The Daily Reviewer | The Path of Water

Taoism and Universal Healthcare

Jan 27, 2010 2:00pm

I'm interested in what Taoism can tell us about living in the real world and the decisions we make. In recent times the issue of some form of universal healthcare system has been proposed for the United States. As a beneficiary of and contributor to the UK National Health Service...

Season's Greetings

Dec 24, 2009 1:32am

Whatever your beliefs I hope you have an enjoyable holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year.In harmony with the Tao,the sky is clear and spacious,the earth is solid and full,all creatures flourish together,content with the way they are,endlessly repeating themselves,endlessly renewed.TTC Ch. 39 (12) ...

Taoism, Christmas and Ta Chiu

Oct 15, 2009 12:18am

At Christmas time in Western countries it can be difficult for those of other or no faiths. Do you join in with the seasonal celebrations ignoring the Christian message, do you ignore it, or do you link it to celebrating a festival of your own at this time of year?While...

Taoism and blogging

Oct 6, 2009 4:03am

I came across a really interesting blog today which I thought I'd recommend. It covers a wide range of subjects mostly from a Taoist/Buddhist perspective. IMHO it's excellent and it can be found at A Quiet Watercourse. I'll be adding it to my site's recommended blogs as well....

Taoism and dedication

Oct 6, 2009 3:18am

I've been feeling for a while that this blog has been lacking in direction. I originally set it up as a place to explore Taoism and 21st century life but I don't feel that so far I've achieved what I set out to do. Now, it's in the nature of...

Hurrah!!!

Oct 1, 2009 2:32pm

I just received notification that somebody has suggested this site for inclusion in the Daily Reviewer top 100 Taoism blogs (are there 100 Taoism blogs?????) and that this site has been selected. Thanks very much for whoever submitted the details....

Osho - Tao: The Pathless Path

Sep 28, 2009 1:43pm

Following a recommendation on the New Taoist Community forum I bought a copy of Osho's book Tao: The Pathless Path My understanding is that the book has been created by collecting together the transcripts of several talks given by him.The book takes several of the parables of Lieh-tzu -...

Distractions

Sep 18, 2009 2:42am

It's surprisingly easy to go off track when trying to pursue a Taoist life. Recently I've found that I've veered off into one of the most common traps that Taoists face - engaging in Taoism as an intellectual exercise rather than living it. My post "Difficult questions" is a good...

Difficult questions - part 2

Sep 7, 2009 3:13am

After a lot of struggling in an attempt to answer the question I posed in "Difficult questions" I have come to a realisation...I have been struggling to reach an answer to the question because I've asked the question.I need to re-evaluate my whole approach to Taoism over the last few...

Difficult questions

Aug 25, 2009 5:02pm

Over at the New Taoist Community's forum we have what we term "Joint reflections." Somebody comes up with a verse of the Tao Te Ching, or a question about Taoist living, and we have a go at coming up with some answers, observations or interpretations. The intention is not really...

Becoming a Taoist - part 2

Aug 20, 2009 4:47pm

Humans love ritual. If you've any doubt about this just look around. Not just religious rituals, but those of celebration, those of remembrance, and even rituals whose original meaning has faded in the mists of time (anybody here touch wood?).Following on from my post in February 09 regarding becoming a...

Bloggers Unite For Human Rights 2009

Jul 16, 2009 12:03am

17th July is the day of Bloggers Unite for Human Rights 2009.Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)...Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others...

What is Taoism?

Jul 14, 2009 12:04am

What is Taoism - how to explain it to others - is a question that repeatedly arises. How to explain something that can only really be alluded to, implied, or pointed to, rather than explained. I was reading the "See" page of Deng Ming-Dao's book "Everyday Tao" and something in...

Dealing with loss

Jun 26, 2009 4:42pm

On the New Taoist Community forum a poster was asking for advice on dealing with the feelings arising from a relationship breakdown. FWIW, with some modification for tense & context, here's my response...Tears and emotions are the natural response to loss. They're not good or bad - they just are...

Hello world!

Jun 26, 2009 4:37pm

This site has now had visitors from all the inhabited continents on the planet. From the USA to China, from Australia to Iran, from Sweden to Chad, and from the UK to Peru. Thanks to everyone who has visited and I hope you found something useful....

Taoism, parties and fitting in

Jun 20, 2009 4:44pm

One of the members of the New Taoist Community asked if members had any personal accounts of how Taoism affects or helps us. I thought I'd offer the following...Long before I encountered Taoism I became aware that I had a problem. I'd go to social events and I'd feel awkward...

Food for thought

Jun 17, 2009 3:08pm

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us,...

Taoism and Environmentalism

Jun 14, 2009 2:27pm

I was thinking about writing something about Taoism and the Environmental movement. Whilst doing some initial research I came across an interesting essay on scribd.com which discusses the building of a modern environmental ethic based upon Taoist thought.The essay is called The Tao of Green: Building an Environmental Ethic with...

Happiness

Jun 14, 2009 2:21pm

“Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.”Chuang-tzu...

Sustainable energy

Jun 11, 2009 11:56pm

Not directly about Taoism and I don't want to use this blog to preach about environmental issues, but for those who may be interested I recently came across a very interesting book. Written by Cambridge University Professor Dr. David MacKay FRS, Sustainable Energy - without the hot air can...

Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi

May 12, 2009 3:58am

Pre-children I spent a few years learning Yang long form Tai Chi. With greater commitments I found I couldn't find the time to continue this, but I've always missed the Qigong (Chi Kung) exercises which we did as a warm-up and which I always found particularly beneficial and enjoyable. Recently...

The Goal of Taoism

May 12, 2009 1:28am

I've seen a lot on the web regarding what Taoism is about and what its goal is. Much of what I've seen on some forums seems to view Taoism as being essentially about going with the flow, getting in touch with nature and chilling out. While there is some truth...

Taoism & Zen

Mar 17, 2009 3:43pm

I've recently started looking into Zen Buddhism. This may seem strange in a blog ostensibly about Taoism, but I've come to realize how close the two are. In the process I've had to shed a lot of ideas I held about Zen which were based on ignorance or misunderstandings. For...

National Unitarian Fellowship

Mar 10, 2009 7:30am

Well after further investigation I've decided to join the National Unitarian Fellowship forum fully, with a view to becoming a paid-up member of the NUF in due course. The natives seem very friendly and I've been very impressed with the breadth of discussion and the supportive nature of the community...

New Taoist Community

Feb 18, 2009 3:42pm

Not a proper blog, just a "heads up." Along with another Reform Taoism member I've set up a site we're calling "The New Taoist Community." I've described it as being "an experimental site for philosophical Taoists, Pantheists, Zen Buddhists and others with an interest in the fundamentals underlying Taoism to...