a collection of guys i find atractive ...
Craig Ramsay
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Daily Tao - 304 / Divination
| DIVINATION |
How can divination
Exceed imagination?
You may be contemplating a very bold move in your life. It might be taking a chance on love. It might be deciding to move across the world to begin a new career. It might be combining things that have never been put together before to make a new invention. What you're contemplating is so surprising to you that you wonder whether or not to do it.Traditionally, people turned to divination. But how can any system of divination really help you? Whether it is turtle shells, yarrow stalks, crystal balls, psychics, or spirit possession, are the forces "out there" really going to provide any true reassurance? Depending on divination means giving up control over your own life. It's also avoiding responsibility -- you are able to say it wasn't your fault if things don't work out.
Imaginative action is very important in life. Without it, we are less than human. For imagination to come into being, we need decisiveness and control. Unless we have these two factors, we cannot manifest the concentration to bring something new into being. We should not surrender our right to decide the course of our lives to vague propitiations of the unknown. We should explore every new possibility that appeals to us and, with wise action, build the force of our characters.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Daily Tao - 303 / Aging
| AGING |
Mist and snow blot out the world.
Bony trees are thinly fleshed with ice.
A couple laughs below a stone monument,
But behind a bristled hedge,
A cloaked woman sings a dirge.
Old age is lonely.
Dreams of those I've buried haunt me.
Was I ever ready to shoulder this mantle?
It smothered a carefree youth.
Now neither parent, lover, nor friends have I,
And great fame is as distant as spring's leaves.
Dear youth, do you ever think of getting old? If you did, then you might value your time even more. Dear oldster, do you ever think of your past? Of course you do. You wonder if you did the right things.How ironic this life is! What a tremendous bind we are born into! When young, we do not understand the dreariness of old age. When we are old, we are not permitted to go back in time. When vitality flows freely, we haven't enough wisdom. When we have gained wisdom, fate has made us too weak to take action.
Oh, I know. The purpose of following Tao is to be well adjusted. The secret of Tao is to know how to pass into old age gracefully. Yes, I know. But may I not still reflect on the poignancy of it all?
To be fully human is to know resignation.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Haunted Denver - The Final Chapter
as I continue with posts about haunted Denver , I'm going just a little northwest of the city to Estes Park Colorado & the famous ( infamous) Stanley Hotel ...
This old hotel was built in the early 1900's by F.O. Stanley, who created the Stanley Steam Engine -- a steam powered horseless carriage. The majestic Georgian style hotel opened in 1909, catering to the rich and famous. Arriving in Colorado in 1903, Freelan Oscar Stanley (F.O.) and his wife Flora had been sent West by F.O. Stanley’s doctor to seek the fresh mountain air. Stanley, who suffered tuberculosis, had been advised to not make plans beyond six months. The doctor arranged for the couple to stay in a friend’s cabin in Estes Park for the summer. Immediately, they fell in love with the area and F.O.’s health began to dramatically improve. After spending the summer in the cabin, Flora wanted a home like the one she had left in Maine. Their home was built about one-half mile west of where the Stanley Hotel would later be built. Today the house is a private residence. F.O. Stanley built the hotel on land that he purchased from the Irish Earl Lord Dunraven. Dunraven came to the area in 1872 while on a hunting trip. He built a hunting lodge, cabin and hotel for his guests and illegally homesteaded up to 6,000 acres in an unsuccessful attempt to create a private hunting preserve. Dunraven was finally run out of the area after trying to swindle folks out of their land and money. In 1906, construction started on the Stanley Hotel. Wood and rock were obtained from the nearby mountains and the hotel was built in the Georgian architectural style, which experienced a revival in the early twentieth century. In 1909, the luxury hotel was complete, with no expense spared. Equipped with running water, electricity and telephones, the only amenity the hotel lacked was heat, as the hotel was designed as a summer resort. 
The Stanley Hotel has hosted many "famous” guests including The Unsinkable Molly Brown, John Philip Sousa, Theodore Roosevelt, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and a variety of Hollywood personalities. And, of course, the Stanley Hotel hosted Stephen King, whose experience inspired his book, "The Shining.”
