GrandmasterP

Diamond Sutra is popular with zennists because it teaches that one should rely upon one's innate Buddha wisdom, which, it says; is as solid, sharp, and brilliant as a diamond - hence 'diamond' sutra. There are several versions out there, here's the one that the zennists favour... Free copy here..... http://zen-ua.org/wp-content/uploads/the_diamond_sutra_english.pdf

Thank you for deleting that unnecessarily personal attack from your response to my contribution Deci. I was not accusing you of Nihilism but commented that "Deci seems to be flirting with nihilism here." and qualified my comment with "Maybe not," I then went on to ask what I still think is a fair question for anyone on this thread to maybe add to that.... "if cultivation is unnecessary then why bother doing it?" For sure 'is-ness' just 'is' but I'd venture that regular cultivators enjoy a better quality of 'is-ness' ( and life) than do couch potatoes ( for example).

Isn't Aquarius a water sign?

Dwelling on death can get to be a tad gloomy though. Death's inevitable anyhoo so there's really no point stressing about it at all. In a Bavarian Trappist monastery refectory there's a huge mural of 'Death' as a skeleton with his scythe and cowled robe astraddle the exit door. His right bony finger points down towards those using the exit and there's a text banner beside the finger reading ( in German) " Perhaps Tonight." To my mind a few images of Lolcats up on that wall would have been cheerier but every interior decorator has their own preferences.

Here.... https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sacred+heart+t+shirt&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=D6HqU5OrDabh4QSrvIHQBg&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQ7Ak&biw=1024&bih=644 From... Sacred Heart T Shirts- R - Us. Hope that helps.

Garrison Keilor tells a story about a guy who was killed by his fear of death. Seems that the guy was such a hypochondriac he thought that every little thing wrong with him was a terminal illness. One day the guy woke up with a sore throat so he jumped in his car to drive to the Hospital was hit by a gravel truck on a blind bend and killed outright.

I don't mind you doing so MH. After all..... Silence is golden.

To experience any facet of Tao we really need 'no-mind' IMO. Experiences are 'felt' ( perceived). Hence whatever we 'feel to' experience of or about Tao, by definition - at the moment we begin and attempt to describe what we felt / perceived- cannot be Tao.

I was thinking more Chintzy or maybe a Chinese Restauranty type decor.

Certainly western money if you count Hong Kong and USA based Chinese patrons. I'm no expert, only been once to China but what struck me was that the ordinary working people in China are about where we were back in the 1970s. Full employment, more free time and increased car ownership. Stands to reason families want to visit a nice place for a drive out in their car or on a tour bus so places like Wudang cater to the tourists. For sure since restrictions were eased on indigenous religions; the Chinese government supports temples and shrines for the tourist and tax revenue potential and NOT for any spiritual reason. For example by improving roads in tourist areas.

Good call. It's a matter of degree really. We're veggies here and that's a 'bit' counter-culture in the UK. Cycling from choice instead of using a car is another. Thing is where do you draw the line? People who might appear to be plain vanilla on casual acquaintance could well turn out to be pretty rad if only we got to know them better.

There are lots of counter culture groups out there who aren't New Age or Eastern Spirituality.Wolfie mentioned Conspiracy people a.k.a. 'Truthers'. There are those Christian path counter-culture sects such as Hutterites, Amish, Mennonites and the Old Order Quakers for some examples. Montana and Alaska also seem to be magnets for counter culture types, not necessarily ' New Age' or eastern spirituality. There's plenty to choose amongst for anyone who wishes to step outside the mainstream. Easiest way to go is probably the hermit route and all paths have hermits.

There's a 'backroom'?

Is that guy being serious or is he a Ninja version of Master Ken ( Enter the Dojo)?

It's an inshore crab fishery around there. Most of the catch goes to Spain apparently. I'll ask about prawns. You do see some folks out there with shrimp nets. Sorta big half moon shaped jobs on a long pole with a board at the front. Prawns we do eat, never tried catching any yet though. .

I skim read that as " I have no Brian." and thought... " We've got a Brian on TTB."

Train to teach. It's an honourable profession, the holidays are excellent and the pension's not bad either.

Job Interviewer... " So tell me, if appointed to this position what will you bring to the company?" Interviewee... " Seeking The Truth is my sole,purpose in life." Job Interviewer... " NEXT."

Agreed there. Taiwanese seem to have a rich diet replete with MSG and other additives whereas according to Bill Porter those Taoist hermits in China eat more natural food often home- grown. Not so sure about Wudang Mountain though, been there and it was like Disney Land IMO.

We don't get fortune cookies here and if we did they would be properly called Fortune ' Biscuits'.

RIP A truly great actor.

She's a bunny boiler and no mistake. No surprise given her previous. I met her dad years ago he was a fundie Mormon living up in Montana. Loads of kids ( and wives).

That's Teal Scott ( as was). More about her here.... http://celestial-reflections.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/who-and-what-is-teal-scott.html

You seldom see gloves in a car glove compartment.

Perish the thought!