Wayfarer64

I always assumed he did eat the apple- are they mutually exclusive!?

The choice to participate in violence has always existed...But it was a very long time before some-one who refused to hunt and kill still got a share of the food...Choosing NOT to do violence is a modern concept... In the world we share some violence does not even need justification, the need for swift and able response to actual or even perceived danger & harm is sometimes needed. -( I do not think that invading Iraq was one of those by the way!) The supposed lack of violence anywhere is a fallacy. This is a violent universe -natural and man-made mayhem is rife... To place ones' self above it does a hypocritical injustice to those who's lives are dis-affected by the choice of non-violence. One is not always better than the other- just usually so... love to all-

Thank the maker !!! ( or Sean O.)...To quote C3PO...

Thank you for sharing these insights. They make the various aspects of this issue clear on so many levels! I wish no one had to ever make such a choice - It is the sad truth that I have paid for 2 abortions. One for my sister when she was raped, and another for a 17 year old girl who was pregnant by some-one else. She was in no condition to be a mom at that time... Like any violence it is the choice of last resort...

You need to be logged on to have it work. Then every post by an ignored party is offered as an option to read or not read, but the thread remains in place and those who one wishes to ignore... need not be intrusive. There can be exposure anyway... as ignored posts are often quoted in other entries - so it acts only as a buffer, not an irradication.... Mostly it serves to remind you the ignored person is annoying and not worth much time...

everything and anything ever done or thought is Samsaric- so what? The only constant is change in both physics and the Tao. All knowledge is a part of Taoist wisdom, there is no rejecting of truthful observances. if you wish to speculate on how our universe will be in the end of time - I'll add my 2 cents here as well- there is no doctrine involved just speculation built on observation. There is expansion and then contraction of our universe. Then expansion again... I'll stick with the Big-bang as the KNOWN beginning of this round- if that "beginning" had an earlier cause... One possible explanation could be that our expanding universe will eventually become a vast void of very cold molecules that have expanded and then ceased all movement.- I surmise that the collective "mind/spirit/memory" of all that occured in that expansion would actually exist as pure consciousness... - I just do not believe that "nature"- (or the harmony that exists among all that is alive and supports life...) is wasting anything! So we will have pure consciousness in an unimaginably huge void of expanded molecules. The ultimate Yang and Yin- the Receptive, physical world is at its largest & coldest- no longer able to expand- and the Creative spiritual world full and omni-potent...Yet still one thing as united in a Gistaldt- (spelling!?)... my idea of what the Tao could be at one instant of cosmic time- when the cycle is at its extreme and everything is fullfilled and about to become anew... A glorious dance of life - with no suffering what so ever - for those who accept the challanges. This very cold state of affairs could collapse very quickly (relative to the expansion phase)...into another cingularity... This seperation of molecular energy and spiritual energy -are represented by Yin and Yang in Taoist thought. This is one reason I can say Taoist philosophy rings true (not the religion). It works for me - it is explained through natural law - not dogma. Which came first in this expansion/contraction over an emmense span of eons? -Do ya care?!

What I was told in High School is that... Thoreau was so influenced... To the point of this thread there is indeed a problem with how a few rude and intrusive people use this forum. That some are at this time promulgating a self-centered and childishly interpreted sort of knowledge of Buddhism...is just too bad - it is a dis-service to people who practice Buddhist ways and keep their religiosity and like types of foolishness to themselves. Sure, all men of wisdom know that non-violence is the way of choice...It is a given - but only a martyr would not be concidered a fool... if he chooses to create dangers for himself with promulgating anti-social and abusive arguements...amongst martial artists and warriors.... As for Buddhist teachings- I see it being rife with hypocracy and fearof living a full and natural life... Buddhist thought mnay tender a strong meaning when one is near death, but it seems mostly a weak and childish philosophy to me - as I enjoy life - fear no sort of suffering - other than my own foolishness, hubris, meanness and ill-will, which can be manifested when arroused by others' foolishness, hubris, meanness and ill-will... That is the nature of provocation...It is meant to get attention -for good or ill - it is self-centered and immature in its nature... And that is why WE HAVE THE GREATLY USEFUL IGNORE OPTION HERE!!!!! I have used it with 4 folks here thus far - it works, there is no subjecting ones' mind to the banter of fools if you don't wish to do so... Love to all- Pat

I usually just tell folks I'm an Earthling... I've lived in several countries, many States of the USA and feel at home just about anywhere !

This is a very interesting topic. It seems that we each have "demons" -or attributes that make us uncomfortible within ourselves. Confucious was said to have been made uncomfortible when receiving - Grace -the 20th (-I think I remember it)...hexagram of the Yi Jing... He was concerned that his teachings had form without content... Any given insight into ourselves may trouble us. Understanding just what it is that we are - is a trying & difficult and often even a dangerous process that has no easy way thru or single way for all... You are not ONLY that which disturbs you. There are counter-balances within you that mitigate the quality that irks and scares and threatens yr view of yr self... So keep searching and find the right balance FOR YOU- It will be different from anyone elses' and a new way to be will manifest from the insights you glean... I am often hard on folks, even those I love. I do not mean them harm - I just have little patience for foolishness or waste or hubris.... Not in them or myself - stay with the long hard looking -it ain't pretty- but rocking that boat, (making waves within yr self ) can wash-up many a good clean insight onto the shores of yr consciousness...some may be flotsom -but there will be gems to treasure too... love & peace to all-Pat

do you really see things that way or are you just parroting this stuff?

I just let loose over at another thread about this topic. I distrust any belief system ANY. I am a seeker. I am not a Taoist I am not a Buddhist I am not a Christian etc etc... I do hold many of these systems' ideas to be part of the "truth" or the "reality" I seek. This fine site will only get stronger having to deal with the yearning for attention that a few immature, if well read folks tender... IF the dogmatic, narrow-minded approach of some here is taken as being only rude and silly. The tempest in a tea-cup will subside & of course everything will change somemore...It too will pass... For my own take on the other issue... The way of the master means that - The fight is over before it began! Know when to retreat when to fight when to love...when to tolerate, & when to leave well enough alone or when to take action against something (anything) etc etc Non-violence justs does not always work. It is a preference not a rule of action. All things in their own time. When evil or danger arrive - we must be ready and able to fight it. Nature does not have druthers in these arguments. love to all- Pat

He actually comes across as a pedantic fool most of the time...He, like Denty before him- has a firm grasp on the tripe offered by others stuck in Buddist beliefs. It is nothing new. It is poorly stated and obnoxious in the extreme. But there again, he is not alone in his subjecting folks to dangerous jargon and small-minded reasoning. He wastes all of our time here trying to express his erudition and just shows us how little he LIVES the teachings he expounds so poorly... AND THAT GOES FOR ANYONE WITH ANY BELIEFS... It is not reality !- it is in yr f-ing head, and that is all it really is...If the "truths" you find resonate - just go out and try to live those truths. Beliefs are not to be followed by serious people. those that do follow belief systems are dogmatic and simple minded no matter how well they express there foolishness. I feel sorry for those lost enough to follow such a path from here... So, hey out there- wise up! Please - stop mentally jacking-off around here and get a life that amounts to more than bantering words about as if it matters!- love to all- (even Denty!!!)

Cognito ergo sum- Decarte coined that one I think... But...there would be a self without the body in my experience... several here have had out of body experiences that deny the body/mind construct as non- dispersable... also, too much thinking can do real harm in some folks' minds....let go of all this banter and LIVE!!! just go out side and do somethiong vigorous and healthy- love to all-Pat

Does anyone here know of this? has anyone gone to see the LOS LUNAS DECALOGUE. I BET you're saying, "what is that?". It's been ignored by science, because it will change our history books. It is a carving of the 10 commandments on a rock in the side of Hidden Mountain. It is the only carving of the 10 commandments in ancient writing (Paleo Hebrew) ever found. Now here's the kicker: Both the text and every kind of carbon dating, place it way before Columbus "discovered" America. Some estimate by 1 to 2 thousand years !! Wanna know more? Google ' Los Lunas Decalogue, NM 10 commandments'. It'll blow your mind.

My friend -Rick Derringer- (yep the GREAT guitar -player)... is on his way there now- walking in with family & friends... I'll post his report when it is available... I know nothing about it as yet, but it is a curious thing if true!- love to all-Pat

Stay well my friend in cyber-space!- I wish you well where/what-ever you are doing on yr path!-Pat

Pietro -expressed the process pretty well! We each take our searchings seriously here-for the most part... But taking ourselves too seriously, may be a hinderance to connecting well with each-other. So PLEASE relax and enjoy the opportunity to share... There is no quiz at the end of the day! We have only ourselves to prove anything to... to reach our own understanding and allowing that understanding to change, grow cultivate or shift as it will... sooooo- We sound/bounce-off one-another and share as we wish and are able...in a natural flux of give & take! love to all- Pat

Finding a way home Piece of cake, easy as pie! I leave crumbs behind...

There were of course... reptilian eggs before any chickens arrived...I can do a very accurate gecko imitation. Does that make me reptilian?

I have a good friend who does just that with happy results- for her- for me - I choose coins. It helps me settle into my question and contemplate better... Many thanks Mal - for yr kind interest in the Wayfarer Sonnets- I hope you enjoy them - I would be happy to send you a personal note to keep with the book if ya buy it.-Pat

I have long hoped for a Solomon... fishing thread... You've hooked me with line & sinker too!

just for laughs- this may lift yr spirits!- http://www.pdgart.com/jokes.html

Hey Vajra, are you channeling Denty!?

It ain't Taoist - but it may well help you laugh at our foibles!- The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term. The answer was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, which is why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well. "Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?" Most of the students wrote elaborate proofs of their conclusions using Boyle's Law, (gas cools off when it expands and heats up when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following: First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate that souls are moving into Hell and the rate they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, lets look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Many, if not all, of these religions hold that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and since few people belong to more than one religion, we can project that nearly all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand as souls are added. This gives two possibilities: 1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose. 2. Of course, if Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over. So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Ms. Teresa Banyan during my Freshman year, "...that it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you!", and take into account the fact that I still have not succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then, #2 cannot be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and will not freeze. The student received the only "A" given.