Philosophy and Beliefs: Taoism
Although I say I believe in Taoist principles, I can't honestly say I'm Taoist because I don't know what Taoism really is. As involved in other processes of understanding, achieving, and learning, becoming a Taoist is infinitely more accessible with the guidance of a teacher. I don't require a teacher, but the road to enlightenment becomes much smoother and direct should I follow one. It's the difference between discovering calculus theorems from observation and development and learning calculus in a school or from a book. I don't think I can be a Taoist on my own.
Nonetheless, I revere Taoist ideas and place them at the pinnacle of what makes sense to me. From what I understand, the points of Taoism are such (quotes are from www.thebigview.com):
(I) A. The belief:
What you believe exists is just that: a belief in existance. Reality is based on perception. Reality is an illusion in that it is an interpretation of the elementary forms of existance. An analogy to this would be this: the computer screen is the illusion in which people operate. The source of that illusion is the fundamental electrical pathways in the hardware of the computer. I believe the world in which we live is merely an elaborate projection created by consciousness.
B. The implication:
Everything becomes "small potatoes" as I've heard a Chinese person say. In other words, the world suddenly becomes more of a game than something to take seriously. Suddenly, the self, the individual becomes a filter, a hinderance to seeing "what lies beneath". It's not negative to enjoy the illusion. In fact Taoists do not look down on those who don't want to see the the source of the manifestation of our reality. Taoists are just those who would like to rise above a single perspective and see both the illusion and source. It's the difference between being in the computer screen as a player in this game or being outside the computer, examining the hardware and programming.
C. A quote:
(II) A. The belief:
A Taoist would like for the shrouds of illusion to fall so that one can see the mysteries. The only way to do this is to rid oneself of the individual perspective. If there is no self, there is no illusion.
B. The implication:
This is extremely difficult because it means letting go of all attachments, including those of material possessions, emotional ties to loved ones, self worth, etc. It means resting the selfish mind and dropping all values. Ultimately, one would be dead once s/he reached this state. But that sounds so negative. In a positive way of phrasing it, a Taoist would be able to enter a higher plane of existance. A master Taoist, also known as an Immortal, would be able to choose their time of departure. Although they still have goals and a self, they have every ability to cast off all their attachments. To die, all an Immortal does is stop breathing. Even the attachment to survival has been cast away. It is from an Immortal I would like to learn Taoism from.
C. The quote:
"Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one sees the manifestations...
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery."
Nonetheless, I revere Taoist ideas and place them at the pinnacle of what makes sense to me. From what I understand, the points of Taoism are such (quotes are from www.thebigview.com):
(I) A. The belief:
What you believe exists is just that: a belief in existance. Reality is based on perception. Reality is an illusion in that it is an interpretation of the elementary forms of existance. An analogy to this would be this: the computer screen is the illusion in which people operate. The source of that illusion is the fundamental electrical pathways in the hardware of the computer. I believe the world in which we live is merely an elaborate projection created by consciousness.
B. The implication:
Everything becomes "small potatoes" as I've heard a Chinese person say. In other words, the world suddenly becomes more of a game than something to take seriously. Suddenly, the self, the individual becomes a filter, a hinderance to seeing "what lies beneath". It's not negative to enjoy the illusion. In fact Taoists do not look down on those who don't want to see the the source of the manifestation of our reality. Taoists are just those who would like to rise above a single perspective and see both the illusion and source. It's the difference between being in the computer screen as a player in this game or being outside the computer, examining the hardware and programming.
C. A quote:
(II) A. The belief:
A Taoist would like for the shrouds of illusion to fall so that one can see the mysteries. The only way to do this is to rid oneself of the individual perspective. If there is no self, there is no illusion.
B. The implication:
This is extremely difficult because it means letting go of all attachments, including those of material possessions, emotional ties to loved ones, self worth, etc. It means resting the selfish mind and dropping all values. Ultimately, one would be dead once s/he reached this state. But that sounds so negative. In a positive way of phrasing it, a Taoist would be able to enter a higher plane of existance. A master Taoist, also known as an Immortal, would be able to choose their time of departure. Although they still have goals and a self, they have every ability to cast off all their attachments. To die, all an Immortal does is stop breathing. Even the attachment to survival has been cast away. It is from an Immortal I would like to learn Taoism from.
C. The quote:
"Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one sees the manifestations...
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery."