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Everything posted by GrandmasterP
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Is Buddhism a form of rational atheism?
GrandmasterP replied to Apech's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Grade 1 ( Smug Glow). " Outstanding".... Woo hoo. :-) -
Is Buddhism a form of rational atheism?
GrandmasterP replied to Apech's topic in Buddhist Discussion
It can be if that's how someone chooses to interpret 'Buddha's Teachings' as such. Thing is, apart from the '5- minute Buddhist' basics each sect and everyone else who pins on a Buddha badge brings their own interpretations to the table. 5 minute Buddhist here... http://www.tricycle.com/blog/five-minute-buddhist -
Are you a mature and responsible adult?
GrandmasterP replied to mewtwo's topic in General Discussion
Mature is to respect difference in others and treat every different kind of folks, even the contrary ones ( including parents if you are young) as we hope that they'd treat us. Responsibility is not letting anyone down including oneself. Those two can be a joy or a burden depending on how we choose to view them. Joy's best. -
If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud there will be no water; without water, the trees cannot grow; and without trees you cannot make paper. So the cloud is in here. The existence of this page is dependent on the existence of a cloud. Paper and cloud are so close. Let us think of other things, like sunshine. Sunshine is very important because the forest cannot grow without sunshine, and we humans cannot grow without sunshine. So the logger needs sunshine in order to cut the tree, and the tree needs sunshine in order to be a tree. Therefore you can see sunshine in this sheet of paper. And if you look more deeply you see not only the cloud and the sunshine in it, but that everything is here: the wheat that became the bread for the logger to eat, the loggers father the paper is full of everything, the entire cosmos. The presence of this tiny sheet of paper proves the presence of the whole cosmos. ( Thich Nhat Hanh). Seemed relevant.
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What do you think the forum can do to attract some quality teachers?
GrandmasterP replied to thelerner's topic in General Discussion
Mine's in Great Yarmouth a coupla hours easy drive ( including a stopover along the road for tea and cake) away from here plus he's already online. He's English too so communication isn't an issue. He used to look at TTB and previously I've said to him.. " Why don't you go on there and post, might attract customers." Reply...." I don't want any more students. I'm busy enough as it is." He is too.. He has classes every weekday up and down the east coast, some days mornings plus afternoons. He's nearly 80 and fit as a flea. I reckon Sifu Chi Dragon would be in great demand for translation purposes if we air dropped lap tops onto those outback Chinese Hermits and got them to post on TTB. Would be interesting to hear what they had to say though. This guy spent some time with Chinese Hermits and wrote a book about it. Excellent book it is too.... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Heaven-Encounters-Chinese-Hermits/dp/1562790412/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397037991&sr=8-2&keywords=Chinese+Hermits -
Feeling addicted is feeling. Use the cultivation to step aside from the feeling and observe who is 'feeling addicted' then return, gently; to the cultivation. You've attained to one of the 'Y' ( Roads diverge) junctions along any walking QiGong path. The signpost to the left is marked 'feelings' and indicates a circular path that will bring you back to the junction you are at now. The path to the right takes your cultivation onwards and upwards to the next 'junction' along the way. " QiGong psychoses" ( so called) are narrated by people who find themselves going around and around one of those circular by-ways off the path of cultivation. Hope that helps.
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Magick has nothing to do in Tao
GrandmasterP replied to The Prisoner's topic in Esoteric and Occult Discussion
I'm not especially superstitious but always carry a talisman. It's a Phillipino 'anting anting' Martial Arts 'charm'. Nice piece of kit, cast in metal and in a little 'purse'. Buddy of mine sent it over a few years ago and it's been 'blessed' by one of the top 'anting anting' guys in Cebu City. No point taking unnecessary chances IMO. -
IMO posting on that 'forum' only serves to encourage them.
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What do you think the forum can do to attract some quality teachers?
GrandmasterP replied to thelerner's topic in General Discussion
" If you meet the Colonel on the Road. Kill him." ( Foghorn Leghorn Sutra : Ch 247, verse 59b). -
What do you think the forum can do to attract some quality teachers?
GrandmasterP replied to thelerner's topic in General Discussion
That simply does not work. Did you ever see the real Colonel Sanders in any single one of his many fried chicken restaurants? -
What do you think the forum can do to attract some quality teachers?
