Can the Tao be found in a 66 hours work week?

[shanlung]

You see me here sporadically once in a blue moon.

Peek out of your window after you see this mail and if  the moon did not appear blue to you, you might have some vision disorder.

 

I do not write just because the moon is blue.  But in a 66 hours work 6 days week, not much time is left to me or energy either.  It might be found my recent writings here normally appear on Thursday or Friday as that is the day off in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia even if I do not go to the mosque.

 

 In truth , I am supposed to be on a 60 hour week.  But through some quirks of time dilation that I will not be bothered to give you the mathematical equations, 60 hour transmogrified to 66 hours.  Go Google for those equations especially when you Google for Zen and Tao so you can know that better.

 

Making me wonder if the Tao still can be found in my 66 hours work week.  No argument the Tao is still there as nowhere the Tao will not be.  But it would be very nice if the Tao can be found by me even if just to report to you folks that I found the Tao.

 

As you seen my saga, I have been searching from East to West and from high to low, and from up to down, from contemplating my navel and fluff in it to being chased by Komodo dragons.  And why not now in the process of killing myself in a 66 hour work week.  Not all that bad as I do have 2 weeks off after 11 weeks.  And I just came back from Amsterdam and my 2 weeks there.  And even so, I could not find the Tao there even in the coffeeshops.

 

Am I on a Quixotic search? or is the Tao only found in some bamboo grove in distant foothills of Kunlun or Himalayan ranges or in the fluff of the navel of Russian with pointy elbows?  I was there (Kunlun and Himalaya even if not in a russian navel ) as so recorded in my blog even if I did not find the Tao there.

 

Perhaps the Tao threw this path to me as the Tao knew I could not find the Tao in my retirement and can only be found in a 66 hour work week.

 

After all, as Lao Chuang told us the Butcher and the Oil Seller and the Wheelwright found the Tao in their work.  That perhaps the secret is that Tao can only be found when you are working.

 

So my 66 hours work week should lead me to the Tao.

 

But do not quote me as I am the Idiot and not only I do not know, and if I know, I do not remember the words to type out even if I cannot say those words.

 

 

 

Idiot stumbling on the Path searching and searching and searching and searching

 

 

[Marblehead]

Well, I looked out my window and saw only darkness.  I am currently under a heavy net of clouds.

 

Hmmm.  How does one see darkness?

 

We look for Tao and see only darkness.

 

But in truth, most actually see nothing.  (No energy to be seen.)

 

I don't envy your work week but I have been there so I know how trying it can sometimes be.

 

Indeed, where is the Tao not?  No need to search; it is right in front of each of us.  But when we reach for it we grasp nothing. 

 

I would be willing to bet that you did find some interesting things in Amsterdam though.

[Rara]

Are you content knowing that work of yours is not a job, but that it is "just what you do?" Are you working towards mastery in your daily activities. If so, then according to Chuang Tzu, you could be on to something.

 

My path is inevitably kicking things out of my life and there is nothing I can do about it. If I resist, I get sick so I'm just leaving myself to become (I feel like the hard searching is done and now the flower is popping its head out of the ground)

 

I do not categorise anymore...work, training, martial arts, playing musical instruments, play, socialising, meditation, taking a shower, cooking...it's all a part of the same thing now.

 

So it sounds to me that your questions are leading you to the right places

Edited March 27, 2015 by Rara

[Rara]

No need to search; it is right in front of each of us. But when we reach for it we grasp nothing.

 

I think this sums up my post.

 

That's probably why there is some "stumbling" on that path of yours.

 

Listen to what is being said inside...stop thinking "what if" and you will find yourself where you're meant to be...the place where you were all along which you were too distracted to see.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Rara

[blue eyed snake]

sometimes i think, the stumbling I am doing is the path

[Silent Answers]

Hexcellent.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Silent Answers

[thelerner]

There are times in our life when we're simply too busy for the spiritual stuff.  It happens.  Hopefully you're being well rewarded by either money or experience (if not look around for another job).  I'd say accept it, don't worry to much, but plan for a future when you will have the time to do it, if its important to you.  Get your ducks and books in a row now. 

 

Also see what you can sneak in now.  Even if its just audios you listen to on the way to work, or a short dharma speech or yoga nidra (my current favorite super easy practice) before bed. 

[Fu_doggy]

I work 65 - 70 hours every week, have for 20+ years. I'm not sure if you can find Tao in your work. But, you'll be amazed at what you will find if you keep searching with sincerity and diligence.

