What would peace look like?

[Vmarco]

[Vmarco]

Imagine there's no countries,

It isnt hard to do,

Nothing to kill or die for,

No religion too,

Imagine all the people

living life in peace...

[Chi-Fox]

I have always been annoyed by competitive people. That is one of the things that I have done my greatest to avoid in life. A friend of mine is extremely competitive, and loves to make competitions out of everything. For instance - once in the mountains I was throwing rocks and trying to know down sticks. He comes up and says let me try...and before I know it we are apparently in competition to see who can knock down the sticks more efficiently. It really drained the fun entirely out of my game and I prefer to practice skills alone now because of these kinds of situations.

And I do notice in these strange days an intense amount of competition. Even between my closest friends. I had to meditate on this because I found myself one day weighing up my friends like a roster. "Who is doing best?" It disgusted me and I am glad I found that darkness in me to eradicate it immediately! I determined that it was a result of low self-esteem. Just as Vmarco mentions.

 

Man, and i really dislike those who breed vicious dogs. Everyone knows their purpose. Pitbulls specifically are treated rotten so that they will have more desire to bite anyone.

[Chang]

All that we can do is rid ourselves of the competitive element in our personalities.

 

I suppose that it is a case of reaching a stage where it really does not matter whether we win or lose but just let whatever happens be OK.

 

Once we have rid ourselves of the desire to win the next step is to not mind who else wins but to let that be OK too. This is much harder.

 

Somewhere along the line you may reach the stage where you no longer mind the savage dogs

[baiqi]

'Beware of Dog'

 

Hey, nobody said dogs were involved in the peace process! They will still remain predators...

 

I know some nice pitbulls though (although I'm always scared when I have it around me. I know it's a nice dog, but still...) The dog's master is a jerk however. I feel sorry for the dog, that stays all day long at home to "protect" it.

 

Honestly, to finally answer the question, I don't believe peace can exist forever. We may tend to it, but the very nature of this world (and others!) is that once oneness is lost, individualities tend to conflict.

 

This being said, we can reduce the warlike elements in society and in ourselves. I absolutely agree with reducing the competitive element in education for example.

 

However it is a part of us, we cannot totally deny it.

 

We are, for now and I think for a long time, living in an envirronement where there is always a possiblity of aggression. Even if we usually live peaceful lives, we also need to accept the possibility of violence. At all levels.(physical, verbal, mental...)

 

Lao Zi basically said that "the wise man does not use weapons, excepted if he needs to do so".

[Marblehead]

What does peace look like?

 

A couple weeks ago I noticed a plant growing in one of the flower beds. I knew it wasn't any of the flower types I was intentionally growing in that area but yet it looked like nature just wanted it growing there. (I will normally pull out any plant that is not "supposed" to be in an area.

 

So I allow it to grow. Such a pretty plant, nice dark-green foliage. It continues to grow and show itself off to me. Then one day, finally, I see a flower bud. Anticipation! Two days later the bud opens and a beautiful purple flower appears. It is a Dianthus! I had grown them a few years ago in two different areas and apparently a seed had been blown into this bed.

 

I think that was the most important thing in my life during those couple of weeks. Just waiting for the plant to show me a flower. (Sure, I did other things during those couple weeks but I seem to have forgotten what they were.)

[strawdog65]

What does peace look like?

 

A couple weeks ago I noticed a plant growing in one of the flower beds. I knew it wasn't any of the flower types I was intentionally growing in that area but yet it looked like nature just wanted it growing there. (I will normally pull out any plant that is not "supposed" to be in an area.

 

So I allow it to grow. Such a pretty plant, nice dark-green foliage. It continues to grow and show itself off to me. Then one day, finally, I see a flower bud. Anticipation! Two days later the bud opens and a beautiful purple flower appears. It is a Dianthus! I had grown them a few years ago in two different areas and apparently a seed had been blown into this bed.

 

I think that was the most important thing in my life during those couple of weeks. Just waiting for the plant to show me a flower. (Sure, I did other things during those couple weeks but I seem to have forgotten what they were.)

 

 

Nice story there MH.

If we could all be so accepting of life's unexpected qualities,without those

of us who are always interested taking advantage of something to gain control.

 

Peace.... is there such a concept we can study that exists within the animal

kingdom?

I would say that if there is an example we could learn from...then there

is the possibility of overcoming the animalistic nature of man and achieving peace.

 

The changes to achieve peace on a worldwide level are daunting.

