The Contemporary Taoist

Taoist music!

2009-10-21T11:14:00.001+11:00

Download totally Taoist music by me, Seamus Anthony.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://seamus.bandcamp.com/album/dogs-may-bark"&amp;amp;gt;Go Away by Seamus Anthony&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

2009-02-16T23:59:00.004+11:00

Hi - my name is Seamus Anthony and this is my old, old website - click here to see my current website and either read more writing by me or listen to my music for free.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cool Taoist article and Psychedelic Meditation eBook

2008-11-26T16:49:00.003+11:00

Here's a cool Taoist article worth checking out

Transensing

And I just finished an awesome book about going "right out there" with your meditation - I'm talking visions, spiritual beings, the lot. Go here to read more:

Psychedelic Meditation

Flow Like Water...

Free e-book give away at Rebel Zen

2008-09-20T00:15:00.002+10:00

Hi there,

I've just pummeled out a 9500 word e-book about Curly's Law, an incredible concept that can help you to flow with the Tao all the way. Check it out at Rebel Zen

Flow Like Water...

The Karma of Small Actions

2008-07-18T23:26:00.004+10:00

I have written a new article about my post-Taoist-phase philosophy. That's not to say I don't totally get into Taoist thought anymore, I do, but just that I have made some modifications of my own in terms of belief. I've become a little less hardcore I suppose. Anyway, check it out at Rebel Zen

Flow Like Water...

Download my free music here.

Zen and Office Chairs

2006-10-18T14:29:00.000+10:00

Firstly, I am typing one handed today - you can get the background to that sorry state of affairs here at MooseMusic, my newer fledgling blog. (Yo'll come back now y'hear?)

Right, done with that?

Funny?

Good.

So then I'm sitting at the kitchen table last night, self-medicating the pain away, when the phone rings. It is my boss from LivingNow magazine, Elizabeth. Now Elizabeth is not only a very successful entrepreneur, she is also totally spiritual. In fact she lets "Spirit" guide her business decisions everyday (and to great success too).

"Congratulations!" she said, giggling away. "You have manifested a very powerful sign!" She meant the snake crossing my path. "Now you must figure out what it meant. And you must not try to avoid "it" once you've figured it out - even if it is scary - because as you saw, it was trying to avoid the snake that resulted in your injury..."

So that my friends is what I am doing today - besides grumbling about my sore arm and reading other blogs - I am researching the symbolic meanings of the Snake in the various spiritual traditions and trying to figure out what it all means for me, what my great sign from the universe is (besides "watch out for snakes").

So far I only have small clues - I will come back with an answer soon...

Flow Like Water...

Check out my music biz blog.

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.

Categories: Tao, Taoism, Spirituality, Oracles, Personal-Development

Zen and Creativity

2006-10-16T08:01:00.000+10:00

I have been away from my computer over the weekend, so in the absence of time or inclination to write, check this out:

How to find your creative Zen.

I need to go do the same.

Flow Like Water...

Check out my music biz blog.

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.

Tao of Moderation

2006-10-08T07:17:00.000+10:00

I have been pulled up by a couple of people very close to me who have had some things to say about my latest round of total abstinence from alcohol (as per this post).

"You're just repeating the pattern," was the call from both, "of going hard-at-it, then abstaining." And they both went on to predict that I would just "go hard" again once I begin allowing myself to drink again.*

So I asked myself the question "Have I made the ZenBest decision in setting a period of abstinence or should I be putting my efforts into learning to be more moderate?" The answer seemed clear. Moderation is my goal so why torture myself with three dry months of beerless misery ;)

It was my girlfriend (an effortlessly moderate drinker herself) who pointed out that she always has to put up with me either roaring drunk and refusing to leave the party until the last beer is gone and the sun is nearly up, or she has to put up with me refusing any drinks whatsoever and then sitting there looking glum and whining to go home by 9:30pm. I can see her point: not a lot of middle ground there!

So last night I changed the plan somewhat and began to practise moderation.

Frankly, it wasn't entirely as successful as I had hoped, but then again it was a step in the right direction. I set out to drink only three stubbies, smoke no ciggies, and share one joint (given I hadn't enjoyed one in over a week). In actuality I drank one long neck in the late afternoon sun - I ordered the beer off a waitress/friend who innocently enough figured I'd rather be "super-sized" for no extra charge. Ah, the price of popularity ;) Then I took a break until our guests came for dinner around 7:30pm. Over the course of the evening, interspersed by glasses of water, I drank three and 1/2 stubbies, shared two joints and smoked no ciggies. The cigarettes are not really a problem any more as long as I don't get smashed; I find them unappealing until then.

Those who don't drink would probably think that is a lot of beers; those who like a few would understand that what I consumed barely even "touched the sides", as the saying goes.

What you might not understand is what it feels like for someone like me who has long been a borderline alcoholic*. Once I work up a thirst for beer, it (to drink) becomes an extreme compulsion. It's a bit like having an itch that you just have to scratch, one of those itches that the more you scratch it the itchier it gets. So for me to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n while I am drinking, and to stop at a healthy point in time and just leave those remaining beers in the fridge, drink some more water and settle down for the evening, is really quite an effort.

But I did leave those two last beers in the fridge, and I don't have a hangover today. You can tell this because I am actually writing. Wish me luck on my continuing foray into the land of moderation; I am going to a BBQ tonight. It is a Sunday, and I have a big week of work ahead. I think it would be best for me to only drink those two stubbies I have left tonight, and smoke nothing. I am sure you will be waiting breathlessly for my report tomorrow morning ;)

*Let me qualify something here - or at least try as this is a very subjective scenario: I am not an full-blown alcoholic :) or at least I don't believe so. I am aware that dyed-in-the-wool AA converts would probably say I am, but frankly, I don't buy the whole alcoholism-as-disease model as it is so liberally applied by AA types. Maybe if I was a gutter-bum swigging from the turps bottle all day everyday, but I'm not. In fact by Aussie standards I am not even a particularly hard drinker (anymore). I would however say I am alcoholically inclined, and that it's fortunate I am strong enough to not let this potential problem get the better of me. So given that I am pretty much okay, it just becomes a matter of what I consider acceptable behaviour for myself. And let me define that: A few drinks here and there = acceptable; Drinking until pissed enough to give me a rotten hangover = unacceptable (expect maybe on rare occasions). So this is my yardstick; and no I am not one of those people who wakes up shaking until I have my first drink, although I have been there, but that was years ago. That kind of extreme behaviour I find easy enough to discard, it's the finer tweaking of my actions that has proved a little harder to maintain.

Especially in this fine, wide, brown land of ours, where the brews just seem to...

Flow Like Water...

Update: I looked in the fridge later that day and realised that I had in fact only consumed two and a half beers that evening, for what it is worth. *sigh* guess if I am going to count my drinks I had better learn to count first! Didn't go to the BBQ. Drank one beer at home (with company, like a sane person).

Check out my music biz blog.

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.
Categories: Tao, Taoism, Zen, Personal-Development, Self-Improvement, Motivation, Happiness

Pedal-out-of-Debt Zen

2006-10-06T07:20:00.000+10:00

I have twice recently opened my copy of "Zen in the Art of Mountain Climbing" by Neville Shulman randomly (as I do ... by way of asking for guidance from the universe) to find that I have opened to page 41 and that my eyes have landed on this paragraph:

"Ji refers to the technical aspects of a Zen art. Ri is the underlying principles of the universe, the universal truths, formless and unchanging. Ri denotes inspiration, whereas ji denotes skill. Now I will have to concentrate on the ji... (my emphasis)"

I have taken this as a sign that I need to concentrate less on ideas and more on action, on the details, on the skills and putting them to good use, of figuring out what the ZenBest thing to do is - the doing it as well s I can.

Some examples of how I have been putting Ji into effect in my "mountain climbing" are:

Result needed - I need to spend less money and pay off my debts. Ji skill - not drinking and estimating how much I would have spent on drinks during an evening out and putting this money onto my credit card debts the next day. And this also helps with the next item...
Result needed - Lose "spare tyre" around waist. Ji skill - riding my bicycle to work, which takes an hour either way. This also helps me save about $50 a week on LPG (gas fuel). It would save me more if I was silly enough to drive a petrol car ;)

Flow Like Water...

Check out my music biz blog.

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.

Categories: Zen, Tao, Taoist, Personal-Development, Motivation, Self-Improvement, Productivity

ZenBest - The Way of the Mountain

2006-10-03T08:06:00.000+10:00

I would like to introduce you to a new personal project that I have just begun. Being ever in love wth catchy titles, I have dubbed it ZenBest and it goes like this:

I have been feeling like it is time for me to step up to the plate and stretch myself again in terms of personal development.
I have just finished reading "Zen in the Art of Mountain Climbing" by Neville Shulman, a very simple, modest book about how the man just decided to climb a bloody great mountain one day and despite the odds stacked against him, did so by using the mental strength that comes of Zen philosophy and practice.
We all have mountains to climb every day. I am currently standing a short distance the way up Career Mountain. It is very much my obsession to make it to the summit of this mountain. I have attempted several hundred times to make it to the top - but have thus far abandoned all of my attempts.
I believe it is my pre-destined mission in life to climb this mountain. There are other mountains that I will need to climb also but these are in fact part of the same mountain. Sounds a bit out-there I know, but what I mean is (for example) if I am to climb Career Mountain I will also need to climb Health Mountain as there is no career without my health.
Maybe I am just an egotist, but I have no desire to follow somebody ele's pre-determined program for success. I am not so full of myself that I don't read the collective wisdoms of those who have climbed before me and take it all into account, nor do I have any desire to re-invent the wheel, but I believe we all have our own personal mountains to climb, and that these are all different. Therefore they cannot be scaled by just following somebody else's guidebook. We each must write our own.
So now I begin ZenBest.
ZenBest for me is a way followed by asking myself at any given moment - at moments of decision making - "is this the ZenBest thing for me to do?"
This is different from asking "Is this the BEST thing?"
The BEST thing to do might be complicated. Complicated is not my way.
The ZenBest Way is defined by these two words: Simplicity. Productivity.

I have written enough for today, but this will be the continuing theme of my blogging from now. I began my own personal ZenBest program on Sunday October the 1st 2006 with two simple decisions. The first was to set up a pty ltd company and get serious about my career. The second was to abstain from drinking until Christmas Eve 2006. Two simple decisions that I believe will make all the difference ... but ONLY if carried through. Making decisions is easy, acting on them can be difficult. Anyone can decide to climb a mountain, it takes great resolve to actually do it.

I have posted further about this subject at my other blog MooseMusic.

ATTENTION Melbourne Crew: I am playing a gig tonight at The Wesley Ann on High St Northcotte at about 9pm with Tully and Hilda. Come along!

Flow Like Water...

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.

The Great Arm-Rest Debacle

2006-09-30T09:22:00.000+10:00

Arm Rests. Adjustable ones. The key to happiness is being able to notice that things like this exist. Allow me to elaborate...

When things get whacky (difficult, painful), the hardest thing to do is to see the woods for the trees. Let me begin with an example - the common occurrence of a friend's advice to a lovesick mate:

"It will be okay, either you'll break up with your boy/girlfriend or you'll work your problems through and stay together, either way you'll be fine and it will all be for the best."

An answer to which our lovesick puppy will categorically fail to relate to until later, when he will see that it was absolute truth all along. Until then the problem will seem tragic, unbearable, and probably life-threatening.

Meanwhile it's comically easy for the friend of our love-blinded puppy to see the solution to the problem. Puppy just needs to be himself, do his best, and wait. That's it. End of story.

