You mention Stoicism and Buddhism. Isn't Taoism the Oriental equivalent of Stoicism, though, rather than Buddhism?
Either way, I've always found Taoism more appealing approach to life than Buddhism. Overall, taoism is more life-confirming, whereas Buddhism is more life-denying (similar to Christianity). Then again, Buddhism and Taoism are perfectly compatible & complementary takes on life, as demonstrated quite aptly by the allegory of the Vinegar tasters. Maybe it is by integrating the three big Chinese traditions, as the Chinese do themselves, that you find the a "positive, forward-looking narrative for life in the modern world" that you are looking for?
"Confucianism saw life as sour, in need of rules to correct the degeneration of people; Buddhism saw life as bitter, dominated by pain and suffering due to attaching possessions and material desires; and Taoism saw life as sweet due to it being fundamentally perfect in its natural state." But, also, "since the three men are gathered around one vat of vinegar, the 'three teachings' are one."
From my -limited- understanding, this seems wrong-headed. Taoism isn't the chinese version of a western philosphy, and if it was, it would be Aristotelianism's equivalent. It has a a complex five-elements ontology that's tied into a divination system, much like Aristotle talked about the four elements, humors, and so on. It also features non-duality, something that's a bit like dialectics.
From what I've gathered, the Dao, "the Way", is the nature of an object and the set of ways it could express that nature better. The book that started Daoism, the Book of the Way and of Virtue (see the link with virtue ethics!) can be found in French at http://taoteking.free.fr/interieur.php3?chapitre=1
Sometimes it seems that depression arises from inconsistencies between our lives and our mental image of ourselves and our lives.
As children we view the world and don't understand it fully with our immature brain and develop habits and unconscious patterns of thought and behavior, based upon these faulty childhood impressions. At some point, this develops into sufficient difficulties resulting in anxiety and depression.
Stoicism, Buddhism, and Daoism all provides tools to help deal with these issues.
You mention Stoicism and Buddhism. Isn't Taoism the Oriental equivalent of Stoicism, though, rather than Buddhism?
Either way, I've always found Taoism more appealing approach to life than Buddhism. Overall, taoism is more life-confirming, whereas Buddhism is more life-denying (similar to Christianity). Then again, Buddhism and Taoism are perfectly compatible & complementary takes on life, as demonstrated quite aptly by the allegory of the Vinegar tasters. Maybe it is by integrating the three big Chinese traditions, as the Chinese do themselves, that you find the a "positive, forward-looking narrative for life in the modern world" that you are looking for?
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar_tasters :
"Confucianism saw life as sour, in need of rules to correct the degeneration of people; Buddhism saw life as bitter, dominated by pain and suffering due to attaching possessions and material desires; and Taoism saw life as sweet due to it being fundamentally perfect in its natural state." But, also, "since the three men are gathered around one vat of vinegar, the 'three teachings' are one."
Interesting. What do you recommend to explore Daoism?
From my -limited- understanding, this seems wrong-headed. Taoism isn't the chinese version of a western philosphy, and if it was, it would be Aristotelianism's equivalent. It has a a complex five-elements ontology that's tied into a divination system, much like Aristotle talked about the four elements, humors, and so on. It also features non-duality, something that's a bit like dialectics.
From what I've gathered, the Dao, "the Way", is the nature of an object and the set of ways it could express that nature better. The book that started Daoism, the Book of the Way and of Virtue (see the link with virtue ethics!) can be found in French at http://taoteking.free.fr/interieur.php3?chapitre=1
I must say I tried reading the Daodejing and often found it quite obscure. I must try again.
* Confucian and Daoist, Stoic and Epicurean.SomeParallels inWays of Living -> https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110616804-004/html
* Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Philosophical Taoism -> https://brill.com/view/book/9789004452220/back-31.xml
* The Way of Stoicism: How East and West Use Similar Principles for Virtuous Living -> https://dailystoic.com/way-of-stoicism-east-west/
* Taoism Vs Stoicism -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnX811IXFdU
* Is there any difference/similarity between Stoicism and Taoism? -> https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-difference-similarity-between-Stoicism-and-Taoism
* The Logos and The Dao |A Stoic’s Perspective on Daoism (Taoism) -> https://thewolfwithkeyboard.wordpress.com/2020/01/28/the-logos-and-the-dao-a-stoics-perspective-on-daoismtaoism/
I haven't delved very deeply into the matter myself, to be honest, but a bit of Googling provides me, among others, the following sources :
* Confucian and Daoist, Stoic and Epicurean.SomeParallels inWays of Living -> https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110616804-004/html
* Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Philosophical Taoism -> https://brill.com/view/book/9789004452220/back-31.xml
* The Way of Stoicism: How East and West Use Similar Principles for Virtuous Living -> https://dailystoic.com/way-of-stoicism-east-west/
* Taoism Vs Stoicism -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnX811IXFdU
* Is there any difference/similarity between Stoicism and Taoism? -> https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-difference-similarity-between-Stoicism-and-Taoism
* The Logos and The Dao |A Stoic’s Perspective on Daoism (Taoism) -> https://thewolfwithkeyboard.wordpress.com/2020/01/28/the-logos-and-the-dao-a-stoics-perspective-on-daoismtaoism/
Sometimes it seems that depression arises from inconsistencies between our lives and our mental image of ourselves and our lives.
As children we view the world and don't understand it fully with our immature brain and develop habits and unconscious patterns of thought and behavior, based upon these faulty childhood impressions. At some point, this develops into sufficient difficulties resulting in anxiety and depression.
Stoicism, Buddhism, and Daoism all provides tools to help deal with these issues.