The Three Treasures

Repost from December 17, 2023

The Three Treasures

My Body
Feelings, Emotions, Body-Self, Past-Present, Id-Ego,
Physical Health, Unconscious Dimensions, Breathing, 
Eating, Moving, Sleeping, Digesting, DNA, Sexuality,
Drinking, Vitality, Brain, Immediate Environment.

My Mind
Thoughts, Emotions, Experiences-Reflections, Ego, Goals
Past-Present-Future, Language Culture, Heart-Mind, Attitudes,
Beliefs, Opinions, Histories, Will, Hope, Memories, Spirit,
Brain-Body interactions with mundane environment.

My Actions
What I Do Today. My Behaviors and Character. 
Family Life.  Social and Community Interactions.  
Purposeful activity towards the Future.  Moral-Ethical Acts.
Practices, Exercises, Play.  My employment or work.  

The Three Treasures are intertwined, integrated, interconnected, involved, and interwoven in some way all the time; all to the benefit of well-being and good health.  They can become disconnected and conflicting which produces poor bodily health, mental confusion, and useless, evil, or self-destructive acts.  Balance, clear purpose, and reflection are some essentials.  

We can separate these aspects of Being-In-The-World intellectually when reflecting; when Acting and Doing they are integrated.  

The Living Body is the foundation of Mind and the means of flourishing Actions.  Consciousness requires a Living Body.  

I don't find it scientifically plausible to accept notions of our having consciousness after death, having an invisible immortal soul, being ghostly beings, having immortal supernatural lives in fanciful heavens or hells, or other imaginary religious memes about our "after-lives."  

Qigong routines are intended to nourish, refresh, rejuvenate, and reenergize our Living Bodies.  Seeking immortality, spiritual rebirth, or special magical super-powers via Qigong, ascetism, or prayers do not seem reasonable to me.  Seeking and cultivating good health and longevity - Yes!  

- By Michael P. Garofalo,  9/2022

Cultivating Longevity (Yang Sheng Gong)

The Longevity Plan. By John D. Jay and Jane Ann Day, wth Matthew LaPlante. 2018, 304 pages. 1. Eat good food. 2. Master your mind-set. 3. Build your place in a positive community. 4. Be in motion. 5. Find your rhythm. 6. Make the most of your environment. 7. Proceed with purpose. John D. Jay, M.D., Cardiologist, Electro-physiologist.

Books by Tom Bisio      Books by Eva Wong       Books by Livia Kohn

Books by Ken Cohen     Books by Yang Jwing-Ming

Three Treasures - Wikipedia

"In long-established Chinese traditions, the "Three Treasures" are the essential energies sustaining human life:

• Jing 精 "nutritive essence, essence; spirit, sperm, seed; extract; refined, perfected"
• Qi 氣 "breath, spirit; air, vapor; vitality, energy, force; vigor; attitude"
• Shen 神 "spirit; soul, mind; god, deity; supernatural being"

This jing-qi-shen ordering is more commonly used than the variants qi-jing-shen and shen-qi-jing.

The Three Treasures or Three Jewels (Chinese: 三寶; pinyin: sānbǎo; Wade–Giles: san-pao) are theoretical cornerstones in traditional Chinese medicine and practices such as neidan, qigong, and tai chi. They are also known as jing, qi, and shen (Chinese: 精氣神; pinyin: jīng-qì-shén; Wade–Giles: ching ch'i shen; "essence, breath, and spirit")."

"The Three Treasures or Three Jewels (Chinese: 三寶; pinyin: sānbǎo; Wade–Giles: san-pao) are basic virtues in Taoism. Although the Tao Te Ching originally used sanbao to mean "compassion", "frugality", and "humility", the term was later used to translate the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) in Chinese Buddhism, and to mean the Three Treasures (jing, qi, and shen) in Traditional Chinese Medicine."
-  Three Treasures in Taoism

Guarding the Three Treasures.  By Daniel P. Reid.  Simon, 1993, 484 pages.

The Three Treasures.  By Jong Kook Baik.  2019, 397 pages.  

