That was Zen, This is Tao

daaannielle: sodamnplastic: Reblog and click the picture. LOL,...

Thu, 26 May 2011 02:53:16 -0400

daaannielle:

sodamnplastic:

Reblog and click the picture.

LOL, just had so much fun right there.

ohmygaaahd.

yellowdoor: (via 9GAG - Cozy book nook) How do people make...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:59:06 -0400

yellowdoor:

(via 9GAG - Cozy book nook)

How do people make this shit I don’t even

Hello again! Why, this blog seems to be full of false promises. I apologize for my lack of...

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:25:21 -0400

Hello again! Why, this blog seems to be full of false promises. I apologize for my lack of commitment to updating this blog. I could make another promise, but results speak better than promises.

Let me tell you what I’ve been up to.

I’ve fallen out of the habit of meditation due to the fact that many people from about the way have been staying at my house at one point or another. Add to this the fact that because of my new job I now cannot manage to meditate in the mornings before work (because I fall asleep) and it is generally too noisy (or I am too exhausted) when I get home.

The job I’m working at, by the way, is at a place called Advanced Valve Technologies, my best friend’s father’s company, which invented an ingenious device that allows a person to cut into a pipe and stop the line to work on it without turning the whole system off. This cut a process that normally takes a couple of days down to an hour or two, not to mention cut equipment costs dramatically. He’s making a gold mine, that’s for sure. But I am working in this warehouse, building and cleaning machines, painting parts, tapping threads… all general manual labor. I work 9-5 Mondays through Saturdays, and it’s all minimum wage back breaking manual labor. A bit beneath my education level, but beggars cannot be choosers. Besides, I get to work with my best friend every day, and despite his father being a bit of a brash character, he is a wonderful boss. My life feels so much fuller with work.

Still, I do miss the feelings of tranquility and peace that I achieved from meditation. I also miss talking about Buddhism and Taoism on here. I suppose one of my biggest fears is running out of things to say, but since this is a general blog, anything goes!

Another reason I fell off my good habits (including this blog) is because I have reconnected with many old friends. You see, before when I had this blog, I could count my amount of friends on less than one hand, particularly those who lived in close proximity and actually wanted to hang out with me. But old friends have been popping up, and something odd has been bringing us together:

Board games.

Now, when these words are mentioned to the typical American, they think Monopoly or Life or Risk, horrid little creations that are so unbalanced and so long to play that they feel more of a chore to engage in. But the board games I speak of are worlds apart from that. I’ve developed an addiction to some of the best board games the world has to offer, and I’ve bene having a bloody blast the whole while.

How did this addiction start? Well, it started in England when I met a New Zealander by the name of Euan. I went to visit him in his flat one day, and he asked:

“Have you ever played Carcassonne?”

This began my nervous trip into the world of Euro board games. The game was a tiny bit confusing at first, but I instantly fell in love with the strategy and initial concept. Never had I played a board game where you actually BUILD the board as you play. Ingenious! We played very many games!

But this love of Euro boardgames was only a larvae, intent on maturing deep within my mind before violently bursting out of my brain to infect the rest of the general populace.

it was about a few months ago (now being in America) that I thought back fondly to my days of playing Carcassonne with Euan. Being the silly moron that I was, I thought Carcassonne would be too hard to find in America. Besides, I had no bloody friends to play it with, really!

But the boredom of unemployment and a slight thirst for social contact brought me out to the local board game shop to find a copy. I bought it in hopes that I could play it with my father. He seemed to enjoy the game, but not as much as I.

It was then that I spoke to an old friend, Justin, and asked him if he had heard of it. Little did I know that in the years we hadn’t spoke, Justin had too recently developed a love for Euro games and their equivalent brethren. He quickly came over to my house with very many curious and wonderful games and introduced me to a world of endless entertainment.

I now have a weekly board game night, and many friends who are always willing to play. Why, I’ve even downloaded a wonderful program called BrettSpielWelt, where one can play some of these amazing board games online with other people (including Carcassonne!).

