Why Taoism is different

[witch]

I don't want to go against Tao Meow because she's always right, although I'm not sure I am with what I am going to say. I was in sync with the moon up until recently so I guess that counts.

 

But I don't buy the alchemical properties of menstrual blood as eaten. Menstrual blood does not nourish a fetus, the mother's own bloodstream does that and her milk later when the baby is born. Menstrual blood provides a cushion and that's about it. It also provides another way of getting rid of things the body does not want.

 

However, menstrual blood does have one very important alchemical property--in its scent. Men at some primate level are programmed to be turned on by the smell of menstrual blood. That's why it's forbidden, because it represents a woman's power over a man, and usually any sort of charms using it are worn about the body where the body's heat can cause the charm to give off an aroma.

 

Women have two times in their cycle when they are horniest--at fertility, culminating in ovulation, and also the day before and the first day or two of menstruation. The first makes obvious sense, but most mammals have the two tied together, fertility and menstruation. Human females have it separated. Women are most likely to not be very particular about their sexual partners during the menstruation time. This allows them to sample what's out there, so by the time fertility has rolled around they've already chosen the one they want.

 

This gives women power both over men's sexuality and their own reproduction. That's why patriarchies consider it so dangerous and forbidden and "unclean."

[witch]

I'm wrong. Before the placenta is up and running, the endometrium (now called the decidua) nourishes the embryo.

[Taomeow]

But I don't buy the alchemical properties of menstrual blood as eaten.

 

Well, it wasn't me who made this suggestion, so you aren't going against anything I said with this. I have no information from any sources available to me about eating it by anybody who's anybody, but it is indeed an ingredient in some herbal brews, alchemical inks, and healing ointments.

 

It also provides another way of getting rid of things the body does not want.

 

A toxic body will use all venues open to it -- so people perspire fluoridized sweat, cry chlorinated tears, grow hair laden with heavy metals, trap bovine growth hormone in their cholesterol and fat tissues, break out in propylen glycol-laced rashes through their skin, entangle aluminum in their dopamine receptors, catch mercury with their hemoglobin cells where it takes oxygen's place, and so on --

 

and, yes, a woman will throw the goodies into her menstrual blood while at it. But it doesn't mean the natural physiological function of hair is to trap heavy metals, or skin, to process propylen glycol, or cholesterol, to go through the roof in order to prevent artificial hormones and poisonous chemicals from freely circulating in the bloodstream, damaging organs and systems as they go, and so on --

 

similarly, it is not menstruation's primary natural physiological function to remove what the body doesn't need --

a shaman might suggest its primary function is to return to the Earth what SHE needs. Menstrual blood can mediate growth and fertility in plants and, higher up the food chain, animals who eat them, and higher up, animals who eat these animals, and ultimately humans too who eat plants and animals all along the chain. We used to be part of nature, an important link, now we're missing, we're the missing link!.. We used to be in control of whether we get pregnant (plants that inhibit or enhance fertility were given the message as to the human situation via the amount and quality of menstrual blood detected in the soil, and raised or dropped their phytoestrogens and fertility-affecting alkaloids in response). We used to be talking to our world -- menstruation used to be just one of the many body languages we were proficient in.

[WhiteTiger]

About the second day of the period... I'm not sure what that is... maybe working hard with your kidneys? Funny how that actually correlates to lots of energy, or you all a sudden producing lots of work... I guess if you want to have a somewhat healthy menstruation I guess.

 

And thanks for the reply.

Edited August 11, 2008 by WhiteTiger

[exorcist_1699]

Deliberately try to stop menstruation or release of jing (especially nocturnal emission) is very difficult , if not impossible ; however, capable of accomplishing it does lead to delaying aging or even stopping aging / forever beauty ; Resolute guy /lady can take a trial ( just several months' time ; but please make sure that you thoroughly understand the basic taoist principles before you start ;understanding the basics of TCM is always helpful) ;

 

Some people may think that it is unnatural ... in fact, many people think of it only when they catch serious disease such as AIDS or cancer ( in most cases too late )... ; it is really up to you .However , in that case, most extraordinary achievement in sports , arts and science can be viewed unnatural for most people really can't do it .

