ChiDragon

Do you believe that the Laozi concept of De(德) replaces the Confucian concept of Xing (性)...??? I definitely hope not. He was way off basis. From a linguistic point of view. 1. 性(xing) is the nature or character of a living thing. 2. 命(ming) is the life of a living thing. 3. 性命(xing ming): is the life of a living thing.

sree and dawei.... Tao(道) has three meanings for Daoist, Confucians, and Buddhist. Taoism: 道(Tao, big T) is omnipresent. Confucian: 道(tao, small t) is morality(道德). Buddhism: 道(tao), true reasoning(道理 or 真理). The word "way" used as an translation for "Tao" is outdated already.

Okay. Fair enough. I am totally lost with your specious and paradoxical definitions of the terms most of the time. Sorry, I just cannot follow your thoughts in a scholastic manner.

1. It was both. 2. I don't think Confucius has been under-rated mainly because of a misunderstanding of his teaching. Actually, his ideas are too idealistic which was not too practical to be carried out in a political environment at all time. As a matter of fact, he had convinced his ruler to try out his idealism and made him an official. In the first months, he did not know how to deal with other corrupted officials. Hence, he didn't last too long in the ruler's court and quit his post. 3. Yes, you are right about the former. However, "the way 道 (tao) we conduct ourselves in accord with our true nature (what we are) which is not an individual person in a particular society but life itself 天人合一 " is not the same. The way we conduct ourselves in accord with our true nature is not the same as in accord with Nature. Nature is impartial but human nature has desires wish to be fulfilled. During the process of fulfillment, humans will do selfish things.

The word "meditation" has been mentioned two times in the OP; and please also read Steve's comment. Don't you ever read anything before you jump to a conclusion, as always....??? Yes, English is not my native tongue, but I am trying very hard to learn to communicate with you. If you would like to hold that against me, then I am glad to cease any communication with you. BTW English as your first language, you are not any better in communication then your own fellas.

Again.... You are still trying to build definition for "meditation" to confuse oneself and others. That is why there is no end to this....??? Besides, the title of the thread is about "dynamic vs still" rather then meditation. Do you see how people look at things. We are way off tangent.

Mr. Marblehead..... What a pleasant surprise. My apologies.....

I wish you can stop confusing the western public.

The English definition for "meditation" is the practice of thinking deeply in silence. The term "meditation' is very confusing to an Easterner, especially to a Chinese. The proper term to a Chinese is Zazen(打坐). It was borrow from India to meant sitting quietly and think about nothing but just practice in breathing. The Chinese has no problem or any confusion with what Zazen meant. It is very unanimous which is no thinking at all but only with emptiness in the mind. In the contrarily, the term Zazen was translated as "meditation" and become confused as hell. Especially, the terms dynamic meditation and walking meditation. A Chinese would interpreted it as "the practice of thinking deeply in silence while walking". The consequence may be bumped one's head into a light pole. If we stick with the term Zazen, then one would just stay put and sit tight and think of nothing. If the westerners get together and set up a standard of definitions, then there wouldn't be any run around and kept asking what the hell is "meditation".

Yes, at first when I've heard the term Tao Te Ching, 道德經, I thought it was all about morality(道德) as advocated by Confucius. That was what 道德 was all about because most Chinese people are only familiar with the Confucian philosophy and knew nothing about Lao Tze's Tao Te Ching. How little do I know.... As I'd picked up and read a few native books and found out that Tao Te(道德) in the TTC has nothing to do with the morality(道德) in the Confucian philosophy. Then that got me all excited to find out what Tao Te(道德) meant by Lao Tze. There are some native scholars are as confused as some western scholars. Luckily, I had picked a very good book written by 陳鼓應, the most knowledgeable scholar about the Tao Te Ching. Then, I have realized what Tao Te(道德) means exactly in the TTC. I had said the difference many times in the forum, but nobody had paid any attention to it. I hope this is my last time to say it for someone to catch it. The Tao Te(道德) in Confucian philosophy is about the morality in good human behavior and conduct for someone to become a gentleman. It is mainly associated with people. Those who are having good gentle conduct toward human relationships were considered to have the virtue of morality (道德). The Tao Te(道德) in the Tao Te Ching is about a person who is highly cultivated by following the principles of Tao, the concept of Wu Wei(無為). Those who are capable in dealing with naturalism by relating everything to Nature were considered to have the Virtue of Tao(道德). If we can keep the distinction between these two definitions in mind, then it would make it a lot easier in our future communications.

Gentlemen.... Please believe me. I know the frustration. However, there are big differences in the conversations between "westerner and easterner" and "easterner and easterner". If you pay close attention to the conversation between sree and me, you will see a big difference because we do share some common ground.