But onward, holistic soldiers, to the arm-rest thing, and the promised 'key to happiness' I know you are breathlessly waiting for ... Both at work and here in my home office I have been struggling for a while trying to get comfortable in front of my computers. I have tried sitting up straight for hours on end, relaxing back like a slob, stretching every few minutes, sitting on cushions, adjusting the monitor height, adjusting the chair height (at work anyway, my home chair is stuffed). I tried acupuncture, massage, and yoga. Nothing helped. I have been constantly uncomfortable, always suffering pain. In fact, I experience more back, shoulder and arm pain now working at a desk than I did all my long years working in the hostility industry...

Sorry, *coughs*, I meant 'hospitality', of course...

I used to come home from ten hour bartending/dishwashing/table-waiting shifts rubbing my shoulders and groaning that I wanted a desk job because I assumed that all the bending and lifting, and thumping and flexing, and go, go, go was causing stress and strain and was directly responsible for my gargantuan shoulder pain. Hello! It was just the opposite! One month after I stopped pounding the cafe boards I started experiencing a whole new world of distress. Needless to say, movement is extremely important to our overall well-being and we should never forget this, my information-dazzled, overly cerebral friends.

Anyway, yesterday, I suddenly had a blinding flash of inspiration. The reason for my pain was not my posture per se but the fact that the stupid arm-rests were forcing my elbows and shoulders skywards - an unnatural position and obviously the cause of my agony. Being a talkative chap in a talkative office I exclaimed 'Eureka!' and announced my discovery and my newfound life-mission to solve the problem. "I will make my fortune being the guy who solved the Great Arm-Rest Debacle!" I cockily predicted.

"Dude, too late", said Karen, the sharp-as-a-tack young lady to my left. "The arm-rests are adjustable."

And so they were. One click of a button and the problem was solved, my shoulders dropped and I noticed an immediate increase in postural comfort. Then this morning I sat down here at home and discovered that the same applies for my salvaged-from-the-side-of-the-road home office chair. As mentioned, the seat height doesn't adjust up and down properly, but the arms adjust as freely and carelessly as a wind-sock in an indecisive breeze.

Cripes! Wake up brain! Such an easy answer to a couple of year’s worth of pain and frustration. But how do we train ourselves to see the easy answers that stare us in the face? To see the clever idea that will easily make good? To separate the wheat from the chafe? To best deal with pain and stress?

Well, it’s easier said than done, but I believe it’s best to take Puppy’s sensible friend’s advice and just be ourselves, do our best, and wait. Ask questions; meditate; allow things to work themselves out. Even when we are ‘losing it’, we do well to recognise this fact and just go with it. It would probably be more damaging to hold it all in and act like a stoic. Energy needs to flow, so if it’s time to freak out, then freak out already. The sooner you release your negativity, the sooner you’ll be smiling again.

And, not least, persist. If after all the cushions, and stretching and fifty-dollar-an-hour treatments I’d given in to the pain and never put my mind to the problem again, Then I never would have had the pleasure of, if belatedly, discovering the tactical solution to the Great Arm-rest Debacle.

Now, what to do about Puppy?...

Flow Like Water...

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.
Or visit my music biz blog
Categories: Zen, Humour, Humor, Goals, Happiness, Personal-Development, Productivity, Self-Improvement, Tao, Taoism

Tao of Blogging

2006-09-27T09:25:00.000+10:00

2006-08-21T14:57:00.000+10:00

I am lucky enough to have a monthly print magazine article that goes under the same title as this blog (see link in the sidebar). Of course, most of those who visit this blog do not live in Australia, so I have been meaning to post the print articles here for a while. Now's a good time and I might as well do it in order. This is the first article I had published. It now seems a bit naive really ... but that's okay:

The Kookaburra and the Crow

By Seamus Anthony*
First published December 2003 LivingNow magazine. 2nd published March 2005 LivingNow.

Change is unavoidable, no one can escape it. Busy struggling against the current of the Universal Flow, people make life miserable for themselves by scurrying around trying to build 'Castles Made Of Sand'. They forget that these structures always get washed away by the Great Tide of Inevitability. To paraphrase the Tao Te Ching -all things arise from the Tao, and all things descend back into the Tao. Wise beings know that riches gathered on the physical plane cannot be taken to heaven, and that heaven lies within. It is within that we must gather and store treasures. Here lies the way to Happiness.

I was walking across a bridge, on my way to work one morning, when I heard from above the unmistakable laugh of a Kookaburra. Stopping and looking up, I indeed saw one of these fine native birds sitting proudly along the horizontal section of a streetlight pole. Seeing as I was crossing the Princes Bridge in the heart of Melbourne, this struck me as both unusual and delightful. As I observed the Kookaburra chuckling away, I too found myself beginning to laugh. I was laughing because the sun was shining, because the Kookaburra's laughing was contagious, and because after many adventures, I had finally learned how to be happy.

I continued to giggle as I shifted my gaze from the Kookaburra to the blue sky beyond, then to the sparkling cityscape of Melbourne that lined the Yarra River, and finally to the people of the city who were all bustling along the bridge at a great speed. However, as I met the eyes of the people, I saw that none of them were laughing at all. They all looked so very serious that I momentarily lost my feelings of mirth and felt their pain, for I know only too well what it means to feel confusion in the mind, sadness in the heart, and agony in the soul. Perhaps a little naively, I pointed up to the Kookaburra on the pole, hoping to brighten up a passer-by's day, but the people did not look up. They were each too privately consumed in the details of their busy lives to notice a happy man or a laughing bird.

Then, I noticed that the Kookaburra had also ceased to laugh. I looked up to see that a large black Crow had taken a dislike to the Kookaburra and was trying to scare him away. The evil looking Crow squawked and flapped at the Kookaburra for all he was worth, but the Kookaburra did not seem particularly bothered. Remembering that I had read somewhere that crows are a symbol for Change, I found it heartening to see the way the Kookaburra dealt with the Crow's attempt to scare him away. The Kookaburra, it seemed, was a wise bird who knew that crows, just like Change, may seem frightening and unwelcome at first, but are in fact just harmless yet unavoidable beasts.

Like the scavenging Crow, Change feeds on the decaying remains of the past in order to allow for the unfolding of the future, and is best dealt with by remaining calm. This is exactly what the Kookaburra did.

Standing with my neck craned on that bridge, I watched as the Crow flapped and shrieked at the other bird until it could do so no longer. Dismayed at its inability to scare the wise Kookaburra, the Crow flew dejectedly away. The Kookaburra, who had not moved a muscle in the presence of the Crow, visibly relaxed. As the Crow disappeared into the distance, the self-assured Kookaburra once again began to laugh at the top of its voice as if nothing had happened. And boosted by the free lesson from nature, I bounced off to work full of joy and love for the world.

*Originally published under my birth name 'Seamus Ennis' (Anthony is my middle name which I have taken on as my pen name to avoid being confused with my namesake, the great Irish musician.)

Flow Like Water...

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.
Categories: Tao, Taoism, Happiness, Zen

Sunday Morning Moose

2006-08-13T10:24:00.000+10:00

Warning: Rambling, self-indulgent, probably totally boring, what-I-had-for-breakfast type post ahead...

Excellent, it is 10:30am and I am still in my jim-jams. Sweet.

Ok, where were we? Oh that's right, talking about ME. So, I have been flapping around like a flappy-thing lately since the meditation workshop. Actually I have been mainly preoccupied with my job at LivingNow magazine, which I am happy to say I am finding both challenging and satisfying at the moment, and with playing my guitar and writing new songs. I recently posted about receiving a sign from the Universe to get back into my music more seriously, in fact as my number one priority. So once I had the meditation workshop, which was a challenge for me to pull off, I have been mostly sitting with my Maton electric-acoustic practicing, and also jamming (weird though it sounds) with my uncle, Tony. Not many people can say they are starting a band with their uncle right? Well, I am. Cos he is a dude, with way cooler hair than me, who rips it up on the bass, and has some sweet toys to boot, including a prototype Maton electric guitar which I get to rock out on - sweet!

I used to plan a lot, but recently, according to the principles of Contemporary Taoism, and in accordance with my more recent Rebel Zen epiphany, I have pretty much abandoned planning in favour of just spontaneously doing whatever the hell I like. Therefore anything I say today about 'what it is I am doing or going to do' may (as the few regular readers of this blog could attest) be obsolete a day, week or month down the track. Having said that, and safe in the knowledge that at least one person I know really loves lists, here is one of my occasional, no particular order, mostly-for-my-own-benefit, lists of:

'What it is I am doing or going to do'

Music - first and foremost. For a while there I was putting writing and meditation teaching and website/blog stuff and work ahead of this but, as I said, signs from the Universe and all that. Frankly, I am fucking excited again about my music. I actually believe in it again which is nice.
Getting pretty into my job. Learning lots and generally digging the challenge and the people.
Working up a new blog, as it happens, which I will tell you about soon enough.
Getting the odd phone call about meditation workshops but not really knowing when I am going to do another one. I guess I will decide that soon enough, but I don't feel the need to push this right now. Meanwhile, if you're in Melbourne (Australia) and you want to go to a meditation class, you could contact my mates Matt from the Melbourne Meditation Centre, or Paul from Meditation Solutions. These two dudes are not only nice blokes who have been really welcoming (and tolerant) of me and my sporadic, 'frivolous' forays into the local non-guru style meditation scene, but are also far more professional (i.e. they actually are professionals) than I am.
Intending to record a CD of my best tunes. More on that soon, but meanwhile or alternatively...
Intending to record a meditation CD. More on that soon, but meanwhile...
Intending to do some more gigs. I have one booked in for Adelaide at The Grace Emily supporting my mates Brillig. September 22 I think. Mum'll be stoked.
Supposedly writing two new novels at once. Both of them are half, nay, quarter, way through the first draft, but I haven't done much about them lately. Must do though...
New "Contemporary Taoist" article coming out each month in LivingNow magazine. September will see the last of my backlog of articles that I wrote all in a flurry a while back, so I'll have to write some more of them soon. Also will get around to uploading the old articles to the web soon for your reading pleasure...
Wondering what the hey to do with the one novel I have 'finished'. I will rewrite it one last time very soon and then will probably (but not sure) a) submit it to a few publishers b) failing that self-publish, or c) turn it into a "blook" which frankly, excites me a little, but that's probably because I am both as prone to the seductions of the fad as the next dork down the road and also impatient and generally wary of the corporate world.
Submitting some of my short stories around to see if I can break the situation of having only had my non-fiction published, and in one (admittedly fine) publication.

Anyway I am bored of writing this post now so bye and have a nice day and if you got to the bottom of this post then really, you probably need to get out more, as do I, hence Dude the dog staring at me with -goddamn-it-you-fat-bartsard-take-me-for-a-walk-eyes.

Flow Like Water...

Check out my meditation website

Download my free music here.

Tao of Google

2006-08-10T07:50:00.000+10:00

Gotta laugh at some of the searches that bring people to this blog sometimes. Very recent funny search terms that have brought the unwary to The Contemporary Taoist are:

"Bruce Lee meditating"

"Tom Waits takes Chinese herbs"

and

"How to pronounce kiev"

oh and someone from Canada (whom I presume doesn't know me as I live in Australia ... but who knows?) googled:

"Seamus marijuana"

*cough* excu-use me...

:)

Flow Like Water...

Join me for a meditation workshop!

2006-07-15T11:32:00.000+10:00

One Simple Trick to Supercharge Your Sex Life.

I just read this very frank, brave post here from Steve Pavlina about Sex.

Some really pertinent points, especially about the tendency of your sex life to mirror the state of the rest your life. I have found this be very true.

If Steve had the comments function turned on, I would advise him to shy clear of the swinging, but that's just me. Fidelity is a very powerful relationship glue. If it ain’t broke, why mess with it? But then what the heck do I know about his situation beyond the information he has given. Further, what do I really want to know?

Urggh... It is easy to see why I usually steer clear of posting about sex. Yeesh! The funny thing is, one of the search terms that brings the most traffic to this blog is for the "Tao of Sexology" some book that I once linked to but forget now. I can't even be bothered Googling it to make a link here - but I have had a lot of experience trying out Taoist lovemaking techniques and they are in fact very effective. The proponents of these techniques allow their instructions to get a bit complicated though, when really the only actual 'secret' is that there is one simple trick to it all.

Fellas, here is how to supercharge your love-life in one simple easy step:

Save Your Sperm.

Practice NOT ejaculating every time you have sex. That is not to say never blow your load again, but lay off the masturbation and try cutting back to cumming every second, then every third time you have sex. You will thus open the doors to a whole world of fun, and your lady (or man) friend will respect you as the rock solid super-stud you always knew you were! What's more, you will discover, not just hers, but YOUR potential to have multiple orgasms.

And if you are having trouble with, you know, rising to the occasion, then take it from someone whose been there and "come" out a winner ... lay off the booze and drugs for a while, de-stressify yourself somehow, and DON'T cum for several days at least before your next roll in the hay, and then when the big moment arrives, RELAX.

Chances are that'll sort you out mate ;)

Categories: Tao, Taoism, Health, Personal-Development, Marijuana, Happiness, Self-Improvement

Countdown to Force Refresh

2006-07-15T10:46:00.000+10:00

Not much posting from me this week as I am waiting for the dust to settle before I force-refresh my life.

Meanwhile, if you don't have my problem of having too many ideas then here is a helpful post about a post about a book that might help you come up with ideas.

If you read my comment you will see that my problem is a what to do with an overflowing head-full of copious inspiration without getting bored and bogged down by the other 99% perspiration factor. Bah! Ideas anyone?

Flow Like Water...

2006-06-26T09:08:00.000+10:00

I was just reading this and realised that I forgot to mention, in regards to the post below, that once I am up-and-at-em, I really do enjoy my morning routine - so it is not some 'don't want to but it's good for me' thing - that would be so not flowing with the Tao.

I sleep in sometimes, but I know it is wonderful to be up really early sometimes, so then I need to apply just that little touch of effort to get out of bed. For the first five minutes I stumble around convinced that I am insane and should go back to bed, but then I sit to begin meditating and realise that this is one thing that helps me stay happy.

Tao of Five Weeks.

2006-06-26T07:24:00.000+10:00

I am a little nervous. It would probably be wiser (or at least safer) not to set myself up like this ... but here goes:

As of yesterday I am starting another five weeks no drinking and recommitting to the 5:11am meditation and exercise routine. Mostly the drinking thing is pretty easy (but for a glass of red on a chilly winter evening, that I will miss). But I think it is needed. I have been quite the happy little hedonistic Taoist the last few weeks and it is time to give myself a chance to detox a little.

Kristiina wrote me a letter asking me if I was still doing the 5am up-and-at-em routine and the short answer was 'no'. It is just so cold here in Melbourne, and at that time of course, pitch black, so the temptation to sleep 'late' (7am) is almost irresistible. Couple this with late nights spent rockin' in the free world and whoops! There goes my commitment to make it through the winter without getting all fat and lazy.

What was that word? Oh, commitment ... that's right. I publicly made a commitment to get my arse out of bed every weekday morning at 5:11am and do my meditation, chi gung, and exercise routine - because I know it makes me feel great.

Don't get me wrong, I am not upset or disappointed in myself. I can't be bothered with that - Tao is as Tao does I always say. So, no, I am not giving myself a hard time about slacking off, I am just recommitting to get busy with the morning routine again. I look at the last couple of weeks as kind of like a half-time rest.

The days are getting longer again now, we've survived the winter solstice. Before we know it spring'll spring back into our lives and all my US readers will be cursing my name as I describe how fab I am looking, sitting at the cafe in the warm Aussie sunshine in my t-shirt (because I made myself exercise MOST of the winter!)

Wish me luck!

Flow Like Water...

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Categories: Exercise, Personal-Development, Motivation, Goals, Health, Meditation, Self-Improvement

Tao Blog, Taoist Blog, or Taoism Blog?

2006-06-23T17:14:00.000+10:00

Little Tao was walking by the pond with his friend Big Tao. As they strolled along, Big Tao couldn't help but think how Little Tao was usually very talkative, but today he was quiet.

'Is something on your mind Little Tao? You are being very Zen.'

'What do you mean by Zen?' asked Little Tao.

'Mu,' said Big Tao.

'What?' muttered Little Tao.

'Just Kidding, Little Tao,' Big Tao said, grinning at his Zen joke. 'But seriously, what is on your mind?'

'Well I was thinking of starting a blog,' said Little Tao.

'Great? About Taoism?' asked Big Tao.

'Yes, but...'

'But what, Little Tao?'

'Well I am confused about what to name it.' Little Tao scowled as he kicked a pebble. It flew into the air and fell with a splash into the pond. Big Tao smiled to himself as he watched the ripples circle outwards from where the rock had broken the surface of the water.

'Do you have any ideas?' he asked.

'Yes,' said Little Tao. 'I have three possible names: Tao Blog, Taoist Blog, or Taoism Blog. Which do you think is the best, Big Tao?'

Little Tao had been so preoccupied that he had not noticed Big Tao creep up behind him and next thing he knew he was sailing through the air towards the water.

Splash!

'There is your answer, Little Tao,' said Big Tao, standing by the edge of the pond laughing. Little Tao laughed also as he swam to the edge of the pond.

'Thank you, Big Tao, I knew you would help me find the answer!'

Question: What did Little Tao call his Blog?

Flow Like Water...

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Categories: Tao, Taoism, Blogging, Zen

The Tao and the Te : Fundamentals of Taoism and Mind in General

2006-06-23T16:26:00.001+10:00

Tao Te Brain

This site sets out to show that "the I Ching has a bilateral structure which parallels that of the brain. Here we wish to show that the classic daoist text "Tao Te Ching" also shares this structure. "Tao" means the way, "Te" means virtue, and "Ching" means classic or book. Tao is the general while Te is the particular."

Flow like Water...

The Tao and the Te : Fundamentals of Taoism and Mind in General

2006-06-23T16:26:00.000+10:00

The Secret

2006-06-21T15:54:00.000+10:00

The Secret Movie. Gimmicky but kind of cool looking. Somehow I feel entirely skeptical though, probably more entertainment than actual secret to the great mysteries of the ages revealed in DVD now for 4.95 ;)

Chan (Zen) and Tao

2006-06-20T14:21:00.000+10:00

Chan and Tao: "'He who replies to one asking about Tao, does not know Tao. Although one may hear about Tao, he does not really hear about Tao. There is no such thing as asking about Tao. There is no such thing as answering such questions. To ask a question which cannot be answered is vain. To answer a question which cannot be answered is unreal. And one who thus meets the vain with the unreal is one who has no physical perception of the universe, and no mental perception of the origin of existence.'"

Still busy getting something new ready so no 'real' posts just yet.

Mythology History Physics Philosophy Art Science Religion

2006-06-19T23:37:00.000+10:00

Mythology History Physics Philosophy Art Science Religion

'(James) Joyce’s father commented about him, “If that fellow was dropped in the middle of the Sahara, he’d sit, be God, and make a map of it.”'

Actually this site is not about Joyce but it (the website) is interesting and that is a great quote ;) as is this:

'O blindness to the future! Kindly giv’n,
That each may fill the circle mark’d by Heav’n;
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A hero perish, or a sparrow fall,
Atoms of systems into ruin hurled,
And now a bubble burst, and now a world.'
— Alexander Pope, Essay on Man

Hmmm, plus hints of Taoism seeping into the old esoteric waffle here by the (obviously quite brainy) author of this website:

'According to the Golden/Legal philosophy every individual is fundamentally a duality. Each person — indeed each entity — consists of an original, pure, sophomoric, masculine, extending, ascending aspect (White/Apollonian) and a mediating, worldly, mature, feminine, introverting, descending aspect (Red/Dionysian). Here we have the warrior and the priest, the virgin and the nymph, the Yang and the Yin. Every male duality is thus considered as inhering a female aspect, and vice versa.'

S'funny, always seems to come down to that, eh? The o-o-old duality thang. Probably where the average human's comprehension stops. Look past the duality and you are confronted by a single entity to bloody big for the average Joe to take in.

Call me Joe then...

Dance Meditation

2006-06-19T18:19:00.000+10:00

Turbulent Times: Dance Meditation: "Dance-induced meditation is a reminder that meditation is not necessarily something passive and quiet and this is terribly important because people do tend to confuse spirituality, especially Eastern spirituality, with something a bit airy-fairy and wishy-washy, and they therefore ignore it."

Very interesting. Meanwhile, I am busy preparing something new so not much blogging this last week.

Flow on Brothers and Sisters ... plenty to read below :)

What's Wrong With Me?

2006-06-11T11:29:00.000+10:00

Ever asked yourself that? I know I have :) but look - the answer to that question is NOTHING! There is nothing wrong with you dude!

You are a human and humans don't just feel great all the time - humans feel all kinds of emotions including the unpleasant ones. Humans make mistakes, they regret there actions, they lose their temper, they get drunk, they spend too much money on stupid things, they hurt themselves and the ones they love.

Normal.

All of this is completely normal and I want you to know right now that you don't need to be a super-disciplined self-help guru to be happy! You don't need to try and be perfect - YOU ALREADY ARE PERFECT! Even your so-called flaws, even those things that you want to change about yourself - these things are all perfect. That doesn't mean you can't implement positive change in your life - but meanwhile stop giving yourself a hard time TODAY!

I have been a little quiet this week in terms of blogging - and as usual this was not because I was 'doing nothing' (as much as I recommend that!) but because I have been T-H-I-N-K-I-N-G! I am about to launch a whole new arm of my meditation and personal development monster and this is precisely the thrust - you don't have to be hardcore to be happy! You can learn simple easy ideas and techniques to be consistently happy for the majority of your life and to be 'okay with it' when you're feeling shit. Full stop.

Warning: plot spoiler ahead!

I have come a full circle. I have been like that dude in the Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo who goes looking for the treasure or whatever only to find out that it was right where he was all along. Most of us know that going full-tilt into a life of non-stop partying and self-gratification doesn't make you happy - and now I have come to the conclusion (epiphany more like it) that you don't need to be the world's most self-disciplined puritanical yoga health guru to be happy. Forget about it! You'll just do what I did for a little while (quite recently and on-and-off for years) and make yourself miserable every time you let yourself down - forget expectations of becoming perfect - and realise that you are perfect now!

And if you find that hard to do then stick with me over the next couple of months because I'm gonna show you just how easy it is to be the most totally chilled out dude on the block. And I am 100% for real about that.

Meanwhile here is the article that helped me to remember what I sat down to blog about two hours ago (I got distracted and wound up surfing on a wave of electric light through the infosphere!)

All power to Pamela Slim - she gets it. She knows what you need to know - that there is nothing wrong with you. Amen!

Flow Like Water...

