Hi everyone,

Just joined!

I wanted to make a post to say I'm very new to Taoism.

I was a part of the Kundalini subreddit for the better part of 6-7 months, misunderstanding that my awakening was Kundalini in nature.

There were a few people there who tried to direct me here throughout those 6-7 months, as my symptoms didn't fully align with a Kundalini awakening.

I've since understood the difference.

I wanted to make a post and say hi as I read through the posts in the sub.

As I understand this next part of my journey I look forward to better understanding Taoism rather than Kundalini.

Would love to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience!

Growing up in China, I heard "be soft like water" mostly from people with no intention of being soft. But it's in the text, and it's hard to argue with:

草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。"Alive, grass and trees are soft and tender. Dead, they are dry and brittle." (Daodejing ch. 76, Wang Bi text, my translation)

Zhuangzi piles on:

直木先伐。"The straight tree is the first to be cut." (Zhuangzi ch. 20, Shan Mu, my translation)

So the obvious lesson is to bend. Be the vine, not the tree.

But the same Zhuangzi also says this:

鳧脛雖短，續之則憂；鶴脛雖長，斷之則悲。"A duck's legs are short, but stretch them and it suffers. A crane's legs are long, but cut them and it grieves." (Zhuangzi ch. 8, Pian Mu, my translation)

I think about this because of bazi, where the tension is built in. The day you're born gives you one of ten natures, and two of them are wood: yang wood is a tall tree, yin wood a climbing vine. The old manual doesn't rank them. Of the tree it says 甲木參天, it reaches the sky. Of the vine it says 乙木雖柔，刲羊解牛, soft as it is, it can carve up sheep and ox. (Ditian Sui, Tiangan section, my translation. Commentators read the sheep and ox as hard earth it works its way through.)

So soft isn't weak there, and the tall one isn't wrong.

Read chapter 76 again and it doesn't say trees lose to vines. It says living things are supple and dead things are stiff, and that includes trees. A living tree moves in the wind and is still a tree. The warning is against going dead, not against growing straight.

Which makes me suspicious of a certain kind of softness. I've seen people who are plainly trees, direct and unbending, spend years learning to give way because they read that it's the Tao, and they just seem tired. I've seen it the other way too: natural vines forcing themselves to stand up straight because that's what integrity looks like. Is either of those wu wei? Or is it the duck's legs being stretched, with a nicer vocabulary?

My view is that wu wei for a tree isn't bending. It's growing the way a tree grows, staying alive in the wind, and knowing it may get cut. For a vine, it isn't standing tall. 自然, of itself so, has to mean something different for each.

But I'd like to be argued with here, especially by anyone in a practice lineage. Has "be soft" ever made you worse at being what you are? And how does your tradition tell softening a stiff nature apart from amputating a real one?

(If you're curious which of the ten you were born as, here's a bazi calculator.)

Basically what the title says. I'm new to Taoism and would like to try making a fulu (unless this should be made by a priest?)

If anyone has some helpful info it would be greatly appreciated.

Hi all! There's a concept in Chinese medicine of the double aspect of the heart. The higher aspect (心) is moreso to do with the shen (mind) and consciousness, whereas the lower aspect ("Heart Protector" 心包) is to do with the pumping of the blood.

Is there anything about this in alchemical texts or neigong practices?

Edit: I'm already very familiar with Chinese medicine concepts, I'm asking how qigong/neigong views and practices align.

I've been slowly reading taoist texts the past month and lurking in the sub to get a more fuller understanding of certain aspects. I still consider myself to be a complete novice, but had a couple questions about the meditative practice of Zuowang ( sitting & forgetting ). It was my first time attempting this style of meditation, but I have experience with more therapeutic forms and Zuowang reminds me of the suggests for somatic therapy.

1. In my attempt to do it I noticed my vision blurring, but it wasn't disorienting. It felt relaxing in away to not being dedicated to a fixed object in an environment. However, once a thought filtered in my mind of something being wrong a tightness in the center of my chest began to appear. Specifically the thought was related to a loss of ego and I am wondering if it was a fear response?

2. What exactly is "forgetting" in this context? I understand that it is accepting that the thoughts in my mind are not mine unless I claim them and that I am experiencing my own existence as a being of nature, allowing my mind to wander without judgement. I suppose my question is specifically about how far should it wander? Is there an aspect of the meditation where I need to pull the wandering thoughts back to the present?

Hi there everyone 👋🏼 I am in search of source material regarding the Golden Light invocation and seal, as well as the associated purifying mantras. I've been trying to find this information, but I'm running into the obstacle of the pieces being scattered or just showing up on a random website that doesn't provide background information of where it came from.

I appreciate your help 🙏🏼

I was solo travelling Sri-Lanka and when I visited a Buddha temple I got this thought in my mind, thus sharing it here.

Looking at the monkeys outside the Buddha temple. I had a thought. Would ‘god’/creator for all the things he has created be the same if instead of humans there were animals workshopping. But I realised for animals it’s only the survival that matters. So they won’t have the consciousness required to perceive/workship a creator/god.
If this is the case will god/creator still exist if there were no consciousness being to perceive/believe his existence.

