Michael Sternbach

If there was a well-trodden path to the highest truths, there would be loads of sight-seers cluttering them with empty Coke cans. The highest truths are the ones you find in your Self. Since your Self is as individual as it gets, so must be the path that leads you there. The path that can be named is not the real path. That's why there are multiple levels in my answers. I once talked with an advanced Indian Yoga practitioner about the problem I would have following all the rules given in the classics. He shrugged and said: "Well, what you don't like, you just skip." You need to find out what works for you . Is that nice enough? Don't mention it. - Michael

What goes up must come down. LOL If you want to transcend the polarity, opt for the centre.

Okay, let me attempt to zero in on the difficulty I saw in your presentation: The Final Cause is pre-existent according to the Aristotelian theory and is merely being actualized by the Magician. As opposed to the Magician creating it in the first place.Whereas in the former case, the Magician is more of an instrument for the Final Cause to manifest itself. Of course, the Magician would play that role anyway. So the only real difference seems to be whether they are aware of it or not. Of course, we could take this into a discussion about determinism verses freedom of will, the origin of inspiration/thought etc. - but for the time being, I will content myself with your confirmation that I have defined this difference between traditional and modern Magic adequately (if I have indeed done so).

There is a related discussion regarding Eastern models currently on this thread: http://thetaobums.com/topic/37304-primordial-spirit-heart-or-head/

I am not sure if it is completely accurate to say that the Final cause is being ignored in "neo-magical" practice. As it is usually recommended to strongly visualize the desired outcome. Thus a Final cause is being created.

I agree. We are often stalemating ourselves by overly analysing and thinking about possible outcomes, rather than just giving it a try. And yes, our over-intellectualizing ties in with our verbal thinking. I am not sure if this is supported by Western languages, in particular, or a characteristic of language in general. I also realised after writing my post that we tend to focus on the action more if we enjoy it. If I'm watching an entertaining movie, I'm not in a hurry to see the end (which I can usually foretell, anyway). On the other hand, if I had to clean up my house after Saxon was having a party, I would probably be concentrating more on the desired result. Thus... "The Sage only does what he enjoys doing. And whatever he is doing, he enjoys."

Chapter 2 (continued) Principle for cultivation: Action of the unfettered mind Natural action taken without clinging to the results. Focussing on the desired outcome rather than on the action itself leads to doubt, impatience, perfectionism, in other words, to tension and waste of energy - the opposite of Wu Wei. To the sage, the way is the goal. His mind is where his hands are. Without tension, the most perfect results are achieved. Once they are achieved, the mind doesn't stop there, but remains free to flow on to its next task. By seeking reward, one loses one's natural innocence. Being in need of praise, one makes oneself equally susceptible to blame. No doubt, social conditioning is relying on this. The sage is free thereof. Dedicated to ChiDragon.

This is true i.e. for Tibetan Buddhism but not for Zen which is solely interested in the Here and Now and doesn't concern itself with liberation from physical existence. In this regard, it is quite close to Daoism - which is one of its roots. According to John Blofeld, it's quite common in China that individuals have their personal mixture of Daoism and Buddhism. In Japan, it's typically a mixture of Buddhism and Shintoism. Likewise, I draw my inspiration from many different systems. I am not interested in adapting myself to any system thought out by others. My interest lies in what I already have inside myself, wherever I find it mirrored. When once asked about my practice by a Tibetan Buddhist, I answered that I have my own individual practice. He said, that way I would take too many lifetimes in order to reach liberation from incarnation. I replied that I'm not in a hurry.

So called Karma is a complex and often badly misunderstood concept. Usually it ties in with a dualistic view of Good and Evil and is not that different from Christian notions of being rewarded or punished for one's deeds after the present life, although the reward or punishment happens in another physical existence. Such concepts (which you find in every religion) are designed to shape and control societies rather than being founded in true spirituality. Or let's say, they are a distortion of true spirituality. The underlying truth being that the individual soul, as well as the Universe at large, are heading toward a more evolved state or Telos. An individual's attitudes and their consequent actions may or may not be in line with that purpose. If not, they lead to undesirable results for the individual, reflecting their (relatively speaking) mistaken attitudes and beliefs. The physical world is a mirror for the evolving entity. The entity is a co-creator in the making. Insight that leads the individual back on their track can alter those destructive attitudes at any stage and therefore eradicate "Karma". Where there is no longer a cause, the effect vanishes as well. The notion that we reap what we have sown in past lives is based on the fact that individuals often carry their beliefs and attitudes from one incarnation to another where they will continue to have detrimental effects. So it is not necessarily the case that in the next incarnation, we will be opposite to how we have been previously, although this is possible if we choose a different path in or in between our physical incarnations. A detrimental or "karmic" attitude can indeed be one of guilt - or auto-aggression - which is as destructive as aggression toward others (and is often the cause for the latter). The usual ideas about Karma don't take this into account at all but focus on how the individual affects their outer environment. They are, as I have said before, designed to foster concepts of guilt and atonement. Naturally, we are born into a certain environment, with particular physical and psychological traits. But these are not the result of any reward or punishment but of our soul choosing circumstances suitable for the particular issues that they want to work on in that incarnation, in accordance with their own evolution and the evolution of humanity, Earth, and the Universe.

