Hello again. I have a question... What are your thoughts on vagabonding and constant travel? I understand moderation is the balance between two extremes, and the extremes I'm faced with are serving in the working world for the rest of my life or leaving society behind and going the path I want to take. My mind is in confusion around this subject; All I wish to do is live a carefree life and follow Tao, but everyone else tells me I must work and live like they. I desperately need some guidance.
@MusicAmidstTheTrees Tao Te Ching Chapter 80: People of Tao take death seriously and do not travel far. Though they have boats & carriages, no on uses them. Though they have armor and weapons, no one displays them. Their food is plain and good, their clothes fine but simple, their homes secure; They are happy in their ways. Though they live within sight of their neighbours, And crowing cocks & barking dogs are heard across the way, Yet they leave each other in peace while they grow old and die.
@MusicAmidstTheTrees I am no Tao expert, just another guy who is as mystified by the beauty of Tao. Tao lives in you . Wherever you go, u live Tao. As for me, i don't think you have to live apart from society just to experience Tao, Tao is everywhere and it is a very beautiful thing. If you believe in Tao, nothing can stop you from doing what you want to achieve in Tao. Go with what you think is good for Tao =)
@STLx311x420x247 All thinking is subjective. Yin-yang only exists inside the mind and is projected on the outside world. This occurs because our minds can only perceive things in contrast to its opposite. The concept of good and evil are our minds attempt to make sense of the world, that's in a constant state of flux - swinging from one extreme to another in order to keep balance. The concepts of good and evil aren't in Nature and neither is Yin-Yang. All that exists outside mind is balance.
...I was also thinking of how this corresponds with the Bible quote "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding," and a lecture by a Hindu yogi saying that when you surrender to the divine you feel bliss energy and that energy brings positive coincidence and synchronicity, and the Dalai Lama's quote about the universe being an echo of our thoughts. I guess all the good, helpful ideas are universal regardless of the exact language and metaphors.
@ChocolateMyrrh Something rarely heard from the pulpit...Matthew 6 25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
I really enjoyed this. I love your explanations. I especially liked the explanation of tzu-jan. I was watching the National Geographic special "Stress: Portrait of a Killer" and thought what a valuable idea tzu-jan is to adopt. I've found I have better results in life and feel better when I do things, but then let go and don't worry about how the result is going to come about. The results are usually way better then I could have planned.
What would a Taoist do in reaction to, say a horrible war caused by a corrupt government. Would he or she "allow it to pass for what it is" or try to prevent such things from happening in the future by supporting political reform, if necessary through means or revolution? You see I find taoist writings to be inspiring but the idea of letting preventable suffering of fellow beings to "pass for what they are" does not align with my way of thinking.
@j4allen The Ancient Chinese Taoists would satirise rogue rulers, much like comedians satirise politicians today. They knew that publicly mocking an egotist is the best way to get them to see the errors of their ways, for violence would only beget violence.
History has proven the greatest social change can be achieved with nothing more than compassion, as this was the central tenant of the greatest ever revolutionaries of lasting change....Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
@TaoFAQ Good answer, and I agree that violence is not usually the way. However, I highly doubt that satirising people like Gaddafi is enough to bring about social change....
@TaoFAQ Hehe unless they're batshit insane of course. I happened to be reading in the Zhuang Zi writings just then and I found the story of Bao Ding, chapter 3 paragraph 2 which I think is pretty relevant here.
@j4allen I think that is what has brought about the change acctually and more efficentlly than any war would have. Further on I don´t feel the tao should be thought of as having specific recomended actions. You are allways free to do what you wan´t. It is more about how to do things and in what attitude. So whatever you feel is right to do is right, just keep the tao in mind and don´t offer any exuses to actions you take, accept it. The tao is not a shield it is a way. IMO.
I found your interpretation of wu wei interesting. I've come to associate it with the non-forcing principle, with emphasis on process instead of result, virtue instead of impressions/appearances, etcetera. How good things arise as natural side-effects of virtuous living, rather than from preselected outcomes one tries to engineer. This seems to coincide more with your definition of detachment. Have I missed something, or blurred the two, or looked too much into one part of wu wei?
