becoming a "taoist"
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Begin reading the Tao Te Ching. First explore a few versions of the Tao Te Ching and find one that appeals to you. I've included one version on this website, but here is a link to many different English versions available on the web. Be forewarned that the Tao Te Ching is difficult to understand. Remember the Tao is a very esoteric thing; it is not easily expressed in words, and any attempt to convey it in words is going to be difficult to grasp. It was also originally written in one version of ancient Chinese, and often there is no direct English translation for the concepts Lao Tzu writes about. This is why each version of the Tao Te Ching is a little bit different from every other. Still, reading the Tao Te Ching is the purest way to learn about Taoism, and it is an important step for anyone wanting to live a Taoist life. Although you can read about the Tao Te Ching from many sources, the Tao Te Ching itself seems to convey its ideas with a uniquely powerful spirit. To me, that spirit is the Tao, so at least attempting to read the Tao Te Ching on a regular basis is essential to following Taoism. If you want a more practical and Americanized approach to Taoism, I highly recommend getting Wayne Dyer's Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life where he gives ideas about incorporating each verse of the Tao Te Ching into your life.
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Start looking at your life through the lens of Taoist principles. It's one thing to read about Taoism; it's quite another to start viewing your life and the decisions you face each day in terms of Taoist ideas. Nothing has allowed Taoism to penetrate my life more deeply than looking at the situations in my life and contemplating how I could better follow Taoist principles in those situations. For example, if I am struggling with a relationship, I might ask myself: How would being more humble influence the situation? More patient? What are the core issues in the situation, and am I keeping things simple enough? What have I not fully accepted about the situation? What is yang in the situation? What is yin? This is how you really get to understand what living a Taoist life looks like and more importantly how you get to reap the peace and authenticity that comes from living a Taoist life. I have or will write additional questions such as these on the key principles pages. It might be helpful to also keep track of these questions and your answers in a journal for later reference and also just to track your growth. This is definitely my idea; since words are not highly regarded in Taoism, writing down anything might seem useless to some. But for me, being able to read about any past insights has helped me incorporate Taoism into my life on a deeper level.
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Set aside at least 10 minutes per day for meditation. Meditations brings us into the present moment and helps us notice the life that is happening right here, right now. In meditation we can also remind ourselves that the Tao is perfect and beautiful and that as part of the Tao, each of us also is perfect and beautiful. You can learn more about the more formal Qigong meditation from the Qigong Meditation YouTube site, which involves both body and spirit. But you can also just do your own kind of meditation where you try not to let your mind wander or gently focus on a specific Tao topic or a particular challenge you are having in life. As you meditate, pay attention to the thoughts that come up. You might want to write those thoughts down so you can consider them later. This is the gentle way we can begin to understand how to follow the Tao in our own specific lives. If you are wondering exactly how to meditate, check out this guide.
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Begin listening to or meditating on Taoist affirmations during meditation or at other times in the day. The concepts Lao Tzu shares are quite different from the concepts which formed most of our lives (e.g., our social conditioning), and it takes time and attention to begin viewing life from this new vantage point. Repeating the truths of the Tao over and over can help us get out of our socially conditioned habits of thinking and into thinking like the Tao.
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Become a member of r/taoism on Reddit. You will learn much from the posts of the experienced, knowledgeable and kind members of the board as well as the questions posted by others learning to follow the Tao. You can also search the 15+-year-old subreddit for info on many different Taoist topics.
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Start using the I Ching. The I Ching is a Chinese oracle of sorts. Many people past and present have looked to the I Ching to guide their daily lives. The I Ching introduces you to the concept of the higher self, which follows positive principles such as At the very least, the I Ching helps you look at your life through the lens of Taoist concepts, and you learn much as you "throw" the coins each day to be connected to one of the I Ching's hexagrams/teachings. Many people take it a step further and believe the I Ching is able to provide specific guidance to a person's life. Either way, the I Ching can help you adopt Taoism as a way of life. There are a number of printed and app versions of the I Ching, but we recommend Bryan Browne Walker's printed version and Paul O'Brien's Visionary I Ching available on the App Store.
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Get individual guidance through Return to Flow. Through emails, our guides can help you start aligning your life with the Tao and give you ideas about how to view current situations in your life from a Taoist perspective. Though we each must work out our own spiritual practice, having someone by your side to listen to you, hear you, and support and guide you can be extremely helpful, especially in this unnaturally disconnected world.
This is a good way to start. As you start following the Tao in your life, you will naturally be guided towards learning what will be most helpful to you and your life. As you study, keep in mind that most of the values of modern society aren't in line with the Tao. Following the Tao may require some major changes in your life, but those changes are taking you to a more peaceful, content existence. Your life will become like nature: always at peace despite the ebbs and flows of life, majestic, beautiful and completely at one with the Tao.
other frequently asked questions
What is the difference between philosophical and religious Taoism? Some might say there is no difference. Ohers say they embrace the same concepts, but religious Taoism includes ceremonies, breathing techniques, concern with immortality, etc. It should be noted that in the earliest Chinese language used when the first Taoist texts arose, there is no evidence of the words "philosophy" or "religion" at all. It should also be noted that there are many different "flavors" of Taoism just as there are an infinite number of ways to "live" Christianity, Buddhism, etc. The purpose of this site is to explore what the author sees as the key Taoist principles and how they might bring peace to a life in the 21st century. The author also believes that what is important is not understanding with perfect clarity the meaning of a line in any of the Taoist texts, but rather living what we see as the meaning to the best of our ability. And this approach is what the Tao Te Ching suggests anyway. The Tao Te Ching tells us to let our dust settle. It also over and over tells us that what matters is the essence, not the word.
What are the 10,000 things? Chapter 1 of the Tao Te Ching tells us that "The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The named is the mother of ten thousand things" (Feng-English). The 10,000 things refers to everything we can see, touch, smell, and hear in the world. This line tells us that everything in life is rooted in the Tao and has a place in the Tao. This reminds us of the spiritual root of all life but also reminds us that everything is one within the Tao. I am connected to everything and everyone I experience in life. This is the beginning of the concept of non-duality. It is also at the root of why we treat the good man and the bad man the same. It is why we have reverence for nature. It is why we look at things without judgment and rather accept them as right within the Tao. But by separating the Tao from the 10,000 things, we are reminded that everything has the formless running through it. As Sting said, "We are spirits in a material world." The same can be said of all 10,000 things. By recognizing the spiritual nature of all things, it is easier to not become attached to their physical manifestation. It also makes it easier to appreciate beauty even amidst imperfection.