Finding Education... In being present

The best education is not from: a book, a teacher or outside of oneself...

It's taking the time to realize you already have everything present in life

in the living itself

If a person takes the times to be aware in their life, everything needed is present.

Just by being... present.



Think about it

Connect the dots by living life :) not by being told what life is...


Namaste

Safe computing

A Russian Banking Worm hit my machine today. It was a virus that was transmitted by email, in a link to an infected site. In tracking it down I was amazed at how little information there was to handle and deal with these current generation viruses / worms.

If you use Firefox, I highly recommend you use the extension called NoScript, and then only allow pages you trust to run scripts. I also recommend not using Internet Explorer.

The problem with the newest generation of viruses they are extremely well programmed. Even for expert programmers they are difficult to find and remove. These viruses are not directed at your machine, but rather at you personally: to gather information such as your passwords and banking information.

I have been watching this as a hobby for the past 5 years and the organized crime viruses have reached a point of sophisticated which is mind boggling. I'm very impressed at the skill and degree of programming fine art these viruses exhibit.

Awareness is always your first and best way to avoid problems with such viruses... But at times (like for me this morning) you might be tired and one can try to slip in. This is why tools like NoScript for Firefox are good as an extra layer to help.

The best way not to get hurt by these new generation of viruses: simply don't live on the grid, Use the grid, be next to the grid... but don't base your life on the grid... But then again that is what I have been advising in general.

Live your life outside the system but as a good neighbor to the system. The current system does offer some perks to surf and increases communication which is great. Just don't make the mistake of defining life to the grid (unless of course, the grid is your nature).

Namaste

Monday Advice

Sharing a piece of advice I gave this morning.  

This is for those seeking answers, trying to fix their life , when everything seems too far out of control: When you are trying to rebuild a life and all the big answers seem wrong... or cause more problems than they solve:

The answers that will work long term are not the big answers that work now. Instead you have to step through many smaller answers which over time grow into a new life... which in response becomes the big answer that works, since it is your life, to your heart.

And yes people then think they need a plan or guidance for that big answer to be (a rare few find big answers, like home runs, but remember a home run on it's own isn't enough to win the game)... Your feet will guide you a step at a time, Your heart will light the way, one breath at a time...You hand will build a ladder a rung at a time. It's not in the knowing but in the growing you achieve greatness.

Namaste

FaceBook

So I set up my facebook account a month or so ago to test the waters.

I decided to approach face book in three ways

1) Use it to stay connected to others, since so many people I know are on it. It does work very well to stay in touch with friends.

2) Unlike my blog used as a sounding board for my writing or sharing answers to common questions I get. To also use face book once a day post a snippet of my life that I would like to summarize my feelings... just so I can see what I would like to embrace that day myself. To generally not post more than once a day on my wall since it would water down the intentions.

3) Stay connected to students in a easier manner.


After a month I guess I would have to say I am staying on Facebook since it works well for all of these purposes. Yes Facebook has issues , including privacy problems... but privacy is an illusion also of ego anyways... Or perhaps privacy is ego's attempt to reinforce itself... Either way, if used with some caution Facebook is currently a decent tool for communication.

My only complaint about Facebook are many of the plug ins and side games seem to play (or prey) upon peoples insecurities. In other words, in my professional opinion, facebook acts at a low level of psychological abuse towards its members. This is a warning sign, to use the tool with some care. In other words it's important for members to use the very same tool to keep connected and help prevent such abuse from hurting each other: to share information that will protect each other when possible. This does bear (roar) for watching.

Namaste

Deja Vu

A moment ago I was just swimming in Deja Vu:

• in a moment merged within other moments...

Moments overlaying each other: seemingly as archeological layers to decipher.

What is Deja Vu? Good question really:

I think of it as releasing time to tumble about within various potentials of oneself...

Like water you swim in Deja Vu... if you try to grasp it, you are left wet trying to remember the sensation and memories... But to do so also disturbs the moment: It clouds up the experience...

