Another double posting, Peter (this time only 3 minutes apart). I am taking a Tao break (just a joke 😊) and will get back to you later.

* Hi Thomas: I was wondering if you read the message I addressed to you 2 days ago (Dec 6) right above? It may be that you didn’t notice it.

Hi Peter:

In your 2nd message yesterday (the one you addressed to everyone) you expressed (I am paraphrasing and will use the 1st person) that peace and flow don’t come from trying harder. They come when I stop forcing, relax, and let life express itself through me. Then rules and techniques don’t disappear; they become so deeply part of me that my actions flow naturally.

Developing my thoughts: your phrase “heaven beneath our feet” is a poetic way of saying that the sacred/ peace/ ultimate reality isn’t somewhere far away — it’s already present right here, in ordinary life. You’re rejecting the idea that heaven (or peace, or enlightenment) is something you reach later, after effort or achievement. Instead, it’s always underfoot — part of each step, each moment.

I don’t “climb up” to heaven; I simply notice the ground I’m already walking on. It’s like walking in a beautiful garden while worrying about finding paradise somewhere else. The moment I stop searching, I realize paradise is already under my feet — the grass, the earth, the present moment.

When serious problems arise, “heaven beneath our feet” would mean remembering that peace and clarity are already here. By relaxing into that presence, my actions become more natural, less forced, and often more effective. When facing a problem, I need to remind myself: I can’t fix everything today, but I can take one clear step. And I need to pause and rest so to not make big decisions in the heat of panic.

Rushing to fix is like thrashing in quicksand — the harder I flail, the deeper I sink. It’s trying to fix everything at once and making decisions in the heat of panic,, being panic‑driven and reactive while Flow is calm, present, and allows the next right step to emerge naturally, one step at a time.

And now, to your most recent post. Here you’re saying that Flow doesn’t mean shutting down my emotions or pretending I don’t care. It means to feel what’s already here, but not to pile extra struggle on top. For example: If I feel grief, let myself feel it. But don’t add the mental fight like “this shouldn’t have happened” or “I wish I could change the past.”

Non‑attachment= not clinging to what can’t be changed, not fighting reality.

I can still feel sadness, still care deeply, still honor what mattered to me, and at the same time, let go of the argument with reality/ stop the inner fight like “this shouldn’t have happened” or “I must undo it.”/ stop endlessly resisting what already happened and cannot be changed.

You added that self‑approval reduces self‑criticism, and therefore, it’s helpful. But if you tie it too tightly to “flow,” it can become another form of striving — like trying to score points for being good at flowing. Flow is just noticing feelings without effort, without grading myself.

“For tonight: take one slow exhale. Notice one thing you did today that came naturally. Let your body settle.
May you have a good Tao night of sleep and rest. Amen.”- Thank you for and for the 2 messages I processed in this post and for the excellent advice, will do tonight. Actually, will do today. You are a good Flow Instructor, Peter 🙏🙏🙏

🤍 Anita

Hi Peter:

I just noticed the message you addressed to me a bit more than 4 hours ago, thank you! I will answer Mon morning. I do hope to have a Tao night..

Dear me: I didn’t notice your message until just now.. and am not focused enough to give you my opinion. I’ll get back to you first thing Mon morning, please add any more information that can help me understand better before I’m back to you in the morning.

🤍 Anita

Hi Everyone:

I’d like to share my study this morning:

Non‑dual means “not two.” In traditions like BUDDHISM and ADVAITA VEDANTA (I’d refer to it as AVE), both originated in India, reality is seen as one unified whole. The division between “me” and “the world,” or “good” and “bad,” is considered a mental construction.

From this view, pain itself may exist, but the suffering comes from the mind’s stories — expectations, judgments, and resistance. For example: You feel pain in your body. That’s real. But when the mind says, “This shouldn’t be happening, I’ll never be happy again,” that’s where suffering multiplies.

The “ego” here means the sense of a separate self that clings to desires and fears. If you let go of that clinging, the suffering dissolves, even if pain remains.

In non‑dual philosophy, everything that happens is seen as part of the whole. Judging events as “right” or “wrong” is considered an ego activity — it divides reality into categories. Example: A storm destroys a village. From a human perspective, that’s tragic. From a non‑dual perspective, it’s simply “what is.” The storm isn’t morally wrong; it’s part of nature.

