it is unlikely to come across Tao in your life-time

[exorcist_1699]

There is an old , taoist saying which tells :

 

人生難得 , 中國難生 , 大道難遇 .

 

( it is difficult to be born as human ; it is more difficult to be born in the Middle Kingdom( China ) ; it is very unlikely for you to come across the great way of Tao in your life-time )

 

It implies that no matter how smart and imaginative you are , if you are situated in a cultural environment which tells you that life and death is something natural and inescapable , then even if you are as excellent and imaginative as Einstein , you are still doomed to act as some kind of foolish guy, succumbing to the "destiny" .

[Yen Hui]

( it is difficult to be born as human ; it is more difficult to be born in the Middle Kingdom( China ) ; it is very

unlikely for you to come across the great way of Tao in your life-time )

 

What you've posted there sounds like it says there is no hope of finding the Great Way outside of China. If that

is what you are saying, then I must respectfully disagree with that view, on several grounds, quite apart from

empty "imaginings". If you believe the Immortals say that the Great Way is found only in China, perhaps you

would be so kind as to back that up with at least three texts or witnesses from the Canonical Writings. Thanks!

[fatherpaul]

There is an old , taoist saying which tells :

 

人生難得 , 中國難生 , 大道難遇 .

 

( it is difficult to be born as human ; it is more difficult to be born in the Middle Kingdom( China ) ; it is very unlikely for you to come across the great way of Tao in your life-time )

 

It implies that no matter how smart and imaginative you are , if you are situated in a cultural environment which tells you that life and death is something natural and inescapable , then even if you are as excellent and imaginative as Einstein , you are still doomed to act as some kind of foolish guy, succumbing to the "destiny" .

 

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[freeform]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

agreed

 

Actually I'd say that "It's extremely unlikely not to come accross the Tao in your lifetime" - Whether you realise it at the time is another question...

[exorcist_1699]

From the bottom of my heart , I really hope you guys do come across IT

[Spectrum]

The tail of the dragon reaches beyond chinas walls.

 

 

Edited May 10, 2007 by Spectrum

[Yen Hui]

From the bottom of my heart , I really hope you guys do come across IT

Well, thanks but The Great Treatise of the I Ching says thus about discovering IT:-

 

3. The kind man discovers Tao and calls it kind. The wise man discovers Tao and calls it wise.

The people use Tao day by day and are not aware of it, for the way of the superior man is rare.

 

Tao reveals itself differently to each individual, according to his own nature. The man of

deeds, for whom kindness and the love of his fellow man are supreme, discovers the Tao

of cosmic events and calls it supreme kindness -- "God is love." The contemplative man,

for whom calm wisdom is supreme, discovers the Tao of the universe and calls it supreme

wisdom. The common people live from day to day, continually borne and nourished by Tao,

but they know nothing of it; they see only what meets the eye. For the way of the superior

man, who sees not only things but the Tao of things, is rare. The Tao of the universe is

indeed kindness and wisdom; but essentially Tao is also beyond kindness and wisdom.

 

Now, do you find anything in the above teaching which even remotely hints that the Great Way is

only found in China, on Tao Mountain? If you study this Treatise closely, you will see that it says

the Book Changes was composed by the ancients as a means for us to discover and apply the

Tao in our daily life. Those who master the teachings of this Book cannot fail to discover Tao.

[mbanu]

What you've posted there sounds like it says there is no hope of finding the Great Way outside of China. If that

is what you are saying, then I must respectfully disagree with that view, on several grounds, quite apart from

empty "imaginings". If you believe the Immortals say that the Great Way is found only in China, perhaps you

would be so kind as to back that up with at least three texts or witnesses from the Canonical Writings. Thanks!

 

The quote must be taken figuratively. In this case, China stands for a land of opportunity. The general idea is: Being born human is rare. Being born human in a favorable situation is rarer. Those who stumble upon the Tao are the rarest of them all.

[sean]

The quote must be taken figuratively. In this case, China stands for a land of opportunity. The general idea is: Being born human is rare. Being born human in a favorable situation is rarer. Those who stumble upon the Tao are the rarest of them all.

This is how I read it as well.

[exorcist_1699]

Of course, here , what we talk about Tao is not treating it as a system of philosophy. In fact, no philosophy in this world can solve the life and dealth problem for us.

 

Marx, once talking about the role of philosophy, said: the key is not how to interpret this world , but to change it .Here, what we emphasize is whether we can come across Tao , grasp it and let it reverse our fate.

 

In this sense , taoists are the real "revolutionaries" in this world : a few , lonely guys who are brave enough to rise and rebel against the dictatorship of this physical cosmos over them , yet with such spiritual ease .

Edited May 11, 2007 by exorcist_1699