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Categories: Personal-Development, Meditation, Taoism, Happiness, Motivation,

Tao of the Peaceful Warrior Movie

2006-06-10T11:46:00.000+10:00

"The Way of the Peaceful Warrior", by Dan Millman, was one of the books that helped to change my life, or rather helped me to change my life.

It was written in 1973, the year I was born, but I had never heard of it until around the time I was starting to experiment with meditation and the like. It had a huge impact on my thinking. So it was with some excitement that I noticed a banner ad today that proclaimed the coming of a movie version! For once – I clicked!

Peaceful Warrior stars Nick Nolte as the enigmatic Socrates and a very fine piece of casting that is too; he is very much like the image I had of Socrates in my head when reading the book.

Strange the way things come around. Last month I was over at my ex-girlfriend's house for dinner (she and my present love are bestest buddies these days!) and I noticed the actual copy of the book that I had read all those years back on her shelf. I got a bit excited because I had been meaning to go pick up a copy as the manuscript I am currently working on is not entirely dissimilar in theme and I wanted to re-familiarise myself with it. So I borrowed it that evening. It sat on the coffee table with all the other books that await my attention (I can never seem to catch up with everything I want to read!) until the other day my girl picked it up and began to read it herself (much to my satisfaction as I have a hard time convincing her of the worth of the majority of the stuff I read).

The good news is she has been enjoying it, so I have been seeing the book every day, gently removing it from her fingers when she falls asleep reading each night.

And now - voila! There's a movie! I hadn't much thought about the book in years! Trippy!

If you haven't read it, give it a read before you go see it lest the movie do what Ron Howard and his buddies did to the quite passable (in my opinion, despite some cringe-worthy clichés etc.) The Da Vinci Code. The film version was just so totally lame compared to the excitement of the book. Thankfully it starred the very cute Audrey Tautou which was at least compensation for the disappointment!

Flow Like Water...

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Categories: Movies, Meditation, Books, Personal-Development

What You'll Wish You'd Known

2006-06-08T12:37:00.002+10:00

This is cool. I soooo wish somebody had talked to me like this when I was at school. Actually, I have vague memories that they might have but that I wasn't listening ;)

What You'll Wish You'd Known

Things are hotting up for my meditation and personal development workshop in July. It could be the coffee I just had but I am excited about it! If you live in Melbourne please click on the (big green) banner above or just give us a call on 0413 414 620 and we can have a chat about it. I'd love to see you there!

Anyway I am work, so I'd better get back to it :)

Rock on - or if you prefer...

Flow Like Water...

Tao of the Marijuana Blues (Part One)

2006-06-03T12:20:00.000+10:00

I was surfin' around ye olde webola and I came across this post about depression.

I can so relate to what this person is going through. I have been there more than once. A number of commenters pointed it out already, but it seems worthwhile mentioning that the article's original poster doesn't seem very aware that the root cause of their depression is not the boredom with his or her job/life etc, nor the numbness they feel, but with their pot abuse.

Let me qualify before continuing: I am not claiming that I never smoke pot anymore* but that I have long since stopped smoking it everyday.

You can't smoke pot all the time and expect not to suffer side-effects. It took me years to admit this. As a young kid fresh out of school I was full of beans and motivation. So were my friends. Then we started smoking pot all the time and - hello! - we all turned into whinging scatterbrains. Several years went by before I realised that the reason I was never getting anything done, was feeling depressed and confused and just totally underwhelmed was because I was smoking so much pot.

"Duh!" I hear your girlfriend mutter from the study where she is busying herself getting a second university degree while you sit and pull bongs and wonder why the hell this cruel world doesn't recognise your genius yet.

Below (separate post - Part Two) is something I wrote before I stopped smoking pot all day every day. If you read through anything I have written lately you will see that there is a huge difference between my state of mind now and how I felt back then. Notice also how I did not associate the depression I felt with the fact that I had a pot habit. I would have denied the link at this time. I would have blamed this heartless world for rendering me lost in a meaningless forest of despair, or something wordsome like that. But the truth was I was damaging my natural ability to get the most out of this wonderful opportunity that is Life...

*I still say yes to the odd puff at a party on the weekends, but to be honest this isn't working for me very well. I enjoy the feeling at the time, but the next day my emotional balance tends to be off. I find that hydroponic weed, as opposed to bush-bud, is particularly guilty of causing this (and other) side effect(s).

Regardless of the distinctions between the two types of weed, I pretty much assume that I will continue to smoke less and less until I don't smoke anymore at all. That's the plan anyway.

Flow Like Water...

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Categories: Motivation, Health, Personal-Development, Self-Improvement, Marijuana, Productivity

Tao of the Marijuana Blues (Part Two)

2006-06-03T12:16:00.000+10:00

St. Kilda, 1998

The phone rings.
A pang of anxiety.
Fear of corrupt exchange.
I let the answering machine machine it's way through its' designated task. Painstakingly, it repeats its' only idea ever. Clicks. Beeps. Whirs. A female voice blathers as I leave the room.
I lie down. Impotent. My thin foam mattress. cost $45. Rip off. It was never anything close to comfortable, and now it's infested with fleas.
Get up, look in the fridge. It's only been five minutes since I last peeked, and still,
Nothing tasty has appeared.
Lucky I'm not hungry.
My latest housemate doesn't want smoking in the flat, so I stand on the back porch and grimly feed my addiction. The wind ruins the experience. I like the smoke to hang around my face as I casually draw back. No chance in the irritatingly chill St. Kilda breeze.
'God I hate insects.' I shudder as I catch sight of my face in the mirror. Neither am I impressed with ominous spiders, webs brazenly slung too low.
I look like I feel. A cockroach.
I pick up my battered old guitar, strum it a little.
Out of tune. I put it down.
It sits in the corner next to my decrepit post-war migrant suitcase.
Filthy clothes and dog-eared books everywhere, the floor, the bed. Empty take-away containers. Grotty tissues. A couple of odd belongings that somehow hung in through the years; An old tin robot; A snow-shaker with a warped picture inside, my girl. Apart from the flea infested mattress, the only furniture is a crappy old chair that came with the room. There are no posters.
I pull on my only shoes and walk to the Seven-Eleven. I buy milk and smokes. The Asian boy behind the counter is unhappy. Contemptuous.
Accidentally knock a girl's bike over as I push open the door to leave. From inside the store she shoots me a greasy look. Tough. It was her own stupid fault for leaving it in the way. I don't pick it up.
Returning home I make instant coffee and smoke another evil fag. I wonder how it is that I have to come to be like this; a world-weary floater, nervy smoke stained fingers shaking.
I turn on the T.V.
Slouch on couch.
I don't care what channel. Just stare.

I'm still staring two hours later when my flatmate comes in.
And half an hour later as she leaves again.

And four hours later when she arrives home once more.

I smoke some pot.
I don't get very high.
I go to bed.

One month later my flatmate's boyfriend gets into trouble. This stresses her out. I am the easy scapegoat.
She trips out while her big, friendly man looks sheepish and apologetic.
I pack my old case once again. Make a few calls.
I move that afternoon; broken guitar and the case, kept shut with an octopus strap. Only had to catch the bus out front and down Barkly a few stops.

I leave her the mattress, but take a couple of fleas.

Just in case.

***********************************************************************************

If you are having trouble with the weed factor, I would highly recommend you read the book by, and if possible seek treatment from Jost Sauer. He's been there, done that, and now devotes his time to helping others to deal with the problems of drug and alcohol abuse using Traditional Chinese Medicine and his own unique program.

Flow Like Water...

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Categories: Motivation, Health, Marijuana, Personal-Development Productivity

Tao of the Artiste

2006-06-03T11:02:00.000+10:00

Bob made a comment on his blog about me wanting to be 'the next great self-help guru' which was kind of funny, if not entirely without merit.

It did however bring to mind something that has been quietly bothering me lately - the fact that I have been concentrating more on the personal development side of my 'career' than on art-for-art's-sake. This needs to be addressed because at the end of the day I am an artist who gets into self improvement, not a personal development guy who likes to write and sing on the side. Sometimes I get really bored of philosophy, motivation, goal setting, meditation, Taoism, health and fitness, productivity and all the rest and put the whole thing aside for months - but I never do this with my art.

My two main artistic outlets are writing fiction and writing and singing songs on my guitar. Given this, and given the fact that I am faced with a short weekend of (gasp!) only two days before I have to get back to the office, I have decided to take a weekend off from most all of my 'other projects' and just concentrate on writing fiction and preparing to record a new acoustic CD next weekend.

This means I will NOT be:

Tweaking my websites

Promoting my upcoming meditation workshops

Writing non-fiction articles

Wasting time reading totally cool productivity sites like this

I like this page.:

"Bare awareness is your root. It is the source and nourishment and support of your world, the absolute at the center of existence. It has never been otherwise. This awareness is not new. It is eternal. It is what you have always been, unchanged since the day you were born and before."
Headless Tao

This passage reminds me to be grateful for awareness itself, the blessing that comes with meditation and reading Taoist (and other) philosophy. In itself it is the ultimate award. It gives you the ability to see yourself and this life if not 100% as they are then at least a whole lot more clearly.

Looking honestly at myself, and thinking back to what I have written here over the last few weeks, I cannot help but be aware of a major theme of duality-thinking in my life. Even though I read (and spout on) about 'flowing like water' I do not always do so.

Of course to worry about whether I flow is to stem my own flow ... ahem ... aaaanywaaaay, my point is that I tend to get caught up in regretting it when I bugger up my plans (to remain sober, to be super-healthy, to achieve more with my time, etc).

Taoism specifically teaches not to worry about the past, now, or the future. And intellectually I know this to be sage advice - but I need to practice this more. Or at least I want to.

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Categories: Tao, Taoism

The Eight Planets of Meditation

2006-05-24T21:22:00.000+10:00

I am presently resurrecting my meditation website
from static site syndrome in time for a renewed burst of meditation teaching. There is a ways to go with that yet but...

I can confirm that my workshop on July 29th at Kundalini House will focus around my analogy of the Eight Planets of Meditation.

Anyway more news as it spontaneously arises,

Flow Like Water...

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Tao of Victorious Failure

2006-05-23T23:25:00.000+10:00

'"Disgrace" and "Failure" become less punishing when we recognize our own relative unimportance and let go of the hold of other people's opinions on our peace of mind.*'

It occured to me just now that to fail - from a Taoist perspective - is often the best way to win.

My 'failure' on the weekend:

A) spurs me to (gently) persist.

B) shows me that it is foolish to hold on too tightly to our goals, that this is like pulling an back the bow when we do not want the arrow to fly.

C)reminds me to...

Flow Like Water...

*'The Tao of Sales' E. Thomas Behr

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Return to the Centre

2006-05-22T17:08:00.000+10:00

It is inevitable that you will stray from your path. The trick is realising, and then quickly and quietly returning to the centre. Then just keep on walking.

I started this blog, and all my related activities (writing about personal growth for magazines and teaching meditation) because I have long felt that there is a gap in the world of personal growth. This gap is the distance between the highly disciplined personal development guru and the rest of us.

Don't get me wrong, I am not being resentful of those people - I aspire to be one of them, only without the bad hair and shoulder-pads - but sometimes it is a little discouraging when you read things like 'it's so easy!' and 'I haven't screwed up anything in my perfect life for ten years now' and the like.

I think I would like to read the story of a personal development leader trying to get there still. I haven't really come across one that's grabbed me - except for legendary stuff like the life of Buddha or whatever. Nope, haven't really found it - so I am writing it. I am NOT a master of self-discipline ... yet. I intend to be. And I am certainly getting better at it. I've come from being a shambles of youthful disarray six years ago to being pretty ok these days.

