Nanashi

By the way, here is an alternate translation of Dokkodo by William Scott Wilson-- I think it is better than the one on wikipedia, but I was too lazy to dig it out and retype it even when I created a similar thread a few months back. Let's see if anything different is interpreted. The Way of Self-Reliance (Shinmen Musashi, 1645) Do not turn your back on the various Ways of this world. Do not scheme for physical pleasure. Do not intend to rely on anything. Consider yourself lightly; consider the world deeply. Do not ever think in acquisitive terms. Do not regret things about your own personal life. Do not envy another's good or evil. Do not lament parting on any road whatsoever. Do not complain or feel bitterly about yourself or others. Have no heart for approaching the path of love. Do not have preferences. Do not harbor hopes for your own personal home. Do not have a liking for delicious food for yourself. Do not carry antiques handed down from generation to generation. Do not fast so that it affects you physically. While it's different with military equipment, do not be fond of material things. While on the Way, do not begrudge death. Do not be intent on possessing valuables or a fief in old age. Respect the gods and Buddhas, but do not depend on them. Though you give up your life, do not give up your honor. Never depart from the Way of the Martial Arts.

Marblehead: Did not Jesus preserve his "honor" (loose use of that word here) by abandoning his body? Mal: Haha, no problem-- your thread invited a livelier discussion than mine did anyway.

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/11349-dokkodo/page__p__138818__hl__dokkodo__fromsearch__1entry138818 I guess we could always use a refresher, though. Incidentally, I edited out #20 from my posting of Dokkodo because I thought it sounded too Japanese for a mainstream, modern mind.

I think we shouldn't be so quick in forsaking him into his misery. He may bring up a viewpoint that others may share-- it is hard to be young in the modern world, with so much pressure on sex; the scene has changed in the past 50, even 30, years. But the principle has stayed the same, so we should keep encouraging him to be better. There is already enough self-help advice in the thread that Non can think about for now.

Is there any correlation between consuming alcohol and preforming Zui Quan with greater effects? Obviously I don't mean for one to be falling-down-drunk, but does a slight intoxication help with chi manipulation in that style?

year of the tiger: I hope to see plum blossoms and chrysanthemums (Good luck and longevity for all!)

Hmm, I see. Interesting points.

No, I honestly didn't mean to be sarcastic, although as I read it now, it does seem to have a biting tone. I was actually really curious to what you think may happen, or what you base this claim off of. The Georgia Guidestones? I apologize, I didn't mean to turn you off to our discussion.

I hear what you mean, but my point still applies. The choice to function within societies (job, marriage, kids) will still require a balance to make sure populations stay managed, otherwise it could overpopulate just as quickly-- even more considering technological advances, sanitation and constant food supply. I didn't mention global warming, and didn't mean to imply I was hinting as that as a problem. The earth is pretty tough, I already knew about volcano as "the biggest polluter of earth", but all that smog in cities like Beijing and LA can't be healthy, if at least only to other people. What is your exact evidence of cause to this population drop? Famine? Disease? NWO-murder plot? The earth's axis flipping? I'm just curious.

Having kids makes sense for a paradigm that existed long ago, when populations were low and sustainable. But is it wise to indiscriminately have kids in the modern age, with such a world? I'm not saying it is for everyone to ignore reproduction; but those who don't procreate are helping by not causing a massive population spike to be even worse than it is now. Especially if it is just to follow biological conditioning.

I'd say Kissinger is doing pretty well for himself... who else can influence foreign policy for that many decades? Also, yes, it is about positive or negative ambition. Wu wei is in the middle; when everything's already done.

Yeah, I miss the old layout, but the new banner is cool.

Oh, glorious Tao; so simple, yet so grand.

A wonderful sentiment.

Well, shaolin, maybe you answered your own question then? What I brought up was just an example of how tricky it is to define absolutes when they are only relative to the mind.

I have clouds here, too. But it peeped out long enough for a good sight and I wrote the following haiku: behind parting clouds the perigee moon appears clearing out the mind

Are there limits to the unlimited? Is there a limitless limit? The concepts of limit and limitless are opposites, and inside the Tao, they are one and nothing. One could give rise to the other, but if looked at from afar, they become meaningless words of a single thought. To transcend infinity and the finite; things are seen just as they are: no-thing and everything. It is difficult to discuss such ideas coherently without sounding weird. The Tao can easily slip through people's grasps, but that becomes the point of it after some time. Then it is hard to go back to normal language and labels.

Based off your handle, Secularfuture, I think you are looking for a secular Zen. It is popular in the West, Zen thought without the religious Buddhism. Maybe you should look up books by Alan Watts. Or better yet, look into Taoism for your interest in non-duality. Heheh. Philosophically, it is similar to Zen without the religious thinking of Buddhism. Addendum: Here are some Zen koans and answers to help you in your interest: http://www.interzone.com/~cheung/SUM.dir/zenspeak.html This selection may pertain to your taste: Heaven and hell aren't places that suddenly appear after death. They exist here and now. Good and evil involve just a single instant of thought, and the gates of heaven and hell are ready to open for you at any time.

Sorry to be off topic to the recent discussion on this thread, but speaking of "bums not getting along," what ever happened to Vaj?

Hello, thank you for sharing your experience. I've had that same sensation while meditating-- the "big and tiny at the same time". It is quite unusual and strange, but eventually passed. I haven't felt it in a long time. As for the visualization vacation, I have not experienced that unless I will it: I'll picture ideal Chinese landscapes in an attempt to relax while on the toilet during a difficult bowel movement. Since these images arise from the mind, they can be tamed by no-mind. There are some great meditation experts here, hopefully they will offer some of their advice.

who can really say? is it either this or that, or neti neti

There was "Big Trouble in Little China" from the 80s. Though, it was a bit campy and the Chinese actors pronounced Taoism with a "T".

beats paper and stone, the philosopher bemoans, with pen and chisel