my taoist thread

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7/3/2008 11:05:51 PM	my taoist thread
chinatown_girl Oyster Bay, NY age: 19	Washing at dawn Rinse away dreams. Protect the gods within, And clarify the inner spirit. Purification starts all practice. First comes cleansing of the body—not to deny the body, but so that is is refined. Once cleansed, it can help us sense the divine. Rinsing away dreams is a way of saying that we must not only dispel the illusions and anxieties of our sleeping moments but those of our waking ones as well. All life is a dream, not because it isn’t there, but because we all project different meanings upon it. We must cleanse away this habit. While cleansing, we naturally look within. It is believed that there are 36,000 gods and goddesses in the body. If we continually eat bad foods, intoxicate ourselves, allow filth to accumulate anywhere outside or inside ourselves, then these gods abandon us in disgust. Yet our concerns must ultimately go beyond these deities in the temples of our bodies to the universal One. After we clear away the obscuring layers of dirt, bodily problems, and delusions, we must be prepared even to clear away the gods themselves so that we can reach the inner One. Deng Ming-Dao (author)
7/4/2008 2:06:48 PM	my taoist thread
dogen Augusta, ME age: 31	now i gotta reason to bust out my copy of the Taoist I Ching, hhhhmmmmm found something here in the introduction says its from the "cloud nest annals", a taoist text purporting to record sayings of the immortal Lu Tung-pin. its introduced here by saying concentration in stillness and active contemplation are regarded as complementary procedures. certain exercises have traditionally been employed in taoist to clarify, unify, and stabalize the mind so as to achieve the attunement representated as the embodiment of heavan and earth. "to restore the mind to its unfragmented origin, sit quietly and meditate: first count the breaths, then tune the breath until its imperceptable; be mindful of the body as like an undifferentiated absolute, and you wont hear anything. those who regain their composure after a mountain crumbles before them are second best; not even being startled is expertise." "as long as there is any thought left unterminated, ones essence is not whole; as long as the breath is even slightly unsettled, ones life is not secure. it is necessary to reach the point where mind and breath rest on each other, and thoughts are forgotten even in the midst of thought." this might also apply to "cleansing"?
7/4/2008 7:34:00 PM	my taoist thread
dbsuma Lakewood, OH age: 40	Quote from chinatown_girl: Washing at dawn Rinse away dreams. Protect the gods within, And clarify the inner spirit. Purification starts all practice. First comes cleansing of the body—not to deny the body, but so that is is refined. Once cleansed, it can help us sense the divine. Rinsing away dreams is a way of saying that we must not only dispel the illusions and anxieties of our sleeping moments but those of our waking ones as well. All life is a dream, not because it isn’t there, but because we all project different meanings upon it. We must cleanse away this habit. While cleansing, we naturally look within. It is believed that there are 36,000 gods and goddesses in the body. If we continually eat bad foods, intoxicate ourselves, allow filth to accumulate anywhere outside or inside ourselves, then these gods abandon us in disgust. Yet our concerns must ultimately go beyond these deities in the temples of our bodies to the universal One. After we clear away the obscuring layers of dirt, bodily problems, and delusions, we must be prepared even to clear away the gods themselves so that we can reach the inner One. Deng Ming-Dao (author) You are so HOT!!!! I must have you!
7/4/2008 7:58:36 PM	my taoist thread
dogen Augusta, ME age: 31	dude is that a taoist quote?
7/5/2008 10:59:25 PM	my taoist thread
chinatown_girl Oyster Bay, NY age: 19	when an archer is shooting for nothing, he has all his skill. if he shoots for a brass buckle he is already nervous. if he shoots for a prize of gold he goes blank or sees two targets- he is out of his mind! his skill has not changed. but the prize divides him. he cares, he thinks more of winning than of shooting - and the need to win drains him of power.
7/5/2008 11:43:49 PM	my taoist thread
haternot Durham, NC age: 43	there is no try. there is only do.
7/6/2008 9:59:39 AM	my taoist thread
alicekathleen Fresno, CA age: 63	The tao cannot be named. The tao is a dream, a dream Of a dream, the fish Swimming in the river, The river holding the fish, The man who dreams Of the river...the Thread that binds, The energy that is unseen Yet never unheeded.
7/7/2008 12:30:34 PM	my taoist thread
chinatown_girl Oyster Bay, NY age: 19	Quote from haternot: there is no try. there is only do. simple but true.
