Jain Sutras

I saw a golden city ablaze with light in my vision. Two years later I was in Jaisalmer (the Golden City) in a Jain temple and the presence of the place cut through my judgmental mind.  I have a soft spot for the Jains. I'm reading the Jain Sutras now, here at Sacred Texts.

Where Did You Learn the Tao?

"Where did you learn this from?" asked Nanpo Tsek'uei. 

"I learned it from the Son of Ink," replied Nu Yu, 

"and the Son of Ink learned it from the Grandson of Learning, 

the Grandson of Learning from Understanding, 

and Understanding from Insight, 

Insight learned it from Practice, 

Practice from Folk Song, 

and Folk Song from Silence, 

Silence from the Void, 

and the Void learned it from the Seeming Beginning."

Chuang-Tzu

Photo by Tiffany Jones

But How is a Human to Live?

"Tao gives him his expression," said Chuangtse, "and God gives him his form. 

He should not permit likes and dislikes to disturb his internal economy. 

But now you are devoting your intelligence to externals, and wearing out your vital spirit. 

Lean against a tree and sing; or sit against a table and sleep! 

God has made you a shapely sight, yet your only thought is the hard and white."

Chuang-Tzu

"Ah," said Great Nebulous, "nourish your heart. 

Rest in inaction, and the world will be reformed of itself. 

Forget your body and spit forth intelligence. 

Ignore all differences and become one with the Infinite. 

Release your mind, and free your spirit. 

Be vacuous, be devoid of soul. 

Thus will things grow and prosper and return to their Root. 

Returning to their Root without their knowing it, 

the result will be a formless whole which will never be cut up. 

To know it is to cut it up. 

Ask not about its name, inquire not into its nature, 

and all things will flourish of themselves."

Photo: Tiffany Jones

Fasting of the Heart

Directions for Fasting of the Heart

"Concentrate your will. 

Hear not with your ears, but with your mind; not with your mind, but with your spirit. 

Let your hearing stop with the ears, and let your mind stop with its images. 

Let your spirit, however, be like a blank, passively responsive to externals. 

In such open receptivity only can Tao abide. 

And that open receptivity is the fasting of the heart."

Quote taken from Chuang.Tzu

Photo: Tiffany Jones

Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom

This is a lovely website, containing information about one woman's search for her take on spirituality. Take a peek. It has some great information.