Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!clyde.concordia.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!njin!princeton!phoenix!cs.qmw.ac.uk
From: markm@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Mark Magennis)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Beginning Taoism
Message-ID: <14674@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 19 Mar 90 14:37:55 GMT
References: <14547@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Sender: mukund@phoenix.Princeton.EDU
Lines: 52
Approved: mukund@phoenix.Princeton.EDU

>I'm just beginning in Taoism...many things appeal to me so far...
>


As Tom Simmonds says (article 12-ish, this bb) Zen is not a
philosophy or a religion, it is a way of life. It is a practice
based on certain attitudes. Taoism encompasses those attitudes.
Without the practice however, the attitudes are useless. It is
of course impossible to do anything at all which is not afected
by your attitudes, particularly those concerning the nature of
reality and of the self and the interrelationships amongst the
whole is-ness of it all. It is precisely these concerns which
are addressed by Taoist attitudes so just thinking about these
things, reading, talking etc. and letting it all sink in is
bound to change your own attitudes and thus the way you act in
your everyday life.

You can do more though. Ultimately you could take up the
institutionalised life of a Zen monastery but, more practically
(or rather more popularly) you can practice such things as
martial arts (notably Aikido, Tai Chi, Iaido or Kendo), Chinese
drawing and painting, flower arranging, Zen archery, the Zen
tea ceremony etc. (getting a bit esoteric). It would be
possible to practice anything in accordance with the Tao and of
course ultimately we would like to practice EVERYTHING in
accordance with the Tao. Probably best though to start off with
something which you can be taught by a respectable master.

Read 'Zen In The Art Of Archery' by a German fellow whose name
escapes me right now. It's a famous book so it shouldn't be at
all difficult to find. I think you'll also find it the best
introduction to Zen there is too. Not by explaining things in
detailbut by giving the esence, the feel. In fact this is a very
Zen way of going about teaching. Also read anything about the spiritual
side of martial arts if you are considering taking any up,
otherwise you might find you are practicing them as a sport, a
physical exercise, for self defense, or worst of all to fuel
your ego, that nasty beast which we're all trying to transcend.
A very good book on martial arts for beginners is 'Martial
Arts - the Spiritual dimension'. Again I don't have the details
to hand but I'll post them on later. It's an A4 size book. Or
do you have A4 in the States? Erm, foolscap, about 8inch by 12
inch.

So, get some practice in with your new found ideas and have a
good journey.
-- 
UUCP:      markm@qmc-cs.uucp                       | Computer Science Dept,
ARPA:      markm%cs.qmc.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk   | Queen Mary and
JANET:     markm@uk.ac.qmw.cs                      | Westfield College,
Voice:     +44 1 975 5243 (Direct Dial)            | Mile End Road,
Fax:       +44 1 980 6533                          | London E1 4NS