tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post1311406090770460423..comments2012-08-31T11:22:10.743-07:00Comments on the fool's tao-tea-chings: Introduction to TaoThe Crowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-42347496919343346422012-04-05T19:31:18.819-07:002012-04-05T19:31:18.819-07:00Well, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it ...Well, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it :) <br />But actually, it is so easy, that nobody sees it. And that's the truth of it. <br />Understanding introduces a layer of separation that needs not be there. <br /><br />Do you understand the sun coming up, or simply feel it on your face? <br />Do you understand respiration, or do it automatically, anyway? <br /><br />Consciousness is the drop-in replacement for understanding. <br />Words will not explain it, but they may hint at it. <br />The rest is up to you.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-41505224326684127612012-04-05T19:18:21.528-07:002012-04-05T19:18:21.528-07:00I find this confusing. Is there a certain physical...I find this confusing. Is there a certain physical technique used to bypass understanding? See... Even in this concept (that is, to not understand) I know no other way than to try and understand what you mean - or understand how to do it - and so i seem to be stuck in a loop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-38155250389660683442012-04-05T19:07:16.091-07:002012-04-05T19:07:16.091-07:00One does not understand the tao.
One lives within...One does not understand the tao. <br />One lives within it. Becomes it. Joins together. <br />Understanding, is the bane of being. <br />The idea is to bypass the need to understand.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-41223090171416845102012-04-05T18:53:12.343-07:002012-04-05T18:53:12.343-07:00I don't understand how one is supposed to Unde...I don't understand how one is supposed to Understand the Tao through letting go of understanding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-32290400567082915122012-02-27T18:46:26.500-08:002012-02-27T18:46:26.500-08:00If you're a fool, you're on your way to be...If you're a fool, you're on your way to better state. <br />It's not about <i>being</i> a fool: anyone can <i>be</i> a fool. <br />It's more about <i>knowing you're a fool</i> (:>The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-73392458264914250282012-02-27T18:43:18.507-08:002012-02-27T18:43:18.507-08:00I thought Zen meant quite a few things.
Only to r...I thought Zen meant quite a few things.<br /><br />Only to realize how much of a fool I was.<br /><br />Then I realized that Zen means absolutely nothing allowing me to enjoy life life.<br /><br />Only to realize how much of a fool I was.Sunnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-8783342446443963692012-02-27T17:52:33.979-08:002012-02-27T17:52:33.979-08:00It's more Zen than anything else is.
That'...It's more Zen than anything else is. <br />That's why it's called "Zen". <br />Whatever "Zen" means...The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-8745854643984906012012-02-27T16:37:56.882-08:002012-02-27T16:37:56.882-08:00Zen is not zen.Zen is not zen.Sunnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-46773613536627403042012-01-26T18:06:52.310-08:002012-01-26T18:06:52.310-08:00Ah!
So now we have:
"Is spiritual insight s...Ah! <br />So now we have: <i><br />"Is spiritual insight something you achieve/experience directly once in a while, or is it a constant state?"</i> <br />I would say that it happens only once, in a breathtaking, life-changing way, and anything after that is a clearing-up and an organizing of that first event. <br />This, however, and little by little, leads to a permanent state of seeing things quite differently to the way things were previously seen. <br />The best way of describing this is to say that infinite viewpoints become apparent, with none being either 'right', or 'wrong', but rather more, or less, applicable to the context. <br />You may have noticed how people have opinions, viewpoints, points of view, convictions, etc. <br />But almost all of them have only <i>one</i> per subject. As if theirs is the only one possible. <br />And of course, this is not the case at all. <br />Mostly, viewpoints are arranged around emotional responses, and emotions, I am beginning to understand, are actually delusions that signal a loss of balance, and of self-control. <br />Choose anyone you admire, for their wisdom, and you will notice a singular lack of emotion. <br />Their vision is clear, as are their responses. They are balanced. <br />But most of all, their responses are adaptable, and numerous. <br />The single view/single response phenomenon fades into the distance, when wisdom is achieved.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-84412618026743273932012-01-26T17:43:45.667-08:002012-01-26T17:43:45.667-08:00No you did not misunderstand me, thank you for you...No you did not misunderstand me, thank you for your answer. I think I should have wrote "spiritual insight" instead of "spiritual wisdom."Jonhttp://www.jesustod.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-35522274650056895142012-01-25T21:41:43.542-08:002012-01-25T21:41:43.542-08:00Good question!
