Taoism & the Art of Flow - The Philosophy of Lao Tzu
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- Опубліковано 14 вер 2020
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The gentle, but effective philosophy of Taoism/Daoism takes a unique approach to living and dealing with the world. In this video, we cover Taoism's origins, some of its key ideas, and why it might or might not be worth considering in our lives. (The founder, Lao Tzu, is often also known as Loazi or Lao Tze.)
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I can't believe I'm watching this for free.
@CTN xd
why everything needs to be paid? your air is free...
Yeah right
Don’t give them ideas
@jay The whole thing is inherently ironic, I'll give you that. But compare to watching most content on this platform, at least it makes you think
“If you are depressed you are living in the past if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
-Lao Tzu
But how do I stop? It was so much better back then. I just wanna go back
@@noex8148 therapy helped me a lot, medication too, with no judgement, being on meds is a temporary thing, not who you are. I had to overcome a lot of my own prejudices to get the help I always needed. I don't drink, smoke cigarettes or weed for 2 months now. Don't remember when I was like this in the last 12 or maybe more years. Don't give up!
@@noex8148 Meditation has been the thing that has kept me most present. I think it goes hand in hand with Taoism. I recommend checking it out and seeing if it helps you.
@@noex8148 Found an activity you can go into flow state. For me it's painting and drawing, for you it could be something else. Try to remember what made you feel peaceful you were a kid and do it. Stop thinking and do something.
Well shit I'm always anxious I hope I comprehend this fo the long run because I can't remember shit my memry span is short. Ty ty.
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” - Lao Tzu.
Exactly
"I am not what I think I am. I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am." - Charles Horton Cooley
NorCal_Faithful77 damn I am really glad I read this. Gonna remember it. Thanks.
@@aliviajeffreys4080 Ha ha thanks. I don't know if I actually believe any of these mumbo jumbo profound quotes but it seemed to fit the first comment.
@@norcal_faithful775 it makes sense
Philosophy drives me crazy. The more i know something the more i question everything. it's insane
I would consider this. Philosophy is useless without practice. All philosophies are in some way incomplete bc our human reasoning can reach out only so far. We are still evolving as people. Thus a good philosophy is one that works for you in practice and in thought. The same thing, the same philosophy does not work for everyone. Not just one or the other. If all you do is think you are not a philosopher.
maybe that is the whole point of good thinking in general. Not to recomfirming what u already know but to shine a new light
“What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean.”
― Isaac Newton
You should always question everthing, that's how we keep evolving.
Too much questioning, collecting knowledge.. is exactly too philosophical.
The words aren't what they mean.
The map is not the territory.
The finger pointing to the moon, is itself not the "point"... yeah. All that iconoclastic whatsit is sometimes useful in moments like this.
“Knowledge is power , the power of knowing you know nothing at all.”
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
― Lao Tzu
this guy is literally everywhere on yt
"He Hee"
- Michael Jackson
❤
This reminds me of Elgar's
Enigma Variations.
"When it comes, let it. When it goes, let it." - Lao Tzu
Nice!
The one that can relinquish control has all of the control
When you yourself give away control by admitting that you don't have control , you ironically assume a higher control over it.
@@VS-jl1zw that's the hardest part to realize.
@Abukar Haret you can't do it on command. Just accept that nothing can be done to control. For example you can study all you want but won't have control over what will be asked in exam. What you can do is accept this and study as per best of ypur abilities.
@Abukar Haret You can't, so chill.
@@gatsu7742 the concept of "chill" and "Taoism" differs here...
While "chill" gives you the idea to not care of anything around you and keep doing what you're doing or even not doing; "Taoism", I believe give you the insight to identify, know, understand, acknowledge, and accept everything around you because once in a while, you'll be affected or meet by time to each and everything around you... And when you'll "consider" and not control - is how you'll be able to immerse yourself in the present or any action you're doing at a particular point of time.
While "chill" tells you to forget everything around you even though being dependent on it, "Taoism" tells you to understand and accept the nature of everything in the world.
