Taoism

I did make a highly Taoist documentary back in the day.
And this kind of reveals my idea of Taoism that it is about a pretty slow and gentle process, not something you can condense without turning it into its antithesis. Anyway, this film is subtitled.





On this occasion, it was two days of shooting and a few weeks editing, finding the structure that allows for the story to be told most elegantly, I was introduced into a form of meditation far smoother, more Taoist, than I knew up to the point. And this is how I have always approach documentaries - I need to be able to learn from someone. I would film Picasso, and Id film Trump, just as I wanted very badly to film this man, Johannes van de Weert.

Its my opinion that value is definitely not reduced if it is exposed at length. Just like I don't think a flower needs to grow really fast to smell good.

This is an example of an exemplary life. Thats when I make a film about a person, when I feel he or she is truly archetypically exemplary as a psychology. For this, I have to already have seen something of someones personal life.

My films about People include one about Sauwelios which he has reasonably asked me to not post or emphasize as it is shot in the most vulnerable of times in his life, the beginning of this century... its not on one of my main accounts. But its out there.....

Then, I did the film my Turkish friend after the filmmaker Theo Van Gogh was murdered for religious reasons.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

my friend Ayberk comported himself with nobility, which was hard then as a muslim - he did not betray or apologize, he just went with me into the fire to get the got coals out.

Then I made this...



Which clearly is very emotive and personal.

Then, this, which is very clinical but no less personal



And after that, I fell into VO and then the first filming I did was with Pezer. Which is absolute mayhem of material I can not yet make sense out of at all.

All this to illustrate - I don't make films very often, and when I do they are always about my friends, or family .



So Ill have to invite Peterson for a drink to begin with. Cant guarantee there is going to be love, and film really needs a lot of that to be alchemic.

Goproing JPs lectures, C?

You are a great visual artist, musician, storyteller... I refuse to believe I am the only one who can do this, film is the philosophical art par excellence - as it is the most comprehensive and thus risky one.

This is why everyones first film will in some way be violent.
Wheres your will to violence, theres your will to film. The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Terminator, Gone With The Wind, Reservoir Dogs Pulp Fiction, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, The Good, Sergio Leone's films were all his first films except Once Upon A Time In The West, which was like his last film and Once Upon A Time in America, which - well, is weird, so weird that Il leave it at that.

I don't want to be violent. I want to be patient. That is my violence to myself, as I have learned it in the West.
Germany is Rome. Its really the most Roman remainder of that early nation of our people. I have seen small violences not even occur. Ive seen the compliance. I know the war history. Where you have the Civil War, we have so many humiliations next to our one founding victory. And yet here we are... and yet here is Germany, of which can be said much the same but also something else, namely that it just so happens to be able to value the European continent in its own terms without being countered in any efficient way. It is just the most efficient way of doing what Europeans do. Which is being cold hearted bastards with a soul of gold.

Fixed Cross wrote:

I did make a highly Taoist documentary back in the day.
And this kind of reveals my idea of Taoism that it is about a pretty slow and gentle process, not something you can condense without turning it into its antithesis. Anyway, this film is subtitled.

On this occasion, it was two days of shooting and a few weeks editing, finding the structure that allows for the story to be told most elegantly, I was introduced into a form of meditation far smoother, more Taoist, than I knew up to the point. And this is how I have always approach documentaries - I need to be able to learn from someone. I would film Picasso, and Id film Trump, just as I wanted very badly to film this man, Johannes van de Weert.

Its my opinion that value is definitely not reduced if it is exposed at length. Just like I don't think a flower needs to grow really fast to smell good.

Yes, those were very Taoist. He mentioned Zen. Zen: Japanese culture with Buddhism and Taoism added for a philosophy compatible with Japanese thought. There is also a bit of Hindu influence in there too.

Detaching one's self from the outcome is very important with Chuang Tzu. Just as with Johannes.

Violence is something we must disattach ourself from whenever we must engage in the acts.

To do what needs be done; nothing more, nothing less.

Sisyphus wrote:

Fixed Cross wrote:

I did make a highly Taoist documentary back in the day.
And this kind of reveals my idea of Taoism that it is about a pretty slow and gentle process, not something you can condense without turning it into its antithesis. Anyway, this film is subtitled.

