Apech

Can I interest you in buy one get one free Tesco brand instant enlightenment?

No! or Yes! depending on whether you want an argument.

Ignorance?

If I knew this was going to be a Zen inquisition I wouldn't have come here. I don't understand the question can you explain it please.

Have you gone for a slash?

A pleasure indeed to be of service.

Well if you want to understand the TTC its good to go back to the Chinese characters. Read at your leisure obviously.

Good to see the Buddha knew about 'don't feed the trolls'.

TBs is a wonderful resource if you just bother to look around .. so I tempted to say you should find it yourself but since I am benevolent ... just this once ... http://thetaobums.com/topic/16539-ttc-study-chapter-five-of-the-tao-teh-ching/?p=227296

I kind of agree with you ... but I refer you to the TBs TTC discussion on this very topic ... and the literal translation is 'not benevolent' and yes that does imply impartiality or perhaps because of the straw dogs image ... that value is only placed in things pro tem and that they have no inherent vale as such without functionality in a given context.

Woah! I'll try it.

Yes but in a social context perhaps it is better to cultivate benevolence than hate for instance. And of course the TTC says heaven and earth are not benevolent and treat the 10k things as straw dogs ... same for the sage and people ... so how natural is that?

wot?

Well I mean popular with a certain types ... you know ... not popular with the general population ... not popular like Strictly Come Dancing or Master Chef.

A bridle! Wow you caught me there, I didn't expect that! I could say something like - do you have the bit between your teeth but that's too obvious. How do you feel about side saddle?

I'll have to go over there are watch the dogs eat each other. I can't but admit that although I practice dharma there's an awful lot of nonsense flying around the ether ... especially on internet forums. Shame really. But just because people adopt a label like 'buddhist' doesn't mean anything at all. Nice to see you posts GrandP haven't seen you around for a while.

What are you wearing right now?

I agree with you up to the last bit. Actually nothing much wrong with cultivating benevolence at a certain level in respect to other people. I think Confucius has been downgraded a lot because Daoism is so popular. But Daoism is popular with many for the reasons you indicated because it seems to affirm the idea that 'whatever' is ok and right. No doubt Daoism is deeper an dmore direct that Confucianism as regard what is real but in many ways the two systems compliment each other.

No one taught me to do this ... but I like natural unforced methods. It builds up a kind of pressure which then shifts any blockages ... by the time your back at the LDT every things flowing nice and you can just 'let it go' What do you mean by twisting? Reverse flow?

Do you attach string and lift weights with them?

You don't drink tea you drink coffee. And what exactly is your excuse for launching Starbucks on the unsuspecting world? eh?

Man boobs ... its a curse isn't it.

Cats are mammals ... I think so... which means I have nipples... so ... the logic is?

Have we ever done anything nasty to you? No I don't think so. Ok the Opium Wars were not great but hey. The Spice Girls were a big mistake, yes, agreed. But anything else? I think not.

Need to do a male mammal nipple survey ... quick!