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There are in effect two types of Taoism. Firstly that practiced in the East which has a number of different deities, sects, temples and priests. And secondly the philosophical form practiced by many in the West.
On the first I cannot comment, since it is not my practice. But of the second I guess you could sum arise it like this: What is Taoism? Put simply, Taoists believe that there is a ?pattern?, a ?flow? to the Universe. We can see this in the changing of the seasons, the natural rhythms of the world. Taoism stresses the ?natural?, things being as they are meant to be. Taoists believe that we can harmonies ourselves with the Universe, the Tao, our lives will go more smoothly than if we act against it.
Taoists are not big on scripture. They believe that instinct, common sense, ?following one?s heart? are more effective ways of living than trying to follow a set of rules. In fact Taoists say that the Tao itself is beyond description. Beyond understanding even. Hence Taoist texts tend to be poetic, giving a flavor of Tao rather than trying to pin it down. The Tao Te Ching is the best known of these. Supposedly written by a chap called Lao Tsu.
Taoists believe in living with compassion, simply, modestly. They are not big on standing out or being ?part? of something. The Taoist ideal is to live to ones heart.
That?s it. In a biggish nutshell.
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Info about Taoism please?
