BigSkyDiamond

a gripping book to read. be sure to get the revised 2024 edition, because they just keep adding on more and more deaths as they occur. If you have ever been to the Grand Canyon, you will recognize the places named

and if "forced" by the team why allow that? what is the motivation or reward for it? what are they holding over you? what gives "the team" power over you?

= a choice made by you

A. incarnation is never forced. It is always a choice (though not at the "personality" level). and if someone no longer believes in reincarnation, then it is a non-issue. B. if an adult feels they are "forced" into anything then that is something to look at. who or what is forcing you to do that? is it duty, obligation, responsibility, to maintain an image, to gain attention, to prove something, to earn something. and if a person feels forced, and they don't do it......then what happens? "if i don't do __________, then this will happen ____________ " who or what has the adult given their authority over to, and why? those are the questions that arise when hearing an adult say that they are "forced" into doing something. C. and if someone holds beliefs in a system of "karma" or feels bound by soul "contracts" then that belief system may also be something to look at, evaluate, and decide whether it is worth keeping and dragging along and being bound by. At any time you are free to nullify, break, and dissolve any and all old contracts from any lifetime. You are not bound by them. D. a powerful intention to set things in motion is "I release that which no longer serves me." Belief systems may feel great and serve us well.....until they don't anymore. When we recognize they imprison us (rather than freeing us), then it's time to jettison them. Like an old pair of shoes that now binds and pinches, we discard them.

regarding bold above, the Dao is unchanging.

I added first four lines of Chapter 42 and two referenced footnotes, as part of ongoing conversation in the forum for that set of lines.

PDF sent just now

From the proton file, here is first four lines of Chapter 42: 道⽣⼀, The way gives birth to 1 ⼀⽣⼆, 1 gives birth to 2, ⼆⽣三, 2 gives birth to 3, 三⽣萬物. 3 gives birth to everything. and here is footnote from Chapter 42 line 1: 1. See footnote Chapter 40 For more on 1,2,3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taijitu Specifically 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuji_(philosophy) and here is footnote from Chapter 40, which is referenced in the Chapter 42 footnote 1. The way (道) is void; total absence; nothing; emptiness (無)… before any thing or concept existed… a pure animalistic state; a totally unconscious, instinctual state, before language. This void is the beginning (元), is One (⼀), is the beginning of our own vital energy, spiritedness, breath, and personality (⽓), is the pinnacle of goodness (元), and is limitless; void’s ultimate (無極) [I can try mailing you the PDF file from the Proton link]

i just donated my hardcover copy (yes the 1968 edition) to the library two days ago. I am seeing copies available on Amazon, both used ($45) and new ($89). I paid $70 for my used copy two years ago.

This came up on another thread (see separate thread just started on "Does the Absolute have agency") For this thread the topic for discussion is please answer the following: For you in your own framework, are these the same or different. Please discuss how you distinguish between them, how they are different (or not). thoughts, thinking imagination intent, setting and using intention Thank you.

what does this mean, "form is emptiness and emptiness is form" and what is the context. i have seen it mentioned several times in different threads. where i get stuck is where it says they are dependent on each other, flip side of the same coin, can't have one without the other. Thank you.