strawdog65

hi z00se! My personal view of all this is most similar to what you have said. I came to this path accidentally (or you could say, on purpose as well because there is a reason for all the things we do.) for I never knew what Taoism was until about 2 years ago. Without ever being instructed in what it was, after doing some reading, I realized I was most in line with what composes Taoism. Life and all its challenges has been my greatest teacher. I have not been fortunate enough to have instruction from anyone called a "master". This is not regretful to me. If the opportunity arose and it was something I could afford, then that would be a different matter. Different paths, different individuals, all seeking the same Tao. No path is better or worse. I do believe the TTC and associated stories of Chuang Tzu illustrate that enlightenment is open to all... including the lesser intelligently gifted among us. To be what is most natural to you is a form of Simpleness within nature, is this not in accordance with Tao? I can see what you say about the more you read and delve into the writings. The Tao is not something that is supposed to be written about... that is the issue. Like talking about colors to a person born with blindness. Tao is to be lived. Speaking of it is like listening to birds chirp and insisting you understand every nuance of the sounds meaning. Sometimes understanding "meaning" is less important than just "experiencing" and allowing it (whatever "it" may be) to just BE. Writing about something that is ever present and and unnamable is foolish, but nonetheless human in nature. But by the very act of describing and quantifying what Tao is, we are making ourselves too self- conscious to just "be" in that moment and flow with our lives which are within the Tao. It is almost as if we should read and learn, and then right after that, forget it all and just "be"! This is only my opinion of what is happening, for it is present in my own life. When I can just focus on the moment and flow with what is happening right then without thinking of future or past events, when I can just "be" right then without placing my own expectations/judgment of what I believe should be at that moment, that is when I feel most like I am flowing fully with Tao. The only conscious thing I try to carry with me at all times is the realization that we are all part of the whole, and to hurt others is in essence to also hurt yourself. Think of how when we are purposely hurtful, how the negativity can become like a fire out of control, it has the ability to consume everything we are. The path of negativity is an easy one. The challenge is to see the beauty of the whole, and know that it all works together, within the perception of "bad", is also the seed of "good". Nothing exists with out complimentary opposite. The Tao does not "choose" any side. It is all sides existing at once, only our actions/non-actions determine the flow of events to follow from moment to moment. We are creating our lives with each passing moment. Are we fully living those moments? Or are we judging everything and placing expectation of what we think should be happening, thereby removing ourselves from the flowing nature of the Tao. It is possible to be present in your life moment by moment, and to let yourself experience without the distortions of judgment. It is not something we are ever shown in the western world, it is not taught to us. Nonetheless... the wisdom of 2500 years ago credited to Lao Tzu, does give us the necessary advice, to break through those barriers that are our judgments and expectations, and really see our true existence as part of the whole. Being happy with what you have. The inherent beauty of what those words mean. Contentment, to me, is not having desires for anything other than what is already present. No expectation, no judgment of anything not being good enough, or for that matter the idea of somehow "deserving" more. To think we deserve something more than what is present, right now in this moment, is one of the seeds of being insatiable and never being able to be happy with anything.. in the long run. To accept what is right NOW... To see what is right NOW as whole and complete, and accept where you are as what is part of your path, and to know deep within that flowing with this moment is the path of Tao. :wub: Peace!

Frogs sit. Wait for flies. Maggots with wings, dive from sky. Metamorphosize.

Down feathers in dirt. The hen house beckons you near, Fight cock to enter.

Hi rene! breathing full circles. Tiny stalagtites in beard. Cavernous echos.

Hi Twinner! What method is truly more necessary than having a life that you have fully lived, Loved, and been "present" in? Life is a method all it's self. The Way is open to all. Peace!

Hi Manitou! Nice! The entire excerpt is very moving and illuminating. I picked out these two parts because of their personal significance to me. The idea of having affection and abandon... of wholly offering yourself to this world, of complete acceptance and Love of all things, seeing the majesty of the world and and the world that exists within ourselves. Is there an inherent need to become cynical when cultivating spiritual awareness? I think not. The things that occur, the things that we judge and say are "bad", are of no significance to the universe, they only matter to the mind of man. Loving this world, seeing the beauty in everything. Appreciating every moment as a beautiful, wholly contained, pearl of eternal nature, this is the world to me. A never ending string of pearls.... every moment is in and of it's self a life time, and when we have affection and let ourselves experience life without expectation... that is when the majesty of the world opens her petals to us... And welcomes us home. Peace

Hello everyone! I have been quietly following this thread. Things that have been related are very deep, and personal. I feel for you all. There are many deep and irretrievable actions being discussed. Forgiveness can only help. It will only clear blockages, to your future growth. People are messed up. They do messed up things. Many times we are not in control of what has happened, this is unavoidable. What comes next, how we choose to react/respond is of our own will. Choosing to carry hateful feelings becomes a burden of your own making. Will hateful feelings remove the memory of what was done? Will negativity carried so deeply make your life better? Any degree of forgiveness is going to do good, and create an opening for growth to occupy. Peace.

Hi Manitou! Really, you have to stop going into my head like that..... It is the very things we find most annoying or unforgivable about others that is considered most intolerable within ourselves. So true and so Illuminating at the same time! When seeing the reaction we have with others, to observe ourselves... and to then realize why we have this eruption of negativity towards that individual, is powerful, humbling, and ultimately life changing. Peace!

Greet worries, smiling! Eternal moments of life, String of pearls, is yours.