7/7/2008 12:38:10 PM	my taoist thread
chinatown_girl Oyster Bay, NY age: 19	Quote from dogen: ..."to restore the mind to its unfragmented origin, sit quietly and meditate: first count the breaths, then tune the breath until its imperceptable; be mindful of the body as like an undifferentiated absolute, and you wont hear anything. those who regain their composure after a mountain crumbles before them are second best; not even being startled is expertise." "as long as there is any thought left unterminated, ones essence is not whole; as long as the breath is even slightly unsettled, ones life is not secure. it is necessary to reach the point where mind and breath rest on each other, and thoughts are forgotten even in the midst of thought." this might also apply to "cleansing"?" that's interesting. when i sit and meditate, my mind wanders everywhere, filled with mostly trivial questions ...how long before i can sit comfortably in the lotus, what i'm gonna have for lunch...things i forgot to say in a conversation. when i do a moving meditation like qigong or taiqi, i find it's easier to clear my mind and to be in the moment. i start seeing solutions instead of the problems. [Edited 7/7/2008 12:40:35 PM]
7/26/2008 3:53:07 PM	my taoist thread
suzie23 Little Rock, AR age: 36	I hope you don't mind me adding this story. I'm new to Taoism, but when I read this I wanted to share, it's too sweet (in a good sence). Suzie The Wheel Maker by Derek Lin One day, King Huan was reading a book while an old craftsman was busy making wheels over in a corner. The old man noticed that the book seemed to capture the King's complete attention. He grew increasingly curious about this, and after a while decided to approach. "Your Majesty, forgive me for intruding," the old man said. "What is this book that you are studying so diligently?" "This is no ordinary book," the King said, holding it up with great respect. "It is written by a wise sage." The old man asked: "Is this sage still alive, Your Majesty?" The King shook his head. "No, he passed away a long time ago." "Oh, I see," the old man nodded. Then, without thinking, he added: "In that case, what Your Majesty is reading would simply be the leftovers of a dead man." This struck the King as incredibly insulting. "What is this?" His anger flared. "You are nothing more than a lowly craftsman. Is it your place to comment on what I wish to read? Explain the reasoning of your statement and I may let you live. If you fail to do so, I shall have your head." The old man replied: "Your Majesty, it is exactly as you say: I am but a humble craftsman. I know nothing except the art of making wheels. Permit me to explain myself to you using this little bit of knowledge that I have." This response surprised the King. To him, making wheels and reading books could not be further apart. Had the old man lost his mind due to fear? King Huan was puzzled, but his interest was piqued. "Go on," he said. "Your Majesty, in my line of work, the hole in the center is of supreme importance. It must fit the axle just right. If I make it too big, the wheel will slip right off and become useless. If it is only slightly too big, then the wheel will seem to stay on, but after a short while of actual usage on the roads, it will loosen and fall off the axle, quite possibly causing great damage to the carriage in the process. "On the other hand, it is also possible to make the hole too small. In that case, when I force the axle into it, I may very well split the wheel in two, thus wasting hours of effort. If it is only slightly too small, then it may appear to be a secure fit, but after a short while of actual usage, the wheel will crack and break apart, again causing possible harm to the carriage and even the passengers within. "Therefore, one secret of my trade is to know the right way to make the hole. But making the hole just right, not too big and not too small, requires years of non-stop practice. This experience gives me a feeling that guides my hand. It is a feeling I have learned to trust, for it is never wrong. "The other secret of my trade has to do with the roundness of the wheel. If I chisel away at the wheel too quickly, I may be able to complete the work in a short time, but the wheel won't be perfectly round. Even though it may look quite acceptable upon casual inspection, in actual usage it will cause excessive shaking of the carriage. The ride will be extremely uncomfortable, and the wheel will damage itself beyond repair in a matter of days. "Of course, I can chisel slowly and carefully. This guarantees a perfectly round wheel, but it will also take so much time to complete that Your Majesty would have to wait many years before we can assemble the royal fleet of carriages. Clearly, this would not be acceptable. "In order to create the best wheels possible in a timely manner, I must chisel at just the right speed - not too fast and not too slow. This speed is also guided by a feeling, which again can only be acquired through many years of experience. With this feeling, I can be perfectly composed and unhurried when I make my wheels, but still complete the project on time. "I can teach the mechanics of wheel making to anyone. It is easy to create something that looks like a wheel, but quite difficult to make wheels that are durable, safe, and provide a smooth ride. I can explain all of this to my son, but it is impossible for me to give him the feeling that is at the heart of the wheel making art. He must gain that on his own. This is why I am seventy years old and still making wheels. "Your Majesty, the ancient sages possessed the feelings that were at the heart of their mastery. Using words, they could set down the mechanics of their mastery in the form of books, but just as it is impossible for me to pass on my experience to anyone else, it is equally impossible for them to transmit their essence of wisdom to you. Their feelings died when they passed away. The only things they left behind were their words. This is why I said Your Majesty was reading the leftovers of a dead man." King Huan was stunned and speechless. Slowly, he lowered his hand and set the book down. [Edited 7/26/2008 3:53:41 PM]
