wandelaar

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Everything posted by wandelaar

  1. Can somebody please explain to me (and possibly to others also) what is going to happen on Jim's Celebration on Sunday. I first though it was going to take place in some bar somewhere in the US (but I couldn't find out where), until I read that we were expected on The Dao Bums itself. Then I read something about the food, until it proved to be virtual. I'm not very active on social media and not at all in the virtual reality thing, so I have no idea what the plans are.
  2. Thank you! I think it is important to remember Marblehead as he was, and not make a Taoist deity of him. As he liked to say he would rather drag his tail in the mud.
  3. Listening to the lyrics of that song one wonders if he felt or knew his end was near...? And also thanks for the quotes!
  4. If he did I didn't realize it.
  5. Maybe it's an idea to make a topic with favorite Marblehead quotes, as a monument to the guy's wisdom and humor.
  6. I'm OK. Thank you.
  7. Yes - still miss him. But that's the way it goes: people come and go, until it's our own time to leave. We too often take it for granted that we're still alive. Better make the best of it, because it can be over before you realize it.

  8. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    That's how it goes around here. Somebody starts a topic about something that interests him, and then Bums who are not interested in this kind of topic flood it with irrelevant postings to kill off any possibility of having a decent discussion. There are hundreds of topics on this website about esoteric and magical forms of Taoism where Bums who like those kind of things can have any discussion they like. And although most philosophical Taoists don't think esoteric and magical Taoism very useful and may even say so, they will not spoil esoteric and magical topics with a barrage of criticisms that are considered irrelevant by the believers. But the same decency isn't shown the other way around. So who are really the narrow minded guys around here? (This was a rather short stay, but I have seen enough bigotry already.)

  9. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    An interesting book on the practical application of (philosophical) Taoism is this annotated translation of the Tao Te Ching: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Ching-Annotated-Explained-Illuminations/dp/1594732043/ref=sr_1_1 Also recommended is this book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585425834/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

  10. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    I have dug up an old topic that might be relevant to this topic also: Don't know where the horse comes from?!

  11. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    @ Ilumairen Yes! Such is the natural way as proposed in the Chuang tse. I think that philosophical Taoism is close to Zen in its appreciation of the wonders of everyday life. And by wonders I don' t mean flying in the air, walking on water, or seeing through walls, but more simple things like unlocking a door or preparing an avocado. I sometimes realize this blissful state of appreciation, and than I'm completely satisfied and happy. But this state soon slips away as the hassles of life drag away my attention.

  12. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Well - that's how it goes... This topic will be bend into esoteric discussions about qi, about weird states of consciousness, and about ancient lineages and practices without a scientific backing. That's what most Bums are here for. They want to escape the drudgery of daily life. They are after the miraculous. They want to acquire special superpowers, and some even want to become immortal. Chuang tse had to laugh about that kind of stuff, but to most Bums here it's what Taoism is all about.

  13. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    A very simple example: when I unlock the front door when I get home I automatically stick the key in the lock in one supple movement hardly noticing what I'm doing or looking at the key or lock, but when I consciously try the replicate the feat it becomes a clumsy and inefficient maneuver. Mastership (in my opinion) only arrives when the techniques have been deeply internalized so that the unconscious can take over.

  14. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    @ ilumairen Well - I'm still active on the internet elsewhere... But I try to stay away from heated debated and other silly business. I agree with Cloudwalking Owl in that I see the current value of Taoism as consisting of it's practical philosophy of life and of some of the forms of art it inspired. I don't think it very useful to copy ancient ways of thought and practice just because they are ancient. They have to be applicable in the world we live in. It's in living my life that Taoism has to bear fruit, or it won't. (All in my opinion of course. )

  15. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    I' m OK, thank you. I have been busy elsewhere, and with other things.

  16. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    @Cloudwalking Owl Well I'm not at that level yet. I think I understand the basics now, but I still have a long way to go to apply them in the masterful manner you describe.

  17. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    wandelaar replied to Cloudwalking Owl's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Yes - you are right, there is hardly any discussion on Taoism as a practical philosophy of life. When I joined this forum I started a few topics on Taoism as applied to daily life. But hardly anybody seems to care about it. We will see if things have changed for the better. If so - then I will join in the discussion. If not - then I will simply continue following my own way and leave others to theirs.
  18. Yes. When zak is willing to do a new experiment for publication here on The Dao Bums then I will be happy to participate (and suggest some improvements in the experimental setup ).

  19. What We Think We Know

    wandelaar replied to OldDog's topic in General Discussion

    @C T So I'm acting as a robot, while you are partly free? Following the advice of manitou I will quit this non-discussion. Good luck.

  20. What We Think We Know

    wandelaar replied to OldDog's topic in General Discussion

    It seldom happens that people are convinced by arguments. When I was young I loved participating in debates. But not any more. However - the compulsion to correct what I think is wrong dies hard.

  21. What We Think We Know

    wandelaar replied to OldDog's topic in General Discussion

    On the basis of your latest posts I have to conclude that we largely agree. So no problem there. For your information, I have been greatly influenced by Karl Popper in finding a way out of the traditionalism-criticism dilemma. My ironic post about "impressive" was directed to CT who is hiding behind overly abstract language as a way to escape criticism. It's exactly by using simple (or at least well defined) words with a relatively "rigid meaning" that one can expose oneself to possibly meaningful and useful criticism. That's the way I follow. Not hiding or obfuscating, but sticking out one's position as clear as possible. And by the way, I don't consider my own personality as in any way great or superior. I'm only trying to make good use of its peculiarities.

  22. What We Think We Know

    wandelaar replied to OldDog's topic in General Discussion

    Nice - sounds impressive.

  23. Proposed simplification of forums

    wandelaar replied to sean's topic in Forum and Tech Support

    1. Truth (Simple - who needs falsehoods!)

  24. What We Think We Know

    wandelaar replied to OldDog's topic in General Discussion

    Could you please tell us what "one's relationship with numerous reference points" means?

  25. What We Think We Know

    wandelaar replied to OldDog's topic in General Discussion

    Yes - but we cannot throw away everything all at once, even if we wanted to. Critical evaluation is always a piecewise process. I don't believe there is a "pure me" somewhere inside that will appear as soon as I succeed in doing away with everything I ever learned. If such were possible than I would simply fall back to the state of a grown up baby unable to speak, reason or behave myself in public. We should - in my opinion - follow a middle way between pure traditionalism and pure criticism. Not because it's a middle way, but because both alternatives to it are absurd.