>but why is it popular today?
As anon says above, it's indefinite enough that you can make it say a lot of things, all the while sounding well read and referencing an ancestral book. It can play on the exotic factor too. Most of the people that read it wouldn't touch the schizo neoplatonists that have the same benefits.
the tao is the source of the universe, by giving birth to the one which gives birth to the two which gives birth to the three. The tao is the pure potential that allows the dialectics of being to bring themselves into existence. If you don't understand the tao you can't understand how it is the universe exists.
LARPing and Orientalism
Their minds have been shaped for consumerism and to receive marketing. Their motive all image and childish sentiment. Like kids. It helps when it's something they can misinterpret and fill with whatever feelings they like, while forever chastising others for not getting it like they get it. Yeah, in a word, LARP.
How the universe works. Of course, this is more abstract and challenging to understand than the simple-minded babble of the bible or the aggressive nonsense of the quran.
Taoism is the epitome of vague, reductionist bullshit fit to be consumed by nihilistic Chinese bugmen en masse. At least gather some dignity and become a Buddhist if you really want to adopt an eastern religion for God knows what reason.
It's because you started in the wrong place op. It's a common misconception from the perspective of western intellectuals to start with religious anthologies to get the full, however in the case of many eastern religions these texts are solely for those who already have a degree of knowledge/consciousness unlocked that you may not have.
If you seriously want to study the Tao (the way) begin with I Ching (parts 1 and 2, 10 wings and 64 hexagrams) and make sure to study the different hexagrams as extensively as possible, this will key you into the universal flow of qi throughout our world. Start with simple fortune tellings for friends and family and see if you can get accurate predictions.
Once you are confident enough in your ability to read lines you can move onto the advanced technique of reading yarrow stalks and animals bones tossed in fires. Now if you can produce an accurate divination with little preparation and for anybody (now just those closest to you in the flow) at this point you can move to further studies such as the Laozi (Tao ti ching) and Zhuangzi.
If you were unable to grasp the ideas of the I Ching or failed to produce any predictions you just have to study further. All have an innate (inner) eye capable seeing the Tao (the way) but not all will be fortunate enough to unlock it in their lifetime.
>don't read the supposedly foundational work >read this book about the most crass forms of divination instead
The I Ching is even more of a larp. There is no reason to read it over any random magic book from 19th century occultists. Might as well go straight to astrology.
The daodejing isn't the "foundational text" of Daoism, they didn't even include it in the Canon for the longest time. It's a western misconception about Daoism.
>buy a book called the tao te ching >read the first line >The tao that can be described is not the eternal Tao
What the frick I paid money for this shit
Nothing, forget it.
Don't pick up another taoist book, it's all just vague nonsense.
obviously didn't read it
The important ideas are temporality, self-control, going beyond good-evil dichotomy and immortality
You can interpret it to mean whatever you want. Also you got the cucked Tibetan version.
I believe the scholars that said it was an obscurely worded cope for the events of the time were right.
Yeah, because it's true to any philosophical idea ever created.
do you get a sense of happiness symptom of being deeply moronic?
I agree, but why is it popular today?
it was recommended to me by some idiots who adopted this philosophy and take it way too seriously
It's more like a guide on how to become Chinese tbh
>but why is it popular today?
As anon says above, it's indefinite enough that you can make it say a lot of things, all the while sounding well read and referencing an ancestral book. It can play on the exotic factor too. Most of the people that read it wouldn't touch the schizo neoplatonists that have the same benefits.
the tao is the source of the universe, by giving birth to the one which gives birth to the two which gives birth to the three. The tao is the pure potential that allows the dialectics of being to bring themselves into existence. If you don't understand the tao you can't understand how it is the universe exists.
same reason stoicism is popular today, gives non-religious people methods for coping with their problems
LARPing and Orientalism
Their minds have been shaped for consumerism and to receive marketing. Their motive all image and childish sentiment. Like kids. It helps when it's something they can misinterpret and fill with whatever feelings they like, while forever chastising others for not getting it like they get it. Yeah, in a word, LARP.
thats not what larp means
They're too intellectually weak to espouse their opinions, so they attribute them to an old book—lots of examples.
Read Taoism The Enduring Tradition by Russell Kirkland
You’re obviously missing the Tao, but Tao called Tao is not Tao. You don’t need to read this to understand the so-called Tao
This is to illustrate the limitations of language, Zhuangzi expanded on this concept
Budget Heidegger
What did you expect from such a laozi writer?
what does dalai lama say about it
nothing. you are correct. it is a load of rubbish.
you have to live it
Best post itt
>what am I missing here?
How the universe works. Of course, this is more abstract and challenging to understand than the simple-minded babble of the bible or the aggressive nonsense of the quran.
Taoism is the epitome of vague, reductionist bullshit fit to be consumed by nihilistic Chinese bugmen en masse. At least gather some dignity and become a Buddhist if you really want to adopt an eastern religion for God knows what reason.
Not all Islam’s are equal
just give up trying to understand. You're better off sticking ya novels
It's because you started in the wrong place op. It's a common misconception from the perspective of western intellectuals to start with religious anthologies to get the full, however in the case of many eastern religions these texts are solely for those who already have a degree of knowledge/consciousness unlocked that you may not have.
If you seriously want to study the Tao (the way) begin with I Ching (parts 1 and 2, 10 wings and 64 hexagrams) and make sure to study the different hexagrams as extensively as possible, this will key you into the universal flow of qi throughout our world. Start with simple fortune tellings for friends and family and see if you can get accurate predictions.
Once you are confident enough in your ability to read lines you can move onto the advanced technique of reading yarrow stalks and animals bones tossed in fires. Now if you can produce an accurate divination with little preparation and for anybody (now just those closest to you in the flow) at this point you can move to further studies such as the Laozi (Tao ti ching) and Zhuangzi.
If you were unable to grasp the ideas of the I Ching or failed to produce any predictions you just have to study further. All have an innate (inner) eye capable seeing the Tao (the way) but not all will be fortunate enough to unlock it in their lifetime.
>don't read the supposedly foundational work
>read this book about the most crass forms of divination instead
The I Ching is even more of a larp. There is no reason to read it over any random magic book from 19th century occultists. Might as well go straight to astrology.
I thought the same way until I started seeing my predictions come to true
That's one way of putting it yes
My I Ching predictions NEVER come true. The frick you smoking?
The daodejing isn't the "foundational text" of Daoism, they didn't even include it in the Canon for the longest time. It's a western misconception about Daoism.
Wtf? I have to make magic with bones in a fire to understand a book?
>what am I missing here?
Nothing, it's for midwits.
I should have known this board was too low T for Lao Tzu
>Reads Tao Te Ching
>"What a load of rubbish."
Congrats! You got it! You're already on your way
Nothing, forget it.
>buy a book called the tao te ching
>read the first line
>The tao that can be described is not the eternal Tao
What the frick I paid money for this shit
If it can't be described, then the book is useless. It outright tell you that the book fails at its objective. In the first line. Quite a bold move.
there is something called describing something by describing what it's not
do you even follow the big brained hindu threads morons
The Holy Spirit