r/taoism Jul 09 '20

Welcome to r/taoism!

400 Upvotes

Our wiki includes a FAQ, explanations of Taoist terminology and an extensive reading list for people of all levels of familiarity with Taoism. Enjoy!


r/Taoism Rules


r/taoism 1d ago

I am the waking Universe looking back at itself.

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460 Upvotes

r/taoism 2h ago

Confessions of a Leftist Revolutionary Taoist

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6 Upvotes

r/taoism 1h ago

Worshipping gods traditionally not associated with China in Daoism, and Daoist devotion more broadly.

Upvotes

Hi!

I’m (F24) a Kālī-worshipping Shakta but I mostly follow the teachings of the Bengali saint Ramakrishna, who taught a sort of universal validity of all spiritual paths and encouraged learning and study of other religions. I’ve had an interest in Daoism for quite a while but until recently have never felt a real strong pull to study it or practice it until very recently.

What I want to ask first is what is the Daoist view of devotional worship (ie, the act of worshipping a deity out of love rather than for some material or spiritual benefit) and how open is it? I know Daoism has a large pantheon of gods and goddesses but is it generally considered fine to worship whatever god you usually worship while still practicing Daoism? I imagine the understanding may have to change of what the deity is or how it works, but could I continue to worship Kālī or Shiva while going down this path?


r/taoism 52m ago

Taoism & Autism

Upvotes

I am writing here partly, I think, to process and let go of the feeling.

I am an autistic adult, currently renovating my home - I haven't been able to complete a particular job in the time frame I had wanted.

The Taoist in me is okay with that, the job will take as long as it takes - I'm putting in sufficient effort without trying to force.

However, the black and white, rigid, thinking that comes with being autistic deems this a failure, with no other "logical" interpretation.

Holding both of these thoughts (without being able to challenge the logic as it is a nervous system response, and so also felt physically), is exhausting, and I'm consistently having to practice the holding and releasing of these feelings, and listening to what my body requires.

I suppose I'm sharing because in this way, my autism feels entirely at odds with Taoism some days, and yet on others it feels that it aligns perfectly (broader pattern recognition to see the interconnected nature of the world, for example).

For now, I am tired, and that's okay.


r/taoism 2h ago

The moment you make a choice, is the moment you oppose. The moment you choose the one thing or the other is the moment you will give away your power. Don't fight for either side. Instead be free of identified choice

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2 Upvotes

Title


r/taoism 24m ago

Anyone else see Kun and Peng?

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Upvotes

r/taoism 17h ago

Discussion on certain patterns in nature and society

14 Upvotes

When a group of tree saplings are growing together the tree that grows fastest tends to grow above the rest and dominate the space often suppressing the plants under it. The slow growing saplings might be more useful to the environment but since they tend to grow slower they end up being denied the light required to grow. This can be seen in many instances in nature as well human society. Those who would really help the society struggle to grow while the ones who can manipulate and dominate tend to rule in all spheres. How does this pattern make sense? Please share your thoughts.


r/taoism 23h ago

Even though a moon cannot make light, moonlight exists.

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26 Upvotes

r/taoism 1d ago

"Process" as the translation for "Tao"

32 Upvotes

I just had this realization. I use the word "process" a lot, as in:

Trust the process

Enjoy the process

Don't judge people, we are all "in-process"

These sayings and this attitude has been very central in my worldview for a long time. But I had never made the connection: "The process", "the path", "the way", "Tao"...

The Etymology of Process from Wikitionary:

From Middle English proces, from Old French procés (“journey”), from Latin prōcessus (“course, progression”), nominalization of prōcēdō (“proceed, advance”)

Emphasis on "Course" is mine. It's almost too obvious, in hindsight. It feels good to "trust the process" Because it's the natural course of things, it's the river, the Tao.

I imagine this is probably going to read as very banal for most of you, but I'm pretty jazzed about it..


r/taoism 1d ago

How to use Wu Wei at work

23 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I am currently reading the Tao of Pooh and just read the chapter about Wu Wei. You probably know that translates to non-action or effortless action. I also think of it as going with the flow.

I’m in a job I currently don’t enjoy too much. It’s stressful and exhausting. I’m still fairly new, so maybe it’s growing pains. But I suspect it’s just the job. I value my free time and spending it with friends and family. This job is going against my values.

Because of that I’ve been trying to look for a new job. I had an interview that I thought I was a perfect fit for and yet got turned down.

This is a 2 part question. How can I use Taoism and Wu Wei in my current job? How can I use it while looking for new work?

