Taoism Overview

[Taoren]

I have taken the time to read a bit of the overview posting for this forum and I am quit dissatisfied with what I have read. I will try to post as often I can with responses to the paragraphs that have been shared within the Overview posting.

Taoism or Daoism (from Chinese 道, in pinyin dào) is usually described as an Asian philosophy and religion, though it is also said to be neither but rather a "way of life". Translated literally, it means "Way" or "Path". The Tao is the natural order of things. It is a force that flows through every living or sentient object, as well as through the entire universe.

This is very confusing, even to me. Are we talking about Tao or Taoism?
Starting the paragraph with Taoism but highlighting the definition of “Tao” does not make any sense in any meaning of the common term. Taoism - Cheng Li Dao Jiao (Orthodox Religion) or Min Zhong Dao Jiao (Family or Popular Religion) are the only two Taoism’s that there are when describing Taoism. Tao is a philosophical concept, it does not matter what you may call it, it does not matter what religion you are to prescribe to it, it is bad, good, evil, righteous – whatever, it is what it is and once again - it just is. Taoism is an ancient belief, religion, cult, practice and a Taoist is a philosophical person whom puts the philosophical into an “ism” to practice and better understand a concept through action “te” not useless words that are mumbled to make sense of something that already makes perfect sense.

 

[Master Vigil]

It seems to me that the mentioned paragraph begins to describe the concept of Taoism by getting people aquainted with Tao. Not very confusing to me.

As for those being the only two Taoisms... I disagree, although... the majority of practices centered around Tao Jia (not Tao Jiao), are not called as such. Such as Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Gong, or any other chinese Neijia or korean Nehgong. The philosophical influences on Ch'an buddhism again does not come from the two sources you mentioned, but from the basic philosophical approaches and understandings of Tao.

 

[Taoren]

Dictionary;
ism - –noun a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice: "This is the age of isms."

simple is that, its not what you want it to be but what it is.
You answered your own question and agreed with my post without even noting so.

Tao is a philosophical concept created by the Chinese. Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Gong Chan Buddhism are Chinese therefore the subscribe to the thoughts and philosophical compounds of the Tao, this is not an ism but a philosophical note that constructs through the personality and culture of the Chinese culture - absolutely nothing to do with Taoism outside of Taoism being Chinese.

 

[Master Vigil]

Than it is important to note that Taoism is a western word, not a chinese word. So according to our agreement, the two taoisms you posted are not the only two taoisms. Because Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Gong, and Chan Buddhism would all be considered Tao"isms".

This also brings up the point that Tao, in and of itself, is NOT chinese. Tao is not bound to human culture or understanding. The chinese did not "invent" Tao.

 

[Taoren]

Not sure why you feel threatened by me, maybe your ego has gotten in the way of your chance to actually learn a bit about what you love, sit back my friend and maybe someday you will hear something other than yourself.

Never said Tao was only Chinese, I simply stated it is a Chinese concept or philosophy and that is it. Call it what you will.

As for the practices that you mentioned being Taoist you have deluded yourself to believe what you choose to believe. These practices derived from Chinese medicine and popular thought. Learn, go to college and read books that are actually written by Chinese from the past, not Jesuit preachers and poorly translated books and bull hearsay my friend and you will learn a bit.

Respect...

 

[Master Vigil]

Not sure why you feel threatened by me, maybe your ego has gotten in the way of your chance to actually learn a bit about what you love, sit back my friend and maybe someday you will hear something other than yourself.

not sure why you think I feel threatened. Perhaps you think too highly of yourself.

Never said Tao was only Chinese, I simply stated it is a Chinese concept or philosophy and that is it. Call it what you will.

I agree that certain practices centering on Tao are Chinese, but to focus on them would be to focus on something that is used to represent Tao, not Tao itself.

As for the practices that you mentioned being Taoist you have deluded yourself to believe what you choose to believe. These practices derived from Chinese medicine and popular thought. Learn, go to college and read books that are actually written by Chinese from the past, not Jesuit preachers and poorly translated books and bull hearsay my friend and you will learn a bit.

Respect...

Ummm... are you serious? This quite saddens me. I was so excited to read your posts, now you just disappointed me. But it's ok, you have the right to think you know exactly what I've studied, and what I've read, and who I've learned from, etc... You are also entitled to be entirely wrong. But it's ok, you can think all you want.

 

[Taoren]

I appologize, I am out of line. After re-reading my post I realized I didn't intend for it to come out that way.

 

[Master Vigil]

Apology accepted. Just please no more presumptions, assumptions, ad hominems, etc... Then we can actually have an educated discussion.

 

[Taoren]

No problem "master' Vigil - Im sure that is all youi are after is an "educated discussion" lol

 

[Master Vigil]

No problem "master' Vigil - Im sure that is all youi are after is an "educated discussion" lol

There you go again. I'm very excited to learn about religious taoism. However, I am not excited about having someone tell me what I do or do not know... or what I am or am not, read and have not read, learned and have not learned, etc...

 

[Taoren]

exactly!

 

[Master Vigil]

exactly!