GrandmasterP replied to thelerner's topic in General Discussion
Now those are exactly the sorts of activities almost designed NOT to be accorded respect from some members. ( Self included). Light blue touch paper and retire to a safe distance. -
It looked outstanding to me.I'm no TaiChi player though. Unless we do it ourself, none of us can truly know what's happening on the inside.
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Is Buddhism a form of rational atheism?
GrandmasterP replied to Apech's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Quick crib for my post above = " Sometimes but not Always." :-) -
Is Buddhism a form of rational atheism?
GrandmasterP replied to Apech's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Interesting post, if that 'dependent origination' in the penultimate sentence is your 'a posteriori knowledge transcends.....' of the final sentence you have yourself set limits on the analysed set: vis your .. " I've observed Buddhist conflate....".Hence ... a posteriori, here right now.... " There is a tea cup on the table by my chair" - That cup is, was and shall remain a cup until it gets broken, the table will be the table it was since manufacture as will the chair. Until such time as they are not. I'm happy to make that observation of the 'now- here' and claim it as 'a posteriori'. However, I would hesitate to make such a claim in relation to Buddhist Rationalism as, of necessity; unlike my cup, chair and table; not all Buddhists are or necessarily remain the same thing, all of the time. As hypothetical example, an atheist-rationalist claiming PL club member this year may throw that aside, join the New Kadampas next year and thence begin to lay claim on NKT dogmatics. People change, hence whenever we draw conclusions on and from a 'set' of people; I respectfully suggest that we could be on less than sure foundations were we not to limit our conclusions to the, of necessity; limited data set studied. As the student once wrote in all seriousness, and thereby set her tutor to giggling..... " All generalisations are suspect." -
Yep. He's comparing apples to bananas IMO. Waste of time really or would be but that he seems to be getting a living by doing it, so good luck to the Prof.
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Say what now? I don't remember you lendin' me ten dollars, ever. :-)
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Finally something that suggests mindfulness?
GrandmasterP replied to TheExaltedRonin's topic in Daoist Discussion
From some perspectives, enlightenment = the end result of a long process of many lives. From another perspective, it's the realisation of something that has always been the case. Those perspectives are not necessarily contradictory. We can work with both of them. The downside of the first perspective is that if one is not awakened already, then how can one form the right view and go in the right direction? What is one doing in the meantime? The downside of the second perspective is.... What need is there to undertake any cultivation, study or reflection when the goal is already here? But there something to be said for both perspectives. -
Well it can get mighty lonesome up in them thar hills of a long winter.
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Good call. You'll never get sued by a 'client'. :-)
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If that's what suits them then that's a good way for those that like it. Others may feel happier in a group setting. It's all good . Horses for courses. Hermits, Monks, Temple dudes, Lay people, posters, teachers, learners, teachers who keep right on learning. Each to her or his own.
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Nostalgia aint what it used to be. :-)
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Is Jesus legit in Taoist practice or no? Off topic derail from the JAJ Neigong book thread
GrandmasterP replied to joeblast's topic in Daoist Discussion
In fairness to FH zyd he has said " you go your way and I go mine". That seems to me to be the best way forward. Nobody is going to agree about everything but everyone has a path to follow. Dr J does his thang and FH does his. It's all good. The more fruit in the orchard the more we have to choose amongst. Some like apples , some like pears. It's all fruit. -
What do you think the forum can do to attract some quality teachers?
GrandmasterP replied to thelerner's topic in General Discussion
Question. What do you call the guy who scraped through med school stone last in every exam and passed with the lowest grades ever recorded? Answer... " Doctor." -
What do you think the forum can do to attract some quality teachers?
GrandmasterP replied to thelerner's topic in General Discussion
You saw my horse racing 'tips' for the Grand National too eh? -
( One) Philosophy as practice here..... http://www.existentialanalysis.org.uk/assets/articles/Practising_Phenomenology_Martin_Adams.pdf OK that isn't about Taoist Philosophy ' per se' but the thesis holds water. What works for phenomenology-as-praxis (and it does work.. Existential Analyists can get a nice living. I know this), can and must work for Taoism as enacted philosophy too.