@SpriterShard You haven't missed anything my friend. I would say the ultimate experience of life is to merge all the Taoist concepts into a seamless unity, beyond all descriptions and words. Namaste, Bobba.
Hi TaoFAQ. I have a question about Taoism, and this extends to Buddhism as well. These two religions both advocate avoidance of behaviour that goes to extremes, is this correct? Will you not agree that in some cases the practice of Wu-Wei may lead you to "extreme" actions, if only temporarily? The Buddha himself went to extremes on his path of realisation, which ultimately led to his enlightenment, which suggests to me that perhaps we each may also need to experience extremes.
@zenboy83 Excellent question! It's true Buddha initially went to extremes before finding the Middle Way. Nevertheless there is no avoidance of the extremes of hot & cold; night & day; life & death. Therefore no matter how well along the Path we are, extremes in the world around us will always be unavoidable. The Middle Way is being able to accept all the extremes of Nature (the Yin-Yang), without fear or favour. In other words, the Middle Way is a state of mind and not the external situation.
@TaoFAQ Hey TaoFAQ. I also have a question. Does this video indeed say that we should listen to what "our heart tells us". To do what we think is right?
@larbo1616 More precisely, we should listen to our True Nature. Sometimes we confuse our heart with our ego, and this can be disastrous. Do some research on the Taoist word “P’u”. The word means the uncarved block or unbleached silk. This is our natural state before all the negative social programming of the culture we are born into. You may like to check out the book by The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.
@TaoFAQ Will do. But, for instance, my "heart" tells me that it is allowed for me to posses. However, more importantly, it is to GIVE to other people. Fill your life with joy and fill others' lives with joy and love. This is what my "heart" tells me it's the right thing to do. I stumbled quite a time on the idea of possessing things, because buddhism thought that it wasn't allowed. Now I see myself that it is (that's what I think) but that it's not the most important thing.
@larbo1616 The three jewels of Taoism are Compassion, Moderation and Humility. Before I take any action, I often ask myself three questions and you may like to do the same in this case. 1. Is this action one of genuine compassion for another? 2. Am I avoiding extremism and practicing moderation? 3. Am I remaining humble and avoiding the inflation of my own ego? If the answer in all cases is yes, you will know your actions are highly virtuous.
i am seriously considering embracing the taoist beliefs, views, and how they see and experiance the world, some of the thing described in your video make great sense to me. such as not analysing etc everything i do at a later time, do you know where i can find a book, or a simply laid out explanation a guie to taoist belifs or possibly a forum?
Also is it pornounced daoism? or is there a seperate religion or anything known as daoism?
@daint9 That's wonderful to hear! I recommend you read the "Tao Te Ching". There are many translations available. A great forum to join is "The Great Tao Foundation of America". Taoism can be either a religion or a philosophy, however it is much better if you are your natural self and not strive for anything beyond this. Religion often implies one is trying to be something other than one's true self and this often leads to self righteousness and pretentious behaviour. Peace on the Path my friend
@TaoFAQ thank you very much for the information, i am leaning more towards the philosphy, as it seems to make everything seem right and to have a flow, but not give up ones self to some big face in the sky that doesnt do anyhting, using the tao beliefs i intent to become far calmer and also stronger
@daint9 The author of the Tao Te Ching wrote "My way is simple but people prefer to follow the complex." Look to Nature for the answers and seek the Truth beyond personal advantage; and foster the three jewels of Compassion, Moderation and Humility. May you always find peace on the Path.
I dont know why u pronounce tzu-jan on that way u do. In my oppinio it shoud be pronounced as "tzu-djan" (as word "jing"(book). Tzu is ok but tell me why u pronounce "jan" as u done in video.
@736814 Unfortunately Im not a Chinese speaker, therefore I cant claim to speak with any authority on this subject.
I know this word in the Wade-Giles system is Tzu-Jan and in Pinyin its Zi-ran. The Wade-Giles system gave us Peking & the same city in Pinyin is Beijing. So you can see the Pinyin system is much closer to the true Mandarin pronunciation.
I take the lead for my pronunciations from listening to hours Alan Watts audio and I apologise for any lack of ability I have in this area.
Sir, Thanks for your video and references. I wrote you about making you questions, however this post answered me lot of them. Very Thanks and blessings in your Journey.
