The Taoist Perspective

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by GhettoShinobi

what are their thoughts are creation?

Originally Posted by bkadoctaj

"The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonised by the Breath of Vacancy.
What men dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as carriages without naves; and yet these are the designations which kings and princes use for themselves. So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased.
What other men (thus) teach, I also teach. The violent and strong do not die their natural death. I will make this the basis of my teaching."
- Tao Te Ching 42

This one's pretty much the idea.

As for the "vacancy" concept:

"The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state). When things (in the vegetable world) have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root. This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end.
The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things). From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Tao. Possessed of the Tao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay."
- Tao Te Ching 16

As you might note, here he specifically refers to "bodily life". I suppose that he's implying there is other life as well.

[GhettoShinobi]

ahhh, so 1 became 2, 2 became 3 okay that's kinda how i pictured the universe started.. lol

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by GhettoShinobi

ahhh, so 1 became 2, 2 became 3 okay that's kinda how i pictured the universe started.. lol

lol The idea is that if there is one... and you ask a question about this one, it becomes clear that you don't know for certain what it really is. Therefore you can have a second opinion. And thus a third. You have one animal species. Eventually there are two. Etc.

Basically, infinity comes to fill the void of uncertainty.

[GhettoShinobi]

ohhh, makes alot of sence... pretty sound religion, im catholic but i have my own beliefs on religion, diffrent views on shit.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by GhettoShinobi

ohhh, makes alot of sence... pretty sound religion, im catholic but i have my own beliefs on religion, diffrent views on shit.

Yeah, totally cool. And I'm glad that you're very open to different views on existence and reality. Hit me up anytime if you want to talk about spirituality, life, this kind of stuff, or whatever. I'm going to grab something to eat.

[GhettoShinobi]

i think you live on through your children. your dna, is transfered over to your kids, in a sence they hold a part of you, so i think this is the only real way you live on. you live on through your kids, if you have none then your legacy ends. in a way we remain the future, your life dreams, hopes, and ideas, and even style, are passed down to your children.

[Liquidtruth]

"We sit here, the mountain and I, until only I remain"...

At least, I can certainly hope.

As I side note I prefer...

"Heaven lasts long, and Earth abides.
What is the secret of their durability?
Is it because they do not live for themselves
That they endure so long?"

The answer... No. No, that is not the reason at all.

[Highbinder]

I'm very greatly influenced by the Tao. I remember picking up my flatmates copy and reading through it, absolutely amazing.

At the time I didn't have enough money to buy a copy of the book, so I wrote it out entirely in one of those little black moleskins I had. Its got its pride of place in my books (between Trees of The World pocket edition and a Haiku poetry book)

[HighGrowMan]

The question of creation is not to be sought after, it is something that will be understood once you understand the Tao.

I am no expert on Taoism, but I believe in the universal truths, and if you understand that then the atainment of the understanding of the Tao, makes very much sense. It is the understanding of how the light and the dark are a balance of one another. So that you learn to live in every moment, and try to understand life in the moment.

You don't go look in a book for your answers, you understand that the book provided the answers that were correct when it was written, but only to the capability of communication that is possible, to somebody who doesn't understand what the communicator knows.

Simply put it is never possible to explain this universal force, because it is eternal, and causes life to be born, and to grow. This force, can never be seen directly, because we are a product of it. What it does is that it enters into something, and when it does, the light is a subject of the dark, and with perfect harmony, they negate each other, and produce a third object.

This is why the number 3 is a holy number, because all that we are and all that can be seen is represented in it. When the nothing and the ant-nothing, apear in the same space at the same time, they produce the result that is born into the power of the oposites. The creation of the third from the two, the being and the not being.

It is the power of synergy.

The number 3 however, only represents the power from the outside to the inside, the number thirty-three represents the reflection and the awareness, or the attainment of dualistic synergies.

This is why you will see the number 33 every where you look, and consequently you will also see 27 because 3 to the power of the 3 is 27.

The star of david has a triangle on top of a triangle for a reason. The dove lands on jesus's head for a reason as well, upward triantly with the head to the tail feathers, and downwards triangle from the tips of the wings to the corners of the feet.

Check out the cover of the matrix some time, and you might be surprised the way that the pose is aranged is also oposing triangles.

This is the symbol of the matrix.

Why, do you think the compass and ruler of the stone masons are that way?

Edit:
oh and yes we live on through our parents. This is why the male is represented by an upwards triangle (as seen on a private in the army) and a female is represented by a V or upside down triangle (ever wonder why a ship is always a female? It is because the sales are the Male that impregnate her to power, and energy.

This is the same reason why Jesus was also repreasented by the T with the snake on it, because the two points come together to make a third point, and on it rests the snake, or the new power.

