Hey by the way, I’m doing everything here for free. You should go to my ShaolinInteractive.com website. And sign up for my Kung Fu classes. Yeah. That’s my advertisement.
Okay. This is– I’m reading from the Dao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Written 2,000 or some years ago. 2,500 years ago. 2,200. And I made my own version of it called– you can see back here over my shoulder: The Tao of Taoism – Using the Dao Te Ching to Improve Your Daily Life.
Here we go. I’m on page 26 and this is NUMBER 15. Now in this case. What we’re talking about, he’s got — I’m looking at it. It says, FOUR LEVELS OF INFLUENCE. And there’s four numbers here and four things.
Number 1: These are “Four Levels of Influence.” Condemnation of Conduct.
In other words, “condemn.” We’re telling someone they’re doing something bad. That’s how you can influence somebody. That’s one. You condemn their conduct.
Number 2: Fear of punishment or denied rewards.
Now he’s saying, “If this is bad–This is gonna happen.”
Number 3: Motivate by loyalty, honor, self-interest, money, rewards and flattery.
That’s a positive, but you’re bribing.
First one is you condemn them. You make them feel bad.
The second one is you actually make them fear something that makes you disliked.
Third one is to be bribed.
And the fourth one is to influence without those being influenced being aware of it.
So, can you just communicate with people and get them to kind of go along with you without effort. So in that way, you’re influencing them without them realizing you are influencing them. So through slogans, and emotions, or– There’s lots of ways you can do that.
I’m watching our President do this– It’s amazing watching politics 2020. I never realized how corrupt and evil and whatever it is–and can so easily be. It’s going to be interesting to see how in the future people can use politics to create good things for the purpose of good. Because we’re really seeing it used for the powers of corruption. Those wheels in power could be changed to where corruption isn’t making all the final decisions. I’m in an interesting world. So the future has some interesting possibilities. See what happens.
So anyway, FOUR LEVELS OF INFLUENCE.
So regarding those now under your influence or that you influence: students, children, your employees: How do you use condemnation of conduct to influence and control them?
So how do you condemn. Like, make a rule: “No spitting on the sidewalk.” You’ve condemned it. How do you condemn their conduct?
Number 2 or next: How do you use fear of punishment or denied reward: “Spit on the sidewalk is a $50 fine.” Okay answer that. Take it up a notch.
How do you use fear of punishment or denied reward?
How do motivate by loyalty, honor, money, rewards and flattery?
Hey! Those who don’t spit on the sidewalk can join my special club and have free pizza. [laughs]
How do use motivate by loyalty, honor, money, rewards or flattery to get people to do what you want?
And fourth: How do you influence without those being influenced being aware of it? So how do you influence people without them being aware of it?
That’s more subtle. Like by good example. Nicest one is set a good example and that influences people’s behavior.
I’ve caused a lot of trouble over the years by picking up trash. When I’d walk my kids to school, I just couldn’t ignore it. So me and my kids started picking up the trash. When we moved to Tujunga there was a lot of trash. So little by little cars started honking at me. As they went by. They’d see what we were doing. And then next thing I know the neighbors of course are talking about it. The whole street all the way up to the school was not one single piece of trash. [laughs] And so we kind of got a reputation. I started to see other people do it.
Similar thing happened at an apartment complex where I was living. Most of the people there– The landlord was getting subsidized by the government for bringing people from South America and Central America. That type for some reason. That’s what he told me. In fact he said he’d previously been getting subsidies for another race, but I won’t get into that. He was just picking any way he could make a profit. So anyway, he had all these immigrants in this part of the building I moved into and, boy: I learned a lot about knife fighting and women fighting I saw. I saw more violent face shredding than I’d ever seen in my life during that time I lived there at the apartments.
Anyway, it turns out that in Central America one of the ways you lower a woman in marriage and families. Really the only business for a woman down there. If you can scar a woman and scratch her face, then not only do you win that fight– but now within the local pool of marriageable women–you’ve now become the better choice than the woman who’s got a scarred face. So I saw that. That was weird. I could have gone my whole life without imagining that kind of thing.
But anyway.
Which of these four techniques do you use most?
So of those four things, which do you use the most? Everybody has a tendency to use one more than the other. So which one of those?
Which of the four techniques are you best at?
Which obviously means you’ve used it the most too. So of all those four techniques–which are you best at? Bribing. Giving honor. Humiliating. Or punishing? Which are you best at?
And punishing can just be denying something too. Just not giving that something. Or not giving them your love. That’s punishment.
How can you improve your–
Oh, Which of these four techniques SHOULD you use more?
Which of these four techniques should you use more?
Maybe your life has changed. So reconsider. You’re dealing with a different type of people. Maybe they’re not kids–they’re adults. So you have to change you have to change your mode of operation here.
How can you improve your ability to motivate others?
Yeah, reconsider. Reconsider which modes to use. And use the right one. I’m not saying what’s right or wrong. I’m just saying, know what you’re doing and make sure you’re using the right one.
— Which of these techniques work best on YOU? And why?
Now there’s a very good question. Are you better if someone threatens you? If they flatter you? Or whether they punish you. Or you’re bribed. Which do you work best under.
What is the basis of your self-discipline and motivation?
So everyone has some amount of self-discipline and motivation. Some people have very little. Bu push youut still, what is the basis of it. How come you have whatever you have? What is it? What are you self-motivated to do? What can you push yourself to do. And if you can push yourself to do something, beyond just wanting to eat or take a shower when you start to smell– How do you do it on a regular basis.
How do you do something that’s disciplined, regulated?
And what is the basis of that training?
How can you be motivated without any external rewards?
So, in other words: what does it take for YOU to be motivated to do something?
If I want you to do something for me–wash my car. [laughs] How could I get you to do it? Without bribing you? How could I get you to do it without bribing you? Might be pretty hard but-
How willingly do you sacrifice your spare time for money? Spare time for money.
So that’s time you don’t have to work. So you’re working and maybe you’ve got extra time. You’re not married and you don’t have kids. You could watch football. Or maybe you could actually take on a part-time job.
So, how willingly do your sacrifice your spare time for money? That’s specific.
Next. Last one: What is the least amount per hour you’ll work for and why? That’s an interesting question of course.
What’s the least amount you’ll work for, per hour, and why that particular amount.
Okay. Daily Daoist here. And that was NUMBER 15: “4 Levels of Influence“
How are you influenced?
So this is yuour relationship with your Tao. The Tao. Remember the Tao includes people with jobs and stuff too. It’s part of the Nature you live in. If it’s a little unnatural it’s still part of your Tao. Your Nature you live in. So all those things affect you .
So your relationship with your job, your money, your work…
Anyway, if you’re HERE, you must be interested in understanding yourself.
Hey. Buddha Zhen back. I’m enjoying being THE DAILY TAOIST. This is totally cool. I’m pumping out a whole bunch of these– Here’s my author copy of this book, TAO OF TAOISM – Using the Dao Te Ching to Improve Your Life. Written by Lao Tzu. I just took a bunch of translations of and said, “I don’t this guy’s got it… And I don’t think this guy’s got it…” Because I don’t translate Chinese. So I had to like take the translations, and what I knew of it, and from being part of the religion and the lifestyle for years and years. And try to see what makes sense. What was he really saying that I would say, “Harmonizes with the truth.” You know, the reality of using it in life.
I’ve been using Taoism since the eighties. Since… yeah… So if anybody could tell you what it is– [laughs] It should be somebody who’s been using it on a daily basis and teaching it to people. Inserting it in people and seeing how it affects them. Same with Buddhism. I called myself a “BUDDHIST SCIENTIST” for about twenty years. Because I considered myself, and all my students, and everything, were–I’m being facetious: I thought “lab rats” you know. But they’re– But they’re my test subjects in a way. They’re my children. And I’m constantly seeing the effects. I’m concerned. I don’t just throw stuff at them. “Hey, here’s some old wisdom.” SPLAT. “Here’s some more wisdom.” SPLAT. No, I like, look at it. Flavor it, and shape it. And say, “Okay. Can you understand that?” Then I come back, “How’s it working?” “How’d you like it?” “How’d it come out?” So anyway, I’ve kind of been able to see the effects of the Taoism and the Buddhism over the years. Confucianism too.
