"People often ask how you become a Taoist, what books do you read, what temples do you attend? You don't become a Taoist, you just realize that Taoist is a name for what you already are." ---Lao Fzu (Roland F. Arms)
Based on the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching, Philosophical Taoism is a framework, not the structure itself. There are no membership requirements, nor a formal community. There are no creeds. There are no set principles. (To paraphrase George Carlin, "We have no special building where we gather once a week to compare clothing.") About all that any person who considers themselves a Taoist might agree on is the use of certain metaphors and imagery derived from the Tao Te Ching. How those metaphors and imagery are interpreted is up to each individual. (portions excerpted from The Rambling Taoist blog) Philosophical Taoists typically believe that the universe is (or tries to be) in perfect harmony and that recognizing this fact and living in alignment with it leads to their own happiness.
Religious Taoism follows the teachings of Confucius or the Buddha. Confucians constantly try to realign the world of man with the ways of Heaven through strict adherence to rules and carefully planned ceremonies. Buddhists seem to focus on the bitterness of life and attempting to transcend it, with a similar set of rules and more ceremonies.
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Included in my steps to realizing that I was a Philosophical Taoist were a disenchantment with the way that Christian/Muslims/Jews are being taught to treat each other and our planet, a better understanding of ancient religions and philosophies and where they came from, a better understanding of quantum physics, reading books by Alan Watts, Joseph Campbell, Richard Dawkins, Benjamin Hoff's The Tao of Pooh and Te of Piglet, 8-10 different interpretations of the Tao Te Ching, Ray Grigg's Contemporary Tao Te Ching, and finally: understanding that Taoist religion (Buddhism, Confucianism) and Taoist philosophy are two different things.
And 10,000 other things... (that's my little Taoist joke).
So...
If you describe yourself as “spiritual but not religious”... you might be a Taoist.
If you think that less government is better... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 57,58, 59 & 60)
If you believe that you can behave ethically without religious guidelines... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 19)
If you think that people should spend less time worrying about the meaning of life and more time living it... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 20, 46 & 48)
If you see yourself as just another part of the natural world, like a bird, or a rock, or a stream... you might be a Taoist.
If you're content with the fact that you're not a supernatural being, that when you die the chemical reaction sustaining your life ends and your atoms return to the universe. In fact, if you believe that you never really were separate from the universe so there is no returning to do... you might be a Taoist.
If you don't believe that there's an all-powerful, all-knowing god who listens to everyone's prayers and responds to only those he deems worthy... you might be a Taoist.
If you're an agnostic or an atheist... you might actually be a Taoist.
If you think Thoreau should have just said, “Simplify.” (instead of "Simplify, simplify.")... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 46, 48 &80)
If you think less money should be spent on crushing our enemies and more on making them our friends... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 30 & 46)
If you prefer the gentle peace of Tai Chi to the kicking and punching of Tae Kwon Do... you might be a Taoist.
If you understand that good and evil are human, not divine, definitions... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 5)
If you like Benjamin Hoff's “The Tao Of Pooh”... you might be a Taoist.
If you believe that no one, no religion, no philosopher, no charismatic leader knows the true answer... you might be a Taoist.
If you believe in living in the moment, not dwelling on the past, or worrying about the future... you might be a Taoist.
If you can see that by defining beauty you have defined what is ugly... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 2)
If you try not be one of the "people being persuaded to spend money they don't have on things they don't need to create impressions that won't last on people they don't care about"... you might be a Taoist. (Verses 44, 46 & 48)
If you don't believe in divinely inspired miracles, only amazing coincidences... you might be a Taoist.
If you can be a leader without trying to be in charge... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 10, 17, 58 & 59)
If you prefer NPR over Fox News... you might be a Taoist. ;)
If your definition of creationism is that man created gods... you might be a Taoist.
If you prefer to "go with the flow", slipping like water around all types of physical and mental obstacles... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 8)
If you know when you have enough and you don't need a lot... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 9&46)
If you think that groups that preach acceptance and then exclude large sections of humanity from joining them are hypocrites... you might be a Taoist.
If you know that you have a better understanding of what your spiritual needs are than some (self-)proclaimed holy man... you might be a Taoist.
If you think that less government is better... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 57,58, 59 & 60)
If you believe that you can behave ethically without religious guidelines... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 19)
If you think that people should spend less time worrying about the meaning of life and more time living it... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 20, 46 & 48)
If you see yourself as just another part of the natural world, like a bird, or a rock, or a stream... you might be a Taoist.
If you're content with the fact that you're not a supernatural being, that when you die the chemical reaction sustaining your life ends and your atoms return to the universe. In fact, if you believe that you never really were separate from the universe so there is no returning to do... you might be a Taoist.
If you don't believe that there's an all-powerful, all-knowing god who listens to everyone's prayers and responds to only those he deems worthy... you might be a Taoist.