In addition to its regular guests, the hotel is also said to play host to a number of other worldly visitors. The most notable is F.O. Stanley himself who is most often seen in the lobby and the Billiard Room, which was his favorite room when he was still alive. On one such occasion, he was said to have appeared during a tour group’s visit to the Billiard Room, materializing behind a member of the tour. Bartenders at the old hotel also report having seen F.O. stroll through the bar, disappearing when they try to cut him off at the kitchen.
Not to be left out, Flora Stanley also haunts the hotel, continuing to entertain guests with her piano playing in the ballroom.
Employees and guests have reported hearing music coming from the room, and when they take a peek in there, they can see the piano keys moving. However, as soon as someone walks across the thresh-hold to investigate further, the music stops and no more movement can be seen upon the keys of the piano.
There are several rooms in the hotel that seem to be particularly haunted. One is Room 407, which is said to sometimes be occupied by Lord Dunraven, who owned the land prior to F.O. Stanley. Reportedly, he likes to stand in the corner of the room near the bathroom door. On one such account, witnesses reported that a light in that corner kept turning on and off. While the light was off, they told the ghost that they knew that he was there, they would only be staying two nights, and would he please turn the light back on. The light turned back on. However, later when the lights were turned off and they were trying to sleep, noises were constantly heard from the nearby elevator during a time when the elevator was not in use. At other times, a ghostly face has been reported to be looking out the window of Room 407, when the room is not booked.
Room 418 gets the most reports of haunting activity apparently from children’s spirits. Cleaning crews report having heard many strange noises from the room, as well as seeing impressions on the bed when the room has been empty. When guests stay in the room, they often report that they hear children playing in the hallway at night. One couple reportedly checked out of the hotel very early in the morning, complaining that the children in the hallway kept them up all night. However, there were no children booked in the hotel at the time.
There have also been many reports by guests of haunting activities in Rooms 217 and 401.
Tour guides tell a story of the ghost of a small child who has been seen by many of the staff in various areas of the old hotel. Reportedly, Stephen King also saw the child, who was calling out to his nanny on the second floor. Other past employees report footsteps and apparitions seen throughout the building.
The Stanley Hotel is open year-round and is located at 333 Wonderview in Estes Park, Colorado.
Daily Tao - 301 / Maturity
| MATURITY |
Immortality does not beget wisdom.
Only mortality begets maturity.
There are people in this world who have had enough adventures for several lifetimes. They are the closest conception we can have of immortals. Yet some of these people are hopelessly immature. After all, whenever life became difficult for them, they changed to a new path and by luck the new one was always rich and fruitful. Life came so easily that they took more than one helping.Unfortunately, maturity only comes from the threat of mortality. Success only comes from the threat of failure. Without pressure, we would not plan, utilize wisdom, or exercisecare. We realize that we have only a very short time to make an achievement, to prove that our existence was worthwhile, and so we strive harder. An immortal can never conceive of such effort.
It would be good if our religious traditions provided us with a foolproof way through life. After all, we live somewhat haphazardly : Our lives are a tapestry woven of both mistakes and successes. Religion doesn't always provide us with a meaningful pattern. We must make our decisions the best that we can, and as we mature, we can see our way better.
We are motivated by death. We are frightened by failure. We have to make our peace with this mysterious, sometimes hostile world. An immortal does not need to cope with any of this. But we mortals must, and we must strive to make a good showing for ourselves.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Daily Tao - 300 / Oneness
| ONENESS |
If I break down the walls,
I will be surrounded by the garden.
If I break the levee, water will inundate me.
Meditation is not to be separated from life.
The task of following Tao is to cease all distinctions between the self and the outside world. It is only a matter of convenience that we label things inside and outside, subjective and objective. Indeed, it is only at elementary stages that we should talk of a Tao to follow. For true enlightenment is the realization not that there is a Tao to follow but that we ourselves are Tao.That understanding comes after a simple breaking down of a wall, a shattering of the mistaken notion that there is something inherent in this life that divides us from Tao. Once the wall is broken, we are inundated by Tao. We are Tao.