20 years ago I would use Deja Vu as a tool, to shape reality , use the visions for guidance. It can be an effective technique to move around life with... but I also discovered Deja Vu had distinct limits.

Later I released Deja Vu to totally and fully live in the moment as is...


Now I view Deja Vu moments as sunsets to enjoy. To take no meaning in them other than just enjoying the experience, feeling other potentials, yet letting overlapping experiences move as a cloud past my vision to see clearer also.

Enjoy

Namaste

Medical System In the United States

The Medical system in the United States is messed up.  

Not to get into a story, I am just getting my son in this week to see a doctor for a minor infection. But dealing with the insurance network and system of primary health care is very broken and bullshit. 

I am actually fairly off the grid now of the medical system and can work around this current problem. So I will get the proper care for my son. But little encounters as this re-enforce to me the high level of disrespect within the United State's Primary Health care system and its inability to humanely work with people in the United States.

My father was a country doctor and he trained me very well in the 70's. It was becuase of him I avoided medical school and did not become a western style healer. Instead I went a more holistic route to help others.

The United States Medical establishment is ill and I watched it from the early 70's to today to ironically see the system itself become a terminal patient. On the surface the problem might seem to be money, but it's not even about money any more. Even if you have money, the overall nature of the system actually re-inforces illness as much as it cures it. The rich in America get poor care also. (Sadly in paying so much money people are often fooled into thinking they have good care)

Any system which treats it's caregivers and patients both with disrespect is doomed to fall apart to decay.

I remember my Dad's words and how sad he was to see a system that should be giving people care and respect fall apart. It broke his heart becuase the system lost it's heart. It brings tears to me seeing how the Corporate / Political parties run the system in disrespect.

Alternatives are growing and I know my father would be proud of the help I am giving now to others find their wholeness.

It's time for us, normal people, to interconnect and help each other find our wholeness.

It's for us to cure problems, it's for us to live our life well. To create a more holistic health system. This starts in our heart, in our home and how we connect out to live our life.

Just in how we live, we can change this whole system... I know becuase my father showed me how to treat others kindly and to heal others by acting within kindness.

My father showed me how to heal and live to heart: This is the Taoist path.

My father passed away many years ago, but I still thank him each day for this lesson taught to me. Thanks Dad.


Namaste

Student Questions: Meditation

Today's Student Question: 

Could you recommend a book to start with regarding the Tao and meditation?

Initially speaking for beginning students in Taoism the meditation is about just expanding one's awareness. We don't focus in on goals for the first few years: to instead just practice releasing into the moment and being aware in that moment. Just learning release is hard enough for most people and start in that at first.

All Meditation is about awareness and in Taoism we truly take our time to learn how to direct that awareness. Initially we start in a mixture of sitting Meditation, some movement meditation (found in some Qi-Gong practices) and strangely also explore other group practices to help keep our minds open to different perspectives (I often recommend Zen as their methods are well documented and it is easy to find zen centers in the US and England).

Later in practice, we then use the awareness to channel energy around, to understand potentials, to focus our third eye... But that's later after you have had ten years or so to root and grow into your own center. These later practices are about refining how we connect into the potential of life, and are not needed or required, but end up generally where practitioners take the skills into.

Right now I would suggest starting with Ken Cohen's Essential QiGong Set


Ken Cohen is a good teacher and he has a nice mix of book, cd and DVD together for a more complete experience for a new student. This would be one flavor of Taoist Meditation techniques to explore. It's generally easy enough to find a sitting meditation group (style doesn't matter much at first, trying many and sticking to the one that makes you feel clear) and take the time to just center in stillness and mix it with the movement Meditation from in Qi-Gong. Later it's also easy to find plenty of Dan-Tien based style meditation books. All of which would be Taoist for all practical purposes... But I don't recommend any specific ones.