Hi Jetsun! While I do agree with the premise of your thoughts, I differ in one regard. If, through the learned or natural ability of "being in the moment", you remove all future/past desires and expectations from your mind and are content to just experience what is happening right then, in that moment, then happiness is attainable. Because we place so many expectations of what we "need" to be happy, in our own way, being able to focus on that moment, without thinking of anything future or past gives us the opportunity to be happy. With no expectations.... why would we be any other way? The brain, and the ego are the masters of our desires. Food, sex drive, and self preservation are probably the only primal needs needing to be met, our desires for other things are driven by the society/culture we live in. So, to me it seems, a focus on the Now, is akin to real happiness. Hopefully I am making some sense... this is not something I've had to put into words before. Ram Dass...."Be here Now" Is a book all about being in the moment without expectation of anything other than what is transpiring at that moment, and being accepting of whatever it may be. Change your perception of what is and what we expect, and your onto something great. Peace!

Very beautiful Samuel! Sparkling at sun rise. Spider's web, shining with dew. Breathe in a new day.

Surfingbudda, Hi! I totally agree with this. It seems to me that many whom are considered to be cultivators of the spiritual path, are also some of the most cynical/negative. This is of course my own very limited perception of the relative few that I have exchanged views with. Nonetheless... it is puzzling. We all, individually, have greatness within ourselves to be shared. We all have the ability everyday to affect everyone around us in a positive way. Our actions towards all we come into contact with, speak more volumes than anything we could ever say. All we do or do not do, makes a cumulative difference. And to me there is no greater life of Virtue than being considerate and positive in the face of any challenge we may face. Lets get out of our own way, so we are able to accept without negativity. We can "choose" to make a positive contribution to this world.... "Be the change you wish to see in the world" Ghandi. Peace!

Om ah hung guru, Mantra's fill the dusky din, Stillness breathing in.

Hi Marblehead! I greatly appreciate your openness to ideas as ideas themselves. Ideas separated from any personality... rather than linked to a personality, I think affords us a view with clarity and little judgment. If it is the Idea: information/knowledge , that is important... then seeing it with a disassociated view, impartial to it's source, seems to be Wise. As far as the nature of our brains... and truth, how many people on this planet? That I would venture, is the number of "truths" at hand. Peace!

Welcome to you Dusk!

Welcome!

Hello everyone! Marblehead... great stuff! I was wondering where you are getting these stories that accompany these posts? I would love to read more of these. As far as what you've posted, Yes... lets talk. Is it, the don't judge a book by it's cover? Or is it... don't allow ourselves to make judgments that cloud what we see in others and what they are capable of? I kind of see both. A similar idea is the beast of the internet. We know really nothing of each other... therefore is it not a mistake to have judgment of others here online? No one here is any more "deserving" of enlightenment than anyone else... and without judging we are all the more closer. We are all seeking the same, by many names and ideas. But the universe knows no names for what we seek. Even so, it answers to all of us... we have only to listen. Peace!

Suckling on the wind, Disembodied, floating high. Infinite, dust motes.

He is Lakota, Only Man creates borders, The Ancient Mother.

Hi tmits! Very beautiful realization! You have, to me, described the most natural of states to attain. Total non-self consciousness! To be like the wind, or the water. To move about without obvious aim... But to find our way back to the very source of everything. We matter not... but our actions do. Because we have these pesky brains, and an insatiable ego, constantly thinking it controls who and what we are, our actions/non-actions become the true challenge of life. This is to me, where wisdom is of vital importance. We have the ability to control the monkeymind that is our ego, and let our actions/non-actions reflect the teachings of the Way. No words can ever measure up to the actions we put forth everyday, everyone of us, all over this small blue, fragile world. Wisdom is the realization of what course of action/non-action should be taken, that takes into consideration all aspects of possible outcomes. Peace!

Hello NeiChuan! The cynical attitude of people kind of baffles me. There is always someone worse off than yourself.... what is the sense in constant negativity? It has been a journey for me to leave the negativity.... so when I now encounter this... I try pointing out the positive there is... usually to no avail. Since the Tao is without judgment.... should we not aspire to be the same? Being a used to be more complex man, and now being a much less complex man...I can say I prefer the life I have now. We decide to make things/life complex by our choices of how we go about our lives. You can choose to be simple. Isn't that what all this cultivation is really for? To bring us back to the simplest imaginable form?(metaphysically speaking) So we become our true nature and able to be in acceptance with the non judgmental flow that is the Tao? I am a simple man... and I choose this, because it is the most natural way I can be. Peace!

Pilamayaye, White feathers adorn his head, Smiling Lakota.

Hi themaninthesuit! What you've written is very profound. When i read your words... it was enlightening to consider this feeling of emptiness, in the way you describe. Reflecting on this...I feel there is something very poignant and true in the emptiness being an integral part of our very natural essence. The very Idea of not needing to fill what is meant to be empty, and is as it should be, is to me, a confirmation of the way of the Tao. The superficiality of the world we live in is overpowering. The focus on trivialities within all cultures is daunting. And yes, I agree... we are indoctrinated to "believe" we need the newest gadget to instill this missing piece. When we all really know deep down , whether we admit it or not, that our happiness is not quantifiable, and has very little relation to things. As far as realizing that you have these feelings toward your friend... consider it as the Universe giving you a wink and saying... the best is yet to come. Sometimes when all hope seems lost, we find what we've needed most. Peace!