Actually no, the Confucianism– I wish. I didn’t start into that until about 2011. Sorry. Well I couldn’t tell you the affects of that. Because if I did I could’ve saved all kinds of marriages and businesses because that’s what that’s for. Marriages, businesses and politics. That’s what Confucius is for. Teaching. Oh that’s what I heard. I thought somebody was at my front door. Light’s falling down. And uh– I hope it’s going to stay there.
“Is that going to stay there Bear?” If that thing goes it’s gonna really pop. It’s a 150W bulb. Let me go and move it real quick.
“Bear. Why did that move?” It wants to keep moving. Alright.
Okay. So I’m back. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll edit that out. As much as I’m an iPhoneographer. I’m getting all the software in my phone and everything–I don’t know how to use it. I don’t know what I’m doing yet. But I’m figuring it out. You can actually go to my other channel: Richard Del Connor at YouTube: You can see music videos and things that I’m making. So I’m learning how to use a gimbal. I’m learning how to use my iPhone. I’m learning how to use LumaFusion. I’m shooting in Filmic Pro. And then I’m learning how to actually then– well, just getting it off my phone and then getting it onto a hard drive. And then backing it up is a lot of work. I’m just figuring this out. So anyway.
Here we go. The Daily Taoist.
And we’re on NUMBER 14. What’d I do? I took two minutes and forty-two seconds of your time just getting started here? Sorry about that.
Oh! By the way. Never say you’re sorry unless you’re gonna do it again.
That’s one my slogans. And here I am–an anti-slogan person. But that’s actually something that I want everybody to realize. Look! It’s 100% true.
Everybody I tell people they always come back and go, “Yeah, you’re right about that.”
Never say you’re “sorry” unless you’re gonna do it again.
And if anybody ever says they’re “sorry” you can expect them to do it again.
So don’t say you’re “sorry.”
You can say you won’t do it again though. That’s different.
Here we go. NUMBER 14.
Watch it. Check– Watch yourself. When you say you’re sorry for something. It’ll be something you’ve done before. You’ll catch yourself. I said, “I’m sorry,” for that. And I did it to that guy. You know he’s stubbing his toe or–whatever it is. But yeah. Watch.
So don’t say you’re “sorry” and you’ll stop making mistakes.
The Daily Taoist here. Confusing you. [laughs] The truth is cool.
NUMBER 14. This is written by Lao Tzu supposed– well, originally. And then translated by other people and then me–synthesized into this book to make it more useful. But Lao Tzu’s book, Dao Te Ching is being presented to you in my Tao of Taoism by me, Buddha Zhen. I’m actually Richard Del Connor. If you want to look at my license.
Here we go, NUMBER 14: Nature (and this is with a capital ‘N’ despite it being at the first–start of the paragraph). Nature cannot be measured or controlled. Yet, the operations of Nature (with a capital ‘N’) can be understood.
I’m using ‘Nature’ for ‘The Tao.’ Because there’s different versions. You could just call it, “The Tao.” I’m going to call “Nature” and “Tao” are the same thing. Okay?
Understanding the forces in motion creates an awareness of Nature. (The Tao).
This awareness comes from an inner harmony of each person that mirrors the outer workings of Nature.
Oops. Let’s read it. I’ve got to read it again.
So only by living naturally can one understand or be aware of Nature.
This is where people get all messed up. This is one of the ones that confuses people. They think they all the sudden have to become a plant to understand what a plant is. And you gotta act like a monkey to be a– to understand what a monkey is.
I’m not saying that but– He’s– Let’s just break it down real fast.
I really want to take the mumbo jumbo and the mystical godliness out of this. Cuz this is not a godly thing. Remember, this is science. This is science. It’s not God.
Here we go: Nature cannot be measured or controlled.
The Earth, its rotation, the seasons, the up and down things… The clouds. The moving. Whatever. Or gravity– Cannot be measure or controlled. That’s kind of what it’s saying. Everything. The reality– Okay? Nature… I’ve got that.
It’s beyond our control. We’re popped in here. Splat. We exist in it. I was comparing it to a big bowl of soup we’re in… we’re in the middle of you know. Moving around in this bowl of soup. We’re here for a little while and then we’re gone. The soup’s still here. Still going on. But we just come and go… within the soup. (Nature.)
Okay. So: Yet the = operations of Nature can be understood. So in other words they can’t really be measured or controlled because they change all the time. Even measuring what the temperature is on a certain day is going to be different that the next day. You can measure it, but you can’t really predict that it’s going to be the same. It’s always in flux, or– So anyway, that’s what we’re trying to say.
But you can understand it. You can understand it’s colder in the winter. You may not know exactly what temperature it is. You can’t measure it and predict in the next year in the same day it’s going to be the same temperature. And the same clouds… But you can understand in a broader sense. That’s what he’s trying to say.
Yet the operations of Nature– (The seasons and such. The day versus night.) –Can be understood.
Okay. So there’s our first two. The simple pragmatic science. Don’t get caught up in mystical mumbo jumbo again.
I don’t mind mystical mumbo jumbo. This isn’t the place for it. It’s not intended.
Ready?
Understanding the forces in motion creates an awareness of Nature.
Forces in motion: the seasons, the winds… The wind that comes before the storm. The kind of clouds that come to bring rain. The clouds that come that don’t bring rain. Understanding all these forces in motion. If you understand–you have an awareness of Nature. See? So you can start to understand–to recognize things. An awareness of Nature.
That’s good. So we’ve got the first three sentences. To be a scientist you’ve just gotta study things. Go take a meteorology class. One of my regrets: I never got one.
Here we go.
This awareness comes from an inner harmony of each person that mirrors the outer workings of Nature.
Aaaaaahhh. This is where it gets more complicated. And this is where people– If you’re really, like President Trump. He’s very out of harmony with Nature. I mean anybody I think–even his fans and supporters agree with that. This guy’s totally out of balance. [laughs] He’s miserable. He’s unhappy. He looks unhappy. He gives off negative energy. Hes an ugly creature. Anyway. Poor guy. You know, he’s just all messed up. His thinking’s wrong. He’s never gonna be happy because he’s working in a system that can never exist. His view of reality doesn’t exist. So he’s just all day long fighting to try to trick everybody to what reality is. And he’s not in any reality at all. He’s just living in this made up world in his brain that can never exist. Because even if it does it’s a crime and he’s gonna get in trouble. He’s gotta– Even if it exists he’s gotta get the money and run. [laughs] He never wants to be anywhere where he’s gonna be stuck. That’s his dilemma. He can never hold still. And if he does hold still he’s gonna get handcuffed. So he’s gotta keep moving. So that’s out of harmony with Nature.
Sorry to use him as a radical example. He just came to mind first. But he doesn’t understand the forces of Nature. He has no concern about Nature. He lives in his big city and…
Here we go.
Okay. So why’d I even point him out? Because his lack of awareness– he’s the opposite of what the next sentence is.
This awareness comes from an inner harmony.
Now, his inner harmony–
Of each person that mirrors the outer workings of Nature.
He does not mirror the outer workings of Nature. That’s why he makes people so unhappy. Nobody would want him for their babysitter. Nobody’d want him for their mother. He does not mirror Nature. If he does he mirrors the kind of Nature you shouldn’t be around like a crocodile. He’s just gonna eat you and drag you underwater. Doesn’t care. So anyway, maybe he does kind of mirror a part of Nature. Wow. Actually. Maybe Lao Tzu’s more right than I think. He’s saying even when you’r wrong–
This awareness–
Well he’s trying to talk in the positive. He’s saying that if you have an understanding that comes from your inner understanding which is in balance. Okay.
So what happens when you have an inner harmony that’s not in balance. That means you can never understand Nature. Or appreciate Nature. Never appreciate the other people in Nature. Keeps you completely separate from everyone. Because you have no balance that anyone should actually be attracted to. Which is the other problem. The people that are attracted to that imbalance are the people with the same imbalance. Kind of creates a– Yeah.
Okay. Now. So, last sentence: Only by living naturally. In other words, ‘naturally’ means in harmony with Nature. Not opposed to it. But comfortably living in harmony with it. Where there’s peace, accord and contentment… Can you understand or be aware of Nature.
See. That’s why he can’t be aware of it. He doesn’t have inner harmony. Doesn’t have that balance. He can’t sense it. He can’t feel it. It’s beyond him.
So I’m using him as an example. Hopefully he doesn’t represent you. Um, my family is…There’s all kinds of people like this. Let’s put it that way… that are not in balance with Nature.
