your statement has brought confusion.

Perhaps I do not understand then the Tao.

One can not 'follow' the Tao.

One either is or is not.

Tao is not a journey it is a state of being.

Or perhaps my understanding is limited and my knowledge is lacking.

The deeper the navel, the more often one must clean it...

after due contemplation of the patterns in the lint.

What I meant is one who is a Taoist
The Way(Tao) is much much more than a state of being
Tao is in all that exist
it is the Journey and is the end of it if there was a such thing as the end

without begining/without end.

No start No destination.

Therefore it simply is.

More than my state of being.

Yet my part of it is all that I am.

my way.

Sometimes I feel like an "absent-minded professor." I seem smart in some ways but "not too bright" when it comes to everyday and practical matters...I think I'd enjoy living life as a monk or scientist in a cave or lab and be able to devote myself to my selected studies...But this is not the case...I have to function in the "everyday world" and deal with "real life" whether I feel like it or not. How about you?

Acording to some, I'm dumb as a post.

I'm deep enough to realise why some would say that and to realise that what those people think doesn't matter to me.

A wise person doesn't have to state how wise they are...

Very valid question... and the answer is on your doorstep.

I gave up the rat race, the wish to propagate my genes, the dream of finding a girl to love, and most material goods when I decided I am not that motivated to fight for these things.

I turned my attention to my thoughts instead. I live on welfare, I dress like a bum, and I am austracised from most company I was part of before. Girls reject me site unseen, and run like hell when they see me.

All it takes is a decision... today's society is strong and wealthy and fair enough to support you. If you have obligations, such as social, financial, or family-type, then you can't do it, granted. You must disattach yourself from your "stuff" first.

I am realizing, it is striking me at this moment, that Buddha said the same thing. I resent that he is God and I am still just a loser little f........k.

Not in the sense that one follows a moving object. But if you are being with th tao, you could be said to be 'following the tao' in the sense that one follows a path through the woods.

a nice thing is you can be a very intelligent and wise and still function in everyday life


a wise man knows how to manage expectations haha

-- you're right. I expect to die one day, too.

I step out of my "cave" every so often to be part of everyday life...I interact with others and observe and study human nature...I take "notes" in my head while I am "out." Then I go back to my "cave" and process what I have seen and heard and experienced.

Years ago, I had read an abstract of a University study (I believe from Harvard Medical School, but not sure) that looked at many individual parameters in a large population sample to determine what defines an Intelligent person.

I thought their conclusion was interesting. They concluded that there was one major difference between intelligent people :) and ....less than intelligent people :(

The intelligent people realize and recognize what they do not know. The not so bright people don't realize they aren't bright. An excellent modern example is Sarah Palin (You can draw your own conclusion as to which group she belongs to) :)

I suppose so.

Yet the 'tao' as it applies to you moves with you. So then do you 'journey' or does it 'journey with you'...

not the path but the steps you take.
Each time you take a step the 'tao' is renewed yet stay with you it does.

Most people who know me discribe me as smart...but i do not agree with them because i am not very knowledgeable on a vast array of subjects...however when it comes to common sense i have to agree i have been blessed with a surplus supply...as for the meaning of deep--i relate to having lots of emotion..and that as well i have plenty of....feelings are important to me...whether it is a good feeling like love or admiration or respect of something...and vice versa and they run through my inner being making me who i am

The Tao or The Way if you will you can become one with it and harmonize yourself with it but I think only a fool will try to follow it, Tao is in everything and is everywhere if you follow it you'll look crazier than a chicken with his head cut off

I'm definitely deep. I don't know how you would messure intellect I've made my share of bad choices but at the same time I've been told by people in their late 50's that they've learned from me and I was worthy enough to have my former boss ask my advice and opinions throughout the crumbling of his marriage. I'd have to take an IQ test I guess but I'm definitely deep.

I think I'm just below average intelligence/smartness. I don't think I'm all that deep either. I do think deepness takes intelligence/smartness. I guess smartness would be the facts/data and memorization of such, intelligence would be the depth of your comprehension, articulation, and what not. I don't know...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning-Kruger_effect

I am not sure what many poeple would call deep, myself I think its a mark of curiosity not intelligence. Deep people are people who are so curious about the world they cannot help but have such a wide range of knowledge becuase of this insatiable curiosity. Does not mean they are the first to solve interesting problems, or even can manage complex topics, just have such a range of experience and skills.

So, when you get back to your cave, what are the results of your studies?

Can you interact with others without having an impact on the observation? So, by the fact you are out "interacting" doesn't that skew the results? Are you sure you are actually seeing "everyday life?"

People can be smart in different ways. Thinking beyond your own life/reality (and eventually relating that back to your self) is what I would call "deep".

GreenEyes, just the fact that you are thinking about it means you are "deep". : )