The wise council can undo the harm of vicious ministers,

Li Bai

2004-05-02T15:23:32Z

"The birds have vanished down the sky.
Now the last cloud drains away.

We sit together, the mountain and me,
until only the mountain remains."

-- Li Bai

Agressive Behaviour

2004-04-30T13:24:06Z

"Do you know the fate of the praying mantis? It angrily stretches out its arms, to arrest the progress of a carriage, unconscious of its inability for such a task, but showing how much it thinks of its own powers. Be on your guard; be careful. If you cherish a boastful confidence in you own excellence, and place yourself in collision, you are likely to incur the same fate."

-- Zhuangzi

Connection of Dreams

2004-04-05T16:58:15Z

"The late sun lights river and mountain.
A spring wind blows fragrant grass and flowers.
The soil thaws. Swallows swoop and soar.
On the warm sand, sleep drake and duck."

-- Du Fu

More Truth

2004-03-17T00:18:35Z

"It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."

And Still... Zhuangzi

2004-03-10T05:56:59Z

"When a sage is born with all his excellence, it is other men who see it for him. If they did not tell him, he would not know that he was more excellent than others. And when he knows it, he is as if he did not know it; when he hears it, he is as if he did not hear it."

Zhuangzi Continues...

2004-03-09T20:16:27Z

"The sage comprehends the connections between himself and others, and how they all go to constitute him of one body with them, and he does not know how it is so - he naturally does so. In fulfilling his constitution, as acted on and acting, he simply follows the direction of Heaven; and it is in consequence of this that men style him a sage. If he were troubled about the insufficiency of his knowledge, what he did would always be small, and sometimes would be arrested altogether - how would he in this case be a sage?"

Zhuangzi

2004-03-05T16:19:26Z

Importance of Spaciousness

2004-02-19T11:49:14Z

"The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space for the axle that the use of the wheels depends. Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their hollowness that their use depends. The door and windows are cut out from the walls to form an apartment; but it is on the empty space within that its use depends. Therefore, what has a positive existence serves for profitable adaptation; and what has not that, for actual usefulness."

-- Laozi

Laozi

2004-02-16T06:25:25Z

"To Be Sparing In Speech Is Natural."

"Trust Sutra" by Michael A. Vollero

2004-02-06T03:27:33Z

I.

Faith is key to trust.

"He said, 'Faith is trust in reason.'" This can be taken in two forms.

Faith is trust, or a 'belief in,' the concept of reasoning. In example, my faith is based upon my strong belief in my sense of reasoning. Or, this can mean Faith is trust, but within reason, or limits. Limits of what is in reason to oneself.

Now, to have faith in anything, you must have trust in it's achievements, it's manifestation, it's existence, if you will. Without faith, you cannot have any pure hope.
That is one part.

II.

Another part now...
Trust is a tool used by the human heart (or any creature) to establish a bond. Those who trust everyone, until they are betrayed, are people looking for friends, or people to be close to, or people to depend on, in some way.

Those who trust no one, and believe it must be earned, are those who have a strong center in their individuality (Ego; Notion of Self), and feel threatened by other people getting too close for one reason, or another.

III.

Next Section...
To care about someone, you must have a compassion -- demanding feeling to relieve or share their suffering -- for them, and their lives. To feel cared about, in it's root, you feel like someone has invested time or emotion into you, as a person.

Trust is an investment of Faith.

For someone to have faith in you, is to be limitless in your own heart.

No feeling can be greater.

IV.

Next Section.

Two of the most prominent causes for a lack of trust: Betrayal (from a previous person, or this person of whom you have trust issues with) and the state of you yourself being uncentered.

If you've been betrayed by someone else, you must learn that this person is not the person who betrayed you. To take the crimes of another out on someone else, is unjustified and wrongful punishment. It also is a sacrifical demand. You demand they sacrifice a state of equality with you on a level of "good faith," to be someone in your life/presence.

Both are selfish acts!
And of course, being selfish is the promotion of Ego; promotion of a division from the subconscious, and the universe.

V.

A continuation...

The second cause, as mentioned above, the state of being uncentered. Someone who is uncentered cannot trust themselves to uphold their own balance and contentment in life for very long.