And the ones that are in balance with Nature. That’s a step forward. But that doesn’t make you a complete person. That just means that you– at least physically can be a successful animal. So that’s all this is doing… is helping you to be a better animal…
Okay? That was NUMBER 14. What? I spent eleven minutes just explaining it? [laughs] I got carried away. That’s why I’m doing this. So I can get a lot of this out of my system. When I do the audiobook version of this I hope I won’t talk so much. The book’s gonna be too long for anyone to read or listen to.
Here we go.
But that’s why I like this as The Daily Taoist though. I was thinking of trying to keep this at five or six minutes. I’m already at eleven, thirty-three.
Let me just blast down. Let’s see how far we get. Maybe it’s gonna be a 20-minute thing today.
Ready? You on board? Because I’m gonna need a few minutes to unpack all this. There’s a bunch of questions here.
Explain your–
In fact, I’ll go fast. Because these are so vague and I’m not gonna elaborate on them. If I do it’ll take a long time. So let’s just see how fast I can go. It’s twelve minutes now. See how fast I can go.
Explain your understanding of Nature.
Explain your understanding of Nature.
Right now. I’ve changed. I was a Native American for some years. Following those traditions. I was a pipe carrier. Doing smudge… Anyway.
How do the forces of Nature influence your life?
They used to influence mine alot.
And again. I’m in a different situation now.
You. How do the forces of Nature influence your life?
Okay? Explain your inner harmony?
Remember that inner harmony we were talking. Here it says, “The awareness comes from an inner harmony of each person that mirrors the outer workings of Nature.”
So let’s look at your inner harmony and see how thatnat’s somehow a mirror of Nature.
So in other words if you live in a very cold igloo then you’re gonna mirror– your harmony of Nature is gonna be a little different than some guy one who lives next to the beach. So you’ll have a different inner harmony maybe. I don’t know. That would be intersting to find out. I’d like to talk to both you guys: Igloo and the guy on the beach. Compare your perspectives of reality.
Here we go.
Oh. How does your inner harmony mirror the forces of Nature?
See? Once agin. The igloo versus the beach. How are you mirroring Nature?
Once again: How does your inner harmony mirror the forces of Nature?
Explain how your life is natural.
So somebody in Arizona might have a different natural life than somebody in Washington state.
Explain how your life is natural.
Explain why your life is natural.
You know obviously like some people we know in presidential positions you can be very unnatural. So explain why you decided to make your life natural. How it came to be natural. Maybe somebody just trained you that way.
Explain how your life is mechanical or unnatural.
Ooh. Mechanical and unnatural. So you’re a machine. You’re doing something that’s contrary to Nature. But it’s your job. Maybe youre chopping down trees. That would be kind of unnatural.
Okay… What do you do out of obligation or necessity rather than by desire.
That’s probably 50% of the people on the planet there.
They just have a job. There just happy to get the paycheck. They don’t have any interst in that business or product line.
So what do you do out of obligation or necessity rather than by desire.
Own up to it. If you can’t be honest with yourself–You’ll never be smart.
Here we go: What do you do to satisfy others that does not satisfy you?
Ooh. That’s a good question. I’m quite the giver. But– Anyway.
One more time: What do you do to satisfy others that does not satisfy you?
What expectations of others are you currently satisfying?
Hey. Each of us is going to have a very different answer to that one.
What expectations of others are you currently satisfying?
How much time do you spend each day doing nothing?
Once again: How much time do you spend each day doing nothing?
If you had all the money you could need or spend–what would you do with your time?
If you had all the money you could need or spend–what would you do with your time?
Why aren’t you doing these things now anyway?
When I was homeless that was a question I was asking all the time.
Sorry to interject. See! I said I’m sorry. I’m gonna do it again. [laughs]
Why arent you doing these things now anyway?
Do you believe that to not work or to not have a job is wrong?
Do you beleive that to not work or to not have a job is wrong?
Do you believe that you should have children and a family?
Do you believe that you should have a children– have a children–a bunch– anyway. Have children and a family?
How many kids do you intend to have? And why?
How many kids do you intend to have? And why?
When you don’t have to go to work– there’s actually a typo here. Sheesh. Second one I’ve found. What time do you wake up and go to bed?
When you don’t have time to go to work–what time do you wake up and go to bed?
Interesting question.
How is this different than when you are working?
Okay. So when you don’t have a job. That’s why I didn’t– That’s why that was one of things I did.
So when you don’t have job–what time do you wake up and go to bed. Okay. So that changes your schedule. You don’t have to get up at any time.
How is this different than when you’re working?
So does it change? When you’re working in your normal occupation.
Welcome back to another episode of The Daily Taoist. Yeah. I like that. I just put that name on here. I decided, “Hey. These are so much fun… Maybe I should make a show out of this. The Daily Taoist.
Anyway, let’s go. Let’s continue on.
NUMBER 13 by Lao Tzu. But we’re working from my book. There’s a better picture of the cover back there. My book, The Tao of Taoism – Using the Dao Te Ching to Improve Your Life. Otherwise, why use it all? Seriously. [laughs]
Okay. Here we go. I’m on page 24 and this is #13b of what Lao Tzu wrote. Now there’s 80 paragraphs. I’ve got 40 in this book. Okay, #13b is what I’m numbering this one.
Self-esteem is the appreciation of one’s own subconscious identity. This self-love creates a pride that is dependent upon the opinion of others.
Hmmm. Okay. Let’s read that again. Maybe break it down a little bit.
Self-esteem— (Confidence. What you think of yourself. Self-esteem is supposed to be a positive thing. Esteem.) —Is the appreciation of one’s own subconscious identity.
Ah. Subconscious. Most of the self-esteem we think of is things we consciously do in our life. But according to Lao Tzu, if I’m getting this right, he’s saying that your real self-esteem is what your subconscious really–appreciates. Okay. So. It’s not the way you act as an actor. An actor might enjoy playing murderers. Okay? And everybody knows this person as a murderer. That’s all they ever see is this guy shooting guns and killing people all the time. So is his self esteem to be appreciated as a murderer? He’s a great murderer. He murders people so good on camera. He looks so cool doing it. And everybody enjoys watching you kill people. So he’s a professional murderer? Well, is his self-esteem supposed to be based on that? His ability to murder? Okay?
Or is it still his own subconscious identity that hopefully is not a murderer. It’s his conscious identity that’s a murderer. He’s consciously out there killing people and getting paid for it. But his subconscious identity may have nothing to do with that at all. It may just be that he wants to be an actor. He wants to be loved and appreciated. Or he wants to be able to pull off some sort of impersonation. It impresses people and he feels proud of that.
So subconsciously he may have a totally different goal than going out there and being the best murderer on the planet–in the movies. [laughs] Just an example.
Here we go. Continuing.
The second sentence: This self-love. (Okay. Which in this case we’ll say is the love of being an actor. You know, being able to flexible at changing your identity to make other people happy. Kind of like wearing costumes.) This self-love creates a pride. (So you practice at it. You get good at it. You must’ve done it a whole bunch of times successfully. So now you can be proud of yourself. You have pride.) That is not dependent upon the opinion of others.
Ahhhh. I didn’t get that ‘NOT’ the last time quite as clearly. Okay. The idea here is you know that you’ve done a good job. In fact, maybe a whole bunch of other people know you did a good job. But right now, you’re in a movie and you do really crappy. And everybody thinks you’re a crappy actor. But you know you’re a good actor because you’ve done good before. You’re just maybe in a role you can’t fathom. You can’t understand this person. You can’t pull it off.
So you’re not a bad actor. You’re just in the wrong place. And so your self-esteem should pull you through that. Otherwise, if you didn’t believe in yourself–you’d be heartbroken and you’d give up acting and that’d be foolish because you’ve already proven you’re a great actor. You just made a mistake. Got the wrong role perhaps.
Okay? So anyway. I’ll read the whole thing again. And then we’ll blast down the page and see how towork it into our life.
Self-esteem is the appreciation of one’s own subconscious identity. This self-love creates a pride that is NOT dependent upon the opinion of others.
I like that.
Okay. NUMBER ONE: Are you angered by insults?
Okay. So I’ll read each question twice. And you read them. I’m not going to expand on this.
Okay. Here we go. Are you angered by insults?
Do you ever want revenge?
Do you ever want revenge?
What are kinds of revenge that you consider?
