Question (priests, beliefs, attending, experience, Christian)

[Green Gaia]

What is the best way to learn about Taoism? From reading about it in a book or practicing it?

[Runt]

Both. Obviously Taoism philosophy influences the Taoist way of life. Therefore, in order to live a Taoist way of life, you must be familar with Taoist philosophy. In our overwhelmingly Christian society Taoist philosophy is generally so conceptually "foreign" that it is not commonly heard on the streets or in casual conversation. Thus, one who wants to learn about it would find such learning most easily obtained through the written medium.

[Master Vigil]

To live the way of the Tao, one must understand the Tao. To understand the Tao, one must understand one's self. The Tao Te Ching shows a wise man's perception of the Tao. I trust his opinion as a way to start forming mine. Basically to learn, one must read. But to become, one must live.

[Sunstone]

Maize asks,

“What is the best way to learn about Taoism? From reading about it in a book or practicing it?”


We in the West put great emphasis on learning wisdom from a book.

We believe we can become wise by reading books. It even seems commonsense to us that wisdom can come from reading books. That’s an unconscious assumption that any good Westerner makes. But really, it goes deeper than that, doesn’t it?

We not only think wisdom can come from reading a book, but also that words themselves are a sign of wisdom. We talk of “words of wisdom”. And it’s hard for us to imagine a wise man or wise woman who did not have a few “words of wisdom” to share with us.

In his book on the arctic, Barry Lopez mentions that the Inuit have a word (which roughly corresponds to our phrase “wise man” or “wise woman”) that means “someone who makes wisdom visible through their actions.” You will notice that the Inuit expect wisdom to be manifested through actions, rather than words. It’s a very different concept from our own notion that a wise man or wise woman displays their wisdom primarily through such things as the advice they give, the words they speak.

Yet, it even goes deeper than that, doesn’t it?

We in the West not only assume that wisdom can come from reading a book, and we not only assume that words demonstrate who among us is wise, but we also assume that our creeds are important. And our creeds, our statements of belief, are after all, words.

Joseph Campbell in one of his essays somewhere discusses attending a conference on religion in Japan during which Shinto priests danced for the conference attendees. After their dance, Campbell was present when another one of the attendees – who Campbell identifies only as a prominent scholar of Judaism – asked the head priest what he, as a practitioner of Shinto, believed. The priest replied that Shinto had no beliefs.

The scholar could not accept that response. He was a good Westerner and the idea that a religion could be a religion without a set of beliefs was outside his experience or comprehension. So, the scholar asked again and yet again what the beliefs in Shinto were. At last the priest replied: “I’m very sorry, but I don’t think we have any beliefs. We just dance.”

I think to understand Taoism, you must learn to approach it like an good Easterner. A good Westerner will want to look for things to believe. But beliefs are not central to Taoism (however difficult that is for us to understand).

In the West, you learn a religion more or less like a lawyer learns the law. You study books, listen to authorities, debate the ins and outs of the religion. It’s a very verbal way of learning.

In the East, you learn a religion more or less like an athlete learns a sport. The emphasis is on practicing the religion. In the East, you might have books (such as the Tao Te Ching) to help you along. You might have a master, too. Having a master is like having a coach. But the emphasis is on learning the religion through practicing the religion.

So, perhaps the best way to learn Taoism is to go live with a Taoist for a while. Find a coach. Learn what you can from how he or she lives. More expect to see wisdom made visible in their actions, than to hear wise teachings. But what do you think?

How would you answer your own question, Maize? I’m curious about your response. Especially since I believe your question goes to the very heart of Taoism.

[Lightkeeper]

Didn't Buddha reach HIS enlightenment from within himself. I think learning Taoism would be the same. It's a matter getting yourself to the place where you accept what is? If you can't do this on your own, then an experienced teacher is the best route.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

How would you answer your own question, Maize? I’m curious about your response. Especially since I believe your question goes to the very heart of Taoism.

I would do both, I suppose. It would be great to have an individual teacher though, however no one I know practices Taoism. So I'm on my own with my library card.

[Master Vigil]

Words are against the Taoist philosophy, which is why the Tao Te Ching is such a short book. Wisdom comes from within, rather than without. To understand things beyond the use of words, one then understands without boundaries. When one understands without boundaries, one then can live without boundaires.