After I wrote my post yesterday I realised I needed to write about how Taoism can repel people. I honestly feel like my understanding of Taoism has in some ways driven a lot of people away. I am not blaming anyone for that, it is just something I have noticed as I understood concepts that seem bizarre yet make perfect sense.

The penguin translation of ‘The Dream of the Stone’ (aka dream of the red mansion) portrays Taoist monks as lice ridden, crazed laughing madmen who seem to turn up out of thin air. The main character eventually disappears with one of these monks to who knows where? 

The epic ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ has a more rounded view with Taoist monks being the hidden propagators of practical matters (war, politics, strategy, natural phenomena) and the divine. So you go from the lofty to the lowest point from these two eastern classics.

In my own experience of Taoism I realised after looking at the theory that I wasn’t built to really master it, but from what I could understand I was grateful. In a lot of ways you have to accept being at the bottom rung, in a way going backwards to a natural state. So that could be the reason Taoism can be easily ridiculed and when you lower yourself, or humble down people can kick sand.

At the same time the practical measures of Taoist practice ready you for any fallout. You are always conditioning yourself to deal with the real world, you will show generosity and humility and never disobey the rules of engagement. Most importantly your focus is yourself and your condition. You can’t blame anybody but yourself if you are unable to accept reality and the complexities of human/jungle law.

Slander, violence, peace, war or any outcome is part of the human condition. Understanding this reality and using practical measures to master yourself to me is the most effective tool to find self mastery. I have not mastered myself fully and sometimes I wonder if some change of situation would corrupt me. Yet inside I feel peaceful and content.

Is this because of my material situation? Is it something I understand? Is something wrong with me? Am I just deluded? Am I enlightened? Am I just in a holding pattern avoiding the true prize? Have I closed myself off from reality? To be honest I don’t actually care either way. I am not asking anything from anyone and most of the time I expect the worst from people.

Whatever my situation or understanding I am willing to share it on different platforms or in person. I am not in any way saying I am right or have all of the answers but these are thoughts I have gleaned along the way. At the end of the day I am happy for criticism because some people just ignore the stuff I write. Yet like my physical training, the writing is an attempt to improve my lot and deal with the mess that is reality and free myself from that burden.