ZenStatic

Well, #1, why would he need to develop a thicker skin, when he is not the one complaining about the way he is being treated? As far as getting to know our culture, which culture would that be? We have a lot of nationalities here. #2, just because someone is on an "anonymous" forum, doesn't give them the right to act like an ass. There was no challenging or taking apart of ideas. There was people disagreeing and taking out there disdain for "organized religion" on this guy. It's really quite sad. If these kinds of posts are going to be the new guard of TTB, then things could get mighty bleak around here. People will stop posting things for fear the goon squad will come and verbally beat them because they don't agree.

He said someone asked him to post it. Nowhere does he come even close to putting everyone down, at all. That's just your own bullshit clouding your vision. You really can't see the difference between English and other languages? Anytime you try to take something out of its original language, there is a huge potential for lots to get lost. Look at all the issues Christianity and Islam have, all because of different translations of their book. And then look at how the jews solve the problem. They require all young men that wish to delve deeper into judaism to learn hebrew. Period. That way there can be no issue at all with what is meant. Even the TTC. Go compare different translations. You get a much different idea from many of them with the way they put things. And then, you compare taoist practices to buddhist practices? In this case they surely are very different. Perhaps I am wrong, but taoist spells would involve qi gathering, redirecting, usage etc. Work with a specific, tangible, energy. Buddhist mantras, for the most part, are for the speaker to focus. And in some cases are a prayer. Different on so many levels. Okay. We get it. You resent this guy because he is part of an "organized religion." If you feel the need to disrespect everything he has to say in every post, why are you even here on a forum that takes pride in its diversity? If he becomes another "join me or the world will end" kind of guy, then it will be dealt with. But while he is sharing knowledge from the way he was taught and trained, why don't you just leave your own issues outside.

Ah, but how do you know if enlightenment might be found in marriage and children? The sheer level of innocence in a little child can teach us many things.

Nice to see you can completely contradict yourself in 2 sentences. Most people at least add some filler between. There is an old saying to keep in mind, "It's not what you say, but how you say it." When you say "bordering on delusion", you don't show honest opinion, you show disrespect. There are many other ways you could have said the same thing without stooping to a personal attack.

Well, you really do have to remember that we are taking a part of a religion and calling it our own. It's like if we went to Christianity and said "Ok, we like this this and this. We are taking Matthew and John, you can have all the rest. But we are still calling ourselves Christians." And really, who knows what we may be missing because we automatically dismiss all the religious aspects out of hand. There may be some rituals that would help in cultivation that we will never know. And, he may have gone about it the wrong way, but he has a decent point regarding books. It's great we read the books, but still for the most part the meaning can be very hard to grasp. Otherwise we wouldn't come here and discuss various topics. I don't have the energy to search it down, but there is a whole lot of times that people let new seekers know that taoism is more to be experienced than read about. And when it comes to cultivation, I believe everyone here that ever mentioned learning qigong, taiji, etc from a dvd or book, was recommended to find a teacher, because even small mistakes in posture etc can really ruin energy flow and such. Sometimes we need to just learn to ignore the parts of something we don't like and take the good out of it. Or if we are going to point out the negative, do it in a much more productive way. Some things, like conartists, deserve our ire, others do not.

Wow, I don't know where some of the people that I have seen posting lately came from, but some of you have major attitude issues. I personally don't agree with a dogmatic approach to Taoism either, but that is no reason for you people to be disrepectful assholes to someone that is trying to share what they know. Not too forget, that some of what you are posting is bullshit anyway. Since when? I know taijiquan, qigong, etc all are energy cultivation. But that is NOT taoism. Taoism is very much a philosophy, and/or lifestyle. I have never seen energy practices taught in the TTC, Zhuang Zhu<sp?>, etc. There are cultivation practices based on taoist principles, but that is again, not taoism istelf. . So then Lao Tzu knew nothing as well, right? Which leads to a paradox, since he is the one telling you that to begin with. Whether any of us like it or not, religious taoism made it possible for us westerners to become exposed to theses texts, because they kept them alive. 1st off, that's not a chinese thing, but is done by teachers in most of the asian religions. The point is to get you thinking to where you find the answer yourself. But the majority of westerners, myself included, don't have the patience to learn things for ourselves most times. We want the answer when we want it, which is 5 minutes ago. My entire point here is that there are a few people that need to calm down. It's one thing to disagree with someone, and entirely another to treat them like trash. Just because you say "I don't mean to be offensive" or some such, doesn't give you the right to do just that.

What I don't understand is how you can say she has a beautiful soul when she clearly is just selfish.

I saw it as 20$ US. The 84 was for all 4 cd's.

That was the question that came to mind for me. I'm sure it's not really the first and 15th, is there a way to find a calendar to get the actual right dates for this? I know the western calendar is crap and has all kinds of things screwy.

But would that really fall under tolerance? It is 1 thing to tolerate someones attitudes and speech, and entirely different to be completely non-defensive when real harm is happening. I know that I do my best to be tolerant, because people all think in different ways, but touch my kids, and I'll kill you.

