What do you think about Taoism.

Thanks, Stan. He's basically the same age as you and me and he used to be a potter. Have you any idea what qualifies him to enlighten us about everything from human nature to the mysteries of the Divine ?

If you take a look at the prices for his seminar retreats, he's got to be making a jolly good living out it, even if he doesn't instruct hospitality to "utilise a catering sausage" (as I once heard some prat owner of a bed and breakfast explain)

Should he not be at least charging the bare minimum to accommodate the faithful ? 

He’s still a potter. Maybe being from money allowed him the freedom to research this stuff instead of having to spend his youth down a coal mine?

Yes, he probably is. 

Maybe I would think so too, but what has this to do with what he actually says? I think that you have been persuaded away from looking at what he says, instead you and Max seem to be playing the man. As I said, maybe he is ripping people off, but should that mean that we discard everything he says? Maybe he has issues with money? Maybe he gives most of his income to charity? Who knows? 

Everyone of us has our failings, but even a broken clock...

If he was a total chancer, I doubt that he’d have the respect of so many people in intellectual circles, as he appears to do.

Still, haven't we deviated a long way from Lao Tsu?

(and to what purpose was the catering sausage to be utilised - a replacement for a missing bath plug perhaps?)

Maybe he was only there as a catalyst for learning?

Catering sausage. That reminds me, I’m a bit peckish! (It’s a bit limiting not eating meat.) 

Back to Taoism.

When I first encountered this, it was something shared by a friend from my student days. One of the things which was important to me at that time was that there was this book, it was very simply presented, not lengthy or full of dense discussion or argument. And it was a thing of beauty.

I've come to associate those things, simplicity and beauty, with Tao, but also with anything which draws me or inspires me.

I don't know to what extent any of the other ideas in this thread fit into that, but then I'm not everyone - I have my preference, others rightly follow theirs.

Still, haven't we deviated a long way from Lao Tsu?

(and to what purpose was the catering sausage to be utilised - a replacement for a missing bath plug perhaps?)

No, the breakfast (in the guest house) was okay (I don't expect perfection or anywhere near it) but I didn't eat the sausages because they were horrible. He asked me why I hadn't enjoyed the sausages and I said, sorry no, they weren't to my liking but on the whole it was fine (being polite).

He said to me, "Well, we utilise a catering sausage to keep costs down !"

"Oh, oh right, yes I understand, got to cut the corners sometimes in business (with a perplexed look on my face) !" (that kind of thing). What I thought was how silly to save tuppence on a banger and lose further custom. Anyway back to a man named Sue (Johnny Cash)

As I said, maybe he is ripping people off, but should that mean that we discard everything he says? Maybe he has issues with money? Maybe he gives most of his income to charity? Who knows? 

It doesn't look good to me, Stan, sorry. I'm getting massive ego, and subtle controller of the eternally gullible. I wonder how many of his faithful are permitted to have (sacred) sexual relations with him (free of charge) out of the goodness and purity of his heart ? That's cynical of me, but that's what I'm getting (though I might be wrong of course)

Yay, I’m not the most cynical any longer!!!! 

Back to Taoism.

When I first encountered this, it was something shared by a friend from my student days. One of the things which was important to me at that time was that there was this book, it was very simply presented, not lengthy or full of dense discussion or argument. And it was a thing of beauty.

I've come to associate those things, simplicity and beauty, with Tao, but also with anything which draws me or inspires me.

I don't know to what extent any of the other ideas in this thread fit into that, but then I'm not everyone - I have my preference, others rightly 

 Tao-1-2-3-you-do your best- have a nice day.