But I still fuck up. I did so on Saturday night - got smashed. This is a 'fuck up' because I have been on this whole mission to totally get the party animal side of me under control. Not because partying is bad. It's fun - that's why we do it right? But the fact is I have been well aware for some time now that the downside is just not worth the upside for me anymore. So I have been developing techniques for becoming able to enjoy a social life without getting wasted (and then spending two days as a completely unproductive misery guts).

But, uh, Saturday kinda turned into a *cough* beerfest.

And look, I can see my girlfriend rolling her eyes now at this, saying 'don't beat yourself up over it'. The thing is I'm not beating myself up over the party on Saturday night - I had a ball (I think. Don't remember it too well now). The thing I am upset about is how I only did about two hours (very unproductive) work on my business yesterday. And today I went to work for a meeting and then excused myself for the rest of the day due to being so down in the dumps and scattered that I knew I would be better off at home.

That kind of result just isn't good enough for me anymore.

But there is an upside. The upside is that I want the Contemporary Taoist to be a journey to greatness, not just another superhuman talking down to the hopeless masses. And if that means that, for now, I gotta get too drunk to walk from time to time - then so be it. In time, when this challenge is behind me, I will be able to draw on it to help others. Or at least to have a laugh at myself :)

Yes. It is inevitable that you will stray from your path. The trick is realising, and then quickly and quietly returning to the centre. Then just keep on walking.

Flow Like Water...

Download out my free music here!

Nourishment and Abundance

2006-05-20T13:21:00.001+10:00

Winter is well and truly on its way here is Melbourne, Australia - and with it comes the pleasure of eating vast amounts of warming food. I'd like to take a moment to thank the Universe for the abundant life that some of us are able to enjoy, and to remember those who have been short changed by our foolish governments.

Our happiness is so affected by what we eat and drink, and the things that we think. Moderation is important but a good dose of more extreme dedication can also be a remarkable way to bust through some of those cobwebs that you feel are holding you back. One thing I find is especially effective is sitting down for a longer meditation when you can. By 'longer' I mean more than the usual twenty or thirty minutes of regular meditation - which is definitely recommended - and getting in a good hour long session.

Sit through the fidgets, sit through the drowsiness, sit through the frustration, and eventually a blessing will be bestowed on you. You will find your way through the fog and into the deep centre of your mind. This place is illuminated with the clear light of love, and it is the part of you that is contentedly connected with the rest of the human super-consciousness, or God, or the Tao - whatever term you prefer.

It can be difficult to get there - but the more often you make the effort to visit this inner-utopia, the more of this peaceful, loving energy you bring with you back into the outer-world - and the more of this positive energy there is in the world, the sooner we actually will make war, poverty, sickness and unhappiness history.

Forget guilt, forget this, forget that. Just sit and know that you are perfect.

I am personally having a ball of it right now, enjoying my work and excited about the future, both near and distant.

By the way, any good web designers out there willing to help me spread the good vibes? As you can probably tell by looking at my rather heavy-handed blog renovations (which took me an inordinate amount of time) I could use a little help setting up site-frameworks from somebody who knows what they're doing :)

Flow Like Water...

Download out my free music here!

Tao of the Sub-Conscious

2006-05-19T15:33:00.000+10:00

To flow like water means to accept yourself as you were, as you are, and as you will be. It means to accept others, and indeed the whole world, in the same manner. It means to let go of your notions of right and wrong, of should and should not, of pleasing and displeasing.

Easier said than done of course, but it is in this moment of letting go, this lightness of the mind, that you become aware of the energy flowing through the world and through you - quite literally washing you clean every second of the day.

The metaphorical dirt that you feel is trapped under your fingernails, the feelings of stuckness and of being trapped in your ways are themselves only ideas, and ideas can be discarded like old running shoes. You are new every moment; forget about the past, laugh about the future.

'Subconsciousness always directs the activities of the subhuman forces of nature. This is true whether the action of those forces be hostile or friendly to man. Subconsciousness, in turn, is always amenable to impressions originating at the self-conscious level of mentation*'

Paul Foster Case, The Tarot (1927)

Learn to catch your thoughts - notice the self-defeating, negative sub-conscious programming that you silently and verbally reinforce throughout your day ('oh I always do that, I'm so hopeless’, ‘this is too hard for me, I can't do it', 'my back is stuffed', etc). Immediately turn them around. If you say something negative - turn it around and repeat a positive affirmation to the opposite extreme. For example, you find yourself thinking 'I'm in a terrible mood today'. Stop, pull yourself up, retract the initial statement and say the opposite 'I'm in a fantastic mood today!'

In fact repeat it three times.

Even though it may feel like you are lying to yourself, doing this will have a powerful effect on your subconscious, and further than that, on the Universe at large. You get what you ask for, so create a better world!

One of my newest affirmations is this:

'I find it easy to erase any negative, limiting belief patterns that I may have previously held, and replace them with positive beliefs that affirm the infinite scope of my unlimited potential and ability.'

Perhaps you might like to use it. I repeat it at the beginning of an affirmation session, to give extra oomph to my ability to change my sub-conscious programming.

*Mentation, nice...

I swiped that quote from a book I am reading called The Tarot: History, Mystery, and Lore, by Cynthia Giles. It is particularly good actually, surprisingly vast in it's coverage of all things metaphysical, occult, esoteric, spiritual etc.

Flow Like Water...

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Tao of Thinking

2006-05-18T08:04:00.000+10:00

I have been doing my affirmations each morning in the car, which leads me to a funny story...

I was driving to work yesterday, trying to get my affirmations done. I open my folder and place it on the passenger seat and as the traffic is usually so heavy I read a new line every time the I have to stop and then repeat it a couple of times. This has been a great help in alleviating the boredom of the stop-start traffic blues right?

Yesterday for some reason the traffic was really light and I was hardly having to stop at all, just for the odd traffic light here and there. This would usually make me happy as Larry, but for just one moment I got slightly annoyed because I wasn't geting through my affirmations and work was rapidly approaching. I didn't actually articulate this thought, and indeed I think I was just formulating the counter-thought 'oh well, I'll just do them in the car before going into the office,' when...

I turned the bend and there it was, miles of bumper-to-bumper go-nowhere traffic jam. Road works. It took me twenty minutes to cover the next stretch that usually takes me two!

You have to be careful what you think!

I am now making a habit of catching all the negative things that I say to myself and transmuting them into positives. Once your reticular activating system is looking out for the nasty thoughts, it is surprising how much self-defeating crap we (me anyway) tell ourselves from moment to moment.

Anyway, speaking of work, got to fly - or rather...

Flow Like Water...

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The Integral Way

2006-05-14T14:11:00.000+10:00

For some reason, the existence of the Hua Hu Ching has completely slipped beneath my radar. How exciting - another book 'authored' by Lao Tzu!

"There is no one method for attaining realization of the Tao. To regard any method as the method is to create a duality, which can only delay your understanding of the subtle truth. The mature person perceives the fruitlessness of rigid, external methodologies; remembering this, he keeps his attitude unstructured at all times and thus is always free to pursue the Integral Way."

What can I possibly add to this? 'nuff said.

Tao of ... Stuff

2006-05-13T11:55:00.000+10:00

Whoa! Where did that week go? Busy, busy, busy!

I have been mostly concerned lately with the topic of how to get my many ideas projects happening all at once without stressing myself out. I already outlined my method of choosing Five Things a Day
and have in fact, since that post refined this system somewhat and - ironically - it has itself become one of my pet projects! By this I mean that I am going to make my goals achievement system available for others to peruse and use shortly.

Given that I am still in the position of having to hold a day job four days a week (thankfully not a horrible one), I have on some days found myself still getting a wee bit overawed by my ability to have an idea, open my mouth, get myself into something and then wonder if I should have just stuck that idea into my desk drawer to work on in the next lifetime! In fact I have been considering actually doing that for all my projects bar one - taking the approach of working the monomaniacal angle. I know from experience that this is a good way to move one project forward very quickly; I did it last year when writing my first novel. I took six months out, tightened my belt, and forsake everything else to get the book done. It worked. Six months later the book was 'finished' (very hard to ever say a novel is finished until it is published - I am in fact soon to do yet another rewrite).

However, I have come to a decision. I am too interested in too much to just do one thing at the expense of all other projects. So, even though this does slow me down a little, I am going to continue pursuing my whims. But I am also going to take the advice of my girlfriend's father and take the project that is currently leading the pack and give it the majority of my attention. This would be? Writing. Writing seems to be my strength. It seems to be the thing that is getting the most recognition, so I am going to take the path of least resistance and make it my number one main project. This means that I hereby publicly resolve that no matter how busy I get, I will always make the time to do at least one hour of writing everyday, and of course on weekends I will always attempt a good five hour stretch.

Did I say five again? :)

I have become a little obsessed with the number five. In my Chi Gung training I was taught to do everything in lots of three, preferably three lots of three, but for some reason the number five has become my new 'super-number'. For example in my daily goals lists I find three small goals too easy, and nine too many, but five just about right.

I did a little research on the number five in my favourite (non-Chinese) book Manly P Hall’s ‘The Secret Teaching of All Ages’ and here’s what he had to say:

“Among the Greeks, the pentagram was a sacred symbol of light, health, and vitality. It also symbolized the fifth element--ether--because it is free from the disturbances of the four lower elements. It is called equilibrium, because it divides the perfect number 10 into two equal parts.

The pentad is symbolic of Nature, for, when multiplied by itself it returns into itself, just as grains of wheat, starting in the form of seed, pass through Nature's processes and reproduce the seed of the wheat as the ultimate form of their own growth. ...

The tetrad (the elements) plus the monad equals the pentad. The Pythagoreans taught that the elements of earth, fire, air, and water were permeated by a substance called ether--the basis of vitality and life. Therefore, they chose the five-pointed star, or pentagram, as the symbol of vitality, health, and interpenetration.
It was customary for the philosophers to conceal the element of earth under the symbol of a dragon, and many of the heroes of antiquity were told to go forth and slay the dragon. Hence, they drove their sword (the monad) into the body of the dragon (the tetrad). This resulted in the formation of the pentad, a symbol of the victory of the spiritual nature over the material nature. “(Chapter XIV, Page 218)

I like that bit about the dragon slaying, and all the esoteric guff about the ether sounds like chi-talk to me :)

So anyway, a bit of a rambling entry today, but there you have it. I have been writing a couple of column submissions for the magazine and I guess whatever doesn’t make it into print will go straight up on the blog. I am doing further research at the moment into the correlations between Western esoteric traditions and the Tao, a continuing obsession of mine (it was a major theme in my novel - which, BTW, I will get published ... eventually).

Starting June, I am doing a six-week meditation teachers course with Matt from the Melbourne Meditation Centre, to sharpen my saw. This will get me all geared up for leading my first meditation workshop in a while at Kundalini House, on Saturday the 29th July. More details as they arise; please feel free to contact me if you are interested in attending - seamus [at] embracemeditation.com

I got an email the other day from somebody suggesting that the 'reverse' contrast of this blog is hard on the eyes (as in the white print on dark background). If you agree could you let me know? I am very lazy about making cosmetic changes to the blog, as those of you whom I have promised to link to in the sidebar may have noticed, but if it really sucks then just say the word.