Sadly not an excuse for ceasing meditation, but at least you know what’s going on with me!

With my new obsession comes an addendum, however… I will be posting descriptions and reviews of these various board and card games in addition to the ones I have already promised! I want to do this because, honestly, these games are just WAY too much fun for people to miss out on them. I wish I had known about these years ago.

Well, I’ve rambled on long enough. I’m sick from work today, so now would seem the perfect time to meditate..

Once again, another attempt at a successful update. Today, I’m going to be talking about one...

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:21:08 -0400

Once again, another attempt at a successful update.

Today, I’m going to be talking about one of my favorite books: The Tao of Pooh.

Now its been a few years since I’ve read this book, but it still remains one of my top ten favorite books. The premise of the book is an introduction to Taoism for the Western mindset. How does the author accomplish this? By using characters from Winnie the Pooh, of course. Pooh himself is very, er, well, pu in his mannerisms, whilst all the other characters portray many members of our modern society and how their actions act against the Tao and damage themselves.

The book is humorously and intelligently written, and a perfect gateway book for people who want to learn more about Taoism. My only complaint about the book is that it is rather generalized about certain aspects of Taoism that it explains, but I suppose that is only necessary, given the complexity/simplicity of it all.

What else can I really say about it? Pick it up, you won’t regret it.

It is very Taoist of me to not update this thing regularly, but it’s not very Buddhist of me. ...

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:31:00 -0400

It is very Taoist of me to not update this thing regularly, but it’s not very Buddhist of me. Conflicting views.

From now on, I will return to your regularly scheduled programming by posting at least once a day, immediately after work.

Forgive me for robbing you of something fun to read.

"We all find occasions to reject and resist another person. We all like to put up a fight against..."

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:41:32 -0400

“We all find occasions to reject and resist another person. We all like to put up a fight against anything we dislike on the evening news as we spectate the world. But we forget that when we decide we will resist something or somebody, either mentally or physically, we only empower the object of our resistance, either in reality or in our own minds. If you want to enjoy the ability to influence, always start with acceptance. If you want to disarm another begin with acceptance. If you want to encourage and empower another to change, start with acceptance. Don’t make it conditional. Otherwise it’s just resistance disguised as acceptance, and you are still trying to control them. And we can all smell a controller…can’t you?”

- Innerspace (via bodymindandsoul)

"Since you are searching for understanding of self, don’t ask about caste or class, riches or birth,..."

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:37:45 -0400

“Since you are searching for understanding of self, don’t ask about caste or class, riches or birth, but instead ask about heart and conduct. Look at the flames from a fire. Where does the brightness arise? From the nature of wood—and it doesn’t matter what kind of wood. In the same way the bright heart of wisdom can shine from wood of every sort. It is through virtuous conduct, through loving-kindness and compassion, and through understanding of truth that one becomes noble.””

- The Buddha (via awakenedartistry)

Meditation journal entry #8, 10 minutes, walking meditation, walking the dog. Total time meditating:...

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:35:33 -0400

Meditation journal entry #8, 10 minutes, walking meditation, walking the dog.

Total time meditating: 2 hours.

After not meditating for over a week due to my foolish need to fill what little free time I have left with board games instead of minding my own personal health, I have, as I’ve said before, begun to feel my calm, peaceful demeanor slip away bit by bit.

It is like how one feels after gaining a great deal of muscle, then stops working out entirely. The losses are barely noticeable, but they begin to pile up. This culminated in the form of me getting easily annoyed/aggravated by many intense things going on around me, the worst of which resulted in me raising my voice in exasperation, though only in an annoyed way. Still, this is something the Buddhist me would not have even considered. The point I realized I was REALLY getting back to my old self was when I was talking to my girlfriend on the phone about how difficult my predicament into getting back into college is and how I probably won’t be able to get loans in on time, or go at all this term. As I spoke, I felt a creeping, familiar depression and worry creeping over me, and it indeed began to affect my speech. I started sounding a little bit like my old depressive self. I took note of this, and tried to focus my mind away from it, which worked.

