Taoism and I
November 22nd, 2007
Alright, I’ve been studying Taoism a lot lately. Not as a new thing but mostly because it seems to resonate with the way I already look at things. About a month ago I was in Borders and on a general bases I only go into the religion section when I have money. I love to study all the different facets of spirituality and belief as well as religion and philosophy.
So, there I was fully intent on walking by when I stopped and just stared at the shelf in an area I hadn’t delved into as much as others. I picked up a book on Buddhism first. I skimmed through and I had trouble related to some of the concepts. It still fascinated me but it wasn’t something I needed- thus I put it back and skimmed a little more.
I came to a book on Taoism. I opened it up and I had trouble understanding a decent amount of what they were saying. Mind you I can’t stand not being able to understand. When met with lack of knowledge I go seeking.
Eventually I relented and picked up a book that seemed informative ‘and’ Taoism for Dummies. I found a corner and started discreetly going through TfD hoping no one would see me. I absolutely hate those books but they are useful. I got some of the basic definitions and meaning down before I moved onto the other book. Now, I had some semblance of understanding.
I had been looking at it from an ass backwards point of view at first. I was looking at it like most look at religion, what are the beliefs, the rules, the structure. But it was not a religion really, it was philosophy. A way of living that I had been practicing all along though it had been nameless to me.
Wu Wei (I think that’s how it’s spelled) means do non doing. Don’t force things, let them be and come naturally. Like bamboo: Be fluid enough to bend in the winds of change but strong enough not to break under the power of that change. Accept and be. Flow.
I don’t expect anyone to understand what I’m talking about as I’ve just begun to understand it myself but either way I’m happy and I just felt like sharing. I’m going to start applying these concepts to my life and my writing.
Good luck, I hope it works well for you, you deserve it. :o)
So far so good. I like to dabble in this and that it’s a good way to figure out what works for me. :)
Best wishes with your search for understanding Taoism. I bought Idiots Guide to Tao to refresh myself but parked it as you can spend too much time on the background and forget the message. The best is the simpliest book and yourself. And don’t think too much, it’s about observation and experience, and simply being. The rest happens as it does.
I’ll keep that in mind. I love everything about the Tao but I do have this nasty habit of over thinking things and researching them to the point of well, let’s just say too much.
I agree the message is deffinetly more important and it’s what teaches us the most. :) Thankies for your comment.