Do we continue to meditate once we come to this understanding? We still do, but it is no longer a solitary and isolated activity. It is a part of life, as natural as breathing. When you can bring yourself to the understanding that there is no difference between you and Tao and that there is no difference between meditation and "ordinary" activities, then you are well on your way to being one with Tao.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Daily Rao - 300 / Righting
| RIGHTING |
A deviation of a hair's breadth at the center
Leads to an error of a hundred miles at the rim.
When the effort is so slight,
Why should you hesitate to set things right?
There are many people who endeavor to know Tao. In the greatest sincerity, they take music lessons, read scriptures, learn foreign languages, study nutrition, change their dress, and go to temples -- all in the hopes that they will reach Tao. Sadly, they miss it by a hair's breadth. For a person to awaken to Tao, someone must give them a spark. Perhaps this is what is called direct transmission. It is odd, but this is the only way that knowledge of Tao is passed on.Book knowledge can help and give one a deep theoretical background, but the true understanding of Tao still comes person to person. There is no other way.
So if you have any true understanding of Tao, you got it from someone. If you meet someone else who needs that spark and you are in the position to give it, then do so. Don't be selfish. There are so many people out there who want guidance and who cannot get it. If you can make a difference for at least one person, then you have tremendous merit indeed.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
ScootrMonkey and the Blustery Day ...
Windy.
Woke up this morning and laid in bed listening to the wind blow through the pines and aspens outside my bedroom window. My comforter pulled up over my head ( cause we left the windows cracked last nite and it was a tad bit chilly this morning ) , the call of 4 puppies finally made me get out of bed despite the lingering effects of the Ambien I had taken.
After feeding both the dogs and myself ( protein shake & oatmeal for me , not sure what's in the puppies food - but it is edible - I've tried it ) & getting the coffee going ; I spent the remainder of my morning chasing styrofoam tombstones all over my front yard like some bizarre scene from the Wizard of Oz ( ... the tombs began to twitch , the skulls to pitch ... ). I really should have staked down the freakin' decorations the first time.
Shower and off to work. My little VW bug changing lanes all on it's own at every strong gust of wind...
ScootrMonkey and the Blustery Day ...
Windy. Woke up this morning and laid in bed listening to the wind blow through the pines and aspens outside my bedroom window. My comforter pulled up over my head ( cause we left the windows cracked last nite and it was a tad bit chilly this morning ) , the call of 4 puppies finally made me get out of bed despite the lingering effects of the Ambien I had taken. After feeding both the dogs and myself ( protein shake & oatmeal for me , not sure what's in the puppies food - but it is edible - I've tried it ) & getting the coffee going ; I spent the remainder of my morning chasing styrofoam tombstones all over my front yard like some bizarre scene from the Wizard of Oz ( ... the tombs began to twitch , the skulls to pitch ... ). I really should have staked down the freakin' decorations the first time. Shower and off to work. My little VW bug changing lanes all on it's own at every strong gust of wind...
Sent from my iPhone
Daily Tao - 299 / Existing
| EXISTING |
Fog makes the world a painting obscure.
Even close trees are half unseen.
But a lonesome crow won't stop calling:
He objects to being in this dream.
Over and over, the sages tell us that this world is but a dream.When one awakes on foggy mornings, with the mists obscuring hills and valleys and the trees and village buildings appearing as diaphanous apparitions, we might even agree with them. Didn't we see this same uncertain mirage in the hills of Vermont? The hollow of the Yangtze River valley? The streets of Paris? Don't the memories blend with the dream and turn reality into phantasmagoria?
The world is a dream from which there is no escaping.
In this still dream, there is a crow calling. He doesn't stop. When everything else is frozen in the sepulchral dawn, the bird continues to scream. Maybe he realizes the same dream. He protests loudly.
The ancients hold the outer reality to be unreal. But there is the inner reality too. Some of us do not readily accept the conditions of this existence. We have eyes to see, but we also have voice to refute the existential delusion.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Untitled
via afterelton.com
omg - this is sooo funny !! it's a little old , but I hadn't seen it before !
How I spent my day ...
so - off to the DMV.
