~jK~

You don't know how many time I have kicked my own butt for not referencing all the credits. Sad thing is is that it would be impossible for me to do that now because many of the sources were from a number of different libraries that I checked out over twenty years ago. Yes, I put this thing together over twenty years ago.

 

My intention was that it was a personal undertaking for only myself and I had no intention of sharing it with anyone.

 

Prior to my posting it here there were only two or three people I had shared it with.

 

The reason I decided to share it here was because I felt there was a lack of discussions of Taoism considering this forum is named "Tao Bums".

 

So to all of those who wish I had done a better job, I apologize. In my next life I promise to do better.

 

Peace & Love!

I repeat:

Marble one,

The Tao was created to make Order from Chaos.

Now - it is your turn - I am curious where you are going with it.

Source:

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/14417-the-coming-war-of-words-aimed-at-recreating-a-new-dark-ages-for-humanity/page__p__188468entry188468

Please do not try to find correspondance betweeen my "chpters and the chapters of the TTC. There are none.

 

There is, in my opinion, a natural flow of concepts within themes of my "chapters" that are being presented.

 

I am not re-writing anything. I am simply presenting what has already been written by Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu in a different format.

 

Once again, and I have said this many times, my "chapters" are not the chapters of the TTC. My "chapters" are the concepts that are presented within the TTC. There are more than 81 concepts in the TTC. There are more than 81 "chapters" to what I am presenting.

 

And again, I am not trying to make anything 'better'. All I am attempting is to enhance the understanding of anyone who reads my posts.

Peace & Love!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please do not try to find correspondance betweeen my "chpters and the chapters of the TTC. There are none.

I am not re-writing anything. I am simply presenting what has already been written by Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu in a different format.

Do you read what you write? It seems total confusion between one paragraph and the next.

Have Fun !

I'm going to quit wasting time.

That is not true, you know.

 

What I am presenting are the words of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.

 

I never claimed that what I am presenting is my thoughts or interpretation because it is not.

 

My only intention is to help others understand Philosophical Taoism more completely by presenting writings by Lao Tzu supported by comments from Chuang Tzu of the same concept.

 

How can you claim to speak for everyone on this forum? How do you know that what I am presenting is not helping anyone? I have had many people tell me that it has helped them understand a concept. Are you suggesting that these people are lying just so they can inflate my ego?

 

I always respond to comments made to the "chapters" I am presenting. I think it is very unfair to criticize my efforts to help others understand Taoist Philosophy.

 

In you assertion above against what I am doing is nothing less than suggesting that every one who has ever translated the TTC and Chuang Tzu are trying to improve on the writings. This is an obscene thought, IMO.

 

Please do not put on me something that I am not doing. I have not re-written anything. I have only re-order what is already written. That is all. What I am presenting does not include any of my own interpretations. They are the words of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.

 

You and everyone else are more than welcome to comment on or question anything that is presented in any of the "chapters" I am presenting and I will make every effort to find the exact translation and where that passage can be found.

 

If what I am doing has helped only one person understand just one Taoist concept then I think my efforts have been of value. While what I am presenting my not be helping you please do not pretend to speak for every member on this forum.

 

Sincere Thanks,

Marbles

Which translation are you quoting?

I've read several translations as well as made my own translation as well as worked with my Chinese friends that were studying TTC - None of them even come close to what you are writing.

"Taoist Philosophy Chapter 44 - The Way Of Tao Is Different But Easy #1 Marblehead

 

Tao Bum!

 

Group:

The Tao Bums Posts:

4,284 Joined:

08-July 09 Posted 21 May 2010 - 05:07 PM

 

My words are very easy to understand

And to put into practice,

Yet few in the world

Are capable of understanding them

And putting them into practice.

 

While the crowd is feasting at a great sacrifice

Or going up to the terraces

For the springtime festivities,

I remain alone in impassive immobility,

Like an infant who has not yet learned how to smile;

I am like a homeless wretch.

 

While others have more than enough,

I alone seem to have lost everything.

 

How stupid I look!

How boorish!

How brilliant the people are!

I alone am dull.

How self-assured they are!

I alone am vacillating.

Here is James Legge Translation # 44

"44

Cautions

Or fame or life,

Which do you hold more dear?

Or life or wealth,

To which would you adhere?

Keep life and lose those other things;

Keep them and lose your life:which brings

Sorrow and pain more near?