Edit: nature of actions and purpose differs in both, not the intended idea to give yourself some time. ❤️
I think it's not really a coincidence that so many philosophies are so similar! There just seems to be an underlying "truth" that they discovered more or less independently!
That’s a cool idea. Perhaps these/this truth is self-evident
Or is it possible that it's just revealing the "true" nature of ourselves
Its like differing personal experiences with the same things and all philosopies are just their perception of what they experienced.
I've always thought this. Some of the most influential greek philosophers, confucius, Lao Tzu and Buddha were almost contemporaries
Thus I respect all religion, being Catholic myself, I learn from all religion with no judgement casted. No self-imposed will on others. Just observation and reverence.
God Bless and good vibrations =)
I find my existence more meaninglessly meaningful when I'm in this channel
@Abukar Haret I think he wants to say that our lives are like a paradox, the more we know and learn make us feel like we are not so important as we thought for the rest of the world/universe but at the same time we're so complex individuals and we have so much more to learn about ourselves.
Atleast that's my best guess for POTATO Sharaf's comment.
Damn true.
❤❤❤🌸🌿funny cute and true. A whisper in the wind. Yet we are so significant and cared for by the Lord.
After watching this video, I'm reminded of a quote which goes like this....
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really Love.....
It will never lead you astray.” ~Rumi
What a beauty. Thanks for sharing
😊
Is that Rumi? 😍
@@gianinamorales8597 I think so....but it's beautiful right!
Yeah, it's a quote by Rumi :-)
“shapeless like water … now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup … you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle … put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot … water can flow … water can crash … be water, my friend.” - Bruce Lee
If we become as free as water, we surely will enjoy our life. The way of the Tao does teaches us surely to live life with the flow of it and in my opinion it is one of the best ways to lead ones life.
I personally agree with this, I’ve been practicing this philosophy for years now and as a student in this day and age, I only feel the present.
@@mjolninja9358 I'm trapped in the past and anxious about the future. I can only be in the present for a few seconds a day
It is actually ironic that I commented this and then due to anxiety could not fall asleep. Oh well still human in the end.
If go with the flow of life. If bad things happen i let it happen. I do nothing to make it better. Just let it punch me in the gut and let time heal the wounds
But where is the uniqueness then, where are my opinions and views if i decide to go with the flow. How do i overcome my own desires
Do Everything you have to do
Not with Lust, Not with Ego, Not with Greed, Not with Envy but with love, compassion, Devotion and Humility.
- Lord Krishna( Bhagwad Geeta)
Which verse?
This whole time I thought wu wei was 'going with the flow', but I realize now that it is not going with the flow, but doing what allows YOU to flow
That's a good point. I had to stop to think about it for a minute, but I think you're right. In the past I just tried to "go with the flow" like Eckhart Tolle describes, but I found that it wasn't sustainable. Doing what allows YOU to flow makes much more sense. I'm inclined to believe that your version is what was intended.
so you mean being in harmony with yourself? instead of going along with the outside world? seems sensible but i dont know if thats what you meant
JohnJack- I love how you summed it up. Doing what allows you to flow.🌿
@@LostInThought2013 if you cannot see the flow, cannot sense the flow, how can you go with the flow. The flow in this context,is not the western path of least resistance. the flow is the correct path, the path that is natural and fitting for your being. it requires vision and deep understanding and love for your own being.
water flows downstream, because that is how it is best to flow, it spends great effort and millennia carving a deep path to form a river, but it also meanders taking a longer way to avoid hard rock. a human without understanding of his situation, thinking he goes with the flow, is like a river cutting a straight line through a mountain, thinking it's the easiest path to the ocean.
BE the flow.
"When you fall I'll be there" - floor
Let me get straight : The heart beats on its own , the lungs breath on its own , yours nails , your hair grows on its own. The food digest on its own. what is that which is "on its own"? That is the tao , that is the flow.
Taoism: Be like water.
