logical" and I think we'd be in for quite an evening

Agh, I've been away too long and missed pages and pages of threads. I can't read everything here but my answer is: Taoism itself IS logic. The most pragmatic of all philosophies. Don't try to fit cubes into round holes etc.

@Zhongyongdaoist @wandelaar I dunno, I still think it's fair to at least draw some similarities between Soctrates' school of thought and that of Lao Tzu if they are seen

My teacher doesn't oversell it. A traditional Chinese martial art, very good for the leg muscles and stretching in a relaxed environment is all I'm getting haha.

Likes and thanks That still makes politics BS for me. No one knows what they are talking about.

There's this for Ch. 24 I believe; "All attempts to create something admirable are the weapons of evil. You may think you are practising benevolence and righteousness, but in effect you will be creating a kind of artificiality. Where a model exists, copies will be made of it; where success has been gained, boasting follows; where debate exists, there will be outbreaks of hostility."

Chuang Tzu ridiculed debates too. When I find the section, I'll post it here.

Oh it is hard. I'm at peace with myself and the world until someone hits a nerve haha. About discussions, you can prove something wrong but if the other person is set in their ways or stubborn, you just gotta let them be. The phrase "banging your head against a brick wall" is more literal than you think. You can do it but you're only hurting yourself. And what does others' opinions really matter anyway? Especially if they are coming from a place of ignorance/lack of knowledge on a subject. It's how I think of, say, Tai Chi. There's been all sorts of things said on the practice here, but I get more value from just going to my class and doing it. If I really have a question, I ask my teacher. It goes without saying, you never really know who you're chatting to on the internet. But there are some golden things to be found here, from some golden individuals. Take what is useful and backed up by various legitimate sources. Discard the petty and pointless.

Ditto. But yes, on this forum I tend to bow out once I've said my piece and if I learn something new from others, then great. It's important to not fall into the trap of fighting it out on here. Otherwise I might as well just go to Facebook.

Michael's answer...

Here lies the beautiful paradox. The philosophy and practices of the Way of Nature. Did no other cultures have similar answers? But before I go off on a tangent, I'll say instead that, in short, the classic texts and generally the practices of Taoists appear to work best. Lineage and learning something of some tradition is important, ensuring you're getting it from a good source. Back to certificates - they may help, but I'd rather go to someone with universal cred. They probably do have certificates anyway, but they're usually the last thing you'll see.

I wish I knew how to multi-quote. I like you too and poke you back for not explaining well first time To paragraph two, yes, good point. Your third paragraph, yes because the sage who has the Way, you might struggle to find him or her. Good practitioners too, because they're out there practicing, not preaching. I would like to add that the arts that emerged only 600 years ago, are fine interpretations of Taoism. My point is, whether it's Tai Chi, or any other skill, surely it's the method and approach that is important, rather than what you practice...

Sure. Again it comes down to what meditation really is, and I can only really say doing things with a calm focus really applies. I may be a sucker for Tai Chi these days, but one could obtain Tao from cooking amazing dishes imo

I almost liked your post, but I have to disagree with this. Saaawy! The philosophy can be applied away from the arts, in everyday life, right? Tai chi didn't exist back in Lao Tzu's day...

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, my uncle blew a fuse with stress and ended up in an institution for some time. I've had other family members come close, so I'm learning about my genes and capabilities. I'm now freelancing, which means I can pick and choose (and spend less money when I have less money - good that I have a Taoist mind, prepared for the slump!) Hate is such a strong word. But I understand what you mean

True, but I believe there are some universal basic understandings. Otherwise, what would the Taoist masters be teaching people? I think it's important to listen to those that have had stuff passed down through schools...for someone like me anyway. I can get a bit carried away at times and end up in the clouds, missing the point. I guess that's the danger with any text, religious or philosophical. I think we all know what can really happen if a meaning gets distorted and used for bad purposes, too!

It's interesting. I've been following a Youtube channel from another British guy called George Thompson. He's just graduated from university and went to China to find a Kung Fu school to help train his wandering mind into some discipline. I related to this because I never realised how bad my motivation, anxiety and mood had got following my graduation eight years ago. Anyways, he ended up in Wudang, struggled with his limited Mandarin and ended up staying with and learning Tai Chi under Master Gu. After months of releasing fun weekly videos, he then went off to a Buddhist monastery to train and I think he managed about three videos the whole time he was there, with basically no footage other than himself in it. You can almost tell that he is struggling to cut the video bits together because of the stricter rules they have.

There's a Joe Rogan Experience podcast that brings this up, #1109. I've only seen the first 45 but the theme of sleep quality, dreams, creative thinking and solving things crops up. The phrase "sleep on it" is there for a reason, so you see how your brain processes things when you least expect it. Fascinating stuff.

If we have interpreted these correctly, that is! I've misunderstood things from the texts MAJORLY in the past. I'm a lot better these days, I just gotta be careful not to think I understand when I don't. If I don't know the answer, raise my hand etc etc.

Do Taoists strike you as more "social animals" than Buddhists, by any chance?

True dat. Chuang Tzu is a lot cheekier and fiery in places. So much so that some Confucianists would accuse master Chuang of assaulting their philosophy.