Thus we may see,

Who cleaves to fame

Rejects what is more great;

Who loves large stores

Gives up the richer state.

Who is content

Needs fear no shame.

Who knows to stop

Incurs no blame.

From danger free

Long live shall he."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The translator James Legge (1815-97) was a first professor of Chinese at Oxford University (1876-97), and took part in preparing the Sacred Books of the East series of 50 volumes between 1879 and 1891. "

http://oaks.nvg.org/tao-legge41-50.html#44

Another, more recent, Translation by D.C. Lau (Lau is a Chinese Sir Name)

44

Your name or your person,

Which is dearer?

Your person or your goods,

Which is worth more?

Gain or loss,

Which is a greater bane?

That is why excessive meanness

Is sure to lead to great expense;

Too much store

Is sure to end in immense loss.

Know contentment

And you will suffer no disgrace;

Know when to stop

And you will meet with no danger.

You can then endure.

http://www.terebess.hu/english/tao/lau.html#Kap44

Remember though, the "chapters" I am posting are not consistent with the chapters of the TTC even though all chapters of the TTC are included.

Intresting in that you think you can improve on one of the greatest philosophical works of a civilization based on philosophy- not religion.

This is not helping anyone understand TTC, it is helping them understand you.

I love sprouts. I think they're like, perhaps the ultimate food. Especially as a source of vegan protein. Mung beans, high in protein the second highest in protein next to soy.

This is a bit that I discovered from pre Sung Dynasty history in China - it will keep you healthy when others don't. In the Sung Dynasty of China, there was a epidemic that was cured by boiling all water and food. -So this process was lost untill recently.

Using Mung Beans

Making a juice extract by sprouting (1/4 to 1/2 of a cup) of the seeds so that they have a root emerging no more than 1/8 inch. It takes about 24 hours to sprout the seeds in the summer.

The process:

I cover them in tap water for about 4 hours & then pour the water away, let them dry for a few hours & cover them with tap water again and repeat the process untill they sprout a root emerging no more than 1/8 inch.

Then put them in a blender with about 3 times as much cold distilled water as seeds.

Blend them with the cold water so that the seeds become like a powder.

Strain the blended seeds & water through a stainless steel wire type filtering seive that you can find at grocery stores & drink the juice while it is fresh.

Throw away the grounds.

To build up your enzyme bank in your pancreas, you will need to do this every 2 or 3 days for a month or 2. Then about once a week. Even if I begin feeling a little sick, if I drink the juice, the illness does not develop.

I keep some of the semi sprouted beans in the refridgerator most of the time & snack on them - but the juice extract is what really works. Be careful eating the beans like a salad as an unsprouted bean can break a tooth...

The juice also acts as a catalyst for the endocrine system to bring hormones into balance.

Read more on the process at these websites:

http://www.living-foods.com/articles/enzymes.html

and

http://www.picosearch.com/cgi-bin/ts.pl

and

http://www.living-foods.com/index.shtml

I have accumulated many books/DVDs/techniques and I am doing my practice but not as diligently and often as I know I could be doing it. When I have done my practice to the best of my ability, I feel absolutely radiant and I shine that towards people all around me and I know the world is a better place because I am being my best and encouraging others to be their best also.For motivation purposes, if anyone would like to post the routine they did that day and the way they felt then by all means keep the inspiration coming.

Nilo, In my opinion, you are at the first few steps into self-realization which is quite a bit further than most - but you are trying.

I'll try to give a few pointers from well over 20 years of practice. It's not aimed at you but rather the group.

This is the method I had to use on myself to begin what I see as a still developing, but so far successful, practice of Taoist/India yoga.

Before getting serious with training, you have got to give up eating desert after desert after desert.

All that mind candy is rotting the head.

Simply put, it is time for meat, potatoes, vegetables and fruit.

Drop the pink sugar candy.

Take a look at the posts and see what the content is about. I see only talk of trendy cute gurus, paying out the nose for teachers that use belief system logic and nonsense that is designed to confuse students into thinking the 'true guru' is something they ain't.

Enough said on the diet.

What I'm hoping for is that a few of you-all begin seeing Taoist Yoga as a practice - beginning with total mind meditation, working through to Kundalini, and then beyond.

It is a practice that -first- gives the practitioner control over their own mind whereas once that is achieved - it develops into exploring the many facets of meditation.

Until this control over your own mind is achieved, nothing else can progress.

