Jason Gregory

The Advanced Teachings of Taoism Course

June 11, 2024

by Jason Gregory Retreats

The Advanced Teachings of Taoism Course

Six Live Zoom Classes | Every Saturday from July 13 – August 17

Taoism, the most bastardized spiritual tradition and philosophy in the world, has fallen victim to misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and misinformation due to incorrect translations of the Tao Te Ching and Chuang-tzu texts. These flawed translations have stripped the original meanings, catering instead to a predominant Western audience with specific cultural sensibilities. However, these translations are inaccurate and distort the authentic meaning and intent of the sacred Taoist texts. Misinformation is eroding the essence of the Taoist tradition, creating an urgent need for clarity regarding what Taoism truly represents and what it means to be Taoist.

The Advanced Teachings of Taoism Course is a comprehensive exploration and restoration of Taoism. Rooted in the philosophy of nature, Taoism is demystified in this course, revealing the genuine essence of living in harmony with the natural way, the Tao.

Class 1: Modules 1 and 2

Module 1: Reclaiming Taoism

Explore Taoism from the ancient Chinese traditional perspective based on the two source texts, the Tao Te Ching and the Chuang-tzu. I will explain why classical Taoism is actually a lot different from how a lot of people think about Taoism today.

Module 2: The Metaphysical Framework of Taoism

For the first time ever recorded, I will explain the metaphysical framework, all the way from the undifferentiated reality to the manifest world. I go into how that universal unfolding is reflected in our very being, making the human being a reflection of the entire universe.

Class 2: Modules 3 and 4

Module 3: Taoism’s Critique of Confucianism and Socialization

We will explore how Taoism was actually a critique of Confucianism throughout the Warring States period of China. In doing so, I will dispel a lot of the false views around Confucius and Confucianism. I will explain why Taoism is the real natural system, which goes deep into its critique of how Confucius had this strange belief that by following his rules and regulations, that is what made us natural again.

Module 4: The Dissolution of Identity

Taoism’s ultimate aim is the dissolution of identity so that the undifferentiated Tao can make use of an individual. This is never spoken about in pop-Taoism for some reason, but from an ancient traditional perspective, Taoism is very similar to other nondual traditions throughout Asia. Though Taoism does differ slightly from the strict nondual traditions, it has a more holistic, integral teaching. I will explain in this module Taoism’s integral nondual approach.

Class 3: Modules 5 and 6

Module 5: The Immorality of Morality

I will explain the illusion of morality based on the teachings of Chuang-tzu and, as a result, why Taoism is an amoral tradition centered on nature and not governed by man-made morals. No one ever explores the amoral perspective of Taoism because most people don’t know about it or are afraid to speak about it candidly in the face of our moral systems. In understanding the amorality of Taoism in this course, you will have a roadmap to go beyond the illusions of good and evil to come closer to an understanding of true oneness, which is the goal of Taoism.

Module 6: The Politically Incorrect Nature of Taoism

This module covers the politically incorrect nature of Taoism and why a society stricken with political correctness is unnatural. I will explain some of the deepest, yet misunderstood stories from the Chuang-tzu text so that you can understand the natural amoral perspective of Taoism. I explain that Chuang-tzu himself had to also deal with the politically correct nonsense of Confucianism, as we do too in the modern world. As a result, I will use the teachings of Chuang-tzu to critique the modern politically correct attitude that is infecting innocent people’s minds in the present day.

Class 4: Modules 7 and 8

Module 7: Beyond Good and Evil

We will explore why Taoism believes our human nature is fundamentally good. In doing so, I will destroy the commonly held assumption that we are beasts from birth. I will explain this by using Taoism to analyze Confucianism, the Abrahamic faiths, and other Western traditions that believe we are beasts from birth.

Module 8: The Simple World vs. The Complex World

Moving constantly into a complex world is something Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu warned us about. They knew if we fell for the artificial linguistic conventions and cultural frameworks, it would be hard to wrestle our awareness from these tools of partiality so that we could see the world as it truly is. I will explain in this module the subtle battle between the natural, simple world and the evolving, complex world. We will explore Lao-tzu’s teaching of the two desires and Chuang’s great undoing so that we can attune to the Tao.

Class 5: Modules 9 and 10

Module 9: The Art of Doing Nothing

The essential Taoist teaching of wu-wei can be a confusing concept for those who are addicted to doing. Modern teachers and students of Taoism are also puzzled by wu-wei, as we discover through many people adapting it to their own sensibilities. We need to understand wu-wei as it is. I will explain the different translations of wu-wei and how in essence all interpretations lead to nondoing.

Module 10: The Spontaneous Reality

The real world of the Tao is a spontaneous reality. The sage lives in this spontaneous reality. I will explain the nature of this spontaneous reality by delving into the Taoist concept of tzu-jan (naturalness), the illusion of thinking, mind seeking, and the hidden teaching of what thoughts would be without language. I will expand this knowledge through an exploration into the concept of the unsupported thought and how the unconscious linkage of thoughts create the identity.

Class 6: Modules 11 and 12

Module 11: Free and Easy Wandering in Oneness

I explain the ultimate teaching after wu-wei, xiaoyao you (free and easy wandering in oneness). Xiaoyao you has been mentioned in the past but never in its truest context. It is the final teaching on the Taoist path, and the spiritual path in general from Chuang-tzu’s perspective. This teaching is related to what Taoists call the Zhenren (genuine person/enlightened sage). I will explain why Zhenren is related to free and easy wandering through stories from the Chuang-tzu that mine the deepest revelations throughout all of Eastern thought.

Module 12: Concluding Thoughts and Q&A

We will finish the course by having a discussion on everything we have learned in the past six weeks.

Price and Schedule

Cost is $200 USD. Classes will be held at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM US Eastern time. A Zoom invitation with password will be sent Thursday prior to each weekend. If you cannot attend a class, a video recording of the class will be sent to your email address.

To secure your spot, please make payment in full with your name and email address to the following link.

Course registration is valid until July 10, 2024.

Refund Policy

After July 10, 2024, payment is nonrefundable. This refund policy is in place because from July 10, 2024 all of the course material will have been set for the expected number of attendees. There will be no refund after July 10 as a result.

The Seeker’s Mind

May 1, 2024

by Jason Gregory Articles

The Seeker's Mind

Often people want to learn and be creative, but they can’t focus for long periods of time and have no creative calling. This is common in our world today because we are so distracted. A mind constantly distracted will only seek more distraction because it is used to overstimulation. A distracted mind is like the ocean waters during a hurricane. On the other hand, a tranquil mind is like a pristine lake on a bright and sunny day. A motionless lake is transparent and reflective; you can see right down into its ultimate depth.

Our attraction to entertainment is destroying our innate ability to learn and be creative. Constant entertainment pacifies our mind. As a result intelligence is undervalued in our world, and creativity is thought of as something isolated to artists. The truth is eclipsed when we overfeed our mind with entertainment and poor food, forget to exercise, and just allow our thoughts and emotions to run amok. We become desensitized to the world around us and even ourselves, as we vicariously watch the whole world implode into unconsciousness.

Becoming more conscious of our inner and outer landscape allows us to learn and create at an optimal level. However, developing expert skill and reaching peak performance also depends on having the discipline and dedication for cultivating more intelligence and creativity, which will enhance your overall life. The irony is that many people who just go through life with no discipline and allow life to push them around are often arrogant about what they “think” they know and are incapable of learning as a result. They have not been humbled by life, so they continue to fight and be jaded. We are unable to learn when we are rendered unconscious by overstimulation of body and mind.

Cultivating Intelligence

Cultivating intelligence requires us to finally admit that we don’t really know anything. This is not a desirable position to be in in our world. We always want to save face by appearing to be intelligent. We often speak about topics and current affairs that we really don’t know anything about because we are paranoid that not knowing about something opens us up for criticism. But it is highly unintelligent to speak on matters we don’t really know about. Even current affairs are issues we shouldn’t speak about. Just because the news broadcast or newspaper gives us information on certain matters doesn’t mean we actually know what’s really going on. It’s unintelligent to formulate opinions on such scarce information without diving deep into the subject.

By nourishing the little things in our life we realize that we actually don’t know much, but on the flip side we are eager to learn. As a result we are not afraid to admit that we don’t know because that is the most honest and intelligent position to be in. We learn to be truly humble and not at all worried about not knowing, and as a result we approach life as explorers rather than know-it-alls. We embrace the seeker’s mind, meaning we remain a student of life. Having a seeker’s mind cultivates intelligence, which allows us to grow psychologically. Our minds become more articulate and clear, which becomes evident in our speech and emotional conduct. If we pretend we know, we cannot learn. And if we cannot learn, we cannot grow. Learning is the fertilizer for growing our intelligence. Learning is just like nature because it is nourishing, moving, and growing—it’s alive! Learning itself grows our mind, and if we are growing, then we are fully alive.

Our habit to try to be a know-it-all cuts us off from the feeling of growing and being alive. Once we think we know something categorically we stagnate and disconnect from our mind’s natural growth. Our all-knowing habit makes us come across as an authority on certain matters, but we forget that information always changes and knowledge deepens as our mind grows. By remaining a student and continuing to learn throughout our lives, we understand more and continue to grow. Even when we think we aren’t learning, life is teaching us, as philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti explains:

“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born till the moment you die is a process of learning. Learning has no end and that is the timeless quality of learning.”

There should be no end to learning. If you are humble enough to remain a student your growth will be continual, and as a result your mind will cultivate a keen intelligence that has a deep understanding of self, others, and life. This process should continue to the day we die, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Learning nourishes this deep intelligence, making us more aware with a profound sense of understanding. Deep intelligence is something we all can have if we are willing to do the work. We are losing contact with intelligence because of the toxic habits that keep us distracted. Instead of diving headfirst into distractions, we need to go old school with simple habits that have become background noise in our modern world.

