What do you think of Eckhart Tolle? I'm reading "A New Earth" right now & plan to read "the Power of Now," soon (ha ha). But, anyway, I agree w/ most of what he says & he sometimes has interesting new ways of putting concepts into words. By & large, though, I prefer Alan Watts, who said all...
My understanding of the section you quoted from chapter 18 has always been that as long as people are living in harmony w/ the Tao, questions of ethics take care of themselves. It is when we get wrapped up in ego trips that the division between good & bad emerge.
I look at the story of the...
In "the Demon-Haunted World," Carl Sagan gives his explanation for deja vu. He says that it occurs when something happens that is familar to us, but our mind can't quite access the original memory so it substitutes the current one. I do know about that. Maybe the universe we live in...
I suppose we are sometimes happy with our sadness. Maybe by happy Arlo means content. But then, discontent can be a motivating force, too, as Alceste alluded to. Maybe it's more about being happy with who you are & where you're at.
All-time favorite is Bob Dylan, but close runner-ups include:
Arlo Guthrie
Donovan
Syd Barrett
& some honorable mentions:
Layne Redmond & Band of Angels
Bob Marley
Ziggy Marley
Nora Jones
I tend to give more time than money. I volunteer to help lead music, teach bible classes, chaperone youth events, etc. Our congregation is in somewhat dire straits financially, but so am I, so I do what I can.
Organized sound? What about wind chimes? Music or not? Someone all ready brought up John Cage. I think for him, the less organization the better. He was once heard to shout "Fascist!" at the concert of another avant garde composer whose songs he felt were too controlled.
Ah, but that makes the assumption that not just anyone can play "music." ;) Avant garde musicians often try to "forget" what they know & play as if they have no familiarity with their instrument or, even, as if they've never heard music.
I once started a band in which I was the only actual...
"Everything about you that is not happy is not you. Being yourself is being lost to the delusions of others." -Arlo Guthrie
The above quote, to me, captures the essence of P'u, the Uncarved Block, the Unhewn Log, Simplicity,...
The person that I seem to be, only exists in relationship with...
I've been thinking a lot lately about Jesus' non-judgemental attitude toward those that his society looked down on. This is a wonderful parallel you've drawn; I'd love to hear more!
sin does literally mean missing the mark. In Christianity sin is talked about in the sense of particular sins (such as stealing or murdering) & it is talked about in the sense that we are all in a state of sin, unless redeemed. The mark one is aiming for is perfection, the bullseye, the state...
I think that most Christian mystics look for the deeper meaning in the gospel stories, without concerning themselves too much about if they really happened. For instance, Jesus feeding 5,000+ people with 5 loaves & 2 fish & then having left-overs is a sign of the abundance of blessings...