The Observer

In my very limited experience, there are good general principles to follow; it is better to know the essence of certain moral codes and then apply them in a natural way to situations as they arise.

I think if you look deeper they both are coming from the same place just using different vehicles to convey certain principles. It seems to me that people often confuse the Legalist influenced Confucianism for a lot of Confucius's own words (or at least those directly attributed to him by his disciples). To me both philosophers have a lot of down to earth advice on how to live a better life. I don't think this reply did enough justice to the conversation; later I will dig up examples and do a little more reading myself to see if I'm mistaken in my assumptions.

Great post Zerostao! The only disagreement I had was with this part: I don't think the 2 are mutually opposed. Just like the taiji symbol I think one can give birth to the other in a spiral of ascending growth.

Liberal when it needs to be. Conservative when it needs to be.

I don't think there is really any division between Confucianism and Daoism at the essence of things. In my view Chuang Tzu is not really picking on Confucius but using him in his stories to fill the role of the middle man (or rather teacher) between (of) unspoken wisdom and student.

Well, it's been quite a while since I post here but let me get right into things.... Okay so I think this is an important realization (for me anyways) that has been brought to light by many people and experiences I've come across as of late...the importance of hard work. The explicit truth is that the Tao Te Ching is the description of the fully realized sage; the implicit is that it took diligence, mistakes, study and experience to bring the seeming effortlessness of the sage to fruit.

One of the most wonderful experiences I had with true love (the purest form I've experienced) was when I reach a high degree of one-pointedness in meditation and I blissfully forgot everything. The other was when I was in a OBE/lucid dreaming state and I used the power of love to protect myself from a very troubled entity. A good inspiration for creating feelings of love, is constant mindfulness on the inter connectedness of all things. Know that when you love another, you love the whole of existence and when you love yourself (truly, truly, genuinely love yourself) you love the whole of existence. Selflessness is the embodiment of true love. -Woops sorry double post please delete-

One of the most wonderful experiences I had with true love (the purest form I've experienced) was when I reach a high degree of one-pointedness in meditation and I blissfully forgot everything. The other was when I was in a OBE/lucid dreaming state and I used the power of love to protect myself from a very troubled entity. A good inspiration for creating feelings of love, is constant mindfulness on the inter connectedness of all things. Know that when you love another, you love the whole of existence and when you love yourself (truly, truly, genuinely love yourself) you love whole of existence. Selflessness is the embodiment of true love.

You're already immortal, don't you know?

Could be. Such things (organ regenerations and the like) are nothing new. But it could just be a big lie. I guess that leaves two options: 1) See for yourself 2) What kind of reputation does this person have in spiritual healing circles?

1) Calm down. A nervous state of mind accomplishes nothing. A fearful state of mind likewise. 2) Don't worry about the nature of self. Concern yourself with virtuous acts, good deeds and wholesome thoughts. Once you are in a habit of these, things will fall away and all your questions will be answered. 3) The path to happiness is happiness. Liberation is a mind state not a destination.

Spiritual bullshit? Let's not throw the baby (all the wonderful discoveries and insights made by intrepid spiritual explorers who showed us the Way) with the bath water (corrupt religious organization+manipulation and deception). Instead of separating and picking apart; thinking this is true, this is not, simply let go and observe. This is Wu Wei...without the need to separate the "impure" from the "pure" (illusions both of these).

The only amount of time I can recommend, is the amount of time it takes for you to completely let go.

It's just as probable that Ogedei's death may have saved the Mongols from over extending themselves in Western Europe. The Mongols light cavalry tactics may have had a hard time dealing with the heavy forests and innumerable castles in medieval Germany (+ Western Europe). Then again rough environments didn't stop them from conquering Southern China.... Assuming a total victory on the part of the Mongols, it may well have been very bloody (supposedly their conquest of Russia was a virtual holocaust and set Russian civilization back centuries; same could be said for what they did to Islamic civilization in Persia and the Fertile Crescent). And who's to say a hypothetical "Western Khan" doesn't just assume Charlemagne's mantel and convert to Christianity? He may even have his own Inquisition....The more things change, the more they stay the same.

In addition to my earlier post, I will say this...enlightenment is simply raising your conciousness. This happens to various degrees as seen in various saints, healers, prophets and awakened people. When one reaches certain frequencies you have concious control of your destiny instead of ceaselessly wandering (samsara) from one incarnation to the next as a slave to your deeply ingrained instincts, attachment and habits. When you die you constantly crave stimulation, so when you're in the bardo/in between your essence will get sucked into an existence/incarnation where it can be stimulated according to past habits and desires. This is why it's so important for us not so much to repress, but master our bad habits/lower emotions; this is the real gem that must be held close to the heart of the follower of any path. This is what I have pieced together thus far as the essence of all religious teachings, don't take it for gospel.

Wow thanks, your post really hit home for me! Have you ever read Journeys Out of the Body by Robert Monroe? What you said really really resonated with me. ....And a lot of the rhetoric seems to me like the hippy mentality of the sixties where everyone was so focused on non-conceptuality/orginality that they ended up being lazy underachievers. IMHO the nonconceptuality comes as a fruit of consistent practice not just a shallow logical realization made by someone who's just scratched the surface.

Full moons = times when the power of meditation is amplified. By fasting on those days I'm getting a double benefit you could say!

I've been fasting once weekly, with very few exceptions, every Sunday. So far I can't say it's been bad and it's given me a greater appreciation for the food I do have. I'm planning on adding smaller modified fasts, with prunes and colon-cleansing tea the day before the full moon and the day of the full-moon.

I agree with NeiChuan, it's not about rulership or domination (ironically yang concepts), it's about harmonious balance. When Lao Tzu talks about keeping to the female, remember he said know the male as well. He spoke to the problem of men being overly callous and brutal (still an issue today) and the need to moderate(not eliminate) these characteristics through realigning with the Tao. Both sides, man and woman, must come to have mutual understanding for the previous to come to fruition.

Science built a wall around itself and pretends to be all inclusive. When push comes to shove I always choose the elders' wisdom.

All shamanic cultures originally worked with energy. Read Drew Hempel's blog http://naturalresonancerevolution.blogspot.com/. He's a little eccentric but read his posts about Bushmen and harmonics. He has first hand experience with what he researches (qigong).

Works for me .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjqTiQhOgU8

Have you read Robert Monroe's books on his OBE journeys? I think you'd really like them.

No denying that sir. However, take this into account; perhaps this will help you understand, since you are a follower of the Dao (as am I): The Buddha realized the same things as Lao Tzu (that things constantly change/are impermanent). However, both dealt with different students, with different temperaments and natures. The Buddha's style was more wordy because that's what worked with the people he taught. Lao Tzu's style was more simple and direct because that's what worked for his intended audience. Add to this, the Buddha only taught what cosmology/philosophy was necessary for the ultimate goal of ending suffering. This is how his teachings were "packaged" if you will. On the other hand if you follow Lao Tzu (for example) he doesn't explicitly offer an end to suffering, but if you sincerely follow his parables, certainly they are reduced (IMO they could even be ended). On a sort of normal thinking and over analyzing level I agree; wholeheartedly! But through meditation you can short circuit the analytical process and have eureka-type moments, when you just get it. And if you feel that way, who am I to stop you? I'm glad you are happy. I must add however: 1) Truths are not static and change. 2) Don't rest on your laurels. Continue expanding and challenging your beliefs. There is always room to grow. Don't sell yourself short. Experience is what, as they say, separates the men from the boys.