adept

Lao Tzu probably never existed. The DDJ is most likely the work of many hands. Who are these 'top disciples' of the fabled 'Lao Tzu' ?

Hsu Yun

True masters None of these performed 'miracles'

I've found a better teacher of the Tao here.

So what ! My master is better than that. When he's hungry, he eats. When he's tired, he sleeps.

More fundamentalist fear-mongering preaching. What about the dangers of walking in front of a bus or of living in an area where radiation levels are rocketing ? These are real dangers. The end of the world is nigh !.

Or a Ch'an bum In the words of the profound Ch'an text the Hsin Hsin Ming : 'The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised. Make the smallest distinction, however and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything. To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind. When the deep meaning of things is not understood the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail.' These could easily be the words of a Taoist sage. The similarities are startling.

I wasn't so enthusiastic about my visit to the relic tour.

By stating that this qigong is 7000 years old makes gullible westerners sit up and take notice. Wow, this must be the most ancient, ultimate qigong of all. :lol: Sounds like another marketing ploy by silk pyjama'd chinese business people to rip off unsuspecting folk. The latest craze in finding the oldest form of qigong. The funny thing is, people actually fall for the spin.

I know exactly where you're coming from. I have dealt with my issues regarding this also and now I see the path clearly.

Over the years I've accumulated waaaay too much written material on Taoism and Buddhism. I've got hundreds of PDF's on my hard drive, books, magazines, cd's, vids, mp3's. And where has it got me ? Absolutely nowhere. I'm probably more mixed up now than when I first started my search for the answers to life's big questions. This week I was forced to face life head on, where all the teachings of the long gone masters and sages had no impact or relevance to me whatsoever. My wife had a miscarriage. It has been a terribly upsetting week for us and our family. Something that has changed me forever. My heart goes out to anyone who has to experience this awful tragedy. I started to question and re-examine everything I've read and learned. I read some of my older posts on the forums and the replies I've given to others when I came across this post by Kali Yuga. Something clicked straight away. I really need to 'burn all my holy books' once and for all. Not literally of course. I'll give them away or sell them on. I need to strike out on my own and forge ahead on my own path, and not rely on the words and teachings of others. Back to basics. The simple things. Qigong, Zhan Zhuang and Meditation. No books, no scriptures, no talks, no videos. I need to find myself. Not another's interpretation of it.

Thanks to everyone for all your words of support. And the pics Gerard ! We're slowly but surely coming to terms with our grief and moving forward. I have definitely changed quite a bit in the last week. Sometimes a tragedy can be a catalyst for personal growth. The path is now clear to me and I know what I need to do. Time to push on with my cultivation.

This is only your opinion. Do you have the right to judge what path folks take ? We are all different and all have our own way of dealing with these issues. Your view of enlightenment is a universe away from mine. That does not make me right or wrong. Show a little respect for all the masters, sages and ordinary laypeople who have cultivated these 'wrong paths' successfully for thousands of years. If no one had cultivated these qualities we wouldn't have the wonderful poetry, paintings, sculptures, gardens, temples, mountain retreats, etc, etc, that obviously come from an enlightened mind.

I did read them and although they sound remarkable, it could also just be 'guru marketing'.

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Thanks Otis and Blasto and Mythmaker. Terrible news Blasto. My thoughts to all concerned. Actually 365 Tao is about the only book that has any value to me. DMD has a wonderful way of expressing the Tao in a day to day living style, that no other author has come close to. We're lucky in that we have two wonderful children, but that doesn't soften the blow.

Shaolin Qigong

I was 29. That would have been 1998.

Personally I would go straight to Chuang Tzu. Very much overlooked on these forums in favour of the TTC which is more conservative and closer to Confucianism in my opinion. The Chuang Tzu is more laid back and natural in it's approach. Quintessential wu wei. For an easier ride however 365 Tao is great for daily contemplations.

What 'powers' come with enlightenment ? What is enlightenment ? Who or what becomes enlightened ? How can you help yourself to achieve enlightenment ? That means there is a you and also a yourself. Go deeper, much deeper.

San Ti

Well the two films that made me cry were The Pianist and Schindler's List. The utter disregard for the life of another is really disturbing in these two holocaust films.

Who created the creator ?

Hi ejr. I'm not sure if my words are going to be adequate in describing this but I'll have a go. Mindfulness of each and every moment as it happens, without the mind drifting off. A very hard thing to keep up at all times, and years of regular meditation will certainly help with this. Enlightenment, awakening or whatever you want to call it is not some state that once you get there, you live like this the rest of your life. You will still have all your fears, worries, anger, greed, desire etc etc. It's just that you will deal with every situation in a different way than before. You will not become attached to the working of your mind because now you will see everything as change. Temporary, transient, in a constant state of flux. From the destruction and creation of stars and galaxies, to every thought pattern that your mind produces. Yes, life does just carry on the same as before and will continue to do so. Only you will look at it from another angle. Nothing to pursue, it's already there before you. It just needs uncovering. The more you chase after IT, the further away IT will be. When it's uncovered people find their own way of expressing it. Look at the ancient Chinese landscape paintings and poems. Or the Zen gardens of Japan. Absolutely wonderful expressions of enlightenment. As I've stated somewhere before, the great mystery is that there is no mystery.