If you said you’ve never thought of being vengeful–you’re lying. [laughs] Even me. Nicest person on the planet. It’s not that the thoughts don’t go through my head. I just never get to where I’d think I’d ever even consider them being realistic. But the thoughts– You’ve got to acknoledge the thought going through your head.
Um. What are the kinds of revenge that you consider?
You know, if I was to vengeful, you know… My revenge is like saying, “Hey, I’m not gonna put you in my movie. [laughs] Ooops. I said it. See, but that’d be like– that would be to be– That would be vengeful.
I’d probably wouldn’t want to– Hopefully, without knowing they were unappreciative of me. Hopefully their talent wouldn’t have garnered them having that role anyway. Because I would not want to actually deny anyone a worthy thing just because of my personal attitude. So I do try to keep that in check. My prejudice. My attitude.
Even if I don’t like someone– Some of those people turned out be really good friends. Oh God. During the homeless life I avoided people for years. And then after a couple of years you start running into this person– I have a conversation. Aaaah. A couple of people turned out to be decent friends. I mean I got along with them real fine. It’s like, yeah. It’s not that I regretted avoiding them. But it didn’t turn out to be as bad as I thought.
Okay. Anyway.
What are your identity weaknesses? Weight problems? Big Nose?
Seriously. I’ve got problems. Me, I’ve got a crooked nose. I got beat up when I was a teenager. Beat up really bad and they didn’t straighten my nose when they broke it. I’ll always have a crooked nose. For what that’s worth. [laughs] But I just accept it. In fact, sometimes when I’m shooting a bunch of videos I’ll actually take a minute and look at the lighting. And say, “Yeah–which angle do I look best at?” Cuz they’re totally different. Cuz it’s like bent this way. So maybe this way it looks smaller. And over here it looks bigger. Because of the way it’s bent. So anyway.
If I was a professional actor I’d have that memorized and probably always know how to always cheat the camera. But I’ll always still look. But I don’t think of it actually. But close–almost. Am I a professional actor?
What do you hide from people?
What do you hide from people?
What do you want to be that you doubt you will be?
Is that doubt based on your realistic understanding of yourself? Or is it based on the fact that other people couldn’t do it, or they doubted you. Or they couldn’t envision it and they just made you doubt it. Even though it could be real easy for you.
What do you want to be that you doubt you will be?
So put them all into that category and you can separate them out later.
When you lose or make a serious mistake do you scold yourself?
I’m gonna read that once again and then I’ve got to interject.
When you lose or make a serious mistake do you scold yourself?
Okay. I’ve got to give credit to somebody else. Dan Millman. I think that’s his name. Shout out! Great guy. Great author. Great books. I don’t know much about him personally but I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen and read. I’ve given away his books as presents and a couple of my students have been impressed by him and given books to my kids that were written by him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he wrote that book.” You know. Anyway. Great guy. Dan Millman
But he’s the one who hammered this into me. It was one of his first–the WARRIOR ATHLETE maybe. That book. I got that when I was at UCLA. And he said something. He was an Olympic trainer. And he said something that’s always stuck with me. “Thank you Dan.”
He said– And I kind of already knew this. But it resonated and I want to give him credit for it. He said that when he was training people, if they got angry or you know mad at themselves for making a mistake– he would always say, “Don’t do that. Don’t do that.” And his philosophy was, and I agree with him 100%. I’ve been a physical trainer ever since. I just started teaching Kung Fu about that same time. So for what? 35 years I’ve been proving him right.
And he said that, “When you make a mistake and then you punish yourself–you’ve balanced the field.” You’ve evened everything out. Now nothing’s going to change. You’ll make the same mistake. You’ll punish yourself again. It’ll just be the same. That’s your balance.
He said, “Create an imbalance.” He said, “Make a mistake–Ah–But don’t punish yourself.” Now you’ve gotta figure out to fix it.
Okay. Next. Do you ever say–(and pardon me for cussing)–“Damn it.” Okay? I never say that. [laughs] I had to apologize before I even said it. But here we go again.
Do you ever say, “Dammit.”
I’m going to interject something. This is a little whacky. This is going a little far for most people but, I’m gonna throw it out there anyway. I think that when you use that– I take it very literally. I’m kind of like that. I’m not like that guy in –that Avengers movie where one of the heroes he’s all tattooed with red tattoos. And he takes everything really literally. They don’t give him good lines unfortunately. The people who write for him don’t really grasp his character completely. I do. I kind of like him. Anyway, when you say, “Damn it,” you’re damning it. You are sending it to Hell. You are saying, “You are damned to Hell.” And that’s what you’re saying every time you say, “Damn it.” You’re sending that thing to Hell–as if you had the power. But still, that means you have the will, the desire… do whatever it takes. “I’ll bribe someone… I’ll talk to the Devil… I’ll…” You’re doing evil. That’s very evil to damn something. To make it go to Hell. Not your job.
So sorry. [laughs] I’m totally against that expression.
Here we go. Next, last one for this page.
Do you ever call yourself names or say, “I’m so stupid.” Or, “I’m a klutz.” Or, “I’m clumsy…” Any of those negatives? Do you ever say things like that?
Go back to Dan Millman. Dan Millman’s going to be your guide on that one. Let him tell you what to do on that.
One more time: Do you ever call yourself names? Like say you’re stupid or any negative names.
Obviously, I think you can tell where I’m going. [laughs]
Alright. When I started that last one I said I’d do these two. Let’s finish this one. I don’t know if I’ll do any more today. If the background changes, that means it’s another day. Let’s see. Actually, this thing doesn’t move behind me.
NUMBER 11: The incorporation of opposites creates usable efforts. Walls have doors. Containers are hollow. And success requires expense.
This is cool. That yin and yang. Giving and taking. And things flowing and spinning.
Here we go.
Again. NUMBER 11: of the Tao Te Ching.
The incorporation of opposites.
Incorporating. That means utilizing them.
Creates usable efforts.
Magnetism. Chi.
Walls have doors. Containers are hollow.
Ying and yang again.
And success requires expense.
Always at least in time and effort. Which has a value in money.
Okay. So here we go. Ahhhhh. I’m probably not gonna talk much. There’s too much to talk about. And like I said, I’d have to hit this with different angles depending on which business of mine we’re talking about.
Here we go.
What opposites within you are utilized for your efficiency?
What opposites within you are utilized for your efficiency?
What opposites of others are utilized for your work?
What opposites of others are utilized for your work?
I don’t know if you got that. What opposites of others. Other people have opposites too, remember. They have a yin and a yang. Happy and a sad.
And so sometimes if you can play one, offer a carrot to make the other one–you can get them of course to move. With a carrot. Anyway.
What persons that are opposite of you do you harmonize with?
That are opposite of you. Like, way different, but you harmonize with them. And why? I’m not saying you’re going to get the right answer but give it a try.
How are opposites used in your career?
How are opposites used in your career?
I’m thinking of a bunch of answers. I don’t know if I want to misguide you. You might be inspired to come up with something interesting. So, I’ll try to say as little as possible.
How do you treat persons that you don’t like?
How do you treat persons that you don’t like?
How do you control those aspects of yourself that slow you down?
How do you control those aspects of yourself that slow you down?
How do you utilize the night as opposed to the daytime?
How do you use the night time as opposed to the daytime?
How do you utilize yin yang energies in your Tai Chi Chuan practice?
That’s kind of cool. That’s a lot of fun.
How do you utilize yin yang energies in your Tai Chi Chuan practice?
Well, you wouldn’t know that but a lot of it’s yin and yang. As I was explaining in yesterday’s class… it was today’s class. It was this morning. I was explaining how this is the only Kung Fu I know that you can use with breathing. We do the whole thing, “Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.” See. So they’re kind of yin and yang see. “Inhale–” That’s a yin and then yang. Boom. Exhale you know.
These are positive / negatives in the Tai Chi form.
Here we go.
How can opposites be more useful in your career?
How can opposites be more useful in your career?
How can opposites be more useful in your homelife?
These are cool questions.
How can opposites be more useful in your homelife?
They could also be turning light switches on and off couldn’t they?
How can opposites be more useful in your lovelife?
How can opposites be more useful in your lovelife?
How can your emotions be better controlled by reversing them?
That’s not a good one for me. [laughs] Well, actually it shouldn’t make that much difference. I try to keep my polarity at zero. So you reverse them it doesn’t make that big a difference. Sorry. I wasn’t supposed to talk was I?
Here we go. So… The question was, How can your emotions be better controlled by reversing them?
