PGawley

The Dao Bums
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    19

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by PGawley

  1. Posted · Edited by PGawley

    Hi Rara,

     

    What I was trying to say is that Kajenx and ChiDragon have a fundamentally different understanding of what a sage is. I read this recently which kind of nailed it for me (from Taoism The Enduring Tradition - Russell Kirkland, p191 - The Cultivated Life).

     

    "Hence, the starting point for making our lives into what they should be is learning to discriminate between a fruitless existence - mere survival, then pointless death - on the one hand, and a form of true living on the other hand - living in accord with what really is, and engaging in a fruitful process of spiritual development. That learning process was never simply a matter of thinking certain thoughts about life and trying to put them into action [ChiDragon's and I think your position]. That approach would be as fruitless as living without regard for life's realities. Rather, the Taoist life consists in a process that is focused on a change in experiential awareness. [Kajenx's position]"

     

    It took me a long time to get this because it is so, so far away from the Western Judeo-Christian mindset that it may as well be from Jupiter. Kajenx has made another very good post about getting into this mode of experiential awareness and he is much further down this path I am. I believe that it is about interrupting consciousness; its our conscious mind that produces unhelpful illusions. In the past I've always tried to use my conscious mind and rationality to resolve a lot of live's problems - which is madness because ultimately the conscious mind is the source of most of these problems in the first place :-)

     

    P

    • Like 3

  2. Posted · Edited by PGawley

    ChiDragon,

     

    You've articulated yourself very well. Basically you and Kajenx have a very different understanding of what a sage is.

     

    I think that difference is at a very fundamental level.

     

    You can bat this back and forward a bit but I don't think there's any more to be said really.

     

    P

    • Like 1

  10. Posted

    Thanks Deci, thats very helpful.

     

    Volume 2 of Cleary's 'The Taoist Classics' contains...

    • Understanding Reality (Chang Po-Tuan with commentary by Liu I-Ming)
    • The Inner Teachings of Taoism (Chang Po-Tuan with commentary by Liu I-Ming)
    • The Book of Balance and Harmony (13th Century Anthology of the School of Complete Reality)
    • Practical Taoism (a collection of quotations and practical explanations from the Northern School of Complete Reality)

    It also contains an excellent and very helpful foreward by Cleary. Its a nice bundle and I'd highly recommend it.

  11. Posted

    hi PG❤ Awakening to the Tao lies in the dim mists of high mountain air. It is a lovely primer I recommend highly. My dharma pal and (don't climb any more) former climbing partner and long-time initiate associated in one Bay Area Tibetan lineage, would bring that when we'd go climb rock+ice in the Sierras. I was shown proper meditation posture and have me sit while throwing rocks at my knees— I forget why that was necessary, but I never once forgot to say OUCH!

     

    These books were written before ISBN numbers— just be glad they have titles in English and do some digging!! heehee!!❤

    I'll keep digging,thank you. I added the ISBN number to my post.

     

    I was keen to know what you thought you the book (Awakening to the Tao) as I rate it very highly. Its very accesible, probably due to the fact that its relatively modern (18th CE). I agree it is a great primer. My reading is a loop of....

     

    Awakening To The Tao

    The Secret of the Golden Flower [iSBN: 978-0-06-250193-6]

    and Volume 2 of Cleary's 'The Taoist Classics' [iSBN:978-1-57062-906-8]

     

    I also dip into Cleary's translation of 'The Art Of War' [iSBN: 0-87773-452-6] and his translation of 'The Taoist I Ching' [iSBN: 1-59030-260-5] with commentary by Lui-I-Ming.

     

    Having said that, reading is one thing, practice is another. Any advice on approach would be most welcome. Actually any advice on reading approach would be great i.e. how to read if you know what I mean.

  12. Posted · Edited by PGawley

    Deci,

     

    Have you read 'Awakening to the Tao' [iSBN:1-59030-344-X] by Lui-i-ming, translated by Cleary?

     

    Can you update with above post with the ISBN numbers of your copies? Thanks

     

    P

     

    Edit: added ISBN number

  14. Posted

    The last line of the Kuei ku tzu (Master of Demon Valley) states that "The reason that sages value the subtlety of the Way is truly because it can change peril into safety, rescue the ruined and enable them to survive."

     

    I bring this up because the course of alchemy from the very beginning is one of subtlety. Finding the medicines, operating the firing process producing the elixir, the timing of intensity and ease without deviation or slip-up is all based on a profound subtlety. Each individual's situation is unique, but the elements of refinement are the same for both sexes. The requirement is a natural and intuitive affinity.

     

    Please use the books and bring up comments and sticking points in order to clarify confusion.

     

    Thanks Deci belle, your point on subtlety is very helpful. The subtle by its very nature is easy to miss! I'm currently studying Understanding Reality. I've barely scratched the surface but I'm already noticing benefits. I'll post questions and comments as I come across them.

     

    P

  15. Posted

    Thanks for that, Zero - I read the article and I agreed with absolutely everything, down to the bone....until they got to the last paragraph about immortality and longevity. I've never quite understood the emphasis on that.

     

    But that could be the shamanic component of my inner practice speaking. Death, as you well know, is an advisor to the shaman and the shaman is in intimate terms with death. Interesting that the focus changes slightly in both traditions, daoist and shamanic. The shaman is close to death, the Quanzhen apparently wants to stay as far away from it as possible.

     

    Thomas Cleary writes the following in the introduction to his translation of "Understanding Reality"...

     

    In sum, the aim of Complete Reality Taoism is to be a "real human being" rather than a willy-nilly product of socio-cultural accident, to be fully awake, autonomous, capable of exercising free will and of perceiving reality directly rather than through artificial constructs

     

    My understanding of Internal alchemy is the process of breaking down acquired conditioning (learnt behaviour/thought patterns) to see things as they really are (as much as that is possible).

     

    P

    • Like 1

  16. Posted

    :)Hi im messaging with regard to complete reality taoism aswell as the book of balance and harmony which i hold very important to spiritual work but it wouldnt let me so im asking others aswell.

    Im really trying to find others who study and read complete reality taoism - does anyone know of anyone or anywhere i can exchange ideas or learn.

    I feel its essential for me to find people who know this field as although i have read extensively on this field i feel without help im just walking into walls.

    Anyway hope this makes sense and if you would like to send me a message feel free to do so.

    Kind wishes

     

    Hi Suliman,

     

    I have recently started studying Complete Reality taoism. I am particularly interesting in Inner Alchemy. I'd be happy to exchange ideas and learn with you.

     

    Regards

     

    Patrick