On this occasion, it was two days of shooting and a few weeks editing, finding the structure that allows for the story to be told most elegantly, I was introduced into a form of meditation far smoother, more Taoist, than I knew up to the point. And this is how I have always approach documentaries - I need to be able to learn from someone. I would film Picasso, and Id film Trump, just as I wanted very badly to film this man, Johannes van de Weert.

Its my opinion that value is definitely not reduced if it is exposed at length. Just like I don't think a flower needs to grow really fast to smell good.

Yes, those were very Taoist.  He mentioned Zen.  Zen: Japanese culture with Buddhism and Taoism added for a philosophy compatible with Japanese thought.  There is also a bit of Hindu influence in there too.

Detaching one's self from the outcome is very important with Chuang Tzu.  Just as with Johannes.

You have a deep understanding then of what Johannes does.

Fixed Cross wrote:

You have a deep understanding then of what Johannes does.

Yes, I think I would accept that assertion. His work (art) is Zen though, not Taoist.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I hope this link works. The picture is Taoist Landscape painting.

Forgive me, but

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

thats too beautiful.

Could you say something about the difference in attitudes, outlooks, walks and ways of life between a Taoist and a Zen... individual?
I could speculate, but I am closer to Zen, but with an extension into existentialist western philosophy which is most certainly not Taoist yet. There is no possible path yet. That is the thing, Zen is the point, Tao is the path... Zen the circle, Tao the wandering line. Maybe. See, I did speculate.

Thanks. I'm glad you appreciated the picture.

From my perspective, one of the most important aspects of Taoist Landscape painting is that Earth is always the center theme. Man is present but minimalized. Therefore, for me, Nature and her Ways, or, the Way of Tao, is what is to be considered most highly as opposed to how man can manipulate nature.


You have requested of me a consideration that I am incapable of dealing with. I do not know enough about Zen to be able to make a fair comparison between Zen and Taoism.

Yes, I understand that you are rooted in Western Philosophy. I wouldn't have put you into the basket of Existentialists though. Neither Nietzsche or Camus fit into that basket.

I would likely associate Zen more with Confucius than I would with Lao Tzu or Chuang Tzu but this is because of my lack of knowledge of Zen. This is because Buddhism, Confucianism, and Western Philosophy concentrate on changing the nature of man whereas this is given little attention in Taoism. In fact, Chuang Tzu argues very strongly against attempting to change the true nature of man.


But I will entertain such a discussion if you present to me some root Zen concepts. This would allow me to make a comparison.



I have tried to inspire one of the Taoist forum members to continue to post Taoist Landscape paintings in his thread. We'll see how that goes. I know that I will have to get directly involved in order to continue to inspire him to do more.

Wonderful, yes the picture directly brings across the idea of Earth. It was the first and only thought I had staring at it.
I sent it to Pezer, whose philosophy revolve around what he calls "the earth molecule".

The difference with Zen may be that Zen is not really saying this or that about nature and man - one can be quite Zen in a city apartment.  Yet, a Zen-walker and a Tao-walker would share very good walks.

Fixed Cross wrote:

Wonderful, yes the picture directly brings across the idea of Earth. It was the first and only thought I had staring at it.
I sent it to Pezer, whose philosophy revolve around what he calls "the earth molecule".

The difference with Zen may be that Zen is not really saying this or that about nature and man - one can be quite Zen in a city apartment.  Yet, a Zen-walker and a Tao-walker would share very good walks.

Great. Nothing wrong with sharing.


Perhaps this could be one of the differences between the two philosophies. Lao Tzu made some pretty strong statements. He had a tendency toward anarchy but just couldn't go there.

So am I to understand that Zen in more concerned with man, his self-realization, and his interactions with other humans?

The one thing I can't stand about Taoism and Zen is the platitudes.

Yeah, I went there. Deal with it.

Thrasymachus wrote:

The one thing I can't stand about Taoism and Zen is the platitudes.

Yeah, I went there. Deal with it.

So you think that repetition is not a good teacher? I don't think so.

Many time people do not understand what was said even though they pretend they do. To say the same thing over and over again using different words gives the listener (reader) a better chance of understanding the concept.

Loa Tzu actually spoke to this


Tao Te Ching, Robert Henricks' translation, Chapter 41

1. When the highest type of men hear the Way, with diligence they’re able to practice it;
2. When the average men hear the Way, some things they retain and others they lose;
3. When the lowest type of men hear the Way, they laugh out loud at it.