 

By the way , one of the main criteria of judging a master , see whether he/she is competent or not , is to ask the way how to stop nocturnal emission ( in male case ) ; if the guy talks about not reading pornographic materials or not drinking too much water before sleep ...etc , those trivial stuff , then he is unlikely to be a real master .

Edited August 12, 2008 by exorcist_1699

[Patrick Brown]

Men of course don't associate ejaculation with death but perhaps more with guilt and inhibition. It is little known amongst the general public that young boys/men experience a slight tearing of the foreskin away from the head (glans) of the penis. In some men this happens at a very young age and therefore is unknown to the individual. Other men experience this splitting of the foreskin, away from the head of the penis, during masturbation and although it's slightly frightening once the tear has released the head of the penis healing is very quick. And yes there's blood.

 

So men have one menstrual cycle and women have a more extended series of menstrual cycles yet they both carry an element of fear and inhibition.

In retrospect I think the tearing of the foreskin shows greater similarity to the tearing of the hymen which many women are said to experience when they first have sex.

[Patrick Brown]

Edited August 12, 2008 by Patrick Brown

[xenolith]

Well, I don't have the power to relieve the ignorance of a couple thousand years' standing...

Don't magnify the task. Perhaps should have better directed my inquiry...as I'm REALLY disappointed...and sorry...about where this thread has gone...devolved in fact it has IMO. My curiosity is not about societys' imagined mystical powers founded in ignorance, it's about individuals' genuine abilities founded in truth. Any information along these lines?

[exorcist_1699]

Edited August 13, 2008 by exorcist_1699

[Taomeow]

Don't magnify the task. Perhaps should have better directed my inquiry...as I'm REALLY disappointed...and sorry...about where this thread has gone...devolved in fact it has IMO. My curiosity is not about societys' imagined mystical powers founded in ignorance, it's about individuals' genuine abilities founded in truth. Any information along these lines?

I highly recommend "The Woman in the Shaman's Body: Reclaiming the Feminine in Religion and Medicine," by Barbara Tedlock, Ph.D.. If you read it and still assert I've magnified the task, which in fact, quite on the contrary, I placed against a very fuzzy and very remote telescope instead of under the microscope... well, like I said, I don't have the power to change it.

 

I did post a couple of personal examples, and was warming up to more-bigger-better... but then I was confronted by a very angry spirit in my dream, who basically yelled at me all night for trivializing the issue to satisfy idle curiosities,

 

and was absolutely correct, so I deleted that entry and swore off any personal examples for the foreseeable future.

 

As for the thread "devolving..." ...welcome to the internet!

[xenolith]

TM, have read Ms. Tedlock, understand ignorance based female mythology. Boring.l

 

Don't know what to say about your dreams...s'ept, guess you aughta follow 'em...but FWIW, mine is not idle curiosity.

 

Kindly request you reconsider sharing your experience.

 

compassionately seeking wisdom...

 

xeno

[xenolith]

Paging Ms. Meow: understand that "absolutely correct" is a very, nay sooooper doooper, rare occurrence...suggest you consider alternatives. And that you choose outcomes other than those directed by very angry spirits in your dreams.

 

More Love to be found there... .

 

peace pal,

 

xeno

Edited August 16, 2008 by xenolith

[Smile]

Why would you listen to the angry spirits anyway? It's them that have the problem...

[Wuji108]

I agree that the cultivation of virtue is an essential element of Taoist practice. Without cultivation of virtue, the internal alchemy, the meditation practices, are not as effective because the ego, the mind, the emotions, the memories all continue to interrupt the practice and take us out of stillness. The physical practices are important to maintain the basic health of the body so that we can continue to live and do cultivation.

 

One differentiating aspect of Taoism is that Taoists are open to and will accept practitioners from all other religions. They do not claim "their way or the hell way..." rather that it is the world of yin for all of us until we achieve the level of refinement that will take us off the wheel of rebirth. They also differ from other religions that believe in reincarnation in that in that they teach that we can achieve immortality in this lifetime regardless of the karmic debt that we may have incurred in prior lifetimes. That, no matter what, through diligent practice it is possible to get there in this life...hence the importance of taking care of the physical vehicle and doing the practice religiously, now...

