Marblehead

No offense taken Lucky. I just wanted to make sure we understood each other. Be well!

Hi Lucky, Actually, it's not too much flowery language for me. I am an old man, retired and divorsed. There is no one for me to prove anything to. Be well!

It's often mentioned that one should cultivate every living moment. I believe this is especially important today since we all live in a very busy age. I wonder, isn't it more important to just 'be' and live one's life according to their 'nature'? Be well!

Now that gave me a good belly laugh. Thanks! Be well!

I think we all are owners and renters to varying degrees. Every time we have an original thought we are the owner of that thought (knowledge). Every time we have a personal experience we are the owner of the knowledge of that personal experience. Yes, I hold to Jonh Locke's theory of the "Blank Slate" but at the same time I also hold to Carl Jung's theory of "Collective unconsciousness". In both these theories we are renters. But, as we age and accumulate knowledge we throw some things out and we refine others. Then, on occasion, we collect various bits of knowledge, synthesize these bits into a unique and novel bit of understanding (knowledge). We own this. Josh, I understand what you are pointing at and I agree with you if we view this from a point of Unity (wu) but as long as we have a body we are in the realm of duality (yo). Do I know anything. Well, sure, at this very moment I know a number of things. But, because all is change, what I know at this moment may become a misunderstanding at some other point in time. Be well!

Ha! Everyone wants to know where the line is. There is no line, sorry. There are no blacks and whites, there are shades of grey. I can't explain in words what "Self" is. I can offer an example though. When you are totally at peace, in your mind and in your heart (conscious and subconscious brain), with yourself, I think you have found your "Self". I like to refer to it as my inner essence, my personal Chi, my 'life force'. Be well!

Still listening to Spirit - the "Best Of Spirit" album. Be well!

Sounds great!!! I will keep my eyes open for the grand opening. Be well!

I have always liked what Wayne L. Wang wrote about Tzujan in his "Dynamic Tao". "Tzu-Jan is commonly translated as "nature." It is, however, not the nature of the physical world, but is the spiritual naturalness. Tzu-Jan is the primordial unperturbed process of self-development. It is the state of Oneness. Self-so. Spontaneity. Naturally so. With no apparent reason." So we have the nature of the physical world (universe) and all "things" therein, including man, and we have the nature of spirituality, or Tao, or Oneness, or Unity, or whatever one wishes to call it. And I agree that when man (people) is civilized much of our naturalness is lost. Be well! Funny. At this very moment my computer is playing the song "Nature's Way" by Spirit. Be well!

Nice response Ben D. It is only in 'yo', the physical, that we have experiences. We have no experiences in 'wu', the unity. There is no separation of the two; what is important, I think, is where our awareness lies. Be well!

Boy! There sure have been a lot of words spoken here. I tried reading all the posts but ended up just scanning most. Actually, I see no point in setting one religion, philosophy, path against another. It is my understanding that Chuang Tzu mentioned the same thing. All paths are good if they lead toward good. This is equally true of philosophies and religions. What is good? For a person to be at peace with his/her Self. Buddhism can only be understood by walking the path. This can be said of any religion/philosophy. It's not about words, it's about walking. Be well!

Hi Screwtape, ... and it is through our spirit that we can exercise our free will. I totally agree with this and I suggest that we do have total free will in the spiritual (wu) state. But I will suggest that we have limited free will in the manifest (yo) state as well. True, the limits are tighter for some folks than they are for others but still. Be well!