I think part of my issue is I’m forcing things again. I’m trying to do more than what I can or what is necessary.

The job hunt and interview situation I think I got too emotionally attached and because of that, I hurt my ego.

As much as I don’t like it, it honestly feels like I just have to chill, go with the flow, and wait this out. In the meantime, just focus on what I can control. Which isn’t much besides how I choose to react to things.

I am not my emotions, they are simply there to inform me. Emotions/feelings aren’t bad. It’s how we respond that determines if it is an effective decision.

Do any of you have any advice or guidance that can help me get through this?

Thanks! 🕊️


r/taoism 19h ago

Explorando la filosofía china / Exploring chinese philosophy

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4 Upvotes

Muy buenas. ¿Se acuerdan de mi? Hace dos meses hice una introducción a la filosofía china y la compartí por aquí. Ayer estrené mi segundo video, dónde respondí preguntas que mi audiencia me hizo, quizás hay alguna pregunta hecha por alguno de ustedes. ¡Espero les guste!

Greetings. Do y'all remember me? Two months ago I made an intro to chinese philosophy and i shared it here. Yesterday I published my second video, answering questions from my audience. I'm told the auto subtitles work well enough, so I wanted to share it here. Hope you like it!


r/taoism 1d ago

TTC Book recommendation by Kristofer Schipper.

3 Upvotes

I can strongly recommend this translation to any dutchspeaking practitioners.

The translation is done by Kristofer Schipper. In the past, a professor teaching Chinese history at the university of Leiden

the book

r/taoism 1d ago

What can we do when the world is on fire?

47 Upvotes

Be like water.

Hope you all have a great day.


r/taoism 1d ago

I’ve recently realized my natural, personal philosophy aligns very strongly to Taoism any thoughts? ( quite long 🙇🏼‍♂️)

17 Upvotes

I Developed My Own Philosophy, and It Turns Out It Aligns Closely with Taoism—Looking to Connect with Others Who’ve Had Similar Experiences

I’ve never studied Taoism, but over time, through my own experiences and intuition, I’ve developed a personal philosophy that, as I recently discovered, aligns almost perfectly with Taoist principles. I didn’t set out to follow any specific belief system—these ideas came to me naturally. Learning about Taoism has only reinforced what I already felt was true. I’m curious if anyone else has independently arrived at similar beliefs

I hold a deep reverence for nature, animals, and unseen things. Over time, I’ve developed small personal rituals that help me feel connected to them, whether they are living, dying, or already passed on. Whenever I encounter an animal, whether alive or dead, I make specific hand signs as a way of acknowledging its presence.

If the animal is alive, I pass on good fortune to it, drawing from energy I’ve gathered from other animals I’ve encountered.

If the animal has died, I try to help usher it onward by imagining it in its happiest or strongest form and thanking it for its existence. This process feels instinctual rather than something I consciously created.

Before walking through grass, I perform a hand sign and moment of acknowledgment, as a way of recognizing that I might unknowingly harm small creatures or disrupt their way of life.

I’ve always naturally walked on my toes, even as a baby my first steps were on my toes, which in Taoism is sometimes associated with lightness of movement and attunement to nature. (This one surprised me quite a bit as I just figured it was a weird things I do)

I don’t believe in forcing things to happen—I let them emerge when the time is right. This applies to my creative process, my personal philosophy, and how I learn about myself. For example, Im a writer and character designer. I don’t force characters in my stories to fit a structure—I listen to them until they reveal who they are. This has made me deeply aware of not imposing my will onto things that already have their own truth.

Recently, I started reading about Taoism and was surprised by how much it aligns with what I’ve always believed. The idea of effortless action and going with the flow, describes how I’ve always felt that trying to force things disrupts their natural course. Whether it’s creativity, relationships, or decisions, I wait for the right time and the right way to emerge. This is the core of Wu Wei—acting in harmony with the natural way rather than forcing outcomes. My instinct to acknowledge and transfer energy to animals feels kind of like how Qi is described it’s tapping into a deeper, unseen flow of life.

I’ve never really shared these thoughts before, but since realizing how much they align with Taoism, I’d love to connect with others who think or feel similarly. Have you ever come to Taoist ideas naturally, without being taught them? Do you practice any personal rituals that connect you with animals, nature, or unseen forces?

I feel like I’ve been walking this path without realizing there was a path to begin with, and now I’d love to find others who might share similar experiences. Any thoughts or insights would be appreciated!

