>> So much of is basically the Tao Te Ching, or astrology.
I am having difficulty parsing your comment. You are equating Tao Te Ching and astrology in the same bucket ? One is a philosophy, a way of looking at life - the other I don't know what to call it. And if you say that both are ways of looking at the world then we can apply that yardstick to everything and it doesn't get us anywhere.
>> That is to say, it's not true! but over millennia, humans have found it to be useful.
What part of core ancient philosophies about how one should conduct oneself are not true but useful ?
Yes, this is correct. Point being - different people get inspired every day through things that can be sneered at or worshipped. Some historical artifacts are a mix of both. It’s best to not get upset when something doesn’t speak to you, because it might be helpful to others even if it is a shallow/modern re-hashing of the old wisdom.
Something like "Let go of all attachments". Sure, it's great advice, but being attached to some things is life, even though they can potentially have negative effects (such as attachment to a SO, family, job, body-part).
As with many ancient sayings, they are pretty information dense, have multiple interpretations and need to unrolled in context specific cases and not be taken literally.
>> Let go of all attachments.
You find this in Hindu, Buddhist and even some stoic philosophies. It doesn't mean you literally don't feel for any thing/objects in life, leave every thing and become an ascetic.
In fact it is the opposite - immersed in your life, you recognize the attachment you have towards the person/object, feel the joy/sadness(and everything in between) that you derive from it, yet don't be consumed by it, don't make it the center of your life. Don't get attached to being reciprocated or the results as these are out of your control. Learn to let it go if it is not part of your life anymore.
I am having difficulty parsing your comment. You are equating Tao Te Ching and astrology in the same bucket ? One is a philosophy, a way of looking at life - the other I don't know what to call it. And if you say that both are ways of looking at the world then we can apply that yardstick to everything and it doesn't get us anywhere.
>> That is to say, it's not true! but over millennia, humans have found it to be useful.
What part of core ancient philosophies about how one should conduct oneself are not true but useful ?