Stigweard

The answer here is quite possibly, "Yes, we have become too overcomplicated in our society for this ideal." Our populations are much too concentrated and our societal structures much too entrenched for everyone to return to agrarian models. Sure people are doing this on their own micro-scale (i.e. self-sufficient communities), however it is the activities of the majority that are impacting on the global picture. So what are we to do? I believe Master Hua-Ching Ni has it right: The Taoist politic is one of self-government and self-responsibility. As examplified in the Daodejing, a government should be a passive structure that does not interfere in the day to day affairs of the people. With all it's regulations and complicated tax systems our governments are like an upside down pyramid requiring ever-increasing systems of control to keep the unnatural ruling structure in place. And the more systems of control in place the more brittle the whole structure becomes and, again following the Daodejing, the bow that cannot bend eventually snaps. The 'pliancy' or 'resilience' needed today to avoid that fatal breakdown in the world's social structure is for people from all cultures, traditions, religions etc. to make a concerted effort to venerate Virtue as the common guiding principle in all human affairs. And it is here that us Taoists and Buddhists have so much to offer the world today. With our traditional education so rooted in Virtue it is us who need to be 'like water from the mountain stream' and give sustenance to a world starving for reintegration with the essence of individual and social virtuous nature. And yet, sadly, even amongst our own ranks, we witness so many who overlook the subtle yet profound power of virtue in order to chase the allure of 'party tricks' or 'phenomenalistic fantasies' held out as 'sales hooks' by self-serving so-called teachers. Virtue is the foundation of our 'spiritual empire' and self virtue, family virtue, and societal virtue form the only possible foundation upon which we can build a world of interdependent peace and prosperity.

It would seem others agree as well: Lao Tzu - Libertarian

Well written

Fair enough and thank you

If you learn Taijiquan you will discover a tangible understanding of Yin and Yang.

From a Taoist point of view when we consider the concept of Shen (spirit/mind) we see that we have two types: a primodial or pre-heaven Shen, and a mundane or post-heaven Shen. Our mundane Shen is our mind that is conditioned by our culture, environment and experiences. It is our mind that has lost it's original purity, so to speak. It has become seperated, to whatever degree, from its universal connectiveness. Pre-heaven Shen is the mind where there are no seperations between universal and personal consciousness. The traditions of Tao that emphasize personal sublimation guide us down the course of attaining this pre-heaven Shen and in this quest I am encountered with the question: "What are the signifiers or precursors of the attainment of pre-heavenly Shen?" At this stage of my nascent growth my best answer to this is that this Universal Consciousness is known to us through a feeling and my best description of that feeling is "Inspiration". Now at my mundane level this 'divine inspiration' is sporadic and fleeting at best. However, with due practice with the correct methods, this level of consciousness becomes more enduring and one's life begins to become a continuous inspired event.

Excellent reply Michael!! In the quest of Tao we are encountered with the question: "How do we follow Tao? How do we know we are following Tao?" One of the first responses by other wayfarers is: "Follow your true nature." Ok ... then how do we do that? "Get in touch with your De, your virtue" Which leads straight into the discussions of whether virtue is ethics etc. However, De can be considered to be "the Tao within". It is our inner divinity, our true nature. We know we are embodying our De when we are living in the moment with an integral consciousness. And it is following this thread of contemplation that I play the with concept of inspiration. Looking into the etymology of 'inspiration' we find the meaning: "immediate influence of God or a god." Inspiriation has at it's roots "in" + spirare (same root as 'spirit') "to breathe". And here we see the Taoist implications because Qi 氣 is also designated to mean breath / spirit. So the question is posed: "Is inspiration the 'movement' of universal Qi through one's consciousness?"

where trees touch the sky there in the orgone climate my spirit soars free

sit and take a breath you have reached the valley edge the wind blows your hair

"Because one departs from his own nature to search for something external, he overlooks the truth of his own being," Huahujing.

Why does it not end? Where is the beginning found? Profound mystery.