Thank you for helping me find the belief I needed because of Toasim I am now always happy. Thank you so much.
e33ew22wq11q 4 days ago
@e33ew22wq11q Thank you.
yinyangnature 4 days ago
Lovely video, Thank you!
annieB5575 3 weeks ago
Hello again. I have a question... What are your thoughts on vagabonding and constant travel? I understand moderation is the balance between two extremes, and the extremes I'm faced with are serving in the working world for the rest of my life or leaving society behind and going the path I want to take. My mind is in confusion around this subject; All I wish to do is live a carefree life and follow Tao, but everyone else tells me I must work and live like they. I desperately need some guidance.
MusicAmidstTheTrees 1 month ago
@MusicAmidstTheTrees Tao Te Ching Chapter 80: People of Tao take death seriously and do not travel far. Though they have boats & carriages, no on uses them. Though they have armor and weapons, no one displays them. Their food is plain and good, their clothes fine but simple, their homes secure; They are happy in their ways. Though they live within sight of their neighbours, And crowing cocks & barking dogs are heard across the way, Yet they leave each other in peace while they grow old and die.
TaoFAQ 1 month ago
@MusicAmidstTheTrees I am no Tao expert, just another guy who is as mystified by the beauty of Tao. Tao lives in you . Wherever you go, u live Tao. As for me, i don't think you have to live apart from society just to experience Tao, Tao is everywhere and it is a very beautiful thing. If you believe in Tao, nothing can stop you from doing what you want to achieve in Tao. Go with what you think is good for Tao =)
MrOldestPerson 3 weeks ago
I'm pretty sure that in taoism they do not include good and evil with yin and yang because good and evil are subjective to each person
STLx311x420x247 2 months ago
@STLx311x420x247 All thinking is subjective. Yin-yang only exists inside the mind and is projected on the outside world. This occurs because our minds can only perceive things in contrast to its opposite. The concept of good and evil are our minds attempt to make sense of the world, that's in a constant state of flux - swinging from one extreme to another in order to keep balance. The concepts of good and evil aren't in Nature and neither is Yin-Yang. All that exists outside mind is balance.
yinyangnature 2 months ago
perfect
MediumSizedCrane 2 months ago
thank you sir so much. helped me alot.
TheLovesoul1 3 months ago in playlist More videos from TaoFAQ
@TheLovesoul1 Thank you! (Alias TaoFAQ)
yinyangnature 3 months ago
Can anyone define unassuming in the line " The unassuming of nature"
MarchingMac04 4 months ago
@MarchingMac04 "Te is the gentle unassuming intelligence of Nature." In this context "unassuming" means indiscriminate or non-judgemental.
yinyangnature 4 months ago
this cleared up allot about what i believe and i love the giraffes at the end.
Stateoftention 5 months ago
sensable and quite beautiful.
debrahubbard01 6 months ago
I love the use of "love my way"... yes
AdmiralXang 6 months ago
...I was also thinking of how this corresponds with the Bible quote "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding," and a lecture by a Hindu yogi saying that when you surrender to the divine you feel bliss energy and that energy brings positive coincidence and synchronicity, and the Dalai Lama's quote about the universe being an echo of our thoughts. I guess all the good, helpful ideas are universal regardless of the exact language and metaphors.
ChocolateMyrrh 6 months ago
@ChocolateMyrrh Something rarely heard from the pulpit...Matthew 6 25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
TaoFAQ 6 months ago
I really enjoyed this. I love your explanations. I especially liked the explanation of tzu-jan. I was watching the National Geographic special "Stress: Portrait of a Killer" and thought what a valuable idea tzu-jan is to adopt. I've found I have better results in life and feel better when I do things, but then let go and don't worry about how the result is going to come about. The results are usually way better then I could have planned.
ChocolateMyrrh 6 months ago
@ChocolateMyrrh Indeed. Thank you very kindly for your thoughts.
TaoFAQ 6 months ago
Comment removed
ChocolateMyrrh 6 months ago
Nice presentation-- concise and to the point. Thanks for the upload. Namaste.
