Purpose of the Taoist Lineage Tradition
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- Do we need to be having this conversation?
:: cringe :: Drinking game -- Every time I say "lineage," take a shot. Drunken good times guaranteed. 😞
TECH EQUIPMENT NOTE: The audio recording and the video footage recording are two separate channels/devices (I don’t know if that’s the right techie lingo…) and for some reason that’s causing hiccups with the syncing.
So I converted to Taoism in my early twenties, and the organisation I chose to ordain me was The Church of the Latter Day Dude, a sect of Western Taoism based on The Big Lebowski. It may not be the most respected “lineage” out there but it is the one that took me in.
See Zamolxis laws and Zamolxis laws of life - on TH-cam.
He lived in Romania before 2500 years. He is very " today " , he explains many things , but needs time to understand .
The " laws " are meant to balance and he speaks for the soul ( have meaning that an awakening one will know ) .
I will like to see Zamolxis in schools .
Who else but Ms Wen could articulate this stuff so beautifully. It’s like listening to a poem being recited!
Love it.
When i was first studying Taoism in college, i always questioned what the point of lineage was - given that I'm a Chaote and don't really have a lineage myself - but it being a system of accountability.
I met a Taoist practitioner online once and thinking back, they never really gave a lineage or even reportes anything that fell in line. Interesting perspective.
Sending love from a Longmen monastery! 💙
Love and blessings of prosperity right back!
Hello! I've just read your book Holistic Tarot and OMG! Now you're my place to go to in case if tarot. I always was a sceptic but you changed my view on that. You are beautiful, intelligent and consistent hell I might have a crush on you. Thank you for your work Wen. I wish you and your loved ones a blessing and may all the beings in the universe free from suffering.
i've only ever needed to buy 1 book and it's hers. it's my bible. she started me on my tarot journey 7 years ago. i still literally consult the book sometimes, as recent as like a few days ago i think. sometimes i get her perspective again to recenter me bc i do have my own experiences with the cards now, and they can sometimes mean something different for me. but i start with her interpretation first
I appreciate you Benebell, thank you for your wisdom and kindness.
Thanks very much for your words, they are very encouraging! 💖
I was puzzled by the title. "Claiming" in itself contradicts my understanding of Daoism.
Thanks for providing such valuable material - it’s a real delight to learn about Taoism in its proper cultural context. It invites the learner to revisit the Alan Watts westernized version with a critical eye, and will help me build a more meaningful understanding.
Thank you so much for your kind words and generosity! 💖
My new favorite channel. Thank you.
This information makes sense for tradition and customs. So, example Bruce Lee went not completely rogue. Those he taught accountability by his teachings were established when he taught westerners of different ethnic groups. Plus, I grew up watching the martial arts which passed on the martial arts sects battling each other on techniques and secret teachings.
Word! This has been on my mind lately, then boom, you post it. Hmmm. And me, of The Scrappy Materials School. Thank you 🙏🙏🙏
Very well put. Lineage can be many things, positive and negative, as you so eloquently laid out. Loners can also fall into the trap of bragging about their independence, and wearing it as a badge of honor as well. Thanks for all you do.
Yes this happens a lot. I mean people regarded as temple master yet behaves weird or egoistic etc. I know of Taiwanese temple in Flushing Queens even fighting about money that the temple was sold and people quit. Followers go to who their friends are. Then I’m being called to join the other side but of course, I stick to my friends too. Even being a master, is easily corrupted when it comes to money, fame, power etc. We are just human after all.
It's like from Tao Te Ching chapter 3:
Not to honor men of worth will keep the people from contention;
not to value goods which are hard to come by will keep them from theft;
not to display what is desirable will keep them from being unsettled of mind.
(D. C. Lau translation)
You try to organize Taoism. By necessity, you have to name what's good Taoism and what's bad Taoism. One becomes two. Now that you've shown people what is good, they desire to be good and compete over who is good and who is bad. And all of a sudden, no more Taoism in that group!
It's the same challenge with any organized religion. The truths can only be reached personally, and organizing it creates a lot of opportunities for manipulation. But even that process is part of the learning!
Your videos are very informative ❤
Kindly put a video about five elements associated with each forms of Yang style long form Taichi
I pray that this comment is a respectful one 🙏. Also, if I'm coming in late to a conversation and missed the first part of it I apologize for that. But please allow me to disagree. I agree that accountability may be one reason for claiming a lineage, but I disagree that it was the "primary purpose". I also agree that bragging rights as a source of arrogance is wrong although certainly it is very human and we all do it. But the "primary purpose" cannot be anything other than to give honor to the teacher or master. 孝, xiào, sometimes translated as filial piety or respect for parents, elders and teachers. Sometimes that may mean giving honor to a grandmaster or even a historical or mythical figure from centuries ago. Showing respect and obedience and loyalty to the teacher might be closely related to social accountability, perhaps a yin to a yang, two sides of a coin, but they are two different sides. I feel like the example of the masked rebels not wanting "blowback" from their temple is really close, but I'll bet if they are/were asked they would say they didn't want to dishonor their temple. The idea of accountability from others and from the temple and master is perhaps the subjective side: I don't want to get in trouble. It's still about me. But honoring and not wanting to dishonor the teacher or temple is the objective side, it's not about me not wanting to get punished, it's about honoring others.
