Know nothing, Know a thing, Knowthing

[Shadao]

Where should I start?

I always find it hard to introduce myself, because I myself still don't know enough of "me" to be able to make a concise introduction...

 

Well let me start by saying that my interest in Daoism/Taoism started because a few years ago I started to read novels about cultivation...yes, it were those works of fiction that got me intrigued but I'll admit that back then it wasn't enough intrigue to make me want to search more about it.

 

Fast forward to, what?Two or three years ago?

I found a website where there were many pdfs of books there, and yes among them there was a section about Taoism too.I got curious, I decided to check it and see some of those books.I won't lie saying that I finished reading any of the books I picked to "check", but it did made me question things, and due to that I decided to learn more(and hopefully start to actively practice) about Daoism/Taoism...and yeah i also like the subject of Alchemy(in general) and learning that there was such a thing like Neigong really caught my Western mind's attention.I love the idea of being able to change something into another(even better), the idea that a person can be like a metal ingot(useless in it's raw state but able to become something with purpose, identity, meaning and utility) that can be forged into something better.

 

I'm still lost in the practical side of it though, because what I tend to see are teachings peppered with New Age stuff, fake or repuposed to fit other things(i.e. Yoga, Reiki, etc.).

 

I guess for a general introduction about "Daoism/Taoism and Me" this sums it all.

 

Now just some trivia that won't reveal much about myself, but might be fun to know:

 

-Based on my personality I tend to feel more affinity to the elements of Fire, Lightning and Metal, but for some reason I feel at peace when underwater or feeling the wind.

-Not a "nature person" but due to an enhanced sense of smell and hearing I tend to not like completely urban environments.A mix of both is most prefered.

-Never drank nor smoked, and don't intend to.Not a fan of red meat, mostly fish and chicken(otherwise eggs and veggies).

-I want to learn many languages, even if it's hard to actually learn them.

-I think I can feel my "Qi" very well in my arms and hands, but not so much from the chest down.

[thelerner]

Hi Knowthing, Welcome to the Dao Bums.  You seem a naturally healthy inclined person.  The book learning is important.  It can provide new ways to see the world, but just as important, maybe more so, is the doing.  Does what you read inspire you to action.  This is a good place to make connections and chew the fat.  Welcome

 

We're an eclectic philosophy forum for learning, discussing and cultivation.  Below are 3 important sections: Our Rules, The Insult Policy and our 3 Foundations.  Before you join give them a read. 

 

Most of it boils down to being respectful.  No name calling or trolling.  Post as if your mom's looking over your shoulder.  Discussion and arguments are what the board is about.  Keep it civil, don't get personal.  Don't be a troll or one issue zealot. 

 

We're here for good conversation and making some friends along the way, to be a community.  Jump right in, start threads, ask questions, look for interesting threads and post your (relevant) thoughts. 

 

For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day.

 

 TDB team

 

Read and review Our Rules:

 

Please take a moment to review our Forum Terms & Rules detailed below. If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the 'back' button on your browser.

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You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board.

-Mal Rules & Use 7/22/11

 

 

Our Insult Policy- Read it, Live it

 

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Tao bums is a moderated, privately owned, web site; all who agree with our guiding principals are welcome to join our discussions:

Treat other members with respect. No personal attacks.

Moderators are present to enforce this, please abide by their decisions.

Basically No personal attacks.
It is totally fine to vocally disagree with a person's opinion, technique, politics, approach, lifestyle choice, etc.

But no insulting (or links to attacks) of individuals, nationalities, genders, political preferences, lifestyle choices, etc.
While this may sound restrictive and categorically un-Taoist, I believe it is a useful guideline to help us stop for a moment and think about how to present our perspectives intelligently without just flinging unproductive rudeness at each other. This way other members can receive value from your perspective and you can gain clarity by reasoning out why you initially felt compelled to verbally put down someone else for being different.

 

No one, including the originating poster, gains anything from statements like "So and so is a complete moron", etc. If you have an opinion and you believe it's relevant to a topic at hand, post it as constructively as possible so we can learn from you, debate with you, ignore you, whatever.

If you can't abide by this simple constructive guideline, either create your post in a PPD or expect it can be moved. This is our mini-octagon here for those of you that insist on a more primitive breed of taoist war.

 

TheDaoBums' Three Foundations: Eclectic, Egalitarian, Civil.

TDBs' Cultural Context and Founding Principles  ver.2020-Jul-16
The purpose of this document is to concisely state the most fundamental framework principles that give TDBs it's distinctive shape.  This is not "all the rules, permutations, etc",  just the steel beams.

TDBs exists in the general field of "The Search for Truth".
The Usual organized formats (schools) for The Search tend to have:
    1. focus exclusively within a school
    2. hierachical learning structure, hierachical ability to speak
TheDàoBums' founding principles form a deliberate cultural counter-point:
    1. run independently of any school, which allows a more eclectic atmosphere
    2. conversational learning, egalitarian ability for members to speak
TDBs' social format is "cafeteria", not "classroom".  It's part of TDBs' premise that, broadly in culture, these two formats are necessary, distinct yet complementary.

TheDàoBums has a strong egalitarian ethic in that it's whole purpose is to provide a civil very open context for member conversations.  However, its governance structure is mostly top down; it's not a democracy.
- admins - own / run the board
- moderators - enforce rules
- members - converse  

TDBs' Conversational Context:
1. At TDBs member participation in conversation is non-hierarchical.  Meaning, members have equal ability to talk regardless of level of knowledge, achievement, or status / credentials of any kind.  TDBs has an underlying ethic of valuing the communication of each person.

 

2. TDBs most basic rules about conversation are around civility.

• While TDBs provides room for, encourages, lively, often vigorous and sometimes rough and tumble, debate ... that is balanced by protecting decency and sensitivity towards each other in such a variety of instances that no set of specific rules could ever adequately cover.
• A moderator's basic role is to moderate members' incivility toward each other in conversation.  
• Members support this process by 'reporting' offending posts

A fictional example of how 1&2 shake out:
If there's a TDBs debate about music between Mozart vs a beginning piano player, and it becomes heated enough that reports are generated for moderator consideration then, still, "level of knowledge, achievement, or status" are not basis for moderation.  Civility is, applied equally to each member.

It's up to each member, not moderators, to sort out the truth (and other questions of quality) for themselves in conversation.  Moderators just keep the conversation civil within reasonable limits.  For issues of staff bias, members can contact the current admin.

The staff (admins, moderators) also deserve and have protection against incivility and against abuse of staff resources.  Staff protection is enforced at the discretion of the admin, lead moderator/s, and by consensus of the moderation team.  The admin also has broad discretion to protect the civility and resources of any aspect within TDBs e-community.

 

signed,

- Trunk, author & past admin

- Sean, owner & admin of TheDàoBums

 

 

[Shadao]

Already read it.

[freeform]

Welcome