Michael Sternbach

Which ties in with the question if there is an ultimate enlightenment. I doubt it. I believe that enlightenment has degrees, and the self is not limited in its growth towards universal consciousness, which is infinite.

You may be you. (Or you may be me.)

I'm not sure what the so-called non-gradual approaches are, really. There seems to always be some kind of process leading to a peak, even though the latter may show itself all of a sudden.

'Meaning' may mean something different to the self than to the ego.

Right. Ego coming undone may lead you to your truth.

I take it you are talking about Brahman (God), which is Atman (Supreme Self) in the Hindu system? If everything else does not exist but an interpretation, what is it that we are interpreting? And who is the interpreter?

Are you talking about meaningless revelations?

Often, enlightenment occurs when the borders of the ego have been shattered, molten, or burned off. So when you come undone - ask yourself what may be the deeper meaning of your state.

Yierh's nose being lopped off with right and wrong means that Yierh could no longer smell his way the way a dog does, so to speak.Growing a new nose would enable him to be whole again, as well as holistic: Seeing the bigger picture. Thus reacting to the situations that the ever changing Dao provides with vivid sensibility rather than with a set of rigid rules.

To me, this highlights the defiance of the moralistic perspective that is so typical of most religions. I had many discussions about that with Christians, Buddhists and, yes, even Daoists who were all hard pressed to go beyond their judgemental views. The Dao is good, but in its own unclassifiable ways. So is the sage. Sometimes leaving those baffled who cling to rigid and abstract systems of 'right' and 'wrong', rather than adapting to the ever changing requirements that life in its subtlety presents. At least if it's supposed to be a happy one.

'Unintelligible' sums it up well for me. Yeah, let's wish him best.

Excellent. I read Bruce Lee's Tao of Jeet Kune Do when I was fourteen. Its words induced a state of clarity and tranquility in me that lasted several days. I was deeply impressed by Bruce's philosophy.

Awesome! On a somewhat more serious note, yes, there is art and science in boxing - for other martial arts to learn from. But just like in most of the latter, the sportive aspect prevails in modern boxing, and while advanced boxers are good at both dealing out and taking blows, it is not uncommon for them to break their hands in a real altercation, because throwing punches without the protection pf the wraps and bandages and gloves really changes their dynamic. It goes without saying that in the old days of bare knuckle boxing, things were different.

When my mind is excited, my breathing gets accelerated and my heartbeat goes faster. Vice versa, perceptions and substances that are received by my body will be reacted to by my mind. The two are not-two.

'Tat Tvam Asi.' I maintain that all my body parts are (part of) me. (However, hair or a piece of finger nail that has been cut off is no longer me.)

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Hi James, Welcome to TDB! Been around for awhile as I share your passion for spiritual /philosophical topics. And my martial arts practice includes some Taiji as well. We seem to have a similar background then - except that mine is green. Love under Will

Our body is the living expression of our self on the physical level. I agree that our existence isn't limited to the physical: We are not just our body. But it is part of us, for the time being, and we are it, too. We have several bodies besides the physical one, BTW. The other ones exist on more subtle levels and encompass various aspects of our mind and soul. They are as real - or unreal - as the physical body. Some say that only our innermost soul essence is real. I don't quite agree, but I would consider this a more viable position.

The 'Mürrenbachfall' in the Bernese Oberland thunders 417 meters into the depth. Watch Switzerland's highest waterfall from the coziness of your cablecar...

Yes, there is often a citizenry calling for more and/or stricter laws, especially after they have been made believe by politicians and the media that this is the appropriate way to respond to an alleged great threat. Most of all, here is the rationalization for the extensive surveillance of the general public, where everyone is a suspect a priori. This speaks to a deep distrust in human nature. Some people's utopia is a world in which a violation of (whatever they consider to be) lawful conduct is no longer even an option, at least not without certain punishment. However, the Daoist sage understands that, for any desired condition to be stable, some of its opposite must be allowed for (the black yin spot in the white yang, and vice versa). A society should be cautious in such efforts; even though they may seem to serve a good cause, they will - like anything that goes too extreme - eventually lead to the opposite. And that's right what Laotzu said with fewer words in chapter 57 and elsewhere.

It's akin to mothers raising their kids in a super clean household - it can be shown that the immune system of such children is weaker than normal, due to lack of 'training'.

As it happens, I will visit California in less than three weeks - for eleven days.

In a place where lots of laws and enactments are considered a necessity, there is a focus on crime. And that focus will energetically support and attract crime. Which will in turn reinforce the apparent importance of laws and enactments. The result is a vicious circle.

My favourite kanji: Ai - Love. Lovely!

If you look at them as friends, then they will be!