All differences are at issue, anytime one person can point to a difference,

they can also claim that they are better than that person because of it.

 

Maybe "peace" is just a concept for us to use as a measure to see where we can do

better.

 

What if "peace" is the ability to live within the storm and accept that

in this imperfect world we can chose to be the example that others will

be inspired by, to emulate and create the change in consciousness needed to

make the world a little more peaceful.... even if just one person at a time. :-))

[Fū Yue]

Peace.... is there such a concept we can study that exists within the animal

kingdom?

 

We're carrying peace around with us everywhere we go, in all that we do. Few stop to appreciate it, however.

 

Acknowledgement of this preternatural stillness all across the world, it would be such grandeur! A silent night sky is already a beauty, imagining a society without conflict is almost too much to bear.

[thelerner]

I have issues. There are peaceniks who'd get there by killing off everyone who disagrees with them. Dissent is by nature not peaceful, but who wants to live in a world of utter political correctness.

 

As long as a dog isn't bothering you by barking or biting. Leave it alone, its not your problem. Find your peace by getting over your fears. My martial art involves punching, kicking choking other willing people; it may not fit someones idea of peaceful, would it be allowed in your world?

 

There is an element of destruction in most creative processes. In growth and change there is conflict. Within the birth of a new paradigm there is revolution.

 

A version of the world where peace is the main goal, might be awfully sterile, boring and controlled, especially one that wants to control people lives right down to the dog they could own. Count me out. Mutual respect, a safety net, community spirit. World peace sounds good, but micromanaging the world would suck. Sounds like the start of scify dystopia to me.

 

Speaking of which, get too peaceful and the opposite arises, you get crushed by the less peaceful, or a germ you're too nice to eradicated. Wish for Mankind to be perfectly peaceful and eventually we're ruled by the damn dirty apes or poof we're all gone.

[Protector]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrdn3CRHmEM

[Aaron]

Why is everyone focusing on the freaking dog and not the context of the message, which is, what do you think world peace would look like?

 

This is the reason competitiveness is bad, because even in a discussion about world peace someone has to say, "my world peace is better than yours."

 

Those who practice Kung Fu or other martial arts might be interested in knowing that they weren't developed for war, but rather in order to defend one's self from other people who were warlike. In a world of peace, why would you need martial arts? In a world without competition why would you need to fight? In a world like that dogs wouldn't be needed to protect your house, you could leave your door unlocked and never have to worry about anyone coming in and harming you or anyone stealing your stuff.

 

This thread isn't about the possibility of world peace, but rather the concept itself.

 

In Taoism the three jewels are commonly referred to as, humility, self-control, and compassion, but in reality they are compassion, frugality, and never striving to be first in the world. Now the difference is very important because one says you should not think of yourself in vaulted terms, the other says, don't compete with others to be first. One cannot practice one jewel without practicing the others. One cannot give up competition if they aren't frugal and compassionate, nor can they be frugal without being compassionate and non-competitive, nor can one be compassionate if they aren't first non-competitive and frugal. Now don't take this to mean that there aren't incidents where a competitive person isn't compassionate, rather the general long term ability to practice the three requires that they all be practiced.

 

I firmly believe that if we imagine a world where people practiced these jewels, we would see a peaceful world.

 

Aaron

Edited April 22, 2012 by Twinner

[Vmarco]

 

As long as a dog isn't bothering you by barking or biting. Leave it alone, its not your problem. Find your peace by getting over your fears. My martial art involves punching, kicking choking other willing people; it may not fit someones idea of peaceful, would it be allowed in your world?

 

 

There must have been a misinterpretation with the comment on dogs,...it wasn't suggested that anyone get involved with dogs,...first, a sign that says 'Beware of Dog' suggests the owner is a fear-based person, and thus not a peace-based person,...second, a peace-based person is far too considerate of others to own a vicious dog breed, no matter how much they feel that their animal is dependable and responsible. Dogs are unpredictable animals with no purpose in a peace-based society. Just because a dog is not terrorizing the owner, does not mean that the dog does not terrorize others.

 

In my martial art, Hapkido,...there is equal emphasis with healing. Many Hapkido masters are Chiropractors. In addition, Hapkido is not a competitive sport. My martial art involves instruction on how to fully disable and even kill, in under 5 seconds. If everyone knew Hapkido, perhaps they would not feel so fearful to own a dog, which terrorizes others and undermines any possibility of peace.

 

V

[Vmarco]

What does peace look like?

