C T

Yeah, but i get a feeling he aint 'available' to you at this point in time.... Its a two-way thing yes? Thats what Susan said once or twice.

(ahem) but we not that level yet bro.. but thanks for the quick reminder that if Buddha can cook, so can we!! haha (did you ever watch a cooking program on tv years ago called "Wok With Yan"? He was the guy who inspired millions thru his wok skills at creating simple, fuss-less and quick asian food. His tag line, at the end of every program: "If Yan can cook, so can you!" - somehow this has stuck in my head after all these years ) here is a demo of him boning a chicken in 18 secs. but before that he does 'chi gong' first with the bird!!

(ahem) I think you are just being modest here, L1. Usually the more proficient ones would be the first to admit they know not... The higher one goes, the less one needs to know. Less burden, more air-miles!!

Nice post Hundun.. thanks so much for sharing that experience.

Thank you very much Lino We could all do with plenty of them! What's keeping you from the gym i wonder? You need not answer if that's too personal. Meanwhile, i will remember to exercise my discernment, as per your suggestion.

Lino, Why do choose to cling on to these things? Let them go. All your posts lately is showing one form of contraction or another. Are you 'stuck' somehow? I remember a different 'Lino' a few months ago. What happened? Go talk to someone. Isn't Santi your KAP teacher? I think it may help to have a chat with him asap (if he was your KAP facilitator that is). Apologies... sincerely not being judgemental here. Its hard to see someone going thru so much, and clinging so tightly. Much blessings.

Hi RV! I totally resonated with Mark's words too... simple, direct, and no jargon to sieve thru. Zen is wonderful like that. I am sure there are many aspects of Taoist practices that nourishes this settling as well, but i have not been too engaged in learning more about it, so can't really say much more. That's one of the reasons i stick around i guess, cos sometimes there are some 'gems' being offered up, and indeed strikes me as nothing short of brilliance. Much blessings.

Naturally DC. You are absolutely right! Sometimes the harder one seeks the further one steps away from the 'it'. Perhaps its a state of 'allowing' a kind of settling, or resting, that brings about that which is already here. In sitting, for example, there comes a point where one simply lets go of firstly outer distractions, then proceeding inside, the mind chatter slows down, then what is left? At that point what is there to separate one from the stateless state? Getting used to this mode of 'being' is the key, i think, to recognizing one's true nature. Further than this, practice sets the stage for bringing this awareness forward into daily activities, allowing the renewed habits to take over old patterns. Its quite simple really, but never easy.

In your wisdom MH, what do you think this 'it' is?

I think lately i have begun to cease 'looking for...' so intensely.

A lesson is learned albeit hard to practice flying with the gulls...

Here is a cryptic clue: Maybe the reason is precisely because you have been looking 'elsewhere'....

Apparently this right is seen by some to be the exclusive status that belong to those who profess allegiance to Taoism. Its amazing that those who seem so agitated by what they read are the same people who proclaim that their intention here is to learn and share. Well, if i was agitated by someone's words or actions, the first thing i would ask myself is, where does this agitation/aversion arise from? And work at it from there. By screaming at others it only serves to detract me from finding the root cause of the lack of ease in myself. Its almost like a distraction that prevents me from seeing that others too have their stuff to work through, and this forum can often be the very source that reveals things not so much about the projected disdain and ugliness of others, but more so the revelation of my own shortcomings in facing up to where exactly this projection is coming out from. If i can keep this mindfulness, i am usually grand, but at times its easy to lose it, not because there are stupid things being said by others, its simply my own lack of tolerance and acceptance that gets in the way. Perhaps this is one of the ways to grow thru learning, no? If everyone agrees with everyone else, what is the point of discussions? Look at some of the Taoist philosophy threads... All one sees are pats on the back and sweet exchanges of niceties, like 10 responses tops, all congratulatory in nature, all in agreement of sorts. "Yeah, i feel the same, this is it, the way its meant to be, i realized it and so on", and thats the end of the thread. Discourses are meant to incite deeper introspections into what makes us want to tick, and what ticks us off. Often these do not create too much comfort. Should it be that comfort is what one seeks, then perhaps this is not the place to get it. So what if its not? No need to throw tantrums around, and blame others for one's own inability to rise above the convoluted frailties of online discussions. just some reflections...

its Brazilian Which one? The duck or the wax? Could be Spanish too...

