Hello everyone I have been interested in Taoism for some time and i have read Tao Te Ching my question is how does one apply or practice  Taoism in their everyday lives and is meditation involved? and how close is Taoism to Buddhism and any book advise would be appreciated. 

Most Taoists are not organized nor would even refer to themselves as Taoists.  Taoism is simply a way of life, and the beauty of it is that you can adhere to the practice however you feel best.  Live simply.

There are some interesting ways to help yourself be more in tune with the Tao: Martial arts, meditation, tai chi, etc... but none of them are "required" practices, nor recognized as wholly Taoist.

I practice Kung Fu and have conversations with my peers and the SiFu regularly.  We discuss balance, personal discipline, but we never speak of faith or specific beliefs related to the practice of a religion.

May 4, 2011 -- 5:52PM, Eisenhans wrote:

Jul 24, 2010 -- 12:22AM, Jupiter6208 wrote:

Hello everyone I have been interested in Taoism for some time and i have read Tao Te Ching my question is how does one apply or practice  Taoism in their everyday lives and is meditation involved? and how close is Taoism to Buddhism and any book advise would be appreciated.

How does one apply and practice Taoism in everyday life?  By first learning it.  This cannot be done without a Taoism teacher.

Meditation may be involved for some specific purpose, but we Taoists don't just sit around alot (as the buddhists do).

How close is Taoism to buddhism?  It's the difference between drinking water and drinking bleach.  Not that close, haha!  One gives you better life; the other takes life from you.

No list of books to give; they are all new-agey or buddhisty anyway, not Taoist.

Eisenhans

Water and bleach?  LOL!  That's a good example you gave there!