I could use the services of a good website designer who would be prepared to help me set up a couple of websites for either the love of it or for the promise of a small payment in the near future. I want to maintain and update them once they are up but I am not sure I have the time to increase my skills to the degree needed to do the initial design. Best to email me privately about that - seamus [at] moosecafe.com

I have been ingraining this month's new habit (I am going to add a new habit each month for twelve months) of reading out my affirmations each morning. Struggling to find the time some mornings, I struck upon the idea of doing them in the car on the way to work. It takes me 30-45 minutes to commute each morning, so that's plenty of time to do them over a few times each, and it means I rock up to work all psychologically pumped and ready to rock.

Speaking of affirmations, I am still doing the Million Dollar Experiment, why don't you? Or even better (for me!) drop me a cool hundred grand or so in the donation box in the sidebar of this blog and be rewarded by allowing me to quit working a day job and thus pump out books for you to read!

Flow Like Water...

Download out my free music here!

The Tao of Perspective

2006-05-07T12:11:00.000+10:00

Had a rip roarin' time last night - and whoops! What was that? That was my 'three drinks rule' flying out the window!

Mind you it's the first time I've been tipsy in seven weeks and I was home and sobered up by one am. Not exactly hardcore behaviour.

This brings me to a point that I haven't yet made about goals setting: go lightly on yourself! When you drop the ball - and you will - keep it all in perspective. Don't beat yourself up, chances are you are doing much better than if you were not setting any goals at all. Plans are guides not law. The Tao will unfold as it sees fit, don't hold on too tightly to your preconceived notions. Flow with the moment. Take the path of least resistance.

Let's use the analogy of a high jumper. I have no idea how high those cats jump in reality but say you were an average high jumper, only able to leap two meters in the air, but you wanted to be able to jump ten meters high and really blow some minds in the high octane world of the international high jumping scene.

Hmmm ... I used the word 'high' six times in that last paragraph. Probably not the best writing technique ever - but this is a post-on-the-fly...

Anyway - so you set yourself some goals and you get to work. You decide that you will need to practice five days a week for five hours. You do this well for several weeks - but then you have a 'bad' week and only manage to get a measly three hours high jumping practice in on Monday, and none at all on Tuesday and Wednesday. You get it together and do all five hours practice on Thursday, but then something comes up and you do nothing on Friday.

Should you berate yourself, feel horrible and call yourself a useless, inconsistent, spineless wannabe?

Of course not. Check out your progress dude! You're now jumping six and a half meters on a good day! That's amazing! If you hadn't set yourself goals you would probably still be bouncing a mere two meters like you had been for two years prior.

I use an interpretation (actually a complete recontextualisation) of the 80/20 rule (see wikipedia's definition). If you set really high goals, then only get 80% of them achieved within the allotted timeframe - then you should consider yourself successful.

And while I am on the subject of perspective, consider this: There are roughly 100 billion stars in the galaxy, and there are millions of galaxies in the universe. Given that there probably are other universes besides our own - how small does that make you in the grand scheme? And how significant are your problems compared to all the events occurring in all the Universes in the Tao? We are infinitesimal minute specks in an unknowably huge expanse of (comparatively) massive stuff. Your personal high jumping record doesn't seem worth getting to uptight about when looked at from that angle does it? Neither does mine.

You may have considered this before - but I like to remind myself of this whenever I am getting too wrapped up in my own day-to-day nonsense :)

Flow Like Water...

Download out my free music here!

The Contemporary Taoist Monthly Print Column!

2006-05-03T21:15:00.000+10:00

Today is a special day. I just got confirmation that there is now to be a monthly print The Contemporary Taoist column in LivingNow magazine, Australia's most widely read holistic magazine (400,000+ readers per month).

How cool is that? Special thanks to LivingNow’s editing team Elizabeth, Terry and Madeleine for giving me a go.

This month's article, 'The Tao of Cats and Dogs', is actually the first in the ongoing series, but somebody forgot to stick the general Contemporary Taoist title on it. But never mind - I AM STOKED!*

Go to the website to find out where you can pick up the new May issue. If you don't live in one of the major centres of VIC, NSW, QLD, OR WA (Australian states) you can get it posted to you each month for a very cheap price. I presume this goes for overseas as well.

Needless to say I am quite happy with my lot at the moment. I have had a number of pots on the stove for some time, and despite the odd stretch where my cook-top flames have died down some, little bubbles are now starting to form. Over the next year you will see some significant output: books (I have written one and I am working on two more), new (better) music recordings and more frequent live shows, meditation and personal development classes (starting again in July for those in Melbourne), and some other wacky projects that I don't feel ready to mention yet.

Also my web presence will be getting a thorough shaking up, including the introduction of www.thecontemporarytaoist.com - a proper website companion to this blog. Amongst other exciting things this will include some of the best TCT Blog posts and hopefully the older LivingNow magazine columns (the ones that are no longer currently in print).

For those that live in Melbourne, tomorrow I am doing a radio interview at 7pm - 7:30pm on Southern FM.

In closing - something odd happened this evening, I received an email FROM MYSELF THAT I SENT ONE YEAR AGO! It was sent via a website called FutureMe.org. I had completely forgotten about it. It read:

'Dear Future Me,

One year ago you were sitting around wasting time - what are you up to now?

From Me'

I am very glad to report that I am definitely not wasting time - and neither am I stressing out. I hope you are making the most of your time my friend, but if you ever feel that it is all too much, take a deep breath and...

Flow Like Water...

Download out my free music here!

*In Aussie slang to be ‘stoked’ means to feel very pleased about something.

Tao of Rest

2006-05-03T08:30:00.000+10:00

One thing (I realised afterwards) that was funny about yesterday's post was that I forgot to mention that, because I have been quite ill with a headcold, I have not over the last few days been very attentive to my super-duper morning routine (outlined in yesterday's entry). Basically I woke up on Sunday with a cold and the 5:10am routine went out the window. It came back in the window this morning now that I am feeling much better thanks.

A Contemporary Taoist knows when to rest. You have to listen to your body. It would have been counter-productive to be trying to jog, build muscles etc. when I was all flubbered up with snot and a fever. Same goes for work. If it is not going to have dire consequences, then it's better to 'chuck a sickie' (as we say in Australia). I used to be one of those masochists who would go to work even if I was half dead with the flu, but no longer. It's a stupid thing to do.

Australian's look out for May's edition of LivingNow magazine. It should be hitting the streets about now. I have an article in it lifted from this blog called 'The Tao of Cats and Dogs'. I hope those of you who can get a copy of the mag enjoy it. For the rest of the (breathlessly waiting) world I will re-post the article in question once the month is history.

Flow Like Water...

Download out my free music here!

Tao of Five Things - Affirmations, Goals, Plans and Achievements.*

2006-05-02T15:25:00.000+10:00

I took the day off today due to persistent and yucky head cold, so I took the chance to update my Goals and Affirmations Folder. Actually, I renamed it my Goals, Plans, Affirmations and Achievements Folder. Long enough title for ya? ;)

I basically run off a Five Things System. Personally I tried 43 Things but I get muddled easy so I like to keep all my plans real real simple.

Anyway - here is how I set it out and work it (baby).

The first page is my Morning Routine: Get up 5:10am (avoid 5am news broadcast - too early for that crap), Sitting Chi Gung Meditation, with Ideal Scenario Visualisation in the middle (after Stillness). That probably all sounds like gobbledegook but we’ll have to leave explanations for another time. Then I do some standing Chi Gung. Then some jog-specific stretches. Job. Push Ups. Stomach Crunches. Leg Lifts. Stretch Down. Go over goals folder and read affirmations aloud. Write down today’s Things To Do List. Breakfast at about 7:30am. Might sound a bit hardcore but actually all very enjoyable.

The second page is Main Career Goals, divided into 2 year goals, 5 year goals, and ten year goals.

Third Page is Five Things To Do Today: one thing each from the next five categories. I’ll come back to this point...

1) Writing Career Plan
2) Music Career Plan
3) Personal Growth Career Plan
4) Health, Happiness and Misc. Plan
5) Money Skills Plan

These are all just one page each and are divided into Two Years Goal, and Next 90 Days Plan.

Then I have a page that I just lists skills that I want to learn one day (piano, French, that kind of stuff).

Next three pages are my affirmations: I am healthy and happy, I help other people be healthy and happy, etc. Next comes my Ideal Scene Creative Visualisation. It’s very important to do both of these. If you don’t know what I on about then read Creative Visualisation and anything by Marc Allen. There are plenty of other authors who are into this as well. I can tell you that since I started doing these a few years ago my life has changed utterly and for the better. I’m talking the big stuff too: house, car, beautiful partner, happiness, health, recovery from depression, the list goes on. I will write more on these soon I think, they are a useful tool in the Contemporary Taoist's survival kit Dudes!

One of my affirmations is recited as part of the Million Dollar Experiment. Why not join in?

That’s it! A lucky 13 pages with not much writing on any of them - except the affirmations – I have a fair few of them (and I'm always thinking of more). It will soon be 14 pages cos I am going to add an Achievements page to list milestones as I tick them off - but I am not going to populate it with old stuff, just the big stuff from here on.

Just quickly back to the Five Things every day. I focus on one thing from the ninety day plan of each of my five main plans pages – the one thing that moves me forward the furthest. Sometimes this is as simple as a phone call or an email. Sometimes it means hours of work. But once they are done – the rest of the day is candy. I can do what I want. Like this blog!

I use five things but that’s just what works for me. I just think what matters is to keep it simple and not get overwhelmed by the awesomeness of the totally massive things you are going to do to improve your life and make this world a better place for everyone.

That is what you’re going to do right? You can do it all you know, just chill, and...

Flow Like Water...

*Hey wait! That's four, right? Sorry - different five things! You'll have to read the article above.

Download out my free music here!

Tao of Forming Good Habits

2006-05-01T08:28:00.000+10:00

Last month I unwittingly took on a 30 Day Challenge. Very successfully too, I am glad to report. With minimal effort (in fact no effort - it takes NO effort to NOT do something) I reduced my counter-productive hedonistic tendencies to my new rule of

'Never more than three drinks a night,
Never more than two nights a week,
Never smoke anything at all.'*

Now I have found another blog that incorporates the 30 day challenge idea into a 12 month framework. I like it. 12 new positive habits, one new habit a month.

The reason this appeals to me is because I have an issue with becoming overwhelmed by the sheer audacity of my ambitions. It's not that these ambitions turn me into a workaholic or anything (far from it! I belong firmly to the Lazy Way school of success). The overwhelming feelings come from not knowing what to do next when I am not feeling inspired. Sometimes I am so inspired that it takes no effort at all to know what to do next but when I am feeling uninspired I lose motivation – and clarity of vision. I have been aware for a while now that I need to get over my addiction to inspiration and learn to keep being reasonably effective during my motivational down time.

And the key to all of this is that I need to simplify. And the best way to simplify is to reduce the factors. I already (loosely) follow a Five Things a Day system. This helps me to focus on the few things that will move me forward the furthest with the least effort, and it helps me to avoid getting bogged down in a quagmire of minute details. This works very well (when I stick to it) but now I am going to introduce the 12 x 30 (ish) day challenges. One new good habit a month.

To paraphrase people who were quoting other people, apparently it takes about 21 days to form a new habit. I did it successfully in about that time with the drinking less thing; by the time twenty days were up I was in no way struggling with the concept at all.

And it has stuck – last night I enjoyed an evening listening to old rock n’ roll records and chatting with my girlfriend’s workmates, all of whom were quaffing and puffing away like Billy-o, yet I felt no compulsion to either smoke or to have more than three beers. Done. Too easy. Next.