[Daeluin]

Where is dao?

Where is dao not?

 

Is it easier to find dao within noise,

or to find dao in nature and return to noise invulnerable?

 

Sometimes one, sometimes the other.

 

If we chose to overcome our challenges from within noise, obstruction, distraction, all manner of uranian extremes of imbalance, we still must find dao from within, and can only use said extremes as catalyst.

 

Regardless the environs, we must face ourselves sincerely and continuously without judgment but with total presence. If we do this in extremes, who can say if we find dao before becoming what we regret?

 

Where ever we find ourselves, we need to be sincere and unwavering, as adaptable to the time and momentum.

Not easy.

 

Easy.

Just be present and follow what serves, shedding what does not, ever getting closer to one's goal.

Edited March 28, 2015 by Daeluin

[silent thunder]

I've yet to encounter anything that wasn't spiritual.

Tao in all.

 

Never separated, never separate.

All in one.

[shanlung]

66 hours will be a normal run of the mill week here.

At busy times such as reporting week, I will see a 72 hour week like this week.

 

Kind of different hours from what I known before in my early years of retirement.

 

Which was why last night, Thursday night, all I could do was to plonk onto bed and sleep.  It was full moon, not as if I knew

which color it was as a dust storm hit us cutting visiblity to about 50 meters, and the moon was a bit more than 50 meters away.

A waste of a good full moon as that would be a good time to howl at the moon or to come to this forum and howl away.    But as said, the bed got me.

 

 

 .  Hopefully you're being well rewarded by either money or experience (if not look around for another job).   

 

Money kind of unimportant to me ever since I fluff getting my first billion and getting my Gulfstream.  I declined to give the reasons why as thats irrelevant now and convinced some folks here I was a bigger idiot than what I made myself out to be.

 

But on the other hand, if that route was done, I would not have meet my wife, gone on into Taiwan to know real Masters, know Tinkerbell, and got to know of that Taoist Immortal on that rain swept road in Northern Taiwan.

 

I never stop learning though.  At 65 years old, I am kind of uninterested in experience.   In getting those experience, I fear future employer will be less worried at my health insurance and more worried at insurance for the mortuary and undertaker for me.

 

When I retired (before it was prematurely truncated by this offer), I was trying to work through the money I already have to minimise what my wife can spend in future on her boyfriend or toyboys, or my son spending on his girlfriends.

 

I do not spend much money, and money that I get now can help my wife keep her future boyfriends/toy boys  in champagne and caviar even longer.

 

I like another saying about work that I read about 40 years ago from Up the Organisation by Robert Townsend.

 

It you are not in your job for the money or for the love of it, what the hell are you doing there.

 

I suggest you should bear that in mind even more than the reason you gave to me for working on.

 

You know I am not in it for the money even if the money is good and will go to my wife future toyboys.

I am a masochist and this job can be agonising at times.

 

As to what I do, I clean shit.

YES!  When shit hits the fan, I got called on to clean that up so the bosses can smell like roses.

But there can only be so much and the temptation to resume my hunt for retirement places and to leave

less money to my wife future toy boys.

 

And just to walk on the Path, knowing I am walking on the Path, and perhaps never have left the Path.

 

Idiot stumbling and lurching and reeling on the Path.

[Rara]

Money kind of unimportant to me ever since I fluff getting my first billion and getting my Gulfstream. I declined to give the reasons why as thats irrelevant now and convinced some folks here I was a bigger idiot than what I made myself out to be.

 

But on the other hand, if that route was done, I would not have meet my wife, gone on into Taiwan to know real Masters, know Tinkerbell, and got to know of that Taoist Immortal on that rain swept road in Northern Taiwan.

 

I never stop learning though. At 65 years old, I am kind of uninterested in experience. In getting those experience, I fear future employer will be less worried at my health insurance and more worried at insurance for the mortuary and undertaker for me.

 

When I retired (before it was prematurely truncated by this offer), I was trying to work through the money I already have to minimise what my wife can spend in future on her boyfriend or toyboys, or my son spending on his girlfriends.

 

I do not spend much money, and money that I get now can help my wife keep her future boyfriends/toy boys in champagne and caviar even longer.

 

I like another saying about work that I read about 40 years ago from Up the Organisation by Robert Townsend.

 

It you are not in your job for the money or for the love of it, what the hell are you doing there.

