Zany Heron

Hello! I always wonder how many definitions of "shen" there are. Some says it's soul. Others say it's "non-thinking" or a state of "without mind". The most confusing is that there is also a theory that it is thinking and a state of wiseness! So wich one is correct? I know that Tao is a path full of paradoxones, but maybe you can help me to figure out what is "shen".

Hello there! I've meditated on the "law of energy response". What do you think: it is like the so-called "law of attraction"? Maybe it came from the taoist idea. What do you know about it? I'm hesitating, that maybe someone can "use" this law to control his life - but is this the taoist Way? Well... I don't know. Because Nature has her laws. I mean: we're trying to live our life in accordance with the Tao, learning peace and compassion... but to attract things to our life. Well, well... Is that right? I thought the taoist way is passive (I mean: yin). And first of all: is that possible? To control our life with our mind? Of course, they say "law of energy response" is not like "law of attraction". Not so direct. Too many questions...

Hey, I have asthma since last year and I tried everything I've learned to cure it: chi kung, meditation and other energetic and breathing exercises. I try to avoid medicines, so what do you think - is there a taoist / chi kung exercise to heal my lungs? (I'm wondering why I can't heal. You know, I've cured all of my illness during my "career", even tough ones, but now... it just don't work.)

Thanks to all of you! I'll do my best.

Hmm, hmm...

Please, explain this! I'm very curious.

Then, my question is: One creates his / her own world? And if it's true: do we share the same world?

I experienced the "flowing" of energy too. It is logical that chi, like water, can change it's place, flowing from 'A' to 'B'. But it's also logical that if you change the place of something, you take it from somewhere. Tao has physics too. It is a very difficult topic. What is projection? Moving chi with your willpower, with your mind, isn't it? But if we do projection, what is manipulation? Are they the same?

Hmm, interesting. Thank you!

"Sending Chi into something" - hmm, interesting topic. Well, Chi is the breath of Tao, it is the fundamental energy of the Universe. Chi is what balance yin and yang. It is very hard to understand, what Chi really is. Maybe (just maybe!) we misunderstand the practice with Chi. Our world is like an ocean of energy - energy is everything. So we don't "send" chi - we manipulate chi (to do things, to change). What do you think?

Live simply: To be in harmony with the Tao. To be One, leave behind the world of dualism. To be peaceful.

Hi, I study energy healing arts years ago - I tried for example reiki, it's very interesting, but I always turned back to Tao. So I meditate a lot on healing. It's very important to me, I think it is a very good way to practice and help to other people. Do someone knows healing practices based on Tao / taoism? I mean: some kind of hands-on method? I know, it sounds like a "shortcut" comparing with chi kung exercises, but I really interested in it.

Thank you!

What do you think: what kind of roles (could) have taoism / taoists in society? I think taoism could bring peace and order to society. Important "roles" are, for example: practicing healing arts, teaching philosophy; taoists could be fantastic mediators ("healing" wild arguments), etc. My theory is: taoism is a valuable method that could make our world better. It's a bit utopistic idea, isn't it? Well... I'm talking about a "pragmatic view", of course. I'm a taoist too, so it's obvious to me that it is a "valuable method". The question is: Does society need taoism (practices)? Could taoists help for society? It's a very important problem to me.

If you follow the Tao, you try to be like Tao. That's why if you ask a taoist, how old is he / she, he / she won't answer. Because a taoist have no age. Do Tao have? If you practice, then you go beyond dualism, your own limits. So... how old are you?

For me, taoism is a way (the way?) to follow the order of nature, the universe. So that's why I think they could give good advices to politicians, etc..

Fantastic! Well, I think shen is the form of a being. It's "information". And IMO emotions and thoughts are quite the same; they're products of our mind (/ heart). But it's very different to understand chinese writing and language. Thank you for all the interesting posts!

Hy, I'm new here. First of all: English is not my native language, so please forgive me if I make grammar mistakes. I'm here, because... well, I think I'm a "free-style" taoist. I simply follow my Way, wandering on the Never-endning Path. I have learned buddhism, taoism and a lots of philosophies - but it's just knowledge. These studies are important to me, but now I'm dealing mainly with the Tao. It's more than "studying". In my opinion: one must live the Tao. The Way is like a song - our goal is to be part of it. Every single breath should be harmonized with the Universe. I just wasting words - and words can't describe the Tao. So that's me. A drop in the Ocean. A Zany Heron - finding companions on the Road. You know, I have very extreme ideas - I'm not a "conservative taoist". I would be very happy if I could discuss these topics with you. Bon voyage! Heron