Reading as a Discipline

Reading books is essential for learning. Books are a super fuel for cultivating intelligence. But in our modern world books have taken a backseat to the toxic habit of watching screens. We watch television and watch on our smartphones and computers. It’s a constant observation of everybody else’s lives but our own. When we watch whatever it may be, including mindlessly surfing the internet and scrolling the social media feeds, we zone out in a stupefied zombie state. As a result, watching too much stuff on screens makes us stupid.

Watching screens doesn’t require a lot of our attention. The more we partake in watching activities the less our mind can concentrate and think clearly. When people have these types of habits it is hard for them to complain about their lives. How can any of us complain if we are not making our lives conscious?

We need to take our power back. Instead of watching stuff on screens mindlessly, we need to turn to reading books, preferably physical books. Turn the act of reading into a discipline. Reading itself requires an ability to focus for extended periods of time, so a daily discipline of reading cultivates focus and concentration. As a result we have an improved ability to focus and concentrate that can be applied to anything. So buy a bookcase and fill it full of books. Not fiction books, but nonfiction books on philosophy, science, religion, art, and so on. To cultivate intelligence you need to tackle the big subjects that will give you a clearer understanding of life.

Make your reading discipline a daily ritual. When it is time for digital sunset, switch over to a physical book. I like to read at least three hours a day, usually after digital sunset, but if I’m not writing in the morning I will read then. Extended periods of reading are similar to meditation. Your mind is focused on reading, and as a result you enter a state of effortlessness, where time disappears. The added bonus of this is that at the same time you are cultivating intelligence.

The evidence that reading makes you more intelligent can be found in your expanded vocabulary. Your ever-growing vocabulary enables you to be more specific in conversations and writing, so you can articulate ideas in a way people truthfully understand. This ability is what attracts us to intelligent people, who are usually well read. Comedian and actor Bryan Callen is a voracious reader, and he inspired illusionist David Blaine to read more. As he explained to Blaine, “The difference between the people you admire and everybody else is that the former are the people who read.”

We should not neglect our ability to be more intelligent. The key is to remain a student without becoming clever. Even if you believe you know something categorically, that understanding will likely change over time and you with it. The more we cultivate intelligence, the better creators we will be.

Buy Now

Amazon https://amzn.to/2oZZdFm

Inner Traditions https://www.innertraditions.com/books/emotional-intuition-for-peak-performance

NOTE: This site directs people to Amazon and is an Amazon Associate member. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. The pages on this website may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. This goes a tiny way towards defraying the costs of maintaining this site.

The Cult of Comparison in the West

March 31, 2024

by Jason Gregory Blog

The Cult of Comparison in the West

People in the West often cry and whine about some perceived privilege others have. But not in India and many countries throughout Asia. This cult of comparison has infected the hearts of many in the West, which is a special type of sickness stemming from a trained tendency towards competition and comparison. What an immature society and culture we have created in the West, so sick with jealousy and envy. But, astonishingly, there is always an insane justification for such a mental illness for those infected by this disease. Luckily, as I said, places such as India generally are not victims of such immaturity. In contemplating this cult of comparison, I think about my restaurant waiter friend in Pushkar. He is quite the character. Every day when I would see him, I would ask how he was doing. He would always reply, “This is a perfect life.” Some may say, How can he be so content “just” being a restaurant waiter? Well, he wasn’t sold on the illusion of the American dream, where one must be “special” in order to be validated by others and society at large. Isn’t it silly that we feel we need to be validated by the world instead of being content with who we are naturally?

Often, those who work their whole lives to gain that validation realize that it is not an American dream but rather a nightmare, and the torture on their souls in chasing this illusion leaves scars on their hearts that, in most cases, are irreversible. My friend, on the other hand, doesn’t even know what the American dream is and has no idea that people outside of India try so hard to be noticed and validated. He can’t grasp the concern about trying to be special. His contentment arises from not having such illusions drilled into him daily by a society and culture that does not care for you. He is not “just” a restaurant waiter but rather a brilliant restaurant waiter. He doesn’t need millions of dollars, loads of unnecessary material possessions, or validation from others. Why? Because he is content with his plight in life, and nothing is more fulfilling than being content with where you are in life. He has no idea of specialness, so, as a result, he has no desire to be somebody special. He is not looking over the fence or scouring the social media feeds for what others have and what he apparently lacks because he has no desire to measure his life against others.

His liberated content state of mind we can all have if we accept where we are in life, and if that needs to change, then do something about it rather than measure your life against others. Take ownership of your life and realize that in most cases, a lotus flower indeed grows out of the mud, but that doesn’t make that lotus flower special; rather, it has its own unique path in life if you allow your life to grow as it intended without comparing your path to others. These are the lessons one can learn from being away from cultures that continually promote lack due to the preposterous idea that you are not good enough. But when you realize you aren’t more special than anyone else, you realize you are good enough as you are and that this is truly a perfect life when you stop complaining about privilege and comparing your life to others. When you stop complaining or see no need to complain like my friend, then you come to the realization that the real privilege is to be alive and breathing in this moment together. What a blessing we all have to be graced with the amazing lives we share together, exactly in our right place, as naturally ordained by the Ultimate.