To be a bit more real - a weaning off the mind candy will probably need to be done slowly - so here is a bit of 8 videos posted by Steam that will give you an idea of what is to come and the purpose of practice:

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1d9qz_spi...-pt1_shortfilms

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1da00_spi...lity-pt2_people

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1da8v_spi...-pt3_shortfilms

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1dae5_spi...ty-pt4_creation

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1daj2_spi...eality-pt5_blog

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1danq_spi...eality-pt6_news

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1dapv_spi...lity-pt7_people

http://www.dailymotion.pl/video/x1dijt_spi...lity-pt8_school

Here is a web page where I have posted the method to begin.

Firstly - A note on myself - I am from the old Hippie school of meditation/yoga that believes such powerful knowledge should not be sold. It is an obligation that once learned, must be passed on to as many as possible. I began my practice in 1967, mastered my technique about 3 years later but remain practicing the same today with some new additions such as the Kundalini -5 years ago.

Here is a bit from the web page I have just finished on the subject:

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/11802-awakening-psychic-abilities/page__st__120'>http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/11802-awakening-psychic-abilities/page__st__120

6 AM is for mild meditation, a mild way to begin the day - I do about 30 minuites that, I use it to work into Kundalini as described in T5T

To begin - this is a description of the beginning portions of the method:

You must see the nature of the exercises to know both their function and what the exercises needs from you to work.

Yoga is not a pill to pop and wait to get the results. Kundalini is a Yang (energetic) awakening largely of the body - but it will help in preparing you for The Savasana.

6PM is for the Savasana - I usually take a shower to get me into the proper mindset to begin and then work into the Savasana for about 2 hours. (After mastery, this 2 hours drops down to about 15 to 30 min.)

When completed your body should feel like a lump of clay. - It happens one part at a time - first the feet, then the lower legs, then the entire leg etc. After the body is relaxed, then begin the red dot for 15 min. - Once the 15 minutes is completed - with no thoughts or dreams coming into your mind - you can drop the red dot and become totally empty mind meditation.

Please understand - I cannot give suggestions --- what will happen as in the experiences must be your own experience - not my suggestions.

I can only try to help interpret what is happening.

Anyone needing to understand what is happening, e-mail me from my profile.

The Savasana as 100% Yin is the most important portion of Yoga as it ties all the body exercises into the mental - thus completing the circle. And eventually the awakening.

As for understanding the power of Yin - Think this: the Yang power of the sun's Trillions upon Trillions of nuclear reactions occurring within the sun, with each reaction being more than equal to all the nuclear bombs on earth exploding in a millisecond - is lessened to the point of giving the gentle energy required by all life on earth, through the Yin power of distance.

With The Savasana, you are taping into the power of Yin.

The above has largely been from the webpage's final post - here is the begining: http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/11802-awakening-psychic-abilities/

.

Hello to all. I have been exploring the exercise of Testicular Breathing as taught by Mantak Chia.

 

Ummm.. for those of you familiar with this exercise, do I actually flex my testicular muscles when breathing in or do I just imagine/visualize the upwards movement of the testicles in my mind when breathing in?

 

Cos in MC's book, he said not to flex your penis or anus muscles and there is no way I can physically move my testicles upwards and downwards without flexing the penis and/or anus muscles.

 

I will really appreciate any advice from the wiser bros in here cos my health is deteriorating rapidly and I need to improve my health asap.

 

Thank you so much for your kindness.

Interesting concept.

I've been wiggling my ears, my nose eyebrows, scalp, solar plexus(I use the cleansing breath from Yoga), even my brain - just to see If I could do it - and it does work. Flexing my brain as in contracting the two lobes seems to produce melatonin as it makes me sleepy. The rest is amusing to children to watch...

But I never thought about my testicles untill I read this ... It works. They feel a bit warmer than they did a few min. ago and a bit kinky but that is all. Although it should have a little to do with the longetivity as more exercise should help produce more sperm AKA male stem cells...

Hmmm... I think I'll just find me a spot and flex off

.

.

I highly recommend reading Harris' The End Of Faith, especially its last chapter on spirituality. He advocates for a rational spirituality, one that is non-rational but not irrational.

Killing The Buddha, Sam Harris, Shambhala Sun, March 2006.

A few years back, I took some time off and went to Hawaii to see it. I bought a bicycle and rode around and saw.

What I saw astounded me - the USA military was dropping the war vets there and giving them welfare to live on -in tents - in the parks.