Stoicism: Be like a rock the waves crash over.
Well, if we are to accept impermanence, we might as well be both.
Instantly, my mind said just like yin and yang, you can’t have one without the other
You're both correct. We are everything. This, that, everything and nothing.
The kicker of it all is we are both and the impermanence.
Similar to the engineering methodology, in that there is no ultimate tool that displaces all other tools. Each tool is valuable in its own context. It is knowing when to flow like water, and when to harden as rock that allows us to surrender to the nature of all things.
The Dao is a self fulfilling prophecy being fulfilled now.
the greatest temptation in life is to attach any significance to it
The flow state seems to be tightly related to experiencing non-self in Buddhism! Without actively "doing" anything, things still just happen. But now you also have a clear mind thanks to the act of letting go!
This is why Buddhism was adopted so easily in China, because it's fundamentally similar to Taoism
Ironically I found learning about flow really difficult - the more I learned and thought about it, the less I found myself in flow because I was distracting myself out of it!
@@AidanMmusic96 100% true :D Flow state is about NOT doing things you usually do, not doing even more. That's why it is so hard to learn! Meditation helps a ton though, as it teaches you "letting go"
BS, things don't just happen, u gotta take action!
As a nurse who was never connected to my job, I always felt so frustrated with myself for quitting because I couldn't understand what was wrong with me, I mean people always do jobs that they don't like but makes them money. My health was genuinely at its worst and I had to start therapy, but nothing really helped me understand myself more than the Taoism philosophy. Art and creative hobbies were something I always excelled at and many said I was destined to be a creative - it was even written in my astrological chart if you believe in it. Art was truly the closest I felt to the idea of 'wu wei' where it was essentially second nature to me and it always brought me into a sense of focus and peace. Nursing was the exact opposite. I'd compare it as saying that in nursing I felt like a rock in a river that refused to move from its spot; in this position the river would ultimately destroy the rock. In art or creative studies, I feel more like a rock flowing with the rive, allowing myself to be free. Becasue of understanding my predicament through Taoism, I ultimately accepted myself and now I'm applied to an art school!
“Bruh, I’m like totally vibing, or I’m high as shit right now.”
-Lao Tzu
Lmaoo
Won't last. Peace unto you.
My mind was crushing itself with about 1000 unanswered questions and decisions, i was feeling heavier and unhappier every second passing by... Then i accidentally stumbled to this video 15 min after its released. Some force or this amazing channel, released that pressure in my mind, helped me to again feel free. Every breath now feels like an award, life is a blessing, even a couple of words can change someone's day or life, never forget that u beautiful soul reading this.
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
- Lao Tzu
Also thank you for this content its helpful and educated.
I think this video is the best representation of how I experience the Dao (so far).
The main thing, Daoism has taught me, is that nothing really matters.
And for that reason, I might as well live a life of joy, rather than fear.
It changed everything.
I'm not thinking about money or lack thereof all the time anymore.
Instead life itself feels like this huge miracle and it's such a privilage to experience it the way I do.
I'm SO curious about EVERYTHING.
AND:
Recently I looked through my bank statement. I'm still not rich. But I thought: Man, it just keeps coming in those little, unexpected doses...
I almost felt betrayed for all those years of constant existential fear! And in the next moment I thought: WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ROBIN?! Enjoy it, be grateful! It's finally here. Stop complaining! haha!
Also, the money stuff just really doesn't matter all that much anymore.
A little financial pillow helps with peace of mind, but besides that, I couldn't care less about it.
It's just an energy that flows in and out of my life.
Daoism has really changed the way I experience the world. Sometimes I get out of synch and get depressed very easily. But somehow I always find my way back in again. And every time the time of depression seems to become shorter. And if it's just for the knowledge, that everything will be fine.
Because nothing really matters. Enjoy life. Bring joy to as many other people as possible. And you can't do anything wrong.
