Brian Posted August 29, 2012 Yeah, we wouldn't want to become herd animals, would we? I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted August 29, 2012 Thanks. I chuckled. Even though I try hard to be original I do realize that I am just repeating, with different words, what others have already said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zerostao Posted August 29, 2012 Be done with desires and find contentment. Sorry. Hehehe. oh, you never ever never ever need say sorry in my direction. i thank you for all your wonderful insights. i rather think myself quite contented already even if i further desire harmony with Tao. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted August 29, 2012 @ ZT, everywhere i look i see this: wealthy people wanting more money beautiful girls wanting to be more beautiful healthy naturists seeking even more health in my opinion, you are still projecting, remember, we don't know much about that culture either for instance, just a small example: what pushes us forward, as you pointed well, is motivation and desire what makes them go thru their incredible difficult trainig [that helps them overcome their physical and psychological limits], is something else, something we don't talk much in the West ~~~ DEDICATION what do you [all] think is the difference between Motivation and Dedication? how do they work, what can each accomplish? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zerostao Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) i think when i said this i desire that which i have and nothing else it speaks to my contentment and to my desire if i said one who is in harmony with Tao desires harmony with Tao // it doesnt matter. if i said one who has understanding with Tao further desires understanding with Tao it doesnt matter either i used my examples to illustrate the point of how can one want what they already have desire is not a bad thing if what one desires is a good thing really i used that form of lingo to try and reach out to these stubborn philosophical taoists hehehhe (playfully) dedication? i aint got a clue. i am totally absorbed in the way of Tao what can each accomplish? who am i to set any limit, i really dont see any limit to be honest, how can Tao have limit? edit>>a kind tao bum sister turned me onto this well over a year ago Edited August 29, 2012 by zerostao Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted August 29, 2012 Motivation and Dedication? I like and incorporate both of them in my life but I will stop there and allow others to speak. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 29, 2012 Actually Zero, the things you are saying don't sound very far off from this admittedly stubborn philosophical Taoist , What makes you so sure you arent one of us ? Stosh 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted August 29, 2012 i like. how should i put it another way... i know and i respect all that you said as good and valuable, undeniably that way whoever said those things are less than that eh? and, do they really need a dao/tao/daoist/taoist label? red label walking daoist, haha of course they are part of the Whole, each of us is part of it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrtiger Posted August 29, 2012 Think of it this way, you may admire Christianity as much as you want, but without baptism you're not a Christian! Not even if you have a Christian bumper sticker. Or Christian Bible. Or garnments. Or icons. Or attend a Christian Church. You can like Islam, but without official conversion you're just a fan! Just sayin' We're fans, how about that! E. Thing is, my views change as I change and grow older. I don't want to commit to something finite that may not mean anything to me in 20 years time. I actually think this is the problem with the Abrahamic religions, that they've committed to ancient texts that just aren't relevant to the modern world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zerostao Posted August 29, 2012 Actually Zero, the things you are saying don't sound very far off from this admittedly stubborn philosophical Taoist , What makes you so sure you arent one of us ? Stosh i did say playfully ok place me in the stubborn camp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 30, 2012 Ironically put Zero Imho stubbornness can be just as much a virtue as anything else so its no insult, someday Ill tell the story of the goldfish regarding that. Stosh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted August 30, 2012 I don't want to commit to something finite that may not mean anything to me in 20 years time. so i guess you're not into marriage or planning to haha well... let's put it like this, 1 - i don't know about you guys, but i haven't found, available for the public, even one single path of cultivation that CAN, with verifiable results, take you from level zero up the ladder to wherever you can reach, within the limits of your lifespan of course they all promis that, does it really happen? you see bits and pieces of practices, sometimes bigger chuncks that seem to have some good effect, but not the whole enchilada, why is that? 2 - do you know what it reminds me of? my uncle was a... well, mmm.. domestic appliances repair guy, you know, the kind of guy that you'd send your TV or radio [okay, some 20+ years ago] for fixin i saw him dismantling all kind of domestic appliances and put it together and make it work. the kind of practices that most of us are involved with, do you know what it looks like? ~~~ a dismantled apparatus, that nobody knows how it looked initially, and everyone piece it together how they see fit, according to their intuition. of course, it buzzes, of course it gets hot, sometimes you can see sparks flying off it, but is it really what it's supposed to do? is it really a wonder that so many get hurt in the process? MAYBE it's the radio that used to catch the tune of the PRIMORDIAL VOID MAYBE is the panacea universalis, that will cure any and all disease Maybe... there's alot of maybes here, you see. can i call all this by it's proper name, call all this TAO and TAOISM? i would just fool myself that way. wouldn't it be more honest and sincere to call it for what it is? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zerostao Posted August 30, 2012 Ironically put Zero Imho stubbornness can be just as much a virtue as anything else so its no insult, someday Ill tell the story of the goldfish regarding that. Stosh yes it is a virtue. i may be rare to compliment someone, even if they are deserving, but i never insult anyone. i try to be encouraging. it doesnt always translate well. keep up the good posting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 30, 2012 (edited) Aww dont sigh, I cant answer for high level attainment , Zero is about as attained as I have seen. ( Im not shy about handing out compliments or hassles) But I do think that any clear-correct understanding (which you take to heart and actually follow)yields fruit same day! The wisdom is self fulfilling. Screw the books if they aint doing you good. The whole world has lessons for you. Stosh We can't just absorb sunlight to survive,we have to do things, and we use illusions-imagination, to modify what would be the ordinary course of events favorably ( as we see it) as we go. Illusions also provide and require 'situations in which to rest up -become restored', refuges, ways to mitigate our human burden ,, and offers novel ways to alter that which actually is . Like all things reality and illusion coexist and define the limits of each other , compliment one another. Harmony for a man is a mix of illusion and reality. That's mans true nature, his special gift.Stones and wind ,may have no joy or sadness,,, Unlike them, our lives, consist of a room filled with the illusions we store there. Success and failure are my illusions, as are all my sentiments and conclusions. Some of them, I didn't ask for, but- there they are, anyway. And since time passes- not , in the mind ,they will stay, unless evicted. They are why we ,ironically, are our own worst enemy , And why we are never completely happy for long , but they are also why we do anything, ever, at all! Now ,..you and I have learned many things , some of them were wrong , which those are,, is often hard to say, or Others may point, but only you or I , rightfully determine what will come or go from the room of our illusions , because many of them we love,, and we,, are the only witness of.. Edited August 30, 2012 by Stosh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 30, 2012 (edited) Rbow I couldnt say whether it is or it aint about compassion ( but compassion isnt really rare ) I couldnt say if its about heart ( I dont even know what that means specifically ) I suppose the thing you put at the top of your mountain is what is high level Wouldnt that be a self fulfilling situation? What I do think IS rare is clarity about ones inner self. Not just recognizing what one does already but what is it that is fueling you or would be fueling you I have a saying which gets beat up more than considered and here is a good place to put it. The ultimate question (there is an ultimate question by the way) for anyone -everyone is C)"What do I do now?" (Before one answers it, one is stuck After one answers it, one is not) ALL other questions help to address it including ones right before it which go A) " What do I want ? " b-" Why do I want it ?" First Answer A and B ,,, when youre comfortable You know what is at the top of the mountain Then you can address C Stosh Edited August 30, 2012 by Stosh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 30, 2012 I see that as an interest of yours If youre working on it Thats good why is it eluding you ? Stosh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rene Posted August 30, 2012 (edited) The ultimate question (there is an ultimate question by the way) for anyone -everyone is C)"What do I do now?" (Before one answers it, one is stuck After one answers it, one is not) ALL other questions help to address it including ones right before it which go A) " What do I want ? " b-" Why do I want it ?" First Answer A and B ,,, when youre comfortable You know what is at the top of the mountain Then you can address C Stosh Brilliant. IMO. (-: and even though not asked, here's my answers: a-) nothing. b-) i have enough already. c-) see what life brings next! How about you? You have your answers yet? Edited August 30, 2012 by rene 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted August 31, 2012 Aww dont sigh, I cant answer for high level attainment , Zero is about as attained as I have seen. haha, true that! that's where i am, and not shy to admit it. 'm a fan though, a juge fan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 31, 2012 (edited) Brilliant. IMO. (-: and even though not asked, here's my answers: a-) nothing. b-) i have enough already. c-) see what life brings next! How about you? You have your answers yet? Thanks As Zero might say , anybody with those answers must be at least part Taoist My answers shift , since "the river is never the same twice". Different days , different answers, but Im pretty content. Stosh Edited August 31, 2012 by Stosh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 31, 2012 haha, true that! that's where i am, and not shy to admit it. 'm a fan though, a juge fan If fan you wish to be let it be I say.It Keeps things lightStosh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted August 31, 2012 (edited) working on it dismantling deeper ties that bind small steps slowly turning into a stride I respect your right to privacy. Drat! Stosh Edited August 31, 2012 by Stosh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted August 31, 2012 okay Stosh, but only if you promise! haha, happy trails everyone.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan Posted November 26, 2012 religion vs philosophy. Religion has prerequisites and clubs and you cant join without initiation. Philosophy is the core meat and potatos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites