strawdog65

Eyes seen looking in. Convoluted grey matter, Red dawn breaks, anew.

Ball hits head. Poem ends. A stranger in a strange land, Rice pudding is blue?

Hello everyone! I am constantly confronted with the conclusion that contention is useless If contention is just an excuse to create an argument. In any argument what is there to win? ( I am quite emphatically speaking of an intellectual argument, nothing physical where your life may be at risk.) Fighting for your side of whatever it may be, even if its just your belief of what is true. What is to be won? A pat on the back of the winning sides ego? And what is winning? You most times still leave an argument with the same point of view you arrived with, and nothing has changed. What difference does it make if someone disagrees with you? If the Tao is really impartial then both viewpoints can be said to have equal merit at all times. There will always be evidence to support either side of the argument. All People judge things based on what they believe to be true. So an argument can be said to be a disagreement with someone else's truth. So... what is there to be won? Nothing is to be won.... arguing about a viewpoint is a race of the Ego, there are no winners. Therefore....I humbly submit to you my fellow Taobums, that contention for the act of just arguing is wasted on the Sage. He will not contend, for he knows it matters not what other people think, Tao accepts all viewpoints into its completeness. Peace!

Who's awake, out here. Just the wind between the trees, Nature eternal.

Twinner/ Aaron, Thanks for bringing this up. I am very curious to see what everyone has to say about compassion and what it means within the Taoist framework. I agree that if the nature of a person is towards being compassionate, then it is flowing with Tao. But so too if a person is hard and lacks compassion and treats all with a harshness that is natural to them, that would also be considered flowing with their true nature and being with Tao. I agree that in our most natural undisturbed and unprejudiced state, as children, we are apt to be compassionate purely because it is a natural empathetic state that needs no learning. Learning and the influence of people and our society can be both good and bad in respect to compassion. The stereo typical roles we are "assigned" by our society can create selfish and destructive habits that reinforce a compassionless life. I like to think about it in terms of reverence, respect for life and thereby the respecting of our own selves. Flowing from moment to moment, being how we are most naturally meant to be, I like to think includes the ability to make "wise" decisions that do the least harm in any given situation. Again... I am a little in the air over this, and look forward to hearing and taking in other poster's viewpoints to better understand this dynamic in regards to Taoism. Peace!

White flecks left on lips. The treat shaped like a circle, Powdered white doughnut.

Sorry... but my bullshit detector just went through the roof. Rapture/smapture .... don't waste your life worrying about fantasy.

Hello everyone! In the practice of a religious belief that is based on a "reward system" such as heaven, nirvana, or any other kind of promised afterlife, are the actions of the followers truly genuine if they only act a certain way to reach that afterlife? If there is no sincerity of the actions... does it matter? My opinion is that, although they may not be sincere about what they do, their actions still matter. Since our actions define us, what's the difference? I used to believe that the people living their lives trying to get to "heaven" were just wasting their lives. I see now that it doesn't matter what they believe as long as they are acting with regard for the world they live in. This to me is a true reason to be tolerant of any religion that by its actions has proven its reverence for all life. Conscientious awareness, and the realization of our actions being necessary or not, this is what I think matters most. The argument that there is only one path... is a fallacy. The TAO is nameless, the TAO is part of everything imaginable and unimaginable. All paths do eventually intersect and return to the all encompassing mystery that is TAO. Peace!

Hi Sean! Wow! Eloquent...and simply stated. I definitely agree. The conversational eye contact and obvious openness of the person you are with is a meditative state. It can be incredibly mesmerizing. I think many people are troubled by all they read into what this "is", or "means", rather than realizing that this is whats meant by being fully in that moment. Thank you for putting this into words .. i do believe we need to be constantly reminded of returning to this simplest of forms, and openness. Peace!