One does not experience wisdom. Wi...Good question! <br />One does not experience wisdom. Wisdom may come as a result of experiencing spiritual revelation. <br />Wisdom, as I see it, is what humans do with spiritual revelation, if they ever experience such events. <br />The revelation itself, is beyond wisdom. Wisdom is a translation, into practical terms, of an impractical revelation. This impracticality not being a failing of revelation, but an out-of-context phenomenon. <br />If you're expecting <i>anything</i>, you're expecting too much (:> <br />Seriously. <br />This is the paradoxical nature of the beast, and of the communicating of it. <br />Direct spiritual insight is, by its nature, beyond rationality, while at the same time, making sublime 'sense'. It's greatest describable attribute is its utter simplicity. In the sense of feeling ridiculously stupid for never having noticed, or known, something so obvious. Without any sense of embarrassment, either. A true <i>'Doh!'</i> moment. <br /><br />I imagine what you are asking is: why can't I understand this thing? <br />And if so, the answer is: understanding is not the sense to use. <br />What you may seek to understand, is not something that can be understood. <br />It is more a moving away from any attempt at understanding. Like sunshine. You feel it, see it, are warmed by it, without needing to understand it. <br /><br />If I misunderstood <i>you</i>, then I apologize.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-81183334034817932742012-01-25T20:26:25.283-08:002012-01-25T20:26:25.283-08:00Is spiritual wisdom something you achieve/experien...Is spiritual wisdom something you achieve/experience directly once in a while, or is it a constant state? Am I expecting too much to think one should have a direct spiritual insight that is beyond rationality or hard to describe yet provides some sense of truth?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-49431324929377466242011-12-04T20:46:30.887-08:002011-12-04T20:46:30.887-08:00Thank you for sharingThank you for sharingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-91806224735576738902011-12-03T16:27:22.375-08:002011-12-03T16:27:22.375-08:00http://www.crowfeather.net/tao/
Based loosely on...http://www.crowfeather.net/tao/ <br /><br />Based loosely on Stephen Mitchell's translation, which some dislike, while I find it to be a superb western-oriented bridge to taoist wisdom. <br />Take the numbered menu on the left of the page. Explore. <br />Bear in mind that there is no wisdom there: only a description of it.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-58354241364240052982011-12-03T13:01:46.837-08:002011-12-03T13:01:46.837-08:00Do you have a recommended translation of the Tao T...Do you have a recommended translation of the Tao Te Ching? The most popular Amazon results all appear to be modern re-interpretations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-14635932496483691562011-12-02T20:28:32.605-08:002011-12-02T20:28:32.605-08:00If one goes against oneself, one is not likely to ...If one goes against oneself, one is not likely to be having much fun. <br />Or much success. <br />Or much hope, life, health, effectiveness... <br />Work with what is there, to be used as one sees fit. <br />Do not use what is there, to counter and to ruin it. <br />Obvious, but opaque.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-5459315934894144312011-12-02T20:07:10.517-08:002011-12-02T20:07:10.517-08:00If one is within it and always was, why is one to ...If one is within it and always was, why is one to change action (by going with instead of against). Is one not always with it if one is already within, no matter ones actions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-91571146873260312112011-09-02T12:54:45.516-07:002011-09-02T12:54:45.516-07:00I see.
You really are a sage, Mr. Crow.I see.<br /><br />You really are a sage, Mr. Crow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-9302781455860617702011-09-01T19:45:14.934-07:002011-09-01T19:45:14.934-07:00You're already within it. Always were. Always ...You're already within it. Always were. Always will be. The thing is to learn to recognize it, for what it is, and go with it, not against it. <br />It's like God, only it makes more sense.The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-42503130194069545282011-09-01T18:47:32.561-07:002011-09-01T18:47:32.561-07:00So how do you find out what the Tao is, or attain ...So how do you find out what the Tao is, or attain the Tao, or whatever non-contradictory way there is of putting it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-11278756649067842652011-03-31T15:43:21.641-07:002011-03-31T15:43:21.641-07:00Golly. Not THE Brett Stevens???
How honored I am ...Golly. Not THE Brett Stevens??? <br />How honored I am to see you :)The Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323413604073160469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-92158818539645039682011-03-31T14:04:05.812-07:002011-03-31T14:04:05.812-07:00All spiritual systems seem to attempt the same thi...All spiritual systems seem to attempt the same thing, which is to bond our minds to reality so we escape the tyranny of preferential (wishful) thinking, and can find beauty enough in life to give up our negativity and just do what fulfills us and, coincidentally, makes sense to nature. <br /><br />When the artist forgets he's alive, or exists, and sees himself as an extension of the world and his paintbrush as an extension of that extension, the energy and logic flows and what emerges is a representation through the filter of self but without it imposed like a tyrant.<br /><br />Great blog.Brett Stevenshttp://www.amerika.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-39861158462888334322010-11-12T10:57:13.518-08:002010-11-12T10:57:13.518-08:00Oh dear!Oh dear!Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15867403006412320812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-75504873124806054482010-11-12T09:49:11.882-08:002010-11-12T09:49:11.882-08:00There are 33 crores (3 billion ) Gods and Goddesse...There are 33 crores (3 billion ) Gods and Goddesses!!! Most of them are from Indian mythologies and ancient lore. Some are passed through families.SHUBHAJIThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922572955753398337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167237066399681139.post-76903921121637607862010-11-12T01:09:55.146-08:002010-11-12T01:09:55.146-08:00Thanks Subhajit. I was told there is this famous ...Thanks Subhajit. I was told there is this famous Ganesha in Hindu tradition. Is this deity a Personal God (selected through one's family tradition, I suppose)? And are there many Personal Gods (Deities) in Hinduism? And they are NOT being chosen by individuals but "passed on" through families?Paulnoreply@blogger.com