Thanks for this great video! 🧡
i see beauty and joy of life in every sentences you have typed
I liked it not just clicked but commented
Embrace change and you embrace life
this is probably your best episode in recent times,, the last few were quite depressing. really enjoyed this
Neel Ghosh 🤣🤣 yes, your right, but have to take the good with the bad. Properly armed now to deal with the rest of 2020 . We got this. Enjoy the ride. ☮️❤️🙏🏻
Let the water flow
you see it as depressing i see it as just being real.
It's always a good day when pursuit of wonder drops a new video.
omg no fkin way thank you. I've been waiting for a pursuit of wonder on the "flow" state of mind
I just found out bout flow state a month ago
🙃
May the Flow be with you bro!
Your book arrived recently, reading it right now!
I love the way how you're expressing contradictory predicates..
i really admire the work u put into every video , its absolutly insane how flawless ur videos are, pls keep it up!!!
You are the world's best video editor + whoever is composing the background score for these videos , he is a genius .
Your videos have changed my life and helped me begin to process my first existential crisis. Thank you so, so much.
I'm grateful that this channel exists.
This has been my favorite video of yours so far. Keep up the good work, friend
thank you so much for everything you create and share with us. you are absolutely a gem and hands-down my favorite content creator of this day and age. I appreciate your guidance, insight, and general willingness to share your point of view. Thank you.
I am just awed by your logical and grounded challenge to Taoist philosophies. I have felt the same way and it makes me feel less lonely to see my abstract emotions portrayed in such a clear, succint way. Thank you eternally - I felt you just made sense of my thoughts.
Thank you for another insightful video man! :D been waiting for this channel to talk about Taoism.especially flow.
i like how you ended this video this time with no sound to keep our minds undistracted from it. Thanks and i hope you keep doing this for all your future videos :)
Maaaan, I love your channel, it helped me a lot during hard times, and just read the tao te ching book in this last weekend, and I literally thought about you!!!
This philosophy makes so much sense into my beliefs, I always believed Allan Watts was talking about budhism.
I'm still learning and got into studying it for the interest on tai chi chuan which I'm waiting corona ends to start practicing
Big up, man!! Keep this awesome work, you help a lot of people
i can only watch these vids when I feel smart, I now feel like a caveman
Check out Alan Watts
I suspect being high would help too.
I*
Watching and listening to his narration was incredible. Thank you.
Your work is great.
Thank you, and anyone who helps you do this. You help me breathe
Nailed it! Beautifully captured the spirit of Taoism. Def one of your best videos!!
I really love the illustrations on this channel! Kudos
Best upload notification feeling when its The Pursuit of Wonder
That counter argument was interesting. Is it more natural to “not try” and let things flow, or is the act of trying and struggling against what seems “natural” the very purpose of life?
it's about belief you're choosing right for yourself, you can never be sure, hence this meat form cannot know the absolute truth. that's the game.
*for yourself and everybody else, being sure of all your decisions, whilst the decision could be none.
Last two years have completely changed my views and perception of reality. This year the most. 2020 should be year of awakening. Thanks for this.
aulas, meu caro. one of the best short videos on taoism! one of your best as well!!
Wonderful channel, has changed my life and my music
How did his channel change your music?
@@typiicaal he had changed and the music he writes changed as well. I used to be a punk rocker, now I like psychill and ambient tunes.
@@typiicaal the wisdom I gained changed my way of playing.
love the production quality excited for more!
i love the philosophical content of this channel, but damn, whoever works on the images of the videos and whoever makes the audio of the videos also deserve to be recognized. you are all great at what you do. 10/10
I think it’s the same guy
@@WorkableWax damn, if it is, this person is even more amazing than i thought
i just realized
things fell and understand more beautifully and curiously with a calm mind , leaving the daily aside for a moment
I love that you covered this topic! I assume taoism is the most natural way of life
This one has been special. Thanks for your work guy.
Great video dude, I really like the content you put out. Keep it up!
Where has this channel been all my life !
I need a second book of yours 🙌🏾
This is one of the best video of POW ever created.