If you're an agnostic or an atheist... you might actually be a Taoist.
If you think Thoreau should have just said, “Simplify.” (instead of "Simplify, simplify.")... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 46, 48 &80)
If you think less money should be spent on crushing our enemies and more on making them our friends... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 30 & 46)
If you prefer the gentle peace of Tai Chi to the kicking and punching of Tae Kwon Do... you might be a Taoist.
If you understand that good and evil are human, not divine, definitions... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 5)
If you like Benjamin Hoff's “The Tao Of Pooh”... you might be a Taoist.
If you believe that no one, no religion, no philosopher, no charismatic leader knows the true answer... you might be a Taoist.
If you believe in living in the moment, not dwelling on the past, or worrying about the future... you might be a Taoist.
If you can see that by defining beauty you have defined what is ugly... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 2)
If you try not be one of the "people being persuaded to spend money they don't have on things they don't need to create impressions that won't last on people they don't care about"... you might be a Taoist. (Verses 44, 46 & 48)
If you don't believe in divinely inspired miracles, only amazing coincidences... you might be a Taoist.
If you can be a leader without trying to be in charge... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 10, 17, 58 & 59)
If you prefer NPR over Fox News... you might be a Taoist. ;)
If your definition of creationism is that man created gods... you might be a Taoist.
If you prefer to "go with the flow", slipping like water around all types of physical and mental obstacles... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 8)
If you know when you have enough and you don't need a lot... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 9&46)
If you think that groups that preach acceptance and then exclude large sections of humanity from joining them are hypocrites... you might be a Taoist.
If you know that you have a better understanding of what your spiritual needs are than some (self-)proclaimed holy man... you might be a Taoist.
If you believe that “whatever happens, just happens”... you might be a Taoist.
If you love your fellow earthlings (human and non), just want to see us all get along and quit harming the planet... you might be a Taoist.
If you value others not only for their similarities but for their differences... you might be a Taoist.
If you believe that the laws of nature work better and make more sense than alleged "holy" laws... you might be a Taoist.
If you can see that the true path to enlightenment can only be found within you, that any human being who claims to know your path is lying... especially if they're asking for donations... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 1)
If you get that the hawk is not evil because she kills the chicken, the hawk is just being a hawk... you might be a Taoist.
If you can see that you are living the perfect life for you, in a perfectly designed universe... you might be a Taoist.
If you understand that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step... you might be a Taoist. (Verse 64)
In short...
If you can conceive of an unnameable infinite power (call it Tao) that has always existed, that powers the universe, holds molecules together, makes the flowers bloom, birds sing, your heart beat, allows some things to evolve while others don't, allows the sun to shine and rain to fall on both the good and the evil, all without putting any demands on the recipients or having the need to be worshiped or even acknowledged... then you might be a Taoist. (Verse 25 & 34)
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"Where Zen and Buddhism will say the truth, enlightenment, and so on can be reached through dedicated meditation and practice, a Tao master may sip some wine, fart, and go to sleep." from Daily Cup of Tao
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The Way and Its Power
The Rambling Taoists
Daily Cup of Tao
A story about "Present Time Joy"
What does 'Tao Te Ching' mean?
"Tao (or Dao)" has two definitions that apply. It is generally translated as "way", or "path". It is also what we call the "impossible to name" power that makes the universe work.
"Te (or De)" is translated as "virtue" or "strength", meaning human goodness as well as the inherent power in things.
"Ching" generally translated as "book" or "classic".
"The Book of the Tao and the Virtue"
"To help manifest our te, Lao Tzu gives us his 'three treasures' which assist us in developing our perception of the unity of life and in cultivating a way of being that is harmonious with the Tao. The first treasure is compassion, the second is frugality or balance, and the third is humility, 'daring not to be ahead of others.' " www.jadedragon.com
About Me
I'm a novice Taoist philosopher, having discovered the Tao Te Ching in 2007.
Being a philosophical Taoist means that I do NOT have a "religion" in the usual sense. I do not seek to convert, only to inform. I don't care if you choose to follow my path, since I truly believe that my path couldn't possibly be the correct path for you. You need to find your own path, Taoist or not.
Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" may help. It's only 81 verses, it's been translated or (more accurately) interpreted hundreds of times. Read a few versions.
Suggested on-line versions: traditional James Legge, non-traditional: Ron Hogan
(Do a search, you'll find dozens more.)
This is a work in progress. I've tried to give credit where credit is due, if you feel that I've plagiarized something from your book or website please let me know if you'd prefer that I remove it or give you credit. Thanks!
Copyright 2010-2017 Andy Carleton - except where noted (and hopefully that nice Mr. Jeff "... you might be a redneck" Foxworthy doesn't think he has a need to sue me!)
Copyright 2010-2017 Andy Carleton - except where noted (and hopefully that nice Mr. Jeff "... you might be a redneck" Foxworthy doesn't think he has a need to sue me!)
