TzuJanLi

Greetings.. Try sitting or standing comfortably.. then, point the index fingers so you can feel the slightest tension along the palm-side of the finger.. then, notice (don't 'think') what happens to the mental 'chatter'.. Please, let me know what you 'notice'.. it's quite interesting, the experience seems very consistent among those that actually try this.. Be wel..

Greetings.. I explain that Taoism is the result of nearly 5000 years of studying the rhythms and cycles of Nature.. experiencing the harmony and chaos, and the consequences.. Taoists nurture the harmony.. Be well..

Greetings.. Suffering? Be well...

Greetings.. Yes, we can 'know' things.. then, the 'mind' engages and the mind-play ends-up reading like this thread.. too much 'livin' in the head'.. "Simplify", brothers and sisters, 'simplify'.. Be well..

Greetings.. Clarity is such a gift.. Be well..

Appropriately, A mirror...

Greetings.. Consider Qi, like a highly refined fuel.. then, conside the usefulness of this fuel.. if i put it in worn-out, poorly maintained '63 VW, the fuel (Qi) only has so much usefulness.. but, put it in a '86 RUF 911 Turbo and the usefulness is greatly enhanced.. so it is with our bodies, the Qi is most useful in a healthy well maintained 'vehicle'.. Yin and Yang (soft AND hard) are most effective in a balance application.. I train my body in a balance of strength and flexibility.. i train my body to express both extreme hardness and extreme softness, both are essential.. i never train with weights that exceed my body weigt, and usually train with just the body itself.. i'm really beginning to appreciate the 'rings', the ones that are suspended like gymnasts use.. a beautiful balance of strength and flexibility.. i have set-up a circle of eight bricks standing on end, and i practice circle-walking on these bricks (one of Dr' Yang's suggestions).. the 'rooting in motion' is greatly enhanced by this practice.. Another challenge i am working on is learning to kneel on a 36" diameter Pilates inflated ball, balancing with no contact with the ground.. well, i make a bit of contact, it makes a 'thud' sound.. Balance and moderation, understanding the relationship between Yin and Yang, these are fundamental elements of Taiji.. Be well..

Greetings.. For 'me', happiness is Clarity.. seeing 'what is', such that my interactions are with 'what is', rather than with the 'illusions' i might conjure.. or the 'illusions' constructed by others.. happiness is authenticity.. often confused with 'pleasure. Be well..

Greetings.. I see that face in every face i see.. Be well..

Greetings.. Many humble thanks, CowTao.. a bit undeserving of praise, i think.. Be well..

Greetings.. Caryn Lin.. her use of vibrational energy is stunning.. 5-string violin Eva Cassidy.. she touches your soul.. Cosmic Yogi, by Soulfood.. just listen.. Victor Krauss.. R. Carlos Nakai.. Wah.. Savasana Surajil Das..

Greetings.. A very humble thanks, Marblehead.. Be well..

Greetings.. Hi CowTao: 'Creative intention', has multiple implications.. as i used it, it was to imply that many folks try to 'intend' creation.. this is like choosing a path, creativity is diminished by the scope of the intention.. another implication, wiser i think, is the 'intention' to be mindlessly mindful (still and present) as creation unfolds spontaneously.. this perspective implies the 'creative intention' is to let creation reveal itself, as opposed to 'crafting' it.. the classic examples that come to mind are liberally sprinkled throughout this forum: Taoist perspective vs. Buddhist perspective.. Buddhists have a fairly rigid system to reach a predefined 'state'.. Taoists tend to believe that 'state' is what we already are, we simply need to 'pay attention', mindlessly.. When i am asked of the highest benefit of 'my' Taiji journey, i will answer: 'Stillness in Motion', that after enough training and discipline at the forms and fighting, i can function without 'thought'.. i learn to trust the ever-present unfolding creation and the being i have become.. i have learned that the creation and the being will naturally form a flowing, mutually interdependent, and symbiotically beneficial relationship.. i have found that if i 'try' to manipulate this natural symbiosis there are consequences less beneficial and potentially harmful.. Taiji is not an intentional path to the 'state', the 'state' is simply a natural by-product.. from the practice of Taiji where we mindlessly move and energy follows our 'attention' (not 'intention').. we can carry that practice into Life at large.. "Yi (mind) leads Qi (energy)", is a highly cultivated aspect of Taiji, but.. the mind is in an operative mode and therefore there is a certain separation between the 'Now' and our mind's operative response to the 'Now'.. at an even higher level of cultivation, "mind" represents 'attention'.. where we are quietly attentive our energy is naturally focused.. as events unfold, there is no mental activation, no evaluation, no 'leading' of energy.. it is already there in the stillness of your attention, in the being you have become, it is your 'nature'.. not mind-play or ritual.. I hope this helps a bit.. Be well..

