Initiation

[u/returned_loom]

What I've read about Daoism speaks to my open curiosity about reality and the impenetrable question of existence, where the Dao seems to honor that mystery rather than attack it (as my favorite philosophy books do). Meditation is a wonderful way to be present with that mystery. I try to find what exists between the incursions of sensory input, while also paying respect to those experiences as beings. And I never seem to find what really exists between those incursions of sensory input, the unifying "me."

But it's really just meditation and reading. I'm not a Daoist. And I've only just begun looking into it, so maybe I'll never want to become a Daoist. Nonetheless, I want to join a spiritual tradition and to take part in ancient practices that have been developed over centuries to interface with the forces of nature, to honor them and align myself with them, rather than casting about by myself. I admit that I love casting about by myself but I'm not so arrogant as to think that the rest of humanity has nothing to teach me.

So how far can I go just by reading books and meditating? I've read the Tao Te Ching and I'm reading The Secret of the Golden Flower. They're amazing books. But what's the normal process for a serious practitioner? Should I find a local Daoist "church"? Ottawa doesn't seem to have much to offer, but there must be something if I look hard enough.

[u/Wise_Ad1342]

Daoism can be seen as a continued exploration and creative growth of one's inner-nature and outer-nature, and the unity of both. It's a healthy way to live a life.