[Gem]

Originally Posted by Prokopton

Yes, but you don't have Chinese etymology lessons during that silence unless I'm much mistaken. No doubt you can make room for the term 'Tao' in your philosophy on these terms, but 'Tao' in Chinese actually means 'way' or 'path', and I think they decided to name the tradition that way for a reason... You have an excellent understanding of your own path, of course, but what you are talking about is not what the Taoists tend to mean by the word 'Tao', which is really the question here.

I only kniow that a life path isn't a way to anywhere particular ans such notions as all paths lead to thesame place is some invented sentiment more that factual, so it isn't really much to do with weather this experience of that experience being spiritual or material. These are considered to be passing temporance in equal measure.

In my case it is not a question of 'comfort' (no spiritual path is that simply, if real -- and you know it well I would imagine, so why bring it up?) but of a transformative alchemical practice. It works well alongside other practices too...

Nor is the ch'i kung and deep meditation I practice 'ritual', exactly, unless you think the t'ai chi you practice is too. Pejorative use of 'ritual' (usually intended to imply mindless dogma for the unfree) makes no account of how the patterns of Nature and Tao can be traced in practices of many kinds...

The idea that 'truth is a pathless land' (which Krishnamurti intended to dissolve dogma I think) could too easily be stretched to mean there is no difference at all between one path and another, since all must lead to the same place in roughly the same way, aka 'hard perennialism' -- a dogma in its own right and one that actually contradicts the original Krishnamurti idea, it seems to me. After all, Taoist sorcery and Taoist inner alchemy are not the same thing. Although they have some things in common of course...

The practice is like practicing the piano, so routine and dilligence is the best approach, but it isn't important to practice the piano tai chi or mediation, it's just a love of it that evokes some passion passion for it, or perhaps for healing where one has a few issues.

Yes, that's exactly what it is... I agree with you 100%. That's a good definition of 'Tao' in a nutshell.

The Taoist Inner Alchemy practices were born of precisely that deep level of observation. If you would care to, you could learn more.

Mind you there are very interesting Taoist ritual/deity practices too. Michael Saso has written about some interesting experiences. And they equally are born of such observation. Taoism does not really have a concept of heresy.

The Tao means the way, so I guess anyone can make what they want of it.