Mig

Isn't that a reason why we are here since we are born. attach to living and not dying?

Aren't attachments all different, some are material, some are mental, some are influenced by others? Can someone be specific on attachments?

Isn't' the dog in the bottom better, simple and illustrative of a dog?

They don't look like dogs, in the beginning I thought they were marsupials, with all those breeds you find out there and some of good calligraphists, I vote to change it.

I think the contributions were stimulating and the way each see Daoism from their own magnifying glasses. We all see different realities and I am always stunned to read "western Daoist" or "American Daoist" as that concept doesn't count the different perspectives from different countries, cultures and languages.

I am not sure if reserved by nature is natural. I guess the intelligentsia of Mandarins didn't help for people to be reserved. As for humility, I find odd the received version couldn't come up with one word for the third treasure. Of course, if humility works for you then great, I was just wondering about the third treasure in the way it was interpreted by scholars or practitioners and how it is interpreted both in Chinese culture and outside of the Chinese culture.

Wonder what happened to the American Daoists? Or maybe whatever country/culture Daoists?

I guess if the original text doesn't have one particular word or compound word to say humility, I guess that's all we can say as the original " not daring to come to the front of the world " and not use humility in most of western languages.

Precisely, why I asked the question about the 3 treasures, especially the 3rd one that is interpreted as humility. The received DDJ doesn't have the word "humility" but not daring to come in the world to the front. Wouldn't "humility" a term with heavy western religious connotations?

And what are those 3 treasures from your interpretation for someone aiming to be great?

I understand. My curiosity was that such personal or some one own interpretation doesn't help to a beginner. As I read other translations that are close to the original and its commentaries, I understand much better the content and message of the DDJ.

I guess there is a lot of misconceptions about Kung-fu, self defense, fighting arts especially in China where fighting was one the few options to survive so many styles I have seen and the one I practice (hongjiaquan, hunga kyun) are effective in street fighting, armed conflicts and brawls. Of course, it depends on the practitioner. Also, I think there is the cultural factor that has not been understood in the west, not to mention the differences in popular beliefs and knight errands stories. Fighting is ugly and not pretty at all when it turns bad, it is not like in the movies or in novels. As someone said, if you want to fight then fight with professional fighters then you will see the difference.

http://fiveimmortals.com/zao-wan-gong-ke/

How interesting to see that as I put "Honduras" in the search box, I couldn't find a posting on Honduras. Why Honduras? Oh well, if you check the news online or regular papers, you will see that little or almost nothing is said about Honduras so why not checking it out. I bet you very few people even know that Honduras is another banana republic. It is until you read the history of Honduras from 1907 till today that you will understand what's going on in that little country. Another reason for you to inquire is because there was a presidential election Nov 27, 2017. So far so good. That was the beginning of what many people knew about presidential election in those countries, i.e. fraud. This time it was unmasked and social media was aware and again, news didn't cover as much as they have done it with Venezuela or other countries that media don't want to cover, I guess, or may be they were told not to say anything about those little countries or $..holes. Who knows. Well this time, the elections were rigged big time and done pretty bad by the re-elected president that it was not possible to believe it will happen again. In spite of all efforts from the opposition I noticed little was mentioned from major newspapers around the world when this happened. It makes me think how media, fact and sensationalist news are manipulated for the interest of the most powerful. The surprise is that few countries recognized the new re-elected president of Honduras. Yesterday, the new president had his ceremony and again, that news is not covered as others especially the protests that had lasted already over two months.

Aside the media, I find that Honduras is not an isolated case and still is down south, another US colony. Of course, when mass of people migrate from Honduras to the US then is a big problem, not to mention those who are illegals who live here is even worst. Interesting how news are twisted. I knew 40 years ago how media manipulated news and now is even worse and much more sofisticated. Today, since there is practically no ideology around the world, people don't even care and who knows how new generations will act considering they are a spoiled generation demanding for instant gratification. In God we Trust LOL

Wonder what happened to the altar and what's the experience after five years of having an altar. Or have someone else had a similar experience both in having an altar and making a distinction of religion and philosophy in Daoism??

Isn't that interesting that almost 40 people died protesting in the past two months without weapons and typically individuals from impoverished areas. Those are the victims who paid with their lives and no one picture, no one video or news on that. Even here in this forum, when they talked about Venezuela, tons of postings on those news and now a country which is a military and economical strategic to exploit and provide more revenue to US is totally ignored. What's interesting is history repeats by itself, just like in the 1920's or 1940's as a reference. Read the Carlson letter and you will see how it had happened in the past and how it is happening today. Presidential elections were rigged in 2009 and in November 2017 was more than obvious to witness a fraud that today is accepted as normal that it became insignificant news in most of the industrialized countries. After November 27, 2017 you could search Honduras news and it was found as the last news that it was hard to find. Clearly, most of the media is certainly manipulated by big money. I can't explain it otherwise.

Quick search on YouTube and found this (I know transcription is in Cantonese):

I read some of it and most of the DDJ translations are from S. Mitchell. After reading some reviews about S. Mitchell mistranslated chapters or lines I wonder how much one can stretch imagination to convey what the original text says. Have someone read that article or is there a review on it?

Chapter 10 In holding the soul and embracing oneness Can one be without straying? In concentrating the energy and reaching relaxation Can one be like an infant? In cleaning away the worldly view Can one be without imperfections? In loving the people and ruling the nation Can one be without manipulation? In the heavenly gate's opening and closing Can one hold to the feminine principle? In understanding clearly all directions Can one be without intellectuality? Bearing it, rearing it Bearing without possession Achieving without arrogance Raising without domination This is called the Mystic Virtue Cf Derek Lin translation IMO two different translations and the first one about love is far from the original. It is an interpolation of the translations of: Lin Yutang, Ch'u Ta-Kao, Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English, Richard Wilhelm and Aleister Crowley. This amalgamation was done by Peter Merel, The second one is much closer to the original though needs more explanation from commentaries.

I am curious to know how Daoism deals with justice and injustice, say for example injustice cases as against child abuse, those who are victims because of they become the prey of those who are stronger, richer or meaner. I understand that in some cases a Daoist practitioner would not contend or argue but not sure if you he/she will do something to help others in order to do something about injustice. Let me know if I am clear. Thanks,

Thank you Rara, great input and need time to digest and understand your responses. And thank you for the book, just found a copy online and one more book to read https://skepdic.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/The_Moral_Landscape__How_Science_Can_Determine_Human_Values.pdf

Briefly, I see nature as a constant battle for survival just like when I eat something I can only imagine what happens to food and nutrients in my stomach. Even at the neutron level, I can see there is constant battle. So seeing nature as peaceful or calm, it is not my perception, I see both sides and what brings me tranquility. Now in terms of social justice and what I can contribute to society, I am opposed to drugs (all of those that people become dependent of), sexual harassment, child abuse, racism, among many where my voice can be heard.

Just forgot to ask how de 德 is related to 義: Righteousness , 德 morality,virtue. I had the impression 德 was an inheriting power or moral excellence. Or the other meaning as in Zhuangzi 5: “De is maintenance/cultivation of complete (inner) harmony” (德者成和之脩也).

Isn't Dao=nature and Daoist=human? Are injustices created by humans for humans and animals? Or could you give me examples of injustices? Correct me if I am wrong, I have the impression that Daoists are always where wealth prevails not necessarily where people struggle day after day.