"Once upon a time, I, Zhuang Zhou, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was Zhou. Soon I awakened, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man." - #Zhuangzi, Ch 2 tr Burton Watson

Great straightness seems twisted. Great intelligence seems stupid. Great eloquence seems awkward.
— Gia-Fu Feng, #daodejing, Verse 45

Hell money: in Taoist Chinese culture, we burn paper money for our ancestors to use in hell

(Yes we believe everybody goes to hell)

Heaven and hell are sort of the same (doesn’t have the Christian interpretation)

I’m not up to date on dates but I think Qing Ming festival is around the corner

This made me think of #ZhuangZhou and you @nathanlovestrees

If you haven't seen Jesse Welles yet, buckle up and get ready for a ride!
https://youtube.com/shorts/f4kd3fiz3gc?si=5rZcogl8WO82HOsB

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.

— Stephen Mitchell, Tao Te Ching, Verse 9

#daodejing #taoteching #Daoism #Daoist #Taoism #taoist zi #LaoTzu

I was a little nervous about my trans rocks post, but a friend named @cobalt liked it, which is too awesome not to share!

Alternate title: Taoist Mineralogy

https://universeodon.com/@SrRochardBunson/112870329497767866

I have a #BookRecs for y’all! If you’re fascinated by plants, go buy or borrow The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger. The audio is excellent! It’s new, it’s one of those books where a science writer fell into a deep, deep rabbithole and came back with all the research, and it’s about plant consciousness.
Nobody is saying plants have theory of mind, but plants clearly differentiate themselves from their environment and they act to shape themselves based on their surroundings. It goes SO much deeper than this! It’s so good! It’s the most profound book I’ve read in years.
#Taoist friends, this book shows a lot of science that fits perfectly with the way we view the world. I think if you’re a Taoist you’ll find it deeply moving and hopeful.
Five stars. Like share subscribe. A+ writer, would buy more.

At Hungry Ghost Festival, you’re supposed to burn ‘hell money’ for your ancestors so they can spend it in hell. Someone created a website for those of us who don’t want to / can’t start real fires

https://burnincenseonline.com/

Hey! This is my #introduction post.

I'm a comic book writer in the #UK, making Cyberpunk and Space Opera #comics with my wife - illustrator, Jennie Gyllblad. (And our faithful #dog, who QAs every page via sniffing.)

I'm interested in #scifi and #fantasy (obviously), but I'm also into #videogames, #basketball, #books, and #wrestling.

I'm also a #vegan #taoist but try not to hold that against me...

It's fairly surprising how often I speak to other #readers of #Taoist texts who don't know that the Tao Te Ching was written for rulers. So, I wanted to share some background information on it and why it was created. I hope you like it!

A Masterpiece of Propaganda or Wisdom of the Ages?
The Tao Te Ching's Original Purpose

https://thetaoist.online/a-masterpiece-of-propaganda-or-wisdom-of-the-ages-ecf7168a4d54

#writing #writer @writing #philosophy #china @philosophy

#introduction

My name is Patrick Stewart; yes, this is my real name. I'm a father, husband, writer, philosopher, and publisher.

I run a publication called The Taoist Online, which you can find here:

https://thetaoist.online

You can read two articles a month for free (not my rules), and if you want full access, you can pay $5 a month below:

https://medium.com/@thetaoistonline/membership

I talk a lot about #taoism, #philosophy, my #kids and #wife, and I post daily #sunrise pictures, so follow along!

I hope to get to know you all more and share my life with you.

#Greetings! It's time for a...

NEW THOUGHT ESSAY - What Happens When We Die by Patrick Stewart

I've lost two family members in the last few weeks so death has been on my mind recently. Here, I write from my #Taoist background on what I believe creation, our lives, and our deaths mean and explain what happens when our life ends.

https://www.patrickstewart.net/l/what-happens-when-we-die/

PLS BOOST

If you'd like to support my work, or my mastodon instance, please make a donation below.

https://linktr.ee/patrickstewart

New server, new #introduction

Hi!

I work in #devops by day, and love working with Linux, postgreSQL and open things like that. I used to live in #Portland Oregon, but have relocated to the #detroit #michigan area.

I’m into #mushrooms #mtg (the card game not the congressperson) #mosstodon #lichensubscribe #dogs #cats and other #critters.

I like collecting #shinyrocks and am in the #buddhist and/or #taoist and/or #esoteric way

Has anyone ever done a #comics or #GraphicNovel of #Taoist sage superheroes?

Leaning more into the #Philosophy than #MartialArts ?

#introduction
I'm starting to get the hang of this and love it! It feels like early internet. BBS & chat rooms. No ads or algorithms.

I don't love labels, so I keep my profile sparse. (He/him cis het) #ally #Taoist Christian Mystic Contempletative #Progressive #VoteBlue until democracy is safe. Very pro-separation of church and state.
#Exvangelical
Your freedom of opinion does not protect you from the consequences of your opinion.

#WhiteChristianNationalism is not #ActualChristianity

A woman originally from USA & now I live in Europe. Unapologetic #Feminist (2nd wave, #Radical, #Eco, #Intersectional), #Demisexual, #Vegan, #Extreme #Leftist/ #Progressive/ #AntiCapitalist, #Apatheist/ #Taoist, #Autistic, #CPTSD, #BabyBoomer (not my fault), #Transexual #Woman w passing privilege married to a cis man.

Avid Reader both #NonFiction & #Fiction. Original Star Trek Fan #TOS . #TTRP.

I mute anyone who posts meat or sex w/o CW