This person fluctuates too easily on some emotional/spiritual level, and therefore, as a man walking on a tight rope, cannot lean on another person they assume to also have the same ability of walking on the rope. They do not see that the other person on the rope walks with a centered-self, for they do not look outside of their own off-balanced nature to see how to better themselves.

To find one's center and balance, will bring about an ability to hold hands with another on this tightrope of life. In which both, balanced together and yet separately, they can withstand stronger winds and tides from before.

This also demonstrates an opposite effect for those who trust too much, and pull down on those they do not see to be off-balanced, because they are constantly boasting about how much balance they have (or convincing themselves of this balance). But when in real, attention grabbing by flailing arms, and breaking a center in their own balance.

VI.

Close Sutra.

And from here, we see that to truly trust another, we first, must learn about ourselves, through other Sutra; through living and experiencing. With this, we can then achieve balance in ourself, now achieving faith and trust. Only then, can we look towards others, and not be blind by their false presences, or by their own lack of trust in you and everyone else around them.

Here is how we learn to trust.
By developing trust in ourselves,
And understanding the nature of Tian (Heaven),
The nature of Di (Earth), and
The nature of Ren (Humanity).

Amitabhu.

Laozi For Ancient Times' Sake

2004-02-06T02:45:19Z

"There is no greater fault than ambition,
no greater curse than discontentment,
and no greater sin than greed.
The one who is contented with contentment shall always be contented."

-- Laozi

Zhuangzi Quote

2004-01-29T01:25:44Z

"Life, death, preservation, loss, failure, success, poverty, riches, worthiness, unworthiness, slander, fame, hunger, thirst, cold, heat - these are the alternations of the world, the workings of fate. Day and night they change place before us and wisdom cannot spy out their source. Therefore, they should not be enough to destroy your harmony; they should not be allowed to enter the storehouse of spirit. If you can harmonize and delight in them, master them and never be at a loss for joy, if you can do this day and night without break and make it spring with everything, mingling with all and creating the moment within your mind - this is what I call being whole in power."

-- Zhuangzi

Further With Wenzi

2004-01-24T04:21:24Z

"To have many abilities means to be competent in both culture and defense, and to do precisely what is right in terms of your conduct in action and repose, in what you take up and what you put aside, what you dispense with and what you set up.

"To have few concerns means to grasp what is essential in order to comprehend the manifold, to hold to the minimum in order to govern the maximum, to live quietly in order to sustain activity.

"So those who exercise minute attention control in subtlety, those whose aspiration is great take all to heart, those with round knowledge know everything, those of straight action do everything, those with many abilities master everything, and those whose concerns are few minimize what they hold. "

-- Wenzi

More Wenzi

2004-01-23T04:04:37Z

"Roundness of knowledge means it has no beginning or end but flows far in all directions, springing inexhaustibly from a profound source.
Straightness of action means to stand upright unshakably, to remain pure and unstained, to keep self-control when in straits, and to refrain from self-indulgence when successful."

-- Wenzi

Year 4701 -- Year of the Green Wood Monkey -- "Jia Shen"

2004-01-22T01:39:47Z

"Everything will be workable this year. Atleast the agile Monkey will not give up before trying every angle. There will be success even in impossible ventures, there will be inventions and improvisations galore. Politics, diplomacy, high finance and business will be engaged in one big poker game with everyone trying to outbluff each other. A rather amusing and exciting time in which everyone will be given the opportunity to try his hand at the game. No direct confrontation here, as the Monkey is one who can laugh off his mistakes and improve his bargaining prowess in the next round.

This is a year that will find us all trying to get a better deal by outsmarting the other man. It is hard to keep track of who is winning, as the right hand has no idea of what the left hand is up to. One thing is for sure, this will be an extremely progressive time. We will all steam ahead and even if we do not apply ourselves to the utmost, we will be carried forward by the surging tide of the Monkey's natural talent for learning and advancement.

The lucky imp of a Monkey who rules this year will urge us to gamble, speculate, and exploit risky but ingenious options. If you are quick on the draw, this year will yeild huge dividends. It is definitely not a year for the faint-hearted or slow-witted. The Monkey gives no concessions and asks none in return. If there is a recession, the year of the Monkey will quickly put an end to it. Business will skyrocket under his optimistic and shrewd influence. The Monkey's resourcefulness will amaze and confound everyone.