Some mystics extend this to say even atrocities are “just what is.” This is where it becomes controversial, because it can sound like excusing harm. To someone living through trauma, saying “there is no right or wrong” can feel dismissive or dangerous.

Buddhism and AVE both talk about suffering and “right/wrong,” but they approach it differently:

* Buddhism- The Buddha taught that suffering (dukka) is real and comes from desire, craving, and attachment. Buddhism does not deny morality. In fact, it emphasizes ethical living through the Five Precepts and the Eightfold Path (right view, right speech, right action, etc.). The Key idea: Suffering can be reduced by living ethically, practicing mindfulness, and letting go of unhealthy desires. Buddhism says: “Yes, suffering exists. Live ethically and mindfully to ease it.”

* AVE- it teaches that from the highest perspective/ from the ULTIMATE LEVEL, everything is Brahman- pure consciousness; the absolute reality. Good and bad are distinctions made by the mind, but in truth, all is one. Suffering comes from ignorance — believing we are separate individuals rather than part of one universal consciousness. From this perspective, distinctions like “good” and “evil,” “criminal” and “victim,” are part of māyā (illusion). They don’t exist in the absolute sense because all is one.
AVE also recognizes the vyavahārika satya (“conventional truth”), which is the everyday world we live in. In this realm, karma, dharma, and ethics still apply. People are held responsible for their actions, and justice matters.
Śaṅkara (the key AVE philosopher) himself emphasized that while ultimate reality is non‑dual, in daily life one must follow ethical duties (dharma) and social responsibilities. AVE says: “Suffering seems to exist, but ultimately it’s illusion. Realize your true Self and it disappears.” It does not encourage ignoring or excusing atrocities. Instead, it says: “On the highest level, good and evil dissolve into oneness.” On the everyday level, ethical responsibility and justice remain essential.

This two‑tiered view (ultimate vs. conventional truth) is similar to Buddhism’s distinction between absolute truth and relative truth. It distinguishes between two levels of truth: the ultimate (absolute) and the conventional (everyday). At the ultimate level, all distinctions dissolve into oneness, but at the conventional level, ethical duties and justice remain essential.

Think of Brahman as the ocean. Waves can be calm or violent, but the ocean itself is not “good” or “evil.” It simply is. Human suffering and atrocities are like stormy waves — real at the surface, but ultimately part of the same ocean.

* In Christianity, God is wholly good and ethics matter always; moral responsibility is central. in AVE, Brahman is beyond good/evil categories. Ethics matter in daily life, but dissolve at ultimate level.

Mystics often say: Live by relative truth, realize ultimate truth.

A simple analogy- Think of a movie:
Relative truth: The story, characters, and drama are real while you’re watching.
Ultimate truth: Behind it all, it’s just light on a screen. (The Blank Canvas, Peter).

In short: Relative truth is the world of appearances and ethics; ultimate truth is the deeper reality where dualities dissolve. Both are valid, but they operate at different levels.

AVE Advaita emphasizes vairāgya (detachment). This doesn’t mean indifference, but freedom from being emotionally tossed around by ups and downs. You can feel calm even in difficult situations.

In Buddhism, non‑duality (emptiness, śūnyatā) means no one exists independently. This insight often leads to greater compassion: if all beings are interconnected, helping others feels natural. Non‑duality dissolves the feeling of isolation. Believers often describe feeling “at home” in the universe, connected to everything and everyone.

Emotional benefits: If you believe that your true self (Ātman in Advaita, or awareness in Buddhism) is beyond birth and death, then fear of loss, illness, or even death lessens. You see these as temporary appearances, not ultimate reality. Non‑duality teaches that clinging to “me vs. you,” “success vs. failure,” or “gain vs. loss” creates suffering. Realizing that all is one helps loosen these attachments, bringing emotional balance.

Believing in non‑duality doesn’t erase pain, but it changes the emotional relationship to pain and joy. Instead of being trapped in fear, grief, or attachment, you cultivate calm, compassion, and a sense of unity.

End of study.

🤍 Anita

I suppose the thread is ongoing, Feelings for coworker.. who likes nature pictures and.. you!