Marblehead

The Dao Bums
  • Content count

    47,314
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    454

Posts posted by Marblehead


  1. yeah, reading some of these forum threads, i started to wonder if this wasn`t a buddhist forum.

     

    Hehehe. Yeah, there are a lot of Buddhists here. But still, every now and then we get to talk about Taoist concepts.

     

    Be well!


  2. Hi Mikaelz,

     

    I agree with your post above (#5) except for the following statement:

     

    until you have achieved full enlightenment: its IMPOSSIBLE to truly have a non-conceptual experience.

     

    I think it is possible for one who is 'unenlightened' to have a non-conceptional experience. It is the understanding of the experience that would be lacking.

     

    Be well!


  3. i believe there is no real consensus. so what do you think happens when you die? i have no idea.

    maybe the accomplished immortals on this forum can shed some light <_< , since they can travel back and forth.

     

    I do not hold to the concept of an afterlife as do the Buddhists and Christians. I do know that many religious Taoist do though.

     

    I doubt that one will ever find concensus with this subject. Funny thing is though that many philosophical Taoists also consider themselves Buddhists. I guess the philosophy wasn't enough so they added the religion. I think that this is still a common practice on Mainland China.

     

    Be well!


  4. Okay. One more comment.

     

    The universe does not exist because of some one or another belief system. The universe exists independant of all perceptions. Belief systems simply try to explain this existance.

     

    Seems we still don't understand. Oh well.

     

    Be well!


  5. Wow. It is true that the wise can sum up all the books and sutras into a single sentence.

     

    That was awesome. :) .

     

    Thanks. I didn't mean to appear to be wise. It was quite accidental, I assure you.

     

    Be well!

     

     

     

    That's merely your subjective opinion. Take care!

     

    The debate is still about there being a beginning or not to manifestation. Vedanta thinks so, Buddha does not.

     

    Yes, there was a beginning. But then it was nothing more than the end of the previous beginning. We go nowhere if we try to walk with one foot nailed to the floor except in circles.

     

    Be well!


  6. Enlightenment, like spirituality is as easy as 1,2,3... but since that's the real start, don't celebrate it too much. There's a whole mountain once upon the path. But alas it's a vast dark forest around Mount Tai.

     

    Reminded me of the words: "First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is."

     

    Be well!


  7. Wrote about this movie previously here...I think one of the main reasons why it's so captivating is the soundtrack. This is my favorite song from it.

     

    Yes, that is a beautiful piece of music. My thoughts while listening were, hold someone in my arms, go to sleep, both.

     

    Be well!


  8. The "We are" comes from the "I am". Because there is no difference between "We" and "I".

     

    Yes, both are the same, it is the perspective that causes them to appear different. In the Manifest it is "I" but in the Mystery it is "We".

     

    And honestly, in the Manifest nearly all concentrate on the "I". After all, I have to take care of myself first so tha I might be able to assist others.

     

    (In the Mystery I don't give a darn. Sorry, that just seemed to be needed to be said.)

     

    Be well!


  9. Hi Thelerner,

     

    Very good and interesting questions.

     

    I think that spirituality has to do more with the sense that one has commonality with all else. I don't think that it has to be only TUG related. That is, it is my understanding that one can attain a healthy spirituality through religion or through science (observation).

     

    The concept of being a part of something greater (as opposed to being alone) is, in my mind, a key to spirituality.

     

    I also think that being at peace with one's Self is attained through spirituality.

     

    Be well!


  10. Yes, we is key, it's humbling. There's never this ego, this huge blissful and powerful ego that is, "I AM ALL THAT IS!!!" I remember having this experience much. There is interconnectivity and a deep sense of intimate knowing of people and how we all tick. But there is never this sense of I am the source of all being in Buddhist realization. This mistaken cognition happens in Hindu realizers a lot though. Just look at Adi Da especially. He really believes it too. :P

     

    Now you know I'm not going to try to talk Buddhism or Hindu with you. (Hehehe. My ignorance amazes me sometimes.)

     

    However, Chuang Tzu expressed the importance of "I am" on many occasions. Yep, he also expressed the importance of "We are" just os often, if not more often.

     

    Yes, I do occasionally get to experience the "We are" experience and it is truely beautiful. (Then I wake up and I am no longer a butterfly. Hehehe.)

     

    Be well!


  11. Hi All,

     

    From Zhuo Ming-Dao:

     

    Also, some types of pain are a very good thing to work through in seated meditation, like muscle pain from holding a position for an extended period of time. As long as your body is properly aligned, this is like the "pain" you get from working out and it is totally healthy. It strengthens your willpower and resolve while conditioning your body for longer bouts of meditation. Just make sure that you know yourself and can tell the difference between pain that is damaging your body and pain that it strengthening it.

     

    This is very true and I did not mention it in any of my posts. We will always experience some pain while we are training our body to go beyond what has been normal activity in our life. But I will suggest that this pain is good to. Hehehe. It indicates that we are accomplishing something.

     

    Be well!