I know what my next thirty day challenge is going to be: I am going to make sure to read my goals and affirmations aloud to myself every morning. I have them all written down – and I SOMETIMES read over them – but for some reason I have struggled to make it a habit. Maybe because I am an intensely private person and feel squeamish about my family seeing me do this, maybe because my Inner Fool is afraid I might actually succeed in achieving my goals. Whatever – the reason why doesn’t concern me. I will just fix it now, and with minimal effort.

May’s new habit: read through goals and affirmations every morning.

I was going to write out all twelve new habits for the next year but I think it will be better to assess what’s needed as I go.

And before I wrap up for today, I just want to point out how it is that all of this self-development guff actually does sit very well with my Taoist principals. Basically, by simplifying my processes I stand to achieve more by doing less – and if that ain’t Taoism then I don’t know what is. And as for my ambition – it comes naturally to me, therefore to go with it is to follow my essential nature and...

Flow Like Water...

* Okay, so then there was my little experiment but the result simply confirmed my intentions and cemented the new good habit further.

Inner Master, Inner Fool

2006-04-30T11:45:00.000+10:00

I have pulled this one from the web because an editied version of it looks like it is getting published in the magazine next month. I will put this back up once it's month in the physical world is over.

Crouching Drunkard, Hidden Pothead

2006-04-29T07:57:00.000+10:00

So to return to the main thrust of this blog: Personal Growth advised by the principals of Taoism.

For you to understand this post I need to provide a snippet of background information about myself. I am a 32 year old rock n’ roller from way-back. As rockers are often inclined, I have spent so many nights completely ‘off my guts’ that I don’t care to try and count. I have had alcohol and pot addiction issues, used to be addicted to cigarettes, and also took my fair share of hard drugs back in the day. I no longer smoke or take hard drugs, but have still been finding it difficult to find a balance between my (thankfully less-frequent) ‘urges’ to smoke pot and drink booze, and my need to look after myself in order to enjoy this wonderful opportunity we call Life.

So I am beyond emergency status – but nevertheless, no puritan. Not yet anyway!

Aware that I was not yet ‘getting it right’ – that I needed to find a greater balance in my habits - I have been experimenting on myself. First I took five weeks off from any drinking or smoking of pot whatsoever. Not that I was smoking very much, but often enough, and, to be honest, I was probably drinking a little too much.

The break greatly increased my feelings of well-being in two ways: firstly by clearing my system; secondly via the side effect of feeling far more motivated to practice beneficial health practices (meditation, exercise, chi gung) more regularly and with greater discipline. At the end of the five weeks my clarity and ‘evenness’ of well-being were highly apparent. My mood was very consistently up, and my effectiveness in general was enhanced yet effortless.

Then I allowed myself (on three separate occasions): a couple of drinks; a few puffs of a joint only; a couple of drinks and a few puffs.

My conclusions from this experiment are:

To have a couple (not a lot!) of drinks had only minor negative effects on my general sense of well-being the next day. I stopped at three beers and drank lots of water before bed, I woke up feeling slightly crusty but nothing a stretch, a jog and a coffee didn't sort out. I got the feeling that most of the crustiness was in fact a side effect of the passive cigarette smoke that others subjected me to, but I am not sure. Importantly, I enjoyed the time spent savouring the taste of the beer, the relaxing feelings that came over me, and the company I was with.

Conversely, I felt slightly paranoid (only a little) when I got stoned, and although I felt some euphoria, it was muddy and not particularly outstanding. For the next two – three days I could still feel the side-effects: less happy, less motivated, less clearheaded, slightly irritable.

Then (glutton for punishment) I tried the three beers/some pot combo. This time the pot itself was natural outdoor ‘bush bud’ as opposed to chemically enhanced indoor ‘hydro’ so the high was much cleaner and the side effects the next day far lessened. But still I felt crap for two days after with much the same side effects as above. I could not write much, even though I had a precious day off set aside to work on my novels – major problem right there.

Conclusion? I now agree with my TCM practitioner, and with Jost Sauer that our bodies are actually better equipped to deal with a little bit of alcohol (not a lot!) than with marijuana. I reckon my pot smoking days are over.

Of course there will be temptation, but I have in my possession some very powerful techniques with which to disempower the temptation urge. I will explain this in a later post, for now I have to go to the LivingNow Expo and work for to pay ze bloody bills!

Flow Like Water...

Tao of Qabbalistic Cosmogony Vs The Brevity Thing

2006-04-25T20:27:00.000+10:00

Manly P Hall's "The Secret Teachings of All Ages is one of my fave books (I have a print copy but here is a free online version).

I just found this passage which I think draws attention to a parrallel between Taoist and Qabbalisitic ideas (also note the use of the circle in a similar way to Zen):

"THE Qabbalists conceive of the Supreme Deity as an Incomprehensible Principle to be discovered only through the process of eliminating, in order, all its cognizable attributes. That which remains--when every knowable thing has been removed--is AIN SOPH, the eternal state of Being. Although indefinable, the Absolute permeates all space. Abstract to the degree of inconceivability, AIN SOPH is the unconditioned state of all things. Substances, essences, and intelligences are manifested out of the inscrutability of AIN SOPH, but the Absolute itself is without substance, essence, or intelligence. AIN SOPH may be likened to a great field of rich earth out of which rises a myriad of plants, each different in color, formation, and fragrance, yet each with its roots in the same dark loam--which, however, is unlike any of the forms nurtured by it. The 'plants' are universes, gods, and man, all nourished by AIN SOPH and all with their source in one definitionless essence; all with their spirits, souls, and bodies fashioned from this essence, and doomed, like the plant, to return to the black ground--AIN SOPH, the only Immortal--whence they came.

AIN SOPH was referred to by the Qabbalists as The Most Ancient of all the Ancients. It was always considered as sexless. Its symbol was a closed eye. While it may be truly said of AIN SOPH that to define It is to defile It, the Rabbis postulated certain theories regarding the manner in which AIN SOPH projected creations out of Itself, and they also assigned to this Absolute Not-Being certain symbols as being descriptive, in part at least, of Its powers. The nature of AIN SOPH they symbolize by a circle, itself emblematic of eternity. This hypothetical circle encloses a dimensionless area of incomprehensible life, and the circular boundary of this life is abstract and measureless infinity."

Interesting, although wordsome, as is the entire book - and in fact, all similar esoteric writing I suppose. Personally, to quote Jeff Bridges's "The Dude" out of context, I am "into the whole brevity thing".

Tao of Back To Work

2006-04-25T07:32:00.000+10:00

After a fun filled weekend spent recording music with genius Adelaide indie music kids (in their ridiculously messy houses filled with toys, DVDs and misc. junk - an Adelaide thing, I've noticed*) and hanging with my family, I am now back into my routine.

I used to hate routine, but now I agree with those who say that in order to be truly healthy/effective, routine is important. We are creatures of habit - physiologically as well as mentally. I found my Chi balance went right out the window this weekend. I wasn't drinking or smoking but still I had headaches, moods, low energy, and I (all but) lost my voice.

I think it is true that the more you look after yourself, the more sensitive you become. This is because your body/mind awareness is dramatically increased.

A small price to pay for generally feeling tip-top - and way, way less traumatic than a revolting hangover!

Looking forward to catching Jost Sauer this Sunday at the LivingNow Expo in Melbourne! Jost strikes me as being on a similar path to me – only he is way more advanced (he had a head start!). He used to get right into drugs and alcohol, but now teaches freedom from these using Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chi Gung, etc. Get his book – it’s worth it.

Meanwhile I am working on (tentative title) "The Contemporary Taoist - A Novel". It is a humorous fiction based around the principals of Taoism (as I see them, of course).

*Not a criticism kids, just an observation! I'm not all that tidy myself.

Tao of the Sober Bullfrog

2006-04-21T11:25:00.000+10:00

Flew to Adelaide, South Australia yesterday; did a quick interview and a couple of tunes on the local independent music station (3-D Radio), and then played a gig that night at the Grace Emily Hotel. Stayed true to my decision not to party for a while and didn't drink or smoke - apart from ten billion tonnes of passive smoke. 'Doing Nothing' in the face of temptation wasn't always easy, but by associating pleasure with not imbibing (by visualising myself waking up in the morning without a hangover), the desire to swill some brews soon passed.

Not that drinking is bad per se, it's just that sometimes it is good to have some (or a lot of) time away from it to give your body a rest. And smoking, of course, is pretty much always a bad idea - but it can be hard to convince myself of that when I am several beers into the night.

There was quite a healthy crowd gathered and as always in Adelaide, very friendly and most respectfully attentive to the music. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, the air conditioning on the plane made me lose my voice. I haven't played for a while and forgot that this sometimes happens. When I say 'lose my voice', I really mean - nearly lost it. Basically my always-fairly-gravelly vocals turned to pure rubble, thinning out and essentially resembling Tom Waits.

There was a day when I would have reacted to my own disappointment at this by pouting and sulking, and probably getting completely pissed. Instead I called upon my Taoist leanings and went with the flow. I did my best (which wasn't too bad according to the claps and reports after) and kept smiling. It ain't always easy, but if you try it usually works out okay.

And if it doesn't?

Flow Like Water...

The Great Connection

2006-04-16T07:56:00.000+10:00

This morning I meditated for an hour. I often find it takes this long to connect with Tao*.

As usual my mind wandered a thousand times, and I had to bring it back to awareness of the moment (focus on the breath) a thousand times. As usual I passed through stages. There was one long period where I could not hush my mental voice from continuously telling me to stop and go get breakfast; that I had done enough for one morning; that, after all, Zen masters say that 'this is it' so therefore, why not get up and make a cup of tea?

Another stage I regularly pass through (just about every time I meditate) is the Creative Surge. I suddenly get so inspired to write or play my guitar or make plans to rule the world or whatever that I can barely stay on my cushion for excitement and the desire to get on with it. This is extremely testing, for as an artist I always want to go with it (almost for fear of 'it' never coming back) but I know that this is also a device of the ego - the Inner Fool - to distract me and tempt me to end the meditation session before making the full connection with Tao. The Inner Fool is scared of this for making the Great Connection means surrendering the ego, abandoning the illusion of separate self, in effect destroying the ego entirely (if only for a short while) and weakening it's day-to-day hold thereafter.

But I kept at it, kept returning to the breath, because I knew that if I did, eventually I would 'get there'. Getting there is actually returning to where we already are; waking up to where we have been all along. Strangely this often takes a lot of hard work, whereas mentally travelling to some imagined paradise is – as we say in Australia – ‘easy as’.

Eventually I grew very impatient. I was tired of trying, frustrated with the irritating paradoxes of No-Mind, Beginner's Mind, travelling to where I already was.

Then a child's face, smiling and full of wonderment, appeared to me and said 'It's easy! Can't you see?'

And suddenly I got it. I 'looked out' at the world (viewed the phenomena that is this life) with the eyes of a child, as if everything was new, and there it was - Beginner's Mind, the Great Connection, blissful union with Tao.*

Then, call me a tripper, but I had a second vision. I saw spiritually inspired personal growth as a mission to climb the tallest pine tree in the forest. Standing at the bottom of this gigantic tree I could not see very far because the forest was thick and the sun could not get through. Everywhere there were animals (ah, animals, can't seem to get those furry little critters out my life or my dreams!). The animals were bouncing around, chattering; lots of noise and activity.

As I started to climb, I saw that the branches of the tree were busy also; home to many more busy animals and birds, all getting on with their day.

