Category: Taoism
-
Taoist spirituality compared to religion
It is extremely easy to compare Taoism to religion. In fact, I can do it in just two sentences. In the first sentence, I’ll explain the key commonality between Taoism and religion; and in the second sentence, I will point out what keeps them apart. First, the commonality between Taoism and religion is that both…
-
The Taoist Yin and Yang in daily life
It often happens that people speak about bringing their lives in balance because, apparently, they are getting too much of A, and not getting enough of B, whatever it is. When they say that they are getting too much of something, they usually mean that they are not doing enough in that area, or that…
-
Critique of the Taoist Yin and Yang
I wish that we could all attain happiness by simply bringing the Yin and Yang into balance. The Yin and Yang doctrine is easy enough to apply. Even determinedly unprincipled people are able to make a list of dichotomies in each situation and find some kind of balance. Unfortunately, such an approach does not work.…
-
The Yin and Yang balance in Taoism
Lao-Tzu didn’t come up with the yin and yang concepts and he would have been appalled at seeing yin-and-yang logos on a martial arts attire. Yang-Tzu would have dismissed the logo as an oversimplification, and Chuang-Tzu would have written a story about people who mistake a logo for deep philosophy. Ancient Taoism provides important insights…
-
Misinterpretation of Taoist wisdom quotes
I used to find it annoying when readers misunderstand my writings, but in the meantime, I have realized that I’m the only one to blame. If I had formulated my ideas more clearly, they wouldn’t have been misunderstood; and if I had provided better examples, I would have driven my points home. When it comes…
-
Taoism simple wisdom quotes
If I said that philosophy as a whole can be summarised in a few quotes, Aristotle (384-322 BC) might turn in his grave and damn my name for eternity. Fair enough. I won’t maintain that a philosophical system can be compressed into a few quotes, but if those are well chosen, two important benefits will…
-
Western culture needs more Taoists
I will not chew my readers’ ears by recounting the maladies of Western culture. The seriousness of the situation is known to everyone reading newspapers or watching the news. To make things worse, the cultural demise is accompanied by economic woes. Some commentators say that the situation gets worse each day. Others say that it…
-
Living as a Taoist in Western culture
There are many Taoists around us, I mean, Taoists living in Western culture. However, they are, for the most part, invisible to the untrained eye. They don’t propagandize their philosophy. They do not proselytise or engage in debates. They do not wear special clothes, signs or distinctions. Taoists remain invisible because they put into practice…
-
Is Taoism compatible with Western culture?
Taoism and Western culture are compatible at the margin, in areas that contest mainstream values. Why only at the margin? Because Western culture rests upon the philosophy of Aristotle (384-322 BC), which is diametrically opposed to Wu Wei and other Taoist principles. Chapter 73 of the Tao Te Ching formulates Lao-Tzu’s views on causality, which…
-
Taoism in Western culture
Western culture has incorporated every element of Taoism, but it has baptised each of them differently, making them hard to recognize at first sight. Taoist ideas are known to anyone interested in productivity, personal growth, and peace of mind, but chances are that the knowledge of Taoist insights has been conveyed by teachers that never…
Categories
Recent Posts
- The Taoist path to happiness
- The Taoist approach to happiness
- Schopenhauer: How to stop making the same mistakes twice
- Taoist parsimony in daily life
Tags
aesthetics Art of living authenticity balanced lifestyle biography Buddhism causality character development education effectiveness epistemology equanimity existentialism flourishing friendship governance happiness harmony humanism human nature justice literary style logic love and relationships moderation nature of existence peacefulness peace of mind personal growth pessimism potentiality quick insights relativism Renaissance resilience rhetoric self-discipline simple lifestyle solitude theory of the will the problem of evil Time management unconscious mind virtue wisdom