I was making a generalized observation that different mystical traditions may have their own unique methods/teachings to lead its practitioners deeper into the studies of the processes that happen at death and beyond. I believe these revelations are often the privy of the very few truly serious students who would have spent years with one particular master, for example, and are then imparted with the 'secrets' so to speak. Of course you are most correct in saying that there is also plenty of superfluous attributes surrounding this aspect of life that unfortunately is capitalized by religionists for the purpose of enriching coffers. Death costs too much nowadays... ridiculous. Where i come from, some of the 'priests' who specializes in praying for the departed charges exorbitant fees for their services. They often arrive at the funeral house in their sleek Mercedes 350 SLK or BMW 735s. Seriously. And these are the Taoist priests i am referring to. (please - this is not putting down Taoism btw.) Its a fact. And this happens because all the rich people in my country are mostly Taoists, and can therefore afford to pay top dollar to ensure they get the best for the smooth transition of their loved ones. Sometimes i wish that death was absolute. There would be so much less grief and people will save tons of money to look after the comforts in the 'life' after life.

Based on this premise, if death were that final, you would not be here now, would you? Do you not at least see some of your ancestors 'living' in and through you? Well not completely in the physical sense, but in the 'traits' sense? Would you not say some parts of your parents, for example, has taken form in this person called 'you'? This is only one way to see that death may not be that final... There could well be other ways of verifying for those who are open and willing enough to explore further. Time to move on, i guess.

I think the core message Little1 is putting across is: Cease bickering like little toddlers nudging for playground space!! :lol: But your explanation is a good reminder too, to keep the thoughts of liberation fresh.

Yes the sage is like a child... in all stages as one whole unfolding. So even when one reaches 90, the mind can still 'hit the floor running..." I do not think it was very accurate to take the one presumed view of an individual to reflect against the general presumed views of the vast majority of Taoists, yes? If you hold the general notion that all Buddhists are as depressed as that individual portrayed, then i do not know what else to say except its a flabbergasting way of looking at others, considering you seem to know the right ways of looking at all things? If you are as enthused about life as you say (which is great btw) then how can you so easily be taken in by the little irritations that confronts you, as evidenced by some of your responses? Not all though, just some...

preserves the best, though that's how the Chinese keep ducks by waxing them all... Astounded? Have a look - http://www.malaysiabest.net/2005/11/27/the-waxed-ducks-have-landed/

Good to know you are a man who can bend with the wind Starjumper. This 'waiting' you mentioned is common perhaps to all hermits from all the different traditions? Each waiting for their own whatever. Who can really say what the inner being awaits eh? Maybe the joy is in the waiting, not so much that which is waited for. Is this not another way of looking at developing the eternal virtue of patience? In your esteemed opinion, how do you see Taoists cultivating patience? Is patience a fundamentalistic notion too? Your thoughts?

yes, all actions and thoughts become inseparably spontaneous, without the need for any compartmentalizations and prior motives. Brushing teeth and sitting becomes one continuous action of flow sort of way... Thanks!

You just said above you do not need to read anything?

maybe it means attaining to the kind of wisdom that no longer needs to dwell on any opposable, subjective realities. Prajnaparamita - Transcendent Wisdom? Whatever is thrown up one is able to see that it is never a dead-end street. Always resting in the joyous acknowledgement that one can go beyond... Being (also referring to the person) able to rest continuously in this state one cast no shadows, for shadows appear only where arising/ceasing duality exists, and furthermore, this dualistic existence only has time to manifest when one is caught in the 'self'. Without being caught where is the platform for duality to stand on? One-pointed wisdom -wisdom gone beyond - adamantine wisdom - wisdom without equal... are some of the inadequate descriptions of this kind of abiding-in. -------- When thoughts are allowed to come and go without any self-referencing in the manipulation of their subtle movements, these energies get less room to leave any imprints (shadows). I think this is also similar to the Sitting in Oblivion of the Tao tradition. -------- (Just a couple of ways of interpreting the above. Hope you dont mind my butting in Mr Songs. Btw i just read what you wrote in the 'new age bullies' thread - it was excellent! Bravo!)

A lotus flower blooms in the day, and closes to rest at night. It needs no other distractions. Even meditation can be a distraction, if it does not lead to listening and abiding in natural flows. My fav distraction is to visualize the opening of a bluish lotus ascending to the crown in the a.m. and as i go to sleep, it folds in and returns to the heart center. When there is mindfulness, i can usually see a yidam on the lotus-seat as well... once in a while i can manage to see some emanations of streams of light flowing out, touching and blessing those who come into the field of vision. Its quite easy to rest in this state when there is some kind of letting-go process put in place. Any subtle mind agitations of clinging or aversion usually disrupts the 'remaining in'.