Hello Everyone! The book is : Everyday Tao, by: Deng Ming-Dao =================================== 1. Dao. Tao, way, road path, course. The ancients who first taught of Tao were simple, rustic people. They formed their view by walking in granite-bladed mountains, digging in grainy soil. and sailing down wide rivers. As they worked and traveled, they slowly discerned a grand order to life. They noticed the regular phases of the sun, moon, earth and tides. They followed the seasons. They watched the births, lives, and deaths of people, as well as the rise and fall of kingdoms. In the nights, the ancients sat beside open fires and spoke to those that wanted to learn. As illustrations of their ideas, and to aid their students' memories, they drew pictographs in the dirt. They taught their lessons from what they had experienced: life was a movement supreme- greater than humans, greater than heaven and earth. Nothing was fixed, for everything- from cycles of the sun and moon to the making and destroying of empires- showed endless, cyclical transformation. All this they summed up by drawing a picture of Tao: a person running along a path. Those who want to study Tao can gain much from that simple image. It represents the organic movement of the cosmos as a great, balanced, and dynamic body in motion, just as it represents the path each of us follows through life. Sometimes intellectual definitions of Tao can be challenging. Returning to the image of Tao centers our contemplations. ============================================== Comments? peace

Apech's gold blessings. Scratchy tongue reveals the truth, Chocolate tu tu.

Everyday Tao By: Deng Ming-Dao ============================================= Earth 5. "What is bountiful?" The ancients asked. True bounty was not the treasury of the emperor, but the generosity of the earth. The golden hills provided home, country, belonging. The rich, black, fertile- smelling soil gave grain, vegetables, and fruit. The blue-shadowed mountains gave shelter from wind and storm. And the seemingly endless plains and deserts provided ample room for exploration and adventure. Why worry about the abstruse, the ancients asked, when everything we require has already been given to us? If you want to follow Tao, the ancients said, first understand the perfection of heaven and earth. Wind, rain, and sun come to us through the sky. The earth gives us our home, our nourishment, jewels for our adornment, minerals for our use, places for travel. As the old saying goes, "Why look for what is close at hand?" You, like the young students of the ancients, may want to study Tao. Doing so may be as simple as bending down to pick up a clump of earth. So many of us look and look for Tao. The masters, it seems, are still pointing one hand to the sky and the other to the earth. ============================================================= comments? Peace!

Look ma! Dress myself! Left boot on right foot forward, Snow angels glisten.

Hi everyone! That is some funny stuff! I laughed and then boom it hits you. What we leave unfinished in our lives is usually the epicenter for the source of all our felt regrets. Those things we think about in a wistful way, musing over all those what if's in your mind. They never end. I believe that not everything of a personal nature is meant to be "finished" or completed by what we judge to be completed. Life lessons have a way of taking on a life of their own, and we can only flow with them to arrive somewhere else, beneficial or not. The journey is still the lesson to me. Since any apparent outcome is of a transient nature, depending on where we are being taken in our lives there will always be a sense of things being unfinished, but what if they are meant to be finished or completed in ways we can not foresee? Our judgment of something not being what we think it should be is the only determining factor, for anything being considered complete. Every moment is complete unto itself. If I stopped right here mid sentence ... :o :o Would it matter if it was complete to me? Not if I remove my expectation and judgment of what I believe this moment should be. Choose to be free. Choose This Moment as your life right now. And see how it is complete. You just have to say ... Yes, I accept this moment. And need nothing more. Peace!

Hi Sloppy Zhang! I tire of contending that contention is unnecessarily contentious. As Kojak was fond of saying: " Who loves ya' sloppy?".... Peace!

:lol: :lol: Don't pierce the condom. Howie Mandel blowing hard, Fits head like a glove.

Need a wiki leak. Faster isn't fast enough. Submarine sandwhich.