What you are doing is more than ok, don't let 'techniques' interfere with the innocence and spontaneity of what you are doing. You have obviously engaged sufficiently in some good formwork before ... the stability of your stance, your connectedness and your natural fluidity reveals this. I would however offer the suggestion that Taiji is about a unification of mind and body ... Jing, Qi, Shen operating as one energy and the Dao of achieving that is through mindful awareness of your breath in coordination with your physical movements. You want to become an integrated being. Try this as a playful exercise: Imagine that you are a fountain ... water flowing up through you from the ground, through your torso, out over your head, and then that water cascades out and down to pool again under your feet. When you breathe in follow the course of that energy up through your body and out above your head, and when you breathe out follow the return of the energy down to under your feet. Really get into the 'groove' of that flow and let it become a kinetic experience. What I mean by this is that you let your body spontaneously move with the flow of the motion. Don't force it, just let it flow ... with your already established practice this should be easy. Let yourself become playful with the flow of this energy. Can you send that energy horizontal instead of vertical? Can you send in a different ways? Can you step with that energy, can you move your root? Integrating your Shen, Qi, and Jing like this can lead you to interesting discoveries. Enjoy

Heya Dwai ... cheers for your beautiful creativity. The Haiku formate is 5 syllables 7 syllables 5 syllables breathing through the heels drawing on ancient essence the fountain flows forth

Aye I tell my students: "Don't move the move let the move move you!" Do you slow your movements right down and try and coordinate them with your breath?

Welcome Jess Glad you found us here ... how do you like your tea? We would love to hear your reports on all your adventures. There are a couple of folks here in China as you can see here TaoBums Map. Warm Regards Stig

Richly deserved says I

OUR TOP 20 ARE: Lin Ai Wei 12 Taomeow 11 Trunk 8 Yoda 8 Mal 7 sean 7 Cat 6 Dao Zhen 6 Karen 6 rain 6 Smile 6 Stigweard 6 drew hempel 5 Father Paul 5 Mat Black 5 Ron Jeremy 5 Scotty 5 SYD 5 Ya Mu 5 Vajrasattva 5

Speaking to the OP ... the Law of Attraction states simply: "Our life experience is a perfect match of our internal energy vibration." If you want a 'good woman' cultivate that 'goodness' first within yourself.

Add my vote: Mat Black Lin Ai Wei Taomeow Dao Zhen SYD rain Ya Mu sean Xuesheng Karen Cat And we get: Taomeow 7 Lin Ai Wei 5 Ron Jeremy 4 Trunk 4 Yoda 4 Father Paul 4 sean 4 Smile 3 Dao Zhen 3 SYD 3 rain 3 Mal 3 Ya Mu 3 Cameron 2 Patric Brown 2 Mat Black 2 Spectrum 2 Stigweard 2 YMWong 2 Vortex 2 Karen 2 Cat 2 mak tin si 1 Koshan 1 Xienkula 1 Vajrasattva 1 Spirit Ape 1 Buddy 1 Starjumper 1 sunshine 1 Plato 1 Trip 1 VCraigP 1 Exorcist 1 sheng zhen 1 pietro 1 xeno 1 ken 1 kathyli 1 mjjbecker 1 dog 1 hagar 1 idguest 1 drew hempel 1 Xuesheng 1 Goldisheavy 1 AugestLeo 1 Lezlie 1 Scotty 1

There is no short cut to this ... Continuous practice is the only way. Saying that though, the best way to really etch the form onto your bones is to study and practice the deeper principles intrinsic in every gesture.

"The process of spiritual attainment proceeds through six phases or levels, beginning with personality refinement and conscious refinement and culminating in becoming Tao. Step One: Chi refinement and Natural Meditation as the cultivation of chi. Step Two: Teh Tao: Receiving or discovering the path and learning the Tao. Step Three: Wu Tao: Enlightened by Tao. Step Four: Ming Tao: Lucidified with Tao. Step Five: Teh Tao: Gaining Tao, and Tao also gains you. You live beyond your personal cares. Step Six: Chen Tao: Attaining Tao. Your physical presence gradually merges with the invisible reality of Tao, but you are still able to respond, if you choose, and appear in form. You have achieved spiritual immortality, not physical immortality in the ordinary sense of a life that needs to eat, sleep, and pay taxes." P65, Ni, Hua Ching, "Enrich Your Life With Virtue", Seven Star Communications, CA 1999 Blessings Edit: Spelling correction.