Traditional, Philosophical Ways
The Tao Te Ching (the core Taoist scripture) invites you to contemplate your innermost sense of reality. It doesn’t tell you what to do or think, but rather stimulates you to think and reflect.
- The Why and What of Taoist Thought
- Understanding the Tao Te Ching
- Tao Te Ching: Translations and Commentaries
- Discussions on this in the Forum
A Taoist world view can feel pretty ephemeral at times. Buddha nailed the cause of life’s trials and tribulations, and how to deal with it. These truths can help ground you, if you find them true for you. Read and ponder them a while…
- Buddha’s Four Truths with Commentary
- Understanding Buddhism . . . and Beyond
- Buddha’s Four Truths – Poking a Little Deeper
- Discussions on this in the Forum
Traditional, Physical Ways
These methods give you an opportunity to integrate mind, breath and body in the ‘flowing moment’. It can be easier to notice awareness ‘leave the moment’ when you are doing them sincerely, compared with daily activities. Conscientious long term practice appears to increase such watchfulness.
- T’ai Chi: Flowing Mindfulness
- Hatha Yoga: Testing ‘Will’
- Blowing Zen: One Breath, One Mind
- Mountain Music: “Taoist Music?”
- Discussions on this in the Forum
Contemporary, Philosophical Ways
Tools of Taoist Thought
Chapter two observes how “the good is only the bad”, “the beautiful is only the ugly” and “something and nothing produce each other”. Does that make sense? The practical techniques introduced here help you make that perceptual leap.
- Correlations: Using Yin and Yang to Pop Preconceptions
- Couplets and the Co-generating Principle
- Discussions on this in the Forum
Core Issues of Human Nature
We can improve our chances of seeing what makes us tick by considering human characteristics as symptoms of underlying causes. Naturally, such causes are likewise the result of yet deeper causes, right on down to…???
- Introduction: The ‘Meaning of Life’
- Free Will: Fact or Wishful Thinking?
- Ethics: Do They Work Anymore?
- Belief: Are We Just Fooling Ourselves?
- Discussions on this in the Forum
Questions and Observations
One Who Knows Does Not Think, Speak Or Write…
If that doesn’t put everyone here on a level playing field, nothing will! Also, ignorance is no excuse for keeping silent. It certainly never stopped me! So please post your own questions and observations on the forum. To get your thought ball rolling, take a look at these ‘bits and pieces’ if you like:
- Do You Need A Teacher?
- Letters to Andy
- A Taoist View Vis-a-vis Evil
- Emails to Lynn:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. - Discussions on this in the Forum
Times of Yore
Posts tagged with ‘Times of Yore’ are autobiographical. Naturally, many end up quite philosophical for that’s the element that usually hooks my experiences into memory in the first place. However, I am going to attempt to go lighter philosophy-wise, and put more into the ‘experiential moment’. This link below takes you to a biographical overview and links to ‘Times of Yore’ posts.