GrandmasterP

That said, if they are paying the bills, feeding you and doing your laundry then be exceptionally gracious and polite to them at all times. Good manners cost nothing.

Taoists are strangers in a strange land. Not everybody is a Taoist and that is fine and, without doubt; just as it should be. Just leave them be and cultivate yourself.. Non interaction is the best action when it comes to those not on the path.

Your school has an anti-bullying policy and help is available. Ask that teacher you like and trust. That will resolve the immediate issue. Longer term cultivate the 8 Strands of Silk Brocade set that you have a link to. Your confidence will grow as your Qi flows. That new confidence will shine through and the bullies will leave you alone.

The cat was a Dragon Gate sect priest. She much prefers being a cat. Says it's more fun.

Dog Biscuits. Our two doggies will recite epic poetry in return for a dog biscuit. For two dog biscuits each they'll expound, at great length; on Taoist Alchemy. [both having been alchemical Lao Shis in past lives]. Super tree story Simon. Trees don't just talk to anyone. You are obviously cultivating well and successfully. Keep it up.

Apologies. Edits are deleted duplicate posts. As you can see I am having technical problems. Can't currently edit those two above. Using a Kindle at home. It is far from 'good'.

The context here is a just-broken bamboo water bucket wherein a moment ago the moon had been reflected in the now spilled water. Just the punchline...... 'No water.. No moon. Emptiness in my hand'.

Absolutely, my wise friend. You are right.

'May also be understood in the context of Taoist Alchemy' surely. To say 'better' implies a 'worse' when, in real terms; all readings are equally valid. TTC is neither true nor false. It simply 'is'. Any and all validity rests with the reader and each reader is different. Choosing to believe otherwise is a valid choice, but nothing more than that.

Depends on what you are after does Ting Jing. For example listening and reacting to the energy dynamics in a meeting at work could empower one. But it is jolly hard work and implies a will to be empowered and get something from the meeying, usually to one's own advantage. Heavy on the Yang is Ting Jing in that context. Another approach in meetings is to not do anything. End result is always the same [meetings never achieve anything in a work context. They exist for people who enjoy meetings] and you've saved yourself the effort of Ting Jing.

Fair play. If existentialism is what does it for anyone, so be it. It's all Tao For my day job I teach philosophy of education and whilst we don't 'push' students towards any particular school of thought most of them end up plumping for Constructivism with a dash of Experiential teaching & learning praxes. Horses for courses really, philosophy is a toolbox and philosophical approaches are tools within it. So if a particular approach does the job you want it to, then it's the right tool for you.

Here in the UK we live in a democratic monarchy. Seems OK, no real complaints, just the usual grumbles. As long as you behave yourself then you're left alone. Quite nice really compared to some dusty hell-holes around the globe. We've never taken religion very seriously, in England at least, hence folk rub along pretty well together whatever their faith or none.

Others are bright and intelligent, I alone am dull, dull, Drifting on the ocean Blown about endlessly TTC Ch 20 I reckon that's one up for 'apathy'. Maybe apathy isn't Taoist emotion but etymologically ( L. apathia / Gk. apatheia "freedom from suffering, impassability,") then it has to be up there alongside the other Taoist 'attributes'. (Discuss).

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alan-watts-podcast/id119777571 HTH

Healed....the lines have gone... Praise the Lord. Pass the rattlers Deacon JoeBob. I feels a stompin' dance a comin on.

Tony Parsons is yer man for non-duality-speak. Enjoy

Existentialism is far too much like hard work to be Taoistic. Certainly in it's Gaulois 'n rough red wine French manifestations of the mid last century. Those existentialists were experience junkies. They just had to be up and about experiencing all sorts of stuff and people then interminably writing about it. Camus wrote teh Outsider as an existentialist text then ends it with that... Surrendered myself to the sublime indifference of the universe and in that one sentence skewers existentialist busy-ness. And, one could posit; turns Taoist in doing so. Existentialists are forever up and doing and getting their own or someone else's kit off. Quite exhausting.... Taoists on the other hand... we pretty much say...'What the hey, let it slide... chill'. Two quite different approaches.

Camus. Top Man... that last line in The Oustder... I surrendered myself to te sublime indifference of the univers. Definitely a Taoist on the sly was ol Albie. Why has this text got lines through it?

I can't be ersed to reply.

Not sure Xtianity teaches compassion in some of its more local manifestations. We've been picketed by born agains trying to close our 'Godless-Heathens' centre down in the past.

"You tried. You failed. Let that be a lesson son. Never ever try". [Homer Simpson]

Two Japanese Maples in the front garden. Very Zen tree is your Japanese Maple. Turns Red in Autumn. Glorious.

I spoke to our trees first thing and one or two planks at work later in the day. Much preferred the tree conversations. Planks tend to find their niche in management jobs in higher education establishments.

Or possibly savour the reflective moment between action and inaction. Nietzsche's 'Will to Effect' [better in German but I'm too lazy to go up and check bookshelves right now] may not necessarily imply an actual 'action to effect'. He is thinking more than he is doing. Reference to follow. Chang Tzu likewise. If the shoe is comfortable.... Fred is more than comfortable, in his bedroom; with his thoughts. Awaiting his sister's step upon the stair briging more cake and coffee. Hence there may be a middle path twixt interfering or letting go. A dynamical reflective-inaction which may engender as much, albeit different; change around the issue under consideration. For example meditation with intention for the healing of another who is not physically present.

Guy goes to see a psychiatrist and pleads You gotta cure my obsessions doc, I can't stop thinking about flagellation, necrophilia and equine bestiality. Doc shakes his head and replies... Sounds to me like you are flogging a dead horse.