The Way of the Dragon embracing the stars.
Understanding what it means to move beyond or embrace our afflictions, we must first know how to define them. An affliction can be traced by one’s own path often from what we see as a weakness but is actually much more.
In astrology we can refer to affliction as something that has a connection to the stars and spirit, something quite different from only having a negative association which invites problems in a person’s life.
The affliction simply as someone or something seen as different from the norm, even seen as following our dreams, in sports, a certain career that assists in taking us there, even a passion for writing.
My earliest memories are of the ancient shaman who – as we all looked to the sky would point and say that it is said that a shooting star descending from the Heavens was not acting alone.
Describing something at first seen as indefinable on a path worth pursuing as what can be made to be definable by spiritual growth and understanding our own journey.
That we carry our own afflictions both good and bad as they ebb and flow through eternity as energy looking for and too vibrations passing through us as we practice staying in the moment just hoping to catch a glimpse…. and going there.
Perhaps even as spirit meant to act as a shooting star looking to rapid growth and the ultimate pursuit of our dreams. Maybe seen as rare and fleeting symbolizing uniqueness leaving a lasting impression that sets us apart. Here to encourage others to embrace their potential and find the greatness that resides in each of us.
Taoism and Lao Tzu
Afflictions acting as though they have a purpose that lies beyond reasoning to the horizon, the cosmos and universe. As even like this shooting star that is not acting alone but is boosted and guided by mentors, with “matter dispersing as its tail” and “spirit seeking only continuing growth and freedom”.
As though on a rocket coming in the opposite direction from the Heavens later to be found here on Earth. The shaman always knew of our cosmic comings and goings and told this story often that was meant for the ages. His or her only hope would be if we were listening… though appearing to be looking upwards to the dragons and stars… I was.
In Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching chapter/verse seventy-two, Lao Tzu tells us that knowing when we don’t know what is best to say so and that not saying what you don’t know is the ultimate flaw or weakness.
It’s like saying that when people no longer fear authority that a greater authority will appear. That it is important not to restrict where people live and that if they are not held back or repressed, they won’t protest and are easy to govern.
The ancients would always tell us that the stars purpose is to guide us and each other. That having an affliction of being guided by mentors who express positive energy is what leads our spirit to personal growth. It calls for a paradigm shift from traditional thinking. It’s when the sage knows himself well enough to know that what may appear to others as a flaw is not a flaw at all. In knowing this he picks this verses that. He picks what is right not what is necessarily followed by the crowd.
Today in popular culture we often downplay horoscopes and the importance of the I Ching, but they foretell the proper path when we release ideas that they are insignificant when they led those who understood that following the stars led to positive results. It would be like knowing quantum mechanics and physics even then.
For thousands of years the I Ching was finessed to mirror the vibrations coming from the stars that answered to us.
The greatest message they tell us is that we each have our own path to follow. While the end may be unknown the Way there is an individual journey, we must find and ultimately follow for ourselves.
What Walt Disney reminded us of when we were kids was… “Twinkle trinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky”. It was as though Disney was repeating the words of the shaman we heard from long ago. He was reminding us to call home for the proper directions, getting the right answers, and following them. We are here to have our rough edges and exteriors polished, as we are by innate design to be found shining like diamonds in the sky once again.
In Chapter/verse seventy-two Wang Pi tells us,
“In tranquility and peace is what we should dwell. Humble and empty is how we should live. But when we forsake tranquility to pursue desires and abandon authority, creatures are disturbed and people are distressed. When authority cannot restore order, and people and people cannot endure authority, the link between those above and those below is severed, and natural calamities occur.”
I think the definition of afflictions can be defined simply by what we become attached to in the present and can be seen as both good and bad. We become attached to what we are attracted to. Why both Lao Tzu and Confucius always stressed building on the virtue we came in with that is already present in all things found in nature, not only humans.
Verse 72 – Understanding one’s own affliction
What can it possibly mean to say we understand something when there can be no understanding as our attachments and afflictions keep coming forward for all to see?
As we spend all our time thinking we don’t understand, when what we need has been before us trying to get our attention that brings us to understanding.
How can we understand when understanding depends on things independent of each other coming together for their own sake? What can there be to understanding when the answers seem to lie beyond us?
Can we understand our true place in the universe once we know we are only here to come to know our spirit’s true affliction? Treating our affliction, or hardship, as a result our of lack of ability to see ourselves as who we ultimately are to become?
If we cannot see beyond our transitory ego and self, how can we come to know why we are here?
Or if as we say someone can awaken midstream to understand his or her place in the universe, as if suddenly seeing the light, can that understanding be understood?
Just as trying to understand the Tao through reasoning when there is no door or entrance that defines what remains indefinable. When often tried, the sage is seen as having an affliction. When in reality the sage is not afflicted, he simply remains above understanding so that hardship or difficulty cannot find him.
第72节 理解个人疾苦
如果我们对接二连三的悲伤和痛苦都不理解，又有什么可能说我们理解什么呢？
当我们需要的东西展示在我们面前，企图吸引我们的注意力，以达到相互理解，我们却整天想着不理解。
当目的各异，互不相关的事物同时出现时，
我们又如何理解呢？当我们无法寻找答案时，我们又能够理解什么呢？
一旦我们知道此行的目的是理解我们精神上的真正痛苦时，我们能够理解我们在宇宙的真正地位吗？
对因为没有能力知道我们最终将变成什么样的人而带来的痛苦进行治疗？
如果我们不能抛弃小小的自尊和自私，我们又如何明白我们为何在此呢？
或者，如果我们说，有人能够唤醒大众，了解他或她在宇宙的地位，这就如同突然间看见阳光，这样悟性能够被理解吗？
当门槛或进口不可划定时，试图通过推理来领悟道是徒劳的。屡次尝试之后圣人显得很痛苦。但实际上圣人没有痛苦。他只是不可知之，所以苦难或困难不能找到他。
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