Got there about 1pm hoping that early afternoon wouldn't be too busy. lol - yeah , right. Looked they were handing out free beer or iPads . every seat taken and SRO . grab my ticket - # 658 , ok can deal , look at the screen # 625. oh frak.
those DMV people , if the mood takes them, can really fly through the unwashed masses ( literally - 3/4 of the people there looked like they had never been introduced to a shower ) and about 40 minutes later my number was called. All the time I was waiting in the back of my mind was " is this the year I have to my emissions done ? " ...
me - " Hi nice DMV lady ! I never got my renewal card after my move even though I changed my address and everything ! Here's my CO drivers license , registration, proof of insurance , and blank check !! "
nice DMV lady - " you need your emissions tested - NEXT "
Daily Tao - 298 / Stages
| STAGES |
Unless you are pious,
You cannot gain a foothold in Tao.
Unless you go beyond rules,
You haven't gained the middle.
Unless you can be creative,
You aren't traversing Tao.
Unless the road always stretches out before you,
You are not walking the true Tao.
When people start on a spiritual path, they are anxious to learn all the rules. This is understandable, even necessary. Often we need stern measures to set ourselves right.But dogmatism is not spirituality. Sometimes, it is necessary to break rules. The task is to know how to go against doctrine in a way that actually fulfills the spirit of that doctrine. It is only at this point that one matures as a follower of Tao.
The next stage is complete creativity. You have so internalized doctrine that you need not think of it, yet everything you do will be spontaneously correct. There are many stages after that, stages not documented but there for you to explore on your own.
Those who follow Tao recognize that all people go through stages of development. Many people leave their spiritual communities when they outgrow them. The path of Tao has been conceived so that one never outgrows it. One can outgrow a particular stage, but when that happens, there is another one to be entered. In this way, following Tao is always vital.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Daily Tao - 297 / Core
| CORE |
What is the difference between a monk and a husband?
What is the difference between a priest and layperson?
I accept that this world is terrible and full of suffering.
And I also enjoy happiness when it comes to me.
As long as I am with Tao, distinctions are superfluous.
A spiritual initiate should not feel smug. They have no greater chance of enlightenment than ordinary people. An ordinary person shouldn't look down on the holy aspirant; everyday life is so full of distractions that finding spirituality is not easy. Frankly, neither being a religious initiate nor being a layperson is the deciding factor in whether a person finds Tao or not. Identities only get in the way.I do not need to pretend that I am anyone other than myself. I do not need to feel insecure about my perceptions. The self-cultivation that I undertake is to perfect who I am, not to become someone other than who I am.
I pursue the spiritual because it gives me tremendous satisfaction. I do not pursue it because of threats of hell, ignorance, or suffering.
Life has its sad and happy moments. I accept them all. Life has its times of dispassion and utter serenity. Those are the moments that I seek. They give me my path through the myriad phenomena of this existence. I do not compare myself to ascetics and priests. Let them have their lives. I enjoy mine.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
My Unfabulous iPod ... Let's do the The Time Warp Again !
What's playing on my iPod this week ...
Last week while watching Glee they previewed the "Halloween" episode -
which got me humming The TIme Warp and Science Fiction Double Feature... Hmm - how can I put this rather delicately; after seeing the preview and getting all tingly inside , I made my way to iTunes to listen to the Glee cast to their best.... and was really disappointed. I realize that this has to be "censored" for tv and all , but ... Amber Riley as Frank N. Furter ?!?! really ?? . Now don't get me wrong - even bad Rocky Horror is good Rocky Horror ( if you know what I mean ) and I'm still jazzed for the episode, but I'm just hoping that my worst fears aren't realized.
So I first decide to pull out my old vinyl copy of the 1974 Roxy cast ( the one with Tim Curry and Bruce Scott )
, unfortunately 12 years in my basement ( and apparent water damage made that unplayable - gonna get it again off iTunes 'cause I really liked it )
Then I went to my iPod and pulled up the 1998 UK revival.
and after listening to it again this week , i'm gonna have to say that this version is my all-time favorite. ( yes , i know that i'll get a lot of grief for this ) but here's the thing. This is recorded live in front of an audience. So you get energy that that brings to a performance . You get some of audience call-backs and also the performers ad-libs ( the Narrator in this version is my all-time favorite ) plus you get some really different takes on the songs ( not necessarily for the worse either , e.g. Once In A While )
Now I've read that some think this version is too "camp" , well DUH !! it's Rocky Horror - it's supposed to be camp ! You lose the camp-value you lose the fun of the entire show.
Jason Donovan as Frank is the probably the next best thing to TIm Curry ( and if you can find it iOTA did a mean Frank in an Australian tour )
So if you have a chance , and like me love you some Rocky Horror , give this a listen !!
Daily Tao - 296 / Growth
| GROWTH |
A moving door hinge never corrodes.
Flowing water never grows stagnant.
Even in the autumn of your life, you cannot give up growth. If you do, you only invite decline.All the different aspects of a person -- body, mind, and spirit -- have one curious quality : If they cease to be exercised, they stop growing. Once they stop growing, they begin to atrophy. That is why, no matter how much you have accomplished and no matter how old you are, you must keep exercising all parts of yourself.
We only grow when we are challenged. Muscles do not strengthen without resistance. Mental faculties do not sharpen without critical thinking. The spirit does not soar without something to excite it. It may seem like a great effort to constantly try new things, but unless you do, you fall out of your heights very quickly. The constancy of physical exercise, varied from time to time into new routines, and the constancy of mental and spiritual challenges are essential to stave off the infirmities of aging.
We cannot reverse aging completely, but we can slow it down. As long as we are vital, we will not suffer as much. Although aging is natural, sometimes following Tao means more than following the route of least resistance. Why slide into old age, illness, and senility? The way of challenging oneself is also a valid but difficult path. Sometimes Tao chooses the difficult over the easy.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Haunted Denver - The Molly Brown House
Continuing my Halloween tour of haunted Denver -
Molly Brown House Museum – This three-story Victorian house, built in 1894, was once home to Margaret Brown, who became known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown” when she survived the Titanic’s sinking. Today, her home is said to be haunted by her husband J.J. Brown. Never allowed to smoke in the house during his lifetime, he seemingly rebels today as pipe smoke is often smelled lingering in the attic and basement. In the dining room, chairs are often known to move on their own accord and a ghostly woman in Victorian garb as been seen. The specter of Molly’s adored cat has also said to lurk about the building. Near the first floor staircase, some have reportedly seen an angry looking butler peering at himself in the mirror. Other phenomena includes cold spots felt throughout the house, doors that open and close of their own accord, the sounds of footsteps in the upstairs ballroom, and misty apparitions are spied in various places. 
Daily Tao - 295 / Solutions
| SOLUTIONS |
Don't be afraid to explore;
Without exploration there are no discoveries.
Don't be afraid of partial solutions;
Without the tentative there is no accomplishment.
Indecision and procrastination are corrosive habits. Those who wait for every little thing to be perfect before they embark on a project or who dislike the compromise of a partial solution are among the least happy. Ideal circumstances are seldom given to anyone for an undertaking. Instead there is uncertainty in every situation. The wise are those who can wrest great advantage from circumstances opaque to everyone else.Wanting everything in life to be perfect before you take action is like wanting to reach a destination without travel. For those who follow Tao, travel is every bit as important as the destination. One step after another : That is still central to the wisdom of Tao.
Every day passes whether you participate or not. If you are not careful, years will go by and you will only have regrets. If you cannot solve a problem all at once, at least make a stab at it. Reduce your problems into smaller, more manageable packages, and you can make measurable progress toward achievement. If you wait for everything to be perfect according to your preconceived plans, then you may well wait forever. If you go out and work with the current of life, you may find that success comes from building upon small things.
"It Gets Better" (Broadway sings for the Trevor Project)
via youtube.com
Available at iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/it-g...
Broadway stars rock out in a celebration of life, in the wake of LGBT suicides across the nation. Please SHARE this original song and video to help send a message of hope and support.
All download proceeds benefit The Trevor Project. www.thetrevorproject.org (c) 2010 Jay Kuo & Blair Shepard. Inquiries: jay@singoutlouiseproductions.com.
Category:
Entertainment
Tags:
Jay Kuo Blair Shepard Trapper Felides Pirate New York Matt Doyle Jose Llana Christina Sajous Carrie Manolakos Ann Harada John Tartaglia Marty Thomas Danny Calvert Orfeh Stephanie Umoh Carly Jibson Pirate Studios Trevor Project LGBT It Gets Better Xanadu American Idiot Hairspray Legally Blonde Spring Awakening Rent Spelling Bee Ragtime theatre theater musicals broadway
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Adam Green’s Halloween Short Film: ‘Just Take One’
via slashfilm.com
lol - i was trying to figure out what to post today ... and happened upon this - too funny !
Daily Tao - 294 / Sitting
| SITTING |
Cat sits in the sun.
Dog sits in the grass.
Turtle sits on the rock.
Frog sits on the lily pad.
Why aren't people so smart?
Those who follow Tao are fond of pointing out the wisdom of animals. When they see a cat sitting motionless in the sun or a turtle who stretches her head upward in a still pose, they say that these animals are meditating. They know how to be still and conserve their internal energy. They do not dissipate themselves in useless activity but instead withdraw into themselves to recharge.It is only people who label meditation as some sort of odd religious activity. This is not the actual case. Something like meditation happens when we sleep, or when we are absorbed in reading a book, or when we "daydream" and become so lost in a thought or an image that we do not notice what is going on around us.
There is no reason to think of meditation as something out of the ordinary. Quite the opposite. Meditation is the purest and most natural expression we can have. When you next look at a cat or a dog sitting still, and admire the naturalness of their actions, think then of your own life. Don't meditate because it is a part of your schedule or is demanded by your particular philosophy. Meditate because this is natural.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Password Reset ...
i hate this .
about every 6-8 weeks here at work you have to change your password.letters, numbers, Caps, blah , blah, blah .... can't use the same
combo twice in a year. Have gone through pets, siblings, spouse , i
usually can come up with SOMETHING , then it's a game of " can i
remember it ?? ( usually happens that I have my days off right after
the change - gawd , Alzheimer's runs in my family ..... sometimes i
wonder ... )
Daily Tao - 293 / Interval
| INTERVAL |
Seven geese pierce straight line over frigid bay,
Intervals between them constantly equal,
Pointed wings slash as if joined to an axle:
Today is the ideal moment between yesterday and tomorrow.
Every morning means a fresh start on things. If yesterday was trying and exhausting, today is a given opportunity to do something different. If yesterday was full of triumph and satisfaction, today is a free chance to go further. All too often, we wake up, think of our schedules, and assume that we must act according to the same dull script. We need not. If we find what is unique to each day, we will have freshness and the greatest fulfillment possible.Although we have talked about our relationship to Tao in terms of positioning and timing, the clear discerning of intervals is just as important. Geese keep a perfect distance between them to establish a dynamic equilibrium; so too must we fit in with the intervals of a day's events. If we, like the geese, act in unison with these moments, with each other, and with the season, then we will be in total concert with Tao.
Today is poised between yesterday and tomorrow. What you may have started yesterday can be continued or interrupted today. What you want for tomorrow may be planted or destroyed today. Every morning is a new day. That observation is so simple as to seem trite. If we could observe the simple, there would be no need to study Tao.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Cough , cough ...
I'm enjoying this fall. The cool weather and changing leaves. I really think that this fall the colours of the leaves have been outstanding, i can't remember a time when the reds and coppers have been as vivid.
The house is finally taking shape , ready to give all the trick-or-treater's a fun thrill.
I spent Monday pulling out all the Halloween decorations , driving the hubby crazy ( he was working from home after being excused from jury duty ).
"Hun - where's the hammer ?? "
"Hun - can you help me for a sec ?? "
Marck - Would you please leave me alone , I'm working !!
"Hun - well maybe you really shouldn't be watching Stan Helsing on Netflix then .... "
I just need to hire someone to stop by the house and put a BB in the streetlight for me ....
The Last surviving "Pink Triangle" from the Nazi concentration camps ...
via afterelton.com
very interesting ....
Daily Tao - 292 / Balance
| BALANCE |
Summer withered grass to flaxen yellow,
Scorched leaves to brittle paper,
Dried lakes to cracked clay.
