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: [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/ ************* DEFINITION of Marsha, I, me, self, & etc.: Ever-changing collection of overlapping, interrelated, inorganic, biological, social and intellectual, static patterns of value. 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