But of course without reading the other replies it is clear that
your primary concern is with guilt - most likely from a serious
religious up bringing. People simply give their power away
because they are essentially lazy and expect that the truth
can be handed to them on a silver platter. We do not see
the most simple and ever present reality of Oneness because
we disire to be somehow transformed from our inherent human
conditioned mentality. Yet today it is much easier to unplug from
this Matrix than at any time in history, unfortunately the prefered
method is in the pursuit of power that too often in the end is
a self limiting proposition. No one can do this work for us and
yet there is the very real need for useful information hopefully
from a Master - not one who is after gain or profit.

"With the spirit knowing and the mind clear, inwardly cultivating
and subtly refining, clear about action and acting with clarity,
one's illumination will grow day by day."

"When illumination and action are applied in concert, practice of
the Tao is very easy."

freedom from partiality and bias
know when to go forward
know when to withdraw
forsee peril forstale danger
with the mind of Tao
the spirit is knowing
the joy of harmony is good

imported joy delights
in externals
if one is self satisfied
finding joy only in strength
but not in yielding
strong but unhappy
one will lose out
in the end
natrual brilliance
presumes upon
talent or status
hates to hear
honest words



Essentially we all have a choice
where the path of high adventure
is concerned, and yet the
potential for misuse of intent
creates yet another prison
where freedom may not be found.

Would it not be better if we
were free to choose the path
of the inward way? Which is
not to say that we are
rendered powerless in our
quest for freedom, quite the
contrary. We are commended
to be the master of controlled
folly. "To be shaken lose from
the debilitaing restraints of
our social conditioning, and to be
given back confidence in one's own
worth and in one's own potential,
is a great gift indeed, and yet
even this gift pales into
insignificance next to the
gift of transformation..."
T.M.

Rising Up

Accumulate virtue
study widely
with serious intent
everyday improve
precedents of speech
with action
To emulate
the sages of yore
question earnestly
think for yourself
fulfill nature
reach the meaning of life
stable as a mountain
permanent as heaven
strong in stillness
resting in the highest good

"Practioners of the Tao should carefully develope
immense energy, and combine duty with right action,
so that they may attain to perfect truthfulness
without error."

The Taoist I-Ching


"After a long time, the five elements will merge and
sublimate, body and mind are both refined, merging with
the Tao in reality."

"Not forgetting the fundamental, is like making a great
sacrafice to offer to heaven; it will not fail to bring
about good fortune."

"But the way to make a great sacrafice and bring about
good fortune cannot be accomplished simply by a moment
of emptiness; it is necessary to tread the ground of
reality step by step before one can achieve it. If
you know but do not act on it, it is the same as not
knowing..."

"The value of knowledge is only in its application."

"When this primal energy appears, this is what is
called the 'living midnight' in our bodies. At this
time we are merged in the qualities of heaven and earth,
joined with the light of sun and moon, harmonized with
the order of the seasons. This is the gate of yin and
yang, door of life and death, the wellspring of essence
and life, the alchemical furnace."

"The original energy of primordial true yang is herein:
Those who know it diligently cultivate it, restoring the
primordial within the temporal."

The Taoist I-Ching



zephyl.proboards86.com/index.cgi




excerpt:
Yes, on first encounter the Castaneda material,
that whole seperate reality mystique, can be a
very heady experience breaking the bonds of
conventional conditioning but where do you
find it's practical applications? much the same
as any true discipline the true meaning is
hidden and most folks add to or take away
whatever is convenent to fit their own personal
mind set, the most popular of which today is
the magikal way of being in a somewhat
shamanic frame of mind. And to speak against
this nacromancy in todays pagan hierarcy is
tantamount to heresy. Simple as that and so
all things dissolve into this melting pot of
sorcery with little regard for true alchemy. imho



"Illumination that is not revealed is better than
illumination that is openly employed; this illumi-
nation has no form or trace."

"Once one has advanced to illumination, inside and
out are lucid and clear, then one can conceal one's
illumination and nurture it unbeknownst to others."

"Only then can it be said the fire returns to the
origin, a mass of harmonious energy, which has
energy but no substance, the original spirit of
innate knowledge and capacity unobscured."

Produce being
within nonbeing
spontaniously
without forced
effort
living energy
is stored within
flowing from
a deep source
the earthly
and celestial
are in mutual
harmony

"When great rivers are crossed beneficially, one enters
from striving into nonstriving: essence and life are
both realized, and one is physically and mentally
sublimated; merging with the Tao into reality."

"The gain or loss of illumination is a matter of
reversal or submission to conditioning."

"Inner accord is the path of reversal of conditioning;
outer accord is the path of submission to conditioning."

"Where there is illumination darkness disappears."

The Taoist I-Ching