Namaste

Consumption

Some friends in facebook posted the following two reviews of "Cheap" by Ellen Ruppel Shell.  

IKEA is as bad as Wal-Mart

Nothing for Nothing

This is very relevant for what I teach: when people live in a consumption based culture it follows that many people also use a consumption model to base their spiritual life upon also.

I spend quite a bit of time teaching people how to be present within their life over trying to consume faith as a product.


The shape of life defines a space (what we call the empty space in Taoism) that defines each person. We feel a need to place within our empty space connection and meaning. If you consume meaning, after the consumption: you are left with nothing and left chasing more consumption.

The answer people seek can be stated simply:

To have a full life is to live it.

You can make it neat... or splash about with crazed abandon but we paint and express the full answers as Art, dashed across life: and this art, is our life, our expressions of being colorful and vibrant ... in the journey we call life.

If you want to know how to do this, it isn't within a book or something purchase but rather we each define it within by living it.

It's something you have to splash about into and do :)


Namaste

By the numbers

It's a bit strange to think I get over a 100,000 unique visitors a year to my main web site.

I purposely keep the site very simple, avoid issues of translation conflicts or materials I personally consider esoteric. This is one way Taoism is different than many religions... Many religions quickly get trapped by their deeper materials.

While I teach personally some esoteric materials, for general practice I don't think it's a good idea to post much of it, especially to a place where people are trying to connect to the basics. Advance Taoist materials are taught personally. A guide or a "Taoist" translator... is useful to prevent the materials from only being literally learned. Instead teaching to a person's heart of being. Taoist Teacher's don't concentrate upon teaching what they know, instead they help a person connect to the materials from the student's perspective. Again this is different from Western style where students learn the teacher's knowledge or perspective to life. I started college with the idea I would play at being a physics teacher for a bit and I quickly realized teaching in a western style went against how I was taught to teach to another person's perception.

Taoism isn't discovered within the esoteric materials , it's simplicity of living to heart and acceptance of your life... The esoteric materials are bonus points to make things more fun or challenging, but not required for acceptance of a Taoist practice.

The important essence to this is:

Life is simple and accessible to each of us to be ourselves.

The complicated parts are only complicated becuase we at times seek a challenge...

But such challenges are personal choices, not about an esoteric truth only a few may attain by hard work, Rather the hard work is simply part of how some seekers find enjoyment in their life.

"Enlightenment" is as simple as a smile... the rest is paperwork so to speak and very much optional.

Namaste

Knowing Oneself

I was chatting with a friend and the statement that really caught my eye to speak on was this:  

...I still have no idea who I am and what makes me happy, but at least I am trying to move forward.

  When a person is living transformation, when they are releasing what they were: to become something new... Looking for definition of who you are during the process is a trap that delays your process of transformation.

I might have recently blogged a similar answer but it's an important one to re-share since people often trap / limit life by trying too hard to "define" their life.

Releasing is not about knowing but opening up for definition. As a result be patient with yourself and the knowing comes in retrospect. Ironically when you let go of trying to know yourself, the answers then come quickly when you least expect it.

The reason is surprisingly simple

Its easier to know yourself afterwards in your actions than before the actions when you are still very much undefined...

That's the difference.

How can you know yourself, or what makes you happy until you experience it, until it passes within the moment and dances about in the heart?

If you stress out trying to know yourself, trying to find happiness... then you don't find it, simply becuase you are too busy trying to define yourself over, actually living your life in new actions that later show you life.

Namaste

Questions on suicide

This question was posted in A Personal Tao blog this morning, hidden in an older post  

I want to end my life. I have been at war with 'this world' and my place within it since I developed consciousness.  

What do you interpret from Taoist writings about the act of suicide and the consequences?

Firstly: Such answers need to be presented in person since a proper answer depends on one's circumstances.

Secondly: It helps to talk to another person to get some outside perspective, The following resource is a good place to start

• http://www.hopeline.com/
• 1.800.SUICIDE

To answer your question in a general manner

Taoism says the following about suicide.

We exist to live as ourselves. The moment you feel life needs to end, is the time not to end life, but to change life, walk away from the problems or what is driving that feeling of embracing death. Different paths do exist: Always. Suicide is the moment of feeling so stuck that you fail to see the other options. But those options always exist.. always... We live in potential and in that, a Taoist discovers all paths.

If a person takes a moment to pause before suicide, it turns out most people actually turn away from suicide as that moment of pause is enough to show a new path.

Taoism doesn't see suicide as negative nor positive... But rather it sees the act of suicide as 100% pointless. People make the mistake if their Life feels pointless to transfer the over whelming feeling into the act of suicide. Suicide is simply not logical nor practical from a Taoist perspective.

I have considered suicide, its nothing to be ashamed of and it was an important turning point in my life. So I know the feeling...

Here is my story.

Taoist teachings showed if life was bad, rather than ending life, it opens a new door to walk away from the bad marriage, bad job and all the parts that didn't fit life to keep the parts that were important. So I changed my life... To create new life.

Death comes in many forms. Death isn't always in the form of physical death. Many people embalm themselves within a living death as a form of suicide... Or others can commit an emotional suicide.

Every moment we live in the now, every moment is a new life... The problem is people can also live to past or future... getting stuck into places that literally "kills" or shreds them... Since they see no way out... Yet the way out is always living now, by simply deciding to live. Nothing more is needed. Is it easy: no. Which is why people at times resolve life with suicide... But suicide isn't a resolution to Taoist thinking. Suicide in Taoist thinking doesn't end your life... it just puts you back into your life. To relive life... As a result suicide is a waste of potential and time. In Taoism in effect, we believe you will relive it until you don't commit it... Life is eternal... death merely a transition back into your life. So it's preferred to change lifestyle to literally skip past suicide.

About Death

You can always talk to another person

You have reached out to another person, me, and others who read this... I would miss you now. We are all connected. Take the step to discover a new life... and in retrospect discover it does make a difference and touches other lives in ways you never suspect.

I know in my case becuase I made that choice... to live in potential... I am here now, talking to you... and so you see: it does make a difference and life is not pointless.

It's not about being talked out of ending your life... It's more to discover... Countless other options exist... In Taoist terms we have many potentials. We choose which one to experience... When living in one potential that doesn't fit... that its time to shift living, truly start living in another potential that does fit us.

If you ask how, A Taoist will always reach out to touch your heart: smile and in that smile show you a path for new life.

The most important gift I can share right now is this

:)

A smile to share in life. I only ask you share it back with others since such connection opens up new answers that will surprise you.


My answer isn't meant to be perfect, only to help give pause and to consider other options... In that you can discover new potential, new life.

Most sincerely

Casey

Quick Wisdom

You cannot be yourself until you learn what it is to be one with others...


My morning thought for those in teen age years seeking their own path today...


Namaste

Have Been Out for a few days

I am holding space for retreat and I have also been in the middle of some important national health care initiatives. I will be back later this weekend...

So swirls life... just have to tumble to what comes, even occasionally skipping poetry and musing.

Skipping is skipping, to always be enjoyed as such, even if it is a busy skipping.

:)

Namaste!

Site Updates

IE 8 is out and of course I have to fix some of the CSS on the main Personal Tao site.

Clean CSS in IE is an exercise of Zen patience... I think it's a computing crime to have to put conditional based CSS code in your browser... Chrome and Firefox are both awesome however.

If anyone finds anything not right or strange layout issues on my site please leave me some feedback so I can fix it. Also please look at the color layout and let me know if it looks acceptable. I redid the orange color to be a bit more mellow and played with the color scheme a tad. The problem is different monitors display colors with variations so I appreciate feedback. While it looks nice on my screens I know from experience colors don't always translate well.