You can come to this knowledge by reading any one of the major religions, as long as your ready to drop the dogma and realize that you must be able to tell truth from false every second of the day of the year. And if you can't perceive one from the the other than you will never see the third.
lol it's funny this was the 23 reply 2 3's

OH and what do you think that the wink emplies? Sarcasm right... Well what is sarcasm, it is the understanding that is gained by understanding that you don't mean what your saying, so you actually mean something else. It is the third perspective, two eyes closed one eye open. the two become one.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by HighGrowMan

oh and yes we live on through our parents. This is why the male is represented by an upwards triangle (as seen on a private in the army) and a female is represented by a V or upside down triangle (ever wonder why a ship is always a female? It is because the sales are the Male that impregnate her to power, and energy.

This is the same reason why Jesus was also repreasented by the T with the snake on it, because the two points come together to make a third point, and on it rests the snake, or the new power.

You can come to this knowledge by reading any one of the major religions, as long as your ready to drop the dogma and realize that you must be able to tell truth from false every second of the day of the year. And if you can't perceive one from the the other than you will never see the third.
lol it's funny this was the 23 reply 2 3's

OH and what do you think that the wink emplies? Sarcasm right... Well what is sarcasm, it is the understanding that is gained by understanding that you don't mean what your saying, so you actually mean something else. It is the third perspective, two eyes closed one eye open. the two become one.

That was interesting.

[ScRuFFy63]

I must say this thread is full of good material. While I could barely understand the majority of those quotes, they were all very... Inspiring. Shows enlightenment and pure balance with the world.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by ScRuFFy63

I must say this thread is full of good material. While I could barely understand the majority of those quotes, they were all very... Inspiring. Shows enlightenment and pure balance with the world.

Well, let's talk about some of them. I didn't just pull this shit out for no reason lol. And yes, I'm aware that this is not exactly a Taoist technique I'm exhibiting at the moment.

[bkadoctaj]

It is the power of synergy.

Favorite word ever. +rep for using it.

[ScRuFFy63]

"The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state). When things (in the vegetable world) have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root. This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end.
The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things). From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Tao. Possessed of the Tao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay."
- Tao Te Ching 16

I think I pretty much understand this up until the "exempt from all danger of decay." Is That supposed to be taken literally?

"He who would assist a lord of men in harmony with the Tao will not assert his mastery in the kingdom by force of arms. Such a course is sure to meet with its proper return.
Wherever a host is stationed, briars and thorns spring up. In the sequence of great armies there are sure to be bad years.
A skilful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops. He does not dare (by continuing his operations) to assert and complete his mastery. He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant in consequence of it. He strikes it as a matter of necessity; he strikes it, but not from a wish for mastery.
When things have attained their strong maturity they become old. This may be said to be not in accordance with the Tao: and what is not in accordance with it soon comes to an end."
- Tao Te Ching 30 [That one reminds me of George W. Bush and Iraq]

Made me laugh b/c I was thinking the exact same thing as I was reading. But I don't understand why Old things are not in accordance with the tao...is it somehow causing an imbalance?

"The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonised by the Breath of Vacancy.
What men dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as carriages without naves; and yet these are the designations which kings and princes use for themselves. So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased.
What other men (thus) teach, I also teach. The violent and strong do not die their natural death. I will make this the basis of my teaching."
- Tao Te Ching 42

I just didn't get the main point. the quote just appears to jump all over the place.some things are increased by being diminished et.

"Men come forth and live; they enter (again) and die.
Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves); and three are ministers of death.
There are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose movements tend to the land (or place) of death. And for what reason? Because of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life.
But I have heard that he who is skilful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon. The rhinoceros finds no place in him into which to thrust its horn, nor the tiger a place in which to fix its claws, nor the weapon a place to admit its point. And for what reason? Because there is in him no place of death."
- Tao Te Ching 50

how is there no place of death in the physical reality. I really don't think I'm thinking deep enough for some of these.


that just a couple that confused me.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by ScRuFFy63

I think I pretty much understand this up until the "exempt from all danger of decay." Is That supposed to be taken literally?

I interpret that as him referring to someone who is truly at equilibrium and in sync with the Tao (or Enlightened, you might say). This person is able to heal himself, and thus bodily injury serves no purpose. He/she becomes essentially immune, until the Tao has decided this person's function in that body is up.

Made me laugh b/c I was thinking the exact same thing as I was reading. But I don't understand why Old things are not in accordance with the tao...is it somehow causing an imbalance?

Not an imbalance per se. It's analogous to the idea that the older you get, the more likely you could die at any time. You're not "current" (in both the flow/present senses).

I just didn't get the main point. the quote just appears to jump all over the place.some things are increased by being diminished et.

I tend to interpret "violence" in that quote as referring to chaotic action. In other words, increased instability and, in the case of a ruler, rash and oppressive action, which clearly is no good in the long-term.

how is there no place of death in the physical reality. I really don't think I'm thinking deep enough for some of these.


that just a couple that confused me.

The final one has a fairly simplistic point. Love life and do not think of death, much less fear it. You end up there anyway, but will get there unscathed and content if you can release (or at least control well) your fears of less and desires for more. You'll note that he stresses this is one in ten people. In scientific terms, these would be most evolutionarily "fit" individuals, but of course due to the nature of human existence constantly changing, what is "fit" changes often.