Eric23

Hamill translates it as: The sage does not venture forth and yet knows, does not look and yet names, does not strive and yet attains completion. Without getting all hung up on texts and translation, this resonates with me in my native tongue

After watching my father suffer for over 2 years with severe CBD, seeing him holding on in shear misery, his passing was anything but harmful. In fact, his caretakers and health providers did indeed cause more harm by keeping him alive those last couple of weeks.

Alan Watts in The Watercourse Way likens Tao to electricity. We can measure, use, discuss, transmit, generate, develop theories about electricity. However no one has actually defined it, what usually passes as a definition is really a description of what it does.

Living is a continual series of choices. I believe what Lao Zu is teaching is that in some circumstances our best action is to do no thing. That does not mean that in some other situation definitive action shouldn't be taken. Presumably, the sage takes the correct action in every situation.

"do no thing" is very different than "do nothing"

Breath through the nose. On the inhale the belly should rise, indicating proper diaphragm function.

The authors of UTB specifically warned not to massage inside the belly button. Of course I couldn't help myself It was a jolt like 3 shots of espresso, couldn't sleep at all that night. Have left it alone since. Get lots of intense, healing action at pts 7 & 9 however.

As I understand Chi Nei Tsang/Unwinding the Belly, the navel was the portal for our nourishment and elimination of wastes in the womb. Although the umbillical cord is cut off at birth, the underlying subtle body structure remains. By working the belly, we touch deeply held conditions. Been working with Unwinding the Belly for several years now; very deep, profound practice.

Damn! I was 2 weeks early

Just a spontaneous, off the wall thought that came to me while reading this chapter. Could the motion of the Tao being connected to the breath?

Otis- YouTube is blocking the video Barb- Your OP was wonderful. Those "ah ha" moments are priceless.

Really cool! The imagery that I recognized was a young kid just having fun, pure play, burning off energy. Also had the visual quality of the skateboarding videos I see on FuelTV.

Ah! Some new imagery for butoh. For a more complete body workout, imagine you're taking a shower. Manitou, actually move your body for sure.

That would be very cool. However the deep grip that "the system" has on us in the developed part of the world makes me wonder if it could ever happen. I'm talking about the banking system, technology etc; the underlying infrastructure that one has to be linked in with to purchase goods and secure shelter. It would probably take a global crisis event to break down that infrastructure to where one could slip out (presuming one survives the crisis). Reading both chapters 38 & 39, I was struck by how our rulers (all of them, political, educational, business) operate in complete antithesis of Lao Zu's advice.

Beauty and ugliness have one origin Name beauty, and ugliness is. Recognizing virtue recognizes evil. Is and not is produce one another. The difficult is born in the easy, long is defined by short, the high by the low. Instrument and voice achieve one harmony. Before and after have places. That is why the sage can act without effort and teach without words, nurture things without possessing them, and accomplish things without expecting merit: only one who makes no attempt to possess it cannot lose it. TTC chapter 2 (Hamill) Since this is a Taoist discussion forum.

Hamill's translation has a Buddhist twist (IMO). Tao does nothing, but leaves nothing undone. If rulers could grasp this, all things would transform themselves. Transformed, old desires would be stilled by a simplicity without name. Released from desires, we find peace. And the world settles itself. Living in the desert has it's gardening challenges. I have the usual "approved" plants that everyone seems to have in their yards. Now that I'm around the house a lot more, I've started a small herb garden and some Morning Glories (flying saucers)from seed. Been rewarded with beautiful flowers.

Thanks for the book recommendation, looks very interesting. You might also want to look into Chi Nei Tsang.

Lord Herbert Irving-Fountain here.

Sat down with a fresh cup of masala chai and read it through. Thank you for sharing, very illuminating.

Thanks for the post. Have put a book or two of his on my wishlist.

First I wish the best for your husband and you. Secondly, a quote from the writer M Ventura My link "Remember the Sufi tale that admonishes against looking for cause and effect in the same story. Cause and effect aren't linear."

I've been around here for a while now. My observation is that TTB's is a constantly evolving community. If you don't like the subject matter of the posts you've been reading lately or think things are getting boring, stick around, it will change. While I liked the back and forth banter of the un-moderated days, it could get very ugly. At first, being a part of this community was so educational. I was learning new things every day, finding new practices to try etc. Now that I'm pretty settled on my practice, a lot of the discussion seems to repeat itself. I can relate to the "Oh God, not another post about ejaculation" sentiment. A lot of that has to do with my personal place of being at a point where I need to just do my practice, not read about it or talk about it, just do it consistently. However TTB's remains a wellspring of information. These days, the most rewarding part of participating in this community is developing on-line friendships.

The first thing that popped into my mind when reading this chapter is the difference between Tao and the prevalent western concept of God up in heaven manipulating the earth and earthlings like puppets. Tao is not "up there" somewhere; this chapter speaks of it being right here, right now.

I grew up in Sedona and the family still owns a house there. We took the kids to the UFO Diner all the time. I have been to Zion, spectacular hiking. Bryce Canyon is equally breathtaking. There are numerous canyons in the entire Colorado Plateau worth exploring

Pick up a copy of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Great Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo.