Nanashi

Ha, I didn't want to seem like a jerk and burst the bubble, but I noticed that they were talking about the mist in the video-- wasn't sure what else you guys were talking about.

I can agree that there's a fine line between inspiration and obsession, but as the old saying about masters goes, "seek what they sought."

Basho often lamented that he considered his works would never compare to those of Saigyo, but that he followed his footsteps. I'm pretty sure most non-Japanese are more aware of Basho now.

Defined ranks? Commercializing? Good god, we're not Masons.

Ben Stein and his father were speech writers for Nixon-- don't mistake his frumpy actor character as a real persona-- he has been a mouthpiece for ultra right-wing views through the decades.

For a more rational take on the religion debate (and a better documentary movie overall), I suggest you all see Bill Maher's Religulous.

IMO People who study for spiritual reasons may interpret the Tao Te Ching any way they want to for their personal needs.

This has been happening to all texts since reading and writing began. Even oral traditions were interpreted differently, throughout time. Once the author of an original text is dead, and hitherto did not say any more explaining their "true meaning", then that true meaning is lost and can only be discussed to create meaning. Think of how the Christian bible has been edited, or "translated" (all translations are interpretations).

I recall Hesse being disappointed in the preface to Steppenwolf, that hippies (decades after the book being published) co-opted his works for an excuse to do drugs, instead as seeing the wisdom in existential crisis and spiritual transformation. Even writers of the last century, when we have recordings of interviews with them-- we still do not know if a hidden "true meaning" or motive is active. Were Huxley and Orwell warning the masses of the future, or writing a blueprint for the leaders of the future?

Everything created is subjective; either by intention or not.

I always liked the reference to Lao Zi as a dragon...

I like it, as well. Several years ago, I drew this scene in MSPaint (I recall a similar cartoon panel being in the Tao Speaks! series, and took a little artistic license).

Welcome back Marblehead. We've missed your Quietist view around here.

Did everything on your trip go all right? Your tone seems less jovial than before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkSPa28veAE

Babelfish says: "Chen Panling Taijiquan"

(But that thing has been known to be unreliable.)

It is too late-- we cannot escape the digital clutches of New Babylon. Casinos, Wal-mart, google images, FB-- facial recognition is the new fingerprint/signature/SSN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B37wW9CGWyY

Excellent post, Otis. I could relate with much of what you said.

Your conclusion reminds me of a zen story:

A Roshi was asked by his student, "If you're so enlightened, why do you get angry at us students sometimes?"

The Roshi replied "Anger and joy are like the seasons; let them arise and pass naturally."

In winter of 2008, I wrote this haiku after an enlightening moment:

raindrops on rooftops

the sound of a satori

empty but awake

Nanashi is Japanese for nameless. I adopted it as a zen pseudonym for myself in 2001 and then kept using it as my haigo (haiku poet's nom de plume or pen name) when I began composing poetry full-time. The concept of a nameless name is a very Taoist one to me.

The little avatar is a ronin. I used to live by a motto, "cutting through illusion with the sword of truth" while training my body through kenjutsu and my mind through zen. I also identify with the "knight-errant" ethic, and the literal translation of ronin — one adrift the waves.

Which I wanted to tie in with what Dainin said about his name (I always suspected a zen origin there, but the pic threw me off). Dai is "great" of course, but I would ascribe nin to mean "endurance" — a powerful idea. Patience can apply too, but that seems more like a soft virtue, not a lifestyle. Stripped of its popular culture references, Nin-ja are "People of Endurance" — perhaps many can attest to life being a test of one's endurance.

Also, with Steve mentioning xuesheng, I feel the same way towards life. Shugyosha, or shugen-ja, is a person of testing.

I could forgive him for insulting the great poetic works of the Masters, but the words he used about Manitou were way too harsh to let him continue that train of communication.

Only if warped minds imply it. Funny you call me naïve.

Social Darwinism is basically "scientific racism". To apply racism to evoultionary theory is pure manipulation of the facts.

Domination theory?

 

If Evolution is true than one of the main purposes of Human life is to dominate on other Humans, and to dominate Nature. The goal of life is to dominate, be an alpha human, use others for personal gain, pleasure, and gaining power. Survival of the strong, destruction of the weak.

"Social Darwinism" was a propaganda tool of fascists, not an actual scientific theory.

Mewtwo: have you read Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf? Try laughing with the Immortals.

GiH: Oh, I quite agree-- I fear a Fascist Technocratic culture is looming, Brave New World style.

Heheh, you visit reddit, eh?

I imagine if Japan becomes uninhabitable, they could relocate them to these real estate bubble towns.

Some see Jesus as an authority-- they also think those who understand evolutionary theory see science as their authority, and thus a threat to the christian value system.

Science is a tool for understanding nature; what scares Creationists more is that Jesus is irrelevant in science. Nature isn't an authority, either-- but for believers, harmonious co-existence only happened in Eden, thus man must now dominate nature. Evolutionary theory competes with their domination theory.

It sounded like an earlier one to me only because it doesn't have auto-tune applied and I notice the mistakes Dylan made-- a voice crack here and there. But I'm not sure, you may be right there.

Oh man, I love Leonard Cohen. Hallelujah is my favorite of his.

Cool-- and it is true, you can't argue with promoting self-improvement and attempting the ultimate positive expressions of the human mind-body-spirit.

Gonna check them out now, MH.

This is cliche and everyone's heard it, but I like the sound of this version.