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 3 points 4 points (+4|-1) ago
Would you honestly believe me? I can deny it, you can look at my submission history as well. Nothing I say fits the Reddit narrative yet you make huge assumptions about my character. No, I'm not a Reddit shill and I came here last July to get away from censor-happy Reddit.
I did not come here with an agenda, but recently I have increased my activity here to get people growing plants in a holistic and earth-friendly manner.
Not everyone is out to get you, but don't act so surprised when you get burned playing with fire.
[–] smokratez 4 points -4 points 0 points (+0|-4) ago (edited ago)
You are too calculated. Your post history is too constructed. Nothing you have done on voat is organic, except the pictures of the vegetables you posted. I will still believe you if you prove me wrong.
You have me willing to give you a chance. Then you post something like this.
[–] middle_path [S] 1 point 2 points 3 points (+3|-1) ago
Could you explain how that is even possible? You seem like your mind is made up. And how are my posts not organic? I have typed every one of them out.