Over the past year I have been following a lot of Eastern philosophy. Like all philosophy I find a bit of truth, and I thought I like Buddhism, but it is so mired in myth that is distracts from the message. Taoism, though it does have some organized following, seems to propose the crazy idea that all is subjective. What's even better is that it is a philosophical standpoint, and not a religion.
For so long I have been agnostic, and the Tao does not change this, but it is nice to belong to a following even if it is quite a small niche in my country. I have read a lot of the Tao Te Ching and decided to buy a hard copy to carry around with me. I do feel enlightened, but enlightenment is not what I expected of it. The closer I have come to feeling this way the more I realize it is not to be disconnected and 'above' the world, but deeply rooted in it - accepting of human nature and the natural order of things. Relishing in both chaos and order.
My favorite chapter from the Tao Te Ching:
Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 80
A small country has fewer people.
Though there are machines that can work ten to a hundred times faster
than man, they are not needed.
The people take death seriously and do not travel far.
Though they have boats and carriages, no on uses them.
Though they have armor and weapons, no one displays them.
Men return to the knotting of rope in place of writing.
Their food is plain and good, their clothes fine but simple,
their homes secure;
They are happy in their ways.
Though they live within sight of their neighbors,
And crowing cocks and barking dogs are heard across the way,
Yet they leave each other in peace while they grow old and die.
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[–] middle_path [S] 1 point 5 points 6 points (+6|-1) ago
I could say "right back at ya", but you seem like a deeply paranoid and aggressive person. I post about plants and the like becae I enjoy it. I mostly do it in the mornings before I go to my actual job.
I know you feel as though you are on some more crusade, but I implore you to meditate on this and decide who your enemies really are.
Best of luck, friend.
[–] [deleted] 3 points -1 points 2 points (+2|-3) ago
[–] Verum 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago (edited ago)
I don't think you quite grasp what being paranoid entails. Just because you say you laugh at it and don't experience it negatively doesn't make you any less paranoid. You sound deeply paranoid and I should know because I too was deeply paranoid a few years ago. It was a horrible and frightening experience for me so I am pleased you are at least experiencing it positively by the sounds of it.
I had zero trust for anybody and in my mind everybody was conspiring something, everything in my mind had an ulterior motive, even something that most would consider harmless.
I couldn't trust anything I was reading or watching and I went down little rabbit holes trying to theorise the motive behind whatever content I was currently consuming. Unbeknownst to me I was coming up with delusional conclusions but ultimately felt right in my state of paranoia. Like how you suspect that every poster is trying to push a narrative or convert readers into their "cults". Perhaps middle_path just wished to connect with people to discuss Taoism and perhaps discover others who follow it?
I am not advocating the blind acceptance of every piece of material you consume, rather I believe having a good dose of skepticism is healthy and everything should be taken with a grain of salt. However when you see it as everything against yourself you lose sight of those who could potentially be on your side simply because you paint everyone with the same brush.
I hope you are able to find your way and I welcome any negative remarks you wish to make, I understand they are a coping mechanism to offset the fear.
[–] middle_path [S] 1 point 3 points 4 points (+4|-1) ago
Cool, man. Live your life.