vonkrankenhaus

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Everything posted by vonkrankenhaus

  1. Back with new name - "VonKrankenhaus2"

    Seems to have worked. I'm back in my old account. Appreciate it. Thanks. - VonKrankenhaus
  2. My name here just means "From the Hospital" in German. I am not really German. More relevant to this post, maybe I am more Chinese in background than Marblehead, but his genuine interest in philosophical Taoism insured that he and I agreed on many things throughout various discussions. So it never mattered. -VonKrankenhaus
  3. Marblehead is still here, obviously. One of the best examples of a man living beyond his body that I have ever seen. And that is almost never achieved by obtaining and getting. It is achieved by giving. Look at his post count. He gave MUCH attention to this forum. The presence he created in that is still being felt today. Marblehead's 功倫很ε₯½ ! -VonKrankenhaus
  4. That's not factually true. However, it IS factually true that CIA oversees "PBS". Sorry if that upsets people's beliefs in or about "Mister Rogers Neighborhood", but it isn't me doing that - it's whomever would be upset to see ordinary and easy available facts about who or what really put this in front of people 60 yrs ago and why. -VonKrankenhaus
  5. "PBS began operations on October 5, 1970, taking over many of the functions of its predecessor, National Educational Television (NET)" So that was just because PBS didn't operate until then. It was called NET then. Started by Ford Foundation. Research them. Overseen by CIA. What is their general goal? If that's "philanthropy", what is warfare? Same? Same players? I'm not saying there is any "conspiracy". This is just what I saw when I looked into Mr Rogers show. Mass media was not set up to entertain people or give them presents. It has been built as an agent of influence, period. -VonKrankenhaus
  6. PBS was formerly called "National Educational Television" (NET) and "was a United States educational broadcast television network that operated from May 16, 1954, to October 4, 1970. It was owned by the Ford Foundation." so - Ford Foundation. Corporate. Ad-driven money. "The foundation was accused of being funded by the US government. John J. McCloy, the foundation's chairman from 1958–1965, knowingly employed numerous agents and, based on the premise that a relationship with the CIA was inevitable, set up a three-person committee responsible for dealing with its requests." So - CIA. "Starting from 1962, the federal government took over the FAE's grants-in-aid program through the Education Television Facilities Act." So - Federal government. "American author, conservative philosopher, and critic of feminism Christina Hoff Sommers, criticized The Ford Foundation in her book The War Against Boys (1994) as well as other institutions in education and government. Sommers alleged that the Ford Foundation funded feminist ideologies that marginalize boys and men." So - Jaffe Memo? "In November 1963 NETRC changed its name to National Educational Television, and spun off its radio assets. Under the centerpiece program NET Journal, NET began to air controversial, hard-hitting documentaries that explored numerous social issues of the day such as poverty and racism. While praised by critics, many affiliates, especially those in politically and culturally conservative markets, objected to the perceived liberal slant of the programming." Such as Mister Rogers Creepy Neighborhood with the sneaker fetish and puppets instead of the "Buck" Rogers or "Will" Rogers they HAD been seeing. -VonKrankenhaus
  7. Mr Rogers - I did see this as a child. Wow - he seemed very strange at that time. Everything he did seemed insane - his sneaker fetish, puppet show for himself - never seen real people doing things like this. I did not know anyone at that time who thought he was normal or a good example of anything for children. -VonKrankenhaus
  8. Is there an "easy path" in Daoism?

    Chinese history spans a long time. Early systems and notations and the first dynasties happen around time of Draco and the star Thuban at the pole. This is the traditional Chinese Dragon and the Pearl is the ecliptic pole itself that the Dragon rotates around. Later, precession moves the pole from those stars and pointing towards the Big Dipper and Polaris instead. This is the Lo Shu and "Later Heaven" arrangement. They were using different stars to mark time by then. "Early Heaven" is from a time of no distinct Pole Star and Lunar calendars, watching Saturn, etc. Also - there are other 7 stars groups in sky, used in different parts of astrology. -VonKrankenhaus
  9. Is there an "easy path" in Daoism?

    The 12 year orbit of Jupiter was used to calculate the Solar year and Solar calendars. Previous to that, Saturn was used to determine the Lunar Mansions and Lunar calendars. That's the switch in Greek mythology from Chronos to Zeus. Coastal people watched Tides more, inland people watched the Sun. The "offices" are Time Periods. Just like Wu Xing (& 10 Stems) are Time Periods - the order of the risings of the visible planets on the horizon. All this was used to create the Chinese calendar. -VonKrankenhaus
  10. Is there an "easy path" in Daoism?

    Actually 7 stars: Lo Shu adds the Pole Star that these rotate around, Polaris, as well, but that isn't a star "in" the Big Dipper. Also, Mizar, the second star from the end of the Big Dipper's handle - is a binary with Alcor - traditionally a test of eyesight ability. Of course, that's the source of the "Swastika" as well. None of these are "real people", but at various times both real and imaginary people have been associated to them. VonKrankenhaus
  11. Is there an "easy path" in Daoism?

    Well, they have changed who they are at times. The ones we know now are only about 1000 yrs old, and previous ones and lists of "immortals" in other areas are also different. So these are not originally "people". People are "associated" with them - different people important to different people, etc. In general, "Immortal" Gods of any culture are pretty much the planets and stars in sky, and especially the fixed stars. Current list of 8 immortals corresponds with the Big Dipper moving into the pole via precession. This is also the source of the Later Heaven Bagua. Early Heaven arrangement was before Polaris and the Dipper when there was no pole star - after the time of Thuban & Draco, the "Pearl and Dragon", and the early dynasties. Maybe if people somehow directly attain the attributes of the Immortal Gods they will be able to actually live ordinary healthy and happy human lives somewhere along that "path", but this seem much more difficult than learning Yangsheng and ChangMing techniques and living in a plain natural setting and abstaining from modern poisons first. -VonKrankenhaus
  12. Is there an "easy path" in Daoism?

    Human life itself is that. Anyone who cannot achieve basic healthy free human life is not going to attain anything beyond that. So today's "Masters" who die from cancer or are diabetic - not really Masters of much at all. Not even up to "ordinary". Because this is a particular time. Here is an old Greek description of it, just one of many: "Thereafter, would that I were not among the men of the fifth generation, but either had died before or been born afterwards. For now truly is a race of iron, and men never rest from labour and sorrow by day, and from perishing by night; and the gods shall lay sore trouble upon them. But, notwithstanding, even these shall have some good mingled with their evils. And Zeus will destroy this race of mortal men also when they come to have grey hair on the temples at their birth. The father will not agree with his children, nor the children with their father, nor guest with his host, nor comrade with comrade; nor will brother be dear to brother as aforetime. Men will dishonour their parents as they grow quickly old, and will carp at them, chiding them with bitter words, hard-hearted they, not knowing the fear of the gods. They will not repay their aged parents the cost their nurture, for might shall be their right: and one man will sack another's city. There will be no favour for the man who keeps his oath or for the just or for the good; but rather men will praise the evil-doer and his violent dealing. Strength will be right and reverence will cease to be; and the wicked will hurt the worthy man, speaking false words against him, and will swear an oath upon them. Envy, foul-mouthed, delighting in evil, with scowling face, will go along with wretched men one and all. And then Aidos and Nemesis, with their sweet forms wrapped in white robes, will go from the wide-pathed earth and forsake mankind to join the company of the deathless gods: and bitter sorrows will be left for mortal men, and there will be no help against evil." Find the "easy path". Show us what you find. -VonKrankenhaus
  13. Where can I find more information about the "Four Greats"?

    This is the Szu-Hsiang - T'ai Yang (Greater Yang), Shao Yin (Lesser Yin), Shao Yang (Lesser Yang), and T'ai Yin (Greater Yin). From the Szu-Hsiang the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) are derived: In I Ching you can read in appendix: ""In the Changes there is the Supreme Ultimate (T'ai Chi), which produced the Two Forms (yin and yang). These Two Forms produced the four emblems (Szu-Hsiang), and these four emblems produced the eight trigrams": For "Four Symbols" this can introduce: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Symbols -VonKrankenhaus
  14. Where can I find more information about the "Four Greats"?

    They are the same planets. Same times rising at the horizon, etc. Western systems use these 5 visible planets, plus Sun & Moon. Otherwise, their calendars are different. Chinese calendars use 10 Stems (YinYang of Wu Xing) for a week, and orbit of Saturn (Kronos) timing the 48 Lunar Mansions and also orbit of Jupiter (Zeus) for the solar year. Western used to be lunar (sea & coast people - tides) and became solar. Modern playing card deck shows the Western calendar. Correspondences to these sky events, like in West, are variable in Chinese history, but also mostly consistent. These are used in many fields of study. Maybe was meaning the "4 Emblems"? These are the divisions of the TaiJi, the polarity of polarity. I think this would make more sense for someone to mention in a discussion with Wu Xing than "4 Greats". There is also LaoTzu quote, but this doesn't fit well either: "In the world there are four greats, And the king is one of them. Man is ruled by Earth. Earth is ruled by Heaven. Heaven is ruled by the Way. The Way is ruled by itself." -VonKrankenhaus
  15. Where can I find more information about the "Four Greats"?

    5 phases or Wu Xing is not actually about physical elements. It is not a system of "5 elements". Phases in Wu Xing are Time Periods, and not things at all. They are the order of the appearances of the 5 major visible planets on the horizon. Lists of phenomena correspondences to these time periods were produced and used in cultivation, philosophy, and medicine, etc. The YinYang of these is the basis of the 10 day Chinese week - the 10 Stems. Western systems use the 5 planets plus the "luminaries" - Sun & Moon, and this is the "7 Days of the Week". "4 Greats" - this usually refer to the 4 major Chinese philosophy: Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism and Legalism. -VonKrankenhaus
  16. Jing is the inherited and acquired physical potentials (poles of polarities) that Qi moves in. -VonKrankenhaus
  17. Qi is movement between the poles of a polarity. No polarity = No movement. YinYang is the study of Polarity. -VonKrankenhaus
  18. Daoism as a Practical Philosophy

    Qi is movement between the poles of a polarity. It is not a substance of any kind. It is Movement. No Polarity = No Movement. In the body there are many movements happening in many polarities, and even in "nested" polarities, and between polarities involving the environment. All of these Movements are "Qi" of various kinds. -VonKrankenhaus
  19. The Torus and the YIN/YANG

    They really are not, no matter how many times you assert this. Writing it over and over will not make it true. It's obvious that you didn't understand the TaiJiTu or how it was derived at the time you started writing this. But now in discussion you have seen plenty of accurate info and references to further information. And still not understanding. Yes, that is obvious. Which lead me to think that you didn't come here to learn anything at all, but only to tell. Which is great - but what you are telling is inaccurate and not true. -VonKrankenhaus
  20. The Torus and the YIN/YANG

    You would need to understand this in order to make comparisons. But you've answered yourself: Which is incorrect. Here is the current flow in a simple electric circuit. All energy moves from Yang to Yin. And the Chinese characters for Yin and Yang do not depict "negative" and "positive". What they do depict is really just indicative of Polarity. It is technically correct to say YinYang meaning is"Polarity". That was a TaiJiTu - a "Yin and Yang symbol" from about 1000 yrs ago. It's basis is exactly the same as the one you are more familiar with, which is only about 400 yrs old. The meaningless letters say "Yang is Movement" and "Yin is Stillness". These describe YinYang, or "Polarity". Notice they are asymmetrical. Stillness is not a force or counter-force or a movement. The "swirls" in the "Yin and Yang" symbol you know AND the "black and white contrasts" in the 1000 yr old diagram are the Chinese characters for Fire and Water. That is THE primary symbol of Polarity that the TaiJi - or, "YinYang" is showing - the polarity "Fire/Water". Fire and Water are not Numbers. This is not a geometric symbol. It is "representational" or "metaphoric" or "associative" and not literally representing abstract symmetrical geometry. 2*3 = 3*2 using Numbers. This is symmetrical and commutative. Numbers are that. Real things and processes are not: Fire * Water - does not equal - Water * Fire. Build a Fire, then throw Water on it. Then build some Water and throw a Fire on it - Two different things and processes and outcomes. As I explained, it IS the "TAIJI (yinyang symbol)". I've already shown you more than is in books. This is a part of Chinese philosophy and Taoism, part of those general studies. You could study those before making up proclamations about them, and comparisons with things that are fundamentally incorrect in themselves. So Physics would be a good start as well. Studying these will arm you for learning and discussion far better than the couple of web sites you have seen. This forum is full of posts about Taoism and Chinese philosophy, all worth checking out. And plenty of posts about the relationships between Taoist cosmology and thinking and modern science. Easy to find right here in this forum for background and suggestions of good references, etc. -VonKrankenhaus
  21. The Torus and the YIN/YANG

    It really isn't. None of what you are writing is actually describing Chinese Taiji or YinYang. The above is not a Torus and does not represent or depict one. Neither do the Ming dynasty ones. Maybe looks symmetrical to you, but it isn't symmetrical any more than Fire and Water or Movement and Stillness are as polarities. -VonKrankenhaus
  22. The Torus and the YIN/YANG

    Then it is about abstract psychology and imagination and fantasy. And that is what it looks like, and is. It's like saying "imagine walking to Saturn, and that Saturn is a Bunny, and your feet are 3 miles long". -VonKrankenhaus
  23. The Torus and the YIN/YANG

    You won't get very far trying to classify colors in actual polarities. I will use "Red" as an example: How do you know what Red is? Two Red objects - a Tomato, and a Hot Iron. One "Red" is reflected, and one is Emitted or "Generated". Both are "Red". So when you use "Red" in a calculation like you are doing, this is like comparing a Tomato to a Red-Hot Iron and using them as the same thing in a transaction or statement. We can look at "Blue" as well. Ultraviolet Light is "Blue" light. A Blueberry on a bush is "Blue". These are not the same and not interchangeable in computations. ALL of the abstractions and formulas and diagrams you are using have the same type of inaccuracy problem and cannot explain real phenomena. -VonKrankenhaus
  24. The Torus and the YIN/YANG

    They are making a mistake with it then. This (the TaiJiTu) is the trigrams for Fire and Water, literally, explicitly. Opposites in Harmony are not Opposites. Harmony, Unity, Equality - these are all WuJi and not TaiJi. There are, inherently, no real commutative and symmetrical or reversible polarities of real manifested things. Light/Dark is not a commutative polarity. Dark is not the complimentary opposite of Light. Dark is the absence of Light. Polarity, or "YinYang", is non-commutative and non-reversible. If you want commutative speculation - try communist dialectics. For example - Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Mao. But that kind of dialectic falls apart trying to explain actual phenomena like Life/Death or how Atoms stay together, etc. And does not work at all with Chinese medicine or Qigong, TaiJi Boxing, etc. Totally different principles, very Western and all abstract and not real. -VonKrankenhaus
  25. The Torus and the YIN/YANG

    Motion that is instantly everywhere is not motion. It would be Stasis. "Stopped" Motion is not Motion. And a Movement is a Thing. All things have and exhibit Polarity. No need to go ad-hominem for not understanding that. -VonKrankenhaus