Asian Philosophy is Eloquent

[InfiniteNow]

Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; norcan the dead ever be brought back to life. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact.

 

-said Sun-Tzu

[Turtle]

Lao Tze said:

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.

 

Turtle's purport: This is a fine example of eloquent words full of selfish intent. Lao Tze, in his elite position of power & comfort, means to keep it for himself by a combination of dazzle & baffle.:)

[hallenrm]

J Krishnamurti

 

We all ought to wash our minds clean as the trees are washed by rain, because they are so heavily laden with dust.

[Queso]

Ultimate Stage

 

A monk asked Ryuge, "What did old Masters attain when they entered the ultimate stage?"

"They were like burglars sneaking into a vacant house", Ryuge replied

 

The ultimate stage being what? Total enlightenment?

 

I don't think i believe in "total enlightenment"

 

In a chaotic system like our brains we tend to use logic to push on and improvise, learning and making "it" up as we go

 

How can there be an ultimate stage?

 

Never complete.

[hallenrm]

I wouldn't like to believe in anything ultimate, even ultimate stage! :)

[Turtle]

It is easier to teach horesmen archery, than to teach archers horesemanship.

-- Shah Jahan

[hallenrm]

Karma Yoga

 

All resistance is good―every problem to be solved, every negative force to be overcome, every low desire to be checked—because:

· Anger checked produces tolerance and kindliness.

 

· Greed checked produces generosity.

 

· Hatred checked produces compassion.

 

· Lust checked produces purity.

 

· Selfishness checked produces unselfishness.

 

· Attachment to work checked produces non-attachment, power, freedom.

[Turtle]

Sun Tzu said:

Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.

 

Disorder coming from order is a matter of organization, fear coming from courage is a matter of force, weakness coming from strength is a matter of formation.

[Turtle]

Sun Tzu said:

So the principles of warfare are:

 

Do not depend on the enemy not coming, but depend on our readiness against him.

 

Do not depend on the enemy not attacking, but depend on our position that cannot be attacked.

:esmoking:

[Michaelangelica]

A herbal student in his final year of a very long apprenticeship to a Master-Herbalist was ready for his final exam.

Fearful, he approached the master for his final test.

The master said "I want you to go and find a plant that is not useful for medicine".

 

Relieved by this easy request, the student set off.

He went high and low. Weeks went by, then months.

. . .

Finally a bedraggled, exhausted student crawled to his masters feet and said

"O master I have failed! I cannot find the plant you asked for"

"Arise my son", said the master for you have passed your final test.

[InfiniteNow]

"You shouldn't chase after the past or place expectations on the future. What is past is left behind. The future is as yet unreached. Whatever quality is present you clearly see right there, right there." -- Buddha

[Turtle]

Lao Tze said:

Who understands does not preach;

Who preaches does not understand.

 

Reserve your judgments and words;

Smooth differences and forgive disagreements;

Dull your wit and simplify your purpose;

Accept the world.

 

Low Shoe's Purport: Lao Tze's backhanded barb is intended to justify his own wealth and power.

[hallenrm]

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.

 

Gautama Buddha

[Turtle]

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.

 

Gautama Buddha

 

Fascinating! This is virtually the exact contradiction of a quote of Leonardo DaVinci's. To paraphrase, 'it is divine to conceive, but servile to execute'. Two such great men who gained their positions inspite of neither following the tenents of the other but both seeking positions. What a wonder is the world. :hihi:

[hallenrm]

Here's yet another

 

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life...think of it, dream of it, live on it. Let your brain, muscles, nerves, all parts of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success

 

Swami Vivekananda

 

Incidentally this is the philosophy that the great archer Arjuna followed in the great Indian epic of Mahabharta

[Michaelangelica]

Here's yet another

 

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life...think of it, dream of it, live on it. Let your brain, muscles, nerves, all parts of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success

 

Then when you fail, take Prozac and die.

[Turtle]

Here's yet another

 

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life...think of it, dream of it, live on it. Let your brain, muscles, nerves, all parts of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success

 

Swami Vivekananda

 

Likewise, another Purport of Low Shoe: Having adhered to Swami Vivekananada's adage several times in this life - with and without knowledge of it - I see it is only a way , not the way. He seeks only to hypnotize in order to leave himself more leisure time by way of lessening his time answering pesky questions. I seem to recall Arjuna receiving reprimand from Krisna for not simply sticking to the one idea that he is a warrior and so get busy slaguhtering your relatives and stop thinking about the ramifications so eloquently. :hihi: