Marblehead

Well, all I will say at this point is that I wish you guys would manifest yourselves because I am not going to talk with someone who doesn't exist. They put people in mental hospitals for doing that, you know. Be well!

Hi Lin, I know that you post was not directed to me but I wish to speak on it none-the-less. The problem I have with the phrase "submit to a higher power" is that the phrase is most often used by the powerful to keep the masses in line. It is nothing less than putting chains on my ankles. I will agree with you that if we seek a teacher we must respect that person and honor that person's knowledge and put trust in the thought that whatever the teacher instructs is, in the long term, in my best interest. But to me the words 'respect', 'honor', and 'trust' are very different than the meaning of the word 'submission'. It is my understanding that the only thing I need submit myself to are the processes of Nature. Beyond that I have choices. I heard of one martial arts teacher recently who used his power of student submission to sexually abuse his students. This is where I draw the line between submission and honor, respect & trust. Be well!

Hi Hagbard, Welcome! May you enjoy your time here. Be well!

Hi Zedd & Koyanishi, Nice posts. This thead doesn't have to die. It is just that Stigweard and I had to agree to disagee, that's all. It is true, in my opinion, that one can hold to the basic concepts of Taoism without holding to any of the religious aspects of the belief system ("belief system" was for Stigweard, Hehehe.). And I agree that nowhere in Lao Tzu or Chuang Tzu is it suggested that we need submit ourself to anything. Be well!

Hi Vajrahridaya, The link worked. Can't help with the other stuff because I not familiar enough with this board. Maybe someone will come along with some help. Yes, I am familiar with the area you talked of. I have walked a number of Arroyo in 1986 when I was travelling through there pursuing my short-lived rock collecting hobby. I do like that part of the country a lot but the low humidity does a job on my skin and I get electrocuted by almost anything I touch. Be well!

Hi SereneBlue, Have you ever been around someone who is grumpy all the time and you finally get tired of it, get teed off, then become grumpy yourself? I account for this with the concept of Chi as well as our normal brain functions. That concept of "intent preceding belief" is a tricky one. I would like to see someone address it directly. Be well!

Hi All, Nice discussion going on here. I did not joined in earlier as I do not hold to the concept of karma as it is being spoken of here. I also do not believe in the concept of fate. I hold to the concept of free will just as the Zoroastrians do. A man chooses to be good or he can choose to be evil. (The original Zoroastrians had no Devil to blame their wrong-doings on - the Devil was created later.) In the earlier reference to the girl being kidnapped, raped and buried alive, the man used his free wil to conduct that evil crime. He had the choice of doing it or not doing it. He chose to do it. No karma, no fate, only free will. Premeditated! It was his intent to do it. He believed he could do it and get away with it. He performed the action. Now, I will grant the fact that our free will is limited by our environment, etc. But within those limits free will exists. Many Jews held to their free will while they were prisoners of the Nazis even though their free will was very, very limited. Be well!

Hi Stigweard, Yes, we should end this discussion. I enjoyed it, really. Indeed, our views do differ but that is not necessarily a bad thing. And my footnote is: When I started my search for a path (it has been many different paths) of life I picked up a book written by Emmanuel Kant, don't remember which one, but in the introduction he wrote (I paraphrase) you must accept everything I say or you cannot accept anything. I immediately closed the book and have never read anything from him to this day. Dogma to me is like chains around my ankles. BTW If you haven't noticed yet, I am a Nietzschian Taoist. Be well!

You wouldn't believe how close to home what you have said is to me. I have touched lightly on Native American spirituality and this is, as you mentioned, very similar, the two. To respect all living creatures, even those one must kill for his own survival. (I don't eat my pet fish that I keep in the pond though.) Be well!

Hehehe. I think I will have fish tonight and save the chicken from eternal damnation. Be well!

Hi Hoojsn, Welcome! May you enjoy your time here. I hope you find the video you seek. Be well!

Hi Chris (female), Welcome! May you enjoy your time here. Be well!

WoW! Sometimes you Buddhists make perfect sense! Be well! Ha! They both are separate, stand-alone units physically spaced at a distance of approximately 16 feet. However, they are none-the-less connected because they both use the same energy source. Hehehe. Just like me and Tao and all else. So you just go ahead and ask all the questions you wish. I have all the answers. Nevermind that most of them are wrong. (Actually, all my answers are right, it is just that most of the time the questions are wrong.) Be well!

Hi Lin, I can't argue against that at all. Actually, many of the thoughts in the Tao Te Ching already existed in Chinese culture long before Lao Tzu. Be well!

Both, Michael, both. And sometimes even more! Be well!

Great response Stigweard. I'll be back! Be well!

Hehehe. I figured some Buddhist would come along and do that to me. 'I' assure 'you' that if 'you' were within the reach of 'my' hand and 'I' slapped 'you' aside 'your' head to get 'your' attention (as the Zen Masters do) 'you' would know that not only do 'I' exist but that 'you' too exist. To your other two questions, I am somewhere beyond the distance of your head therefore you have not felt my hand against your head. Oh, there are so many things that make me me - much too numerous to list. But I am none-the-less a little piece of everything, just as all thing of the universe are. Be well!

Well, considering the words are from a Buddhist I must say that Mikaelz did an excellent job addressing your post. Chi is the energy - Yin and Yang are the polarities of Chi. While you are alive Chi will never leave your body - Chi is what gives you life. Yes, the conscious brain must be differientiated from the mind. The conscious brain is one of the components of mind. If allowed to function naturally, the polarities of Chi (Yin and Yang) will constantly change trying to adjust to our environment. The less we consciously interfer with the functions of Chi the more in harmony we will be with our environment. Yes, it is my opinion that harmony is more important than balance. Harmony allows us to experience our environment to the fullest as well as experiencing our emotions to the fullest thereby living our life to its fullest potential. Be well!

Hi Daveyjones, Welcome! May you enjoy your time here. (I know nothing of KAP.) Be well!

I guess we have worn this topic out. And isn't it beautiful? No one has come in and disagreed with us. Be well!

While I will admit that this is a fantastic accomplishment I just cannot foresee any event in real life where I would need to balance my body on one finger. But I guess it is a valid venture learning this for someone who has little else to do in their life. Be well!

I think the real problem started when some of the reptiles evolved into chickens. I am sure that there are some who make this place a home-away-from-home. I really don't see a problem with that. But we do need be cautious of those really big monitor lizards - they can be really mean. Be well!