# I’ve decided to become a Taoist **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913 "2004-03-17T21:05:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/21 "2004-03-22T12:35:40Z")
Go for it Cainxinth! I might be joining you as I am becoming increasingly suspicious of the benefits of Zen meditation . I think forcing the mind to concentrate on any one thing (eg. the breath) is unnatural and requires sustained internal effort to maintain the state. I found that I became mentally very tired and so i’m ditching it. Maybe its one of those things that works for some and not others, well i’m definitely one of the others. ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/22 "2004-03-22T12:41:21Z")
I have to warn you though that there is a serious danger in becoming a Taoist or Zen Buddhist - over-hyphenation. What seems like an innocent embellishment can become an obsession if left unchecked and before long you can find yourself writing sentences about the-beauty-of-things-in-their-suchness. A little discipline can cure this habit, so you needn’t worry too much. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/23 "2004-03-22T13:48:31Z")
Do you know how many Taoists it takes to change a lightbulb? It takes two: one to change the light bulb, and one to \*not \*change the light bulb! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/24 "2004-03-23T16:05:28Z")
I’ve found this thread intriguing ! I especially like the ‘not as passive-aggressive as Buddhism’ part. I am that kind of person who learns best from books (you know … paper, ink, etc). Can anyone recommend a good Taoist starter book? First person to respond may get a prize for converting me … ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/25 "2004-03-23T16:14:12Z")
> [@cowgirl](#): > > I am that kind of person who learns best from books (you know … paper, ink, etc). Can anyone recommend a good Taoist starter book? First person to respond may get a prize for converting me … I always liked [The Tao of Pooh](http://www.just-pooh.com/tao.html) by Benjamin Hoff. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/26 "2004-03-25T21:11:26Z")
If you feel you have to change religions then the Taoists have won. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/27 "2004-03-25T22:05:36Z")
> [@Mariemarie](#): > > Do you know how many Taoists it takes to change a lightbulb? It takes two: one to change the light bulb, and one to \*not \*change the light bulb! 😃 One: for no matter how many are needed, in the end, the bulb changes itself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/28 "2004-03-25T22:10:38Z")
Or better still, none: for the bulb that can be changed is not the _true_ bulb. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913/29 "2004-03-25T22:20:45Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > If you feel you have to change religions then the Taoists have won. 😃 thanks for that ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-taoist/234913.md?page=1)