7/31/2008 6:21:09 PM	my taoist thread
chinatown_girl Oyster Bay, NY age: 19	thanks for posting suzie! in fact, other people have to post or this thread gets locked. i think the person who starts a thread can only post twice and then someone else has to respond or comment or u get a message saying ur flooding the thread. thoughts, attitudes, emotions do not embrace unrighteousness, even if it is fashionable. be a careful student of human history and observe the eventful results of correct purpose and correct means. then hold firmly to righteousness. do not be insincere. remember the universal law of energy response. insincere behavior will find an insincere response. do not jump to hasty conclusions. roughness and rushing is for careless people of little achievement. evaluate things carefully while looking at the whole picture. do not be overly emotional. all people have emotions, but do not be overcome by them as children are. always quietly guide your energy in the right channel without rushing over the rim. do not envy the rich. appreciate the virtues and spiritual development of others rather than their material conditions. be thankful for what you have. do not be hypocritical. do what you say and only say what you know you can live up to.
8/25/2008 7:18:33 AM	my taoist thread
niceguy4tlc Port Saint Lucie, FL age: 51	Quote from chinatown_girl: thanks for posting suzie! in fact, other people have to post or this thread gets locked. i think the person who starts a thread can only post twice and then someone else has to respond or comment or u get a message saying ur flooding the thread. thoughts, attitudes, emotions do not embrace unrighteousness, even if it is fashionable. be a careful student of human history and observe the eventful results of correct purpose and correct means. then hold firmly to righteousness. do not be insincere. remember the universal law of energy response. insincere behavior will find an insincere response. do not jump to hasty conclusions. roughness and rushing is for careless people of little achievement. evaluate things carefully while looking at the whole picture. do not be overly emotional. all people have emotions, but do not be overcome by them as children are. always quietly guide your energy in the right channel without rushing over the rim. do not envy the rich. appreciate the virtues and spiritual development of others rather than their material conditions. be thankful for what you have. do not be hypocritical. do what you say and only say what you know you can live up to. So much wisdom for such young age. I'm not sure what the difference is, but I'm into Buddhism. I've read several books by the Dai Lama and I've listened to Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra. Wayne talks about the Tao a lot.
8/27/2008 6:58:12 PM	my taoist thread
nico420 Brookwood, AL age: 29	I love Taoism- Lao Tzu was a very wise man. the Tao Te Ching is full of wisdom and insight. The Tao of Pooh is a good read for westerners who want an introduction to Taoism, although the author gets a little too preachy in The TE of Piglet I feel that most major religions are saying the same things, and the prophets of each are spreading the same message in different ways for the cultural context they are witnessing to-unselfish love, moderation, compassion, humility Lao Tzu says the three gifts of the great integrity are love, moderation and humility, and they are not only the gifts but the path back to oneness. these are the teaching of the buddha, of lao tzu, of jesus, it is organized religion and the dogam and doctrines that man makes out of these teachings that lead people astray and confuse the masses into thinking blind faith is the key to salvation. Your actions are much more important than beliefs, any 'relgion' that results in you living a just life and treating all living things with a mutaul respect are o.k. by me. I wrote a poem yesterday that is heavily influenced by the tao te ching, its long, so just skip it if you don't care for poetry, but if you do, I hope you enjoi: reconnect Picking up my I pen I don’t strive to create I’m not talking about Zen here I admit I meditate but that’s not the point this energy emitted is not mine it’s not by me but through me so obvious in it’s simplicity open up like a faucet let divinity flow it’s not limited by what you know it’s tuning in to the right frequency a collective unconscious and we all have access each one of us just listen there’s more to this reality than you can see yet still there it is to use as need be all that seems to be missing is just our false perception of what is real based on limited senses what we see, taste, hear, smell, or feel reality is infinite we only perceive a small part of it If you can quiet your mind of the maniacal madness of the 10,000 trivia that constantly bombards it make us schizophrenic it’s a social disease but please, put your mind at ease there’s a simple cure I assure you-you hold the key to regain your sanity reconnect with the Great Integrity we’re each our own holistic physician it comes from within it’s like we’re born blind but as we begin to align ourselves again it’s only then we are able to see through the veil of illusions that surrounds