Chill autumn brought little relief --
Only frosted the devastation.
But with the early gentle rains,
The earth's fissures softened
And desiccated plants began to dissolve.
Slowly, balance comes once again.
Many cultures describe old people as having seen many winters. Those elders have seen many cycles come and go, and their wisdom comes from long observation of life's rising and falling.If we have a long-range view, then we realize that equilibrium comes in the course of nature's progression. Nature does not achieve balance by keeping to one level. Rather, elements and seasons alternate with one another in succession. Balance, as defined by Tao, is not stasis but a dynamic process of many overlapping alternations; even if some phases seem wildly excessive, they are balanced by others.
Everything has its place. Everything has its season. As events turn, balance is to know what is here, what is coming, and how to be in perfect harmony with it. Then one attains a state of sublimity that cannot be challenged.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Daly Tao - 291 / Progression
| PROGRESSION |
When meditation stales,
Change methods quickly.
For those who follow Tao, there is no such thing as just one meditation that you practice for the rest of your life. All of Tao changes and flows, so too should meditation. It is not a static discipline but rather a progressive means of spiritual living. Beginners have their meditation, advanced students have theirs. Simple people have simple meditations, complicated people must have meditations that engage them fully.No matter what kind of person you are, there are times when you will exhaust all the potential of a certain contemplative method. After all, a method is only an arbitrary structure, whereas the subconscious that you are trying to master is infinite, changeable, elusive. Therefore, when a method is exhausted, you have to change to another one. Sometimes, it is enough to switch back and forth between methods; at other times, you will need to go to a higher stage of meditation.
As long as you feel restless, it is a sign that you have not yet become fully mature on the spiritual path. The ultimate levels of meditation deal with a complete stillness of the mind. In this state, one feels nothing, thinks of nothing, worries about nothing. When meditation becomes stale, there is a preoccupation that will prevent you from attaining this stillness. That is why you change, until the day when restlessness naturally recedes and stillness is all that remains.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Daly Tao - 290 / Transformation
| TRANSFORMATION |
You hurt me years ago;
My wounds bled for years.
Now you are back,
But I am not the same.
In the past, warriors fought by striking the same points that acupuncturists use. One famous swordsman nearly died in a duel in which his opponent attacked him in such a way. After that, the swordsman became a wanderer and tried to renounce the martial life. Years later, his enemy found him and challenged him to duel again. They fought. In the first flurry of blows, the aggressor stepped back in surprise. The swordsman smiled and said, "I trained for twenty years to move my vulnerable spots." With that, he was finally able to triumph.Spirituality is a process of inner healing. The wounds of the past can be the greatest obstacles for self-cultivation unless we find them all and heal them. This task can take years, but we must accomplish it.
In many cases, our wounds were inflicted by other people -- enemies. This is subtle. Our enemies can be others on the street, or people much more intimate with us : parents, teachers, siblings, lovers, friends.
If we move away from such people and succeed in our practice, they will have no chance to come back in our lives. How can they? We change whatever made us vulnerable in the first place.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
My Unfabulous iPod ...
what's been playing this week on my iPod -
Sufjan Steven / The Age of Adz
Daly Tao - 289 / Merging
| MERGING |
Take the sun. Put it in your heart.
Take the moon. Pull it to your belly.
Draw down the Big Dipper.
Merge with the Northern Star.
We have gone from distant views of gods to a more inner-oriented one. In the past, our relationship was viewed vertically : People were in a subordinate position and the gods were supreme. Without much effort, we can see that this point of view was a reflection of feudalistic definitions and childlike emotions.By contrast, those who follow Tao declare that gods do not exist.
To think this blasphemous is to miss the point. Rather, those who follow Tao seek a relationship with the divine in which there is no division. They are seeking a state of oneness.
If people are one with their god, then it stands to reason that there is no division between them. If there is no division between them, then they are god and god is them. This doesn't mean that a person can do all the things that gods are supposedly able to do. Instead, they attain a state of being and understanding where there are no distinctions, fears, or uncertainties about what is divine.
That is why we sometimes contemplate bringing the stars into our very being. We want to merge with Tao. In essence, we become Tao and Tao becomes us.
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