Harmonious Emptiness

These quotes from Jesus, as well as (to paraphrase the paraphrase) "the wealthy man can get into the kingdom of heaven like a camel can get through the eye of a needle" make me really think there must have been something to those papers in the Himalayas that say there was a Jesus who learned with Buddhist monks around the exact same time he disappeared after adolescence. It sounds very much like I mentioned about the Scripture of Complete Enlightenment (see recent topic in Buddhist Discussion) that one can not enlighten the ego/self since the ego/self must dissolve into everything. Much like the wealthy man, wanting to "obtain entrance" for himself will never be able to do so since the self he wants to fulfill the desires of must first be let go of for all time. Anyway, don't take this from me as any complete teachings or anything, but, yes I agree, as far as Buddhist and some Taoist meditation goes, it is the profound continuity which takes one through the gate (gate paragate parasamgate, bodhi svaha).

Hi folks. So, by a massive windfall of fortune, I happened upon Chan and Zen Teachings third series, translated by Charles Luk in a used books store for a fraction of what it goes for, used, online. Seems there are very few copies of this around and I have never heard of The Sutra of Complete Enlightenment, Han Sha commentary anywhere else. This sutra, especially the chapter "Boddhisatva Clean Karma" with the commentary by Han Shan, is absolutely, wow. However, there seems to be almost no availability even from Amazon. Does anyone know about these Sutras or sources of this book, and where people might obtain copies? Thanks..

Thanks for the suggestions guys. As I posted in "Sutras" topic the sutra can be read here: Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment: http://www.buddhism.org/board/read.cgi?board=Sutra&y_number=1 I find this sutra sort of explains the concepts of the Diamond Sutra but more explicitly. Especially in regards to the idea of chasing Enlightenment to fulfill the self which can not pass through to Nirvana. Not that the path should be abandoned, but that one should recognize the illusion of a self which seeks to be Enlightened. Yes, paradoxical no doubt, but entirely logical all at the same time. One could also start with the poem summaries at the close of each chapter to get a sense of the sutra if so desired. ..

Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment: http://www.buddhism.org/board/read.cgi?board=Sutra&y_number=1 I find this sutra sort of explains the concepts of the Diamond Sutra but more explicitly. Especially in regards to the idea of chasing Enlightenment to fulfill the self which can not pass through to Nirvana. Not that the path should be abandoned, but that one should recognize the illusion of a self which seeks to be Enlightened. Yes, paradoxical no doubt, but entirely logical all at the same time. One could also start with the poem summaries at the close of each chapter to get a sense of the sutra if so desired. ..

I find especially after lunch if I drink something cold with my meal I feel far more tired than if I wait about an hour after eating before drinking anything, or else just have green tea. The cold over works the spleen which has to heat up the food it digests, so this makes some sense.. Actually, green tea can put off hunger too, and some (including myself) find it helpful, a sort of cleansing of toxins, before doing meditation. Other's have said it makes them have to go pee so not good before qi gong, personally I haven't noticed much of this unless I've already been drinking lots of fluids. May depend on how long your session is too though.... edit: btw, for general afternoon drag, I suggest chewing two seed sized pieces of acorus calamus root IF you're not taking any other medications or have existing medical conditions (I'm not a certified naturopath, btw, so you should check it out thoroughly before taking it). I find this helps me and few friends VERY effectively. It doesn't give you a buzz like coffee, but normalizes energy. It is also good for people with anxiety, and I've found it useful to help fight off oncoming colds. Has many many uses.

Yup!!

I've been reading "Taoist Yoga" (Charles Luk, translator) recently, and found it very very interesting when he mentions that the MCO should -- start around the perrenium, move up with inhale and pause behind the heart, then up to the crown, then with the exhale move down and pause again at the heart before going to the lower dantien. This, he says, purifies the post-heavenly chi to become pre-heavenly chi! I personally believe this has to do with transforming the energy out of its sexually propulsive nature into the samadhi saturated all penetrating radiance (hey, there are no words to describe it.. so I'll use 5 lol).

ha ha. Was trying to find this topic. Of course, hiding in plain sight right at the top of the page... Many Sutras and other writings in pdf http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_ms.htm

http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_ms.htm some very interesting looking ones there too thanks BuddhaNet!!

Couldn't find the topic with all the sutras It's pinned at the top now. See ya there!

Well, after seeing the documentary, I can't say I'm particularly impressed. Courageous? yes. Talented? yes. Inspiring artists? yes. Taoist masters? Not as far as they let on at least, though maybe in terms of "philosophical Taoism." However, I still have yet to read more than a few paragraphs of their writing so, personally, I wouldn't make my decision about them on the cctv documentary without hearing their own words. Brings an interesting discussion though, about if there is a place for hedonism in Taoism. I think the "not too much" advice sort of answers that, but there may be more to it, especially considering some of the writing in the Leih Tzu. Overall though, they did hold down the fort on rejecting the "think whatever Confucius tells you think, or the emperor, or your parents, or some other guideline tells you to think." Obviously a dangerous road on either side for different reasons. Courage vs. conformity.. I'd rather be a hedonist than need permission for every "correct action and thought." I guess I'm still torn. But who needs role models.. everyone has a different road to walk for themselves. Thankfully, this is not such a mysterious doctrine in today's world...

