Fa Xin

I interpret this to mean, "the living one in your presence" is the idea that the spirit and power of God is here and now. The disciples were "looking to the past", even though they were right about the number of prophets, and that they embodied the Holy Spirit that is (within) Jesus... Seems like it is a gentle redirection by Jesus to remind us to focus on the living presence that surrounds us, and moves within and through us.

His disciples said to him, "Twenty-four prophets spoke in Israel, and all of them spoke in you." He said to them, "You have omitted the one living in your presence and have spoken (only) of the dead." Gospel of Thomas 52.

Have fun !

This has been my experience with clearing things, too. My perception is - if we're remembering or analyzing, it's not releasing...

"Because the Vajrayana experiences the universe as a play of energy, it has no reason to reject any experience. All expressions of energy, even seemingly negative ones, are grist to it's mill. If you see things in terms of fixed entities, then you have to reject certain experiences. If you see the world as energy, then at worst you will see energy temporarily locked into limiting or negative patterns. However, you will also see that energy as a resource, a potential which can be liberated. For the car owner, a wrecked car is useless, something to be towed away. For the scrap dealer it is a resource. It's raw materials can be melted down to make brand new cars. For this reason, the Vajrayana works with negative emotions in different ways from the Sutrayana. The Hinayana approach is to use mindfulness to hold feelings of cravings and hatred at arm's length. The Vajrayana, however, accepts these feelings as expressions of Reality just like any other, and as powerful energies to be transmuted. It is because the Tantra rejoices in these energies that it has often been misunderstood. Some people have criticized it as a mere license to indulge, others have used it as a mere license to indulge! We can see here why Tantric training has to be built on experience of the other two yanas. The Tantric practitioner has to have enough insight and self-discipline to play with fire - to ride the most raw and powerful energies of the human psyche on the road to liberation." - A Guide to the Deities of the Tantra - Vessantara

I would suggest to continue searching... I am sure there's something out there. You said "I'm doing nothing again and it's so frustrating". Find something you like. You've made a thread about the whole "No effort" , "Stop seeking" mentality that exists in some spiritual circles. I don't think this concept can be forced - it has to happen naturally. Until it does, I would suggest to continue your search and trying to make progress. I don't think any of us would be on this forum, if we had not been seekers, trying to make progress. That process has to run it's course, and it would be a disservice to tell you not to do something you want to do.

Hello, Gloo, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Welcome Gloo, Glad to have you. I don’t know much about the dan tien stuff, but the Five Animal Frolics is a great starting Qigong set. Enjoy the forum! You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

Thanks for the thread, and the great comments so far. My interpretation of the first paragraph... Living in the moment, one should derive pleasure from every activity. With this, one could derive the greatest of fulfillment in "adorning oneself" - so putting on a pair of shoes. One does not need anything else, except the simple act of getting dressed. Living in this way, you "relate to yourself" because the inner and the outer are not separate. It is using the physical world to stimulate feelings that will bring you inside, at the same time (as he says in the second paragraph), using that energy to "clear out the dark corners". These corners are seldom touched by denying what is, literally, right in front of you.

Here's a post/practice to check out,... https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/40548-neutral-witness-preliminary-foundation-practice/ And wow, such helpful ideas in this thread... really great to see everyone adding their own wisdom.

Hello, Catspur, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Welcome Catspur, Good to have you here. Lee Holden is solid and accessible qigong, I like his videos. Not familiar with Jeff Primack, so I'll have to look more into that. Enjoy the forum! You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

I also feel like the whole looking at phones in line has more to do with social anxiety. I notice people look at their phones when they don’t know what else to do. I feel there will be a tipping point in the future, where people start returning to nature and start organically integrating technology rather than binging on it. That or we will just enjoy nature from our VR sets. Skynet will be pleased.

It is a strange place sometimes. I think the overuse of technology is an issue in our society. But that doesn’t make me love people any less. That would be MY issue.

You can’t hold a whirlpool, it has no substantial self existence. It is just a manifestation of water. Talking about a whirlpool does not mean it inherently exists, just the concept that we communicate. It appears to exist, but it is only water.

Hello, enkidu, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Welcome Seraphim, Good to have you, thank you for the detailed and honest introduction. We have threads where we interpret verses from the Dao De Jing, that might be a good place to start. I hope the forum helps! Enjoy You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

Hello, MSN, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Welcome MSN, Good to have you here. Thich Nhat Hanh was one author I enjoyed reading when I first started exploring the Eastern traditions. His books are good. I hope you enjoy the forum You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

That’s why I always say “Thank you” to Alexa. That little bit of kindness will go a long way when Skynet takes over. I hope she remembers me...

Very cool comparison!

Cool synchronicity. I've always viewed the "Tower of Babel" as the symbolic story of the Ego.

Nice thing to put away for a rainy day

Agreed, i think it goes along with Wu wei. What's interesting with that is *why* people (myself included) feel the need to get rid of the ego. I don't think it's because we read it somewhere or believe that we "have to do that." I think deep down, people feel the separation and know that it's not natural.

Yes, this is deep. In order for God to recognize Godself, there has to be a degree of separation. I think one reaches a point where the separation can be viewed as a gift... which to me, manifests as the potential of creation. It's like the whole thing comes full circle... from being separate and miserable, to being united and enjoying, but also recognizing the separateness for what it is - a play of the divine and a means to an end (being drawn back to the One) I'm not sure if we can be completely separate, or completely unified. Maybe a degree of both is important. How can we enjoy the sunshine without the rain

I see now, thank you for clarifying further. So because you are aware of the ego, it's able to dissolve. So more that the concept is helpful, that you know where to look. My own view & practice is different, as the more I try to clear my own ego, the more ego remains. But this goes back to how I view ego. My concept of ego is more that it's an illusion of division, lack, separation. When you return to awareness and just BE - you dissolve the ego. It could return in the next moment, so we must remain aware. To me, there is no big bad ego, that must be slain. The ego never existed in the first place, so how can we get rid of something that was never there? There is just every moment, and we either spend it in presence or we don't. The more we do, the easier it is to remain there, and the illusion of lack becomes less and less. That may mean a falling away of identity and worldly stuff. Now what causes that division, is another topic entirely. I feel many people get trapped trying to get rid of the ego, but there's nothing to get rid of, as it's an illusion in itself. That's just my take on it.

Thanks for the clarification. My definition of ego is slightly different, and I have a feeling everyone here will have their own concept of an ego. So basically you are saying that the ego, as you describe it, is helpful because it is a survival mechanism. That it benefits you that way. Very interesting. Survival is important Animals have a survival instinct, too. But do they have egos?

It is a good question. Maybe Lao Tzu was speaking from the point of view of a personal standpoint. So everything is One (as the TTC points out), that is the truth of the matter, from an objective standpoint - you cannot be apart from it. However, when your caught up in fears, and looking at things from a place of duality... swimming against the current .... it sure feels like you "Lose Dao". This would be an "illusion of being separate" That's my take on it, at least.

Maybe an illusion of being separate?