The Dao Deh Ching is 20% mythological metaphysics and 80% anti-confucian political tractate. The idea of that 80% is how not to govern. The idea of Daoism is active letting go. Not to do nothing, fr0g, but to do things the right, natural way. Daoism really isn't something rarified and super intellectual. It's a fairly down to earth philosophy about not fucking around with the natural way of things.

Like in Sazen Zen, less is more. The less you do, the greater results you will get. Like playing "hard to get" when courting someone. It's not that by not courting them, you will win their heart. It's that by doing less, you peak their curiosity.

I also feel a distinction is in place that really doesn't make sense. Simon, you called it a search for enlightenment. The Middle Eastern religions, by contrast would then be what, a search for salvation? I really don't think there needs to be a distinction between the two ideas. From a wstern [skeptic's] point of view, it may seem like a necessary line to draw between the Middle Eastern religions which seem opressive and paranoiac and Far Eastern religions which seem refined, poetic and idyllic.









But, I mean... come on...