XPost: alt.philosophy.taoism, alt.philosophy.zen   
   From: wudao@wuji.net   
      
   Ummmmmmm wrote:   
   > {:-]))) had responded:   
   >> Ummmmmmm wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> 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.   
      
   But not present, right now, right here.   
      
   > One who can transmit Knowledge. Self-Knowledge.   
      
   And, by Knowledge. Self-Knowledge.   
   You have referred to the hub, the axis, the pivot of Tao.   
   The center, so to speak. An awareness, I would assume.   
      
   That you received. From someone. At some time. In the past.   
   And it brought you great joy. To have found. Yourself.   
   Your own secret room you didn't know existed.   
   Someone handed you a key.   
      
   >Not Knowledge of the Master, not Knowledge of the way things were in   
   >China 3000 years ago. Knowledge of me.   
      
   Okay. So you are speaking of yourself. Of your story.   
      
   Your very own story. Not anyone else.   
      
   >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.   
      
   That's good for you.   
   It's nice that someone handed you a mirror.   
      
   If you'd seen your reflection in a still, quiet, lake   
   then you might have become attached to lakes.   
      
   And then, it might appear as if you were saying, everyone   
   needs to go find a lake. Because that is what worked, for you.   
      
   Is that what you're saying?   
      
   Or. No. It can'be be found in a lake.   
   It can't be found in a book.   
      
   It can't be found by taking a look.   
   In a mirror. No. No.   
      
   It can only be given by the brook.   
   And not by hook nor by crook.   
      
   It needs to be cooked by a cook.   
   A living Chef. And you need to be spoon fed.   
      
   And by you, I mean, in the past. You. Personally.   
      
   That's your story.   
      
   It's a good story. I like it.   
   It's just not everyone's story.   
      
   Maybe you can appreciate that.   
      
   Some folks are quite happy by a lake.   
   Some are very happy with what they take   
   and give as they merrily stroll along, or row,   
   row, row their boat, gently, down the stream.   
      
   - of thoughts, in various bamboo groves   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)