Hi dmb, The name is Dwai (can't water it down any more than that) ...
I whole-heartedly agree that women need to be given their rightful place in the order of things. But this discussion has nothing to do with Feminism. It transcends all gender barriers/divides. As far as Emerson is concerned, he was hugely influenced by Vedanta. http://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/i_es/i_es_gordo_emerson.htm So it isn't surprising that there were overlaps with Lao Tzu -- Taoism and Vedanta are very identical. That doesn't mean I am taking anything away from Emerson... Regards, Dwai On Jan 8, 2008, at 3:18 PM, david buchanan 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: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> 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... >> >> Moq_Discuss mailing list >> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. >> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org >> Archives: >> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ >> http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > > _________________________________________________________________ > Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live. > http://www.windowslive.com/share.html? > ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008 > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
