[MD] Taoism

Tue Jan 8 21:08:12 PST 2008

DMB,

'The Tao of Emerson' does sound delicious.  Thanks for bringing it to 
our attention.

Marsha

At 04:18 PM 1/8/2008, you wrote:

>Marsha, Dawi and all MOQers:
>
>As I see it, patriarchy is about as old as civilization. If Joseph 
>Campbell is right, the alternative was stamped out entirely by 1750 
>B.C., long before the Tao Te Ching was written. In the West women 
>have been blamed for everything wrong by everyone from Freud to the 
>author of Genesis, so I certainly agree with Marsha's complaints.
>
>But I wanted to tell everybody about a book I picked up the other 
>day. Its called "The Tao of Emerson". It doesn't have an author so 
>much as an editor (Richard Grossman). Except for a brief 
>introduction, the book simply puts Lao Tse and Emerson side by side 
>to show the parallels between them. The harmony of these two 
>thinkers is all the more striking because they are separated by 25 
>centuries and half of a planet. In fact, the Tao Te Ching was not 
>translated into the English language until about 9 years after 
>Emerson had died. And yet, there it is. I think its quite alright if 
>a person would rather approach the perennial philosophy from the 
>perspective of their own culture and language and Emerson is about 
>as American as a guy can be. Hope that sounds as delicious to you as 
>it does to me.
>
>Along the same lines, I have a chart or map of Western philosophies. 
>It shows which schools grew from which. I think its very interesting 
>that traces a line from the mystery cults and religions of the 
>ancient world directly to the transcendentalists, a line that goes 
>AROUND everything between them. The same chart shows pragmatism as 
>the next step out of transcendentalism. I happen to know that James 
>and Dewey were both HUGE fans of Emerson. That chart is in a frame, 
>nailed to my office wall, and has a tiny statue of Buddha resting on 
>top. That makes me smile almost every time.
>
>Thanks,
>dmb
>
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------
> > Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 15:39:55 -0500
> > To: moq_discuss at moqtalk.org
> > From: marshalz at charter.net
> > Subject: Re: [MD] Taoism
> >
> >
> > Greetings,
> >
> > I have finished reading 'Nine Nights with the Taoist Master', by
> > Master Waysun Liao.  I have thought about it and tried to find an
> > approach that would illicit understanding.  Reading this book has
> > been very helpful.  I had read two versions of the Tao Te Ching and
> > did not get a clear understanding of text.  I had also read a little
> > bit on the Internet, but still did not understand.
> >
> > It seems there are 100s of translations of the Tao Te Ching, all
> > different, with different interpretations.  Mostly wrong according to
> > Waysun Laio.  It seems this is a tradition based on some highly
> > ambiguous text and secret transmissions.
> >
> > I think it most reflects the MOQ in that Quality and the Tao are the
> > same.  Waysun Liao writes, "... one must work on his mind, life
> > energy (Chi), and engage in the systematic practice that brings a
> > qualitative change to one's mind and body." (p.276)  I totally agree
> > with this.  And, I've always loved the Yin-Yang symbol, I have it
> > tattooed on my spine at my 2nd chakra.  Intuitively it has always
> > seemed perfect.
> >
> > As far as the text goes, I can agree where it points to the Tao being
> > indivisible, undefinable and unknowable.  Most of the text, though,
> > is so ambiguous to me that I am not sure what it means.  Which, of
> > course, is exactly why Waysun Liao wrote his book.  And I am sure it
> > has been helpful to many.  It did clear away some of the confusion.
> >
> > I am a skeptic. I don't much like dogma of any sort (this is a
> > personal attribute).  I have had instructions on meditation,
> > pranayama, and Hatha yoga.  There are many traditions teaching these
> > techniques, and they all have value.  I don't believe there is one
> > true way.  I'm far too skeptical for that.
> >
> > I am a feminist.  And as a feminist I found the interpretation of the
> > teachings disturbing.  I think that this world needs far more Yin
> > energy.  It is way out of balance.  This text was a man talking to
> > men.  You can say it represents something universal, but I don't buy
> > it just because of some general statement that it is implied.  I
> > found far more value in the words of Isabel Allende.  And could
> > anything survive in this sick culture without the ironic humor of
> > someone like Ms. McKay?
> >
> > So while the practices may have benefit, the teachings are not for
> > me.  For me they do not address the Universal Feminine.  Not even
> > remotely.  To me, it's one-sided and laughable.  As Jack Nickolson
> > said in the movie 'Witches of Eastwick', "Good for the man, bad for
> > the woman".
> >
> > Now the thing is, I cannot prove I'm right.  But neither can you
> > prove you're right.  So why don't we just leave it at:
> >
> > "While sustaining biological and social patterns
> > Kill all intellectual patterns.
> > Kill them completely
> > And then follow Dynamic Quality
> > And morality will be served."
> >                     (LILA, Chapter 32)
> >
> >
> > Marsha
> >
> > p.s.  I hope this does not personally offend anyone.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars...
> >
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*************
DEFINITION of  Marsha, I, me, self, & etc.:   Ever-changing 
collection of overlapping, interrelated, inorganic, biological, 
social and intellectual, static patterns of value.