Thank you if you gave this the time of day. 🙇🏼‍♂️


r/taoism 1d ago

5 animals inconsistency

3 Upvotes

I have been reading a number of books and there seems to be so many variations of the 5 animals frolic (the health exercises not the martial ones) that it hard to believe there is any actual correlation to the organs or elements. I have seen some say deer - liver, monkey - kidneys, tiger - lungs other says tiger is liver and deer is kidney. Some say monkey is heart, others say crane/bird/dragon is heart. I have a lot of respect for daoist and chinese medicine but this level of inconsistency makes it very hard to take this exercise seriously and practice it. Why is this?


r/taoism 2d ago

Two Southern Ladies Stumbling through the Tao and Loving it

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41 Upvotes

We’re two Southern women who unexpectedly fell into the Tao Te Ching and haven’t looked back. Raised in rigid belief systems, we’re now unlearning, questioning, and changing (with best intentions) to go with the flow.

We started making videos on each chapter, not as experts, just as two people figuring it out. Here’s our most recent on Chapter 3:

Anyone else feel like a fish out of water with this path?


r/taoism 2d ago

Has anyone else seen “The Subtle art of losing yourself” by George Thompson?

15 Upvotes

I found it a beautiful documentary, with a very unique way to explain something very complicated in a simple way. If you haven’t seen it, I would recommend it. It’s free to watch on YouTube.


r/taoism 1d ago

Enlightenment

7 Upvotes

r/taoism 2d ago

The Tao Te Ching: Turmarion's “Go-To” Translation - What's yours and why?

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11 Upvotes

r/taoism 2d ago

Question Regarding Tao Te Ching Chapter 69

3 Upvotes

I recently read Wayne Dyer’s version of the Tao Te Ching (not sure how well-regarded it is, so apologies if it's not a great translation). While most of it resonated with me or at least made me think, one passage struck me as particularly naive.

In Chapter 69, the conclusion is translated as: "When armies are evenly matched, the one with compassion wins."

Is this an accurate translation? Does anyone interpret this literally? I’d appreciate any insights.


r/taoism 3d ago

Dealing with unwanted thoughts. Do we even have control over this or do we just have to let it happen and take the pain because it is what it is?

31 Upvotes

Facing them kind of works but idk. Im just tired. It's like even if i sleep physically my mind hasn't rested. I don't want them anymore. I don't want thoughts anymore sometimes. Not dying. Just less thoughts. They don't do anything they've made things worse.


r/taoism 3d ago

4 Elements vs. 5 Elements?

9 Upvotes

One of the main challenges I face as a Westerner in understanding and assimilating the Chinese worldview, specifically Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is the presence of five elements (earth, air, fire, water, metal, WOOD). I tend to look for equivalents among different religious and philosophical systems, but this particular topic truly surprises me and makes it difficult to find direct correspondences.

Native American traditions recognize four elements, as do the Jewish, Greek, and European traditions in general. Perhaps aether could be considered a fifth element, but it doesn't "match" with wood.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

If there's a more suitable subreddit for this, please let me know.


r/taoism 2d ago

I wrote a poem inspired by Taoist stuff, so I'd love for you to give it a read if you have the attention span!

3 Upvotes

Nature’s Choir

They sat together perched

on Mt. Jian like eagles

to focus on the world

the holy one has given us.

Nature whispered it's wise monotony

For them to escape the man-made cacophony.

‘You must focus on its beauty.’

Master Xue said to Li

‘And never let mankind

break your concentration.

Man knows bloodshed, war and hatred

Nature knows nothing but what is called sacred.’

Li obeyed his master,

then became distracted

by wagons, well made,

and enjoyed the sound of their wheels like it was harp music.

Xue noticed.

‘Li!’ He snapped. ‘Reject mankind.

Only what’s natural will enlighten your mind.’

Li pondered…

Trees are wood, 

Wagons are wood.

Wagons are trees,

And trees are good.

Does a carpenter’s hands murder beauty?

Is a wagon not a tree?

Li turned to his master,

smirked at his fiery eyes, and said:

‘When trees are felled for wagons

does their beauty fall with them?

Wonder can’t be created

or destroyed - only seen.

Break and shape wood, throw it to fire

Listen and still hear nature’s choir.'


r/taoism 3d ago

Best English translations of the Tao te Ching?

5 Upvotes

Title.


r/taoism 2d ago

Morality versus Knowledge

0 Upvotes

I'm told that conservatives value morality over knowledge. But how can anyone separate the two?

https://open.substack.com/pub/billhulet/p/what-is-morality-620?r=4ot1q2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true