The Creation of the Gods

[Diebert van Rhijn]

A wonderful text amidst the dust that some with pointy ears might appreciate and probably sounds a bit silly to others.

Master of the Clouds lowered his head respectfully and addressed the monarch, "Your Majesty knows only that a king must be accorded the highest honor, but has no idea that of the three religions - Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, Taoism is the most honored."

"How is that?"

"Let me tell you. Among the three religions, Taoism is the most highly esteemed. A Taoist neither makes obeisance to a king nor calls on dukes and high ministers. He resides in his hermitage and avoids the entrapments of political powers. He thoroughly rejects the vulgar world, regarding it as a net, and endeavors throughout his life to seek truth."

"He distances himself from fame and riches, he finds joy in forests and streams, he abandons all concepts of honor and dishonor, and he takes refuge in caves. He's got a blanket of stars above by night, and of sunshine by day. He wears cotton gowns, weaves hats of fresh flowers and plucks wild grass for mattresses. He drinks and brushes his teeth from cool fresh mountain streams; and chews on pine needles and cedar leaves for long life. He claps his hands and sings loudly. He sleeps on the cloud after he danced."

"He discourses on philosophies when he is with mountain spirits. He drinks wine, and writes poetry when he is with friends. He laughs at the rat race below in the Red Dust world while enjoying his care-free life. Sometimes, three gather to ponder philosophical thought, or two to study the ancient history and discuss present trends. The change of seasons seems to make him younger each year; his white hair returns to black. Most of his time, he would go with his flower basket to the mountain top to search for medicinal herbs to relieve the suffering of the populace in the Red Dust. He studies the stars and predicts the future. He can see the good and the bad clearly in the hearts of men. For the good of all men, he will come down to the Red Dust when necessary to rid it."

"He is unlike the scholars of the school of discipline whose sole purpose is to study the classics, to gain high positions in the king's court. The Taoist considers wealth and high ranks as changeable as floating clouds; not worthy of a person of true intellect. And unlike those who play with black magic, the Taoist is the true magic."

From Fengshen Yanyi ("The Investiture of the Gods" or "The Creation of the Gods", a Chinese epic novel written in the Ming Dynasty), chapter 5.

[MickyL]

The Taoist has only one thing to conquer and that is the lable Taoist.

[Diebert van Rhijn]

But even label itself should be written the right way.

[Trevor Salyzyn]

The Taoist has only one thing to conquer and that is the lable Taoist.

There is more than one thing that Taoists need to conquer. In the passage, it is said that it is important that a Taoist lives in accordance to truth. So he must conquer all delusion, not merely labels.

[MickyL]

To please who or whom? The truth in emptiness, that forms everything, is changing every moment and cannot be boxed in by labels even though humanity tries its best to manipulate the Truth.

[MickyL]

Trevor read the post ... Truth v Belief for your answer.

[Trevor Salyzyn]

It doesn't really answer anything. It was a pun, not a rebuttal.

[MickyL]

Answers can only come to those who are open to them in an empty mind free from ... Perceptions, Ideas, Thought and Suggestions also known by ML as living in the PIT'S

[Trevor Salyzyn]

Could you explain how that explanation means that the only thing Taoists need to do is get rid of the label Taoist?

[MickyL]

Certainly Trev, once we remove our labels we have nothing to hide behind, therefore no-thing to defend or argue about.

[Dan Rowden]

Interesting; what do you call this label-less state of being?

[MickyL]

Only the ego would want to know and since, in truth, we are not ego, why do we need to know?

[Dan Rowden]

Why do we need this state of being?

[MickyL]

we don't need it, on the other hand, we do need it...to be or not to be... That is everyones question that only they can answer for themselves.
PS
You have some nice colors to use, so if my post make no sense at least you can enjoy the colors.

[Dan Rowden]

Or, as an Admin, I can just change them to make them readable. Anyway, regarding what you actually said:

we don't need it, on the other hand, we do need it...to be or not to be... That is everyones question that only they can answer for themselves.

I see you've perfected the art of speaking whilst saying nothing. That'll get you printed in Living Now Magazine every time! I presume you're meaning is it's either our nature to pursue understanding or it isn't.

[bert]

life seems the lenghty process of waiting for the materialization of oneself as representative of, and equal to, our desire or ideal, because we are ever as we are - the realized incarnation of our last self, forever...