 

I suggest you should bear that in mind even more than the reason you gave to me for working on.

 

You know I am not in it for the money even if the money is good and will go to my wife future toyboys.

I am a masochist and this job can be agonising at times.

 

As to what I do, I clean shit.

YES! When shit hits the fan, I got called on to clean that up so the bosses can smell like roses.

But there can only be so much and the temptation to resume my hunt for retirement places and to leave

less money to my wife future toy boys.

 

And just to walk on the Path, knowing I am walking on the Path, and perhaps never have left the Path.

 

Idiot stumbling and lurching and reeling on the Path.

In reference to this, no, I don't think that Tao can be found in your current work week...

 

Maybe the environment of your work effects you majorly? I see you call yourself a "masochist"...not very Tao and I would say you should work on changing this first and foremost.

 

Does this have a knock on effect with your wife? Are you resentful for some reason?

[idiot_stimpy]

Buddha Nature doesn't discriminate 

[Spotless]

In the intensity of your schedule many moments will present themselves which though fleeting - they are very different - it is when you know what will happen or what you should do ( though inertia propels you beyond yourself and these moments ).

 

Note these moments - they have a definite certainty but often show us something we cannot yet accept in the audacity they glimpse for us.

 

It is possible in time to come to know the texture of these moment and act upon it - though previously it would defy logic.

It appears near madness but it is in another dimension altogether - one very near that is everywhere.

 

In the blur these moments will stand out - you are outfitted with far more than you know - it is time to arrive at knowing them.

 

You know breathing - it will be your best asset in your pace.

Drop your story - it has nothing to do with you - see that you only wear it.

Drop all judgement and care nothing for indiscretions upon you.

 

Walk away from cleaning shit - their problems do not exist and you are cleaning nothing - you are wearing their story through the washer.

Edited April 7, 2015 by Spotless

[doc benway]

Can the Dao be found in a 66 hour work week?

For sure it can, once beyond the beginner stages.

If we are not integrating our view and practices into our daily lives, off the cushion, then why bother at all?

The time we need to connect is not when things are pretty and peaceful but when things are challenging. That's why we practice in the first place.

[NotVoid]

Regardless of what a person is doing, can the tao be found at all?

[Marblehead]

 

Regardless of what a person is doing, can the tao be found at all?

Hehehe.  Of course it can.  I would call it the state of Singularity.  Being at One with the universe.  Nothing bothering our mind.  Peace and contentment, if you will.

 

But remember, the universe is a pretty violent place at times so life isn't going to be all warm and fuzzy all the time.  Stuff happens.  If we can deal with or adapt to our stuff then things will be pretty cool.

[gendao]

Making me wonder if the Tao still can be found in my 66 hours work week.

DaoDeJing

Chapter 48

 

In the practice of the Tao,

every day something is dropped.

Less and less do you need to force things,

until finally you arrive at non-action.

When nothing is done,

nothing is left undone.

Sounds like you are the anti-Daoist working overtime 66 hours/week accomplishing precious little but stubbornly resisting the Dao (due to feelings of low self-worth?)...

Edited April 8, 2015 by gendao

[Stosh]

Stumbling lurching and reeling,sounds off balance, sucky, stupid ,and conventionly normal.

I couldnt tell you if it was worth it, one could rationalize that they must like a life like that, or,one could actually like it. I dont think the op is clear on that, so I would assume you are conflicted on the issue.

What kind of a response would you prefer? Do you care about my opinion? Whos advice could direct you? Provacative post hmmmm. Food for thought, for me.

[silent thunder]

Indeed, one cannot be separated from it.

[Rara]

Indeed, one cannot be separated from it.

 

But one can lose their Way...I think from what is being descirbed is just this.

[dust]

Perhaps the Tao threw this path to me as the Tao knew I could not find the Tao in my retirement and can only be found in a 66 hour work week.

 

Tao doesn't care about you.

 

 

After all, as Lao Chuang told us the Butcher and the Oil Seller and the Wheelwright found the Tao in their work.  That perhaps the secret is that Tao can only be found when you are working.

 

So my 66 hours work week should lead me to the Tao.

 

If you enjoy the work that you do -- if you get lost in it, and are content in the process -- you can find / have found the Way of it.

 

Bian and Ting were lucky. Many never find such a thing. In my opinion.

[Marblehead]

Tao doesn't care about you.

And it doesn't care about me either.

