Apech

I agree ... I had to put together a flat pack wardrobe the other day and I almost lost my Way doing it. Nature would have created medium fibre board if it wanted us to use it and not bothered with natural sustainable hardwoods.

is 'not' the question? or not?

Have a look at this BBC article. A satellite has shown how gravity varies in different parts of the earth. Gravity Earth Must have some Taoist implications ... even though I can't think what they are! I thought it was fascinating - you can click on the graphic to see what its like in your neck of the woods.

All matter is energy ... but if you don't have the energy it doesn't matter.

Time is money ....

Marblehead, Are you saying this with yourself in mind?? In my view the idea that living organisms evolve is indisputable given the fossil record and so on. But I think probably there is a way to go in deciding the exact mechanism by which this happens. I don't think that modern biologists stick resolutely to the 'nature red in tooth and claw' idea which gave rise to a debased versions of the survival of the fittest as seen in Nazi philosophy and social Darwinism and so on. It could be argued that mankind in developing medical care and by using compassion to protect the weak is anti-evolutionary .... except if you include some kind of 'spiritual evolution' in the frame. That is the personal, intellectual and social development of the human race is in some way itself evolutionary. For instance we could say that it is a higher development (and long term more successful) to be compassionate than it is to be selfish. Religionists hate evolution more than they hate other science such as quantum mechanics because it hits right at the heart of the biblical version of creation and man's relation with his creator. I can't see any problem for a Taoist though since the process of evolution can be seen as just part of the 'way' in which things come to be, develop, and return to the mystery. In other words a fundamental process which governs the cycles of nature. Buddhists on the other hand would have a problem with ascribing some kind of developmental improvement through samsaric existence ... since they seek liberation from any kind of cyclical process ....

*** Mod Message *** Although this picture was not posted on here it was clearly as a direct result of discussions on TTBs. This kind of activity has no place on the board which is intended for free open discussion of spiritual and Taoist themes and issues. The Mod team have tried to be as tolerant as possible to promote open discussion but I think this has gone beyond what is acceptable. For this reason I am intending to permanently ban the following members: TheTaoBum Electric Gravity Goldentaoist Thundermind As it seems to be practice to immediately return to TTBs with a new IP and username once Mod action has been taken - any new member posting in the same vein on the same issue will also be banned. I am asking also MPG not to start any new threads on this issue and locking this thread. *** Mod Message ***

When the mind is tranquil and the vital breath is regular, The Way can thereby be halted. Means it doesn't come and go it resides. Bit like you might tame a wild animal by being still yourself.

Hi, Only just come here to read. I think what it is saying about emotions, joy and so on, is that they are lesser than the Tao, or original mind or whatever. So if you become absorbed in joy then you have only a partial experience. They are not bad as such just somehow incomplete. For instance profit taking means to gather wealth in one place ... but that just means it is missing in another ... a partial view. (Maybe ... this is my first read).

Hi and welcome. Enjoy your stay at TTBs.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wBgdoUDpsQw so intense I couldn't watch to the end.

Henricks seems to have a line missing: "Lean years follow in the wake of a great war. " I wonder why. This makes me think of Libya and previously Iraq and Afghanistan. Violence yields unpredictable results which tend to rebound on you. Better to do only what has to be done and then get out - if this is possible. The application of superior force is only temporary and leads to weakness. An interesting chapter.

Hi, You should repost this in Taoist discussion ... I promise you'll get lots of answers ... A.

Just to bump my old thread ... another poem by Fernando Pessoa I lie down in the grass And forget all I was taught. What I was taught never made me any warmer or cooler. What I was told exists never changed the shape of a thing. What I was made to see never touched my eyes. What was pointed out to me was never there: only what was there was there.

Your goals are very worthy I think. I just suggest rather than go hunting for powerful teachings - work with what you've got now and as personal power grows you will find right teacher/teachings. Boa sorte.

At last a proper discussion. Ending re-birth sounds like a Buddhist definition of the goal of practice and not so much Taoist. Vajrayana does claim to have teachings which will achieve this in one life-time (e.g. Mahamudra/Dzogchen) but those who can actually achieve this are few and far between. Why is this your goal? It is very ambitious. Maybe you should be more realistic and try to gain balance in your life (maybe not as well ???) but its worth thinking about why you have this aim.

*** Moderation Message *** User connectedtaoist has been suspended for 30 days for breaching the 'no insult' policy ... see highlighted text. This is a contentious issue and while people are free to disagree and argue about facts they are not free to insult each other. Any user ignoring this will be suspended in a similar way. Just for the record no-one has been banned as a result of these threads only suspended for a number of days after which they are free to return to posting. *** Apech for Mod Team ***

Saw it rise last night. Almost by accident ... I was talking to someone outside in the evening and saw a bright light above the tree line. I thought it was car headlights or a plane ... then as I looked the moon disk appeared ... so bright and big ... such a privilege too see such a thing ...very bright later when walking home.

Prostrations are the first part of ngondro and involve also visualization and prayers. They are called preliminary practices but this is bit misleading as actually a kind elongated version of the first part of a complete practice which you work through. If you are a biddhist then you should ask a lama for the right instructions and so on before starting. I haven't completed 100k and am no longer practicing vajrayana but I completed 75k and can say they do involve several hours each day and are a major commitment.

But Stig ... we still love you here on TTBs ... PS. is 'unfortunate behavior' a euphemism for something really really naughty?

At near full the moon was stunningly bright last night. I walked home and could see perfectly even where there was no artificial light. I could make out features on the moon with naked eye. Amazing ... can't wait for tonight.

I did not understand Stig to be insulting anyone but that this thread is more of an exploration of what can be included in the term taoism (sorry daoism) legitimately. I don't think it is the practice (of Qi Gong or cultivation) that is important but perhaps the inner realisation or understanding which marks out the genuine Taoist from the dilettante. This can be reached in a number of ways including through intellectual analysis of the texts ... i.e. true philosophy as well as physical/energy work. To someone who just reads Lao Tzu and likes the sound ... that's more or less the same as poetic appreciation ... but someone who lives their life informed by the profound nature of the Tao ... this is more like the original meaning of philosophy ... i.e. lover of wisdom ... where wisdom is a real thing and not just an abstract idea.

EG wasn't 'ousted' he was suspended because he broke mod guidelines. If you feel you have been insulted report the post using the report button.

de nada

I moved the other thread to the Pit because it wasn't really Taoist Discussion and I thought all the issues around this had been fully aired. Also I suspended EG for his post due to his insults to you ... and the Pit is a bit freer and easier than this part of Board for this kind of thing. I thought if things continued the way they were then I would end up suspending a few more and I didn't want to get to that point. I realise there are innocent and guilty parties in this and its pretty obvious to everyone which way round that is. People should be very wary of sending money to people unless they know and trust that person or its through paypal or ebay as suggested - it would also be a good idea to ask for evidence that the product actually exists I suppose.