Traditional Taoist Lifestyle

[wudangspirit]

I'd like to get some opinions about what you guys think is the traditional Taoist lifestyle.

 

There was another post earlier about how to live as a Taoist. But my question is what do people in this forum think is a tradtional Taoist lifestyle and what makes them think come to this conclusion? Have you had traditional training? Read some books? Heard about Taoism on the internet? etc.

[Marblehead]

Hi Wudang,

 

There is a passage I want to present but I will have to find it first as I think it is somewhere in the Chuang Tzu.

 

So I will just present my opinion at the moment.

 

I don't think there is such a thing as a traditional Taoist lifestyle. I say that because we all have different lives, jobs, families, sets of friends, etc.

 

Therefore I think that the closest one could get to traditional would be living a life based upon the three treasures regardless of our position in society.

 

Peace & Love!

[DalTheJigsaw123]

Hi Wudang,

 

There is a passage I want to present but I will have to find it first as I think it is somewhere in the Chuang Tzu.

 

So I will just present my opinion at the moment.

 

I don't think there is such a thing as a traditional Taoist lifestyle. I say that because we all have different lives, jobs, families, sets of friends, etc.

 

Therefore I think that the closest one could get to traditional would be living a life based upon the three treasures regardless of our position in society.

 

Peace & Love!

 

 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[wudangspirit]

That is a good point but I think if one followed discipline, dedication and devotion to ones practice they can still live harmoniously in the life they live but still carry on a traditional taoist lifestyle. Lifestyle meaning diet, exercise, applying the teachings, taking part in community, living virtuous etc keeping the ultimate goal of immortality close to the heart. Doesn't mean to walk around as a monk.

Following the true path of the tao

 

 

Hi Wudang,

 

There is a passage I want to present but I will have to find it first as I think it is somewhere in the Chuang Tzu.

 

So I will just present my opinion at the moment.

 

I don't think there is such a thing as a traditional Taoist lifestyle. I say that because we all have different lives, jobs, families, sets of friends, etc.

 

Therefore I think that the closest one could get to traditional would be living a life based upon the three treasures regardless of our position in society.

 

Peace & Love!

[Marblehead]

That is a good point but I think if one followed discipline, dedication and devotion to ones practice they can still live harmoniously in the life they live but still carry on a traditional taoist lifestyle. Lifestyle meaning diet, exercise, applying the teachings, taking part in community, living virtuous etc keeping the ultimate goal of immortality close to the heart. Doesn't mean to walk around as a monk.

Following the true path of the tao

 

Absolutely!!!

 

Please, everyone, never think that anything I say here on the forum is something I am suggesting is the only way. All I can honestly speak to is what I have found to be true for myself and it is only to myself that my comments are being made. Some of my ways may work for others, may not.

 

Your example above would be very fitting for many people. I think it would apply to most who are religious or alchemic Taoists.

 

Understanding the risk of being criticized, I will suggest that there is no "truely one" way to live one's life to the fullest. This is because we are each individual, special, and unique people and it could very well be that the 'best' way for one would be the 'worst' way for another. We each must find our own path and we we must walk that path ourself.

 

But, when our paths merge on occasion we can walk together, hand in hand, for a while.

 

Peace & Love!

[Marblehead]

[wudangspirit]

[DalTheJigsaw123]

Absolutely!!!

 

Please, everyone, never think that anything I say here on the forum is something I am suggesting is the only way. All I can honestly speak to is what I have found to be true for myself and it is only to myself that my comments are being made. Some of my ways may work for others, may not.

 

Your example above would be very fitting for many people. I think it would apply to most who are religious or alchemic Taoists.

 

Understanding the risk of being criticized, I will suggest that there is no "truely one" way to live one's life to the fullest. This is because we are each individual, special, and unique people and it could very well be that the 'best' way for one would be the 'worst' way for another. We each must find our own path and we we must walk that path ourself.

 

But, when our paths merge on occasion we can walk together, hand in hand, for a while.

 

Peace & Love!

 

Couldn't have said it better! Thank you!

[wudangspirit]

It has been a while sense I have viewed this. Sorry. I want to thank everyone for taking part in this discussion. It was helpful and you guys, in my opinion, are dead on.

[GrandmasterP]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Heaven-Encounters-Chinese-Hermits/dp/1562790412/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354916646&sr=8-1-fkmr0

 

There's this.

Slightly dated but not too far back.

Maybe a few Taoist hermits still out there.

[raimonio]

Okay. I found the passage. It's a little long and I apologize for that but I felt the entire passaged needed be included. It is Chuang Tzu but I don't know who's translation as it is from my collection.

 

 

The Proper Place Of Human Institutions

 

The primary things should stand at the top and secondary things stand at the bottom. The essential principles should be with the sovereign; the details with the ministers. The three armies and five kinds of military weapons are things that belong to the means of government. Promotions and punishments, inducements and rewards and the criminal code are the secondary things in a nations culture. Rituals and laws, the distinctions of rank and statistics and the comparison of terminology are secondary things in the art of government. Bells and drums and feather decorations are the secondary things in music. Weeping and mourning and the wearing of hemp clothes and hemp hemming and the gradations in the length of mourning are secondary things in the expression of sorrow.

 

These five kinds of secondary things require the employment of the mind and conscious planning before they can be carried out. The ancients had this body of the unessential knowledge, but they did not put it first.

 

To talk about Tao without observing the sequence of importance is to miss Tao. To discuss Tao and miss it at the same time; of what use could be the discussion?

 

Therefore, the ancients who understood the great Tao first tried to understand Nature, and then to understand Tao and Te. After they understood Tao and Te, then they began to understand humanity and justice. After humanity and justice were understood, then they began to attend to differences of ranks and duties. After the differences in ranks and duties were established, then they tried to set the terminology in order. When the terminology was established, then they began to decide on appointments. After appointments were made, then they began to review the records of the personnel. After their records were reviewed, then they tried to decide right and wrong. After they decided right and wrong, then they considered the promotions and punishments. When the promotions and punishments were properly carried out, then the clever and the stupid ones, the high and the low, the good and the bad, all fell into their proper places, each employing his ability and acting according to his station.

 

Thus those above may be served, those below may be properly fed, affairs may be attended to, the self may be cultivated, and there is no need to rely on cunning and strategy and all credit is given to Tao. This is the reign of peace, the height of the art of government.

 

Therefore, an ancient book says, "When there is form, there is a name." The ancients had this science of forms and names, but they did not put it first. In speaking of the great principles of government, according to the ancients, the science of terminology was the fifth step and promotions and punishments came in ninth. To begin by talking about terminology is to fail to appreciate the fundamentals. To begin by talking of promotions and punishments is to fail to recognize the foundation. This is reverse entirely the sequence of Tao. Such technicians of government should serve others; how could they be the rulers? To begin by talking of terminology and promotions and punishments is to discuss the means of government without knowing the principles of government. They can be employed for the government, but cannot govern the world. These people are merely specialists.

 

Wow, this truly inspires me to read Chuang Tzu. Funny how there is no mention of the guy in the university when the discussion is around politics although he seems to have nailed it

[Marblehead]

Wow, this truly inspires me to read Chuang Tzu. Funny how there is no mention of the guy in the university when the discussion is around politics although he seems to have nailed it

Yeah. Regretfully, Chuang Tzu is overlooked by most. I couldn't even get a good discussion going here regarding his thoughts and ideas. (But then, I guess that is because I haven't yet found an efficient way of doing it.)

 

However, much of what I say as my understanding and opinions are based on his writings so y'all are getting Chuang Tzu on occasion if you read my posts.