Apech

Stop being literally Hitler.

Viagra King

yes to most of this from me - I think the reason Perceval has to ask the question - is to recognise/activate the lineage transmission - he if he does so becomes the new king.

the answer in some texts is 'the father of the king' - which implies a lineage issue. I agree about the sword - but surely the Lance is clearly phallic and the Cup/ Chalice is yonic (for want of a better word). ... indeed there is sometimes a platter which represents a stone - giving us all four Tarot suits if staone = pentacles and lance = wands. I know this is anachronistic but anyway ...

I think it is useful to distinguish between the intellectual or philosophical presentation of emptiness which leads to correct understanding of the View and the actual realisation of emptiness. The philosophical view depends on understanding that all phenomena are themselves dependent on causes and conditions and thus are not independent or autonomous - are made of parts of constituents (e.g. atoms etc.) and are time limited (ephemeral). This view is consistent with and supports the realisation but is not the same. The realisation of emptiness is ultimate bodhicitta - that is the awakened mind which in a relative sense leads to compassion. As such it is beyond conceptualisation and words do not really describe or explain it. Although it is called emptiness it is actually the basis for positive qualities such as generosity and so on. So it is important not to fall into nihilism.

OK I think misread your post.

What! All your freedoms derive from Western culture.

Yes.

Floundering?

Exactly - where are they now? Eh?

I don't have a problem with Dao encompassing nature - but maybe some problem with nature encompassing Dao. That's all really. Certainly human beings are part of nature in the same sense as wolves.

Can you equate the Dao with nature? I'm not sure.

Sure that's a reasonable point - however no other animal apart from man can be said to have transformed the environment (sometimes by the use of other animals such as sheep and cattle farming) like man. For instance in large parts of Europe you can't find a tree or planted area which does not show the imprint of man - except for a few very small areas of ancient forest.

Their son has just been killed so they go to see a comedy act? Or did they mean 'taken out' as in on a date? I don't think relationships with large fish ever work out well.

If you can find somewhere genuinely wild - which is rare. Most environments on the planet are man made.

PS. I have no idea what that GoT quote means so I posted a dual-horse meme instead.

turn the other cheek no, no, no, your face! your face! pull your trousers up!

Yes I agree - until Sir Galahad arrives on the scene all the others fail - Percival, Bors, Lancelot because they are not perfect. But the question remains why does asking a question heal the Fisher King???? It sounds like an initiation rite of some sort but usually its about answering a question or riddle - but in this case it is asking 'whom does the Grail serve?'

I lived in New Jersey when I was 11 for a few months. (Today's most uninteresting fact)

from Wiki.

Ok so maybe he was saying that John the Baptist was the example of the developed human being - but enlightenment was beyond that into realising the kingdom of heaven within. Also he was talking to a target audience who knew of John the Baptist but would not have known of Buddha and Lao Tse.

What does 'that his eyes should not be averted' mean do you think? Not understanding this phrase is giving me problems understanding.

Nice one TT!

Did somebody let you out? Shame