How easily can you change your emotions?
How easily can you change your emotions?
How quickly can you stop being mad?
How quickly can you stop being mad?
How quickly can you stop being sad?
I will say something there.
Back in the eighties, because I’ve been thinking about this the last few days because I lost my best friend on Friday. Really sad. I shed some tears. But I didn’t sob. Kind of realizing today, my mourning period’s still not really over…. Lost a good, good friend. But anyway, but there still is something. I’m sensitized. The um… When I was in the eighties I had a lot of emotional breakups. I remember, but anyway, I can’t tell a lot of the details. I had a lot of girlfriends. Lots of breakups. Lots of emotions. Lots of relationships. Lots of falling in love. Lots of falling out of love. And somewhere in that mix: And I can’t– I have no specific memories– I remember being sad a couple times. In my life. Actually maybe I went back even farther when I was a teenager, But anyway, I can remember at some point, a couple points–maybe two, three at the most: when I was sobbing so much that i could tell the crying was making the crying more powerful. The sadder I got… the sadder I got.
It was like wohhh… In fact I remember in the eighties. in the mid eighties I developed a hypothesis when i was in UCLA. It had something to do with ions in the universe. It’s like a ‘like’ attracts ‘like.’ In other words, if you get that negative energy going–they’re just there, and they cling to you. And make you feel like you’re weighted down. And they’re sticking to you. Other people might say they were ghosts and spirits or whatever. But the point is that it attracts more. It doesn’t make you feel better. In other words, you feel like you want to get that sadness out of you–but you start to realize, “Hey. It’s starting to generate itself and I can’t control it. What the heck’s going on here?” You don’t want to do it. It’s pointless to do something that’s self-destructive. And that’s what it is. It’s like a feedback loop.
Sorry. Told you I wasn’t gonna but I thought that was kind of interesting because I was noticing that: during all this sadness that I have felt, I didn’t get close to that desperate loss. I mean close. But I did get to that point where I could’ve gone further at least once. I got really sad. It hit me. I just let it hit me. I thought, “okay, I’m fortunately alone” [laughs] So I allowed myself to be sad for a minute, and let it go. That was it. The worst one. The worst one. I let it happen. But I didn’t just dwell on it go, “Nyeh, nyeh, nyeh.” I’d just kind of agree with it. Just let it happen. It was kind of like a burp. I didn’t want to keep like burping. I just let it out.
Here we go. I wasn’t gonna talk. Remember?
How easily can you change your emotions?
How quickly can you stop being sad?
That was the question: How quickly can you stop being sad?
How much time of each day are you having– and in capital letters: FUN? F-U-N. Fun.
How much time of each day are you having fun?
Look at the smile on my face. I’m having fun right now. Yep. This is fun to me.
Last question: What inhibits your having fun?
For me it’s been a house. Not having an iphone. Not having a computer. Not having a place for Bear.
That’s what’s been inhibiting me. I’m having fun now.
I always have fun, no matter what. If I could have more money I could even have more fun. Expand our fun-ness. Buy him some more food.
Alright. How far will I go? I don’t know. I’m still enjoying myself. I think that’s a good sign. So– Let’s do– Let’s do two more.
We’re on NUMBER 10 now. (of the Tao Teh Ching)
Natural leadership is by example and balanced patterns. Resisting natural progress creates conflicts which are revealed as internal or external disturbances. More is accomplished by directing natural patterns than by forcefully changing the course of a river.
Unpacking this is a lot of work. Hearing me and not reading it probably makes it a lot harder. Let me just read the whole thing again.
Natural leadership is by example and balanced patterns. Let’s read that one line again.
Natural leadership is by example and balanced patterns. Okay? That makes sense. A parent animal.
Resisting natural progress— What the heck’s this? Like learning to walk maybe?
Resisting natural progress creates conflicts which are revealed as internal or external disturbances.
Ugh. If you were trying not to walk then it would seem like you had mental problems on the inside or whether there was an external problem like your legs are broken. So that’s resisting natural progress. You’ve got to look for what’s wrong. Maybe there isn’t anything wrong. Interesting.
More is accomplished by directing natural patterns.
Directing. Not creating. Directing natural patterns–that you’re kind of urging somewhere.
Than by forcefully changing the course of a river.
Yeah, that’s not urging. Gotta build a dam.
So yes. Okay. So more is accomplished by just gentle, I guess. Gentle pushes than– Same with teaching people characters. And that’s so true of– I was trying to help somebody the other day who’s got a very bad mental problem. He– I teach the mind like in psychology– Let’s get away from the soul thing entirely
I see that in your mind we have a– This goes back to San Diego State University days. I believe that the mind has a– it’s kind of like the subconscious and the conscious. I think we can all agree on that. But I believe there are actually two characters or IDs or egos there. The subconscious is very childlike, and trusting, and non-judgmental. It just believes everything. And then the conscious mind is scrutinizing and can be everything from trusting to not trusting. But it still makes the decisions like a soldier or a policeman. So it’s protecting the subconscious too.
So when a person watches horror movies, the conscious mind has decided, “Oh okay. I’ll get out of the way and let you watch this because it makes you excited… or gives you some emotion. Just creates chemical hormones you know. Transmit when you have fear. So unfortunately that’s not a wise decision for this guy to let the kid watch the horror movies and get scared. Feel those emotions and get those adrenaline rushes.
So anyway, I believe the mind has two different points. That was one of my examples. But anyway.
This person has a real problem with that because the little guy runs the ship. And the conscious person has almost no say in anything. It’s very, it’s really amazing. It’s– That’s why some people think this person is maybe retarded because it’s the kid mind that talks. And the kid mind talks like a little kid and says really five-year old type of things. So some people think this guy must be retarded. But he’s not. The conscious mind is very smart. Very smart. He can do– But for some reason he shut down to let this little kid take over. And his… overall life– we see that from backing up and looking at it: and we see that he’s totally like– his parents just like gave up trying to teach him. And he became a total drug addict and has no… ability to control– control himself.
So the little issue in the brain became the bigger issue in life. And you’ve got somebody whose– Yeah. So, anyway, so you can see how some people are homeless. But he really doesn’t have mental problems. He just– Well he does have a very bad mental problem, but he actually could fix it if he’d just learn how to govern himself. If he could be more self-governing: he’d be a decent person. But he’s given up and let the little kid take over.
Wow. Did I get off course there.
So here we go. I’m gonna read this thing again and then I’m gonna blast down the page and I’m not going to answer any of these questions. Because these would actually– It would depend on what business I’m talking about. How I would answer these questions.
Okay. NUMBER 10: of my book. Which is called Tao of Taoism based on Lao Tzu, the original author, a couple hundred years before Christ, writing his book the Tao Te Ching or Book of Changes. Or Book of All Changes. Or the book of How Everything is Always Changing.
Here we go: NUMBER 10: Natural Leadership is by example and balanced patterns.
That’s the natural kind.
Resisting natural progress creates conflicts which are revealed as internal or external disturbances.
So that’s that guy.
More is accomplished by directing natural patterns than by forcefully changing the course of a river.
And unfortunately the little kid screaming seemed like the river. But it wasn’t.
Okay. Here we go.
Do you enjoy leadership responsibilities?
Do you enjoy leadership responsibilities?
Remember, these are your answers. Don’t answer what you think you’re supposed to answer. Forget that. Don’t forget: this is not about the right answer. Nobody else is even supposed to see this. Okay? Unless you want to share it–which is fine. But this is only for you. So you can look at you.
Here we go: Do you enjoy leadership responsibilities?
What are your basic rules when being a leader?
If you’re a bad leader, you may have really bad rules. Fact is, if you are, you’re going to make rules. The bad leaders make the most rules.
Here we go: What are your basic rules when being a leader?
How do you enforce your rules?
How do you enforce your rules?
What examples do you set for others to follow?
What example do you set for others to follow
When do people tend NOT to follow you or disagree with you?
When do people tend not to follow your or disagree with you?
What are your balanced patterns that aid leading others?
That’s a little more interesting.
What are your balanced patterns– (your balanced patterns) that aid in leading other?
What problems do you consistently find in others?
What problems do you consistently find in others?
How do you influence other people to follow?
How do you influence other people to follow?
How do you reward those who do follow you?
How do you reward those who do follow you?
When people or jobs create difficulty or tension for you– How do you handle stress?
When people or jobs create difficulties, or tension– How do you handle the stress?
