I just finished reading a book given to me by a friend discussing Taoism. Never having really delved into the philosophy (can I call it that?) of Taoism, I was never quite sure of it's path. I must say I am highly intrigued by it's messaging and concepts of participating in life, however it is of course a bit difficult to relay all this in words, and keeping it particularly transparent due to my new-ness to it all.

First, I find many of the concepts very obvious and simple, though the method in which it is shown is so simple it is amazingly adaptive to any life. Re-iterating things that you may know helps shift it to the foreground in your mind, and keeps it relevant to more activities in your life. While so many things are apparently obvious, they are too easily pushed to the back of the mind and disregarded causing many of the hiccups and hesitations that Taoism seems to avoid.

Second, I am trying to associate its beliefs with current ones of my own. And in doing so I find Taoism is extremely post modern. One grows up within a cutural system, now mainly Western, of aims, rules, goals, destinations, and standards. This system is applied across the board from how we dress, to who we interact with, to how we speak, covering all aspects of life. Looking at this system, it is clear that it is extrememly flawed, contrary, and confusing. Learning how to look at this system from the outside, for what it is, is essentially the aim and allows us to make clarify ourselves within it. Essentially, I would say this is Post-Modernity at work. Being able to expose the inner workings of the system we live in as to operate ourselves as ourselves and not be driven by what is dictated to us. I find this to be the same within Taoism.

Taoism is a bit more specific as to how one learns to exist in the spaces of the system, shifting around its terms and conditions, but essentially aiming for the same goal. Both seem to rely on a sense of Inner Nature that is the ideal self of thought and action. That Inner Nature which is the order of things without these systems imposed on them.

In life in general usually the form of least resistance garnishes the largest outcome. Inspiration is found in the most abstract and where you would expect to find it. Labor and mental intensive actions usually lead to results that are lacking. Taking the time to do nothing can result in the greatest solutions. In work, and life in general, all this is something to take into consideration. The effort is rarely worth it. Take a break, go for a walk. It will all be there when you get back.

How you walk that path is ultimately up to you, as long as you acknowledge the system for what it is. That system is not yours, and often one does not seem to benefit from it. I do not know what path I am currently on, or where my desitination is, but I guess that is entirely the point. I am simply flowing along and accepting what is, though not forgetting what isn't.