Apech

If you mean by superstition the original sense of 'standing above' then I suppose religions are superstitious in that they suggest better ways of being. However the modern use of this word is about imputing a completely arbitrary relation between a cause and an effect. I am not a religious person in the usual sense and I don't have much time for priests or popes (mullahs?) etc because the try to wrap up the truth in some kind of package. But I would say the core spiritual values of most religions are valid ... i.e you can be a better person, live a better life ,,, be kinder, more loving and so on ... this is not survival ... its about being free to express yourself in a genuine way. Does nature or the world have this purpose? Possibly not in itself ... but then on what does nature depend?

*** Mod Message *** I am moving this to Off Topic where other similar threads reside. An open plea to I4L ... one thread only please on your anti-Darwinism --- we do not need so many. Thank you. Apech for Mod Team **** Message ends ****

Your example with the sticks in the fire sounds to me more like superstition than spirituality. If you impute a relation between an action and a result which doesn't exist then I would call this superstition. Spirituality on the other hand suggests real relationships between events and results beyond that which is immediately apparent or perhaps beyond the mundane. To suggest that life is all about survival seems to beg the question - survive for what? Just to exist? Our efforts to understand and become wiser or to develop Te are not just so that we can exist - but so that we can live in a better way. We don't have to explain if or why the universe may want us to become wiser or more sage like but if we take up the Taoist way then we automatically accept that somehow this is the way. Life stops being just about surviving to the next meal but about something greater and better. We don't have to anthropomorphize nature to say this... in fact I don't think we even have to say why it is so ... its part of mystery ...maybe.

Doctor smockter doesn't he have enough blood of his own that he wants to take yours?

Pies, cakes and biscuits ... the answer to everything!

Because of the human condition the dark night is necessary - otherwise we would never change or make those transitions which are needed for development. I don't think there is a short cut or a panacea ... it just has to be ... which I suppose is reassuring in a way.

I have noticed recently that practically everyone I hear about is either depressed or on medication for depression. World tiredness I think.

If the purpose of life is to survive and human's are part of nature ... which they are as it is arrogant to think otherwise ... then what part of survival is served by the development of Taoism?

Talk about missing the point!

I thought it was obvious why she/he was permanently banned from the link you provided. We don't delete old posts of banned members. If you guys want to fight about Master Wang Liping's teachings or whatever please do it somewhere else. Thanks Apech

I'll blame you and you can blame me, ok?

I'm fine thanks for asking. P.S. I like your Carla Thomas too.

Hi, How are you now Zeb? Are you still getting pain etc.? I'm not sure which thread(s) you are suggesting should be pinned. Cheers A.

The Egyptian system precisely identifies numerous points on the body and head with various deities in order to purify and empower it. In the Pyramid texts the king is said to circulate the 'mounds of Horus and Set' - these are the energy centres ... those relating to perception are those of Horus and the ones about developing power are those of Set. Significant parts of this type of practice are about establishing the heart in the body and also 'joining the head to body' which means achieving a level of integration. For a long time Egyptologists suppressed the sexual content of Egyptian religion even though it is self evident and key to understanding what they were talking about. For instance the god Atum effectively masturbated the world into existence, Isis drew semen from the dead Osiris by creating a magical phallus, the god Min is shown with a erect penis and had orgiastic rites which involved the consumption of lettuce opium and Hathor was herself the goddess of joy, music, sex and so on. The word for Ba or 'soul' is sometimes written with a phallus and this is said about the resurrected king in the Pyramid Texts "Unis is lord of semen, who takes women from their husbands to the place Unis likes according to his hearts fancy." (this last quote is meant with some humour by the way). So I think you can safely conclude that sex was at the heart of Egyptian teachings.

I think you are right ... although some Taoist deify Lao Tzu and the Tao ... mind you some Buddhists deify Lord Buddha ... so its just a human tendency to want to have an ultimate to cling to.

I think our western culture makes us hung up on having to believe something - as if this is important or the key to something. This comes from the Judeo-Christian approach to spirituality. The Buddhist approach is more about building confidence in the view ... you can accept ideas like karma because they work and also because they are logical rather than some leap of faith. Cause and effect - which is the basis of karma - is logical - if you do something, act in a certain way or effect some kind of change then inevitably it has some consequence because the energy of that act is not destroyed. In terms of a moral or ethical position if you have choices about what to do then it is better to choose the positive, generous or beneficial option ... on the basis that generally this will at some time in the future (for someone if not yourself) will have positive results. The idea that we are blank sheets of paper when born is not altogether convincing. For instance we know that each one of us is genetically unique ... ok the essential nature of our minds may be pure but as actual people we have characteristics even at birth ... even identical twins are slightly different. Through interacting with the world we very quickly pick up thoughts, feelings and emotions and so on which shape us further ... this is not through faults exactly but just how it works for beings with minds which are not realised. Rebirth I think, also is a very different idea from reincarnation. Its more that whatever energy or consciousness which makes up a person is not lost at death but is somehow passed on just as the water in a river flows on or a candle flame is lit from a previous flame ... so it is not that 'you' are born again but that there is some kind of transmission. Obviously these are my thoughts and people need to make their own minds up about these things. But I think key to this kind of thing is to examine critically any assumptions you may make about how things are.

Some further authority for my mod message above:

*** Moderator Message **** Dear Fellow TaoBums, I know you are better than this. Insults and criticism are harsh words are they not? How about some restraint in favour of 'right speech'. I have read most of this thread and also the calls for moderator action. Rather than that why not moderate your selves? Even if you disagree with what the other person is saying they have a right to say it ... stick to the subject and do not make the subject someone else's shortcomings. Please avoid personal attacks and insults or we will take action. Peace and compassion, Apech for Mod Team *** Message end ***

Presenter tells DL joke to DL but it backfires: BBC site

Family, shmamily ... who needs them? Take my mother-in-law .... no, really, take her ... please ...

Hi, I found out a while ago that my L5 is fused to the sacrum - which is prob the same with you. I had an Xray after I hurt my back and they told me this. They said it would reduce slightly my flexibilty in lower back but otherwise I may not have any probs. I have had sciatica which may be related ... I don't think it impacts on cultivation though ... and you're right the sacrum is important. Some stuff on here if you look around. Cheers A

Hello and welcome back. Hope all went well.

From the 4th dimension? Why pick Australia then?

Oh ... not an icecream with a stick of chocolate in it ... how disappointing. Is this it then?

Go to your profile. Click edit profile Click 'Manage ignored users' form list on right (6th I think) Add user name and click either/ both/ and posts, PMs. Actually not sure if this blocks entire topics by said user as I've never ignored anyone. Try it and see.