YMWong

"Suppose you and I have had an argument. If you have beaten me instead of my beating you, then are you necessarily right and am I necessarily wrong? If I have beaten you instead of your beating me, then am I necessarily right and are you necessarily wrong? Is one of us right and the other wrong? Are both of us right or are both of us wrong? If you and I don't know the answer, then other people are bound to be even more in the dark. Whom shall we get to decide what is right? Shall we get someone who agrees with you to decide? But if he already agrees with you, how can he decide fairly? Shall we get someone who agrees with me? But if he already agrees with me, how can he decide? Shall we get someone who disagrees with both of us? But if he already disagrees with both of us, how can he decide? Shall we get someone who agrees with both of us? But if he already agrees with both of us, how can he decide? Obviously, then, neither you nor I nor anyone else can decide for each other. Shall we wait for still another person? "But waiting for one shifting voice [to pass judgment on] another is the same as waiting for none of them. Harmonize them all with the Heavenly Equality, leave them to their endless changes, and so live out your years. What do I mean by harmonizing them with the Heavenly Equality? Right is not right; so is not so. If right were really right, it would differ so clearly from not right that there would be no need for argument. If so were really so, it would differ so clearly from not so that there would be no need for argument. Forget the years; forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home!" Zhuang Zi - DISCUSSION ON MAKING ALL THINGS EQUAL

He seems to be referring to this thread http://www.thetaobums.com/Luk-Yum-Shen-Gong-t7527.html No problem, he is free to believe whatever makes him feel better YM

LOL, you are a funny man R.W. but your reading skills are poor YM

No, of course I did not YM

Yes, this happens quite frequently in fact with people getting Talismans for their beloved at home. Of course it all depends on the situation as some require a more or less simple ritual to be done on the spot by the Daoist, but in general that's feasible. YM

Excellent points nicely worded, Pietro ! YM

so am I at reading your post be well YM

Offerings in Daoist Ritual Asano Haruji in Daoist Identity, History, Lineage and Ritual Ed. by Livia Kohn and Harld D. Roth 2002, University of Hawai'i Press The last scan is from Ancestors and Anxiety Daoism and the Birth of Rebirth in China Stephen R. Bokenkamp 2007. University of California Press

Not necessarily so and actually not usually so. For meat offering on Daoist rituals check out my post above with scans of "Meat in Daoist Ritual". For specific offering to the death many other sources are available. Usually offering to the ancestors (death) are consumed by the living after the death have absorbed their 'essence' so normally it is COOKED food that is offered. See Bokenkamp for instance here: YM

On Talismans you can read the excellent essay by C Despeux http://books.google.com/books?id=EXVk1tr6l...d=0_0#PPA498,M1 Let me know if some pages are not available, I can scan and post them if necessary YM

Yes, on the school first and on the teacher/line then - meaning that even in certain lines were talismans are regularly used some teachers might make little to no use of them. More in general, those performing rituals for the public use them all the times for treatment and during petitions so they are very much bound to them. Those mostly in (solitary) cultivation might have never used them. YM

Not all Daoists write talismans, some simply have not learned it, some specialise in other things and finally certain school do not emphasize them. Talisman were central to the early Daoist schools during the Han dynasty because the treatmen of illness with charms was fundamental in their spread. Later it remained of prominence in certain schools and lost to different 'techniques' in others. YM

Meat in Daoist Rituals YM

The first 'Huashan' talisman has been written by somebody without actual talisman writing knowledge for many reasons. Something has been already explained by MTS. Look at the lower part of the second talisman, which in the pic is the right side, and see what's in there. That talisman shouldn't be photoed and placed on the web but it should be now burned. There is some literature available on the practice of Daoist talismans but as I write I can't recall precise details which I'll try to sort out when I have time, maybe articles by Bokenkamp or Strickmann YM EDIT: some good references here http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/public...s/pdf/a1084.pdf

Dog, I am afraid I have to tell you this talisman is useless, unlike the other attached by ahmed020202 who has been written by somebody who evidently knows how to draw talismans. YM PS for ahmed020202: you are not supposed to post this kind of talisman on the web

Actually that was a triple quotes I don't know, what would you say of somebody who writes post after post about the importance of a true Master, of a real Lineage etc. and than about himself say: I wonder where is the real Master and the true lineage ? No disrespect, simply reading what he says is it not ? YM

I don't think this is the case. MTS comes from a modern re-formed """daoist""" line typical of Hong Kong and, while much of what he says can be agreed by Daoists in China, I don't think that's representative of that kind of lineage. YM

I'd suggest you read what people write instead of putting things in their mouths. But, of course, you can do and think as you wish YM

Where in the Canon ? Would you be so kind as to provide reference ? Thanks YM Don't worry, you are of course entitled to your ideas. In your opinion, is this guy a Daoist ? YM

No, there are no "rituals for this kind of things" in Daoism YM

I am not sure who you are warning and for what reason. I personally don't care if this is *fake* or not, as it is totally irrelevant to what I am saying. I also don't care about learning to withstand a knife cut even if it was real and, again, find that all these performances has nothing to do with actual Daoism. YM

Totally unrelated to Daoism. This seems to be the same group now posting here at TTB. Hong Kong is filled up with these (self-made) "daoists" who (falsely) claim Maoshan-Wudang-Whathaveyou lineages that have been passed to them during sceance. They have little-to-nothing to do with actual daoism and simply make a living filling a gap in many people's life. When this is done without negativity, it is a (commercial) service like many others. YM

I don't think so. There is nothing inherently 'negative' about a ghost which is just a moment in the process of transformation. YM

"Military exercise" of Primary School "Military exercise" of High School "Military exercise" of University YM

That's "military exercise" and it does not equal military service, it is only marching, short term physical exercise etc. with a final parade. Actually kids do similar stuff, although on a lighter way, since Primary School in China - including marching and National Flag raising. On the paper, I think, military service IS compulsory but this has never been actuated. http://community.travelchinaguide.com/forum2.asp?i=35920 YM