It is very interesting to note that America was born in the year of the Fire Monkey, 1776. Perhaps this explains her phenomenal growth and fantastic achievements within such a short span of time.

It is said that the Monkey's year will bring many new and unconventional ways of doing things. The motto of this year should be, "Don't take no for an answer!"

The Rat:
The Rat will enjoy a fruitful year as no serious troubles are predicted on the home or business front. He will recieve more good news than bad. However, he should avoid breaking friendships or parnerships at this time to avoid future repercussions.

The Ox:
A lucky and prosperous year for the Ox. He will be feted or sought after by important people. Good tidings in his family or a new job or promotion could await him. New ventures or parnerships can be foreseen.

The Tiger:
A trying year for the Tiger. Irritations and setbacks test his patience and powers of endurance. He should not voice his objections too loudly and avoid confrontations which could lead to lawsuits. He will entertain or travel more than usual and be forced to compromise.

The Rabbit:
A fair year for the Rabbit provided he is not too optimistic. Financial deals or contracts may meet with unexpected snags or fail to materialze due to the betrayal of a trusted ally. His family life remains calm but he could experience several minor illnesses that impede his progress.

The Dragon:
A mixed year for the Dragon. Progress can be foreseen in his career and financial undertakings but he must not be decieved by favourable preliminary results or else he could get caught in legal tangles. Broken friendships or romantic quarrels can result if he is too determined to have everything done his way. A time for compromises and heeding the advice of others.

The Snake:
A good year as the Snake wil find help when he needs it most. He may stil be involuntarily drawn into disputes but things will burn themselves out if he does not add fuel to the fire. Still, these adverse conditions may cause undue anxiety. A year to remain conservative or neutral.

The Horse:
A lucky year for the Horse, as suden gains or unlikely benefits are foreseen. He will be able to find whatever he is searching for, but he must also be careful about freak accidents that are likely to occur. There may be sad news in the family, but the troubles of others wil not affect him personally.

The Sheep:
A good year for the Sheep. Recognition or promotion at work gives him a sense of fulfillment and he will enjoy a busy but rewarding year. Opposition is negligible and health problems are minor.

The Monkey:
An excellent time for the Monkey native. He can start his own business as achievements, happiness and recognition are indicated. He will make fantastic progress. Headaches will come mainly from subordinates, debtors or people who finance his bold undertakings. Health problems stem from overexertion.

The Rooster:
A mixed year. The rooster is faced with financial problems, failure in business or acareer, or personal suffering at home. He is prone to make errors in judgement, so he must not rely on outside information but investigate everything thoroughly on his own. Things may look better than tey actually are.

The Dog:
A fair year. It will be hectic and not as fruitful as the Dog expects, but there will be good news or celebrations at home. Extra expenses, more traveling than usual or a change in residence are also foreseen. New friends and important people will fete him.

The Boar:
A moderately satisfying time for the Boar. He wil.l suffer from a lack of money or support and various domestic and personal problems wil occupy his miind. Results are not entirely favorable but he will be able to borrow money or join forces with other people and solve his difficulties.

--- Above all taken from "The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, Theodora Lau

Wood Sign (Colour Green, naturally):
The peak point in a Wood Monkey year is the Springtime, a period of growth and prosperity. The Wood element represents the first 12 years of life, the time of rapid development, idealism and youthful innocence. Wood element years are prime to begin sizable enterprises, expansions and major cooperation's.

Happy New Year to Everyone.
I hope all goes well.
Amitabhu.
Xin Nian Hao.
Gong Xi Fa Cai.
Gong He Xin Xi.
(Pick one, I don't care)

The World and Lies

2004-01-20T21:56:33Z

"Ogata-sama does not know the truth... Was this for the best?"

"In the end, this world is full of lies, sensei.
Binding truth with lies and obscuring it...
Isn't that how everybody lives, one way or the other?
Myself and you aswell, sensei."

--- Conversation from "Kousetsu Hyaku Monogatari"

A Taoist Quote

2004-01-20T20:13:24Z

"Laozi said, 'In the general course of human life, attention should be minute, while aspiration should be great; knowledge should be round, while action should be straight; abilities should be many, while concerns should be few.'"

-Wenzi

T a o & Z e n

2004-01-08T13:51:12Z

Taoist philosophy exerted a great influence on the developing school of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China. Many of the understandings of Taoists and Zen Buddhists are very similar.

