i guess my handle here gives folks a clue lol. yes, a non-religious taoist.
saved me from the lies & bs in religion, especially christianity which i left behind me.

i guess it was a pretty natural progression once i really started to pay attention to myself in a better way. learning & teaching taijiquan has helped me in a ton of ways too of course.

Hello everyone! I too like Taoism. I've trained Pa Kua Chang and use the principles of the I ching and 5 Element Theory. I really enjoy reading "The Journey to the West". The translation by Anthony C Yu is the one I've read numerous times. I also study Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbology and Philosophy.

I go in phases. There are many times I just forget all that stuff and smile like everyone else does. :)

I'd love to meet local people that have similar interests, men and women. There is something to learn from everyone I meet and with the Dao in common I'm sure we'll have an interesting dialog!

Ha,ha,ha.
Tx

"live the moment do not be superior to reality,embrace it!!"
Theresa

Hello
I don't know if this will go or be received by you
I am very new to this
I have a known for me
When your mind is empty only your truth remains

HEY
Cool
we need not change or endeavour as the light created your self
all that is required is stillness
when your mind is empty only your truth remains

true Tao is not religion
it is practise
be who you truly are from your heart
be the best you can for the others

hey hope your doing well
the light is within you
this is tao and needs no practice
the practise is to find it within

there is no reality
only Zen
truth from within
thinking leads us astray

OM SHANTIH SHANTIH SHANTIH OM TAT SAT OM

Without Taoism, there would be no Buddhism. Without Buddhism, there would be no Taoism. They are sides of the same coin. The Tao, being one, divides the universe into the duality of yin and yang, which creates the 10.000 things. One cannot exist without the other. Everything in the universe is connected and is nurtured by the Tao. Remove a flower from a tree, and the flower soon dies. Remove the tree from the earth, and the tree dies. Remove the earth, and the sun dies. Remove the sun, and the solar system dies. Remove the solar system, and the galaxy dies. Remove the galaxy, and the universe dies.

The OP mentioned being stuck in a puddle, never to see the stream and join the ocean. Nothing could be farther than the truth. Following the way of the 5 elements, water which is yin in mature, is heated by the sun (fire) Which is yang, breaking the bonds of the water to produce steam, the dragon's breath, then cooled in the upper atmosphere to become water again, falling as rain to make its way to the stream, and eventually the ocean. This is the virtue of water following the tao.

Cultivate the fire within which is associated with the heart, compassion, love. generosity and openness, and you will be transformed into the dragon's breath and find your way to the ocean.

What i like about Buddhism/Taoism is that its more a way of life, describing a non-intrusive, non-missioning attitude. With some mutual respect and self-control we can/could easily? live in harmony. 我们可以

Ebony.. Ivory, livin in perfect harmony...

I could not AGREE more with PeterHonda, he has hit the nail on the head. Taoism is a life style that incorporates the teachings of the TAO. Live in Harmony

interesting to speak of water and a puddle as if there is "separation"...we are in the ocean and yet thirsty...