 

Another difference in Taoism is that women are also priests and can carry out the ceremonial and mystical arts, just as the men do, and that Taoism has preserved the distinct alchemical practices for women. I read numbers somewhere about some 600 documented women internal alchemists over the past 700 or so years of which about half survived the process and - close to the same percentages of accomplishment as for men, although there had been many more male practitioners in that same period.

 

Peace, Joy and Stillness,

Wuji108

[Taomeow]

The spirit expressed righteous indignation. Not all of them are politically/buddhistically correct, in my experience (in fact, none of them are, far as "my experience" goes, unlike in popular "anger is always wrong" ideation), and this particular one was morally correct. When I was sharing some personal experiences, I posted, among other things, something about a person who was murdered, and a member of the forum, misreading what I meant, responded that this person had done something unnatural and got what he deserved. It was absolutely bass ackwards vis a vis what I meant, but it's my fault that I brought it up, not the misreading party's fault that he misread it. A frivolous intrusion, with a judgment of this nature, into the world of the dead was absolutely, totally wrong and the spirit was absolutely, totally right getting angry with me for inadvertently creating this situation.

 

Many people don't concern themselves with the spirit world because they don't have to, but some of us, in particular those who had had an NDE, have unlocked that door whether they wanted to or not. They can keep it open or closed, but it is no longer locked. So entities from the other side might show up and communicate, whether invited or not. I keep that door closed, but it's not in my power to lock it anymore (once you know where the door is, you can't "unknow," once you have visited, you can't forget the road.) So I try to be mindful of what the other side thinks and feels about what I do, especially if they make an explicit statement about it.

[xenolith]

...it's my fault that I brought it up...

Maybe, maybe not...depends on whether you sought to correct the misunderstanding...if not, then of course, you (and your spirit friend) are right, it's your fault...take no action that you're not prepared to defend...and then if presented with misunderstanding, DO SO out of compassion in order to relieve the misunderstanding one(s) of their ignorance. Having done so, if misunderstanding remains, you can't be held responsible for their comprehensional shortcomings...your spirit friend(s) knows this...which makes me think that

...this particular one was morally correct.

is an acknowledgment of having failed to show the compassion that you should have by seeking to correct the ignorance presented you. If I'm mistaken then please forgive me.

Many people don't concern themselves with the spirit world because they don't have to, but some of us, in particular those who had had an NDE, have unlocked that door whether they wanted to or not. They can keep it open or closed, but it is no longer locked. So entities from the other side might show up and communicate, whether invited or not. I keep that door closed, but it's not in my power to lock it anymore (once you know where the door is, you can't "unknow," once you have visited, you can't forget the road.) So I try to be mindful of what the other side thinks and feels about what I do, especially if they make an explicit statement about it.

I've been dead twice: 1'16" at age 10 and 33" at age 13...understand about guidance from spirits, but understand not how the guidance offered you by said regarding your apparent failing of compassion has any bearing on the matter of you sharing about you...clearly you'll not be mistaken about you! Perhaps, when doing so can relieve your fellow human beings' of their ignorance, it's your failure to show compassion by seeking to correct it that's your fault...maybe that's what your spirit friend was telling you.

 

Hope you'll reconsider sharing with us.

 

Offered with Love.

 

your friend, xeno.

Edited August 21, 2008 by xenolith

[witch]

TM, have read Ms. Tedlock, understand ignorance based female mythology. Boring.l

 

Don't know what to say about your dreams...s'ept, guess you aughta follow 'em...but FWIW, mine is not idle curiosity.

 

Kindly request you reconsider sharing your experience.

 

compassionately seeking wisdom...

 

xeno

 

I hope I'm misunderstanding you, xenolith. I bought that book, it came yesterday and I read it, finished this morning. It has quite simply changed my life.

[exorcist_1699]

 

One differentiating aspect of Taoism is that Taoists are open to and will accept practitioners from all other religions. They do not claim "their way or the hell way..." rather that it is the world of yin for all of us until we achieve the level of refinement that will take us off the wheel of rebirth. They also differ from other religions that believe in reincarnation in that in that they teach that we can achieve immortality in this lifetime regardless of the karmic debt that we may have incurred in prior lifetimes. That, no matter what, through diligent practice it is possible to get there in this life...hence the importance of taking care of the physical vehicle and doing the practice religiously, now...

