Am I Practicing an Incomplete Taoism?
Sorry if this feels ramble-y but I have had this in my heart for a while: Is it normal to feel a little guilty for not participating in religious Taoism? I discovered “philosophical Taoism” a few years ago and it has tremendously impacted my life for the better. However, as I’ve learned more about Taoism, I feel as though I have an incomplete understanding of it. To my knowledge, the “philosophical Taoism” was a secular version brought to the West by people in the 1960s. Though “religious Taoism” does not greatly resemble the TTC-centric teaching of “Philosophical Taoism”, it seems to be the dominant form practiced in the rest of the world.
This sub tends to skew anti-religious but it’s the only place I knew to ask. Am I practicing an incomplete Taoism? Is it worth looking into the religious side of things? Is “philosophical Taoism” okay to practice alone or is it seen as appropriative by the rest of the world. Again, sorry for the barrage of questions, but I thought I needed some answers.