I beg viewers' forgiveness but I thought/felt strongly enough about this to leave this comment. The primary purpose of claiming a lineage should be xiao, respect, not public accountability. I wish I had a "lineage", I wish I had a teacher to honor, so I will honor the idea of having and honoring one.
I just found your channel.
WOW!!!
Love it, and you! Thank you very very much. Hearing this just make my day❤
Accountability in all paths of spirituality is such a controversial topic. Thank you for all the knowledge 🙏🏽
I've never heard of the lineages before so none of them would be appropriate in garnering trust or will dealing with the public of another culture at least.
As with all things, the proof is in the pudding. Similarly, as per your Uni analogy it is often a case of the networking and methodology which can be more helpful rather than the knowledge in an organisation. Some folks thrive in an academic setting w/ guidance for their studies. Some folks strive after uni due to the friends and associates they've made. Some folks argue w/ profs an' find they already know half the course but then have a Good Will Hunting arc. YMMV.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom ….. be well ✝️
I agree with everything you said pro and con about lineage. I would add the benefit of adding to one's "personal mythology". I think we all have one whether we realize it our not. In fact, it probably works better if we don't realize it but gets less ego centric and/or borderline schizophrenic if we do realize it. Lineage, can make us feel like we are a part of a cosmic hierarchy and gives a map of that hierarchy. Even if the lineage is not something other practitioners would believe (not that we all believe in each other's cosmic hierarchy anyway). In some cases a linage in this context can be useful even when wholly fabricated, although.. like most magic, in that case, it should be kept secret or private. No bragging rights for it.. and bragging is negative anyway. People won't believe it and it borders on fraud. It should be more a sense of, "here I am, this is what I am empowered to do". I'm brought to mind of a story you told in either a self published book or a video in which, as you worked on Spirit Keeper, you took advice from the presences of Crowley and Waite. Some folks would pass that off with a chuckle, some would take it seriously. I like it myself. In a fabricated lineage, our own minds will access or at least parts of it can take the shape of and with the power of, our ancestors in that lineage who will "have your back". but again, bragging about that could get someone locked up. Not everyone out there who says they are the reincarnation of Crowley or who hears the voice of Jesus is really getting beneficial advice from beyond. As you say.. the ultimate reality of that sort of hierarchy depends on the will of the gods, or our higher self, or our HGA or whatever it is that is inspiring us towards that path in the first place. Oh.. and i would add, you really do need to feel your linage. The difference between having a Harvard diploma on your wall and never thinking about it and donating to Harvard, going to games, going back at home coming, being a part of the alumni association etc. I also would emphasize what you say about the benefits of being in a group. Of course there are negatives too. It seems to me that there is benefit to drifting in and out of groups as our growth needs require.
" The wise one knows to see the beauty ( the good ) in people " Zamolxis ( Zamolxis laws and Zamolxis laws of life - on TH-cam ) .
If I want to have hope ( for me and for other's ) I must fight the opozit - no hope - hopelessness . You can not have one without the onother.
Zamolxis needs time to understand ( wise people understanding more than normal humans ). Every sentence have a deep meaning ( He do speak to the soul ) .
Sorry for English .
Advise : If you do feel out of balance do a qhht ( like Alba Weinman - TH-cam ) .
Thank you very much! I come from a traditional Tai Chi Chuan and Kung Fu school where they always emphasized that if you were not with them, you were worthless and all the knowledge learned lost value. I think this has also been used to manipulate people and maintain the cult structure.
I am definitely of the TH-cam University caliber...however, I believe your videos have been educating me in ways I never could have obtained through traditional schooling, and I also appreciate learning from another Chinese American woman :)
I considered attending acupuncture/TCM school here in Washington state, but my acupuncturist told me the ones here are very scammy...there is one on the East coast but currently not accessible to me physically or financially. I may take an online course in Chinese herbalism as I am growing some at the moment and it interests me and reconnects me with my roots.
Basic TCM to keep yourself and your family healthy with a good repertoire of homemade cures and what to cook for who, you can probably learn on your own. ❤ If you really wanted to study it at a professional level, honestly my recommendation would be to go back to Asia for that. 😅😊
Love to hear of your interests! Thank you for stopping by!
I share this mainly to add to the algorithms. After having spent more than a decade in Asia, I'll just say: 易经, 道教, 八卦, 八卦掌, 我都研究。你对这些的想法是很意思的。多谢。
Thank you! hopefully it works and pleases the algorithm gods. 😅😊
🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️🌻🌻🌻👍🏼👍🏼YAY! More stuff to learn as I fall asleep.
Have a good evening!
I love how you completely homored both sides. I remember wondeting what the pirpose of religion and traditions wete in school when we tpuched on Toast, spread of Buhdidm, Confuscionism, and some of the history of religion and philosophy in China.
What is thy bidding my master?
Very interesting and love the humor.
There are many types of educations so it is not as simple...
accountability is virtually non existent nowadays
Is Lao Zi himself a LONE WOLF? Is there a better example? Thanks for your cool videos!
o no
i played ur drinking game with baijiu and now i'm on a crane riding up to heaven send help ~
Thank you so much. Again you explain things that I have felt in my life but did not have the context to understand.
The problem is when some lines get unfairly erased whereas others rule the earth right now. All lines need to be seen and understood first and foremost. We are just one giant cosmic dot to dot puzzle.
Love your stuff kick on love it 👍 ❤
Wonderful insight and understanding ❤
Thank you for what you do, Does youtube hide you? How do you have 41k subscribers but only 218 people liked this?
You should sue them.
🙏🏼
I love this newly revealed (for me, at least) accountability tradition of lineage! I had always thought it was for authenticity of teachings or practice! Quite refreshing and grounding! 🎉 🪽 📜 For martial arts, are there those who apply it as bragging rights and one upsmanship?
Definitely, If I need to choose a lineage , you would be the one 🔥
It makes sense to me that you can either invest the sweat equity into cultivating your own gods or pay sifu for access to theirs. I don't think one way is better than the other, but probably certain types of people are more suited to one or another. Some people like Android, some people like iPhone, and some people want to build the phone themselves.
💚
Thanks for the knowledge
🧙🏼♂️
Excellent video, thank you.
I'm almost afraid to ask, but... what's the goal here? Say you learn every secret, sign, ritual, etc - then what?
What's the purpose of each of those secrets revealed, signs, and rituals to you?
@@genghisgalahad8465 I don't know. I'm hoping to find out if it's worth the trouble.
@@genghisgalahad8465 it appears my comment got censored or something. YT's censorship seems so arbitrary...
Anyways, I don't know what they mean to me. I basically just want to know if I would be wasting my time.
Immortality, wether literal or metaphorical or both. Probably metaphorical. You attain peace, health, and contentment and attain heaven.
And even power and skill at living life, but at this point that power would be unnecessary.
@@alchemygal3285 immortality certainly has appeal
Love it!!!!!!!!!!
Brilliant stuff.
Not impressed by the references to Harvard. Many of their alumni disgrace humanity.
Teachers are imperfect people who should always be taken with a grain of salt and reviewed with discernment.
Taoism at its core is about an individual's discovery of, acquiesce to, and alignment with truth, virtue, and the ways of Heaven and unadulterated nature (as reflections and signs of the ways of Heaven). What a lineage claims or contains can be irrelevant to or peripheral to those core elements, and therefore should be treated with careful discernment or even disregarded on the basis of it not always being directly related or relevant to those centrally important things.
Regardless of having or not having a lineage, we're accountable for what we do, who we are, and what our motivations and intentions are.
Lone wolf 🐺 I like that path. I personally believe that path is expansive and freeing. And has more possibilities to change the world because of it’s all inclusiveness.
Not a fan of joining a lineage or possessing the knowledge and answers. It’s too restricting and limiting imho. But I’m glad too see a video that highlights the advantages of a lineage.
thank you.
The responsibility of the Lineage ❤❤❤
Most of these new age "Taoist/ Hindu/ Wiccan" practitioners nowadays with NO lineage are just...
Can I consider myself part of the Benebell lineage? because I learn so much here and consider you a great professor of these arts.
Lol. 😂 Someone else on this thread came up with the Scrappy Materials School and I'm thinking the three of us can start a rag tag non-lineage lineage under that name. 😂 But I'm in only if our temple is perpetually stocked with good food and wine. 😁
@@BenebellWen Totally! that's a temple I want to be in. This video is so synchronistic as usual because I was just talking with a Friend, a prominent martial arts practitioner, who is having trouble w/his teacher in LA. I see these philosophies as seeds that blew from the past, across the ocean, and have taken root here, now they are seedlings and their lineage is just beginning.
I like the idea of lineages as an accountability factor. I do feel like that makes way more sense than people I see who try to throw around lineage like it's a way to make them more special than others--which is something I unfortunately see a lot.
‘A diligent student needs no teacher.’
😁
My personal thinking is even the most diligent student could be well served with teachers. But teachers come in many different forms. 😊
Indeed. There’s no question that one can make expedient progress with a knowledgeable teacher, spirit, and or an author that publishes books and creates TH-cam content. 😁 TY 🙏🏻
thats pure BS
taoist temple student loans
Thank you Benebell for teaching us always.
Not so much teaching; more so sharing reports of my studies and findings, lol.
Thank you for your very kind words! ❤
白色紙扇
The need for external validation.
Lineage is The System. Fcuk The System.
Saved to folder
💜🐚🐉🦋🦜🙏
Thanks there are many BS lineage claims floating around. Buyer beware.
🙏🏼