 

A couple weeks ago I noticed a plant growing in one of the flower beds. I knew it wasn't any of the flower types I was intentionally growing in that area but yet it looked like nature just wanted it growing there. (I will normally pull out any plant that is not "supposed" to be in an area.

 

So I allow it to grow. Such a pretty plant, nice dark-green foliage. It continues to grow and show itself off to me. Then one day, finally, I see a flower bud. Anticipation! Two days later the bud opens and a beautiful purple flower appears. It is a Dianthus! I had grown them a few years ago in two different areas and apparently a seed had been blown into this bed.

 

I think that was the most important thing in my life during those couple of weeks. Just waiting for the plant to show me a flower. (Sure, I did other things during those couple weeks but I seem to have forgotten what they were.)

 

Just today had an opportunity to recall a quote by Gurdjieff:

 

"Cultivating flowers reveals the innocense still seedling in whatever is beheld."

[Vmarco]

Why is everyone focusing on the freaking dog and not the context of the message, which is, what do you think world peace would look like?

 

This is the reason competitiveness is bad, because even in a discussion about world peace someone has to say, "my world peace is better than yours."

 

Those who practice Kung Fu or other martial arts might be interested in knowing that they weren't developed for war, but rather in order to defend one's self from other people who were warlike. In a world of peace, why would you need martial arts? In a world without competition why would you need to fight? In a world like that dogs wouldn't be needed to protect your house, you could leave your door unlocked and never have to worry about anyone coming in and harming you or anyone stealing your stuff.

 

This thread isn't about the possibility of world peace, but rather the concept itself.

 

In Taoism the three jewels are commonly referred to as, humility, self-control, and compassion, but in reality they are compassion, frugality, and never striving to be first in the world. Now the difference is very important because one says you should not think of yourself in vaulted terms, the other says, don't compete with others to be first. One cannot practice one jewel without practicing the others. One cannot give up competition if they aren't frugal and compassionate, nor can they be frugal without being compassionate and non-competitive, nor can one be compassionate if they aren't first non-competitive and frugal. Now don't take this to mean that there aren't incidents where a competitive person isn't compassionate, rather the general long term ability to practice the three requires that they all be practiced.

 

I firmly believe that if we imagine a world where people practiced these jewels, we would see a peaceful world.

 

Aaron

 

Those are excellent thoughts. In relation to the starter "what would peace look like"...a compassionate person,...that is one concerned for others as they are for themselves, would not own a vicious dog breed, nor would support competitiveness. Vicious breeds and competiveness are in direct opposition to the nature of compassion.

 

Of course,...ownership of vicious dog breeds and competitiveness,...thus the lack of consideration of others,... are merely symptoms of an inner crisis.

 

V

[thelerner]

I can't help but think you're stereotyping both dog breeds and people who own them. There are compassionate people who own all kinds of dogs. I also think there is sensationalism when it comes to certain types. I can understand the view of needing special training and/or insurance for some breeds, but to see them as bad, something to get rid of is extraordinarily one sided. Seems like Hapkido doesn't cure canine fear. (is that stereotyping?) kidding (though Aikido (my art) is a bit more into harmony & peace, plus our dojo dog was a very sweet doberman).

 

Twinner, the reason a discussion on world peace got bizarrely side tracked to dogs was the initial quote brought them in as #1.

 

Back on point. Peace is good stuff, but there are other ideals as important. Like freedom, justice. There's a peace that curtails freedom and justice.

 

The best way to make people peaceful is to drug them. Another way to curtail male violent impulses is castration, a third is harsh punishment if they're not peaceful. I'm not in favor of those. If its a magic spell that vaporizes anyone who races a fist in anger, you can kill of anyone by pissing them off enough, say steal there stuff, and if they try to stop you poof they're gone. Great world for thieves and psychopaths.

 

There was science fiction book that explored the reality of an active god, where god actively punished those who went defied the 7 deadly sins. It wasn't a pretty world where people were blasted by lightening if they got out of bed late.

 

wandering..off subject..

 

What would a good world of peace look like? Not imposed by powers above..freedoms that do not hurt others, would not be curtailed. Violence would be possible in the cause of justice. Thats a tricky one ofcourse.

Parents, schools, religion, society mostly teaches in favor of peace. Love thy neighbor is not a new, hidden or exclusive teaching. Yet here we are. Reading up on a country that was largely Buddhists like Cambodia, you had murder of a fifth of the population a generation ago. You could blame it on atheists, but there was culpability on the religious.