Still, these little nudges back to my old ways show me that my mind is breaking free of the peaceful trance I have put it in.

The 10 minutes of meditation I just did seems to have fixed all that. I did a walking meditation alongside the dog, completely open-eyed but not focusing on anything directly, my mind only concentrating on my breath. As I reached my 70th or 80th breath, I felt my mind began to tingle, and all the stress residue that had been building up in my brain seemed to crack, shift, and ultimately melt away into nothingness, a warm tingling enveloping my entire forehead.

Suddenly, I felt as my old self again. Peaceful and content, worries of the future and regrets of the past mere trifles. As I sit here, I am enjoying a deep sense of contentment. This was just what my mind needed.

I am actually GLAD I stopped meditating for a while, just to actually experience these dramatic changes on and off. Thanks to this, I’ll probably never stop again.

"To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first..."

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:44:15 -0400

“To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him”

- Buddha (via bodymindandsoul)

"If a person’s basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to..."

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:37:39 -0400

“If a person’s basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that these could bring.”

- Dalai Lama (via bodymindandsoul)

"Worry is otherwise known as ‘fantasized catastrophizing’ where we create an image of the future and..."

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:28:38 -0400

“Worry is otherwise known as ‘fantasized catastrophizing’ where we create an image of the future and use it to frighten ourselves! Be aware that you are doing it, then stop doing it, otherwise the image will become a self fulfilling prophesy. Imagine only the brightest future, and so it will be. Besides there is nothing to worry about… unless you are under the illusion that your well-being and security are dependent on material things. If they are, then you will have many ways in which you can create worry. Possible loss, damage, separation, uncertainty are but a few. Look, you’re killing yourself with worry, all because of the misuse of your imagination. Don’t do it.”

- Innerspace (via bodymindandsoul)

"In a class long ago I had been introduced to the nuances of Taoism. Then it was an intellectual..."

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:25:46 -0400

“

In a class long ago I had been introduced to the nuances of Taoism. Then it was an intellectual exercise, but now it returned as a refuge. There would not be the distraction of theodicy there, no time and attention taken to defend the goodness of God in the face of anguish and affliction. I did not want to talk about God; I wanted to understand Aidan’s life and my relationship to him.

Taoism helped with that. In its philosophical expression — distinct from its religious form, which deifies certain figures and ritualizes certain actions — Taoism might best be described as naturalistic. It calls our attention to the vast and complex totality of all things: the physical things of this earth, the ineffable things of the heavens, and the timeless things of the universe. The unfolding of all these things altogether spontaneously and simultaneously is what we might refer to as Tao, or “Way.” We humans cannot control Way. We cannot fully understand it. Our language cannot capture its expanse and intricacy. There is no reference to, or necessity for, any God-like figure in philosophical Taoism. The cosmology of Way is, in the words of the great sinologist, Joseph Needham, “an ordered harmony of wills without an ordainer.” All there is is Way, and Way is all there is.

”

- The Tao of Aidan | Big Questions Online (via beyond-school) (via the-apt-also-rises)

So sorry for the lack of updates recently, as I’m now working six days a week and have a lot...

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:18:17 -0400

So sorry for the lack of updates recently, as I’m now working six days a week and have a lot of other engagements in life. Mostly friends and board games, but family, too. It’s been wonderful.

However, I haven’t taken even 10 minutes out of any of the prior days to meditate (not following my own advice, I know), and I am feeling noticeably different because of this. I find that the emotion that leaps quickly up my throat is that of impatient or annoyance, and find myself constantly struggling to still my heart with my mind. So, there you have it. Meditation certainly helps.

My excuse for not meditating is the fact that I am currently working in a piping factory doing manual labor and machine construction all day; very messy and VERY dirty. When I get home, the first thing I should really do is meditate, but this is nearly impossible to do on account of my family running and shouting about everywhere. Likewise, as my job requires a great deal of intense manual labor in sweltering heat, I fear I will fall asleep during my meditation.

But I know these are excuses. Everyone has time for it. As soon as my parents and sisters leave the house, I will indulge in a session.