Dark-Enigmas of Becoming

 "Tao, Absence and Presence, tzu-jan (occurence appearing of itself), ch'i (breath-force), rivers and mountains landscape, empty-mind, no-mind, Absence-mind, mirror-mind, original source tissue mind, original-nature, original source tissue face, Buddha, dharma, inner-pattern, ch'i-thought-mind, existence-tissue, Buddha-nature, Buddha-mind, pranja-wisdom: these are the terms that describe the contours of Taoist/Ch'an ontology/cosmology.  Each term emphasizes a different aspect of that ontology/cosmology, but by now it is becoming clear that in the end they all blur into a single concept, a single linguistic darkness, and this darkness is itself the cosmological/ontological ground: that undifferentiated and generative tissue of the Cosmos seen as a single organic whole.  There was a name for this mysterious darkness: Dark-Enigma.

玄 学   

In perennial Absence you see mystery,
and in perennial Presence you see appearance.
Though the two are one and the same,
once they arise, they differ in name.

One and the same they're called dark-enigma,
dark-enigma deep within dark-enigma."

gateway of all mystery."

Translated by David Hinton, "China Root: Taoism, Ch'an, and Original Zen," 2020, p 91-92; Chapter 1, Tao Te Ching

See Also:  Neo-Taoism, Xuanxue, Learning (xue) in the Profound (xuan), 玄 学 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy  

Daodejing Concordance and Daodejing 81 Website

Concordance for the Dao De Jing, Daodejing.
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo.
2014, PDF, 101 pages.

Concordance for the Tao Te Ching. 
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo.
2014, PDF, 96 pages.

Daodejing 81 Website

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Dao De Jing by Laozi
Concordance, Selected Translations, Bibliography, Commentaries

Compilation and Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo

81 Chapters:
25 English Translations
5 Spanish Translations
Chinese Characters
Pinyin & Wade-Giles
Concordance
Bibliography & Links
Directory
Commentary
Chapter Indexes
 

Daodejing 81 Website

Concordance to the Tao Te Ching

Daodejing 81 Website

English Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching - Translator's Index

Spanish Language Versions of the Dao De Jing

Chapter Index to the Tao Te Ching

Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: A Bibliography

An Old Philosopher's Notebooks

Cloud Hands Blog Posts About the Daodejing

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tao Te Ching  Chapter Number Index Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Tao Te ChingChapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE Chart by Mike Garofalo Subject Index
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80
81

Daodejing 81 Website 

A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes 25 or more different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 or more Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter.

Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. 

An electronic Concordance for all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching is provided.

Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter. 


Chapter 7, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Concordance for the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Daodejing 81 Website

English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index

Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: A Selected Reading List

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Subject Index to 1,546 Taoist Lessons, Chapters, and Stories

Subject Index to 1,546 Taoist Lessons, Chapter, and Stories

Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
First Draft, July 23, 2023. Updated Quarterly.  PDF, 83 pages.
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington

DDJ Dao De Jing 81 Chapters Lessons Taoist

DMD 365 Tao 365 Chapters Meditations Taoist

EDT Everyday Tao 365 Chapters Lessons Tapost 

ICHI I Ching Yijing 64 Hexagrams Taoist

PG Philsopher's Garden of Insights

TFR Fireplace Records 25 Chapters Philosopher

TFTO Tales From the Tao 31 Chapters Taoist 

TGPL Lieh-Tzu 111 Chapters Lessons Taoist

TLT Lunar Tao 150 Chapters Events Taoist

VES Vitality Energy Spirit 100 Lessons Taoist 

WEN Wen-Tzu 180 Chapters Lessons Taoist

ZHUA Zhuangzi Chuang Tzu 33 Chapters Taoist

Brief Taoist Lessons, Chapters, and Stories Taoists:
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koans.htm

Subject Index to 3.855 Lessons From
Zen Buddhists, Stoics, and Solitary Taoists

Subject Index to 1,685 Zen Buddhist Koans

Subject Index to 813 Stoic Lessons, Discourses, and Letters

Subject Index to 1,546 Taoist Lessons, Chapter, and Stories

How Could He Make Up His Mind

The Fireplace Records, Chapter 13

The student asked, "One question that keeps cropping up in the Zen Buddhist koan literature is "What is the Buddha?"