There were Massive numbers of them - About the same time, I came across a woman, Ms Joan Chen at China Bazar in Honolulu Dole Canery building, that kept a table for free buddhist literature. It was a very small booklet named "The Heart of a Buddha".

I began distributing this booklet to the vets living in the parks. Grown men that were living in a bottle began to see me and smile for the first time in years...

Hi Bums,

 

I know this is a years-old thread, but what I wanted to share relates to it anyway...

 

I haven't done these rites for ages (must have been 6 months since last time, at least.)

 

This morning I woke up and felt I needed to stretch my back and straighten up (literally speaking) so I did the 5 Rites: Now, I feel great - what a perfect way to start the day!

 

Best regards,

-matt

Ni Hao, devoid.

I've been doing T5T for longer than the book has been out - using the methods as described in Yoga - which is a bit older than all of our ages squared and then cubed a few times.

These exercises; if properly practiced, are the keys to longetivity, total mind meditation, and awakening the of the Kundalini.

You got to begin with the Savasana - here is a page or two that I wrote on it a few months back: http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/11802-awakening-psychic-abilities/

I got to admit to it that I was wrong in giving it the title of: "Awakening Psychic Abilities" as that was only what happened to me. I began calling people that were thinking of me, doing astral projection during the Savasana etc -etc. I still pick up the phone before it rings more than 20 years later and know who is calling.

But there can be no doubt that it was my beginning. And it does begin to open up the channels - but I think the author of T5T may have got a few things azz backwardz.

You got to master the Savasana first - and I do mean MASTER it. 3 months are normal - expect maybe more. It is called the 100 day process by most Taoists.

I've given most of the process at: http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/11802-awakening-psychic-abilities/

- If any Question, write me by clicking on the spinning Flower of Life. and finding my e-mail thing.

Don't worry of how many "years-old thread" it is - the only part of us that can tell time is our body and if you can learn enough - even the body isn't accurate in time telling... Truth be known - our mind has no memory of time - if you are not happy with your now - just rememebr when you were - go to sleep and wake up in the new-old now.

By the way - here is the original book that got T5T started: http://www.kundaliniawakeningsystems1.com/downloads/ancient_secret_of_the_fountain_of_youth_peter_kelder.pdf

Push ups. Does anyone include them in their training regimen and if so, why?

I do the Cobra pose from Yoga, which has a full range of motion on it's style of movement as described in The Five Tibetans(T5T). I do 21 repititions. Among other benefits, it keeps the man boobs off as well as helps to eat away some of the fat in the general vicinity of the heart.

I also do a trick that I picked up long ago of doing sets of repetitions on sit-ups or leg lifts which takes the 21 repetitions times 5 sets = 105 situps while watching TV. If you have been slack during this winter, It will get you back in shape 5 times as quick.

 

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

 

 

 

To the guy asking about a buying a tranmission - Music is a form of transmission.

But to actually know what is happening, you got to play an instrument.

It's kinda like a car - you got to drive it to see if the transmission is working.

After you get it once though - you see it everywhere - Wolves Howl, the wind screams, storms have a beat, the moon tinkles, the sun sizzles and pops to jazz, mountain streams have mozart and beethoven's spirit and refuse to let them rest and all that is just a beggar's begining

And for the life of me, I can't decide if it is a glorious destiny awaiting mankind, or if it is like Revelation's Beast trying to enslave the world.

 

What are your thoughts?

J.Z. ,

In 'differences' - there is always the obvious 'difference' And what you are noticing is happening - but what makes up the difference?

In my post listed below - it points to the difference as being most obvious within the political techniques used on the masses: manipulative techniques AKA: the 'belief systems of religions' VS Structured systems of logic and philosophy.

The Structured system being contained within this parameter:

Confucius said of History:

"Those that do not remember History are Doomed to Repeat it."

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/14417-the-coming-war-of-words-aimed-at-recreating-a-new-dark-ages-for-humanity/

I have read various parts of different texts explaining the I-Ching, but I feel myself easily discouraged by the amount of I-Ching translations out there. The only thing really stopping me from using the book is the fear of picking the wrong translation, and becoming misdirected or confused, or god forbid, "enlightened". So I turn to you people here. Which translation would you recommend, which would you stay away from, and why?

In studying the I Ching the levels of communication of the ancient Chinese become increasingly apparent.

