Discussing waiting in the Way and the last line triggered the beautiful, the beyond beautiful to be honest. Obviously.
Here we talk about the beautiful beautiful influences in my life, influences that may be able to influence you too, starting with one of the best of the best.
Nothing, the very best something
Doing nothing often leads to the very best something, Winnie the Pooh, so so beautiful. The best of the best characters in my world.
It’s true, sit back and chill, be still, keep the thoughts away and all of sudden great things, the greatest of things happen.
We don’t need to say too much here, I’m pointing you in the direction of a book, ridiculously great book. Introduction to Taoism told through the story of Winnie and his mates in Hundred Acre Wood.
The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff.
Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, referred to it a bunch of times. A book, series of books by Douglas Adams. Fantastic read, a lot of it doesn’t make sense, contradicts itself and does a whole bunch of other stuff in the process. Makes perfect sense when one starts to understand what the series actually is.
There is a movie, one of my favourites of all time and a TV series which is a bit harder to find, all great.
About the only thing to understand about it all is that it is clearly a man trying to interpret, integrate and makes some sort of sense of his psychedelic journeys. DMT in particular.
Many of the themes and scenarios expressed in the books are those which just about everybody comes across in their freedom, healing, opening pathway. These materials are Douglas’s experiences, yours will be different, they will be the same.
What’s it all about
Doctor Carl Totton, just found out he is dead, knew he was unwell, sad. Talk about beautiful beautiful laughs, phenomenally beautifiul laughs, ridiculously beautiful man.
Podcast,what’s this Tao all about? Doc here gone, his partner in crime still going, Tod Perry, new bloke with him, George Thompson. Haven’t listened to it since Carl became sick.
One of my favourite moments is when a listener sent in feedback due to them speaking politics quite a bit, Carl, Tod, politics has absolutely no place in Taoism.
I laughed before Carl laughed, then Carl and Todd laughed, three people on the opposite sides of the world belly laughing together. Reckon there was a shitload more of us too. Like, Taoism, is literally politics 101. Well, it is not, it is politics 101 without being a complete ignorant piece of weak coward shit trash politician like Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump. Every politician alive currently actually.
What’s this Tao all about, bloody good listen, probably can find it on most podcast applications.
Australian Aboriginal Background
Look, honestly, the following materials, well one of them is not beyond beautiful. In fact Truganini is one of the most difficult materials I have accessed. To say it is a hard read is a very very gentle term.
However we, Australians, need to start understanding from a position of true understanding. Becoming more intimate with our backgrounds, the two resources I am about to introduce are a starting point.
Dark Emu, Bruce Pascoe, a pretty easy read on the background of First Nations life with an emphasis on sedentary lifestyles (rather than the hunter and gatherer narrative which is rubbish). Most importantly the book is highlighted as it brings attention to the history of my own backyard: Alvie, Colac, Corangamite in general.
The other, Truganini, Cassandra Pybus, a very tough book to read. It is heartbreaking in every way, the most disgusting of digusting, pain in every page. It is also hard to read from an English perspective, requires patience, time to invest in the read. Horrible horrible book. Highly recommended read.