zenbrook Posted June 22, 2007 Hello everybody. Â First a disclaimer: this is the first forum I've ever signed up to, so please forgive any failures in etiquette or other apparent inadequacies. I am undoubtedly making this up as I go along. Â Having browsed some of the other introductions, I'm afraid mine will seem rather lame in comparison. I have studied bits and pieces here and there over the years but I can say with hand on heart that I am no wiser now than when I first heard tell of Tao as a youngster. Â I have worked variously as a shop floor assistant selling 'oriental' arts and crafts (where I first studied with a Taoist teacher), a bookseller, traveling salesman, farm worker, home carer, chauffeur, social services coordinator, meter reader and driver of large goods vehicles. I currently work with the homeless. I have also studied Tibetan religion both academically (culminating in a PhD from the University of Bristol - well, at least it would have done had I submitted!) and as an enthusiast, spending a large part of my life engaged pointlessly in visualizing all manner of colourful spiritual paraphernalia. I did get to wear robes, however, so it can't have been all bad. Â Having left formal religious and/or spiritual practice behind, I now try to do as little as possible. If life has taught me one thing, it's that it hasn't. Nonetheless, I'm very glad to be here and I'm sure you will all remind me of just why these things matter and why I'm signing up to a Taoist forum online rather than browsing porn. Â Sincerely yours, ZenB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beancurdturtle Posted June 22, 2007 I'm sure you will all remind me of just why these things matter and why I'm signing up to a Taoist forum online rather than browsing porn. Â Sincerely yours, ZenB Porn has it's purpose I suppose - but cultivating you mind is probably more productive. But around here someone might argue that point. Â Haha! Â Welcome, Jump in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yen Hui Posted June 23, 2007 Hi there ~ Â Here's a suggestion, if you're into reading: pick up a copy of Tom Brown Jr's book entitled Awakening Spirits. It's about the spiritual journey of a great American Apache Medicine Man named Stalking Wolf. He was a great Native American and was deeply influenced by an enlightened Taoist master. Based on what you've shared, I believe this book will do wonders for you at this stage of your journey. You will be amazed to discover just how Taoist his views were, both before and after his contact with the old Taoist sage living in the wilderness. Peace ~ Yen Hui Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zenbrook Posted June 27, 2007 Hi there ~  Here's a suggestion, if you're into reading: pick up a copy of Tom Brown Jr's book entitled Awakening Spirits. It's about the spiritual journey of a great American Apache Medicine Man named Stalking Wolf. He was a great Native American and was deeply influenced by an enlightened Taoist master. Based on what you've shared, I believe this book will do wonders for you at this stage of your journey. You will be amazed to discover just how Taoist his views were, both before and after his contact with the old Taoist sage living in the wilderness. Peace ~ Yen Hui Thanks, Yen Hui... I'll look out for a copy.  An ex-wife of mine once suggested that were I to be given a Native American name, it should be Sitting Down. Ah, how I miss her funny little ways  Peace, ZenB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trunk Posted June 27, 2007 It's delightful to have kindred spirits show up at the doorstep, joke around, and introduce themselves. So, stick around for the parade, if nothing else. Â Ninjai fan, hm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites