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After much thought.
Profoundly so! Ironic how a belief either way blinds us to the obvious. So, what is obvious and [chref=70]easy to understand[/chref]? Everything, anything, something, nothing. 'It' is an open book. Ironically, beliefs are what keep us ignorant. Belief is driven by tribal instinct. It serves the same role for humans as odor does for dogs, rats, and ants. By sharing the same belief we belong to the group and feel safe.[cite] Topher:[/cite]...I kept asking myself, "What about the delusion of thinking you actually know there is such a God Delusion." I see no difference between the guy who insists that there is a god and one that insists that there isn't.
Belief uses language just as odor uses chemicals to draw tribal distinctions. The inherent biasing action of language, and the [chref=23]words[/chref] and [chref=32]names[/chref] it uses, lies behind the Taoist distrust of them and all [chref=2]teaching[/chref] based upon them. An ultimate Taoist aim is [chref=16]impartiality[/chref], and language impedes that in the final analysis. In other words, you can't get to 'true' [chref=16]impartiality[/chref] via words. They are, in there link to the limbic system (emotion), innately biased.
Comments
Haha... serisously I believe I have to take a different course from the usual in my desire to "connect" with other Taoists. I now am seeking out groups that practive Tai Chi, Feng Shui and other Taoist related disciplines.
At the same time I continue to practice Taoism at the personal level at home and in my work and in all aspects of my life. Life is good. I let it be and it functions quite well without my input. I am learning Spanish with my wife.
Peace to all.
Tom
[chref=20]The multitude are joyous
As if partaking of the 'Tai Lao' offering
Or going up to a terrace in spring.
I alone am inactive and reveal no signs, [/chref]
Well, first what is a "Taoist"? Ironically, the deeper you connect with 'it', the less you may think of yourself as a "Taoist". Taoist disciplines can be pretty 'loaded' socially speaking, i.e., [chref=24]excessive food and useless excrescences'[/chref]. Thus, non 'spiritual' [chref=70]homespun[/chref] social activities, like "learning Spanish", having fewer self righteous undertones, may offer a more sincere connection in the long run. At least that's been my experience. Personally, I "connect" with other "Taoist" by 'crawling in the shoes' of the birds and insects in my back yard.
Oh, I'm all in favor of the practice of Tai Chi! But as a social lubricant,...? Let us know if this works out satisfactorily. I love to be proven wrong!
It just occurred to me, while reading the commentary to the chapter of the week, that following the Tao is not only opposite following other religions, is a lot like following nothing at all. Because if, as Carl says, everything is naturally so, why bother! It all is the way it is.
So why am I here? Because The Tao is the only thing I've found that seems 100% true to me...no baloney, no ritual, no wishful thinking, no illustrious promises, just the plain old truth. It captures the "is-ness" of what is.