Since I’ve been so busy with work, I thought I’d sit down and read the Tao Te Ching a...

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:47:44 -0400

Since I’ve been so busy with work, I thought I’d sit down and read the Tao Te Ching a bit.

Here is today’s passage!

#3:

If you overesteem great men,
people become powerless.
If you overvalue possessions,
people begin to steal.

The Master leads
by emptying people’s minds
and filling their cores,
by weakening their ambition
and toughening their resolve.
He helps people lose everything
they know, everything they desire,
and creates confusion
in those who think that they know.

Practice not-doing,
and everything will fall into place.

This is the beauty and majesty of wu wei, and how a person of pu guides others. I love how (in many passages, in fact) Taoism likes to point how ridiculous their philosophies seem to the common man.

My favourite line in this is how the Master weakens a person’s ambition and toughens their resolve. This might confuse many people, as ambition is generally viewed as a good thing. However, ambition is a product of conscious will, and is always directed towards some goal or purpose, a product of the mind and it’s desires. At least that’s what ambition is meant to translate to in this passage.

But here is another translation of that passage, to highlight how ambivalent the language in the Tao Te Ching is.

Not praising the worthy prevents contention,
Not esteeming the valuable prevents theft,
Not displaying the beautiful prevents desire.

In this manner the sage governs people:
Emptying their minds,
Filling their bellies,
Weakening their ambitions,
And strengthening their bones.

If people lack knowledge and desire
Then they can not act;
If no action is taken
Harmony remains.

I have read this translation of this passage much more often, as the phrase “emptying their minds and filling their bellies” is one of great contention.

Well, I’m covered in grease in sore all over. Time to shower, meditate, and nap (not in that order).

"Silence is not a lack of communication. There is a subtle language that connects us to one another..."

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:50:19 -0400

“Silence is not a lack of communication. There is a subtle language that connects us to one another through the eyes, with a smile, or a gesture. In moving into an inner space of silence, we are attuning ourselves to the spirit of nature and letting go of the tendency to be critical. Silence provides the opportunity for me to identify the qualities in myself that have the capacity to transform me. In silence I can connect to the highest quality of my lightest, clearest thinking. In silence I can listen to the call of nature, the call of others in need.”

- Innerspace (via bodymindandsoul)

"Peace is simplicity. Simplicity is beauty. Choose a day as your day of simplicity. Speak little, and..."

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:39:13 -0400

“Peace is simplicity. Simplicity is beauty. Choose a day as your day of simplicity. Speak little, and listen with attention. Do something incognito and nice for a person you are close to. Eat simple and natural food. Create time periods for not doing anything - just walk, look around, live the moment. Have your mind open to a more profound and silent sensitivity. Appreciate each scene and each person as they are. In the evening, write down your discoveries. Observe the state of your mind.”

- Innerspace (via bodymindandsoul)

"The greatest achievement is selflessness. The greatest worth is self-mastery. The greatest quality..."

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:28:50 -0400

“The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.”

-

Atisha (11th century Tibetan Buddhist master)

(via eafp) (via gardenofthefareast)

(via nakedbythecomputer, mandadollface)

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:27:53 -0400

(via nakedbythecomputer, mandadollface)

"If you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise. Think..."

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:25:23 -0400

“If you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.”

- Swami Vivekananda (via bodymindandsoul) (via everythings-eventual)

"Deep inside our consciousness is an oasis of peace. This is the molten core of the soul, but it is..."

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:00:13 -0400

“Deep inside our consciousness is an oasis of peace. This is the molten core of the soul, but it is not hot, it is cool. Not passive, but a source of inner power to fuel our mind and intellect, so that we can create powerful thoughts and make accurate decisions. If you can learn to go to this centre, peace will be your companion, positivity your partner, and you will be able to chill out in one second, anywhere, anytime. Returning to the centre of your self is the journey of one second. It is the regular destination of clever souls. And it is the source of your power and peace.”

- Innerspace (via bodymindandsoul)