When it comes to Taoist living, everyone talks about wu wei and living simply and being like a hermit. I beg to differ.

I believe that a modern Taoist would live life as expansively as possible. Without getting attached, our modern Taoist would allow himself (or herself) to experience the joy of lovemaking, the thrill of high finance, the unexpurgated pleasure of completely experiencing all that the world has to offer. But once tasted... would let go.

I believe that a modern Taoist would be drawn to film making (and would happily bed a beautiful actress in the process), would write poems that were poignant and beautiful, would be fascinated by technology and the Internet... but after playing in all of this, would let go to move on.

I believe that a modern Taoist would quietly treasure the esoteric inner cultivation - and would be careful to meditate every day, practice ch'i gung religiously, read the Taoist Canon often, and seek the company of spiritual teachers and fellow seekers... but even these great pleasures would eventually be released.

Eventually, the modern Taoist would simply return into the void, unafraid of death, simply curious to experience that transition... consciously and with the wonder of a six year old.

If life were driving, the Modern Taoist could drive in any lane of the freeway - fast lane, slow lane, no difference. And have fun at it too. But in the end, would have the sense to take the exit at the correct turnoff.

Anyway, that's what I think.

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So where did I acquire this philosophy? I once studied under a Taoist teacher (School of Complete Reality). I traveled around in Asia with him for several months, meeting masters and studying martial arts.

One day, we were sitting on the roof of this high rise in Hong Kong, looking down, and this absolute moment of satori - suchness - hit us. This feeling overwhelmed us, that everything in the world was absolutely perfect and where it was supposed to be. (Yep, the Universe is running right on schedule...)

This was the moment that he gave me a short lecture about living life expansively, yet ready to detach at any moment. About seeing the absolute and transcendent beauty of everything. About transforming ourselves to not only see the energy of the world, but to feel it and be fully bathed in it. Sometimes, people describe meditation as "letting the windows of the ego be opened, to let the fresh air of the Universe into you". Well, this was like breaking down the walls.

Living the Tao isn't about running away from the beauty of life, it's about bathing in it. So much that its beauty brings you tears of joy.

Anyway, the lecture ended with recounting of a little legend about one of the eight immortals. After he attained the Golden Pearl (the transcendence of the worldly body through the creation of a dual energy body), he decided to move into a brothel. Not to have sex, but to look at all the lovely girls there. One day, Bodhidharma was trekking by, and saw this ray of energy emanating from this village nearby. So he went to investigate. Then he saw it was a brothel! Quite shocking! So he went in, and met the Master, and asked him what he was doing there.

The Immortal answered, "Ah, this is my last incarnation, so I thought I'd finish my desire by just sitting here, looking at all these lovelies." Bodhidharma then replied, "Dear Immortal, even your karma is not strong enough to withstand this much temptation." To which the Immortal replied, "You know, you're right." And disappeared.

Cute story, huh?