Greetings.. Hi CowTao: It sounds like that person had a glimpse of Clarity, then.. told themself a really 'cool' story about it.. the Clarity is fairly good, IMO.. they just don't recognized that the 'I' is nothing less than the Consciousness itself.. it is BOTH Experience AND Experiencer.. it is as described in the post, and it is individually intimate and real, 'simultaneously'.. this is the inescapable mystery. People do what people do, they pick sides.. they choose the perspective they favor, for whatever reason they choose.. "IF" i were to find a way to justify non-duality (but, i can't), it would be the 'relationship' between 'Oneness and Many-ness'.. Of course there are choosers, and doers, and thinkers, and such other individualizations as Consciousness experiences/manifests into existence.. this is not 'creative intention', it is pure allowing.. consciousness 'allowing' its 'nature' to reveal itself.. yes, Consciousness has its own 'nature', it is to 'experience'.. this is the point of no return, the realization that it ALL real, there's no side to pick.. the 'stories' become pointless.. "You" are liberated from the apparent contradiction. Be well..

Greetings.. There is nothing prior to the Undifferentiated Whole Consciousness.. All things arise due to Consciousness.. this is simply observable. Be well..

Greetings.. There is this Cosmic 'I', Undifferentiated and Whole.. it is the Cosmic 'I' that reaches out into the nothingness and finds nothingness.. It is this Cosmic 'I' that is the 'Prime Cause' and the manifested effect.. 'Egoless', the Cosmic 'I' can 'let go' of its manifesting, let the manifest explore its own evolution.. here's the thing, the Cosmic 'I' is both the source and the result, and it is not invested in either.. 'You' are that Cosmic 'I', that is your 'self'.. whether Undifferentiated or individualized, it is still 'You'.. The 'car-essence' is 'You".. Let go of the 'words'.. the experience of the 'car' is its essence, regardless of how we describe it; car, automobile, carriage, horseless buggy, ride, whatever.. it has *ness, and is experienced as such.. There seems to be a great fear of 'impermanance', logically grounded in the fear of death.. i have no sense of 'impermanance', death is just another adventure.. i have no desire to transcend experience, to return to that undifferentiated whole.. and, the evidence is quite clear that the undifferentiated whole is not eager to conclude the physical experience.. the Universe is functioning well, spontaneously and sustainably well into the future.. The Cosmic 'essence', however it is perceived, has inspired this Universe as the mirror of its existence.. not to be rejected as 'illusion' or denied as 'not real', but.. as a playground of rich diversity, of unlimited potential, of evolving experiences, each a celebration of of existence itself.. To experience all that IS, and claim it is not.. is the fear of losing what IS.. people spend their brief interval in the physical experience preparing for a 'painless' exit, convincing themselves this isn't 'real'.. it IS real.. the ONLY act of a sane existence is to accept what IS.. regardless of beliefs or what transpires during sleep, we awake to a brief but consistent physical experience.. there is no 'consequence' for embracing 'what IS', but.. pretending it isn't, is like sitting on the sidelines 'watching'.. you never 'know' life, you just 'watch the movie'.. regardless of the perspective, the result is the same, the physical experience ends.. i have chosen to experience this physical experience with gusto, sincerity, and reckless abandon.. when i discard the individualization, there will be no difference in the result from anyone else's discarding.. except, that Oneness will have had an authentic experience with itself... not some ritual of nothingness. Be well..

Greetings.. Now, we can get at it.. Whole (car) and components (parts).. The parts lay scattered about, no car-ness apparent.. 'something' organizes the parts into a functioning mode of transportation, and describes it as 'car'.. while there is no naturally occurring fundamental condition identifiable as 'car'.. the functioning mode of transportation exists, it was 'created'.. In Taoist philosophy, and in general Chinese thought, there is the understanding of "Mutual Arising".. as the physical being is born and grows, its 'I' essence "mutually arises".. as fundamentally as the seed growing into the tree.. the descriptors and words do not define the 'tree' or the 'I', but they exist.. As the functioning mode of transportation emerges from the organization of parts, the 'essence' of the function mutually arises.. The horse was a wild beast, until someone created the 'essence' of another functioning mode of transportation, and.. that 'essence' still exists today.. the 'essence' is that which is directly experiencable, it needs no 'name', it simply occurs as 'part' of the process of Creation.. you integrate the 'car-essence' into your direct experience of existence.. look, with no preconceptions, and see that this is so.. if someone says 'car', you understand the 'essence' of their meaning.. the 'word' car invokes a 'knowing'.. the 'knowing' is based on direct experience with an 'essence', it is the 'essence' of communication and relationship.. yes, there is an 'essence' of the car.. it may be tempoary, but it is quite 'real'.. The whole nor the parts exist without that which experiences both, 'You'.. "You' are Consciousness, which is attended by its inherent Awareness, and is fundamentally self-aware.. There is something that experiences and describes both the Whole and the parts, not as a separate observer, but.. as the direct experiencer.. experiencing itself.. The 'I' exists as an Undifferentiated Whole AND as independently manifested experiencer.. the same way that the independent raindrop retains its 'waterness' apart from the same Ocean 'waterness'.. Be well..

Greetings.. The comedy is nearly overwhelming... two, or more, unique manifestations of the cosmos.. some aruging they 'exist', others arguing they don't exist.. and, in either case, it is a 'mind-game'.. there is the certainty that a uniquely manifested being is reading the posts of other uniquely manifested beings. The contrasting opinions contained in the posts are clearly formed by beings with differing perspectives.. somehow, linguistic and semantic word-games have been cobbled together is some fashion sufficient to convince rational beings they 'don't exist'.. the humor, however dark, is overwhelming.. Is there any doubt that there are individual physical bodies, humans, existing on this celestial body we call earth? Is there any doubt that no two of these uniquely individual humans will interpret any experience in an exactly identical manner? (hint: they won't).. Examine your 'dreams', do they return nightly in a flowing stream of related events, no.. they are fragments of glimpses into the 'non-local' you, the Cosmic Mind.. each day you wake to the actuallity of existence, a streaming continuum of inter-related events.. to equate the streamimg continuum of inter-related events to random fragmented and often unintelligible 'dreams', is a leap of faith unsustantiated by any measure of reason.. Yes, there is an 'I'.. no, it is not the constructed image of thoughts and beliefs.. it is that unique manifested being, the unique perspective the being generates simply by being unique.. it is the necessity of 'relationship', and.. it is relationships that drive this whole existence, the whole Cosmos.. the Singularity, in order to 'know' itself, set the process in motion that result in 'its relationship with itself.. the 'I' is also the Singularity, it evolves through interactive relationships with itself.. we/us/Life ARE those relationships.. we (a bunch of 'I's) construct the personas that reveal to the singularity what the Singularity IS.. This whole process is called 'Evolution', the principle of self-organization choosing its natural direction and revealing the nature of the Singularity to the Singularity.. Evolution is without design or constraint, the only way the the Singularity can experience its own 'truth'.. While the mental image, the thoughts, you believe about yourself are not tangible.. their effect is very tangible.. 'You', the unique being and its unique perspective, are quite real.. if not, simply cease your manifestation.. stop posting, stop the 'dream'.. you want a really good laugh? watch one 'not real' being trying to convine another 'not real' being they are 'not real'.. it's a hoot! AND, it's a pathetically insincere game.. i have not met even one of the proponents of the 'not real' existence that conduct themselves in manner consistent with their statements, nope, not even one.. and, i know a bunch of them.. what i see is people that think it's really cool to insist that they don't exist, i mean 'how cool is that'.. to look another human in the eye and say.. 'we don't really exist'.. that, my 'non-existent' friends, is precisely what P.T. Barnum was referring to.. Be well..

Greetings.. I also wanted to experience 'Magic'.. alas, it has revealed itself to be straightforward energy work.. in fact, based on my own experiences, it is the rituals that get in the way.. A couple of short stories: When i was a teenager, +/- 17, the neighbor across the street was a high-school teacher and an 'ethical hypnotist'.. after some prodding by me to 'show me something 'cool' about hypnosis, he asked my parents' permission, and.. he guided me into a state of intense suggestibility.. he took a penny from his pocket, and told me the penny was 'red-hot', then he put it in the palm of my hand.. i yelped and snatched my hand away, impressed by the sensation that obviously wasn't there.. the amazing part, was, that about 10 minutes later there was a blister forming in my palm.. huge evidence of the power of the mind!! That same year, 1967, i was invited to the United Spiritualist Church.. a girl knew at school said she thought i would understand their message.. this Church was Pastored by Ann Gehman, renowned Spiritualist (i didn't know that then).. at the end of the service she asked 'God' for a sign that the service was appropriate.. my head was bowed but, i heard gasps and, when i opened my eyes everyone was looking up.. there was an irridescent blue 'fire' dancing on the ceiling, it lasted a good 20-30 seconds, then faded.. i was impressed but could explain it away, gasses excited by a small electrical current, but cool anyway.. so, as i'm leaving the church, Ms. Gehman was greeting everyone at the door.. she grasps my hand and says, "Don't worry, your dog will be fine".. ?? it didn't mean anything to me, my Daschund, Ginger, was fine.. When i got home dad was gone and mom said, "Dad took Ginger to the emergency Vet, she tried to dig under the chain-link fence, and a barb ripped her back open, head to tail... Ms. Gehman's words burned in my mind, how could she have known??? Later, the next week, Beverly, the girl that invited me in the first place, said, "Ms. Gehman would very much like for you [me] to stop by her office, she has a gift for you.. a little anxious, i was not wired for this much input, yet.. i went by her office after school.. She smiled warmly and (paraphasing now): I know you are curious, you are skeptical, but.. you will understand the purpose of this sooner than you think.. She clasped her hands as if holding a live and delicate creature inside.. she came over to me and said, hold out your hands, please.. i did, and.. when she opened her hands there was that same luminous irridescent flame-like 'stuff'.. it jumped from her hands to mine.. instantly i was buzzing like deep tuning-fork,.. mind-you i was only 17, and by now i'm scared shitless.. i was telling my legs and feet to get me outa there, but they were moving in super-slow motion.. the last thing i heard Ms. Gehman say, was.. it's a 'gift', you'll understand soon enough, bye (in a cheerfully unsettling voice).. 1967 was a pivotal year, for me.. i had been given the evidence that would inspire a lifetime of 'paying attention'... from which i have concluded, that 'magic' is simply natural phenomena we don't yet fully understand.. thanks for tolerating my 'stories'.. Be well

Greetings.. Hi CowTao: Thanks for the thoughtful reply.. it is my turn to apologize, and i do.. the 'jabs' you refer to are intended to incite a different perspective, not unlike the whack of the Zen stick.. Buddha, as a marketing genius, is simply an alternative perspective, one that should be included with any serious evaluation of the practical application of the teachings.. When appropriate, i will scrutinize Tao in the same 'nasty' manner.. i.e.: religious Taoism is a contradiction unto itself.. As for the forum, i appreciate deeply the contributions of those with curious intentions, regardless of their belief systems, but.. proselytizing in a forum like this is contrary to spirit of the forum.. and, a little embarassing to observe.. So, i apologize for being insensitive.. i very much appreciate my Buddhist brothers and sisters, i only caution them that 'programming' is a subtle process, be vigilant lest the Kool-Ade taste funny.. Be well..

Greetings.. Hi CowTao: Is it really 'nasty'? It's my opinion.. just like 'nasty' is your opinion, and.. at least V was able to detach emotion and respond appropriately, a quality i greatly admire.. Now, suppose Buddha never happened.. Consider the the numerous references in different belief systems to the 'child-like' qualities necessary for 'realization'.. the child doesn't create fantastical mind-scapes and Dharma Wheels or Yins and Yangs.. the child sees what 'is' and interacts according to its nature. Buddha comes along, has some amazing 'insight', and.. convinces people they are suffering.. even if they aren't, they just don't know it.. so, the Buddha will teach them how to understand they are suffereing, then.. he will teach them to understand how to end suffering.. Marketing 101. It bears noting, i am not a 'Taoist'.. i tend to avoid labels, they are a bit too confining.. i find deep resonance in the core philosophical concepts of Taoist understandings.. but, that doesn't 'define me'.. i have tested the core philosophy, found it to be without verifiable contradiction, and.. i continue to test it, i am eager to experience 'truth'.. so far, no contradictions to the understanding i have experienced from Taoist Philosophy are sufficiently compelling to inspire revisions.. but, show me the error in my understandings and i will revise without hesitation Suffering, is the condition where unfulfilled desire is believed to diminish the idea you believe is 'You'.. i want it, if i don't get it i will not be the 'me' i want to be.. pain fits nicely into this concept, i suffer physically and people pay attention to me, if the pain goes away people will no longer pay attention to 'me', so.. i will 'suffer', the pain will serve me and my desires.. as pointed out previously, "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional".. Be well..

Greetings.. The thing is... you seem to believe that everyone else is concerned with the Buddhist teachings, it is not so.. what Buddhists fail to realize is that it is Buddha that is the source of their suffering.. Please notice that this is a Taoist forum, and those claiming to be Taoists are here, not in a Buddhist Forum telling the Buddhists what is not right about their beliefs.. that seems a bit 'evangelistic', eh? Be well..

Clarity!! Appropriately Tao in every respect.. Be well..

Greetings.. It is very important to consider the following quote with Clarity.. it touches the essence of suffering.. Even the Buddha's suffering is predicated on trying to unbalance this natural equation.. ALL of the wisdoms, religions, paths, and 'knowings', are experienced and conceived by Uniquely Manifested Beings.. it is plainly observable and directly experiencable.. Be well..

Greetings.. Those unfamiliar with Chinese metaphor, especially in the 'Arts', often misinterpret the instruction.. Eye represents 'attention'.. Nose represents 'breath'.. Hand represents 'Intention'.. So, the often misinterpreted Taiji instruction that "Eyes follow Hand", means that Attention should be where the Intention will manifest.. there is no practical or energetic result from staring at your hands.. Try rereading some instructions with this in mind.. Be well..