ValleyStream

I am in need of someone to translate the term, "Valley Stream" into traditional chinese characters.

I think i may have it correct in my picture but i know nothing of proper chinese caligraphy.

Also, When annotating these characters on my profile picture, if i write them vertically do i start from bottom to top or from top to bottom?

If i already have it correct in my profile picture just let me know.

As a local to northern rural USA i dont have much local chinese caligraphy sources.

Thank you.

Technology can be used as tools or weapons, as entertainment or distraction.

Simplicity explains things in the best way possible. This is the premise of it all.

Whatever happens is right.

 

............

 

As the cycles of time unfold, we will continue to develop internally and externally in new and changing ways. Part of Taoism is learning to recognize the influences cycles of change have on us, so we may dissolve them. There is no need to study astrology and understand it - it is more about learning to feel the pull and the way the pull changes, so we may remain ever balanced, even as we observe those flowing with the pulls being led to create and change in new ways.

Outstanding. I must say that you are a wealth of insight.

The concept of "pull" is very intruiging. I should take time out of my day to study some astrology to gain a basic understanding of the subject but i am rather busy with my personal Xuanxue and my Computer Engineering studies. Yet, as you said, "...there is no need to study astrology and understand it...". Rather, i will continue my practice of Neidan to acomplish detatchment because it seems to be a effective way to understand more about the "pull" (basically, The Dao, right?).

Thank you, Daeluin. Great stuff.

However, a parallel of 0="wu" (Mystery) and 1="yo" (Manifest) could easily be made.

This is very good insight. I can see The Mystery and Manifest correlation but are you sure of the translations of "wu" and "yo"? Not that I know anything about translating languages but I cannot find the translations.

Our individual understandings are special and unique. No one else can have exactly the same understandings as we have because we have lived different lives.

 

One may or may not have similar understands as does Vmarco. But each is valid.

Totally.

I like to say, "Perspective is everything. Everything is defined by the observer. He observes relative to his perspective."

Don't get lost in space though, Okay?

As the famous British author once said, "Not all those who wander are lost".

Once i got to really started to understand Monkey Mind i stopped thinking.....and trancended time itself.

I stopped being interested in trying to change anyone's mind... that went a long way in making things more pleasant all around.

 

Now I participate in interesting and respectful conversations, if they're not pleasant, respectful or interesting... I leave.

No harm, no foul.

I practice this approach as well. Trying to change someone else's mind is similar to someone trying to change your own. If the conversation is not welcome then there is no need to proceed.

I had an acting teacher once give us a lesson on communication.

 

He asked:

 

"Who here is a liberal?" Some hands went up.

 

"Who's a conservative?" Some other hands went up.

 

"Who is a Christian?" Some hands went up.

 

"Who is an atheist?" Some other hands went up.

 

Then he said, "Who here has been in love?" Every hand went up.

 

"Who has ever suffered pain?" Every hand went up.

 

He said that we can talk along our differences, or we can talk along our similarities.

This is good perspective. I enjoy when a subject so vast and complicated can be explained in simple terms. That is how you know that this is righteous.

Telepathic communication and highly honed intuitions that can access universal knowledge.... I dunno... personally I'd prefer a society which takes advantage of this natural technology already built into ourselves. Modern computer technology just seems to mimic natural technology, and distract the masses from learning to access their higher capabilities.

 

All in time.

So do you think that said technology is completely unnecessary?

I definitely agree that these technological advancements could be considered to be distracting certain people from personally growing on a natural level but does that mean that everyone is subject to this distraction?

If someone is aware of themselves on a universal & personal level could this person still utilize modern technology in a constructive manner? If so, is there still hope that society as a whole could do the same?

I appreciate your input and I would like to hear more about your opinion.

It really has not much to do with the Dao. You can understand that the Dao is outside of creation (yin/yang) from the most basic of Daoist theory. That's on an intellectual level. Then there is experiencing it. If you get caught up in creation then how can you experience what's beyond it? Any mind form is part of creation.

 

If you want to start from engineering terms then take the concept of a potential difference and apply yourself in that manner. Our thoughts and concepts are resistors in that network, and those resistances are delusion since you're not really looking at potential across a single resistor but a whole crapload of others. The reference point is unknown so it's worth finding. Then you can work with potential freely without delusion.

 

The method I use mostly is the one Bankei talked about. It's very simple and you don't have to actually spend time doing anything. Check him out.

 

I know what it's like to be in that situation of relating things back to engineering. You can take it so far but in the end it doesn't really get you very far. The only thing that it helped me with is the idea of potential, which you will find that hardly anyone understands.

Ah, I see. In hindsight, I understand how the Dao is "outside" of creation. This was a concept that I was not recognizing when contemplating this subject. What you said reawakened an aspect of my awareness.

Bankei will be moving up my reading list. After reading a quick bio of him I am really excited to research a man of such extraordinary environment.

I will be doing my best to refrain from analyzing concepts more intensively than is warranted; like you said, "You can take it so far but in the end it doesn't really get you very far".

Thank you.

As a current student of Computer Engineering i have always wondered about the nature of reality (Yin & Yang) and the nature of computers (1's and 0's).

I am seeking some Daoist-educated insight on how these two principles may relate.

Also, i am wondering what place computers have in a Daoist lifestyle (beyond utilizing it for forums ).

As computers become integrated in more aspects of our life (Internet of Things), can the utilization of computer technology aid or disrupt an alignment with the Dao?

Hello,

I am a US Navy Veteran who is a current student at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. I am majoring in Computer Engineering.

My focus in life used to be happiness. I would chase the joy and block out all the negativity only to have the negativity become more profound along with the joy. I was completely ignorant of Taoism and i was one of those people who always asked myself, "Why does life suck?" or "Why does this have to happen to me?" or "Why cant things just work out?". Any negativity in my life was so profound in contrast to the great joy i was also experiencing. After years of this mentality i heard about the word Dao and looked into the subject. Everything i read reflected my intuition and answered all my questions. Since then i have remained at peace. I have been meditating, practicing taichi, neidan and other various concepts of Daoism. I am here to learn and interact with people who share my passion for The Way.

Happy to be here!