 

 

Peace, Joy and Stillness,

Wuji108

 

Taoism can be said to be the most open-minded system . Anyone who reads Laotze can find the spirit of being open-so-as-to-absorb , humble- in-order-to rise, late-so-as-to-counteract ; Taoism absorbs all good elements from Buddhism , Confucian ,even military theory from Suntze.

 

The so called Karmic debt blinds many people 's eyes . Even in the epoch of Internet , the saying:

 

It is difficult to be born in the Middle Kingdom (China) , it is difficult to come across the Master , it is more difficult to accomplish the Great Tao in your lifetime

 

still has its significance

Edited August 26, 2008 by exorcist_1699

[Patrick Brown]

The so called Karmic debt blinds many people 's eyes . Even in the epoch of Internet , the saying:

 

It is difficult to be born in the Middle Kingdom (China) , it is difficult to come across the Master , it is more difficult to accomplish the Great Tao in your lifetime

 

still has its significance

I think karma can be understood in many ways although I think the biggest misunderstanding is the idea of good and bad karma. I'm pretty lazy so generally I don't create much karma and I always only do what's needs to be done. There's people out there working really hard for 'something' which I personally have never understood. I think the teaching of 'letting go' is pretty fundamental to Taoism which is why it's so accessible. Understanding 'wu wei' is often a stumbling block for many but perhaps that's because they forget to let go!

[Stigweard]

I think karma can be understood in many ways although I think the biggest misunderstanding is the idea of good and bad karma. I'm pretty lazy so generally I don't create much karma and I always only do what's needs to be done. There's people out there working really hard for 'something' which I personally have never understood. I think the teaching of 'letting go' is pretty fundamental to Taoism which is why it's so accessible. Understanding 'wu wei' is often a stumbling block for many but perhaps that's because they forget to let go!

 

Excuse me for being in any way disrespectful, but I humbly think you can improve your perception here.

 

Firstly, being lazy creates its own 'karma' -- karma in Taoist terms is the law of energy response, i.e. the Universe will respond in perfect synergy to the energy you are emanating. It sounds like you are using your own perception of Karma to justify your laziness.

 

And if you think Wu Wei means to sit on your arse and do nothing whilst slinging off at the good folk who are putting in the effort then I think you need to reexamine your understanding.

 

"The original meaning of kung fu is quite different, and is hard to translate as there is no English equivalent. In short, 功夫 (gōngfu) means "achievement through great effort" or simply virtue. It combines 功 (gōng) meaning achievement or merit, and 夫 (fū) which translates into man." Wiki

 

Qigong mastery, along with all the other 'gongs', can only be achieved through great effort and many hours of practice, patience, determination and yes work.

 

Wu Wei is not about 'doing nothing', it is about working/achieving without applying artificial or unnatural force or contrivance. It is about acting and working in the world according to your own personal nature.

 

If it is your natural destiny to be able to run 100m in under 10 seconds then that is your Tao and you should apply all your natural efforts and work to live this potential to the fullest. Same goes with being wealthy or famous or any other human potential. If it is within your personal nature and you can achieve it in balanced, harmonious manner then I believe it is your universal obligation to do so.

 

Apologies in advance if I have offended you in any way.

[Vajrasattva]

Is Taoism really Different?

[Patrick Brown]

Excuse me for being in any way disrespectful, but I humbly think you can improve your perception here.

 

Firstly, being lazy creates its own 'karma' -- karma in Taoist terms is the law of energy response, i.e. the Universe will respond in perfect synergy to the energy you are emanating. It sounds like you are using your own perception of Karma to justify your laziness.

 

And if you think Wu Wei means to sit on your arse and do nothing whilst slinging off at the good folk who are putting in the effort then I think you need to reexamine your understanding.

