The road goes ever, ever on...

[The Swedish Ninja]

Score, Taoism on the first day!

 

Great thoughts, they spark my mind and makes me ponder

[Wayward Walker]

The grisled shaman brushes his hair out of his eyes and climbs up from beneath the canopy of a weathered, old tree. He rests a hand on its trunk for a moment and then walks over to the edge of the lake.  There he stares up at the sky towards the mountains and the moon hanging overhead. After a long time, he sits down on the shore, feet dangling in the waters reading through a book.  He closes it, returns it to the rucksack and begins scribbling in his journal.  Finally, he sets it aside and continues to stare at the mountain.

 

Shan - the Chinese character for Mountain

 

To instruct about Tao teachers took their students high up into the mountains, away from daily life and away from society. They taught them to seek the mountain spirit, different from demons and hobgoblins of childhood stories, these were the whispers of Tao that came when they quieted their minds and found solitude. The mountain isn't just a physical place, it is a frame of mind. Removing myself from the daily grind, freeing myself of cares and worries, quieting myself so that I may listen. In that solitude, peace and serenity, there I can listen to the whispers of Tao, connecting and becoming one.

 

This isn't just done through a physical separation, a distance from people and activity, but also a mental separation. Through meditation, clearing my mind and finding my center, it can be done.

 

Some of those students chose to remain on the mountain instead of returning. They became enthralled with the mountain spirit, the whispers, they became the Great People of Tao. These students chose to focus their lives to meditation, clearing themselves of worry, doubt and need.  They are an example, a standard to guide myself by, like a star in the night sky, showing the way to connect with Tao.

 

 

Every day when I read through these page long thoughts and discussions, I find something in them that connects with my current situation.  Everything in life happens for a reason, and what I need to work on now is allowing things to happen and those reason to eventually become clear. They aren't always immediately evident, but further down the path, just around the next bend they might be.

 

Hope you all had a wonderful day.

[Jittersthe.Clown]

This is going to be a most rewarding thread to watch.  I don't know why I didn't reply sooner...  

[Wayward Walker]

Wayward sits down against a tree and draws out his battered journal, scribbling in it.

 

- 30 mins elliptical for 2.5 miles, 425 calories

- 15 mins Yoga

- 15 mins Meditation

 

Hardest part about meditating on a ship at sea is that there are no quiet places. The one area that I could find to do yoga and sit/meditate was one of the gyms, but it was just below the flight deck and there were aircaft launching/recovering the whole time. Oh well, two more days until Hawaii and I can find a nice beach

 

I'm gonna rest under this tree, I hope you all have a wonderful day!

[Haku]

Oehhh! You're a writer! Awesome, now I immediately understand why it was that you could explain so well. You simply have your way with words. 

I really like how you pick a Chinese word and have a bit of text to go with it and a picture. I love it! Definitely going to follow your thread.

[Wayward Walker]

The barbarian stands up from beneath the maple tree where he spent the day napping. He walks to the edge of the lake's water and gazes up at the moon hanging high in the sky. He takes time to stretch his weary arms and legs, before kneeling to slake his thirst from the cool, crisp water by cupped handfuls. When he is finished, he rolls up the deerskin leggings and dangles his feet in the water, soaking up to his calves. As he relaxes, he draws out his book from his weathered rucksack and reads patiently.  After some time, he replaces it and begins to scribble in a battered journal. Finally, he sets it aside and leans, stretching his back and watching the moon.

 

Hu - the Chinese character for Tiger

 

Today's reading talks of those who can tap into the pure energy of Tao, that they become like tigers; strong, graceful and resilient. The message, though, is not on how to do this, but rather, as many tend to be, it uses the tiger as an example. The challenge is not in discovering how to tap into or reach Tao, but in how the person uses that knowledge.

 

Like anything in life it speaks of people, Taoist, who took that knowledge and used it for greedy, selfish, indolent purposes. They mastered the teachings and used them to control, enslave and destroy. Just as a tiger can be violent, bloodthirsty and predatory, so too can the tiger be caring, nurturing and protective.

 

As a Taoist my focus will not be consumed by gaining knowledge, safe guarding my health and striving for immortality, but also on the direction that I use what I have gained. LIke the tiger I have the propensity to indulge my ego, to be selfish. Instead I seek to balance myself, as in all things. Maintaining my power, my ferocity, while nurturing and caring for everything around me.

 

I am glad that some of you have found these inspirational. I am posting them, mostly, to keep myself doing it. I enjoy journaling and these readings, but many times I find that I let other things, work and such, get in the way.  I tell myself, I'll do it tomorrow, I will make sure. And then I forget, or let it slip by again. I don't want to do that. I want this to be a habit that I build and keep. Psychology says it takes 6-8 weeks to shed a habit and 8-12 weeks to build a new one. So, that is what this is, me building this into a habit.

 

Writing it down like this, also helps me to reinforce what I have read. I like the idea of the tiger, there are so many similarities and metaphors that can be used. By the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger, so it makes sense. As I am preparing to make a major life change (leaving the military and heading back to school) these habits that I am building will help me deal with these changes.

 

I hope this helps you as much as it does me and more.

[Wayward Walker]

Was a good work out prior to a few days/nights in Hawaii. I am looking forward to finding a quiet beach and doing some Tai Chi next to the surf at sunrise.  I'll let you know how it went

 

- 15 minutes 2,700 meters rowing for 190 calories burned

- 30 minutes 2.25 miles for 425 calories burned

- 15 minutes meditation

[Heidi]

Way to stay on track.

How is the book coming along?

[Spark]

Heya fellow Rebel! Looks like a great challenge...any chance of a link to your book?

[Haku]

Something completely random, but every time I read the title of your thread I have that song in my head that Gandalf sings at the beginning of LOTR and what Bilbo sings in The Hobbit. It's "The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began", but it is so close to your title, that I can't help but sing it every single time. xD

[Haku]

It's so silent here. Did anything happen? O__O Does Hawaii not have internet? Haha!

Anyway, I hope things are still going well for you, Waywardson. Keep on track, stay

awesome, do stuff you love! You can do it! :3 I'm cheering for you.

 

[I am Eve]

Namaste Waywardson. How are things going?

[Ahyar Dreamspark]

This is going to be a most rewarding thread to watch.  I don't know why I didn't reply sooner...  

 

I know right. I love the journal entries and truckloads of positivity in here! I'm mostly lurking, though, because writing long and thoughtful messages is not really my forte. (I'm kinda' jealous of Waywardson74's mad sk1llz with writing, actually, because writing a little entry like he does in a few minutes that would probably take me a few days ;P)

 

I hope Hawaii is going well, and that you're having some epic relaxation time on the beach.

[LittleTurtle]

I just wanted to pop in and see how things are going!  Hope all is well.  

[Wandern]

Just came to your thread - and love it so far! Hope you're enjoying tai chi on the beach and some restorative time away from the screens 

[CrazyMags]

patiently waiting for your update friend!

[Mad Hatter]

Not so patiently waiting for your update friend.

[katastrophenkatzchen]

How is everything going?

[LittleTurtle]

It looks like we're all getting a bit antsy to hear an update!  So….let's hear it!