Hilarious Username!

I definitely have a bone to pick with Robert Henricks' "If you're quiet and tranquil you can become the ruler of the world." I think doesn't convey the meaning of the Tao fully. Seems to me that ruling the world implies ruling other people, and ruling other people is of no value .

Marblehead makes a good point that one must distinguish between WOMAN, and feminine. What might be interpreted by some as a reference to Yin and Yang could be lost in failing to do so.

Man that Stephen Mitchell guy sounds awful! It's like he's translating FOR Christians, losing the spiritual philosophy of the Tao completely

Welcome!

I didn't used to know about the Tao, then I read and heard words, and now I am beyond words. So words are that middle step that disappears once use it to cross

Nice job grabmywrist4! keep the energy flow going, UNLESS OF COURSE YOU HAVE INCREASED INTERCRANIAL PRESSURE in which case you should be treated immediately

I lurk as well

Bhuddism not gelling with the 12 steps? My advice is to use bhuddism to calm and relax your mind. In one zen meditation book i've read, desires and thoughts that disturb one's mind during mediation can be described as waves that will slowly settle and give way to calm water as the mind lets go of thought. Let the waves and ripples of desire and fear go, let the waves dissolve and a still surface form. Basically, let your Bhuddism help you see through the illusion of desire, fear, even need (or what you think is need). That's my humble opinion, hope it helps!

Hey Jadespear! I can tell i'm a lot like you from your description of yourself. I'm also a student, interested greatly in Taoism, spirituality, and meditation. I also like the idea of Chi, but to be honest, i'm rather intimidated by it. It's a lot to swallow. My opinion is that Chi fits right in with Western medicine. In acupuncture and acupressure, both of which involve chi, the meridians that are used as the maps of the practice are nothing more then nerve pathways in the body. I'm all for integration of Eastern and Western knowledge. ^That's relevant to your case of fingertip tingling because it sounds to me like instead of experiencing Chi, you could be experiencing a lack of circulation to your fingertips, which causes a tingling sensation and also could cause lines and wrinkles to form as blood leaves the area. I don't know though. If it's really strong, i'd go straight to the doctor.