I've read that Baso said, "This very mind is the Buddha." (GG 30, Sekida)
Nansen said, "Ordinary mind is the Way." (GG 19)
Baso said, "No mind, no Buddha." (GG 33)
Nansen said, "It is not mind; it is not Buddha; it is not things." (GG 27)
I've read that Nansen said: "Ordinary Mind is Buddha."
Pan Shan said, "There is nothing in the Triple World,
where can mind be found." (BCR 37)
Yun Men said, "Food in the bowl, water in the bucket." (BCR 50)."

"I am impressed by the catchy phrases, uplifted in spirit, but I am still a bit confused."

The teacher replied, "Don't agree with or believe in some of what you read. Don't concern yourself to much with what so and so said so in so. Some confusion can be productive around complex issues and concepts.  Don't make up your mind right away about important Dharma matters. Mind your mind."  

The teacher continued, "The Buddha is explained and expressed and symbolized in our ordinary lives through attentiveness, insight, dedication, compassion, gratitude, wisdom, enlightenment, being down to earth, following a spiritual path and practice, following the Precepts, seeing clearly, supporting others, etc.   So, yes, I do oftentimes hear the Buddha Dharma revealed within our ordinary minds, ordinary deeds, and our ordinary words."

The student smiled.  

The Student's Considerations:

A teacher is not necessarily a Master.
Mind my mind: Observe, Judge, Control-Act.
Don't let the mind get too closed.
Being open minded is sometimes temporary impartiality.
"Mind", mind you, is hard to define, comprehend, explain.
Act, when needed, quickly; otherwise deliberate first.    

Related Links, Resources, References

GG, Hekiganroku: Gateless Gate, Translated by Katsuki Sekida, Cases 19, 27, 30, 33. 
BCR, Blue Cliff Record, Translated by Katsuki Sekida, Cases 37, 50 

Refer to my Cloud Hands Blog Posts on the topic of Koans/Dialogues.

The Daodejing by Laozi    Best? 

Pulling Onions  Over 1,043 One-line Sayings by Mike Garofalo

Chinese Chan Buddhist and Taoist Stories and Koans

Taoism

Buddhism

Fireplaces, Stoves, Campfires, Kitchens, Pots, Firewood

Chinese Art

Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong

Meditation Methods

Zen Koan Books I Use

Koan Database Project

Sparks: Brief Spiritual Stories, Dialogues, and Encounters
Matches to Start the Kindling of Insight
May the Light from Your Inner Fireplace Help All Beings
Zen Buddhist Koan Collections
Catching Phrases, Inspiring Verses, Hard Questions
Bibliography, Indexing, Quotations, Notes, Resources
Research by Michael P. Garofalo

The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo

Taoist Studies in 2023

I have been reading, studying, and applying some of the practices of Taoism.  

Here are the books I have been reading about Taoism.

Here are my daily somatic practices, Neidan, Internal Practices, Taijiquan, in 2023.  

Here are a few of the new books I am studying:

The Way of Complete Perfection: A Quanzhen Daoist Anthology.  Selected, translated, and with an introduction by Louis Komjathy.  New York, SUNY, 2013, 448 pages, index, glossary, illustrated, notes.  VSCL.

The Taoist Tradition: An Introduction.  By Louis Komjathy.  Bloomsbury, 2013, 400 pages, illustrated, index, notes.  VSCL.

Daoism: A Short Introduction. By James Miller. Oxford, England, Oneworld Pubs., 2003. Index, bibliography, 174 pages. ISBN: 1851683151. VSCL. 

Chronicles of Tao: The Secret Life of a Taoist Master. By Deng Ming-Dao. Harper One, 1993, 476 pages. The story of Taoist master Kwan Saihung. VSCL. 

The Whole Heart of Tao: The Complete Teachings from the Oral Tradition of Lao-Tzu. By the Reverend Venerable John Bright-Fey. Crane Hill, 2006, 374 pages. VSCL. 

Books by Eva Wong.

Books by Livia Kohn.  