First point that needs to be understood is that I Ching is a style of writing that was developed so as to examine a subject from 8 major perspectives with many minor variations.

In Chinese they use the term 'Ba Gua' which literally means 'Language of 8' when refering to the I Ching or, as they like to call it: 'Yi Jing'. Yi is an ancient dialect meaning 'Changes of the Sun and Moon enghtenment: which is Chinese for the term: "Understanding".

First book to get is 'The Pocket I Ching' http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-I-Ching-W-S-Boardman/dp/1850630003

An essential point of the book is to understand that it is describing Governing.

It is a very simplified version of the King Wen,Duke of Chow classic I Ching known as the Richard Wilhelm Translation.

Second book would be: The Buddhist I Ching (Shambhala Dragon Editions) [Paperback]

Chih-Hsu Ou-I Translated by Thomas Cleary

http://www.amazon.com/Buddhist-Ching-Shambhala-Dragon-Editions/dp/1570626030

There is not only one subject covered by the I Chng but to ate, I have found 4 subjects.

Enough for now.

When you are ready to ask questions, write me direct - just click on the Flower of Life and use the informatiion in my profile to E-mail me direct.

Hey guys!

 

This probably isn't in the right section... but I really look up to you guys and would appreciate any input.

 

I finished school late last year and STILL haven't even had a job. Going to be 19 in July. I do realise that this is due largely to laziness... but I have been unable to identify any career path that would even slightly interest me in going down... nothing I have found resonates with me in any way. All besides spirituality -- but I am no Guru and have no profound knowledge. Like many I am but a complete beginner at this too. Currently there is pretty much zero direction in my life and as a result there is next to zero motivation for even doing anything about it.

 

It would be great if you guys could help me out one way or another; suggest a direction, help me out of this irksome psychological pit, etc... any advice of any kind.

 

Thanks everyone -- you guys are awesome.

 

Hey guys!

 

This probably isn't in the right section... but I really look up to you guys and would appreciate any input.

 

Thanks everyone -- you guys are awesome.

 

Hi Fat - don't worry - there will be a new military draft before long and you can go see the world for free! Just wait and see !

If you join now - you can go into the Navy where they have good food. - Later all Navy dudes get side swiped into the Marines where they teach you which parts of bugs is tasty

 

and i've heard people say that you can get chi from a dvd or even reading the forum, although what this says about my notion of reality...

thanks yall...

MUCH LOVE

Hey - as long as you ain't got a Toyota - don't worry just drive it normal.

Have been having kundalini experiences for the past two years now and they have not been well to say the least. My third eye is starting to open and I am having semi-clear visions of snake entities, snake eyes, and sometimes a blue eye (I have brown eyes) that is in the center of my head. I also am developing clairvoyance outside of my inner eye.

 

Anyways..I would like some people to share their kundalini experiences they have had and share some good ways to deal and develop the energy.

There is a Yin and a Yang to all.

Kundalini, relying on movement, is Yang.

Savasana, being pure meditation, is Yin.

Cost of doing things assbackwards is only your Time AKA: Life.

To see the truth in Kundalini movements, one first must master the Yin.

You can request FREE trial here.

Oleg, the 'I Ching' or in traditional Chinese: 'BaGua' is a system of writing books based on examining the subject from 8 diferent perspectives. It gives the author and the reader the ability to have a more orderly examination of the subject - an order that is mirrored throughout nature.

.

Evolution in the manner that a person goes from stage 0 to

clearing stage 5 in the Order of Sariputta. "Reincarnation"

in the manner talked about is the same bullshit that the

church perpetuates. It is meant to shame you and it is

garbage. It is social engineering.

Actually, in Buddhism, the philosophy is pointed at people taking responsibility for their actions AKA Karma repercusions.

I have to completely REJECT previous lifetimes. It is so-called

"higher-self/lower self" dodo. It is a conjob where somebody else's

sins are passed on to you. It is the same "everybody is born a sinner"

garbage that the churches play. I reject it because it is bullshit that

is supposed to "shame" you. It is social engineering.

 

Alcohol has medicinal value.

I take it that you cannot understand evolution?

Try this:

Evolution is proof of reincarnation.

5 words.

Hydrogen peroxide cleans better than alcohol.

Let me remember... alcohol is made by... oh yea! Alcohol is the feces of bacteria.

Hydrogen peroxide is made by rain water falling through the air. AKA: Feng Shui.