Guidelines for Taoist-Buddhist Dialog

[Vajrahridaya]

 

And of course we are remembering that that same applies to Taoism right?

 

Yes, of course, except Taoism doesn't seem to have any real definitive source of interpretation as there are so many versions that differ very widely.

 

 

????

I think we are talking past each other, friend.

 

Best wishes,

Tyler

 

Tyler,

 

Please ask a specific question and you'll get a specific answer. Thank you.

[Creation]

Tyler,

 

Please ask a specific question and you'll get a specific answer. Thank you.

 

 

Oh man, nothing beats late night Tao Bummin'.

 

No, I had my little bit fun, off to bed now.

Edited September 25, 2009 by Creation

[Zhuo Ming-Dao]

Yes, of course, except Taoism doesn't seem to have any real definitive source of interpretation as there are so many versions that differ very widely.

 

Its a good thing that Buddhism doesn't have that problem...

 

1. Dialogue invites us to come together as people, not as belief systems. It acknowledges that each religious tradition is pluralistic within itself (i.e. Taoism has various monastic sects (Quanzhen, Longmen, Wudang, etc.) as well as philosophical and folk religious aspects just as Buddhism has Theravada, Mahayana, Zen, and Tibetan aspects), and realizes that each dialogue partner speaks from a particular religious perspective that cannot - and does not - represent all adherents of that faith. Dialogue also recognizes that each participant is located within a particular cultural, political, and economic perspective and inevitably brings particular loyalties, commitments, and preconceptions to the relationship. Through dialogue, we get to know one another as individuals.

 

I would also add that Buddhism also has Consciousness Only, Madyahmaka (Middle Way), Tantra, Pure Land, Hua Yin, Nichiren, Shugendo, and on and on. Each of these has very different interpretations, and sometimes even the core assumptions about the nature of reality and the self and the goals of practice are wildly differing.

 

Sorry for the slightly sarcastic tone of this post. I will do my utmost to abide by these principles at all times.

 

"I agree in full with the above principles and practices of interfaith dialog and promise to apply my best efforts to upholding them whilst ever engaged in interfaith dialog (or in fact any dialog) here on The TaoBums. If at anytime I should fall short of these guidelines I am happy and willing to receive respectful reminders of these principles and practices from other members of The TaoBums."

[Vajrahridaya]

Its a good thing that Buddhism doesn't have that problem...

 

Nope, it doesn't, because all the branches have the 4 noble truths, the 8 fold noble path, and dependent origination at its basis. All that differs are interpretations of the realizations of these basic universal Buddhist elements.

[Stigweard]

Just bumping this up as a reminder to myself.

[Marblehead]

Just bumping this up as a reminder to myself.

 

And to me too, Huh?

 

Happy Trails!

[Apech]

Guidelines could be:

 

Buddhists : be gentle, generous and compassionate, unattached to the outcome of the discussion.

Taoists : recognize that the superior is only known because the inferior exists, cultivate chi, unattached to the outcome.

[Marblehead]

Guidelines could be:

 

Buddhists : be gentle, generous and compassionate, unattached to the outcome of the discussion.

Taoists : recognize that the superior is only known because the inferior exists, cultivate chi, unattached to the outcome.

 

And then my Friend Apepch7 doesn't need to worry about all this stuff because he (?) seems to be a little of both.

 

Happy Trails!

[Apech]

And then my Friend Apepch7 doesn't need to worry about all this stuff because he (?) seems to be a little of both.

 

Happy Trails!

 

Yes, I am a he just like my tom cat avatar (although he lacks certain parts which I still possess).

[Vajrahridaya]

Yes, I am a he just like my tom cat avatar (although he lacks certain parts which I still possess).

 

LOL! You BALL CHOPPER!! No really, I love cats, and your cat looks soooo cool!

[Apech]

LOL! You BALL CHOPPER!! No really, I love cats, and your cat looks soooo cool!

 

 

The offending objects were removed before we inherited him ... anyway he seems happy, maybe its an option for others

[Vajrahridaya]

The offending objects were removed before we inherited him ... anyway he seems happy, maybe its an option for others

 

Does he really comply to the leash? My cats would never... leash goes on... stop drop, make like a rock. Draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggg.

[Apech]

Does he really comply to the leash? My cats would never... leash goes on... stop drop, make like a rock. Draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggg.

 

 

No the collar was for fleas and lasted just about as long as it took to take the photo. He was not happy about it! He is a free cat who loves to roam. We used to have a black dog as well and they used to play together. Also they would go for walks together which looked cute - but the dog sadly died a few years ago.

[Marblehead]

Yes, I am a he just like my tom cat avatar (although he lacks certain parts which I still possess).

 

Okay. That settles that. I have two cats. One female, one male. Both fixed. I too have been fixed.

 

Happy Trails!

 

 

Does he really comply to the leash? My cats would never... leash goes on... stop drop, make like a rock. Draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggg.

 

I had one cat (a male) that generallly accepted a harness and leash. I travelled a lot back then and would always take him with me. It looked really neat when we went out for a walk or even just a potty break.

 

Happy Trails!

[Apech]

Okay. That settles that. I have two cats. One female, one male. Both fixed. I too have been fixed.

 

 

 

Is it better to be fixed or broken? (This is a new Zen Koan I just writ.)

[Marblehead]

Is it better to be fixed or broken? (This is a new Zen Koan I just writ.)

 

All I could do was laugh. Hehehe.

 

I can give an example: Once I had a broken hip. That was very painful. It is now fixed. Very little pain now-a-days. Besides, I couldn't walk while it was broken but now I can.

 

So in conclusion, I think it is better to be fixed than to be broken.

 

Happy Trails!

[Stigweard]

Just reaffirming my commitment to these guidelines.

 

[voidisyinyang]

Stiggy (yes that's what I called you! haha) -- a la the great t.v. show that you got in Australia? Laverne and Shirley? Oh well --

 

As per your website -- thanks dude! And also the name of your hometown? Wow! You got rock paintings in your area or what's the rainbow snake energy like?

 

Also -- have you read David Palmer's BOOK -- "Qigong Fever" -- I noticed he's translating these texts you've linked to -- great stuff. I corresponded with Palmer a bit before he moved to Hong Kong - when he was still in London he mailed me his article from a journal my University did not carry. Nice Dude!

 

And so I quote from your Taoist Virtue link, trans. by Palmer -- love this!

 

In the Book of Master Zhuang4, it is said that Dao is 'omnipresent', and can be found in mole crickets and ants, in bricks and tiles, in stools and urine. Whether it be the most spiritual of men or the most debased of things, everything has Dao. In the Book of Western Ascension5, it is said that "Dao is not only in me; all beings have it". This Dao-Nature reflected by all beings is Virtue.

 

This is from your TaoWiki page -- excellent!

 

Neidan is part of the Chinese alchemical meditative tradition that is said to have been separated into internal and external (Waidan) at some point during the Tang dynasty. The Cantong qi (The Kinship of the Three) is the earliest known book on theoretical alchemy in China; it was written by the alchemist Wei Boyang in the year 142 AD. This text influenced the formation of Neidan, whose earliest existing texts date from the first half of the eighth century. The authors of several Neidan articles refer to their teachings as the Way of the Golden Elixir (jindan zhi dao). The majority of Chinese alchemical sources is found in the Daozang (Taoist Canon), the largest collection of Taoist texts.

 

Just reaffirming my commitment to these guidelines.

 

Edited October 27, 2009 by drewhempel

[Stigweard]

Stiggy (yes that's what I called you! haha) -- a la the great t.v. show that you got in Australia? Laverne and Shirley? Oh well --

 

As per your website -- thanks dude! And also the name of your hometown? Wow! You got rock paintings in your area or what's the rainbow snake energy like?

 

Also -- have you read David Palmer's BOOK -- "Qigong Fever" -- I noticed he's translating these texts you've linked to -- great stuff. I corresponded with Palmer a bit before he moved to Hong Kong - when he was still in London he mailed me his article from a journal my University did not carry. Nice Dude!

 

And so I quote from your Taoist Virtue link, trans. by Palmer -- love this!

 

In the Book of Master Zhuang4, it is said that Dao is 'omnipresent', and can be found in mole crickets and ants, in bricks and tiles, in stools and urine. Whether it be the most spiritual of men or the most debased of things, everything has Dao. In the Book of Western Ascension5, it is said that "Dao is not only in me; all beings have it". This Dao-Nature reflected by all beings is Virtue.

 

This is from your TaoWiki page -- excellent!

 

Neidan is part of the Chinese alchemical meditative tradition that is said to have been separated into internal and external (Waidan) at some point during the Tang dynasty. The Cantong qi (The Kinship of the Three) is the earliest known book on theoretical alchemy in China; it was written by the alchemist Wei Boyang in the year 142 AD. This text influenced the formation of Neidan, whose earliest existing texts date from the first half of the eighth century. The authors of several Neidan articles refer to their teachings as the Way of the Golden Elixir (jindan zhi dao). The majority of Chinese alchemical sources is found in the Daozang (Taoist Canon), the largest collection of Taoist texts.

Hahaha!!

 

Cheers Drew

 

No rock paintings in the immediate area around where I live. My mother recently went on a 4 wheel drive tour up through central Australia (Canning Stock Route), they got to see some excellent rock paintings.

 

[voidisyinyang]

Thanks Stig -- that's serious "third leg power" haha. I had read a fun "slacker" Melbourne Aussie road book -- he and his buddy drive up through the country and then back along the east coast. Couldn't find it but then discovered

 

"Alice Pung" -- Asian Australian writer who had a hit first novel and is now at the "prestigious" Iowa Writers Program (a few hours drive from me) working on her next novel for 2010 release.

 

Her parents are Chinese -- here's the interview with her:

 

http://alicepung.com/blog/wp-content/uploa..._alice_pung.pdf

 

Hahaha!!

 

Cheers Drew

 

No rock paintings in the immediate area around where I live. My mother recently went on a 4 wheel drive tour up through central Australia (Canning Stock Route), they got to see some excellent rock paintings.

 

[Stigweard]

Here is my commitment:

 

"I agree in full with the above principles and practices of interfaith dialog and promise to apply my best efforts to upholding them whilst ever engaged in interfaith dialog (or in fact any dialog) here on The TaoBums. If at anytime I should fall short of these guidelines I am happy and willing to receive respectful reminders of these principles and practices from other members of The TaoBums."

My re-commitment to these guidelines. I apologize if I have failed to do so previously.

 

[Harmonious Emptiness]