1 .What are the qualities of a Taoist....??? 2. What is the first quality to be expected in a Taoist...??? 3. If you want to be a Taoist, what do you need to do to become one...??? 4. If you think that you are a Taoist now, what makes you think that you are one...??? 5. Since you have thought that you are a Taoist, did you follow all the principles or have you ever violated any of these principles....??? You may respond by answering anyone of the question.

The little selfishness what I meant was not in a negative way but for the good to accomplish something for the benefit of the people. Selfish is not always negative. Selfishness may be applied in a positive way too.

The TTC definition for a "sage" is the highly cultivated person who follows the principle of Wu Wei which is the way of Tao. Thus a sage can be a gentleman or a good ruler. Most lightly, Lao Tze was always referred the ruler as a sage. BTW Lao Tze's definition of a sage is different from the Sheng Ren in the Confucian philosophy. The scholars were referred Confucius as a Sheng Ren. Confucius was advocating all scholars to be gentlemen by following the moral conducts as a good person. A Jun Zi is a gentleman but he is not a Sheng Ren. In order to keep the purest thoughts within the TTC, I certainly would keep any Confucian ideas out of here to avoid confusion.

1. What do you mean by "a Sage is still human"? 7. Is not because of his unselfishness! 8. Which gained his personal accomplishment. What it meant was that a sage wants to accomplish something with a little selfishness on his part. 2. Consider 常有欲. Would this be a sagely state? Sorry, wrong punctuation, it should read... 常有，欲........

A spiritual body does not need any yuan qi to sustain itself because it is immortal already.

The question is, what don't you understand....???

1. The spirit of the valley never dies. 2. It is called the mysterious female. 3. The door of the mysterious female, 4. It is called the root of heaven and earth. 5. She seems existed eternally, 6. With her endless reproduction capability. Metaphoric interpretation: 1. Tao never dies. 2. Tao is the mysterious female. 3. The door opened to Tao. 4. Tao is the root(creator) of heaven and earth. 5. Tao is eternal. 6. Tao has the endless reproduction capability. We are talking about Tao as a spirit but not just a spirit of any kind...!!!.

"INHALE IS YIN EXHALE IS YANG - on inhale we draw energy in - on exhale energy is led out - exhale leads to energy dispersion - we are stronger when we exhale (punch, kick, lifting, pulling). we can perform better and stronger all yang activities with proper exhalation." If I may go into the refinement of breathing, I would consider that.... "- on inhale we draw energy in" which is gaining energy would be considered as Yang . "- on exhale energy is led out" which is loosing energy would be considered as Yin. ".....(punch, kick, lifting, pulling). we can perform better and stronger all yang activities with proper exhalation." Yes, all the actions are considered to be Yang but they were from the Yin effect of exhalation.

"Why is such a straightforward verse 谷神不死 so befuddling?" People were so locked up to the meaning of each character, 谷神, without considering the rest of the context. Without knowing what the meaning of Line 1, one still could figure out what is the meaning of the "spirit of the Valley" meant from Lines 2 through 6. If Lines 2 through 6 were not talking about Tao then what else can it be.....??? Even from Line 1 by itself, if not Tao never dies, then what else could that be....??? Tao has no beginning and no ending which is a good implication that Tao never dies. If the "Spirit of the Valley" was not an implication of Tao, then what else can it be......???

Just close your eyes, then you don't have to think that you need to open, close, half open or quarter open them. By the time you think where your eyelashes are, you will loose your mind. Thus it will defeat the purpose of meditation. Just don't think of anything at all. Period.

元氣(Yuan Chi) is a general term which applies to a living body but not necessarily just apply to an ascended master. In general, Yuan Chi is a basic vital substance which keeps a living body alive. There is a minimal amount which require to be maintained in order to sustain the life of a body. If the minimal had been depleted, then the body will die. One must know when to stop doing strenuous exercise and not pass the point of threshold. Thus martial artist always keep track of it by not going over its limitation. When it reaches its threshold, then it is time to escape from exhaustion.

「多言數窮，不如守中」 話說多了道理就少了，真理就是那麼一點，說多了都是空話。 If one talks too much, then the amount of reasons become less. The truth is only so little. It'll become empty words if one say too much about it. 病從口入，禍從口出，說多了惹事生非，還不如保持適中。 Diseases are entering to the mouth, troubles are existing from the mouth. Saying too much will induce unnecessary arguments. Perhaps the best thing to do is stop at a point where it is adequate. 該說則說，可說可不說則不說。 Thus only say the things which need to be said. Anything that could need to be said or couldn't needn't to be said, then just don't say it.

It seems the question being asked is very ambiguous. It seems to me, also, that you are throwing out lots of terms without realizing what they are. Maybe that is why you are not getting any response. First of all, what is your understanding about the term "Yuan Chi"....??? What do you mean by "spiritual body"....???

Let's have the initiator to take the lead in following his own advice.