The Tao of authentic Mexican food

What is the difference between Taoism and non-Taoism? In order to engage in even this conversation, you have to pick a reference point.

Which is then, canonically, not the Tao. True?

There is no distinction between Tao and anything else. “The principle that can be enunciated is not the one that always was. The being that can be named is not the one that was at all times.”

Yet there is a Tao that is distinct from something else. In a way. It just cannot be grasped by the mind. Still, we can discuss it and point to it as long as we remain in truth and are not lost by our own words. Furthermore, this discussion is about Taoism, the historical Chinese religion that has specific characteristics we can clarify and discuss, not unlike antique dealers might talk about the evolution of a culture’s furniture.

Once something becomes an “ism” it is lost. “When the oneness of humanity is forgotten a distinction is made between good and evil. Focusing on goodness leads one down the path of self-righteousness which separates a person from others. Self-righteousness leads to justice and since justice is as arbitrary as goodness and righteousness, it degenerates into a facade of justice or ritual.”

Perhaps in the same way that someone might merely hear of Christianity and then by chance stumble upon a spiritual relationship with what she might call Christ and then come to call herself a Christian — all without approval from the Pope or the meticulous reference of Biblical scripture … well, perhaps one can follow their heart and remain more “true to the Tao” than slaves to intellectual analysis of what is authentic and what is spontaneous.

A good friend of mine from Mexico used to tell me that he thought it was silly whenever he saw the term “Authentic Mexican Restaurant”. He felt the term “authentic Mexican” was strange.

What does it mean for something to be authentically Mexican? That a Mexican makes it? A Mexican can make a cheeseburger. Is that an authentic Mexican cheeseburger?

Is it that it tastes like food from Mexico? When you live in Mexico, you realize that all the food tastes different and that, in actuality, clever innovation is appreciated in a restaurant. Not a bizarre attempt to distill the essence of what makes Mexican food Mexican food and sticking to that.

But we do mean something intelligible when we say “authentic Mexican”. If a bunch of white guys that had never eaten Mexican food or even met a Mexican opened up a diner serving scrambled eggs and spring rolls and called it “Mexican food” it would strike most as strange and inappropriate.

Reading what I’ve written, essentially I’ve said nothing. I fail to see my own point. Sorry. Carry on.