 

I suppose where there is fear, greed and desire there will be non peace. Scarier still, beyond those reasons there are people who do evil for no reason, just bad without rhyme or reason. You can't force people to become monks and nuns. I doubt you can forceably educate it into them either.

 

I'm a Burner, ie I join the tribe of Burning Man members. There may be lessons there. In many ways the temporary town of Black Rock is an attempt to create utopia. It creates a society of no money, a gifting society. On the other hand entry requires radical self sufficiency. You need nothing, yet custom is to share everything. Thee rule is mutual respect.

 

Its an atmosphere of extreme freedom. You want yoga or meditation its there, clothes or nude. There spectacular violence, literally a recreation of Thunderdome where contestants in springy harnesses battle each other at the whims of a leather clad announcer while people watch from the rafter 25 feet up. The weapons are padded but the winner and losers left pretty bruised. Quite a non peaceable spectacle.

 

moving away from topic again.

 

So..to me what would peace look like. A town of 20,000 where the center was a University of learning. There would be a strong socialist element to it. Decent housing available for free. A large public meal shared by all would happen each day. A culture with a strong emphasis on sharing. An emphasis that everyone was family and should be treated as such.

 

A perfect peace would not be possible, but forgiveness would. And maybe that's enough. Its human to angry, to be passionate, to do the wrong thing, but forgiveness is possible too. And for some egregious people prison or exile because justice is important. Few rules because freedom is important too.

 

I really love Key West. A large crowd gathers at the end of each day and together watches the sunset. There is a great sense of community in those moments. I think the best way to peace is through that sense of community.

Edited April 23, 2012 by thelerner

[Vmarco]

I can't help but think you're stereotyping both dog breeds and people who own them. There are compassionate people who own all kinds of dogs. I also think there is sensationalism when it comes to certain types. I can understand the view of needing special training and/or insurance for some breeds, but to see them as bad, something to get rid of is extraordinarily one sided.

 

Yes,...many people are going to fight this. However, to reduce the emotions and beliefs down,..a truly compassionate person does not wish harm to come to another,...as such, and since humans have no real control over animals behavior,...a truly compassionate person would not own an animal that could critically harm another.

 

I had owned two York-tese's acquired through an unplanned birth. The 3 lb Yorkie climbed an 8 ft chainlink fence, and down the other side, to breed with a 4 lb Maltese. Of course these pocket dogs are not going to critically hurt someone,...but 30-40 lb vicious breeds like Pit Bulls, who for 32% to 53% of all American attacks, are usually enclosed in much less secure quarters.

 

It is also important to note,...that you show no compassion for others, because it appears that no dog ever bothered you.

 

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/08/7-year-old-girl-attacked-pit-bull-having-57-surgery

 

Do you have any idea how many people are terrorized by dogs per day? Per year? Sure, there was a beautiful reporter who had her lips bit off on live TV last month or so,...and "sometimes" death by dogs is reported,...but there are tens of thousands terrorized per year. Is that what peace looks like.

 

http://pit-bulls.christianfunfair.org/attacks.htm

 

Only a very naive person would suggest that vicious breed owners,...any vicious breed owner,... are compassionate.

 

If a "world of peace look(ed) like freedoms that do not hurt others" than no one would be free to own a vicious breed. The freedom of owning guns, praticing martial arts, etc, would not be curtailed, because responsible people can control guns, martial arts, etc....animals cannot be controled.

 

Your dojo's Pincher could easily harm someone critically, under numerous circumstances. Only an uncompassionate, callous person would think otherwise

 

V

[Ya Mu]

I am not interested in debate here on this forum. If anyone wishes to debate this have at it. I present as an alternative analysis & viewpoint.

 

...

In my martial art, Hapkido,...there is equal emphasis with healing. Many Hapkido masters are Chiropractors. In addition, Hapkido is not a competitive sport. My martial art involves instruction on how to fully disable and even kill, in under 5 seconds. If everyone knew Hapkido, perhaps they would not feel so fearful to own a dog, which terrorizes others and undermines any possibility of peace.

 

V

"...how to fully disable and even kill, in under 5 seconds. If everyone knew Hapkido, perhaps they would not feel so fearful to own a dog, which terrorizes others and undermines any possibility of peace."

If everyone had a dog, perhaps they would not feel so fearful of people who practice Hapkido , which terrorizes others through the knowledge they could be killed in under 5 seconds and undermines any possibility of peace.