"The mind of the perfect man is like a mirror. It does not lean forward or backward in response to things. It responds to things but conceals nothing of its own. Therefore it is able to deal with things without injury to [its reality]."

A Quote I'd Like Not To Forget

2004-01-08T13:35:46Z

One element of Taoism is a kind of existential skepticism, something which can already be seen in the philosophy of Yang Chu(4th century B.C.) who wrote:

"What is man's life for? What pleasure is there in it? Is it for beauty and riches? Is it for sound and colour? But there comes a time when beauty and riches no longer answer the needs of the heart, and when a surfeit of sound and colour becomes a weariness to the eyes and a ringing in the ears.

"The men of old knew that life comes without warning, and as suddenly goes. They denied none of their natural inclinations, and repressed none of their bodily desires. They never felt the spur of fame. They sauntered through life gathering its pleasures as the impulse moved them. Since they cared nothing for fame after death, they were beyond the law. For name and praise, sooner or later, a long life or short one, they cared not at all."

Calendar Math

2004-01-08T11:44:36Z

The solar calendar is constructed as follows :
1 Cycle = 20 years
1 Era = 3 Cycles = 60 years
1 Great Cycle = 3 Eras = 9 Cycles = 180 years
1 Epoch = 20 Great Cycles = 60 Eras = 180 Cycles = 3600 years

Winter Months

2004-01-08T11:35:28Z

((Translated by Thomas Cleary))

"Look at the plants and trees; their foliage flourishes then drops in late autumn, returning to the roots as a natural pattern. Returning to the root, it does not die but regenerates come springtime. From this principle we can see that endless regeneration is the Way of nature, while returning to their roots is the inherent pattern of beings. Those who know the inherent pattern and do not violate the Way are real people. This is why "real people breathe from their heels"--the heels are like the root. During the three months of winter, which is the season of return to the root, you should quietly nurture this"

Calligraphy

2004-01-07T07:23:31Z

http://calligraphy.feebledreams.com

Calligraphy

2004-01-05T13:55:39Z

The brush I learn with is just a paint brush. Not a bomboo brush. My longer strokes run out of ink/paint too quickly, end up fading away before I close them. But none the less, I feel what will become an essence.

I am not sure of proper sitting postures or arm postures. I am sure that it is controlled by the wrist, arm moving in a general direction. It seems elbow up is the most productive form. But since my arm gets tired, I will have to develop muscle. Develop muscle, to paint. An amazing concept. I've learned to destroy human flesh, but to paint, I need more muscular strength.

Or better Chi Flow.

As I open The Book Of Change, I begin w/ the first Gua, and work my way to the eighth. They will all need redone of course, but these ancient ideograms are not of the same stroke order as modern Chinese. These are from the warring kingdoms, 200 B.C. and older. They are what I like to call, "Of The Essence." The roots of calligraphy are here.

As for now, I start w/ normal stroke order, breaking up solid lines into pieces and sharp corners here and there. When I learn to hold the paint on the brush, and not waste it all at once, I will learn then, to solidify my chopped strokes, and smooth my corners.

Opening and closing principles I learned from Rebecca. I still remember the moments I spent watching her practice on a piece of news paper w/ black ink. What a mess. I didn't understand why she twisted the brush after placing it down, or twisted it back when lifting it off the paper. But try it once, It is the same as opening a jar and closing it. Or Introductory sentences and Closing sentences. To make both ends of the stroke clear and conscious.

This is an art I find myself capable of growing in.

And to quote myself, before wrapping up:
"They say Calligraphy was key to his swordsmanship.
I say only that Calligraphy is a key to my heart."

What is key to your swordsmanship is key to every aspect of life.
Same goes with everything else in life.

I will be focusing now more on Calligraphy,
And less on moping.
It clears the soul instantly.
Instantly.

Evolution of Time

2004-01-02T15:47:49Z

When a person is young, one week seems to last ages, one year seems to span forever. But as one ages, time seems to speed up, and the person begins to percive time as moving faster, right before their eyes. I believe the same to be happening to mankind.

The ancients had an essence, that we have traded for new essentials. What a waste.

Lesson's Learned

2003-12-23T06:29:12Z

http://www.livejournal.com/~remembermyke/213803.html