How patient are you with those who take advantage of you? Or don’t appreciate you?
How patient are you with those who take advantage of you? Or don’t appreciate you?
Then you can talk about how impatient you are. You get the topic.
Do you enjoy caring for other persons?
I’m not saying ‘will you.’ Remember, think of the truth. Answer truthfully. That’s the most important thing. If you lie to yourself– Gosh. How can you ever get smart?
Do you enjoy caring for other persons?
Do you inquire as to other people’s problems and try to help on a daily basis?
Do you inquire as to other people’s problems and try to help them on a daily basis?
How do you help people?
How do you help people?
Do you mind your own business and stay out of other people’s affairs?
Do you mind your own business and stay out of other people’s affairs?
Do you prefer to stay out of your affairs and private matters?
People are like “AAAAHHHH.” I don’t like my private affairs. I read that wrong.
Do you prefer OTHER people stay out of your private affairs?
Do you have privacy issues? What are they?
Are you usually reluctant to discuss your personal problems? And why?
Are you usually reluctant to discuss your personal problems? And why?
That’s a big answer. You might not get it. You might be, “Oh. My dad was that way.” Maybe actually you can go farther back than that.
Do you believe your privacy is very important and why?
There you go. That’s the last question here, other than: My Shifu’s suggestions. Which I can’t give you.
So anyway, Do you believe your privacy is very important and why?
This is an interesting concept. I wonder if I could use this as a counseling book. I’ve never thought of making money off it that way.
I’d give it to my students and talk to them about it for free.
But what if I did use this on the internet. People somehow respond to these pages. Charge something. I can’t work for free forever.
I’ve been working for fee for thirty years.
Okay. Oh. I’ve got to stop. Alright, eleven minutes?
Sorry. I may have started that last off by getting too involved in explaining how I was a hippie. [laughs] I don’t know if I could get in trouble for what I said, which I didn’t think was– Anyway.
NUMBER 9: Going to extremes is careless and unbalanced.
Wow. That’s interesting. Especially considering what I said. When I started that last one– Too bad I stopped.
Let me read the whole thing. Okay? Because I’m not going to talk during this next one. This is more– These are easy answers so I want you to just think of the answer. I’ll read each question twice. I think I’ve got a system here I’ve developing and I think this might work good.
Okay. So here we are. NUMBER 9 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. But this is my book called the TAO OF TAOISM. I’ve kind of like reworked this whole thing and then created this question structure to help you integrate this into your life.
Here we go. NUMBER 9:
Unbalance? Imbalance? I said, ‘unbalance.’ Interesting. I’m not sure if I want to keep it that way. But maybe imbalance.
Going to extremes is careless and unbalanced. To display an outward lack of awareness reflects a deeper inner unbalance.
Know when to change direction. Know when to start a new goal. Know when a direction is completed.
Yeah. Interesting thing about directions in that last one. The mountain? Anyway.
Let’s read the whole thing again.
Going to extremes is careless and unbalanced.
Lao Tzu says so. Okay? [laughs] I mean, you should know that. But okay. Just in case you doubted that simple thing. There it is.
To display an outward lack of awareness. That’d be like pretending to be stupid or not paying attention. Or wearing ear buds.
Reflects a deeper inner unbalance.
Imbalance. So okay, so:
Know when to change direction? Know when to start a new goal. Know when a direction is completed.
Those last three were obviously kind of different. It might all tie together in some way but– Let’s just blast on here. Because my goal was to read the book more than totally explain it.
Extremes and Balances
Here we go.
What do you do to an extreme?
What do you do to an extreme?
What do you do in moderation?
What do you do in moderation?
What do you do too little of?
What do you do too little of?
How can you avoid being extreme?
How can you (you) avoid being extreme?
How can you maintain your moderation?
Gotta try to aim you there.
How can you maintain your moderation?
How can you do more of what you need to do?
Whatever that is. How can you do more of it? (What you need to do.)
Now explain an ideal balance of all three.
Your extreme. Your moderation. And your lacking.
Now what is the balance of that? Because you’re always gonna do more of something and find it easier to keep this one in the middle, and your– too little.
Look at the overall balance now. What are they? How are those things– Okay so: what’re they now? What should they be later? What are they going to be ten years from now. So just think of these balances because they always change, remember?
Book Of Changes
This is the BOOK OF CHANGES. This isn’t saying, “Stay exactly as you are. Keep it that way.” No. It’s saying, “Okay, right here is where you are and you’ve changed to this point.” But maybe you don’t want to still keep following this cycle. Maybe you want to kind of change direction a little bit. So this is where you can view what you’re doing and who you are so you can take control of your life.
Okay. Where were we?
How do you know when you are properly balanced?
So you’ve got to know. I mean, if you’re not balanced. How do you know that? Let’s start by knowing when you’re balanced. Can you determine that?
How do you know when to change directions?
How do you know when to change directions?
How do you know when to start a new goal?
Okay now most people aren’t goal oriented. So you’ve gotta look at this and go, “Oh man…” Some people are going to have trouble with that question. It’s like, “What’s a goal?” But anyway, maybe it’s just to get a pay raise. Maybe it’s to get a new boat. Take a vacation. Goals can be anything you’re aspiring to.
Okay. Here we go.
How do you end a relationship?
Hee-hee-hee. Is it the toothpaste?
How do you end a relationship?
Everybody ends them in different ways. How do you end them? What’s the– What do add into the mix that makes them ‘SNIP.’ Explode and terminite… abort.
When a relationship goes bad, do you prefer for the other person to end it? And why?
That why is important. But first of all, you’ve got to put everything in proper perspective.
Okay let’s say that again.
When a relationship goes bad, do you prefer for the other person to end the relationship? And why?
What do you do to make the other person want to end the relationship?
Come one. Whatever it is you’ve gotta know.
Okay and, How long will you maintain a bad relationship? And why?
There’s a lot of different answers. It’s only your answer that you’re looking for.
Your Inner Spirit
Does your car reflect your inner spirit?
Does your car reflect your inner spirit?
How does your home reflect your inner spirit?
How does your home reflect– (It’s a mirror image of you.) –your spirit?
How does your appearance reflect your inner spirit?
I’m looking at me.
How does your appearance represent your inner spirit?
Well, I’ve got this. And… to be honest with you I’d rather not have it. But I’m starting to get a little wrinkle here. And I soon as I grew it everybody said they liked it and I got this Sean Connery look. So I’m… marketing a little bit. I want to be appealing to some extent. So I’m willing to compromise certain things.
The hair thing. I’ve had long hair. I’ve had really, really long hair. And when I started the Kung Fu Cowboy thing I had hair down to here. And now I’m going shorter than I’ve ever gone before and for more own personal inner spirit– Things are changing for me. I’m in the beginning of a whole new cycle. So I’m looking at myself differently. I have different expecations.
I have to stop being twenty years old. [laughs] And thinking of myself on an album cover. Although, I still want to be on an album cover. But I’ve just got to realize I’m not a pop star anymore.
I don’t know. Even when I say that I don’t believe it. [laughs]
Hey. Where are we? Seven minutes, fifty-eight seconds.
Okay. That was it. Your inner spirit. My inner spirit: I am a pop star. (In my own lunchtime.)
NUMBER 7: of the Tao Te Ching. According to me, Buddha Zhen.
As one argument begins, another is ended. Eventually, all things started will end. It is the cycle of beginnings and conclusions that should be viewed from as far away as possible; rather than be caught in the middle, or on either side, where the viewpoint is limited.
Okay. There’s a lot to unpack in that one. Okay? So. Remember he was actually–Lao Tzu was a politician. He had something to do with the managerial parts of the government. I don’t actually know much about it. Like I said, I’m not a Lao Tzu expert. I just happened to get his book and go, “Ooooh.” [laughs]
I liked his stuff. Thank you, Lao Tzu. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Okay. So let’s see. Here we go NUMBER 7:
First sentence. As one argument begins, another is ended.
Okay. I’m thinking of several things, but you may think of something I don’t so I don’t want to hamper your thoughts.
So here: Next one. Eventually, all things started will end.
Okay. Now that sounds simplistic but put it in perspective. Because we just talked about something starting and ending. An argument… An argument. By saying eventually all things started will end: an argument will end. You might die, and that might be the end of the argument. [laughs] Anyway…
It is the cycle of beginnings and conclusions that should be viewed.
How long does that take? That’s got new thoughts coming into my mind.
So in other words, it is the cycle of beginnings and conclusions. The startings and endings of all these arguments — that should be viewed from as far away as possible– not in the middle or not on either side to be able to see them all. So it’s gotta be far away.
There’s that mosquito hawk.
“Bear. Snack.” He can hear it I think. Let’s see… This is a big one. I’m distracted. I’m gonna have to get that bug so I’m not distracted.
Okay. So here we go. So in other words, if you really want to see the big picture…
Here we go. Do you argue with your parents? Explain.
Do you argue with your loved ones? Explain.
It’s coming over here. [mosquito hawk] I’m gonna smack it with my book. Sorry. ‘SMACK.’
Buddha Zhen starts over on TAO #6 after killing a mosquito hawk with his Tao Te Ching notebook he reads from. In Daily Taoist 16 Buddha Z discusses the yin and yang of character: the positive and negative character. Can you face the truth and see how your negative and positive characters balance each other?
YouTube Transcript for video of the Daily Taoist 16.
Alright. I don’t know if I’ll post that last one if there was anything there.
Anyway, #6:
Distinguishing between opposites creates the illusory value of each one.
In other words, that’s creating prejudice.
Okay, so real quickly because we already covered this in case I post that last one.
How do you value or rate the strengths of your positive character?
Okay. The part of you that positive things presumably.
How do you value or rate the strengths of your negative character?
That part of you that is maybe self-destructive, angry, emotional, bitter… and something.
How does your positive character control your negative character?
Hopefully– I don’t know. Is the next question going to be the opposite? [laughs] Probably. So how does your positive character influence your negative character?
You know. If you’re emotional or anger. If you have anger issues. How do you– What is the positive– What is your way of dealing with it. Even if it’s not working well. What is it?
And how does your negative character control your positieve character? Maybe… that’s definitely the case with some people. I mean, somebody’s gonna be more one than the other. So is it gonna be negative or positive?
How can your positive character be better utilized?
Okay… not think about the negative. What about the positive? What can you do with that positive character? Just get more done. Or do something. What does it want to do? Okay.
How can your negative character be better utilized?
Now there you go. Now if you do have some sort of negative issues or qualities perhaps you can channel them into something. I don’t know. If you’re really angry you might get a job digging ditches and swinging a sledge hammer. [laughs] Might make you feel real good. I did that.
So anyway, how can your positive and negative characters be better balanced?
Okay. Now you can’t get anywhere until you admit the truth.
Mosquito hawk came in with Bear a minute ago. I got distracted. Pardon me. “Kill the spider.”
Okay so anyway that’s NUMBER 6. We made it. Two minutes! There’s a record.
Buddha Zhen reads TAO #6 of the TAO OF TAOISM – Using the Dao Te Ching to Improve Your Life.
This Tao is still dealing with opposites and good and bad and right and wrong and up and down and prejudice.
This Daily Taoist episode is interrupted by a mosquito hawk that enters with his cat, Bear. Buddha Z ends abruptly to deal with this pest.
The transcript of this short episode is included below.
YouTube TRANSCRIPT of the DAILY TAOIST 15 reading of TAO #6
Hello. I’m back, and… we’re on page 15 of 62 or something? Yeah, 62. Yeah. Let’s get another one of these out.
Just want to blaze ahead here for some reason. I guess I just wanna– I’m excited about getting some of this stuff out.
Here we go. NUMBER 6:
Oh, remember? We didn’t summarize on the end of that last one. Remember we were talking about, “Describe your overall balance of opposites and some things?” And so remember then, we go back to the original Lao Tzu and in particular, the first line,
“THE VALUE OF OPPOSITES AMOUNTS TO NOTHING.”
Okay, so I said, “Don’t take it so literally. Try to look for the meaning: something more substantial in there.” Find a pearl of wisdom. Maybe Lao Tzu didn’t think of that. If you can find something even bigger and better… Like I said, “Like a mathematical equation.”
Here we go. NUMBER 6:
Distinguishing between opposites creates the illusory value of each one.
That’s what we’re doing in America right now. As we separate– As soon as we say one side is great, we’ve separated them more. You can’t– Anyway.
Distinguishing between opposites creates the illusory value of each one.
Or lack of value. Value isn’t always a plus. It can be a minus. So by distinguishing sometimes — it’s prejudice. You’re picking them out. You’re lowering the value. Trump purposely tries to do that. He actually tries to demean and devalue people. See. So at one time he might be pumping somebody up. But he spends as much time– If he does that he spends a lot of time cutting people down and trying to devalue them. So you shouldn’t do that. That’s wrong to pick those people out and make them special because that means your picking other people out and making them un-special.
So distinguishing between opposites creates the illusory value of each one.
Here we go.
How do you value or rate the strengths of your positive character?
Everybody thinks they have a positive character. Well they do. [laughs] Some of these positive characters seem very negative to me. But their negative character to me is a monster. So I guess it’s just a– You take the extremes and you move them on the scale. Right across the middle here is a content happy cow in the field. And down here is the angry badger type of thing. And then up here is the happy crane type of thing you know.
Well, the higher you get up here means the farther you fall when you get upset.
And the more you’re down here, then when something happens you get really excited, you see.
But if you just kind of stay here in the middle, “Oh, that was nice.” “Oh, that was kinda bad.” “Oh that was nice.”
But anyway, like I said, don’t try to separate the opposites. The more you do–the more, the more it goes wrong.
How do you value or rate the strengths of your negative character?
So that goes for you. How far off that middle do you go? How far are you willing to stretch the truth? How far do you go to keep the truth?
“Hello Bear.” He was outside. “Hello adventurer.”
Actually I kicked him outside. He hadn’t been out today so I like pushed him out the front door. So he’d go out there and do some–
Ooops! Somebody came in with you. Hold on. We’ve got some creature came in. I’ve got to deal with.
Buddha Zhen reads TAO #5 of TAO OF TAOISM he wrote for his Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan students in 1993 in his Shaolin Chi Mantis Traditional Buddhist Kung Fu and Taoist Tai Chi Chuan schools. This self-help book is revealing now the ‘dark side’ of Buddha Zhen as he answers the questions from his Tao of Taoism book with candor and honesty. He reveals more about his 5 SOUL THEORY or Five Souls of God book he wants to release when he can find a large book publisher brave enough to publish this revolutionary concept that every person contains four souls of five possible souls to choose from.
One of his revelations includes the fact that comedians are all WOMAN souls in their first top position. Also boxers may be WOMAN souls in the first position. Buddha Z is perplexed himself by the riddle of this truth or wisdom from the BOOK OF CHANGES or Tao Te Ching written by Lao Tzu over 2,200 years ago.
Below in this web post is the transcript from the video “DAILY TAOIST 14” reading Tao #5 of the Tao of Taoism written by Buddha Zhen Shen-lang / Richard Del Connor.
YouTube Transcript of TAO #5 in the video “DAILY TAOIST 14” read and performed by the author, Buddha Zhen Shen-Lang.
Ah man. I couldn’t get up. I looked ahead at the next one. It’s really got me excited.
Buddha Zhen here.
This is the TAO OF TAOISM written by me. And I’m on #5. And this one’s got me all– Look at me. I’m all excited.
#5: The value of opposites amounts to nothing.
That’s so cute. We’ll come back on that.
To separate, glorify or deny something in protection of its opposite creates a weakness by the loss. All things are of value despite our preference.
How that describes America’s situation so dramatically and I don’t wanna get carried away talking about it– But I’ve just got to show you that’s why- that America is in conflict because we are totally out of the Tao.
Okay, first of all: The value of opposites amounts to nothing. Now that’s a misleading statement but it’s actually 100% accurate. ‘Amounts’ means adds up. So one PLUS and one MINUS. You add them together equals zero. So NEGATIVE plus POSITIVE equals ZERO. That’s a beautiful thing.
Lao Tzu was intending to mean something. And I think we’re missing the boat by not delving into that further and further. But let’s just leave it at that for now.
But he’s saying you take a negative and a positive and you end up with nothing.
Now let’s look at a wife and a husband. And you end up with a nothing. Is it really a nothing? Or is it really a new something? See. You’ve got them put together here. It’s not this. And it’s maybe not this. But it’s this. So it’s nothing that existing previously. See. Maybe we got something shaved off in the original translation. So maybe… Anyway, let’s open our minds. I’m always looking for some way to make these things real.
Okay, and the next part is all of the chaos in America right now.
To separate, glorify– Remember that’s bad. When you’re separating something out, you better have a GOOD reason. Or you’re just capturing something.
Glorifying something is another way of capturing something. And saying, “You’re not good. But this is.” See. So this is– Gotta remember when you create a positive you create a negative.
Or deny something. So now we’re gonna deny– I don’t know how to put this in perspective yet. Deny something in protection of its’ opposite creates a weakness by the loss.
So if we’re saying this guy we’re gonna glorify, and we’re gonna give you something special. But we’re gonna deny you– Creates a weakness, by the loss. By the denial: That’s a weakness. That’s not a strength. When you raise this guy up and glorify him and say to him, “You’re not worthy.” That is not a good balance. That’s not a good plus or minus.
This one’s way off of balance. It’s gonna fall down. And this guy’s down, so far down here… he’s going to get buried. They’re both gonna, ‘boom.’ Bad situation.
So, one more time. Let’s read what I wrote on this. It’s interesting. I’ve got all kinds of things going through my head. Your perspective may be different.
The Value of Opposites
One more time. Lao Tzu says– I love this first line. It’s just cute, and clever. But I think it means so much more than any of us are probably grasping right off-hand.
The value of opposites amounts to nothing. To glorify, separate or deny something in protection of its opposite creates a weakness by the loss. All things are of value despite our preference.
Gotta remember that too: We always think in terms of ourselves. Everybody. It’s just the first way we think. Just gotta accept that so you can deal with it. Okay so you have to realize that we all have our preferences. If you can become more Zen and–
I look bald with this light shining here. And look at that bump on my head. Cover it in– Sheesh. I bumped myself pretty bad last night. [laughing] Oh I should say something, “Oh I was in a fight and somebody hit me with a…” Boom.
Okay… here we go… Okay. Here we go.
What is the opposite of you?
Well… Me, that’s just about everybody. So, that’s not you. That’s me.
So, what’s the opposite of you?
So, in other words, if you’re a good worker–then maybe a bad worker. If you’re an honest person–then a dishonest person. If you’re a happy person–then a sad person. Or maybe the other way around. Who’s the opposite of you? Let’s work with that.
Your Relationship with your Dark Side
Explain your character polarities. Good side / dark side.
That’s tricky here. You’re gonna have to like open up to the fact that–
Explain your character polarities. Your good side and your dark side.
Now I remember Oscar. If I can talk about him. He’s kind of a good example of somebody to talk about. He, when I met him– He always wore military fatigues. And he wanted to be a soldier. But he was not a WARRIOR. But he wanted to be a soldier. And he actually had a dark side. And he enjoyed playing the video games and stuff. He loved shooting and killing. He said the reason he wanted to be a soldier was: he actually wanted to–you know–shoot something. [LAUGHING] So anyway. You’ve just got to own up to it. And accept it. Even if you don’t like the way it sounds to you. I can’t even say it for other people. But anyway. You’ve got to own up to your own dark side. Umm, umm… Anyway–
Next one. How do you control your dark side?
Well let’s say you have a dark side. You think, “Gosh. I’d like to beat that person up.” Let’s deal with that instead of murder. Okay. You’ve got this desire to beat other people up. And I’ve known one person. Actually… a couple. I have two… people whose fathers were boxers. I’m not really a boxer. I teach martial arts but I don’t box. Who were boxers. Their parents were boxers. As a result, they beat and hit their kids. See, a boxer hits people. That’s just the way they communicate. So both cases, these boxer fathers hit their kids. And they didn’t, they didn’t think they were evil. Probably didn’t. Because they were just communicating with their kids the same with all their professional allies, and competitors or whatever. And you know, that’s just the way they communicate. So in both cases these kids had gotten pummeled by their parents. Or their fathers excessively.
I also know cases where women have been very sadistic and whipped and beat– and done terrible things to their kids too. So anyway, I’m not saying it’s all men. Don’t get me wrong here.
In fact, my theory is actually that anytime you do see a man who is being sadistic and mean like that– Like those boxers. Those boxers must have been WOMEN in the first position. And then a WARRIOR in the second position. That’s what Joe Rogan is. He’s a WOMAN in the first position, and a WARRIOR in the second. That way he can be mean and hurt people and have a sense of humor about it. That’s how you can do it. A WORKER can’t do that. A WORKER can’t have satisfaction about doing something wrong or breaking something, or hurting someone. Because that doesn’t get along well in the work place. You’ve gotta be more compassionate. So compassion ironically comes from the WORKER. Not the WOMAN. A WOMAN soul is the one without the compassion. They’re the ones that make comedians. All comedians are WOMEN souls in the first position. Every one of them as far as I can tell. Shocked me because I’d been studying them for two years.
It’s really obvious in some like Russel Brand. But, Seth Myers, Stephen Colbert, Joe Rogan– I mean a lot of it is just so obvious. And you talk to them about their neuroses and their emotions and their– I mean, it’s the WOMAN spirit. Not the female. They’re not female. They’re WOMAN souls. Okay. So anyway.
I found that a negative. It did make sense when you know that. It just makes sense. So you know this person needs a little more ethics and tends to beat people up because they’re going to enjoy it.
Okay. So here we go. Um, where were we?
What do you dislike the most in others? Okay. Now that’s an interesting question. So think about that. You should have some things pop into your head.
One more time: What do you dislike the most in others?
Okay, next: How do you control these dislikes in yourself.
I just kind of like jump several steps. And these things you dislike in other people are almost always going to be something you dislike in yourself.
Like in my case I would say, “Dishonesty.” I’m way into the truth. So the one thing I dislike the most in myself is dishonesty. And any time I’ve been dishonest it still haunts me. It’s something I can’t do. It’s like so, that’s what I dislike the most. It prevents me from doing it.
See? So when you understand these things: it’s not a negative, it’s a positive. Like, “Alright. I’ve got– I’ve got this bumper that’s gonna keep me away from lying. I shouldn’t get in a job where I have to lie. I can’t be a salesman. I could only sell something to someone I thought could afford it and it was the right time and the place and the thing for them and– I just can’t be a salesman. I’m too considerate.
So that’s why a salesman is good. You’ve got a WOMAN in the first position every time. A man, with a WOMAN in the first postion has a good chance of being a salesman.
Now a WORKER, like my dad– Actually, is my dad a WOMAN or a WORKER in the first position. He may be a WOMAN in the first position… but anyway, let’s keep going.
What are you Fighting For?
Let’s see. Where were we?
What are you fighting to control for the sake of some rule that is difficult to follow?
Ahhhh. This is a good one. Everybody’s gonna have different answers for this one. But here we go.
What are fighting to control for the sake of some rule that is difficult to follow?
Like maybe eating. It’s difficult for you follow that rule. I shouldn’t have given you any clues. It comes from you first.
Nature is seasons of opposites. Summer and Winter. Spring and Fall.
Nature is seasons of opposites. Winter has its time as does Summer. How are your opposites regulated, controlled, or allowed their own release?
Or as I’m saying, Nature has opposites. So I’m allowing you to like give yourself some leeway. How you do this or that– Or you want this–
So what are your opposites? Find your polarity. How far are you going from one extreme to the other so we can find out maybe what your happy medium is– and make it easier for you. Cuz you may have one thing pulling this way, and one thing pulling this way. But if we can find some way to satisfy both of them–then that’s good without maybe going all the way that way, or all the way that way. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t if the middle is always the best way.
Here we go. Describe your overall balance of opposites.
If you’re driving in your car you’re going, “What the heck is he talking about?”
Like what would be my opposites? My opposites would be my ability to just watching YouTube. And then I say, “Man, I’ve been sitting here for a little while. I didn’t move.” You know, I should be doing some Kung Fu or cleaning the kitchen. [laugh]
Okay. So that’s one opposite is I feel guilty for not doing that and the other opposite is I work as hard as I can. I’m doing these Kung Fu classes. Teaching and building and writing things and work on the websites… So ONE: I go from the opposite of working REALLY HARD too long to maybe relaxing too long. That’s my answer.
Okay. Let’s see. Nature is a season– Okay.
Describe your overall balance of weaknesses.
Um. Like I said, I’ve got a good balance. I’m putting my life together. I’m working out. Studying myself like under a microscope so I better be good.
Anyway. I think 12 minutes here. Thanks for hangin’ around. Hopefully this is interesting to listen to.