WHEN DEPRESSED. HEAVY THINKING ONLY BRINGS SADNESS AND FRUSTRATION. WHEN I WAS HAPPY I ENJOYED THIS
I have been suffering with severe anxiety, this actually made me feel better for the first night in a while
Awesome, as always!
Absolutely brilliant.
I am a football player and I can fully say I have felt being in a state of Tao a lot of times when playing, it almost feels like time slows down and your body moves on it’s own and you do things you never knew you could do, I see the play unfold even before it does. I jokingly tell my friends that it’s like having the Sharingan (Naruto). It never happens when I want it to happen or when you have ulterior motives other than just playing football and enjoying the moment itself.
Meditation meditation meditation...to help still the mind. Few months later creativity starts flowing, next word to say just comes it does not need to be thought of as it comes from stillness. In the beginning SLOW DOWN. Thank you for the wisdom.
I love your work. Like sneaking in that Kurt V at 6:23. Great channel. I hope you keep it up for a long time.
Thanks so much for your work!!
I think western and eastern philosophy share the same ideas , "know thyself"
they definitely do.
B R U H
All modern religions i.e. non animistic. Basically say the same thing if you strip down the mythology and ritual. Tao Te Ching has no mythology, that is the difference.
I was waiting for this.
this video is enough to everything i learned till now.
This is for all the perfectionists out there!🙌
Everything in this universe is constantly moving ....to live with peace and to pursue happiness ,one has to follow the route and accept the things as they are.
Toisim is more than a wonder land..it's amazing
You are so good at this!
I almost zoned out around 9:25. But great work!
Learned about this two days ago in ap world history. It’s a very interesting religion, and I quite enjoy hearing about it.
Reaally love your videos keep making em
I love this so much, thank you
Yes this was amazing! Please keep making more videos! 👽
very informative video… really enjoyed this. you even questioned the philosophy and included the arguments that i rarely see people do in these types of video. as much as i admire taoism, stoicism, etc, i know that it’s still a philosophy made by mankind. they are idealistic and will always be flawed. so i’m always confused when people seem to treat it as a religion and its people like prophets. they’re still human, they don’t have all the answers.
that being said, you can still appreciate and learn from these ideologies and at the same time question it. so thank you for including that in your video
Thank you. It’s hypnotic and relaxing. 💙
Thanks for the great video and explanation of the Tao as well as we humans can understand due to our limited capacity and intelligence to understand nature and the universe.
The first tattoo i got was a line from the Tao, it's over my heart so it's always close to my soul. "The gate to all wonders" or so, depending on the translation. It's the last line of the first psalm and i have it in Chinese on my chest
One thing West doesn't want to acknowledge is that some of the greatest ideas & philosophies moved from India to West and East.
Yog-Sankhya-Charvaka (Atheist)-Buddhism are some of the examples.
This is my favorite video on UA-cam
What an amazing video and sharing of understanding
Stay in the moment and keep that in mind. Constant change is constant
"Stop quoting me" Lao Tzu
🤣🤣🤣
Thank you! Great video!!
I love these videos!
I really needed this right now
this is art.
Please do more of these i am a big fan
Was introduced to Lao Tzu through Mihaly Czikmentihayi. Struck a chord immediately. There's something very elegant about being fluid and adapting... letting go sincerely.
The Tao of physics should be required reading in high school. Before reading catcher in the rye .
Perfect birthday present thank you!
HBD Michael!🥳🥳
We may be strangers to one another, but I still hope you have a great birthday!
RASHMI MAJGAONKAR Thank you!
wofsy2.0 Wild Thank you!
I've gotten into a flow state playing basketball and dancing but it's the place I wish I lived like an outter body experience like I was watching someone else control my body and you do have a sense of oneness with the universe
I still can't believe when he wanted to leave, how did he agree and manage to write AN ENTIRE BOOK!?
knowing confidently when to express myself and how to do it from a detached pov is my goal
Ayyyyeee, out with another video.
I can see the animations have changed. It's looks even better now