Taoism

[Shevek]

Taoism is a form of mysticism. It posits that there is a single undivided truth at the root of everything. If you have read the Tao Te Ching you will know it is a complex and mystifying text that defies analysis.

Obviously it can't be proved scientifically but the idea does have a certain appeal to me.

I vary between thinking that and some kind of Samuel Beckett idea that there is no meaning in anything.

 

[Lord Hugh]

The Tao which can be named is not the true Tao.

 

[Shevek]

aye

 

[Shevek]

tao tao tao

 

[rivertree]

The Tao which can be named is not the true Tao.

Apophatic theology

 

[toblerone3]

Taosim is not much use for making difficult decisions.

 

[Shevek]

what do you mean? Isn't it about balance, working with the grain of events?

 

[greenfield]

Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know.

 

[Lord Hugh]

I find it odd that you brought science into the OP here, science is surely in no way a suitable/sensible method for dealing with any spiritual beliefs

Apophatic theology

Yes, but in a funny way - while the Tao te Ching says that the Tao that cannot be named is not the true Tao, the whole book talks about the so-called Tao! By defining it as unnameable, we are funnily enough able to address it by a name. I don't know if this is addressed further - I only read the first part of it the book, and ages ago.

 

[fractionMan]

There is so much more to Daoism than the Dao De Jing

 

[Fruitloop]

Yep. Read the I-Ching, and then some of the trailogues between Taoists, Mohists and Confucians.

 

[kyser_soze]

This thread demonstrates that English is not a language to be discussing something like the tao in. Hugh's post is nonsensical in many ways - the tao is not the tao because you can name it, it is unnamable, but this is also not the true tao.

It's like the nameless state s'tori. Which is, clearly, a name for a nameless state.

 

[DotCommunist]

'I only said that fish supper was good enough for Jehovah'

 

[Lord Hugh]

This thread demonstrates that English is not a language to be discussing something like the tao in. Hugh's post is nonsensical in many ways - the tao is not the tao because you can name it, it is unnamable, but this is also not the true tao.

It's like the nameless state s'tori. Which is, clearly, a name for a nameless state.

Hehe I remember I once understood the unnameable Tao. But I don't have those drugs anymore

 

[fractionMan]

Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't.

 

[toblerone3]

Taosim is not much use for making difficult decisions.

what do you mean? Isn't it about balance, working with the grain of events?

If you just go along with the flow you end up putting up Hitler and Holocaust.

 

[kyser_soze]

Yeah, it does appear to advocate a view that doesn't take immediate temporal concerns into account.

 

[Shevek]

If you just go along with the flow you end up putting up Hitler and Holocaust.

I don't think its about 'letting things happen' its about working with the course of events rather than trying to force things.

Lao Tzu is quite pacifistic but he is not a total pacifist. He admits that sometimes weapons have to be used but 'with a still quiet mind' those who enjoy killing lose their common humanity

 

[fela fan]

Taosim is not much use for making difficult decisions.

What do you mean? Of course it is! With taoism, the decision to be made is no longer difficult, and therefore it makes itself. You just let it happen the way it happens.

 

[fela fan]

If you just go along with the flow you end up putting up Hitler and Holocaust.

What decision could you have made about hitler or the holocaust were you to have been around at the time? What could you do about bush or blair the other year?

It's your life that you use taoism for.

Changing our world to get rid of the criminals in power is a bottom-up process, and taoism is part of our toolbox to effect this. We get our consciousness from the collective consciousness, so why can't we send it back the other way and use our own consciousness to affect the collective consciousness?

Using the way of tao is one means to make an effort and impact on our world.

 

[fela fan]

double post due to software confusions, so deleted it

 

[fogbat]

Daylight come and me want go home.

 

[ill-informed]

I stayed in Taiwan for a year and towards the end of my stay i had a bicycle accident with a scooter, we both picked our bikes up, smiled at each other and went on our ways, was that Taoism?

 

[ItWillNeverWork]

I stayed in Taiwan for a year and towards the end of my stay i had a bicycle accident with a scooter, we both picked our bikes up, smiled at each other and went on our ways, was that Taoism?

Nah, he'd just swiped your wallet.