[dust]

Indeed, it applies to everyone.. I didn't mean that Dao cares for all except Shanlung!

[shanlung]

In reference to this, no, I don't think that Tao can be found in your current work week...

 

Maybe the environment of your work effects you majorly? I see you call yourself a "masochist"...not very Tao and I would say you should work on changing this first and foremost.

 

Does this have a knock on effect with your wife? Are you resentful for some reason?

 

Ha ha ha!  Why in the hell should I be resentful to my wife , or anyone else for that matter?

She was my gf for 5-6 years and my wife and still my gf for the last 20++ years.

You not knowing me , (and not bothering to read my long written  blogs which include my wife in addition to birdies and beasties) and instantly becoming a pseudo pyschologist that I am resentful to my wife and a guru/pundit/knowall as to where the Tao is not.

 

It is a standing joke with my wife , and my mum/father in law and her family that I making money for her future bf or toyboys.

So that is not just something I say here but about everywhere and when.

 

The butcher, oil seller and maker of wheels found the Tao.

Liu ChangSheng found the Tao while jollying himself in a brothel.

Hai Datong found the Tao by digging caves in mountain side for meditations.  Not that he used those caves for meditations as everytime he finished one, someone came along and took his cave so he continued to dig and dig.

 

Chiu ChangChung found the Tao by being unpaid carrier of people to cross river on his back for years

 

But what am I to tell you as you are so discerning as to think Tao cannot be found where I am.

 

You recognise the Tao the moment the Tao is within sight of you?

From halfway across the world , you know that the Tao is not within my vicinity?

 

You suggesting to me and all here that you know where the Tao can be found?

Maybe instead of saying where the Tao is not to be found, you should spend your effort in hunting down the Tao and describing that to us all.

 

Try not to miss the dancing gorillas in your hunt for the Tao

 

 

 

 

 

Walk away from cleaning shit - their problems do not exist and you are cleaning nothing - you are wearing their story through the washer.

 

After years of looking at sunrises and sunsets, which appeared to be the same whether seen from sea shores or high up the mountains, I was bored.  I remembered through rose tinted glasses the excitment and adrenaline rush of huge projects.  I forgot about the inevitable bullshit that came with that.  

 

And the host of people saying what beautiful cloths the Emperor wearing even though he walked about stark nekkid.

 

Whats more, I joined in the refrain, had to join in the refrain to my fucking shame.

I think this phase cannot last.

 

 

 

Regardless of what a person is doing, can the tao be found at all?

 

I recalled this Taoist saying Joh Lu Jow Lu.

Which translate to sitting on a deer looking for the deer, not knowing the deer has been carrying you on the back all the time.

 

If you are American, that can translate to you sitting on your Harley looking for the Harley.

If you think that cannot be found, that is a wish very easily becoming self fulfulling reality and you do get what you want.

 

 

Sounds like you are the anti-Daoist working overtime 66 hours/week accomplishing precious little but stubbornly resisting the Dao (due to feelings of low self-worth?)...

 

Hmm.  self worth?  

Should I walk about in life full of myself and thumping on my chest and shouting I am a worthy guy?  I given up most trappings.  My gold Rolex is in the back of a drawer for the last 5 years and I wear a Casio with a scratch face.  I care little, in fact do not care a damn as to what others think of me as I do not think of them. 

 

I suggest you should live your life and not a life according to what others want you to or think of you to to extrude and ooze out feelings of high worth.

 

You cannot say I accomplish little.  What I get in a month is more than what I spend in a year. 

I cannot and do not even use half my COLA.

 

So that's pushed to the back of my bank account.

I am helping to keep my wife future boyfriends in champagne and caviar.

 

 

Indeed, it applies to everyone.. I didn't mean that Dao cares for all except Shanlung!

 

I always smile at the God or Gods.  That by praying to them and begging them, that they raised a finger or hand, and our wishes all granted.

 

I cannot even smile at the Tao as the Tao is everywhere.  Not that the Tao care for us in the way God or Gods.  Which is a good reason to have pantheon of Taoist gods and immortals for folks to bribe Taoist priests and abbots to pray to on their behave.

 

And why should I care the Tao care or not care for me.  

 

Tell me where the me stop and the Tao begin and I can tell you if the Tao cares for me.

 

 

Taoistic Idiot on a Path where he is  tarred with resentment to wife  and feathered with feelings of low worth

Edited April 10, 2015 by shanlung