Marblehead

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Posts posted by Marblehead

  2. Posted · Edited by Marblehead

    Hi Wolf,

     

    Welcome!

     

    May you enjoy your time here.

     

    (That sounds like a full-blown quest you have lined up for yourself. Best Wishes!)

     

    Be well!

  5. Hi

    in Welcome

    Posted

    Hi Lifeforce,

     

    Welcome!

     

    May you enjoy your time here.

     

    "Life force" is a term I frequently use when talking about our personal Chi.

     

    Be well!

  6. Posted

    Hi Ledd,

     

    Here is a link to many different translations: http://terebess.hu/english/lexikon/l.html

     

    My favorites would be Lin Yutang and Robert G Henricks

     

    As to Chuang Tzu, which can be found at the same site, my favorites would be Burton Watson and Lin Yutang although the last time I looked at it Lin's translation was not complete (didn't include all the chapters).

     

    Be well!

  8. Posted

    Hi Zedd,

     

    Welcome!

     

    Have you met Dallas Alice yet? (Sorry, just couldn't resist that.)

     

    I have nothing against Mormons. In fact, I lived with a Mormon woman for about six months.

     

    Okay. Serious. Hehehe.

     

    Have you read Chuang Tzu yet? Whenever I am asked, I always recommend two or three different translations of the Tao-Te Ching, read Chaung Tzu, then go back and re-read the Tao-Te Ching. This process worked very well for me.

     

    May you enjoy your time here.

     

    Be well!

  11. Posted

    Hi Magitek,

     

    First, Welcome!

     

    May you enjoy your time here.

     

    Actually, it sounds like you have a very good start. Question everything you think you know. Once you realize how little you really 'know' you will be able to start fresh.

     

    (Yes, we need to earn a living so that we can attend to our basic needs; afterall, little matters if our basic needs are not satisified.)

     

    Be well!

  12. Posted

    Hi Alfa,

     

    Second, what's the result that one hopes to obtain? I know people will say we shouldn't expect anything to happen, but without a result in view, it's so hard to keep the motivation alive.

     

    It is my understanding that meditation is for the purpose of clearing one's mind so that they can become aware of reality as it truely is, without preconceptions or biases.

     

    True, we shouldn't 'expect' anything because when we do we are placing limits on our cleansing of our mind.

     

    I often meditate while walking - I become a part of everything else and loose my self-identity.

     

    There are soooo many ways to meditate. Use whatever technique that works for you. And never force anything - if you force it it is not natural.

     

    It is my experience that the only result I can define is a clearness of mind which leads to greater awareness.

     

    Best Wishes!

     

    Be well!

  16. Posted

    Hi All,

     

    I just want to repeat this in hopes that more people will read it:

     

    Thus, from the reference of Laozi, to desire is to have a lack or a deficiency within. The object of our desire is what we believe will fill the 'cavities' that we perceive within ourselves. One of Integral Nature is self-fulfilled and is thus free from desire.

     

    Thanks Stigweard!

     

    Be well!

  18. Posted

    Hi Butcho,

     

    Nice post.

     

    I do have something to say here though. It is regarding history.

     

    I have heard it said, and I hold to this, that we should try to understand our history because with this understanding we will understand why we are at this specific place at this specific point in time.

     

    Once we understand where we are we can determine where we would like to be and then determine which path we think we should follow in order to get there.

     

    Of course, in Taoist philosophy there really is no destination. It is all about the journey. But without holding (very lightly) to our history, that is, where we were, do we know if we are going somewhere or if we are standing still.

     

    Be well!

  21. Posted

    Hi Lakenvelder,

     

    Welcome!

     

    May you enjoy your time here.

     

    Just a note. If you are reading into the religious aspect of Taoism you should be aware that you are going to find just as much mythology, rites, rituals, and ceremonies as you knew in the Catholic religion.

     

    In the most part, religions differ greatly from their philosophical roots.

     

    Be well!

  22. Posted

    Hi Guys,

     

    I don't remember who the translator was but in the intorduction of the translation to his/her Tao-Te Ching it was stated that, in that person's opinion, Taoism is more compatible with the sciences than any other belief system he/she knew of.

     

    I totally agree with this opinion. Taoism teaches us to observe, observe, observe and then form as few fixed opinions as absolutely necessary (things change, you know). Science teaches the same thing except their guide is to state as few facts as necessary until the proof has been verified.

     

    Be well!

  24. Posted

    That is interesting to me because it provides support for my understanding that we have more than just our brain that is the cause of conscious and subconscious thoughts, etc; we have a mind, which is our total nervous system.

     

    I personally hold to the concept that it is from these other areas of our bodyas well as our brain that we recieve 'inspiration'. (I don't know if I stated that well.)

     

    Be well!