In early 1972 a friend and I moved to California to explore the spiritual groups and communities that were more common there. We visited a whole array of India groups: the Ramakrishna-Vedanta center, Self-Realization-Fellowship (SRF), an Aurobindo center, the Krishnamurti foundation and several other gurus and their ashrams, which all taught me something. 

We also visited Buddhist centers, including Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan and Theravadin traditions. The direct approaches and the connection with nature in Chan and Zen were very appealing. The Tibetans with their deities and Tantric Yoga practices appeared much like Hinduism. I felt a special affinity with Taoism and its connection with nature and found a good Chinese teacher to guide me in its study. 

Taoism is a religion free of dogma, close to the Earth, one with nature and not seeking converts. It was tolerant, open and non-judgmental, free of any sense of sin or moralism. I studied Taoism and the I Ching in some detail for several years, though more as a secondary path, which eventually led me to pursue Traditional Chinese medicine as well.