Mig

Thank you for taking the time in sharing a good comment. I haven't seen a person who doesn't depend on money except the hermits and still money or other artifacts to trade have been used in human societies. Although your well written response, I still don't understand the Daoist point of view about money and not sure if Daoists are not necessarily well off or surviving financially. On your reminder what is wei wu wei ? How that is effortless when wu is just the negation of an action?

As I am reading several books from Eva Wong about Daoism, I see she refers in her writings to the Action and Karma school of Daoism, founded by Li Ying Chang. I am not sure if the school is her own translation or if this is the real name and I cannot find the founder name in Chinese either. Does someone knows the name of the Daoist school or sect and the name of the founder in Chinese? Thanks

Personally, I think it is a good start and he's making an effort. For a beginner with a rudimentary knowledge of Chinese language, he's doing very well. He's a good inspiration for future generations. Why do you say " probably rather shallowly"?

Recently, I was in echo park lake in echo park, not far from downtown Los Angeles. Having a conversation with an old friend and all of the sudden a young fellow comes to us to ask us for his wallet with $700 dollars. Immediately we stood up to let him check if his wallet was there. Then he left. Soon after he returns and started harassing us claiming we had his wallet and he wanted his money back telling my friend who is a young fellow that he was lying to him then he tried with the older fellow and started getting close as he wanted us to react and see if he could get what he wanted either money or steal something, who knows. In the meantime I am trying to keep my friend calm as he's getting scared so I called 911. It took me three attempts to call the police and we waited for 45' and nobody came by. This park is about 3 miles away from the 911 call center Los Angeles downtown. Then I called back since I was not thinking this was going to end well and put the 911 dispatcher on speaker phone who told us "walk away" once the stalker heard that he stepped away and we could walk away and started walking behind me as I was protecting my young fellow friend. As soon as I turned my back and faced him he wanted to start a fist fight. I kept walking away and fortunately the park ranger were there and the instigator kept repeating the same thing trying to rest his case that we have stolen his wallet. The rangers called their supervisor who took him another 15 minutes. My wife came by to see if the police was there because she called them right away but no one showed up. Rangers didn't do anything and all they told us is that we could walk away after we had shown him our belongings. In the meantime the stalker just left like nothing had happened. Then I received a call from a police officer telling they were coming to the premises. It took them 15 minutes to get there and all I've got there was no nothing I could do. Clearly the stalker had in his mind to get something, money by harassing or intimidating and the less I will talk to him the more he felt entitled to keep harassing my friend as he found an easy prey and he couldn't do anything because I was there. Then he started getting closer and yelling and I had to yell back to keep off and keep my distance. Now, my question is what would you do for those who believe in love and peace, or any Buddhist or Daoist advice to deal this kind of situation? The lesson I learned, is that you are on your own, the police wouldn't do anything, we could have been killed and the guy would have left unharmed and free. I know I am venting but I am pissed how some people can get away so easily just to do what they want preying for those victims. Worst was to hear the police officers telling me it sounds he was a deranged individual or homeless and then I've got even madder because not only it took them forever to show but let this guy walk away and let him keep doing the same thing for sure. Thanks

you probably already know this is the simplified version and it is pronounced differently 長

Thanks Dwai for your input. We were sitting on a bench and behind us there was fence so they don't allow people to camp in the green areas. People walk always around the lake and I suspect he walked several times and who knows maybe he had checked us earlier. He started his inquiry in a normal way, had a white hoodie on him and white shorts wearing black tennis shoes, maybe vans. He was also carrying a regular android or iphone phone, couldn't tell at that time. As soon as he started telling my friend to give him his wallet, he kept telling the same thing as soon as he got closer then I called 911. Then he kept doing the same thing and we didn't move away because I had already called the police and mistakenly I thought they will be there promptly. I was wrong. Apparently, he was by himself and as soon as we walked away, he followed us and when I felt he was coming too close to me, I turned around and then he felt he was ready to fight clenching his fists. I kept walking to the main entrance where usually rangers are posted there. The supervisor came 15' later and didn't do anything and let us know we could walk away. There was imminent threat and close to physical altercation and I kept controlling myself because I didn't know my legal rights on what to do. It was clear an assault and now I know that I can hit back if there is reasonable fear of bodily injury and proportional force to neutralize the threat. The lesson I learned is to be extremely aware of my surroundings and don't count on police. Be ready and best defense is to attack before I get hurt.

Which principles can be learned from the classics that can be applied to this type of situation?

could you give me examples of which principles can be learned from classics? There are the Confucian fundamental principals or saying from the Analects or Zen sayings or Koans that are incorporated in the sayings from Masters or here and there some sayings from the DDJ or the Zhuang zi. As for the encounter with a bear, I would say it has nothing to do. One one human starts talking and seeing in their eye entitlement and using slurs as a way to rest his case when he knows if he gets caught then he will use his victimism card.

It seems this a normal attitude a human can do to move away but in this situation the police didn't show up. We were about 3 miles away from 911 headquarters, and about 2 miles away from the police station and they showed up about an hour later. If they learned martial arts most likely they learned something from the classics. Any thoughts on their learning from the classics?

Easy said than done, the more I think now the more I can see that he was ready to attack, just wanted to see test the waters to see if we were strong enough. Unluckily my young friend he looks fragile and easy white kid target to bully. We walked away and he kept trying to see if he could fight us or robbed us, who knows. Luckily unluckily the rangers were there. It amazes me how people feel entitled to attack someone and then if they lose they become the victim and if you defend yourself you become the assailant.

The Test Of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) is Taiwan's national standardized test designed and developed by the National Taiwan Normal University

I stumbled on this line: 假於異物，託於同體，忘其肝膽，遺其耳目，反覆終始，不知端倪，芒然彷徨乎塵垢之外，逍遙乎無為之業 which is translated as Again and again they end and they begin, having no knowledge of first principles. They occupy themselves ignorantly and vaguely with what (they say) lies outside the dust and dirt (of the world), and seek their enjoyment in the business of doing nothing. Legge tumble back to the endless cycle of end and beginning without any awareness of the point between them. Unbounded they toss about beyond the realm of dust, free and easy in the workings of effortless action (wuwei). Eno They end and they begin without knowing either the beginning or the end. Unconsciously, they stroll beyond the dirty world and wander in the realm of nonaction. Fung Yu-lan I got surprised that in another Mair translation he translates it as Karma and says the following in his notes: 21. karma (61). Since karma has long since become a legitimate English word, we may use it here as a precise rendering of a.In deed, yeh is the standard Buddhist Hybrid Chinese translation of Sanskrit karma. Cf. the following note. 22. nonaction (61). On nonaction in the Bhaeavad Gita and its parallels with wuwei in the Tao Te Ching, see the Afterword to my translation of the latter, pp. 14 1-42. I am wondering what is your take in this parallel of terms of Karma and wuwei? and how wuwei should be interpreted in this sentence considering the content of this chapter? Thanks

How happened that transition from Buddhism to Daoism? What was about the DDJ, Taijiquan or Qigong that sparked your interest?

Indeed, his presence was constant and opinions were much appreciated. It is amazing how life can be seen as an idea not a reality, it is only we age that we realize more about life and still don't know much living ignorant. It is amazing!!

I've wondering if luck exists or is it an incident in life weren't aware because we're overwhelmed by the superficialities of life and all the excuses we keep inventing or creating problems without knowing the consequences or how to handle life. Not sure what far east thoughts on luck if luck exists

Is there really and equivalent for this word junzi in western languages?

And what are other people opinion about his interpretation? Is this his own interpretation or is this interpretation based on traditional scholar studies?

I was wondering if someone can help me to understand where the idea of vegan or vegetarian started in Daoism. It seems the same idea is in Buddhism. If it is about compassion and feelings, don't plants have also compassion and feelings?

so are you saying you are not a parasite, is that what you are saying, if you are not, bravo!! you have crossed the river to Nirvana who's talking about inequality? I thought this thread is about desire, right? And if you are qualifying me by being an ignorant parasite, I grant you that, happy now? Great, it sounds you are educated to name what you want, it is your right and it is your opinion, like I said before everyone has an opinion and opinion is like a b...hole, everyone has one so feel entitled. How great, what is Daoist mentality in your opinion, why don't you give some references in the original text, commentaries, paraphrase and understood by English translations so we can all learn from you?

Yes, I don't pay, I pay what I want to pay and consider fair to pay especially books. And that is my desire so not sure if that fits in the Daoist mentality. Are you exceptionally poor? Are you talking poor as you have been or been in that situation not able to feed or clothe yourself? I don't understand why I need to take things that are freely given. So many seminars I have been where people go to get whatever paper or gadget even though clearly don't need it or when they serve refreshments they gobble as much as they can, just because it was free. And someone said there is no free lunch, if it is free then there a price to pay. A parasite, what is wrong being a parasite, aren't we all parasites? Or are you a special specie of humans that is perfect with no faults? I rather being ignorant so I learn from those who don't point others as ignorant. Maybe we should review some biology 101 classes about parasites not sociology

My desire is that as long as there is no push for the sake of making money then is all fine. YouTube implemented the technology to have larger files and watch long documentaries. In the beginning all was free and little by little they started adding ads and now they are pushing you to subscribe. If it all about money then I don't need to buy, knowledge is not only in the books, it is on your own experience. I guess Buddhists and Daoists say the same thing about knowledge.

Isn't that a culture attitude refusing a payment? It is your desire to help me, isn't it? It should be a mutual thing as all humans do in one way or another. If dedicated their entirely life doing what they wanted, wasn't their choice? Why should someone starve? especially in this time of waste and more choices to get food in industrialized countries. Why should someone pay when most of the masters I have seen, have a job and had secure a job and share their extensive knowledge. In the beginning of the internet, most of everything was free and little by little it monetized their investment and today is all about paying and if not, they will get your information, not only they make you accept their terms they will oblige to push that button to follow you. Is it my desire?

Do you remember what it was? Are you also talking about Majosi, the guy nobody likes and considered fake? This question about creating luck has made me ponder, why do we say I am lucky or someone is lucky and all I can think, we look for that balance, a better way that the usual way. And why do we say bad luck? Some people live in misery or we fall in misery because our own mistakes and some will get out of that and get better. Would I prefer living in a car, which I did because my mistakes or living in a house with a garden living comfortably? I would prefer living comfortably with all the necessary items and keep going then I see opportunities arise and new good things happen. Thus, we create our intention and grab what is good for us then we call it luck.