StrawberryQwik 9 months ago
What would a Taoist do in reaction to, say a horrible war caused by a corrupt government. Would he or she "allow it to pass for what it is" or try to prevent such things from happening in the future by supporting political reform, if necessary through means or revolution? You see I find taoist writings to be inspiring but the idea of letting preventable suffering of fellow beings to "pass for what they are" does not align with my way of thinking.
j4allen 10 months ago
@j4allen The Ancient Chinese Taoists would satirise rogue rulers, much like comedians satirise politicians today. They knew that publicly mocking an egotist is the best way to get them to see the errors of their ways, for violence would only beget violence.
History has proven the greatest social change can be achieved with nothing more than compassion, as this was the central tenant of the greatest ever revolutionaries of lasting change....Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
TaoFAQ 10 months ago
@TaoFAQ Good answer, and I agree that violence is not usually the way. However, I highly doubt that satirising people like Gaddafi is enough to bring about social change....
j4allen 10 months ago
@j4allen Nevertheless, I'm sure they would appreciate knowing that we support them. This may be all they need to keep going.
TaoFAQ 10 months ago
@TaoFAQ Hehe unless they're batshit insane of course. I happened to be reading in the Zhuang Zi writings just then and I found the story of Bao Ding, chapter 3 paragraph 2 which I think is pretty relevant here.
j4allen 10 months ago
Comment removed
Artroadtrip 7 months ago
@j4allen I think that is what has brought about the change acctually and more efficentlly than any war would have. Further on I don´t feel the tao should be thought of as having specific recomended actions. You are allways free to do what you wan´t. It is more about how to do things and in what attitude. So whatever you feel is right to do is right, just keep the tao in mind and don´t offer any exuses to actions you take, accept it. The tao is not a shield it is a way. IMO.
Artroadtrip 7 months ago
Comment removed
Artroadtrip 7 months ago
I found your interpretation of wu wei interesting. I've come to associate it with the non-forcing principle, with emphasis on process instead of result, virtue instead of impressions/appearances, etcetera. How good things arise as natural side-effects of virtuous living, rather than from preselected outcomes one tries to engineer. This seems to coincide more with your definition of detachment. Have I missed something, or blurred the two, or looked too much into one part of wu wei?
SpriterShard 10 months ago
@SpriterShard You haven't missed anything my friend. I would say the ultimate experience of life is to merge all the Taoist concepts into a seamless unity, beyond all descriptions and words. Namaste, Bobba.
yinyangnature 10 months ago
It's very clear to me now how Taoism and Buddhism worked together in East Asia... they share many similarities!
destructicon500 1 year ago
@destructicon500 Indeed.
yinyangnature 1 year ago
Thank you very much. I am a High School teacher and am expanding my World Religions Course. This video is extremely helpful.
cfostersjcc 1 year ago
@cfostersjccThank you! I'm so glad to hear you found it helpful.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
thank you!
simonomisification 1 year ago
@simonomisification Thanks for watching!
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
Yes, thank you for the video.
robgaz 1 year ago
Thank you.
nashville6120 1 year ago
@nashville6120 Thank you and Namaste!
yinyangnature 1 year ago
Hi TaoFAQ. I have a question about Taoism, and this extends to Buddhism as well. These two religions both advocate avoidance of behaviour that goes to extremes, is this correct? Will you not agree that in some cases the practice of Wu-Wei may lead you to "extreme" actions, if only temporarily? The Buddha himself went to extremes on his path of realisation, which ultimately led to his enlightenment, which suggests to me that perhaps we each may also need to experience extremes.
zenboy83 1 year ago
@zenboy83 Excellent question! It's true Buddha initially went to extremes before finding the Middle Way. Nevertheless there is no avoidance of the extremes of hot & cold; night & day; life & death. Therefore no matter how well along the Path we are, extremes in the world around us will always be unavoidable. The Middle Way is being able to accept all the extremes of Nature (the Yin-Yang), without fear or favour. In other words, the Middle Way is a state of mind and not the external situation.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
@TaoFAQ Hey TaoFAQ. I also have a question. Does this video indeed say that we should listen to what "our heart tells us". To do what we think is right?