reality this is a message of love sent through me from above to help all who struggle with the sickness of the ego and the fragmented mind don’t listen to your selfish separate self as it tells you you are merely flesh take that idea and put it on the shelf with all the other bullshit that causes confusions self-delusion those things which make you lose your true self to these bodies we inhabit-I realize it’s a force of habit but reevaluate it step back and think a minute are you the person you want to be? cause short of that you’ll never see your true potential this step of introspection is monumental in your journey of self discovery this is about raising self-awareness we’re approaching a shift in global consciousness don’t you want to be a part of this? it all starts with an humble gift unselfish love we have to heal the rift between the mind and the spirit can’t you feel it? lying inside each of us dormant, latent-patiently waiting is the Universal Spirit do you feel it? if not, don’t worry for many it’s buried deep-but stay adamant in all things be moderate soon you will know to follow the universal flow and your actions will show where your heart is in all the spirit abides and it never hides for long from those receptive to it listen closely brothers and sisters this isn’t just for fun some game of lyrical twister there’s a point there’s a purpose I have a method to my madness to ease pointless pain eliminate hate cease the violence end the sadness of the human condition we’re all here on a mission we are all one when you hurt another just to further your own agenda when you cause suffering to a fellow human being for selfish motives you’re hurting yourself we are all but one child of the great golden sun have you began your journey of self-discovery? spiritual recovery look into another pair of eyes don’t avoid them look deep inside and you will see the same spirit that lies in you lies within them too you can try to deny it but inside you know you’re lying these words ring true with the right kind of eyes it’s easy to see that all things emanate from one source of energy open up and free your mind of preconceptions that sense of individuality keeps you locked here in this plane of duality so enmeshed in the physical what can you be but worldly? unleash your spirit struggling to be free only then will you see this life for what it is I’m trying to show you the way home you see and reconnect our energy with the Great Integrity -nico
8/27/2008 7:11:36 PM	my taoist thread
nico420 Brookwood, AL age: 29	I'm not sure what the difference is, but I'm into Buddhism. I've read several books by the Dai Lama and I've listened to Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra. Wayne talks about the Tao a lot. Dr.dyer has taken bits and pieces of eastern philosphies and incorporated them into a philosophy that people of western cultures can understand. he talks about 'source energy' which taoist refer to as the Tao or the Great Intergrity, buddhists refer to our inherent buddha nature, it is what I think of as the universal spirit, as taught by the Children of the Law of One, from 'the Lost Teachings of Atlantis', not really a religion but more of a source of relgions. We Are all One selfsihness is the source of all the world's problems Unselfish love is the answer open up and find your inner buddha the universal spirit dwells in each of us from whatever source, truth resonates within us unselfish love radiates-its the spark that lights great fires an earthfire is upon us-a shift in global conciousness its an issue of critical mass-the mayan's predict it in 2012 enough people realizing the true nature of reality will raise human awareness of our spiritual purpose the light of truth will save you from the darkness of this life and illuminate the path to enlightenment namaste- -nico
8/27/2008 8:21:49 PM	my taoist thread
nico420 Brookwood, AL age: 29	Quote from chinatown_girl that's interesting. when i sit and meditate, my mind wanders everywhere, filled with mostly trivial questions ...how long before i can sit comfortably in the lotus, what i'm gonna have for lunch...things i forgot to say in a conversation. when i do a moving meditation like qigong or taiqi, i find it's easier to clear my mind and to be in the moment. i start seeing solutions instead of the problems. it's a common misconception that meditation need be done in the form of the lotus position, I think most all of us have the image of a buddhist monk sitting quietly and still, legs crossed, with a bonsai in the background But there are many ways to go about it, and comfort should be a priority so that you're not worried about how long you can sit in the lotus position, or worry about your a** hurting, or your posture- I find walking meditation very useful- I also like to lay flat on the ground,on my back, under the stars, in a position like I'm making a snow angel, for my breath-work It help me focus on my chakras better, as I feel more grounded and have a better sense of my center. when i started meditating years ago, I only did so in the lotus position, but I was limited by how long I could maintain the position in good posture by fatigue-this shouldn't really be the issue-as it is clearing the mind that is the task at hand, and worrying about fatigue is no help at all- now I find the lotus position more useful, but it is only through my work with yoga other stretching exercises that make it possible for me to be comfortable with it now to clear the monkey mind of the 10,000 trivia, that is the goal, yoga is helpful to some that meditate, if qigong or taiqi works for you, then go in that direction- namaste -nico

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