Books by Deng Ming-Dao

Taoism: A Bibliography, Links, Resources, Information

Chang San-Feng on Mount Pahto

Comings and Goings Around Mt. Adams (Pahto)
Chang San-Feng on Mount Pahto
By Michael P. Garofalo

I met a sturdy young man, Frank, at a campground along the Klickitat River,
far below Mt. Adams.  We talked for a good while at sunset.
He told me that he had met a fine fellow, a Mr. Chang San-Feng,
in the forest below Old Pahto; who had published a book of
poems and short essays.  I later found a copy of that book
at Klindt's Bookstore in The Dalles.  Here is one poem
from the book by Mr. Chang San-Feng:

 

"Ancient Mt. Adams glows in the last light,
winds whistling in the thick flowing firs. 

Slithering snakes in the cracks of warm
lava beds.  Dry skies: empty vastness.

A dusty camp near shallow Trout Lake, all
cooling in the darkening shadows.

Stellar Jays check my table
for crumbs.  Nothing there to eat.

Both Presence and Absence wrapped
in Becoming.  Just sit─ a mirror in the dim dusk.

Long stretches of not thinking just
listening.  The mountains are speechless.

Turning on a flashlight reveals the tent's
thin armor.  The beam pierces the walls.

The Tao unfolds itself─ moon rising
midnight.  Sleeping away losses and fears.

Coyotes calling at first hour hunting
hungry.  The hard ground gets colder.

The Yakima's named It "Pahto or Klickitat" many
centuries past.  Thus It became something human,
Something Pointed Out, Something Named,
Something Talked About, slipping away from Presence.

Some man loudly snoring and a dog barks in a nearby tent
at second hour.  My watch does not really embrace Time.

At third hour I awaken, sit up, nurturing
my liver.  I smile, alone, in passing Darkness,
without Her but within Her,
the Valley Spirit Here and Now.

At fourth hour, Buddha-Mountains disintegrate, and slowly
drying racoon crap shrivels on Buddha-Poppy seeds.  

In the distance, somewhere, out there,
Rising, rising into the black clouds, just-so,
Making Clouds Itself, As Is, and in no-mind,
the Transforming Pahto.  

I remembered something Sifu Miao Zhang once told me:
"Master Yellow-Bitterroot Mountain asked Sifu,
'What is the meaning of Old Pahto emerging in the West?'
Sifu lifted his cane and placed it in his mouth, saying nothing.
Later, zany Zen liar that Sifu was, he wrote:
"No minds, no dharmas.  No-mind, much Dharma."

Daybreak crawls in earlier in June, Solstice
Rising, Growing more Sunbeams, Ch'i
Flowing over Everything awakening.

Dawn, we are the Light, everything appearing
pristine, startling, sudden brief jolt of Insight.

After the Awakening,
roll up the sleeping bag, put on a jacket, 
eat some cereal."

Meetings with Master Chang San-Feng 
By Michael P. Garofalo

Native American Legends about Mt. Adams (Mount Phato, Mount Klickitat)  

Sifu Miao Zhang Points the Way 
By Michael P. Garofalo

Text Art: Eight Trigrams Chart

Eight Trigrams Chart
By Michael P. Garofalo

Trigrams

Tai Chi Chuan

Text Art and Concrete Poetry

Dao De Jing Concordance

Tao Te Ching Concordance

This document functions as an electronic concordance to the Daodejing by Laozi, 530 BCE.

Use the Ctrl + F keystroke combination to open the search box function in any web browser.

Then, you can search this webpage by terms (i.e., keywords, themes, subjects, topics, nouns, verbs, adverbs, or adjectives).

At present, you can search all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching indexed in this document by using words in the English language, the Spanish language, and the Wade-Giles Romanization of the Mandarin Chinese language.

This standard webpage document search tool enables you to use this Chapter Index as a Concordance to the Tao Te Ching.

Pressing the Ctrl key and the F key at the same time (Ctrl + F) in the Firefox browser opens the search box in the bottom left corner of the webpage window; in the Google Chrome browser it opens the webpage search box in the upper right corner of the webpage window; and, in the Internet Explorer browser it opens the webpage search box in the top left corner of the webpage window of the browser.

Research, Compilation and Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo.