Harmonious Emptiness

N.A.J.A., There is a time and place for "passive agressive" strategy, but, the thing is not letting this strategy carry over as it so often does. For example, if someone threatens you and you have no way out, surely, tell them what they want to hear and don't show try to assert yourself. However, the problem is that some people spent so much time in situations like this, that they haven't found other ways to deal with conflict and difficulty in any other way, and having avoided conflict like this, they've found that it works and keeps them out of harm. The problem is that this approach is rarely the best way to go. If you want to be passive aggressive, go ahead, I really don't care. If that's what you want to do then you are free to do it, no matter what I say or the article says or whatever. The point of the article is just to know when you're doing it unconsciously. When your slinking away from responsibility due to ingrained habits of avoiding conflict or tyrannical authority. That is when reflecting on such behaviour is important. "Know thyself" doesn't just mean "know how f*kng awesome you are*!"

Should we accept ourselves unconditionally though? I think we should accept ourselves as we would a family member - they have their faults but we love them anyways. We may not love or accept what they do, but we still love and accept them. We don't really do anybody any favours by pretending they are perfect. This is why Daoist sages often counsel that: "If [a sovereign] loves flatterers and keeps aloof from the honest and true, his kingdom will soon fall." The thing, too, is that these issues are not "who we are." It's important to know the "not-self" from the "self" and/or the "no-self." You can still accept yourself if you have, say, anger issues or laziness. These things are not you. If and when you get rid of them, you will still be you. You will just be less obfuscated by suffering. Also, I think it is most important to know our own faults. Though I see your logic about judgement going both ways, I find that the strongest "judgers" are those who have never reflected on their own imperfection. This can be very alienating in fact. For me to see that I am imperfect is inclusive. Seeing myself as perfect, (for all but a fraction of a percentage of the population), could just make me think everyone else is beneath me, and undeserving of my acceptance, since not many people will resemble one's ideal of perfection. So, I think the most dangerous thing is not seeing these faults for what they are, which is "not-self." In a way this is "accepting" these faults, as simply obfuscations of the true and pure self (not pure meaning pure in a moral sense). When people see these faults as "them," I think this is when they try to deny all faults and then cannot "accept" these faults in themselves, thus, nor in other people too. So, I'll have to both agree and disagree with you, only because "accepting unconditionally" could also mean "forcing oneself to ignore that they have faults" and this may be ultimately problematic. I hope I didn't misunderstand what you were trying to say though.. Thanks for your comment hydrogen .

Not knowing what the number was there for could be strange too. Wouldn't it be better just to send notifications that will light up at the top of the person's screen. This way they don't have to see their report card all the time... I don't think it's the vibe that was intended. Seems like a cop always looking over your shoulder waiting to give you a ticket if you to step out of line.

Nice! i first learned about Mehl-Madrona from my local library too, which had "Coyote Medicine" a different book, more autobiographical. Then someone here, Konchug Uma, who spent a bit of time with him, told me about "Coyote Wisdom." Welcome!

Hi kyatheart, Your situation reminded a bit of the book Coyote Wisdom by Mehl-Madrona, a Native American shaman and Western medical doctor. He has a few great books. In this one he talks about using Native American stories to help heal. One of the main points he makes is that the early stories involved people who selfishly stole the sun and the other animals had to steal it back. This often happens in life, he explains, that we need to steal back what is rightfully ours, such as the right to love and respect ourselves, to live the life we want to live, to grow as a person, and to be joyful and loving with others. I hope you find the way through this, and that you both benefit in the end. Dan

Longevity, Wisdom, and Prosperity Shan Lung!

First, to say the soul doesn't exist is generally coming from the idea that nothing exists in a permanent way, but even that doesn't say things don't exist, just that they are constantly changing. You exist in your dream even thought the dream is false. The fear you feel in a dream is real even though the dream is false. Once you realize you are dreaming these things might disappear, but this debate is out of place in the current discussion, I think. Second, "soul" is an English word and can mean a dozen different things from other traditions which are all different. The question here was not so much about those things. So what is the "soul" in question that one is to get in touch with by art, music, etc.? I can say from experience, that after a good music session, it's like being re-situated on an internal compass. Playing music can you through some intense feelings while you are still "the observer", the musician who is playing them. It can make you more comfortable with everything that goes on inside as you have rode the highs and the lows and know the difference between the highs, the lows, and YOU, the musician playing the guitar or drums or whatever. If you get too far into them you will not be playing anymore, so you learn how to ride them without getting yourself lost in them. When you can do this, it is easier to know "that is feeling, this is me," as one way of looking at it. This is "soul" as it is the actor, and it is authentic. It knows the difference. It knows where it is inside the feelings, memories, plans, obligations, etc.. When you go dancing or do anything that leaves you with this, you know where you are and you know where you're coming from, you're are getting in touch with the "soul."

From time to time I go to a non-denominational Christian church, where they like to remind people that they can "belong before you believe." The pastor sort of talks like a motivational speaker/comedian/spiritual counselor and has done a fair bit of benevolent work. They different local music acts and musicians most times. Today they were talking about God expressing Joy and Love. It's a really open, non-judgmental type of Sangha (if you will)... It is, however, a lot more modern. They also have a DJ and free coffee, tea, & cookies break after the Music and update type stuff. You might find the crowd you're looking for, if you're trying to..

When I'm not eating much (sometimes its good to fast a bit) I'll try to remember to drink herbal tea for nutrients. Oatstraw and dandelion leaves for nutrients, with lemon grass and peppermint for flavour and additional support. Try to get the oatstraw with the full buds and stems.

I've had 2 instances where someone took a swing at my face and seemed to have barely brushed my cheek, after which I just saw them as acting immaturely and didn't sink to their level. Neither time did I have to do anything more than look at them like "do you really realize what you're doing right now" for them to change their course of action. Whatever they were trying to get out of the incident was nothing I cared to have, so there was no reason to partake and the situation ended. If what they wanted to get out of the incident was my personal well-being, then yes, I would have had to defend it. However, it wasn't really at risk, so there was no reason to retaliate. There isn't usually much to gain from fighting, so I don't get involved in it. For the rare occasion that it's required, however, "anything worth doing is worth doing well" . In these rare occasions, you might even keep the person from accumulating more bad karma for themselves by acting this way. As Shaolin monks say, they will only turn around the negative energy that someone is trying to give to them, I guess as in the parable "if someone offers you a negative gift you need only (politely) refuse to receive it."

I don't think we're on the same page as to what is "divine consciousness" but it may not be of much benefit to get to far into that tangent.

My take on this is that whether or not Dao can or should be deified doesn't make much difference when it comes down to the matter of how we operate within Dao. An Immortal or Buddha would just follow Dao and not ponder much either, so I don't imagine a Primordial Divine Lord would be less Dao. So just because there is no thought, doesn't necessitate absence of the divine consciousness. In a different thread I was saying something relevant to this, which I'll add: Also, (as shown in DDJ, Chapter Four) "humbling the exalted/proud and exalting the humble" is the main activity of the Egyptian god Ma'at (harmony/balance/rhythm) and also the widely worshiped African god Ogun (in addition to the Yaweh in the Torah\Christian Old Testament). The way of describing these gods seems to be maybe metaphoric, as in: the warring kings of Africa and Israel use the metaphor of a Primordial Lord, in human terms, while architects and artists of Egypt describe a god fulfilling particular role. Like sports fans see life as a baseball game, musicians see a symphony, race car drivers see a race track, chefs see an alchemy of flavours, parents see a guardian, scientists and physicists see a bio-mechanical structure, and people who live freely and spontaneously with/in nature see The Dao

Also, "humbling the exalted/proud and exalting the humble" is the main activity of the Egyptian god Ma'at (harmony/balance/rhythm) and also the widely worshiped African god Ogun. The way of describing these gods seems to be maybe metaphoric, as in: the warring kings of Africa and Israel use the metaphor of a Primordial Lord, in human terms, while architects and artists of Egypt describe a god fulfilling particular role. Like sports fans see life as a baseball game, musicians see a symphony, race car drivers see a race track, chefs see an alchemy of flavours, parents see a guardian, scientists and physicists see a bio-mechanical structure, and people who live freely and spontaneously with/in nature see The Dao

One could easily argue that the Primordial (Divine) Lord, as described in Chapter Four is very very similar to descriptions of "Yahweh" in the Jewish Torah/Christian's Old Testament, who "humbles the exalted and exalts the humble." Here is my translation: Chapter Four 01 道沖,而用之, dào chōng, ér yòng zhī, All is immersed in Dao, thereby it’s usefulness arrives All is immersed in Tao, as a result, being useful is its function and character, and should be made use of All is immersed in Tao, therefore it is to be used [2nd character = to immerse in water. Consider that a pot of water will overflow when you put something in it.] 02 或不盈。 huò bù yíng。 This way it is not full 03 淵兮, yuān xí, So profound and deep! 04 似萬物之宗。 sì wàn wù zhī zōng。 Like this, the myriad things have been revealed 05 挫其銳, cuò qí ruì, Putting the clever back in their place 06 解其紛, jiě qí fēn, Uncomplicating the confused, loosening and untying the knots 07 和其光, hé qí guāng, Bringing harmony to the overzealous, and taming their fires(child fire = bright light) 08 同其塵。 tóng qí chén。 Grounding them and reconnecting them to the earth, (making them like ash) 09 湛兮 zhàn xí Oh, the profound depth! 10 似或存。 sì huò cún。 Seemingly also alive 11 吾不知誰之子， wǔ bù zhī shuí zhī zi, I don’t know where it came from or who’s child it is 12 象帝之先。 xiàng dì zhī xiān。 (It is) the manifestation, expression, appearance, of The First, 先Primordial, 帝Divine Lord

I think if one is looking for deism in the Dao De Jing, their first stop would be Chapter Four: [my translation] 09 湛兮 Oh, the profound depth! 10 似或存。 Seemingly also alive 11 吾不知誰之子， I don’t know where it came from or who’s child it is 12 象帝之先。 (It is) the manifestation, expression, appearance, of The First, 先Primordial, 帝Divine Lord

Art, communication, life.

About Alchemy and Longevity practices (English subtitles) About an ancient villiage where Zhang Sanfeng grew up

Are you just tryin' a' tell me something Judo dude? What do you need my permission on it for?

Well, be what you want to be, but knowing half the battle G.I. Judo Trend

1 in every 7 marriages in the US is interracial. Yes people can get to know people from other cultures if they're not diseased with bigotry and prejudice.

Staying a lil' while Swaying between sun and moon Coasting; rolling. Soon.

Basically, stillness and absence of desire. If you are young and your vitality is plentiful, it will automatically transform when you cease desires, keeping the true yang of awareness within the yin of emptiness. Chi will eventually be felt rising as it has transformed from Jing. Continuing in this way, with a much broader knowledge, understanding, and instruction than I'm giving here, the chi will inevitably transform to Shen. Imo, this is a reverse method, since you first clear the mind and cultivate the shen in this way, from which the jing-chi transformation occurs. So this can build the "golden elixer" without focusing first on jing. But if you're trying to build jing for physical benefit, just focus on jing building methods as that would be the most effective. I think there is likely some jing effect of the "shen first" method, but more just for spiritual uses -- nothing explosive like you will find with jing building practices.

When you actually get to know people from other cultures, you realize that nobody is all that different. If you ask me, I'd say traditional African cultures are living the Dao more than anybody (any other cultures) right now

Gorgeous golden star Miles from earth yet not so far Mind, sky, all, we are

Wow, we're really gonna have to go through this all again eh? Daoism came from China, yes. You might get away with saying that Confucianism is simply Chinese culture, as it is a part of it, but even that would be stretching it to say that all Chinese people are Confucian. Nonetheless, Daoism was largely taught as a tempering of the prevailing hegemonic culture in China which was not following Daoist principles of naturalness. There really isn't anything in Daoism that didn't simultaneously exist in other cultures when it came about. If anything, the other cultures did these things so naturally that nobody felt the need to write about them. Like being natural for example. Do you really think Chinese people were the only one's to appreciate and value naturalness? Further, do you really think Chinese culture is the greatest example of living naturally, internally and externally? Some of us don't live in a society where these things are easy, so we need reminders like the Dao De Jing to help us stay on the path. This doesn't mean those who wrote it down somehow own what was written. It already exists everywhere, but some people wrote it down to keep from veering from this path. Anyway, this is the wrong topic.. take this argument to the "American Taoist" topic where there are already many pages arguing about these types of bigoted and agoraphobic views. Just because you don't want to accept someone because they don't look like you doesn't mean they are incapable of wisdom. To the contrary, your preconceptions only keep you from seeing what actually exists, so why should anyone expect you to know what's true or false in the first place?