Thank you for this. I'm just beginning to appreciate the wisdom and storytelling (parables?) of Chuang-Tzu 🌳🐎🦋 in the light of Lao-Tzu and the TAO. Can you recommend an english translation of his works?
On the second to last paragraph of the butterfly dream: we are not what we do in the world. We are Consciousness, we are everything everywhere all at once. We are perspectives. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to having the identity of a teacher or parent or student. We might teach someone something, but usually those we don’t know—“strangers”—are called by those simple names such as teacher, yet each being is infinitely more than that. Those names only have the purpose of identifying people we don’t know, but we shouldn’t call ourselves by those names. Of course, you might think you don’t know yourself, but you definitely can and do know deep inside. I would like to add a special message: we can have whatever we want in this life. Just believe it. If you believe that things always go right for you, they will. And believing is naturally silent. There is nothing you have to say. You just are, and you effortlessly express what you want. Always ignore fear, as focusing on fear might prevent you from doing what you want. But don’t be too desperate to prove that you’re not afraid. Be aware whether the feeling of fear is leading to you doing something that you don’t really want to do, and stop listening to it if so. Any questions or clarifications wanted?
IMO, we are very much "what we do in the world." I'm not suggesting that our identities are 100% made up of labels or professions or societal categorizations, but our actions, not our self- perceptions or consciousness, are who we are to the world. Even the best intentions can be betrayed or misconstrued by actions, just as the most vile characters can present as righteous and tender. Our actions are our identities. It's only when our self- perceptions are represented by our actions that an incontrovertible sense of identity is realized.
Thanks for sharing your opinion. There’s a part of the Gospel of Mary that might be relevant to this. Page 15 reads
“And Craving spoke: “I didn't see you descending, but now I see you rising up. Who are you fooling? You're controlled by me!”
The Soul responded: [“My friend, it is you who were mistaken!] I saw you, but you never really saw me or knew me. You mistook the cloak I was wearing for my true self, so you didn't recognise me.” Having said all this, the Soul went away joyfully.
Again, the Soul came into the realm of the third Authority, which goes by the name of Ignorance. This scrutinised the Soul closely and interrogated it, saying: “Where do you think you're going? You are the slave of malicious habits, trapped and held prisoner by your own wicked inclinations. You lack discrimination, so your judgement is unsound!”
The Soul said: “Why are you so critical of me, even though I have not been judgemental? I have been dominated and have lacked my own agency. I was never recognised for my true self, but now I have recognised this: that everything is impermanent, the whole of creation will be dissolved. All worldly things, all heavenly things, everything passes, everything will be released."”
Stated only a little differently, then multiplied with variations; I hope I do not offend the old text, which is one of my favorites: https://burnteliot.substack.com/i/170490750/ancient-chinese-puzzle These ideas of dreaming, be it day or night, set the stage for this....
Really enjoyed the post . Thank you
Thank you for this. I'm just beginning to appreciate the wisdom and storytelling (parables?) of Chuang-Tzu 🌳🐎🦋 in the light of Lao-Tzu and the TAO. Can you recommend an english translation of his works?
On the second to last paragraph of the butterfly dream: we are not what we do in the world. We are Consciousness, we are everything everywhere all at once. We are perspectives. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to having the identity of a teacher or parent or student. We might teach someone something, but usually those we don’t know—“strangers”—are called by those simple names such as teacher, yet each being is infinitely more than that. Those names only have the purpose of identifying people we don’t know, but we shouldn’t call ourselves by those names. Of course, you might think you don’t know yourself, but you definitely can and do know deep inside. I would like to add a special message: we can have whatever we want in this life. Just believe it. If you believe that things always go right for you, they will. And believing is naturally silent. There is nothing you have to say. You just are, and you effortlessly express what you want. Always ignore fear, as focusing on fear might prevent you from doing what you want. But don’t be too desperate to prove that you’re not afraid. Be aware whether the feeling of fear is leading to you doing something that you don’t really want to do, and stop listening to it if so. Any questions or clarifications wanted?
IMO, we are very much "what we do in the world." I'm not suggesting that our identities are 100% made up of labels or professions or societal categorizations, but our actions, not our self- perceptions or consciousness, are who we are to the world. Even the best intentions can be betrayed or misconstrued by actions, just as the most vile characters can present as righteous and tender. Our actions are our identities. It's only when our self- perceptions are represented by our actions that an incontrovertible sense of identity is realized.
But that's just my opinion.
Thanks for sharing your opinion. There’s a part of the Gospel of Mary that might be relevant to this. Page 15 reads
“And Craving spoke: “I didn't see you descending, but now I see you rising up. Who are you fooling? You're controlled by me!”
The Soul responded: [“My friend, it is you who were mistaken!] I saw you, but you never really saw me or knew me. You mistook the cloak I was wearing for my true self, so you didn't recognise me.” Having said all this, the Soul went away joyfully.
Again, the Soul came into the realm of the third Authority, which goes by the name of Ignorance. This scrutinised the Soul closely and interrogated it, saying: “Where do you think you're going? You are the slave of malicious habits, trapped and held prisoner by your own wicked inclinations. You lack discrimination, so your judgement is unsound!”
The Soul said: “Why are you so critical of me, even though I have not been judgemental? I have been dominated and have lacked my own agency. I was never recognised for my true self, but now I have recognised this: that everything is impermanent, the whole of creation will be dissolved. All worldly things, all heavenly things, everything passes, everything will be released."”
You can read the rest of it here https://www.thegospelofmary.org/the-gospel
Or just search up “Gospel of Mary.”
This url has footnotes
https://www.thegospelofmary.org/_files/ugd/2e5b88_1f3698d93d564341ac0ecc71ef8323d6.pdf
Which explains the brackets (added words).
Of course, what I said is my beliefs based on my experiences.
Beautiful and interesting. Thank u
Excellent job with synopsis style! Here is a song I wrote a couple summers ago inspired and titled after Zhuangzi's Butterfly dream.
https://youtu.be/1KIqxJmFFxM?si=mARwbmLscpnQEOE4
I appreciate.
Thank you for your excellent words.
"The butterfly dream"
Stated only a little differently, then multiplied with variations; I hope I do not offend the old text, which is one of my favorites: https://burnteliot.substack.com/i/170490750/ancient-chinese-puzzle These ideas of dreaming, be it day or night, set the stage for this....
Another dreamer that I noticed in my own dreams: https://burnteliot.substack.com/i/170491770/being-dreams-forgetting
The audio reading made me realize British ppl call Taoism “Towerism”, that’s interesting.
Thank you for effortlessly sharing these pearls of truth. 😉
This is most excellent. Thank you so much for sharing this with us all.
Very insightful. Thank You 🤍🙏🏻
Thank you very much. Stay flow : )
I love these posts. I gain so much from them. Thank you!
Thank you