Many Taoists Seem To Distort The Tao Te Ching's Philosophy (Jesus, ritual)

[Truthtraveler]

My experience with Taoism is that many people I met who called themselves Taoists seemed to have a very distorted idea of what Taoism actually is – not unlike the discrepancy between the points of view of many present followers of Christ and the teachings of Jesus himself.

But I’m not a great expert at Taoism or many Taoist texts. I simply am a lover of the Tao Te Ching (many different translations), and I spoke Mandarin fairly well at one point, and I lived in China a while back. When I was there (over ten years ago) I was surprised by the number of people who also considered themselves followers of Taoism and yet held to ideas that seemed completely contrary to those of Lao Tzu, and used Taoism to back up the “rightness” of their ways of living. Unfortunately my memory is not great as to the specifics, but I remember my overall feeling –- and I remember thinking that Lao Tzu would probably not be very surprised by their distortions…

What do others here think?

[Master Vigil]

I agree, I see religious Taoism as a distortion of Lao Tzu's teachings. But of course, Lao Tzu may only be a legend, and not a real man at all. But we taoists agree that either one, or more than one wise authors wrote the Tao Te Ching, and we have no problem calling those authors Lao Tzu.

For me? I try to keep taoism strictly in my philosophical outlook on life. And my spiritual outlook in my spiritual experiences. Sometimes I suppose I mix them, but it is only to help me better understand both sides. I know what you mean however with the "rightness." There is no right or wrong, there just is.

[john313]

Peace,
I think that Lao Tzu was a prophet sent from God and that like other philosophies/religions started by the prophets, his message has been misconstrued by his followers. It seems to happen with many righteous teachings unfortunately.

[michel]

AW heck! why do there have to be so many things I want to study!

[Master Vigil]

Originally Posted by john313

Peace,
I think that Lao Tzu was a prophet sent from God and that like other philosophies/religions started by the prophets, his message has been misconstrued by his followers. It seems to happen with many righteous teachings unfortunately.

It has been preserved though through the culture, and with his book. And for the record, his teachings aren't "righteous." But the opposite.

[Truthtraveler]

Originally Posted by john313

I think that Lao Tzu was a prophet sent from God and that like other philosophies/religions started by the prophets, his message has been misconstrued by his followers. It seems to happen with many righteous teachings unfortunately.

“Sent by God?” - I’m not sure I view the world that way, but I know this: if God is sending people to the world for a purpose, then he’s sending all of us for that purpose, and we all have that potential to become the prophet, the truth-speaker, the healer… Some just manifest it better than others. And some just become so crushed on their paths that they become chaff.

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

It has been preserved though through the culture, and with his book. And for the record, his teachings aren't "righteous." But the opposite.

My sense is that John313 meant righteous in terms of “on the money” or “speaking the truth” or “consonant with truth” or “not false.” That’s how I read it at least.


Though truthfully, much of Lao Tzu’s writings in the Tao Te Ching are so vague it’s hard to know what he’s saying – and easy to read almost anything into it. But sometimes the truth (as I see it) just shines through. That’s what I call the philosophy of Lao Tzu. The rest, it’s just muddy. I mostly just ignore it…

[Prima]

***MOD POST***

Don't forget that this is a discussion for Taoists, and NOT a debate

[john313]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

It has been preserved though through the culture, and with his book. And for the record, his teachings aren't "righteous." But the opposite.

I consider them righteous rather than evil. You can call it evil if you like, or maybe we have different meanings of righteous in our heads.

[Master Vigil]

I believe we have different definitions of righteous. Lao Tzu's way is not righteous or evil. It just is. When a stream flows, the water is not being righteous or evil. It just flows.

[Truthtraveler]

Originally Posted by Prima

***MOD POST***

Originally Posted by Prima

Don't forget that this is a discussion for Taoists, and NOT a debate

I wish to respect that, but I was under the impression that a discussion can involve some expression of contrary points of view as part of an examination about a topic.


Perhaps there are ground rules for the discussion section that I haven’t yet seen?


I don’t wish to walk on eggshells.