Climbing the tree was not intrinsically difficult. It required focus and determination, but all I had to do was keep climbing one branch at a time, and I could see that I was getting closer to the top. As I got further and further up the tree, there were fewer animals, and consequently there was less noise and activity.

Eventually I got near the top, and as I scaled the last few branches I saw that this tree was indeed the tallest in forest. Finally perched on the uppermost branch I could now see the wonderful view - the forest stretching for miles, the mountains in the distance, and above me, much higher even than the tallest tree in the forest, eagles soaring on the breeze. Onto all of this shone the sun; the air was crisp and fresh, and I truly felt that I was free. More to the point - I could now see where I had been all along.

I think that this serves as a great analogy for both the act of each individual meditation session and also for the concept of Tao inspired personal growth.

Of course, visions are just visions. They are waking dreams, not reality. But they have intrinsic worth: they are fantastic tools for contemplation. Sometimes they are amazingly profound, like mine felt this morning, sometimes they are a bit silly. Yesterday for example, I 'saw' a small demon, like a mini-Gollum, get pushed up from inside me (during my meditation) on an exhalation. When it was time to breathe in again, he was stuck in my nostril. He started struggling, desperate to get back inside me. I took another breath (through my mouth so as not to suck him back in) and then snorted him out and across the room. I felt a bit sorry for him, so I wished him well, but he was obviously meant to go.

Then, promptly, I deliberately forgot about him for the rest of the meditation. Let's face it - either there are little demons, or (more likely) it was my subconsciousness working through a symbolic process - but if we get stuck on these visions we are missing the point.

Enjoy the Chi Scenery at the top of your tree - then forget it and return to earth, before you fall off!

Flow Like Water...

*The Great Connection - I never know how to put this experience into words. Language is great, but not so great as to be able to fully convey the most fantastic experience in life. I can list a few potential names for this, but none of them suffice (you’ll just have to go there yourself and see/feel it to know): Universal Consciousness, The Mind of God, Clarity, Bliss, The Tao, Perfection, No-Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Absorption, Euphoria, Freeflow, the list goes on.

If you haven’t ever meditated ‘successfully’ but have in the past ever been silly enough (like me) to take any recreational drugs, then you might like to think back to a time where you felt totally blissed out and that everything in the world made perfect sense. Of course the wonderful thing about reaching this state naturally is that it heals your body instead of destroying it.

Tao of Stillness

2006-04-09T07:31:00.000+10:00

One of the most challenging things about maintaining an effective meditation practice is, when the situation requires it, finding the time and the will to meditate long enough to achieve Stillness.

It really is remarkable the amount of hoopla that spins around inside our heads. This morning my mind was abuzz with activity - white noise, voices, strange sounds, images, and several layers of monologues.

These monologues are one of the more intriguing aspects of my mind. I find that as I go deeper into my meditation, I discover that I am blathering along to myself in a constant stream of what is usually nonsense. Even once my mind is getting quite calm I still discover more, one of the more regular ones being a smug little voice that prattles on to itself in a self-congratulatory manner, saying things like:

'...yes, yes, very good, now the mind is still, now the mind is quiet, excellent job, very still, very peaceful, you're doing well...'

I have figured out that this is a little trick that my ego tries to play on me to give me the impression that I have 'let go' when in fact I have not fully done so. Another similar trick that the old ego invariably tries to pull off is the old Inner Meditation Teacher routine:

'... Focus on the breath ... let go of thoughts ... you are calm and centred ... your mind is a calm blue ocean ...'

Don't get me wrong - the Inner Meditation Teacher is a very important tool to have, especially early into the meditation when my mind is as calm as a Shopping Mall two days before Christmas, but the thing is to eventually let go of this voice and find actual Stillness. For example today, growing impatient, I found myself thinking 'Oh my mind is just so busy this morning.' I knew I had to turn that around, so I started repeating mantra-like 'My mind is relaxed and calm. My mind is relaxed and calm'. Eventually this affirmation took hold, but then I had to deliberately cease repeating the words to complete the process.

Another sneaky little monologue is this voice:

'... anymore monologues? ... No, I don't think so ... Better look very carefully though, those sneaky little voices can be hard to catch sometimes ... No ... I think the coast is clear ...'

Catching that little trickster out is one of my favourite meditation moments!

It took me thirty minutes to 'get there' this morning (by the way, part of the trick to 'getting there' is to remind yourself early on in the session that there is actually nowhere to get. This helps to diffuse feelings of frustration which block effective meditation. And besides, it’s actually true). Along the way there were some funny moments; one that really struck me as amusing was the moment where Jason, the IT guy from the office where I work, suddenly popped into my brain (he literally stuck his face into my field of vision like someone popping there head around a doorway) and shouted 'You should go digital, man!'

Yeah, sure, digital, whatever...

As I began to calm down, I had an interesting vision. I saw my mind as being like a huge old Art Museum. All of my memories were represented as pictures hanging on the wall, but there was nobody in the building but me. I realised that I could, if I chose, look at the pictures, but that it would be more beneficial to ignore them for now and simply enjoy the quietness and space of the cavernous, empty rooms.

This was helpful and enjoyable, but after a minute or two I knew I needed to gently push this visual away. 'Chi Scenery' is nice, and often useful, but it makes sense not to get too dependant on it as it can become another trap of the ego.

Eventually, as I knew I would, I 'arrived' at the point of Stillness. Of course Stillness is always there, it's just that it sometimes takes a concerted effort to make the Long Journey to the Centre of Your Mind before you get to enjoy the Peace that is on offer.

The trick then is keeping this Stillness with you throughout your day, but that's another story!

Flow Like Water...

Tao of Contributing

2006-04-08T11:36:00.000+10:00

Taking a short break from writing, to explore today's I Ching reading (i.e. trying to interpret it - see post below) I came across this quote:

"Ultimately, the discovery of a life’s work begins with the realization of what it means to be a human being — embracing what binds us all together and appreciating what makes each of us unique. As long as we deny that we are social beings and ignore the needs of the world, we miss the sense that our work is meaningful. We feel cut off, lonely, and alienated. As long as we deny our individuality and fail to develop and express our unique talents and gifts, we miss the joy of creative self-expression. We feel frustrated, repressed, and trapped. Simply put: To the extent that your work takes into account the needs of the world, it will be meaningful; to the extent that through it you express your unique talents, it will be joyful."

...which Donna took from a book by the always brilliant Laurence G. Boldt.

This has helped clarify my I Ching reading. Today is a day for me to stay home and write - and my job is to write for benefit of the community. Simple.

Back to it then!

Flow Like Water...

Tao of Impending Invasion?

2006-04-08T08:45:00.000+10:00

The thing that I really do love about the I Ching is not only its seemingly magical ability to give exact or highly relevant 'answers' to problems, but also the way it is often very challenging. For example, if you had a behavioural issue - some habit you knew was bad for you in some way - and you were to ask the I Ching what you should do about it, the chances are the answer would not be a soft one. I have found that the I Ching is more likely to hold you to account, to give it to you straight - change or suffer the consequences sonny. Believe me; I have been on the receiving end of that one many times.

But apart from giving you honest reality checks, the oracle often will take you by surprise, causing your outlook towards a problem or your day to require re-assessment. This morning, for example, I did a 'general advice/vibe for today' kind of reading. Given that I have a day off and no intention of leaving the house whatsoever (I want to stay home and write) I was a little miffed by the result: 13 - Fellowship, Gathering in the Field, and a progressive hexagram reading of 45 - Gathering Together, Community.

As yet I have no idea what this is supposed to mean, but I have a sneaky suspicion that I will be clearer on that by the end of the day. Perhaps my space is going to be invaded by a posse of friends or I'm going to get a call to go out or maybe it's something to do with the online community.

*Sigh*

The truth is I just want to be left alone today to read, write, meditate, play my guitar, etc. But maybe this reading is telling me that I would benefit from reaching out today.

I'll ponder this, wait, most likely do nothing about it, and see what happens. I'll check in later and give you an update...

Tao of Cats and Dogs

2006-04-06T09:53:00.000+10:00

This post has been pulled as it is being published this May in LivingNow magazine, and it's not polite to have your stuff posted to the web in that circumstance.

:)

I'll whack it on up again once May has been and gone...

The Wise Child

2006-04-04T17:48:00.000+10:00

'...when a river comes to stones in its path it simply goes over, around or under, and as it does so, it sings.'

After a couple of days of 'getting down to business' it is nice to stumble across the other side to the Taoist paradox - irreverence. Please do not be fooled by my self-improvement blather - at the end of the day I am happy to be whatever I am (even when 'what I am' is somebody who feels the need to improve. Like I said: it's a paradox!)

My ultimate ambition is to be as the man described below, and I take joy in knowing that this man - this Wise Child - is already inside me (and you) always waiting for the best moment to poke his head out and say 'Boo!'

"The contented man can be happy with what appears to be useless. He can find worthwhile occupation in the forests and mountains. He stays in a small home and associates with the simple. Wherever he goes and whatever he does he can be happy-he knows when to stop. He does not pick the brief blossoming flower, does not travel the dangerous road. To him the possessions of the world are as dust in the wind. He sings contentedly to himself as he travels the green mountains.

He finds sheltering branches more comforting than the roof tiles of a mansion, the plough in his hands more rewarding than titles, the fresh spring water more satisfying than the feasts of the wealthy... He has no profit to gain, no salary to lose, no applause, no criticism. When he looks up it is not with envy. When he looks down it is not with arrogance. Many look at him but few see him, a dragon hidden among men." -Ko Hung

On a different, yet identical, note (and as a former Christian, although more by upbringing than by choice) I bring you this late breaking and very excellent link was Jesus A Taoist?

Now, I'm off to watch some dumb horror movie,

Flow Like Water...

The Tao of Increasing Strength

2006-04-04T07:56:00.000+10:00

Happy to report that I did rise at 5am and get to it with the meditation/Chi Gung and exercise (jogging, push ups, sit ups). And it felt great.

Just so as not to give the impression that I am (always) one of those freakishly disciplined people that most of us can only aspire to being like, I must point out that if you were to go over my past you would find many many more periods of my life where I was more inclined to self-medicate myself into a coma, and then stay asleep until late into the morning. Thankfully this is becoming less of a lasting pattern in my life, and indeed I am currently going through a very strong patch self-discipline-wise. I have every intention of remaining in this state.

I am actually working through the program suggested by Jost Sauer in his brilliant book ‘Higher and Higher’. I suggest you read it, especially if, like me, you have struggled (or still do) with substance abuse issues. It is a Chinese Medical/Philosophy take on the issue and is based on his own experiences as a drug addict, and subsequent recovery. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

During my morning’s Chi Gung meditation I enjoyed very vivid ‘Chi-Scenery’, that is I very clearly saw the movement and permeations of the primordial energy with my mind’s eye. This is because I have been off the booze, etc for over two weeks and practicing Chi Gung every day. Clarity – it is a sweet, sweet thing. Here's to the (very bearable and pleasant) Lightness of Being.

I did a ‘general guidance’ I Ching reading this morning and received 34 Da Zhuang – The Power of the Great, Increasing Strength, with a changing Hexagram of 14 Da You – Abundance. Sweet! Now I must go and get to work taking advantage of what is obviously a great day for me in terms of strong energy and plentiful opportunity.

Oh, and Australians, look out for the April edition of Living Now Magazine, as I have an article in it called 'The Science of Meditation'. The (paper) magazine is available in QLD, NSW, VIC and WA. I will most likely see to it that this article (in its newly edited form) is available online when the month is up.

Flow Like Water...