OneSeeker

If we were to define "limitless" as something without a limit and is without a height, weight, width, beginning, end, or is measurable.

potential does have limits, and a beginning and end. Also facing a blank canvass and producing a picture or any other type of art such as literature or music is dependent on imagination, which is dependent on a human mind and its previous experiences or information. Which are all limited.

 

I really want to get to the bottom of this to find something truly limitless as I have been thinking about this for a long time.

 

Something that:

 

Has no height, weight, width, shape, beginning, end, is not measurable and doesnt depend on anything for its own existance.

 

Sorry if I ask too many questions, but in a topic that uses words that can be so loaded and misunderstood I may need to. This forum has many great minds and although we often disagree, we try to be truthful and compassionate.

The more questions, the better, in my opinion. Maybe the reason you're in perplexity about this is that "definition" means "limit." So you're limiting the limitless by defining it.

Marblehead's comment that "The first word that came to mind is 'Tao'" seems very true. I'd add "the One" from my Philosophy background. In either case, it's just giving a name to something ultimately indefinable and indescribable, which can be known only by the non-dualistic, non-verbal mind.

So maybe the solution is to treat your question as a koan, not to receive a specific answer but to receive a flash of direct insight.

Here I go indulging my addiction to intellectualism, apologies in advance:

In Greek philosophy, the first "moment" of manifestation is precisely the meeting of Unlimited and Limit. Plato's unwritten doctrine expressed it as the One (beyond limit or unlimitedness) producing the Indefinite Dyad (i.e., Unlimited and Limit). Plotinus later described the Dyad as Being and Essence, the point being that for something to Be, it must not only Be, it must be Something. The similarity to the Tao giving rise to Yin and Yang seems self-evident to me, but I could be overreaching.

On another level, that which has no limit or form is the chaos of pure matter, the lowest or farthest extension of the creative impulse. It has no power to produce or create but can only receive Form from the greater powers.

Wowie, things sure are different up there. The last time I watched the local news from Richmond, the top story was about a tree branch falling on a parked car. I'm not kidding.

This is exactly why I signed up with Tao Bums. Seems like every time I take a deep breath or a good stretch, I find another blockage. Thanks for the link.

Thanks for the welcome.

Marblehead

Posted Today, 04:51 PM

 

Hi OneSeeker,

 

Welcome!

 

May you enjoy your time here.

 

I didn't know they allowed Buddhists or Taoists to live in Virginia.

 

Peace & Love!

I'm not sure they allow anyone to live in Virginia, mostly it's just existing. But it's better than South Carolina.

Sect-wise, there's actually a little of everything here, but most of the diversity is in the D.C. suburbs; they have everything from Anabaptists to Zoroastrians up there. Real Virginians consider that foreign territory, though.

drewhempel

Posted Today, 05:36 PM

 

You'll get mooned around here. Loonies. But that is the state bird of Minnesota -- the Loon.

Excellent choice. I'm thinking of suggesting we drop the cardinal here and adopt the turkey vulture instead.

New to this forum, not totally new to Taoism. I've taken a roundabout route - studied Buddhism and Taoism (among other traditions) for quite a few years, then found myself circling back through Western esotericism/mysticism. Now that I've thoroughly digested Platonism, especially Plotinus' version, I'm convinced it's in agreement in all essential aspects with Taoism and Buddhism:

1. Physical reality is impermanent, constantly changing, ultimately illusory.

2. Desire for material things, worldly achievement, etc., produces nothing but suffering and rebirth.

3. Behind the ever-changing appearances of the physical world, there exists something eternal and unchanging.

4. Sense-perceptions and discursive thinking can't apprehend this transcendent reality, but the source of our thinking and being, non-discursive Mind, inherently knows the indescribable One.

And so on. I'm interested in getting past the philosophical/intellectual approach and more into actual practice. For various reasons I feel most drawn to Taoist teachings on meditation and so on. I've read some of the books on the subject and am working on my own, but I know there are dangers in solitary work. That's one reason why I signed up here, to see what others are experiencing and to ask for advice when necessary.

In addition, if there are any Taoist groups around the greater Richmond, Va., area, or if anyone else here would be interested in getting something going, I'd be happy to get involved.