XPost: alt.philosophy.taoism, alt.philosophy.zen   
   From: nottony.nokingsbury@ngmail.com   
      
   On 10/10/2016 3:00 PM, {:-]))) wrote:   
   > Ummmmmmm wrote:   
   >> {:-]))) wrote:   
   >>> Ummmmmmm wrote:   
   >>>   
   >>>> We all know that Tang is a Realized Master of Mental Culture, as we all   
   >>>> know you are a Taoist Sage.   
   >>>   
   >>> I don't know much of what Tang is.   
   >>> He disclaims being a lot of things.   
   >>>   
   >>> I am not a Taoist Sage.   
   >>>   
   >>> I often write about what I see in terms of Taoism.   
   >>> Seeing as how this is a Taoist newsgroup.   
   >>>   
   >>> I know Tang likes to crosspost messages.   
   >>> And this one is no exception. I don't know if you are here,   
   >>> where I am at, in a Taoist newsgroup, or in absfg.   
   >>>   
   >>> If you would like to talk about Taoism, that might be on-topic.   
   >>> If you want to talk about joy and happiness, that's fine.   
   >>>   
   >>> At the feast, if you recall any of the six TTCs you read,   
   >>> how would you describe Lao Tzu?   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >> I would describe him as dead.   
   >   
   > Do you mean he was dead to the world, in his own Way?   
      
   Nope! I mean he *is* dead. As in defunct. An ex-person. No longer with   
   us. In the grave. Unable to look us in the eye.   
      
   >   
   >> Unfortunately, living Knowledge (i.e. how to sync with the Tao of right   
   >> now) can only be transmitted by a living Master to a living student.   
   >   
   > That's too bad for you then. Unless you have one around at all times.   
      
   If the Master was one who handed out apples & peaches, then maybe he   
   would have to be around all the time.   
   But he doesn't. He hands me an apple tree & a peach tree, teaches me how   
   to spade them in & water them. Then with a little patience, I eat apples   
   & peaches whenever I feel like it.   
      
   >   
   >> If in the present moment you find yourself hungry, what help is it to   
   >> you to be fixated on deciphering tomb inscriptions on the coffins of   
   >> long-dead chefs?   
   >   
   > I'd just go get something to eat.   
   > And ruminate in sync with the Tao of right now.   
   > Cud be the Way.   
   >   
   >> Sensible might be to go where the food is.   
   >   
   > Naturally.   
   >   
   > But if the name of the group was, alt.deciphering.tomb.inscriptions.   
   > on.the.coffins.of.long-dead.chefs, then it's a different story.   
      
   >   
   > Unless you have a living Master transmitting living Knowledge to you   
   > right now, assuming you are a living student, you, right now,   
   > might be in a wine cellar with a flash-light.   
   >   
   > Unless, by the term, living Master, you mean a non-physical one.   
      
   I mean a real one. One who can transmit Knowledge. Self-Knowledge.   
   Not Knowledge of the Master, not Knowledge of the way things were in   
   China 3000 years ago. Knowledge of me.   
   So he hands me a mirror, in which I see myself as I really am. Does he   
   have to keep handing me a mirror every minute of every day? Of course not.   
      
   >   
   > Is that what you mean?   
   > Some living Master who lives within your heart?   
   > Like Jesus?   
      
   Jesus is dead too. He never came back.   
   When he was alive, he had the power to show people what he called "The   
   Kingdom of Heaven" which was within them.   
   He could do that because he was a living human being who had a special   
   gift - the gift of being able to transmit Knowledge of the self.   
   After he died they decided he was a God, and shifted Heaven to somewhere   
   up above the clouds, where no-one could get at it.   
      
   >   
   > Are you a living Master?   
   No   
   > And you are here to dispense living Knowledge?   
   > Right now? Here?   
   No   
   >   
   > Are you looking for living students?   
   No   
   >   
   > Are you here to recruit for someone?   
   No. If I was, I'd have given you the name of a master 5 years ago - &   
   probably a form to fill in, & the address of her website.   
      
   I'm here to tell you that there's something better than memorising,   
   mish-mashing & regurgitating mis-translated ancient "Sacred Texts"   
      
   The most sacred text in existence is the human heart. You have that. Get   
   in touch with that, and you'll find that it is magical, profound,   
   exciting, luminous & full of fun.   
   All that's required is a little humility - a little awareness that maybe   
   there is something still to learn. It's never too late.   
      
   I'm here because it's fun to be here - for a while.   
      
      
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)