ha. my mistake. There's 7 parts, all in the side bars

found this cctv documentary on them: there's a second part in the side bar at the link

Thanks for bringing up The Seven Worthies of Bamboo Grove. I don't remember hearing about them before. I hope to hear more about them in the new topic I've added in Taoist Forum. It seems it would be quite a difficult task to determine the influence of Confucius on Taoism, especially considering the influence that Taoism (in its early forms) had on him to begin with, lol. To my limited knowledge, a primary reason that his knowledge was so highly regarded is that he had studied the I Ching so thoroughly. The idea of Centering is more or less described in writings attributed to the Yellow Emperor as well, which I'm sure as an avid scholar, Confucius would have been familiar with. By the same token though, the work Confucius did certainly contributed to the proliferation of these ideas, as did the work of later Taoists. I'm reminded of a statement by Liu-I-Ming in his interpretation of the Yi Jing (Travel) that when people are internally unstable they try to create external order, whereas those who are internally stable can be internally stable while externally stable. This makes me wonder about the internal state of the Confucians who sought to structure every facet of existence. The instability of their times would probably be a contributing influence to this, but I wonder what Confucius himself would have had to say about the matter.

My first question would be if you ate anything extraordinarily greasy. Pu-ehr tea can clean cholesterol out of the arteries.. might be just the thing. Also, if it's the heart, try some good relaxed abdominal breathing (right hand on stomach, left hand on chest which should not move up and down) to cool the heart and possibly clear some passages. I'm no doctor though, so don't take this as any kind of diagnosis please...

Heading down ta' chattanooga (TTB, not TN) if anyone wants to talk about what you been up 2... I'll check over the next hour (to 7:15 TTB time in bottom right of page).

btw, by "skip the therapy" I didn't mean to say "skip all the other advice in this thread", just that this action should be the primary step, imo...

I'm hoping someone can direct me towards some books or resources about Shamanism and/or Aboriginal traditions, including books on traditional medicine. Here are some books I have read and can recommend on the subject. Hopefully some people will share some more. Honoring the Medicine by Kenneth Cohen The Wind is My Mother by Bear Heart Coyote Medicine by Lewis Mehl Madrona Seeker of Visions by Lame Deer The Sacred Ways of a Lakota by Wallace Black Elk Black Elk Speaks by Black Elk a few myths and legends compilations Entering the Circle by Olga Khartidi (Siberian Shamanism) The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine In Search of the Medicine Buddha: A Himalayan Journey by David Crow Africa's Ogun: Old World and New (African Systems of Thought) by Sandra T. Barnes The Healing Drum by Yaya Diallo Any recommendations? I'd be happy to receive PMs if anyone prefers. thanks!

+++ for Sloppy's advice. Skip the therapy and find a good martial artist who will train you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Like he said, beware of some gyms (especially the full contact ones) where there seems to be a lot of meat-heads - you won't learn anything but stupidity. I would add various kinds of kung fu to the search. The instructors usually have a high level of self control and discipline and they know how to push their students in the right way to force them to overcome their mental and physical blocks, including fears and lack of self confidence. With practice you will realize more of your potential and not be afraid to fall. The ground is just another angle to strike from! You've got some work to do. Enjoy the journey and start walking!!

Thanks for your further illucidation here Shazi, and for your translation as well -- I read rather often! I'm not sure that I would agree that poetry, music, and ritual are antithetical to zhuang-lao thinking though. After all, did not Zhuang Zi write much poetry in some resentment of the foolishness of the day, lol? I believe the Wu shaman(esse)s employed music in their ritual as well, though their rituals may not have resembled those of the Rujia. I think all of these, poetry, music, and ritual, can serve as a sort of medicine which I see no reason for Zhuang-Lao thinking to reject. Though maybe you were being subtly ironic..??

Ha, coincidence? Just went to a used bookstore today and what did I find? 2nd print of ``Taoist Yoga`` for $7!

Presto!

Can we move this thread to Taoist Discussion?>> http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/18847-liu-i-ming-18th-century-taoist-adept/page__st__32__gopid__343817entry343817

I came across, what seems to me to be, an excellent write-up about the book "Taoist Yoga" from somewhat of a Ch'an Buddhist perspective. I didn't get very far into this book as I felt I still had much work to do in the early breathing practices mentioned in it, but this write-up very much reflects my personal experience of NeiGong meditation in transmuting sexual energy into spirit. I put this here since if one compares the practice of Zhao Bichen as described in this article (thought it may be a rather incomplete summary, I can't say for sure, though it seems to get to the essence of it) with the descriptions of Alchemical principles in Liu I Ming's commentary on the I Ching, there is quite a resemblance. In my humble opinion, if one is looking for some kind of footing to understand the process described in Liu I Ming's commentary on the I Ching, the summary linked here might be helpful as a fairly uncomplicated description of the process. I put this in context to Liu I Ming's commentary on the I Ching because they both approach the Alchemical process and principles entirely from internal practices. Again the description comes from a Ch'an Buddhist perspective, so it is very minimal and possibly too much so for those who study Zhao Bichen's book, but I find the descriptions to accord rather closely to the principles described in some of Liu I Ming's writings. Thanks to Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) for the article

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