Thanks!

Namaste

The Care Free Weight of Being.

In Taoism we teach not to limit oneself to measurement or definitions.... to live in potential.  

Some days that isn't easy, when waking up .. feeling your body ache, comparing yourself between the moment and yesterday. Soreness and memory showing us our change...A hangover not from alcohol but of relationship...

I woke up today sore, tired and a bit in a fog of funk. I know many ways to dispel such feelings. But this morning, I was in no rush to stoke my bodies energy with Qi-Gong, nor jump into the clear pools of the river or some other "cure" of being...

Some days I let the weight of "now" countless years pushing from the past. So much time has passed...so many connections of life swirl in memories of mind and aches of body.

IN Taoism we often live what others would consider a carefree lifestyle... but that is only how others see our lifestyle of release... It seems carefree. It isn't... It is of kindness and respect, since to truly release is also to acknowledge one's essence. To embrace those connections , greet the past and open the future... We might live now... but we are also human. Truly human


Which means at times, we pay homage to the aches of the soul. Later today I will be eternally young again only becuase I took the time to respect these connections. Later to release pains fluttering like prayer flags that acknowledge we are alive becuase we respect our connections to life itself.

Namaste

Student Questions: Reading About The Tao

Here is today's student conversation about learning Tao  

I did take out a copy of the Tao Te Ching from the library and I've been reading through it slowly. Actually, a question just came to me... I don't feel that reading and thinking about the Tao is really getting me any closer to where I want to be. I feel like I'm just adding more thoughts and words and labels when I should really be freeing myself from them.

Firstly: The Tao Te Ching is poetry. Not to be read as a book. But glanced at when whim strikes you.

If you would burn a holy book in front of most people of most religions: they would fight you .. to save the word...

If you would burn the Tao Te Ching in front of a senior Practitioner of Taoism they would just turn around and leave you to your actions... In fact they might at the right times help burn the book. Since life is werd... not the word being werd. But when you say word right, and you hear it and live it.. then you can capture werd.

That's Tao...

When the cultural revolution happened in China in the 1960's... and the red guard came to the Taoist monks demanding their "holy books" to get burned. The Taoists just gave the books and shrugged... since the lessons were not in the books, but in the heart.

It's how you live life that defines Tao, not all will make sense at once, nor will it all be seemingly relevant, but books such as the Tao Te Ching are there to help open up new angles to look at life. But they cannot truly define you and if you define yourself to the book, you then limit yourself..

We change, our life shifts and meaning traces with our life... The point being.. when you read something, trying to get at an absolute truth, to define something absolutely... well you end up trapping oneself in those walls of definition...

People get trapped in definitions, words, labels which is perfect since that is what you now ask about...Taoism is about the freedom to live as your heart beats...

Secondly and more importantly to this question.

We live in cycles

• At times we need to intake like a breath: ideas and concepts...
  
  These are the times you read such books like the Tao Te Ching

• At times we exhale, to live and act...
  
  These are the times to jump and live fully. To define the world not to definition but to your actions, trial and error, play and testing what the world is from your own hearts perspective

Your question tells me that you are currently exhaling into your life: so put the book down, jump into a smile and play.

Look at your life and look to see if you are inhaling of your nature or exhaling out your being...

Then dance accordingly.

Intaking and Releasing into one's life.

This is the Tide of the Tao

Namaste

Daily Surprise

I love being surprised with an sharp intake of breath by something unexpected.  

This morning I surfed into this spot.  



The Temppeliaukio Church is a neat work of engineering and spirit mixed together!

No need to say words, it just made me smile seeing something unexpected and yet so beautiful in my morning.



Namaste

News from Europe

A friend sent me this news story

Europe is discovering to treat a person isn't to "correct" them into actions, but rather help them accept life.

The Lesson to be learned: we can't save the world, but if we listen and talk to others... oh my... it certainly can create a better world...

Namaste