secularfuture

Update: I had a hard time applying the Daoist practices, so I went back to the practices that worked for me in the past - my insight and satipatthana meditations. I have a love / hate relationship with Buddhism. I REALLY wanted Taoism to work because I felt it was more in tune with the natural world, but I couldn't find any practices that provided thorough instructions that attacked the 5 hindrances directly. Too many Taoist practices focus on healing the body; quality instructions on healing the mind are too difficult to find outside of a personal teacher.

Yes I will. My reply was brief because I work on the weekends. I'll have more time to give a proper reply on Monday.

Interesting timing. I had iTunes open while reading the replies. I'll check it out. And thank you all for your suggestions. I'll look through them over the next few days.

I feel absolutely miserable... I could really use some spiritual practices to help clear my mind of all the negativity, jealously, anger, depression, and frustration, and help me feel more one with the dao (with the universe, and myself). Are there any good resources on Neidan (or internal alchemy / spiritual alchemy) practice online? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

The second translation in that book is more literal. It's a Matrix, word for word, translation. It could come in handy for serious, in-depth, study. I've been searching for years for a good translation of the Tao Te Ching. Every version I come across always messes something up! It's very frustrating, and this book has been kind of helpful.

A book can't be understood unless you can sit with the author? So, to understand Universe in a Nutshell, I have bring Stephen Hawking over to my house?

Easier said than done. Even Chinese people have a hard time reading the Tao Te Ching. Now if you're talking about more modern texts like Mahayana Sutras, that might be a little easier. Pali could also be tackled. The Tipitaka isn't worded as densely as the Tao Te Ching. You're welcome.

I found this online yesterday: http://www.hermetica.info/#LaoziSkipDown I really enjoy literal translations. I prefer honesty over poetic licensing; it reflects the heart of the original teaching, and not to the heart of interpreter. What is your opinion of literal translations?

Woo! It's finally here! The iTunes link is on appmagination.com.

There is no evidence for such places. Sure, there may be parallel dimensions or universes, but there's no reason to believe karma will direct us to any of those places because of our good or bad deeds. This is great news! Thank you for sharing your experiences in the Soto Sangha with us. And thank you for the encouraging words.

Well said. Thank you for the reply.

I think I get it now... In Zen Buddhism, death isn't something that should be worried about. When mortals are alive, they worry about death. When they're full, they worry about hunger. Theirs is the Great Uncertainty. But sages don't consider the past. And they don't worry about the future. Nor do they cling to the present. And from moment to moment they follow the Way. Bodhidharma

Thank you for the replies. I know of the philosophical interpretations of rebirth. I just want to know about some of the other concepts that I had issues with accepting when I was a Theravada Buddhist. Do Zen Buddhists believe we can be reborn into a heaven or hell after we die? I like that. I never heard of Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. I'll look it up. Thanks for the recommendations. I'll look into them. No Death, No Fear by Zen Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, if I remember correctly, described death is a very pantheistic way. I really liked that book. I'm just hoping heavenly / hell realms aren't the norm in Zen. I'm kind of hoping Zen is more evolved than that.

I can almost believe in rebirth. But what about the heaven and hell realms, and the realms of the hungry ghosts, and so on? Do Soto Zen Buddhists believe in these things?