rene

Daeluin, hello If I may clarify - the 'influence' referred to in my post was not meant to point at Buddhism only, rather all structured paths that hold a different focus. Some of the Christian-based renditions take The Laozi where no man has gone before. In similar manner, Taoism has probably done more injustice to LiEhr's ideas - than all other groups put together... and the examples at the end of your post kinda highlight that. Then again, my ideas could easily be wrong, heh. I'm just a simple Laoist woman who lives in the mountains, and even Tao is just an idea. (-: warmest regards

Yay! Thanks!! Now I'll go find it (-:

Both. Do they do energy work at all, anywhere. (-:

The treatment of the 5th and 6th lines of Chapter 1 are, to me, a pretty good indicator of how the rest of the rendition will go. Feng/English: Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations Balanced importance is given to desire & desireless, i.e., BOTH (-: Many renditions elevate desireless. To me, those are the ones influenced (possibly unintentionally) by ideas other than those of Laozi. warmest regards

It would, yes! I tried to create one but it's impossible on this phone. Would you make one for me in the General Section? Only one question in the poll: Do you do energy work/cultivation? Only two answer choices: Yes No Simple poll keeps us out of the weeds

I saw no impositions and appreciate Apech and all the other bums who are contributing ideas for consideration by staff.

Apech, hi, IMO - The first word in #4 should be 'many' rather than 'most'. Other than that, feels really good. (-: Edit: Has a poll ever been taken here as to how many bums actually are doing energy work/cultivation? Anyone know? . .

Thank you for letting us know, Enisi. I remember Vaj fondly. Best regards.

Hi Kar3n, You read into my post what wasn't there - I didn't suggest you did anything. My point was to the next step of: How will the chat room rules be enforced? Sorry if my post was unclear (-: warm regards

If there is not a Mod present 24/7 (real time) the only way to moniter is reading all the chat logs to hunt for offenders. Please choose wisely. warm regards

True.... but where else would one get to wear their tin-foil condom & feel right at home? .

Were the arguments being made by those monopolizing the chat room? TheLearner... your ideas are totally old school & good ones, imo. In the old RSF forums, there were dedicated times for specific topics, i.e., Mondays 8-9 for Buddhist discusdions; Wednesdays 7-8 for DDJ topics, etc. Any other times were open for whatever. That said... It takes a lot of work, dedication & time for whoever is hosting that hour/discussion. AND, RSF (Religions & Spirituality Forums) was a multiple chatroom site only (no threads) with many active hosts. I ran the Tao section. Scary, eh? Heh. Again, old school. My fond memories like your idea. I just hope you know what you'd be in for. Warmest regards, (the former) RSF WinterBear (-:

Dawei, I hope you dont... they play a big part in this thread also, imo. Edit: perhaps you could start a new Shielding thread... so Jeff & others can contribute. Maybe copy Taomeows post to start it..if she doesnt mind, of course (-:

Who are we to decide what is best for someone else?? I barely know what is best for me.

The master might not make that differentiation.

(-: Nice to see you, Stosh

Warrants repeating. (-:

almond butter...

Probably all that good advice.

It does. Light hand. Like cooking a small fish. This is what I mean about ZZ taking a simple idea and making it confusing. Doesn't matter how good the joke/story is if it doesn't bring you to the punch line. IMO. (-:

The people you describe understand that the 'empty' is only half; that everything is both real and illusion (using your term); that structures and happy and sad and all the joys and sorrows of life are just as vitally present in this moment as are the non-separate aspects of the non-dual. Both. That is one option. Another might be to set the 'only emptiness' idea down for just a little while.. and ponder how real everything is also. Let yourself naturally come back to a point of equilibrium - where both are simultaneously present, the empty and the full. (-: Warmest regards . .

From that perspective, yes, unreal. From a different one - real enough. Whether I have a headace, or only 'think' I have a headace, my head still hurts. No illusion there. On topic, though, going deeper into only the 'empty' half of the whole is a spiral that may be hard to come out of. The deeper one goes the more difficult it might be to see the other half.

Welcome LaoHu, glad you are here (-:

Yeppers, totally.