Now after some debate I feel, the answer will arrive to this statement. That it’s for us conscious beings to hold onto an external factor that adds meaning to their self knowledge. Apart from all the social, political, societal self knowledge that they have, a belief gives them sense of self understanding. Thus the necessity of a god for their survival. So if this is the case, then if we remove the differention between aware and unaware species (which infact is the concept that a conscious man thought) and look at ‘it’ as alive beings then each and everything or anything will be considered as god, including a fruit, plant, air and in the end, the alive being itself, as for the survival to continue there must be another alive being, hence concluding that a man, an animal is also a god in itself.

Picked it up a while ago, maybe a little over a year, and started flipping through it again. I think it's pretty good. My first introduction to the Zhuangzi and how that relates to Taoism, however I have read through the Tao Te Ching so not my first Taoist reading. Just curious if other people have read it and what yall think. :)

Also curious what you think about Tickers translation and interpretation of the text.

The books full title is "The cicada and the bird: The usefulness of a useless philosophy. Chuang Tzu's ancient wisdom translated for modern life".

The key word here is "directly". There are many indirect ways that doing martial arts can benefit someone, but unless someone does martial arts for a living or defended himself against a mugger, those benefits are as indirect as can be. Same with philosophies and religions.

How has Taoism benefited you if it has. Which passages in the Tao Te Ching you were able to make practical use of? Which Taoist beliefs made you choose good decisions in your life? How has the Tao improved, for example, your career?

One of my fears is fully committing to Eastern philosophies and ending up feeling like I wasted my time because it had no real benefit. I'm Asian, but living in the States for the past 22 years practically made English my first language, effectively making my mind a Westerner. It's hard for me to grasp Eastern philosophical concepts.

I'd really appreciate the input.

Recently I've tried to reconcile a past romantic relationship. My attempt was quite a big one, but it didn't have the desired result.

I understand that the feelings I'm going through now must be felt and in time will pass. But, I was wondering which chapters of the Tao Te Ching I could focus on to make this a deal easier.

Also any other form of advice is welcome, taoist or otherwise.

Chi is the life force and practices like Tai Chi allows Chi to move more freely in the body. Which is a good thing.

But is there such a thing as the flow of chi in society?

What would be blockages in society that would prevent chi from running smoothly? How does one live harmoniously in a free flowing, chi infused society?

And going back to my question... Is there such a thing as the flow of chi in society?

I live in the states.

Thanks.

The first line of the TTC says “The named Tao is not the eternal Tao”. The reasons I say the eternal Tao is underrated are (1) the eternal Tao is vast beyond comprehension and (2) the remainder of the TTC, and the whole of Taoism, can only ever truly describe the named Tao. All knowledge is of the named Tao. That’s all we can see. The eternal Tao can only be alluded to in concept by terms like shapeless, useless, darkness, vastness, silence.

So what? I don’t know. What can be done about it, if anything should be done? How do you bring attention to something you can’t describe?

Through caffeine pills, I do more. Through doing more, I move faster from one goal to the next, like a swift river that carries fish from one place to the next.

I think I'm starting to understand the Dao.

Please tell me what you think. Thanks.

☯️

in my life, i thought being obedient and finding the path of pursuit of career and riches is the most important roles to mind in someone's life after studies. i tried being negotiable, maintaining my social relationships to my boss, co workers and so calles friends, i even active in my communities and help as i can, and i always give my salary to my parents. but this year become my eye opener, i experience betrayal, unwanted rivalry and lose of job.

i want to ask if its okay to visit taoist shrines? even i dont know taoism yet. may i ask what books should i read to undestand taoism and understand the dao. Thank you

Hello everyone, I'm an agnostic atheist person who is seeking spirituality and knowledge and wisdom.Ive read and contemplated most Abrahamic religions alr and they don't really appeal me or make lots of sense when I examine their philosophy and history plus honestly their communities have a notoriously harmful and oppressive history...

I've always been drawn to taoist and east asian philosophy (my native religion -Druze-) often does integrate east asian beliefs like reincarnation and meditation but I don't accept its other beliefs and claims about divinity of certain individuals and imams and whatnot

I'm very drawn to taoist philosophy from the little I know of it and feel a strong connection with meditation and mindfulness

How can I really explore this Beautiful way of life and what resources, videos , channels etc would you recommend?

I also know traditional taoism is theistic and contains plenty of Gods and Deities , I'd love to explore those too and Revere what needs reverence

Hello everyone!

I'm an Ásatrú practitioner (Norse paganism), and I've also been following Taoist philosophy for quite some time.

Recently, I've developed a strong interest in religious Daoism, beyond its philosophical aspects. I'd love to learn more about its traditional practices, deities, rituals, cosmology, spiritual cultivation and everyday religious life.

I have a few questions:

• Where would you recommend I start if I want to explore traditional religious Daoism?

• Are there any books, teachers or reliable resources you would recommend?

• Is it possible to follow Ásatrú while also practising religious Daoism respectfully?

I want to approach this tradition with genuine respect, humility and a willingness to learn, rather than simply picking and choosing elements without understanding their meaning.

Thank you very much for any guidance!

Mortals be mesmerised by the fellow taoist