Aaron

Hello SZ, I never said that every time someone wants to hurt you, it's with a gun, you're implying something that isn't there, I said, that if one really wants to defend themselves, a gun would be better. Some things you can't avoid, but most of the time, as someone else pointed out, if you're in a place where you need to fight, you've probably put yourself in that place. The Tao Teh Ching has nothing to do with fighting, not even remotely. Martial Arts came as a result of a need to defend oneself in a time when people were still using spears, swords, and bows and arrows. The people studying these arts were Taoist so they applied Taoist concepts to their martial arts, but that doesn't mean that Lao Tzu ever encouraged martial arts as a means of wu-wei or as an expression of Tao. I appreciate that you wanted to clarify the mistakes in my argument, but I would recommend that you spend some time clarifying what I've said in the future, before responding. After all my comment would be considered hard, perhaps the best response would've been soft. Aaron

I think in order to fully absorb the concepts that have been espoused here, one must keep in mind the words of Billy Joel, "Only the good die young." After you have thought upon this deep saying, I would add that the length of one's life is not determined by his good health alone. Being healthy isn't going to help you if you get hit by a bus. Perhaps, more important than the physical well being is one's awareness of his place in the universe? Understanding the Tao is the key to longevity, after all, we were here before we were born and we'll be here long after we die. The physical body decays, only that part of us that is the Tao will live forever. I'm not a follower of martial arts, so I can't talk to you about yin and yang, or chi, but I can say that if you practice martial arts without cultivating the mind also, you are missing out on much of what the Tao Teh Ching teaches. I think if you really want to work from the ground up, become aware of the principles of Tao and the rest will fall into place. With all that said, Chapter 40 of the TTC comes to mind as a passage that might support my comments. Aaron

If you think Tao is about self-defense, you need to wake up. There isn't a fist in the universe that can stop a bullet. If you want to defend yourself, go buy a glock, if you want to learn how to stay alive without having someone beat the crap out of you, then read the Tao Teh Ching... it's about avoiding conflict. Aaron

I'm not sure if this is how the Tao Teh Ching would advocate making decisions. It's no so much about either/or as it is about being in harmony with the world around you. I think the explanation is a bit quick and simplistic. When I make a decision I look at three factors, is it going to harm me? Is it going to harm someone else? Can I get by without doing it? If the answer is 'no' to these three questions, then I can feel a bit more comfortable making that decision. If you think too much about what you're doing, then you're needlessly worrying. Think as much as you have to and let the rest go. You'll free yourself of a lot of frustration. Aaron

Hello Marblehead, The chapter you are referring to is 59, not actually 46. I thought perhaps you were writing a book and this is Chapter 46 of that book, you might want to clarify which chapter you're referring to and which translation so it's easier for people to understand what's being talked about. In response to your comments, I've seen this translated as frugality and not sparing, which changes the meaning completely. Sparing means you're holding back what you spend, frugality means your think before you spend and only spend on what you need to. I think Lao Tzu is advocating the latter. I'm not sure if I can appreciate the text that follows Chapter 59 of the ttc, it seems a bit abstract, but perhaps it's because of the translation. Aaron

Hello, I thought it might be nice to introduce myself. I've been studying the Tao Teh Ching for awhile. I've read the Zhaungzhi and I-Ching as well, but I feel mostly drawn to the Tao Teh Ching. I try to meditate every day. I look forward to getting to know the other members of the community. Aaron