larbo1616 1 year ago
@larbo1616 More precisely, we should listen to our True Nature. Sometimes we confuse our heart with our ego, and this can be disastrous. Do some research on the Taoist word “P’u”. The word means the uncarved block or unbleached silk. This is our natural state before all the negative social programming of the culture we are born into. You may like to check out the book by The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
@TaoFAQ Will do. But, for instance, my "heart" tells me that it is allowed for me to posses. However, more importantly, it is to GIVE to other people. Fill your life with joy and fill others' lives with joy and love. This is what my "heart" tells me it's the right thing to do. I stumbled quite a time on the idea of possessing things, because buddhism thought that it wasn't allowed. Now I see myself that it is (that's what I think) but that it's not the most important thing.
larbo1616 1 year ago
@larbo1616 The three jewels of Taoism are Compassion, Moderation and Humility. Before I take any action, I often ask myself three questions and you may like to do the same in this case. 1. Is this action one of genuine compassion for another? 2. Am I avoiding extremism and practicing moderation? 3. Am I remaining humble and avoiding the inflation of my own ego? If the answer in all cases is yes, you will know your actions are highly virtuous.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
i am seriously considering embracing the taoist beliefs, views, and how they see and experiance the world, some of the thing described in your video make great sense to me. such as not analysing etc everything i do at a later time, do you know where i can find a book, or a simply laid out explanation a guie to taoist belifs or possibly a forum?
Also is it pornounced daoism? or is there a seperate religion or anything known as daoism?
daint9 1 year ago
@daint9 That's wonderful to hear! I recommend you read the "Tao Te Ching". There are many translations available. A great forum to join is "The Great Tao Foundation of America". Taoism can be either a religion or a philosophy, however it is much better if you are your natural self and not strive for anything beyond this. Religion often implies one is trying to be something other than one's true self and this often leads to self righteousness and pretentious behaviour. Peace on the Path my friend
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
@TaoFAQ thank you very much for the information, i am leaning more towards the philosphy, as it seems to make everything seem right and to have a flow, but not give up ones self to some big face in the sky that doesnt do anyhting, using the tao beliefs i intent to become far calmer and also stronger
daint9 1 year ago
@daint9 The author of the Tao Te Ching wrote "My way is simple but people prefer to follow the complex." Look to Nature for the answers and seek the Truth beyond personal advantage; and foster the three jewels of Compassion, Moderation and Humility. May you always find peace on the Path.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
Love this video, please put more up. :-)
TurquoiseLamp 1 year ago
I dont know why u pronounce tzu-jan on that way u do. In my oppinio it shoud be pronounced as "tzu-djan" (as word "jing"(book). Tzu is ok but tell me why u pronounce "jan" as u done in video.
However, great lesson.
736814 1 year ago
@736814 Unfortunately Im not a Chinese speaker, therefore I cant claim to speak with any authority on this subject.
I know this word in the Wade-Giles system is Tzu-Jan and in Pinyin its Zi-ran. The Wade-Giles system gave us Peking & the same city in Pinyin is Beijing. So you can see the Pinyin system is much closer to the true Mandarin pronunciation.
I take the lead for my pronunciations from listening to hours Alan Watts audio and I apologise for any lack of ability I have in this area.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
I decided recently to become a Taoist. It is the only through the East that I find peace of mind.
This was a wonderful, and comprehensible, summary and I enjoyed hearing it. I subscribed to your channel right after the video ended.
Wolvenfire86 1 year ago
@Wolvenfire86 It's so great to hear from a brother on the Path. Thank you for your gracious generosity.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
Sir, Thanks for your video and references. I wrote you about making you questions, however this post answered me lot of them. Very Thanks and blessings in your Journey.
aperezNWO 1 year ago
@aperezNWO That's so great to hear. Nevertheless your questions are always welcome.
With Compassion, Moderation & Humility
Bobba
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
@IceCantata Thank you! I hope your journey on the Path is a very joyous one.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
I'm always impressed when I hear your wisdom. I really connect with the way you think. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I feel so inspired by you.
TurquoiseLamp 1 year ago 5
@TurquoiseLamp. Thank you very much Debz! As always I am extremely grateful and appreciative of your very kind words.
TaoFAQ 1 year ago
As always, thank you for these videos. They have been a wonderful guide. :-)
winnbrad 1 year ago 7
@winnbrad Thank you so much for your very kind words my friend. Bobba
TaoFAQ 1 year ago