Mo Tzu

Thankyou Marblehead. When I started the project there was a feeling of something great happening. The wonderful thing about the TTC though, is that the phrases are so humble by the time I'd finished I felt I had let more go than taken on. It was certainly a taoist journey. Also I feel your compliment needs to strech to Legge and Lao Tze if you don't mind, as without them it would never have been so great. Best regards. Mo Tzu

And let's not forget that Legge was a Christian and in his translation there is a ref. to God. One assumes pre Confucius there was only Tao (creator) of Heaven and Earth and the 10,000 things. It's all semantics really but my belief is Tao is the all prevading force that creates all living things, if this is God, well that's fine with me. The practice of cultivation still remains the same, whatever. Every culture has a name for the something that has created all. Surely that's because we all come from the same source, so we all come to a similar (or same!) conclusion when complimenting what's out there, and who am I. Blessings to all.

The North Star is used in Taoist meditation, as it is seen as the pivotal point that everything else revolves around; so it is always there even when it can't be seen directly. As for the Dr Chang's MCO it uses the seven gland system, so the energy starts at the 1st then to the 2nd etc. ending on the 7th but the energy is then seen returning to the abdomen, always ending there. Which keeps the mind in its rightful place. This meditation promotes continual balance in the energy system. So one doen't become dis-illusioned. Once this is achieved, one can move onto whole body breathing. It's all in his book. I have been practising his system for 7 yrs.and it is very secure, and he doesn't promote over energizing the heart or mind, but to always strive for balance. I have met him a few times at worksops and he is very real, and no doubt a "Taoist of the Highest Class" http://www.thegreattao.com/

All taken from Dr Stephen T chang's book "The Complete System of Self Healing and Internal Exercises". Amazing book. Has anyone else tried this?

In answer to GrandmasterP Way old Grandmaster Chang told it was.... Wood through fire burns to earth Mine earth for metal Pure water condenses out of the air onto metal. Which for some reason was always a highly polished metal mirror. Wood creates Fire Fire creates Earth Earth creates Metal Metal creates Water Water creates Wood As far as I can see, the mirror is the reflection of the viewer. Which is "wood". The creative. Therefore the cycle starts again. Onwards and upwards. xxx

In answer to GrandmasterP Way old Grandmaster Chang told it was.... Wood through fire burns to earth Mine earth for metal Pure water condenses out of the air onto metal. Which for some reason was always a highly polished metal mirror. Wood creates Fire Fire creates Earth Earth creates Metal Metal creates Water Water creates Wood

I would like to share I typed into google "taobums" this morning and 10,800 hits came back. Nice number. Mo Tzu.

When Thunder comes it makes the Earth shake. Following is a moment of calm. Karma is something all of us have gone through, are going through or going to go through. Do not be dispondent, continue daily to do good deeds until the karma is neutralised then your life will start to expand. Once expansion is happening to you do not forget to do good deeds but the pressure on you will be less and therefore you will naturally have more success. Something to remember is "no good deeds are wasted" but if you are impolite on your journey you can cancel them out. So tread on the Dragon's tail of karma carefully but surely, And remember your doing great so do not lose hope. Many blessings for the "WAY". Mo Tzu

Personally from my experience of studying Taoism from various Masters, I have to agree with what Tao99 originally said. Taoism seems to be the nothingness or void to us people from the "West" but inactuality it is a guide book for life and your social interaction is necessary to help all human beings enter the kingdom of God. This then secures your own place. All of the Neigong is to keep you at your own peak performance to do this duty as well as possible. In fact "The 8 Pillars of Taoism" is Taoism. These then manifest as health, happiness, wisdom & longevity. But only when it is practised is it in the Tao. Many blessings to you all. Mo Tzu.

I am on some medication at the moment that has temporarily reduced my memory radicaly. In the beginning I didn`t have this side effect but it`s been showeing up for the last few months. I am getting of the meds now since I don`t need them anymore and to get rid of the memory problem. However, it takes time to get off them because I have to reduce the intake slowly to avoid heavy withdrawel symptoms. So for a month or two I will hae realy poor memory. That makes me desperate since I am a student and I can`t remember much of what I am reading. So I am looking for herbs to boost memory for a short while. I am willing to take bigger risks with amount and mix of herbs than otherwise since it is for such a short time and I am a bit desperate. Can anyone recomend me a herb or a combination of them. http://www.taohealingarts.com/gt715.html May Light Shine Across The Faces Of The Human Race. Maybe we Were Born Only To Help Each Other, Maybe There Is Nothing Else. http://www.taohealingarts.com/index.html

Oooops. This post was accidental so it's been edited below. Mo Tzu.

What a pandoras box you have opened with that question!!!!!! Dr Stephen T. Chang has written a great book dedicated to this subject. You can read some of it here and /or buy. www.thegreattao.com Click on the Gua FIRE . All the best on your exploration of a very fundamental taoist subject.

The two Teachers that inspire me are Dr Stephen T. Chang and Mantak Chia. What are peoples thoughts on their experience with one or both? (from a long distance i.e. book and/or in close distance i.e. workshop).

So what is it that makes the difference with "good" or "bad" teaching? Why is it are we so strung up on whether a teacher is beyond 99.9% perfect and correct to the so called ancient knowledge? Is it not possible to decipher for ourselves and if we like it stick around and learn some more and if we don't ( or we've consumed as much as we feel possible) move on without slagging anyone off on the way. Personaly I like Dr Stephen Chang's words but that does not make everyone else crap at what they do, or does it? All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is. So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to (the idea of) the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one (the idea of) the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from the contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and that being before and behind give the idea of one following another. Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.

Without going outside his door, one understands (all that takes place) under the sky; without looking out from his window, one sees the Tao of Heaven. The farther that one goes out (from himself), the less he knows. Does that mean we are all our own teachers but we use the teachers until that point is fully realized?

Many Moons ago I was living in Guatemala suurrouned (it seemed ) by old Sanyassins. The type that had done India eons ago and was with Osho while staying at the Ashram. I hab been inspired to read some of his books (as they also seemed to be everywhere) and rather liked what I read. Straight forward & to the point. I had also heard stories of the 50 Rolls Royces he had etc. every time his name came into debate. We were at this paticular time having a house built for us above the treetops overlooking a volcanic lake by a Sanyassin who we had befriended. This was a present (from him) so we could have our 1st child in the middle of nowhere. One day I approached the subject of the Rolls Royces and asked his opinion. He said "Osho always said that if people can't see past the Rolls Royces then they have a long way to go before we can start talking". www.osho.com (go to ZEN TAROT and take a card, any card but don't show me).

Does anyone else have a teacher ( of Taoism) they would like to mention and why they like them as their teacher and maybe a link for a website (if they have one (them or the teacher)? May we all create together a forevever expanding Universe and collective thought.

Are there any other thoughts on this subect about peoples experiences with either of these teachers? I have read most of Dr Stephen T. Changs books and find them all very inspiring.

1+2+3=25,960 Hello fellow members. I follow The Way or method, walking in the Kingdom of God. This in itself absorbs all my day and also my dreams. May we all become aware of our true exsistence and flow with The Way, whatever that Way maybe. Therefore I have nothing left to add although to respond is to be with the Tao.