tag > Mindful
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If you are quiet and pay attention - you'll notice something rather peculiar. This thing is far more strange than anything created by humans: The wildest conspiracy stories are tame in comparison. This thing is the reverberation of the song performed behind the veil of maya. This thing is truly nothing - and yet everything.
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Maybe
There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "May be," the farmer replied.
The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "May be," replied the old man.
The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "May be," answered the farmer.
The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "May be," said the farmer.
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Sun Bu'er (c. 1119–1182 C.E.)
One of the Taoist Seven Masters of Quanzhen in the Shandong province of China. She was a beautiful, intelligent, wealthy woman, married with three children. At the age of 51 she took up the study of the Dao and herself became a disciple of Wang Chongyang, serving as a Taoist priestess. She eventually left her home and traveled to the city of Luoyang where after twelve years of practice, at Fengxiangu cave, she attained the Dao and, it is said, became an immortal. Sun was a teacher with several disciples, founding the Purity and Tranquility School, and wrote many poems.
Poems by Sun Bu'er
"Tie up the tiger and return it to the true lair; Bridle the dragon and gradually increase the elixir. Nature should be as clear as water, Mind should be as still as a mountain. Turning the breath, gather it into the gold crucible; Stabilizing the spirit, guard the jade pass. If you can increase the grain of rice day by day, You will be rejuvenated."
- Sun Bu'er
"Cut brambles long enough, Sprout after sprout, And the lotus will bloom Of its own accord: Already waiting in the clearing, The single image of light. The day you see this, That day you will become it." - Sun Bu'er