Interesting... There is a concept in the Western esoteric tradition according to which the heart (astrologically corresponding to the Sun) is the center of the individual and the source of impulses that may be reflected in the brain (the Moon) as thoughts.

...or the more you become a rat. LOL (Not that there would be anything wrong with rats.) No, I'm not just playing with words here. What I mean is, you must claim your ground in the spiritual realm as much as in the physical. Which takes courage and strength.

It's so easy. You are the seed of whatever you're going to be when you will be fully realized (not that there would be such a thing, but let's assume there is, for the sake of the discussion). Now, some seeds need a lot of water, others less; some a lot of warmth, others less; some a soil rich in sodium, others one rich in potassium (I'm not a gardener, I'm making all this up as I go along, but you get the idea). Plus - your requirements can change over time!

You mean, flowing with our own nature?

Using yarrow sticks is a fairly long ritual that might help one to enter a deeper meditative state. Personally, I'm quite satisfied with using coins. I recommend Al Huang: The Numerology of the I Ching: A Sourcebook of Symbols, Structures, and Traditional Wisdom. Especially if you like symbols, structures, and traditional wisdom.

Hmm... What if the shit hits the fan?

Oh boy. How would they know how you FEEL about it? I suppose, they're going to ask the Tarot cards?

Some believe that there once was a complete and perfect system of spiritual knowledge in existence. They tend to think, this or that secret brotherhood is preserving it unaltered to this very day. Truth is, whatever body of knowledge there may have been once, it has been fragmented into so many pieces. We can find them, in many different times and places, and put them back together. If we happen to blend them with new insights, that's fine, too. Surely, every time and place has its unique perspectives and its own contributions to make. Moreover, universal truth must be expressed in ever changing ways in order to stay relevant. There is no evidence for a continuous tradition from times immemorial, and there is no need for one. People who are making fundamentalist claims in this regard are materialists at heart. They don't understand that what is true may be received anew by inspired individuals, over and over. They also don't understand that there is a new spirituality in the making, synthesizing parts and pieces of a universal jig-saw according to a hidden agenda which is of Mankind, of the Earth, and of the Universe. It IS alchemy in action, on a universal scale - that is, following the principles of this universal art. Aude sapere.

The final cause can be seen as a cause that acts backwards in time from the future. A concept from Chaos Theory called "Great Attractor" comes to mind.

Hmm... Interesting topic, to be sure. Just a couple of quick speculative thoughts (with no particular order or coherence intended), as I don't have the time for more right know (it's nearly time to cheer to the New Year here now). Surely Daoism is a beautiful philosophy teaching Man to live in harmony with nature and his fellows. It was not invented by Lau Tzu, but his book became something like its 'Bible'. If he was grossly misunderstood than this must have occurred already a long time ago. It may have been contributed to by several authors over a period of time, to my knowledge. It's also possible that Lao Tzu incorporated (as we would say) contradictory perspectives without seeing them as contradictory himself. As the Dao embraces everything. Maybe, in a sense, he was 'beyond good and evil'. I could also imagine that under the circumstances of his time and place clever manipulation was indeed a more humane alternative for a ruler to open brutal dictatorship. Last but not least, I think it's totally acceptable even if we (perhaps) project any wisdom into the TTC's ambiguous words as long as it helps us to live more at peace. We can't ascertain what was really on Lao Tzu's mind anyway. I certainly look forward to further exchange on this topic.

Hmm... I thought about my last post. Perhaps there is a 'final destination' - in infinity! Which is another way of talking of the Dao.

No final destinations - but stops and steps.

The ejected stellar matter giving birth to new worlds. What is left of the star serves a purpose, too. If the star was massive enough, this will go on as a Black Hole, storing matter and information. Again, one day, after a very long time, it pops, setting its contents free. Possibly contributing to the creation of a new universe. So, there are processes AND destinations - which in turn lead to new processes.

I think that the kind of sophisticated esoteric knowledge you are referring to is more evident in early forms of masonry (such as constructed buildings like the cathedral of Chartres) than in contemporary versions.

Talking about rivers and least resistance, I should add that there are streams and streams. Personally, I have been and continue swimming against some kind of stream (especially the stream of convention) often, feeling that the stream of my Dao wants to take me in the opposite direction.

Can we act against the way of the Dao? (Strictly speaking, that means 'against the way of the way'; but let's not go there.) Yes, just like we can try to swim upstream in a river. Supposedly, the river doesn't care, it's just so much easier to swim with the stream (unless we happen to be a trout). That being said, we CAN act against our own nature. When we do this, we will know by feeling unhappy, perhaps developing health problems etc. It's as though our Dao - part of the universal Dao - has certain aims. Aristotle was talking about the causa finalis, Teilhard de Chardin about the omega point. This has indeed got to do with self-development.