Tao what......?

Contemplating the Tao. Looking on the net to see how people think and feel about the Tao, I noticed two discussion forums of sorts, which were strange because both had links so that money could change hands. Not unusual in this world where money is the driving force behind most peoples thoughts, and actions. But this from someone who lives the Tao? It did seem a bit strange. Money can be an aside which might be fallen over or picked up from the ground or accepted if offered, especially if hunger is rampant or a willingness to help another is not within ones current means.

That there is so much being written about the Tao suggests there are people wondering, even trying to discover more about it, possibly attempting to make it a tangible thing. This could be the reason that many religions fail, people don't want to be seen as being daft and believing in things that don't exist to their six senses. Whatever they are, with all their limitations. These senses of the body are not the senses of the being that is grafted onto it for this journey.

The Tao is a very normal method of living. Tao shouldn't even be written with a capital at the beginning, because there is no need to distinguish it, it being a philosophy of humility and knowing the individual as one unique, requiring no accolades and able to live in a way which doesn't need, want and even shuns notoriety or notice of any kind by society and its followers. The philosophy is complete in that it believes not only in life, but also in death and fears it not, and therefore does the natural things naturally, trying to help and succour all it comes across. Noticeably the Tao becomes ``it'' the person becomes part of the Tao.

The Tao is really living a complete life. Living life without the pain of trying to accumulate anything, therefore there is nothing to protect.

Wandi Book Fair

There is a wonder to know that all these books belonged to people who thought they would like to read them, or actually read them and found they would probably never want to read them again and donated them to the event that gathers money for the hall committee. People walking down the narrow isles between the trestle tables and the books. Some of these people donated books and are now looking for others that they want for whatever reason. The books initially nicely compact on their edge with spines facing up on the tables, starting to lean as their support from the book next to them is removed and placed into someones green Eco friendly bag or cardboard box.

More and more people stream in through the door and the dealers and second hand bookshop owners come and go. Filling their bags with books, paying and taking them to the car and coming back again for another look or pick up those they had to leave due to lack of room in their carry bags or strength to carry to their waiting cars. These are much like bees gathering readable pollen or honey, taking it back to the hive and returning to collect more.

Most people are there to look for authors or books they have yet to find elsewhere, or books that will complete an authors writings, or just to pick up a years reading. The atmosphere is busy as eyes speed read the titles, and people pass or overtake one another, excusing themselves as they come in contact wait another in the aisle in their quest for the books they seek or for titles they may recognise. It is an environment of quiet concentration, and constant coming and going through the open doors. Everyone finds a few treasures.

Just musing...... no more

I have never been too comfortable with a blogspot for some reason. First there is not a great deal to say that would be of interest to anyone. If I had few enough people with which to correspond and discuss the issues that concern me, maybe a blogspot. But why should these things which concern me, be of concern to any other person?

There is a Taoist or Zen saying which suggests to travel everywhere we need never leave the place we are at in any given moment, that we can tap into the whole of the planet and the universe where we sit and meditate. But is that right? Only those who can do it will know it can be done.

There will be much to consider, because with each day there is something which comes to the fore. These may not be pressing things, but then the pressing thing will hot need to be dealt with because they will be already too late. The extinction of species is a classic example. Trying to stop that is hopeless, already too many species have been wiped from existence, and is that a good or bad thing. It is, nothing more.

So maybe this is a good sounding board and there will be some who feel in part as I do myself, and those who do not, will just do as they feel and ignore it entirely. This is a place to get things out into the air and allow them to oxidise, to become as they will, something more tangible and so allowing me to better examine them.