Taoist communities/groups (experience, recall, verse, taoism)

[Scarlett Wampus]

Close to where I live there is going to be a small (westernised of course) Taoist Arts community set up. I've met some of the people involved online and they seem to know what they're doing. You can see the project webpage here.

(btw, the picture of the woman on the beach with the small exotic looking island out to sea is not near their planned location but it is to where I live. I walk along that beach at least a couple of times a week!)

I think its a bold & exciting move to attempt something like they're proposing. There is a Yoga community who have done something very similar here. It worked for them so I hope it works for these guys.

Is there anything vaguely Taoist going on local to where you live? Would you want there to be / would it make any difference to you?

[ChrisP]

Nope. I don't know a single other Taoist. I find it's better that way to be honest. If I knew another I'd end up comparing notes.

[PureX]

Hmmm ... taoist art, that seems redundant. *smile*

I have a background in fine art, and much of my experience of taoism comes from there. Although, I don't recall any of my artist friends specifically calling themselves taoists. But certainly, the idea of letting the artwork tell the artist what it wants to be and what to do next is an integral part of making art that is also an integral part of practicing taoism. I found that the practice of making art and the practice of taoism are so intertwined that I can't hardly conceive of one without the other.

The only folks I've known, though, that actually called themselves taoists and practiced it, were into some form of martial arts - usually forms that were based on the goal of longevity.

[the_Unknown]

Grouping together as a defined entity limits you.

True 'taoists' would not name the tao or consider themselves anything.

[Master Vigil]

When I first started teaching at my local Holistic Center, I would converse about Tao with the other Chi gong, and Tai Chi instructors. However, the "talking" seemed to allow no conversation of Tao to commence. The most intuitive conversation of Tao I've had with another Taoist took place when we each had nothing to say.

[Scarlett Wampus]

Great posts! I love you guys

Originally Posted by The_Unknown

Grouping together as a defined entity limits you.

True 'taoists' would not name the tao or consider themselves anything.

Still possible to work within groups though, but yeah absolutely, Tao is always beyond definition. Like PureX said about Taoist Art, the idea of a Taoist (Tao-Chia) community seems redundant. I think I'll have more fun going to see what's happening when those people set up their thing because of that.

Originally Posted by ChrisP

Nope. I don't know a single other Taoist. I find it's better that way to be honest. If I knew another I'd end up comparing notes.

Very personal thing no? Tao of ChrisP is unique, can't be shared, taken or given, just lived?

What if you met some woman who was into Taoism; absolutely beautiful, highly intelligent, sexy and wealthy, who said, "Oh Chris I've never met another Taoist before. I would love to hang out and do Taoisty things."? What if her eyes went all big and watery and she said, "please Chris, it gets so lonely doing this stuff by myself all the time."?

Its ok, I know its awkward. I'd come save you and tell her to leave you alone.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by the_Unknown

Grouping together as a defined entity limits you.

True 'taoists' would not name the tao or consider themselves anything.

Not necessarily. It's the "tao of man" to name things as a way of pretending that he "understands" them, and can therefor control them. Understanding that the names actually stiffle true understanding, and that control is only an illusion, doesn't mean the man stops being a man. In fact, were he to presume so, he would be a Buddhist, and not a taoist. *smile*

[d.]

Originally Posted by the_Unknown

Grouping together as a defined entity limits you.

it could limit you, and it could help you overcome your limits.

it would completely depend on the situation and context, which is why general statements of this kind so often falls flat. in any case, i wouldn't think it would limit anyone irretrievably?

Originally Posted by the_Unknown

True 'taoists' would not name the tao

yet you just did. maybe we better stop speaking altogether?

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by Scarlett Wampus

Very personal thing no? Tao of ChrisP is unique, can't be shared, taken or given, just lived?

What if you met some woman who was into Taoism; absolutely beautiful, highly intelligent, sexy and wealthy, who said, "Oh Chris I've never met another Taoist before. I would love to hang out and do Taoisty things."? What if her eyes went all big and watery and she said, "please Chris, it gets so lonely doing this stuff by myself all the time."?

Its ok, I know its awkward. I'd come save you and tell her to leave you alone.

Hahah you'd be needing to save her mate

But yes. I was raised to mentally detach (as opposed to heart/mind detach) As soon as there is something to compare things to the over-thinking over analysing begins and the truth of the situation vanishes into whatever my mind creates. Power of the imagination no?