Lucky7Strikes

And where does one draw the line between "thinking" and "feeling"?

And where does one draw the line between "thinking" and "feeling"?

So what is happiness? When you are happy do you not "think" you are happy? And what does it mean to "think" you are happy? When you are not happy, is there a distinctive thought that says "I am not happy (sad) etc.?"

These are very valid reasons. Going public can be disastrous (we've seen a few examples of this). True seekers are expected to seek out the masters and teachers. Taoist cultivation is not a child's play: Certain practices are very dangerous if done without a proper guide. This quote actually displays how much you've actually "been there done that." .

What were your intentions?

That Guy, You're the one missing out. Not us. .

No one becomes a Buddha, a sage, an immortal, etc. by accident. They may have certain realizations, attain certain states, but all in all these accidental events can as well lead the person further into delusion. They become trapped in the event's incomprehensible power.

I don't see that quote as mystical or belonging solely to Buddhist thought. It explains the reality our perception creates as we delve deeper and deeper into each one. These "realms" are just as real in this world as the next. You can really see it everyday in various people. There's absolutely nothing mystical about it.

I commit!

Red Pine is always good. Although I've noticed a few misprints.

Lol, I think this is about right! No one really knows. I have yet to read anyone on this forum come out and claim Eureka! This is the Tao! Only speculation like I have written above. The true sage is somewhere in the mountains laughing to himself. Very literally so. The ambiguity is the very essence of Taoism. It is really the beauty of the Chinese language as well. Always leaves the cup half empty and lets the individual sort through the woods! It is the Path that is stressed and never the attainment. Everything is observed, experimented with, formulated, invented along the Way. It is very joyful and open ended, a celebration of some sorts I guess. .

There is no one to make the effort. No "I" and no liberation or bondage as all happens according to Brahman. Whether I meditate and gain supreme liberation, or suffer in a hell realm for eternity is neither of my choice as my existence is no other than the supreme Lord. And when I ask Brahman why he plays this cruel game, his reply is that it is all in the hands of the Supreme existence separating, uniting, suffering, rejoicing, and becoming enlightened. And I tell him how cruel this creation is when I see all the suffering around the world, and He tells me that all this is suffering only according to my unenlightened eye! Transcend WHAT? There is nothing to transcend in the first place as all is of Brahman. Let go! Actually there is nothing to let go, what can "I" do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. .

Relativity gives birth to everything! Emptiness is the mother to all creation! Interpretively these would makes sense even for a Buddhist. Stig pointed out that the very first chapter of Taoism denies the "Oneness" of Taoism. The Tao, as in my understanding of it, can be seen to give constant "birth" to everything. Chunag Tzu does talk about dependent origination in the very beginning chapters. I believe I quoted this for you some time ago. But (and this is an important but) it isn't as emphasized as a Taoist "seal" or any of that sort. Again, the very approach and attitude of Taoism is different from Buddhsim. For example, Taoism doesn't begin with "life is suffering!" As I said before, I have yet encountered a clear concise explanation of what "Taoist Enlightenement" is. This is probably because there is no concrete religion called Taoism or a ultimate goal to it in the first place. Why do you still cling to the Tao Te Ching as the supreme text on Taoism? It is not so.

. Enough Hindu thought has been discussed here. If you think you can contribute more from that angle go ahead, no one's stopping you. I don't know anything besides what comes out of my own mind! And what comes out of my mind comes from other people as well. And I don't know anything about Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism. Only of this existence . And the Hindu told me that I was a part of Brahman and had no free will and that I am a manifestation of God! . If you think otherwise, please go ahead and say so.

Even if the Tao is interpreted as a "primal" gravitational force (which I am not by the way). Attachment, identity, clinging, all these things that connect and create one entity from another is still is what is happening. You can even call it the force of ignorance. It is the relativity that creates everything. Surely you won't say scientists "reify" gravity? The Tao is not about a state of perception nor non-perception. It is not talking about a source. Taoists do not call it the Way for no reason, because to merge with the Way does not mean to merge with an identifiable creator. This is totally different from the concept of Brahman playing with existence that is non other than Himself. Here, there is only the directional aspect as the destination is existent only as long as there is the Path, so really it is non-existent. Only the Path. The Way.

I like this thread. It's like someone cut Dwai's head off and he multiplied into a thousand more heads! . Stig has written some amazing insights into the nature of the Tao. Very simple and very clear. I think a lot of people missed it! This core, in which all creation acts around through a magnetic like nature, but can never be found except through that which surrounds it! Does this not sound familiar??!! HAHA! It is the "I." The invisible ego!, and at its purest, an ever illuminating light that is the whole reason, the whole source of creation! BUT, It can never be found. Why? Because it only exists through the created content that is reality. Yet this source emanates a force, an intent, that makes life, well, LIFE. Reality is therefore based around an imaginary concept of "I." A center without a center! Nothing could have begun, because there is no source. Only conditions and manifestation circulating around the conceptual "I." A pattern. A habit! Refining the personal elements into the center and transcending the coarse levels of manifestation lead the practitioner into this coreless core. Thus it is said to search the root of the "I" thought! A trick nonetheless! The closer you approach the Tao, more undivided and pure your mind becomes. But it is non-existent!! HAHAHA! So what the hell actually goes on?? It is realized that the process is not an approach to the source, but the liberation of the Samsaric habitual patterns around this "source." This non-existent "I," and the force that holds it into an imaginary ego explodes from the confines of a cyclical entrapment and is liberated through mind, body, and spirit. Ever non-abiding, ever virtuous, the true sage wonders through the spectrum of creation! Thus he is at one with his true essence, which is without being, non-being. Which in its very nature is ever dynamic and evolving!! . Now, I'll give it to the Buddha for explaining why this is all so. The contents of creation is because of this "I" thought the endlessly interacts with other "I" thoughts thereby creating, destroying, and in the end imprisoning itself. I think I'm the only one who really benefits from these threads. . Thanks everyone!

Then there is the obsession to letting go. A grasping to letting go. Just don't identify with it! Then who is there to NOT identify with it? You shouldn't burn the books. They are quite useful. To observe breathing forever will simply make you an observer of the breath. The problem with people like Adyashanti is that he wanted to attain a state of liberation. There was an effort towards an idealistic goal. And since it could never come to fruition that way, he made more progress by letting that attachment go. And Ah ha! a great release of burden! bliss! And that burden was self made in the first place! And so they abandon the traditional doctrine of effort to signify the practice of "non-effort." To let go or whatever, "you are already there!" kind of thing. But to do that is not to see that in non-doing, there is doing. And in effortless, there is effort. Moreover, true effort and action is both effortless and still.

... You seem to have missed out on all the parties!

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. (I..sense... )

double.

No no, you are again getting it wrong. It is the approach of ambiguity that is important. Not the transcendent or self luminous light or whatever. As a result there are no dogmas in Taoism. Only practitioners. HAHAHAHAHA, You just...you just might be a Buddhist! And you get it? Have you had the epiphany?

Infinity exists only in potential probabilities. Like dreams. They come to fruition through an illusionary process. So it's an infinite of "what if" possibilities acting themselves out according to this ghost like mind! It is endless and without center because nothing is actually happening. .