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people occasionally ask me my religious/philisophical belief system/practises. and many are familiar with buddhism, but not so with taoism. others find the two to be very similar. the two are very close, but very different in 3 very important aspects. these are sex and drugs, and really also rock n roll! (i giggle still at this one!)
how so? what do i mean?
well, first the sex. Buddhism in many ways has rules and strictures regarding this. those in monasteries must abstain and so forth. Taoism is pro-sex. Sexual activity is encouraged and welcomed! this is more tibetan buddhism than any other, but then zen can be seen as another thing altogether- zen is in fact really taoism. how about the drugs? well, many have heard tales of the taoist alchemist and their various potions. buddhism in general, has a tendency to dismiss spiritual insight, growth, enlightenment and any experience that occurs after imbibing any sort of external substance. Taoism is all about these experiences! what means one takes to achieve growth is not important- the insight is what is important! if there is no actual harm done to others, what does it matter? which leads to the rock n roll.... taoism to me is all about LIVING and having FUN. why do i say this? well, for starters the taoists have always been known for living a lonnnng time. why? because life is too darn fun! and... here is my very personal take on the matter....we do not know what the hell is going on. we are here now, and here have the capability of pondering the mystery, experiencing the mystery, and maybe even coming to understand the mystery. but just living it is my favourite. we do not know what happens and if we can do this when we are dead, so it makes perfect sense then to take steps necessary to prolong life. after all, it is so darn fun, we love it so much, why not keep it as long as we can? Taoism is understands the import of balance. and abstenace from sex and drugs and livin it up has no balance. likewise constant indulgence is also out of balance. if one leans to far to either extreme, that extreme will actually become the opposite one. there need not be a constant mental effort to achieve and maintain balance, this in itself is imbalance as it is excessive mental energy, and it removes one from the full free experience of life. in fact, the bst way to achieve balance is to simply let things be. everything will balance itself out on its own, it does not require our thoughts, concerns, or efforts. funny enough, Siddartha Sakyamuni Buddha was quite clear about taking the middle path- ascetism was not the way. this was one of the aspects of his enlightenment, this realisiation. Siddartha was really very much a taoist. i do not mean to imply that buddhism is about ascetism, but well, you will not find any taoist abstaining for any length of time from sex, drugs, alcohol and parties, eating one meal of rice a day, and waking up at 5 am on a mat on the floor!
well, you might, but only if we felt like it, or simply found ourselves doing it, really..... but never because we thought it is going to get us somewhere. where could we go other than right here?
also in the area of rock n roll- buddhism today as far as i can see is more into social conventions- you might eat meat if that is what you are served somewhere even if you are normally vegan, you adapt to and follow the social norm of those you are around- very tuned into, aware of, and acknowledging of social convention. Taoism bears its ass to social convention! we go with the flow of the natural rhythms, our own tides, not that of those around us! i have long said that you can spot the taoist at a wedding because they will be wearing sandles with their tuxedo and will have brought a bottle of scotch as a wedding gift- an open bottle of scotch. incidentally, spotting the buddhist would be very difficult- they would blend right in. so would the taoist, if that is how they felt at that moment.
it is more likely that one will find a taoist covered with tattoos then a buddhist.
the real "difference" comes down to this simple fact: taosim, before the advent of buddhism as a major religion spread by politicans across the land, where it really came into being as those who opposed this, never existed at all except in practise. tho that does not quite state it correctly, as nobody 'practised' anything. nobody knew they were or called themselves "a taoist." it was simply that which it is named for- it was THE WAY. nothin but. it is just what we did, it is what we do.. it is simply what happens.
taoism is the ism that isn't.
*
the follower of tao can be found alone high on a hilltop listening to the wind
or dancin her ass off locked in the drum n bass sweatbucket wherehouse
the follower of tao can be found eating only fruit to purify his being
and downing rum and cider at a barbecue
there are no thoughts or ideas about if we are pure, or right, or proper, or making sense to others.
who really cares and what does it matter?
the river of existence changes its course often, if flows thru some very interesting places!
why pass them by without a visit?
so i put my paddle back in my boat,
and let the current take me where it will!