nestentrie

Yes. A small point, but that's what i meant.

This kind of thing gets my attention. Myself I wonder how many people are really doing just that (Ignoring things). So much of life that can get us down is hype and hyperbole. Politics, Hollywood, the state of Journalism (and it's tone)... How often does one just take a moment to look inward? Even if it's a housewife taking a breath in between washing two dishes while she's overhearing the afternoon gameshow or a Sportsperson looking at the crowd at the game and sighing (knowing that private moments are still possible in such a circumstance), how often do we all take those moments? My private answer is that it's more common than i'd oftetimes think. These moments matter and to relate it back to the chapter being discussed we're all a little like the student of the Master in this respect. Of course, conscious law guiding a conscious life is still better, but again, i think it's worth something. Every active response is built on these passive moments.

This has to be one of my favourite chapters of chuang tzu. For me it's interesting how readily I can myself get into the debate of whether to correct the ruler or leave him be. It's as if I have friends whom I'd like to change and yet can't help be a little shameful about my own attitude about it. The importance of never having ulterior motives in made plain in this chapter. If we could renounce our sagacity indeed.

Agreed. As to the choices you mentioned; if it's a matter of should and shouldn't, what you do (with no hairsbreath, like deci belle pointed out) should be reflected in that choice; if it's a matter of what you will or won't do, what you can do should bear itself out too. I'm not the expert is Tao vs Te, but ChiDragon is right too: you should let nature takes it's course. What one one should do always follows with what you end up doing. What you will follows with what you can. A pretty flowy outlook if you ask me.

Hi, In my course of life i've found the Tao incredibly useful and liberating. I read over J.Legge's translation of the Tao Te Ching on sacred-texts.com regularly and have recently found a couple of other translations on http://www.duhtao.com that are often times inspiring too (like R.B Blakney's). I'm also becoming more and more familiar with the works of Chuang Tse by the likes of translations done by L.Giles and J.Legge. Pursuing the Tao more generally I meditate and have at one time taken up the study of Tai Chi where I went a little way in learning Beijing 24 Form. However I never kept up the formal study and now only practice on my own with my own method. With these things I don't feel my pursuit of Tao is complete. Like minds, interested minds, reciprocating minds: these I feel would be a boon for me. I've not been lurking very long but already I have found many threads and posts of high value well worth reflecting upon. There's much I can learn here. I already appreciate taobums even if it is only a prospect at this point. I hope to contribute in my way soon. Thanks for listening my name is Tim.