Stigweard

LOL my friend ... the thing is though I am not trying to argue that Taoism is superior in anyway shape or form. Yes Taoism is my chosen path, I am happy with it and am content with the benefits it continuously yields to my life. I am not trying to criticize another person's path. I am not trying to outdo someone else. My issue, as demonstrated by my continuous emphasis, is that if you are going to make a comparative analysis then you best make sure you have given equal attention to both paths and are not attached to one or the other. You should actually know both paths on their own terms. Like I said, I am not trying to make this comparison, Vajrahridaya is and by symbiosis so are you. As such the onus is on yourselves to respectfully give due attention to Taoism in your analysis. By obtusely ignoring the statements by people who have actually given Taoism it's due study you have thus far failed dismally to demonstrate this respect. Please tell me you are joking over this right? Seriously? Can you really be so blind to the one-eyed campaign that the Buddhist contingent have been waging in this forum? I keep saying it my friend because you (being the collective) have got the definition wrong. Are you honestly trying to tell me that we should take liberty with the meanings of the words in our language? Just because you guys are jumping up and down saying that reification means xyz doesn't mean it does. Reification (also known as hypostatisation, concretism, or the fallacy of misplaced concreteness) is a fallacy of ambiguity, when an abstraction (abstract belief or hypothetical construct) is treated as if it were a concrete, real event, or physical entity. In other words, it is the error of treating as a "real thing" something which is not a real thing, but merely an idea. For example: if the phrase "holds another's affection", is taken literally, affection would be reified. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reification_(fallacy) reify: to regard (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reify reification: to convert into or regard as a concrete thing: to reify a concept. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reification?jss=1 reify: To regard or treat (an abstraction) as if it had concrete or material existence. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reify I have been diligent in this discussion to provide clear evidence to support my statements and all I get in return is your opinions that Buddhism defines "reification" as something other than is agreed upon by every credible source of the English language across the world. So until you provide credible support for your claims that reification means "to exist independent of conditions" then I will continue to repeat my statements. In trying to authoritatively state that "Taoists reify Tao" you (again the collective) are stating an unadulterated lie and an untruth and I find it unacceptable for such lies to be perpetuated especially in a forum that is predominantly about Taoism.

I thought we had agreed that Taoists don't "reify" Tao over in this thread: http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?showto...hl=of+buddhists So now Taoists are "monists" in your view yes? It is funny that only through the separation caused by descriptions and labeling are you able to establish "differences". In your incessant desire to establish your path as superior you are driven to perpetuate the separations that we Taoists say need to be reconciled and resolved in order to achieve True Nature.

Heya folks, I am just finishing off the last section of my academic paper for the upcoming 1st International Summit on Laozi and Daoist Culture, November 5-7, Beijing, China. I am working through a section that would list some of the challenges involved in bring Western students into contact with authentic Daoist teachers and I need your input. What would these challenges be and how could the be appropriately handled?

Thanks for all the comments so far ... I am taking them into consideration as I am finishing of the paper.

Bump ... last chance to vote

No surprises here Nice quiz... 1. New Age (100%) 2. Unitarian Universalism (95%) 3. Neo-Pagan (91%) 4. Liberal Quakers (84%) 5. Mahayana Buddhism (83%) 6. Taoism (81%) 7. New Thought (81%) 8. Scientology (78%) 9. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (78%) 10. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (73%) http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Qui...liefOMatic.aspx

Part of my invitation requirements to The 1st International Summit on Laozi and Daoist Culture is to compose and present a 5-10 page academic paper that is in tune with the overall theme of the Summit. I am choosing to write about the challenges we modern Western Daoists face in getting to the "heart" of Daoist Culture and what solutions could be found to overcome these obstacles. So.... "If you were standing in front of a hundred or so of leading Daoist teachers and luminaries from China and across the globe and you had five minutes to give your suggestions on how they could make the authentic Daoist teachings more accessible to us in the West, exactly what would you say?" I would love your contributions to this so that I can represent us all as best as I can.

Well it's official !!!! Just paid for plane tickets and confirmed itinerary !!!! WOOHOO!!!!

It would seem that at present there is need for follow through on this proposed course of action. Sean?

Kate beat me too: Taoism (84%)

Can you provide the Chinese characters please?

Agreed

Here is one: http://www.terebess.hu/english/lexikon/c.html But I prefer: http://chinese.dsturgeon.net/text.pl?node=2712&if=en

hey hey ... welcome back to the cafeteria GIH

Barbara Brennan's "Hands of Light" and "Light Emerging" are the best two books I have come across to understand the chakras. This may answer your question:

Cheers for those links Mal

Cheers Mal ... I didn't have time to work out the full theoretic sample size etc ... I was content to get the standard error adjustment (i.e. 1/SQRT(Sample Size + 1)) down to an acceptable level to determine a clear trend. Including the poll on Facebook and the one here I have 154 responses to this poll which gives me a standard error adjustment of 8.03%. With the current overall results standing at: Not enough English translations of Taoist texts 8 5.19% Not being able to personally study with authentic teachers 49 31.82% Taoist teachings being diluted by Western marketing 18 11.69% Unqualified teachers attempting to teach Taoism 16 10.39% Balancing Western lifestyle with spiritual/philosophical studies 24 15.58% Not having the money to travel to and pay for tuition 5 3.25% Compatibility challenges between traditional Taoist and modern Western cultures 15 9.74% No place to meet up with other Daoists to study/talk/meditate 19 12.34% I am comfortable in saying that according to this poll "Not being able to personally study with authentic teachers" is the biggest challenge faced by Modern Western Taoists.

Cheers for that. I agree with your comments

Actually one of the best scenes out of the series was when the Earth King Bumi says: Which is basically the Taijiquan "Tien Jin":

Only a few more votes ... nearly there

Yup I looved this series ... Iroh was my fav too ... kinda like Laozi he was Will be buying the dvds for my Granddaughter.

It would seem I have learned something new today The recent poll links I have been providing have been to the results page and not the voting page LOL ...This should be better if you wish to take part of this poll: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TaoWizard/94...ewas=1138890192