Fa Xin

Phenomena is so fun though...

Cool post! Yes, seems it's all about intention we set. The props sometimes aid in our ability to tap into our intention. Take a "house blessing" for instance. Walking around the house, burning sage or throwing holy water... takes about 30 minutes. Does it feel clean? And take another type of house blessing. Closing your eyes and imagining the whole house is purified...takes about 5-10 seconds. Which one is more effective? No real answer, of course... unless it's "depends on who is doing it". Welcome to the Bums!

Very good point. I can only surmise that it is symbolic of something, like the rest of the scriptures tend to be... but maybe not...

Phenomena happens... just watch it come and go, like the waves of the ocean. Sometimes it's crazy and intense, other times it's a small noise. None of it lasts, I've found.

71) Jesus said, "I shall destroy [this] house, and no one will be able to rebuild it." Thoughts anyone? One of those cheery passages ...

Also known as Azrael. “Been smiting since 2000BCE”

Really good advice, and a thorough and detailed post. Two thumbs up !

This reminds me of Verse 22... Specifically the bolded part (22) Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, "These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom." They said to him, "Shall we then, as children, enter the kingdom?" Jesus said to them, "When you make the two one, and when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below, and when you make the male and the female one and the same, so that the male not be male nor the female female; and when you fashion eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, and a likeness in place of a likeness; then will you enter the kingdom." Kind of like, recognizing the Kingdom within is also without...

Yes... especially the last line in the last quote ... “Having put his hand to plough, and looking back...” Looking back to me represents he is attached to his work and also everything that comes with it. He also doubts, and looks back with uncertainty.

This one seems pretty interesting to me. I'll leave it for others to interpret. 70) Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you."

Ahhhh, thanks. makes more sense now. The sometimes painful process of having worldly things fall away. The desire for truth- spiritual truth, hungry for inner peace.

Good one. Not sure he means actually hated and persecuted by people, but maybe he does. I interpret it like living a spiritual life, you will find yourself at odds with mundane worldly things. No place to be found ... makes me think of awareness being expanded...having no center or no identification with these mundane worldly places you find yourself in.

Awesome thread! a lot of “conscious reggae” has a very heart opening feel for me. I like this tune a lot.

Xi Wang is much more substantial in terms of energy than Lao. Where he feels like an open stadium, she feels like a room full of warm electricity.

I think you may be overthinking it. Go with your gut; what feels right. Trust yourself !

Hello, Ive recently renewed my study in the TTC. Having fun with it and reviewing the threads here. I was wondering what are some of the key verses for everyone here? Which chapters struck a personal chord in you? Which do you feel capture the heart of some important aspects? i should mention, my previous interest in this book was purely how it related to Taijiquan and Neijia in general. I read it looking for ways to help my practice. Now, I’m seeing it all in a different light. It’s cool to see how such a “simple” text can have profound unfoldings on many levels for many years. Thanks!

Just for fun I did one too Verse Attain the ultimate emptiness Hold on to the truest tranquility The myriad things are all active I therefore watch their return Everything flourishes; each returns to its root Returning to the root is called tranquility Tranquility is called returning to one's nature Returning to one's nature is called constancy Knowing constancy is called clarity Interpretation All things are inherently empty Be unattached to those things... ...even though they are active and lively. I observe them disappear; As Things flourish; things also perish They perish and become free from clinging Freedom is one's nature Find freedom and you find constancy (The rising and falling of God) Finding constancy, you see how things really are (Clarity) Edit: I guess you can see the Buddhist influence on my interpretation

Thanks for the message. Great stuff. Funny enough - the name Fa Xin was given to me by a Chan Buddhist order 😃 Good eye. I very much enjoy and agree with your translation of the text. I have a few questions, to clarify. The constantcy they speak of - by your interpretation - is the cycle of life? The inevitable cycle of life flourishing? for me the key to this verse is “I therefor watch their return”. There is something important in this verse... is he simply watching things grow and die? Or is there a deeper symbolism to the word “watch”? also, how can we get to our true nature by observing things flourish and die?

Thank you! I'm beginning to see the positive side of having more than one translation !

Yes! Great point about Ganesha. Glad you brought that to the table. So Ganesha helps to clear karmic/energetic blockages?

Hi Mig, Thanks for the great questions. This chapter in particular to me represents kind of how all things are empty. (It may be different to the next person) Like the line, "Watch the workings of all creation, but contemplate their return to the source" This reminds me how things are impermanent, that phenomena will rise and fall, but ultimately everything returns to the "Source" which could be the Dao, or emptiness, I don't know what you call it. People will have varying opinions, and I am not one to say one way or another. The "Mandate of Heaven" means to me - the sum total of all things. The fact we are here right now, in this place, in these bodies - and no where else... just here. Did you choose to come here? Did you choose to manifest yourself in this time, this place? In 2018 Earth in whatever country? I know I didn't. I just kind of found myself here, by Heaven's Decree or whatever force deemed it necessary I be here (maybe for pure carnal amusement?) I can either fight that... ask "Why me?" and struggle against "What is" ... or just kind of "Submit to heavens mandate" and find "tranquility" in that submission to the Dao/Heaven/God. Once you submit to "heavens mandate", in my experience, things just kind of rise and fall, and return to the source. It's like watching a play being performed, with it's ups and downs, but you know its all just Lila (a divine play).

This one has stuck out for me so far. Sorry about the photo - was easier than trying to copy and paste on my phone.

for me was more seeing that - this moment was all there was. Crystal clear. Also knowing that all thoughts were just stories, and all things were just arising and falling. The eternal “now” with “stuff” happening. All the rest was just the mind. I got the whole “not the body or mind” thing too, but what I wrote above was how it “came thru” for me. of course, things are still unfolding. Never really reach an end point.

Very cool! Thanks for your descriptions. Sounds like a very intricate process, kudos for sticking with it. When you say clearing crown to heart, can I ask why? Does the healing qi come down from above, or is it the pathway the qi flows? I guess my view of things is: rather than clearing specific channels, I clear the issues and junk associated with my conditioning. As I do this, I feel the channels clear as a biproduct of that letting go. I very much enjoyed your quote on the heart knot!!! Great find. and agree that specific “love” and worldly concepts therein fall away. Your family and friends take the level of strangers in your heart: everyone becomes equal. It can be a very confusing and frustrating time for someone who isn’t aware of what is happening, I can imagine.

How do you know when it’s a good time to focus on the heart? Does the energy start to rise by itself? For me, things like everyday compassion or caring for others will open the heart. Kind of abandoning yourself to take care of others (could be a family member or a stranger). We may have different ideas about what a open heart actually means.