 

"Only a very naive person would suggest that vicious breed owners,...any vicious breed owner,... are compassionate."

Only a very naive person would suggest that someone who learned MA to kill you in under 5 seconds is compassionate.

 

Now, are any of the statements true? Certainly either could be true in a relative sense but IMO absolutely not true in the absolute sense.

 

So where does that leave us in determining peace?

 

My belief is that the answer can be found in your quote from another thread, "If you wish to unite with the heart and mind of the Mysterious Mother, you must integrate yin and yang within and refine their fire upward."

 

The problem of course is that most of humanity has no clue about this concept and there are relatively few practices that actually accomplish it. If it is accomplished then the ability to, at any given moment, radiate peace, is accomplished. Therefore in the theoretical cases of the dog and Hapkido practitioner (smile here) the absolute would not be true IF there were the above accomplished for both the dog & the practitioner would immediately calm down. Therefore, IMO, peace on Earth could be accomplished if everyone (possibly in the not-so near future?) accomplished what is said in the above quote about integrating yin & yang and refining the fire upward. This is exactly what true Taoist inner neigong cultivation techniques accomplish. I have personally have seen this peace technique work on dogs of the type you mention, an angry MA about to hurt someone, and an angry person holding a loaded & cocked gun on someone.

 

IME, where the problem can occur, due to the fact that everyone does not practice integrating the yin & yang and refining the fire upward, the overall vibration level of humanity does contribute to the problem of holding this 24/7 while walking with the masses of humanity (easy to do alone on a mountaintop). Therefore the problem as I see it is to get past the 16% statistical saturation point (brought up in post #24 on this thread) where this type of calmness (peace) is radiated 24/7 by everyone. IMO until this happens there will never be peace within humanity. Once it happens PEACE will triumph.

[Harmonious Emptiness]

"integrate yin and yang within and refine their fire upward."

 

Would it be possible to explain more precisely what this means here, and how it is achieved?

[zanshin]

I think a peaceful world would have to be a world of hermits and introverts, maybe just a nice dog for companionship. Social living breeds competition and everyonse self image becomes about perception of others; people don't know who they are except in relation to other people and can't walk away from competition. Being alone is an underrated life skill.

[Vmarco]

[Vmarco]

Would it be possible to explain more precisely what this means here, and how it is achieved?

 

Lao Tzu purportedly said:

"To attain pure Tao you must understand and integrate within yourself the three main energies of the universe:

The first is the earth energy. Centered in the belly, itexpresses itself as sexuality. Those who cultivate and master the physical energy attain partial purity;

Second is the heaven energy. Centered in the mind, it expresses itself as knowledge and wisdom. Those whose minds merge with the Universal Mind also attain partial purity.

Third is the harmonized energy. Centered in the heart, it expresses itself as spiritual insight. Those who develop spiritual insight also attain partial purity.

Only when you attain you achieve all three - mastery of physical energy, universal mindedness, and spiritual insight - and express them in a virturous integral life, can you attain pure Tao." Hua Hu Ching, sixty-two

 

Earth energy is the realization of the physical barycenter,...in Hapkido this is called the Danjun. Heaven energy is realized through the barycenter or balance point of the pineal, pituitary and thyroid glands, or upper three chakras. Then,...as symbolized by the David Star,...when the Earth triangle interlaces with the Heaven triangle, harmonized energy is realized at the Heart,...which is the door way to Heart Mind.

 

The Heart Mind is unobscured through the harmonic balanced interchange of Earth (Yang) and Yin (Heaven). An unfortunate problem today is that very few understand Who's Who in Duality. Most contemporary Taoist are attached to ridicuous human-centric notions.

 

This post may be helpful:

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/20285-sky-dancers/page__p__287298__hl__sky%20flyers__fromsearch__1entry287298

[Ya Mu]

Would it be possible to explain more precisely what this means here, and how it is achieved?

It is an intermediate step in true neigong practices - at least it is in ours. I believe vmarco gives the book scholarly explanation quite well. A simplified way of looking at it is awakening to a part of you through realization of the true-heart through the process of integration of Heaven & Earth. A harmonious and natural process.

[Ya Mu]

...

Although the Art of Hapkido understands how to stop life, that understanding is provided in the context of celebrating life through Ki,...which is not a force, but the Stillness upon which force can be initiated.

 

Some philosophies (as Taoism) suggest that Ki can be accessed through three points. Hapkido practitioners are primarily interested in the danjun point, which is located about nine centimeters below the navel. The thymus and pineal area are the other Ki points, which can be activated through Ki practices, such as Reiki and Sunyata. Many often limit their understanding of Ki or Chi by calling it energy. Ki is not an energy; it’s a stillness. There is no energy in stillness, although we could refer to Ki-related energy. T’ai Chi is a moving meditation that allows an unimpeded circulation of energy from the still point of Ki.

 

Ki itself is a still silence that is synonymous to the eye of a hurricane or typhoon. The kihap or yell that martial artists use, when done correctly, is simply the exhale, or a place where the still eye of the hurricane meets the eye wall of the storm and manifests physical destruction. The greatest power arises through the greatest stillness. The lower a hurricane’s pressure at its center, the more devastating the storm is at the eye wall. The more relaxed the martial artist, the more overwhelming the energy that extends from the Ki. The greatest (and only) power in the universe unfurls from a zero-point.

 

...

Korean Hapkido Grand Master Jeong told me, “Ki is in the stop [or zero point] before the kihap.” The power is not in the yell; the yell is simply an incidental byproduct of the Ki process. The kihap is just the exhale. A kihap uttered without connecting with the stop is mere posing or pretending. Instead of martial artists’ practicing a yell (as they mostly do in American, competitive orientated, self-defense classes), they should be practicing the stop. When power comes from the stop, the kihap simply happens.

 

The Ki Master Koichi Tohei said, and gave me permission use, “We are able to move most rapidly and violently when we remain perfectly calm. Likewise, the truest calm is reached when we move at the greatest speed.”

 

V

Thanks for the explanation of Ki from a Korean MA viewpoint.

It differs significantly from the explanation of Qi from the Chinese medical qigong viewpoint. The commonality I see is that the intense calmness must be reached prior to manipulation of Qi as well. This is the calmness (peace) that can be projected to others. In Chinese hospital & clinic based medical qigong this is most often done off-body and not through body contact although sometimes utilized in combination with Tui Na or acupressure type techniques.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Ya Mu

[Vmarco]

It is an intermediate step in true neigong practices - at least it is in ours. I believe vmarco gives the book scholarly explanation quite well.

 

Never heard of neigong practices nor the book.

 

V

[Aaron]

Lao Tzu purportedly said:

"To attain pure Tao you must understand and integrate within yourself the three main energies of the universe:

The first is the earth energy. Centered in the belly, itexpresses itself as sexuality. Those who cultivate and master the physical energy attain partial purity;

Second is the heaven energy. Centered in the mind, it expresses itself as knowledge and wisdom. Those whose minds merge with the Universal Mind also attain partial purity.

Third is the harmonized energy. Centered in the heart, it expresses itself as spiritual insight. Those who develop spiritual insight also attain partial purity.

Only when you attain you achieve all three - mastery of physical energy, universal mindedness, and spiritual insight - and express them in a virturous integral life, can you attain pure Tao." Hua Hu Ching, sixty-two

 

Earth energy is the realization of the physical barycenter,...in Hapkido this is called the Danjun. Heaven energy is realized through the barycenter or balance point of the pineal, pituitary and thyroid glands, or upper three chakras. Then,...as symbolized by the David Star,...when the Earth triangle interlaces with the Heaven triangle, harmonized energy is realized at the Heart,...which is the door way to Heart Mind.

 

The Heart Mind is unobscured through the harmonic balanced interchange of Earth (Yang) and Yin (Heaven). An unfortunate problem today is that very few understand Who's Who in Duality. Most contemporary Taoist are attached to ridicuous human-centric notions.

 

This post may be helpful:

http://www.thetaobum..._1entry287298

 

I wanted to clarify some things about the quoted passage, even though I may not agree that Lao Tzu said this, the meaning is clear and relevant to my earlier comments regarding the three jewels.

 

The three different types of energy correspond to the three jewels and are achieved by practicing them. Earth energy is equal to frugality, and it speaks of understanding the differences between needs and wants, which is achieved through understanding the objective nature of reality, that everything just is, that any value placed upon things is an illusion. Heaven Energy corresponds to Compassion, which is achieved through understanding the suffering of others and doing what we can to stop it. Harmonizing energy corresponds to "never striving to be first in the world" or not competing, simply being and allowing others to be. It doesn't matter what practice one endeavors to train in, if one does not master these three jewels in their own life, understanding the full depth of each, they will never be able to achieve more than a passing understanding of all three and hence, will only achieve partial understanding of the mystery of mysteries.

 

Aaron