 

"The original meaning of kung fu is quite different, and is hard to translate as there is no English equivalent. In short, 功夫 (gōngfu) means "achievement through great effort" or simply virtue. It combines 功 (gōng) meaning achievement or merit, and 夫 (fū) which translates into man." Wiki

 

Qigong mastery, along with all the other 'gongs', can only be achieved through great effort and many hours of practice, patience, determination and yes work.

 

Wu Wei is not about 'doing nothing', it is about working/achieving without applying artificial or unnatural force or contrivance. It is about acting and working in the world according to your own personal nature.

 

If it is your natural destiny to be able to run 100m in under 10 seconds then that is your Tao and you should apply all your natural efforts and work to live this potential to the fullest. Same goes with being wealthy or famous or any other human potential. If it is within your personal nature and you can achieve it in balanced, harmonious manner then I believe it is your universal obligation to do so.

 

Apologies in advance if I have offended you in any way.

Well the only bit I agree with I've highlighted in bold. I don't feel the need to achieve anything and I don't believe in competing. I follow my nature which is that of the philosopher mystic. I don't read books any more because they often hide more truth than they reveal. I've worked with my mind and it has yielded insight, I've also worked with my body and it has yielded bliss.

 

Four month ago I started replacing four doors in my home and I still haven't finished them, but I will. I'm not going to rush and I'm not going to be told what to do and how to think. Basically I only do what needs to be done as doing more, is less, and doing less is more.

 

I know all about 'Wu Wei' and I see it as stillness in motion. It is said that when you wake in the morning, the bed soft and feeling light, you gently stretch returning to that softness and lightness close to nirvana. Of course most people just jump out of bed because they have so much to do!

[Stigweard]

Well the only bit I agree with I've highlighted in bold. I don't feel the need to achieve anything and I don't believe in competing. I follow my nature which is that of the philosopher mystic. I don't read books any more because they often hide more truth than they reveal. I've worked with my mind and it has yielded insight, I've also worked with my body and it has yielded bliss.

 

Four month ago I started replacing four doors in my home and I still haven't finished them, but I will. I'm not going to rush and I'm not going to be told what to do and how to think. Basically I only do what needs to be done as doing more, is less, and doing less is more.

 

I know all about 'Wu Wei' and I see it as stillness in motion. It is said that when you wake in the morning, the bed soft and feeling light, you gently stretch returning to that softness and lightness close to nirvana. Of course most people just jump out of bed because they have so much to do!

 

I respect your right to have your point of view.

 

Blessings

[Wuji108]

Well the only bit I agree with I've highlighted in bold. I don't feel the need to achieve anything and I don't believe in competing. I follow my nature which is that of the philosopher mystic. I don't read books any more because they often hide more truth than they reveal. I've worked with my mind and it has yielded insight, I've also worked with my body and it has yielded bliss.

 

Four month ago I started replacing four doors in my home and I still haven't finished them, but I will. I'm not going to rush and I'm not going to be told what to do and how to think. Basically I only do what needs to be done as doing more, is less, and doing less is more.

 

I know all about 'Wu Wei' and I see it as stillness in motion. It is said that when you wake in the morning, the bed soft and feeling light, you gently stretch returning to that softness and lightness close to nirvana. Of course most people just jump out of bed because they have so much to do!

 

 

Stillness in motion refers to keeping the internal calm and maintaining that center even as we practice Tai Chi or Qi Gong or, as we become more masterful, as we do our work in the world. It refers to moving meditation. Motion in stillness refers to the movement of Qi that occurs when we achieve external stillness, quiet the mind and the emotions.

 

Wu wei does not stand by itself. The full quotation is "do nothing and leave nothing undone": Wu wei er bu wei.

"do nothing" is about non-attachment, about not creating emotional attachment to the outcome of our effort and about not triggering ego activation. Leave nothing undone means to do the work to the best of our ability, completely and entirely. Do it so well that when we are done we know in ourselves that we have achieved to our best level. The nature of the work doesn't matter - hanging doors, washing dishes, trading stocks, or sitting in meditation. It is the intent and the focus applied to the work that are important. Doing our work in such a way that we are secure in the knowledge that it has been well done and that we can rest easy in that knowing.

[h.uriahr]

I've been trying to study more about Taoism and it's difficult but easy....