The Tao of Reading and Writing: Written Word as a Tool for Self Development
I do not consider myself a religious person, in that I don’t feel wholly aligned to a single religious doctrine or school of thought. Life is too complex to be fully encompassed by only one set of values and doctrines, and whoever claims to solely know it all displays how little they actually know. One religious school of thought which has struck a chord with me however, is the Chinese concept of Taoism. The Tao, roughly translated to “The Way”, or “The Path”, is the concept that any journey undertaken or action done, once done with reflection on certain principles, can serve to lead one to a higher understanding of life and themselves. Some people choose to follow the Tao of martial arts, and they find enlightenment there. Others follow the Tao of surfing, and from this practice, they claim to glean knowledge applicable to everyday life. This essay serves as an exposition of my Tao of reading and writing, examining how it has served as a …show more content…
Many of my present world-views are informed by material I have read over the years. As the idea of the person I was, and the person I wanted to be became clearer to me over time, reading has afforded me the opportunity to undergo the constant personal metamorphosis I sought. By identifying and understanding my truths, my mantras to live by, I am able to expand and challenge them using the wisdom and views of others gleaned from writings. By finding writings that are in tune with my philosophies on life, and even ones that aren’t, I can constantly grow as a person, informed by a perspective higher than just mine. Noted author and professor Mat Johnson summarises this idea with the statement ”The unique pleasure [of reading], … is the possibility of reading an entirely new voice, an entirely new way of looking at reality. When I read a voice that’s different, I can feel my brain just
I do not consider myself a religious person, in that I don’t feel wholly aligned to a single religious doctrine or school of thought. Life is too complex to be fully encompassed by only one set of values and doctrines, and whoever claims to solely know it all displays how little they actually know. One religious school of thought which has struck a chord with me however, is the Chinese concept of Taoism. The Tao, roughly translated to “The Way”, or “The Path”, is the concept that any journey undertaken or action done, once done with reflection on certain principles, can serve to lead one to a higher understanding of life and themselves. Some people choose to follow the Tao of martial arts, and they find enlightenment there. Others follow the Tao of surfing, and from this practice, they claim to glean knowledge applicable to everyday life. This essay serves as an exposition of my Tao of reading and writing, examining how it has served as a …show more content…
Many of my present world-views are informed by material I have read over the years. As the idea of the person I was, and the person I wanted to be became clearer to me over time, reading has afforded me the opportunity to undergo the constant personal metamorphosis I sought. By identifying and understanding my truths, my mantras to live by, I am able to expand and challenge them using the wisdom and views of others gleaned from writings. By finding writings that are in tune with my philosophies on life, and even ones that aren’t, I can constantly grow as a person, informed by a perspective higher than just mine. Noted author and professor Mat Johnson summarises this idea with the statement ”The unique pleasure [of reading], … is the possibility of reading an entirely new voice, an entirely new way of looking at reality. When I read a voice that’s different, I can feel my brain just