Periagoge
Concept
1 min read

Returning to the Root

The Taoist practice of stripping away accumulated desires and illusions to reconnect with your original nature before death claims it.

Laozi
Why It Matters

Laozi teaches that we accumulate endless desires, ambitions, and false identities throughout life, obscuring our true nature. Returning to the Root means deliberately shedding these layers—recognizing that death will strip them away anyway. This Taoist insight transforms memento mori from morbid fear into liberating clarity: since you will die, why cling to what cannot follow you? By voluntarily releasing attachment to status, possessions, and ego, you practice dying before death arrives. This aligns with Stoic acceptance while honoring Taoist wu wei: you stop struggling against impermanence and instead flow with it. The practice becomes meditation on what truly matters when everything temporary is released.

Helpful guides
Laozi
Technology & Attention
Peri
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