What you should apologize for, is insulting all the other members of this forum. Because you are trying to push YOUR ideas of decency, respect and purity on everyone else. Your most common saying throughout your posts is I. It's not all about you, or do you not get that part yet? Heh. Pot meet kettle. Except you are using your own sanctimonius attitude to try and justify your arrogance and poor behavior. I'm willing to bet that this forum software has a censoring capability to it, that many forums use to keep bad words out. Such is not in use here, now is it? And I am sure that is by design. So then maybe you also have an underlying issue with the way Sean runs the forums. The point I am trying to make is that if the profanity being used by a grown man bothers you so much, then maybe HE isn't the problem. Think on that. But then, if you just want to brush off what I have to say again, fuck off

See, now I have to say that I find your entire demeanor throughout this thread, truly piss poor and offensive. First, you blame others for problems with your own cultivation. If seeing a few swear words ruins your mind and energy, then wouldn't that mean that you have them too fragile to begin with? Then, you have the unbelievable gall to talk like this is YOUR forum. YOUR standards are the not the standards everyone else in this world lives by. My next little point has just as much to do with cultivation as it does your attitude. Now, there is only 1 person on this forum that I have talked very much with 1 on 1, and I'm quite sure he would have no problem saying I have a huge ways to go in cultivation. But I honestly believe, in this instance, I have a little wisdom that I can impart to you. If you persist in running away from things that offend your sensibilities or may be stumbling blocks to your cultivation, then you're not really cultivating at all. The Tao isn't just for people that live in monasteries, where everything is kept as pure as possible, it is for everyone. If you find profanity affects you that much, then THAT should become a focus of your cultivation. Because I gotta tell you, Patrick isn't even that bad. I hear worse than anything he posts, just walking down the street here in Brooklyn. So would you avoid ever coming to Brooklyn, because so many people use profanity right on the streets? Perhaps I am wrong, and I'm sure I will be told so if I am, but a strong cultivator can adapt to any environment; they don't require the environment to adapt to them.

Amituofo.

Ah, Amituofo brother!! The biggest thing on my mind, is trying to get anything done with these damn kids always running around But then, you already knew that. Hopefully things can calm down a bit, or I may take off with mwight and go to the other side of his mountain!

So now you want to try and slyly make threats? How amusing, from the one that was trying to pawn off ignorance on another. And just in case you don't know; don't ever confuse someones wish to be non-violent, as a form of weakness. Even peace loving hippies will lash out when needed.

If you live in the United States, that most likely isn't true. Someone may have said that, but it is indeed illegal to drug inmates with anything, even if it is to reduce sex drive, without their consent or knowledge.

Oh, let me count the ways. #1, learn to read, I have been here longer than you. #2, so what if there is xtians here? I don't mind, until they try to push the close minded xtian agenda. Whether there is xtians here or not in no way nullifies my point. You and the other guy are so up in arms about this movie and the things people have said, that your statements about *NOT* being xtians look pretty fishy. I'd rather someone have the actual balls to stand up for what they believe. #3, there is good lessons to be learned in virtually every "special religious text". Noone ever denied that either. Seems to me you're the one who's ignorance is shining through.

Ok, so wait. This has to be asked. How are you trying to prop up a guy that thinks that he is a god because he is black, as someone that has been a good study of the Tao? You glorify a guy that is part of an extremist group, that is based from a different extremist group, whose main teachings are racism? I may not be the most knowledgeable guy about the Tao around here, but I am pretty sure racism isn't on the list of things that are good for your cultivation.

Oh ffs, get over yourself. You get all long winded supporting xtianity and telling me to read, but ignore what the hell I was responding to. Love one another as I have loved you. His sacrifice. While there is no ignoring that in the gospels, there are some contradictory in them but there's no doubt in my mind that beneath all of that is the story of a real man. Although, I'm not exactly a christian. I do however love Jesus for what he has done and admire his teachings. That is the post I responded too. Thus the reason I asked 'what sacrifice?', because if you ignore the resurrection theology, he didn't make any sacrifice huh? Maybe you are the one that needs to pick up better reading skills. As far as my 'making fun of someones beliefs', how exactly am I doing that? You and the other guy both swear your not xtians. That's the entire point I was making. For people that say they aren't xtians, you sure got all riled up like you are, and make long posts stating things that sure makes you look xtian.

Are you insane?If you get away from the xtian mythology part of jesus, and just look at the man, where do you get that "HE IS THE SALVATION"? Salvation from what? You have a strange concept of samsara and karma. And as for my smartass comment, it's not being a smart ass. Just because it may offend your delicate sensibilities, makes it no less true.

What sacrifice? If you don't buy into the resurrection and/or don't believe that he was the Son of God, he didn't sacrifice anything, he just got 1 real shitty deal. Now then, this is the part of this thread that really gets a huge laugh out of me. Then what the hell is with this vehemence here? And as for the underlined part. Dude. Please use your brain. Is this Christianforums.com? Obviously not, its TheTaoBums.com. So how exactly could anyone try to force their religion or viewpoint on someone else, when it should easily be assumed that if you are a part of this community, you either share some of those beliefs, or have an interest in them. And really, you don't have a single friggin clue, as to whether or not this documentary is true. None of us do, or ever will. Because part of the success of the Abrahamic religions, is the fact that they cannot really be proven or disproven. Not only that, but all 3 claim to be the ONLY way to salvation, so obviously 2, or all, of them are full of shit. If you want some happy clappy kumbya shit where noone criticizes Xtianity, you are surely in the wrong spot.

Is this serious? Let me change what it says and I will say that this is right? Thats like saying all you have to do is change Jesus to Satan and you have another good version of the bible.

Wow. Glad to know that all the Bodhissatva's throughout the years have had it wrong the whole time.

I have to honestly say, that the introduction of the bagel to this discussion, makes this easily the best post in the entire thread. Mmmmmm, bagels!!