Hi suninmyeyes! I am aware of these types of children... and it is incredible to see how little they share with what we consider "civilized". When realizing the only influences they have had are the ones of the animals who have raised them, it's shocking to us. We are taught to think of humankind as more than animals... but is this an accurate picture of reality? I do believe we are in large part a product of our environment, but what does it mean to be "human" without the judgment of a human society? Doesn't human society define humanity? We are human because of the influence of other humans as a yardstick and role model, but as far as there being some innate "human" qualifier I don't know. If Sentience is the building block of self- awareness, without the role model of another human to know what being human is, I would say we would become, as best we were able, like what ever the family unit consists of, whether that be dogs, wolves or some other animal. Of course all of this only would apply to babies raised in the wild without human exposure of any kind. It is an incredibly deep question to mull over... thanks for posting it! Peace!

Ant tunnels erupt. Paleolithic rumbling, Vapid, black, tar pit.

Rene.... I will always concede, especially if i'm expected...to win Peace!

Toilet on its side. Myriad creatures of earth, The labyrinth below.

Hi Manitou! Thank you for your tremendously heartfelt comments. I resonate to my very core with what you have elucidated with your words! Incredibly awesome Manitou...YOU Rock! I did not want to make it sound like all religions are the same thing... only that we are all heading to the same ultimate direction regardless of what we believe or our motivators may be. The intersection is TAO ... and of course LOVE... especially Love that is without judgment and free from corruption. Manitou, this part is especially relevant to my personal life...thank you for stating it: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Yes, I agree it's all about our everyday life. Discussions in this forum often remain in the theoretical, and it would be nice to see this moved a little closer to home. Every action in our day is a direct reflection of our personal philosophy, at the deepest level. And the incredible thing is that we can change our philosophy by first changing our actions. To try and remain in a state of gentle kindness as we're going about the day - this can be an incredible challenge - even though we may sail the heavens in our understanding of the Tao. The Sage is not a fictitious character that we are reading 'about'. The Sage is us. Or at least the highest level of us. It's what we aspire to, otherwise all of this is just mental masturbation. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To endeavor to really walk the walk.... to make changes in our actions... to be consciously "aware" of our everyday actions and motives for all we do. This challenge is our true becoming! Peace!

Alfred, I am sorry to hear that. From your posts that I have read, I think you have contributed a very strong viewpoint that is based on much experience and knowledge gained from years of being immersed in something few of us will ever have the opportunity to do. Living in China... I can barely imagine how your perspective is so different from those of us who are struggling to take off our blinders and really see the world with an unflinching eye. Try clearing the air with whomever is so combative ... let them know you have a separate viewpoint, but are not interested in the wasting of valuable effort and energy being in contention with them. There is always the opportunity to learn from opposing views, there is no need for either side to be a winner. Both sides win when something is gained by the understanding of living without needless animosity. The most wonderful thing we can all share... is our individual view of the magnificent world we live in. Agreement is not necessary, accepting that everyone has their own view of what's going on is the beauty of being open and curious without judging . Give it a go, see if you can make it work. Consider it just another challenge to be puzzled out. Peace!

Hi Vajrahridaya! Yes... I am reading that one right now...it is very good! Peace!

Hello everyone! Something I wanted to recommend.... Last night my wife and I watched the movie called : Eat. Pray. Love We both found the movie to be profound. If you have the opportunity check it out! Now....Dolce Far Niente.... An Italian saying that basically means "to enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing". It is a part in the movie, and the distinction is made about how Americans are unable enjoy anything without being given permission to enjoy it. We work too much, and have to have a reason to enjoy our lives... rather than enjoying our lives because that is the reason we are alive... to enjoy! There are so many opportunities to enjoy life ... do we see what is before us enough to jump in and enjoy it? Do you need "permission" to enjoy your life? If so... where does this permission need to come from if not yourself? :P Being negative... being sour is our choice. You can choose to see the good and awe inspiring aspects of our existence and you can choose to give love freely to all those around you. What stands in your way of enjoying life?.... Dive into your life with a little reckless abandonment..... Live life NOW. Peace!