I was wondering how Taoist principles would be applicable to modern day life, I'm not so much interested in the religious aspect as opposed to Taoist philosophy. I would be interested to know how a Taoist philosopher would act differently from a normal person.
If you keep in mind and condition it to see yourself, others and events as an illusion of opposites, then you won't identify with what happens or yourself and you'll feel like your floating and much freer.
That's just it Taoism is the normal person they are ordinary, Now if you mean the normal person who goes to work everyday that is the same the only difference is the mental state of a Taoist. I wouldn't consider myself a Taoist but i may very well be, i am a chameleon of several different religions all integrated, Buddhism Zen, Taoism, Christianity, Wicca, Pagan, you name it and part of it is in me.
But the main philosophy of a Taoist is to go with life, Right now life means to have a job, a family, a home, so whatsoever comes along directly changing the Taoists life they go with that, This is why so many religions are within me because they come and i learn them and i keep whatever resonates most deeply with me spiritually.
Those that claim to practice the Tao wouldn't act differently, not in any moral sense anyway. It is a sort of not-doing, which can best be understood as accepting what happens and watching what happens. If one must do something it is only as a part of the moment that is being. This the Taoist watches too and accepts as just parts of reality that needs to be accepted. The reality is that we are not actually doing anything, things are happening to us and the body and mind react accordingly, that is, according to upbringing and culture etc. There is no decision to do and there is no plan separate from what the moment dictates. So the only thing left is to accept and watch, which raises consciousness. It is this heightening of awareness to pure being that is the 'way' to being.
*The difference is in ....... '' Equanimity" !!~
Don't be elated with yr gains & don't be depressed with your loss .....!!~
Everything is temporary .......as the lord Buddha says " This too shall pass"!!~
Remain unanimous throat yr life & observe things just as they are ....... not as u D have wished them to be !!~?
This gives one a great peace of mind ...!!~
"In the Daoist small worldly paths they don?t cultivate longevity. What they do is all about fortune-telling, Deng Hui reading, exorcising evil, and healing people, and most small worldly paths use sorcery." copied from page #105 in the Zhuan Falun on line lecture:
http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/pdf/zfl_new.pdf
"Daoists cultivate True, Good, Endure with an emphasis on being True. That?s why Daoists strive to, ?cultivate truth and nourish inborn nature, say true words, do true things, be a truthful person, return to your original, true self, and ultimately cultivate into a True Person.? But they also have Endure, and they also have Good, it?s just that the emphasis is on cultivating the True part." an excerpt copied from the same lecture.
Practical Taoism (philosophy)?
