Nice Compilation!

Nice compilation!

So much happens on your Dashboard that you end up missing so many great articles. So I decided to compile a list of blogs in Z-A order (A-Z for the articles) to help you guys out! If you reblog this, please reblog as a Text so your followers can see the entire post. Thank you.

The Non-Dualist

Brand Consciousness

For those interested in learning more about Buddhism

Race, Ethnicity, and Culture

Religious Education

Service as Part of Your LifeStyle

Stochastic Life

On the East vs. West: Perceived Differences

On Meditation

On Karma and Psychology

Practical Compassion

Ritualism and Buddhism

Samsaranmusing

Comfort for the Living and Comfort for the Dying

Hate is not a Softdrink

Instant Karma

Meditation is not just sitting quietly

Spiritual Teachers and the Western Cult of Celebrity

E-Sangha

Aging and Death

Anxiety Due to Clinging

Change is Constant

Gathas for your Daily Life

How can we stay excited about our practice?

Daoism Discussions

Defining the Dao

Four Agreements

The Mystery of the Cross

Thoughts on Opposites

Thoughts on Tragedy

Buddhazen101: 

A Mini Lesson On Pain

Dark Knight Zen

Why Incense?

Why I, Or Anyone Else, Can’t Make You Happy

Zen Buddhism, Martial Arts, and Non-Attachment 

Live in the moment, live in the Dao.

Remember, Daoism isn't about following your impulses, it's about seeing and aligning with truth. This article is a great explanation on the hows and whys.

always relevant.

Daoism as Religion

I am not a religious person. I do not consider myself spiritual. To be honest, I’m not sure I consider myself to be particularly faithful (in the religious/spiritual sense, I’m not a cheater!). Is this against Daoism?

I don’t believe so. True Daoism isn’t really a religion, in any sense of the word. There are no deities, no rituals, not even really a code of conduct. It isn’t the same as Zen or Shinto or any of the other East Asian spiritual traditions that it is so commonly associated with in the modern world. Daoism is, quite simply, a guide on how to live one’s life without the stress and worry that came with the alternatives of Laozi’s age, namely Confucianism and Buddhism. Like many famous old texts, there is even debate on whether the old man wrote it himself, or if he existed at all (but that’s a story for another time, I think). So how did Daoism get to be associated with religion at all?

Well, here’s where things get complicated, and the issue of labeling what is and what isn’t Daoism can be problematic. Somewhere deep in China’s long and storied history, the religions of the land needed to be categorized, and Daoism, being an odd sort of duck, was lumped together with many of the shamanistic folk practices of the common people. From here we see the rise of institutionalized Daoism, with churches and rituals and all the trappings of what we would call a spiritual tradition.

But if you look at the core of the book, of the themes it encourages, this is against the very nature of the Path. It is unnecessary for the people of the world to organize groups or schools around the concepts of individual exploration, and perhaps even detrimental to the act of discovering the Path for oneself. The story goes that Laozi was hesitant to even write the book, as it creates a structure in and of itself. The conundrum is understandable, especially looking back at what’s happened over the last couple thousand years.

I believe that true Daosim, in order to focus on the core idea of letting all discover and walk their own way along the Path, should avoid this sort of idolatry. This includes venerating the old man and the book, to avoid being a Lao-ist, as it were. It’s great to have the teachings there, don’t get me wrong, but as I mentioned earlier, the authorship is under a healthy discussion as it should be, and we should look at the teachings as less a strict code, and more like guidelines, really. If there’s any sort of faith to Daoism, it would be the faith that the Path is leading us all somewhere better than where we currently are, or that everyone will eventually find their way to it and then things will be good. But that faith isn’t necessary to living your own life in accordance with your own personal Dao.

Just as a disclaimer, in no way am I saying that religion shouldn’t exist, or that the religious schools of Daoism are bad or harmful. Things turned out the way they did for a reason, this is part of the Path. Obviously, religion does a great deal of both help and harm to peoples’ lives, and this is the way I believe it is supposed to be. What I’m saying is that Daoism exists separate from wherever people choose to place their faith, and can complement or contrast with any personal spiritual belief you may have.

So, yes, for the fucking love of God, movies matter. TV shows matter. Novels matter. They shape the lens through which you see the world. The very fact that you don’t think they matter, that even right now you’re still resisting the idea, is what makes all of this so dangerous to you — you watch movies so you can turn off your brain and let your guard down. But while your guard is down, you’re letting them jack directly into that part of your brain that creates your mythology. If you think about it, it’s an awesome responsibility on the part of the storyteller. And you’re comfortable handing that responsibility over to Michael Bay.

5 Ways You Don’t Realize Movies Are Controlling Your Brain (via quantumstarlight)

If you can recognize and minimize the effect of your personal social lens, you have taken the first step in seeing things as they are, instead of how the world around you has led you to perceive them to be. I'm confirming the article's message by using this quote, but I believe Miyazaki has gone a long way in using media's influence as a force for good, and has been a major contributing factor in shaping the way I view the world. When the Lady Eboshi asks why the Prince has come to Iron Town, Ashitaka responds simply, "To see with eyes unclouded by hate."