silent thunder

hmm... should? how should you? who but you could know. who determines should and shouldn't?

the distinction of where I begin and end grows foggier of late. and describing me seems as dependent upon what seems not to be me as to what I hold as my very own self. how wonder filled!

Your sharing of words are treasure my friends! Thank you! Layers upon layers it seems, to this human process. So many layers. A repeated experience of pulling at threads and peeling back layers. for decades now, pulling and allowing layers to fall away. to find what resides at the core. an onion is an onion. even as i peel the layers. all of them, to the last, spread out along the table and in the center lies only emptiness. can i prove that an onion is an onion? when I eat it, is it still an onion? or then human? where does human end and the universe begin? The Druids considered a human was always three, simultaneously. They are who they think they are. They are who others think they are. They are, who they are. is one most true? is it dependent upon thinking, feeling? is a human with no mind, still human? Lately, the experience of non separation rings through most others. Where does my humanness begin and the universe end? My parents and many friends are decaying now. Are they still human, while they decay? Or must they move about, talking, eating and thinking to remain human? It used to seem that my skin was the barrier that separated me from the rest of all of it. Now, the unshakable experience that my skin is the very bridge, intimately linking me to the all in all. The forest seems comprised of trees. Each individual tree is not the environment. Yet each tree comprises the environment. The universe seems comprised of us. While I, seem comprised of universe.

release totally, unfolding in simple presence. true nature open... spotless. unmarkable. clear. open as the sky. sincerity of presence emanates. clarity and peace reveal. aware and present what else? Some time ago, all notions of external seeking and my previously nurtured rigidity of forms, expectations, assumptions and praxis began dissolving in presence and awareness and a turning inward. Simplicity. A growing awareness that what arises, arises naturally from tao. You are this. I struggled against this natural dissolving for some time, to no small upheaval and angst. Thankfully energy for such resistance proved fallible and eventually fell away in exhaustion and acceptance of what is. Lately I simply dissolve in presence and simple being. What bliss! What is there to seek without that does not abide within? The following quote, when first shared by fellow bum @rene flowed through me like silent thunder; I encountered it like recalling a deep-seeded memory from infancy, being held to the breast by Mother. The words settling in familiar awareness, catalyzing and reinforcing the clarifying simple truths that had already begun revealing naturally, bringing another layer of understanding. They ring with the familiarity of my own heartbeat. It is a quoted conversation between a taoist recluse, Tseng Lao-weng, and a buddhist seeker John Blofeld and is from the book The Secret and Sublime, which I highly recommend. I saturate and release into its wisdom, settling again in simplicity and smile like a child whenever I recall it: For me, it resonates through all of my being with the raw, unshakable truth of a candle in a dark room. you and i are as continuous with all life and the Tao as one wave is with the entire ocean. release into that which you are and know peace emanate your simple presence awareness what else is there?

ever unfolding life feeds on decaying life decay nurtures life

China builds toward an undustrial labor revolt. Those folks in abhorrent conditions and lack of protection are waking up and it's going to be a big ripple when they begin to move.

uh oh... well... so much for my plans this afternoon. *trundles off with singing bowl*

CCR. Like Pavlov's dog, any mention of them and I instantly wanna see the rain.

The stars compose me galaxies comprise my eyes one, in all, in one

One of my favorite instruments is the Guqin. another is the Shakuhachi flute of Japan.

Ludovico Einaudi is my new boyfriend. I only recently discovered him and shared him with my good buddy Howard: Me: omg this guy is my new boyfriend! the relational progressions in his work are so simple and yet progress into staggering depth... it's hypnotizingly awesome! Howard: oh yea, love him! he's a favorite. Me: (stunned silence) Me: how long have you been listening to Mr Einaudi? Howard: about five years. Me: five years? (viking head shake) you secretive fuck you.

Sunday Morning. time for a visit with Mr Satie.

freeoform's response resonates closely with my own experience. My teacher Zhou recommends meat for blood strength and usually refers to pork as "Big Qi" food. My wife and I have found great benefit in making dense bone broths with heavy infusions of various herbs and veggies over the last few years. Usually we make beef or chicken base, by boiling/simmering the bones of past meals for hours. Then we'll add veggies and simmer all the lovingness out of them before straining the solids and adding herbs and spices. The resulting broth/tonics are rich in nutrients and energy, while not requiring much of the digestion process. This has been particularly beneficial for her as she's been dancing with a chronic inflammation issue in her large intestine for much of her life. I enjoy having the benefit of some lovely broth on hand to sip while at work. I work in construction and find it wonderful to have a way of getting energy without having to stuff a bunch of solids in my belly while engaging in heavier work.

I didn't know you went on a bike sabbatical mate! Good on ya! I used to put about 4,500 miles a year on my bike. Camped all over the midwest throughout my teens and twenties using my bike. Biked all year round in Minnesota, even managed to make a functional metal stud tires for Winter riding. Ok, as for Ed and stones and what ifs... I've always loved a long deep conversation about what if's. It's one of the few passtimes that still engages me, while most others have lost all gravity to draw me in. I'm not bothered by questions without firm answers and as I don't believe everything I think, or hear, I enjoy thinking, listening and ruminating on many things that some parts of my own mind, society at large and even family/friends don't like to engage in. Always have preferred a good unfolding question, to a pat firm answer. This questioning drew me to my path, over the last few years the reason why some of my teachers offered serious warnings about entering the path have become evident. It is rather shattering to steadily and relentlessly have all notions one thought to be unchangeable certainties, once rock solid foundations for interacting with life, dissolve like fog. Of course, there seems to be nothing solid about rock. Physics has been comfortable talking about this for over a century now. It's all a matter of frequency, resonance and vibration. Tesla comes to mind as a resonant author on the subject. The Tibetans are noted to have been using acoustic levitation in the buidling of shrines on cliffsides. Here in the west we're now using standing sound waves to float tiny needles along channels. Magnetism is used to levitate thousands of tons of train along tracks at moderate speed. I love Nunners. He's a friend. I don't mind, nor am I surpristed he finds our conversation about the possibilites of Ed absurd and ridiculous. I am ridiculous. I remind myself (as does my wife and close friends). I welcome the voice of certainty, even when i can't share it. Fortunately, I don't believe everything I think. I do still like to play with thinking a bit though. Some time ago this notion arose in awareness. "just because you thought it creighton, doesn't make it real, true, or even important. it's just a thought... you have 50,000 a day, don't believe everything you think." They're just thoughts, have fun with them once in a while. So few pleasantries left in the process. Lately, I regularly don't even believe what I see and hear. The interpretations of the fraction of life's that enters my eyes and ears I no longer confuse with what is really 'out there'. Not sure there's even an 'out there' at all any more... Still tend to believe what I taste, smell and touch. But given the way my path has been unfolding these last few years... my gal has watched in dismay and love as I've slowly dissolved from the man she married to the fluid, amorphous field of awareness I'm unfolding into... nothing much surprises my close friends when it comes to unexpected things coming from my face hole. So here's some more fun from my headspace to yours. Here's an article related to what Swedish Dr Jarl observed regarding Tibetan Acoustic Levitation practices in the creation of shrines high up on cliffsides back in the 1940's. This report from civil engineer and flight manager, Henry Kjelson and a similar one by engineer Olaf Alexanderson describe this acoustic levitation phenomenon in the publication. Implosion No. 13. They relate to observations made by Dr Jarl. A friend of theirs who while attending Oxford, befriended a Tibetan Monk, who in 1939, implored Dr Jarl to travel to Tibet to help treat a high Lama who was ill. While there, Dr Jarl witnessed and later would return and film the process of Tibetan monks levitating large stones up a cliff side using acoustics. The film of course is in the possession of the Royal Science Academy vaults, but the conversations remain. Acoustic Levitation of Stones Fun stuff. Glad you brought it up, haven't had a nice bone to chew in a long while. Edit to add: The first part of this blog post is a repeat of the Tibetan article, but in the second half, he delves into Ed's work with magnetism and his own exploration of electricity. While this article deals solely and more indepth with Ed's exploration of the current of magnetic flow and electricity. Fascinating reads.

Often have this on loop in the background these days.

That still shot is from one of my all time favorite animated series Mushi-shi. The chief illustrator of the manga is Yuki Urushibara. Ginko, the character in the shot, is a mushishi, a wandering shaman of sorts who can see and influence the realm of mushi (ethereal beings neither human nor animal). Wherever the crossover between the worlds of mushi and earth brings conflict, he wanders in, drawn to the area where he then attends a slow, meditative, deliberate process of bringing balance, if he can. Fascinatingly presented, with insightful writing. It's a real gem in my opinion.

I love the Corral Castle. I happened upon the story of Edward Leedskalnin some thirty years ago while researching a character for a play. What a fascinating man. I spent many long hours fascinatedly reading up on his life and his work, where I could find it. Edward built the Corral Castle, entirely by himself using the simplest of tools (a few key unique ones he fashioned himself), in tribute to the woman he loved, who left him at the altar in his homeland of Latvia when he was a young man. He was crushed and would carry the torch for her, the rest of his life, never marrying another and eventually dedicating his life to shaping the monument of his love. For a time he lost himself in books and the library, where he claims, eventually he happened upon an understanding and proclaimed to have figured out how the Egyptians were able to work stone the way they did. He moved to Canada. He contracted Tuberculosis from which he recovered, no small accomplishment in the late 1800's. Having moved to Florida and consulting survey maps, he decided upon and purchased what was considered an odd plot of land by the relal estate crowd, but it was just what Ed was seeking, a particular type of stone. He would spend the rest of his life carving and placing the monuments in his castle. He worked by himself usually by night, always spurring any offers of assistance, and was a distinct oddity to his neighbors. The gate to his castle weighs several tons and was so perfectly balanced on the post which ran through it's core, that a young girl could open it with one hand. Several times Edward was approached by the Army Corp of Engineers, inquiring as to his methods for moving massive stones by himself, a diminutive man of 100=110 lbs, with minimal tools. One time, he was beaten and hospitalized, but recovered and never shared his methods. When the bearings in his main gate doorway needed replacing. The Army Corp of Engineers arrived with a team of engineers and a full spec of construction gear. They were able to rehang the door with considerable difficulty on its pivot with new bearings, but those with experience at the castle claim it has never worked as smoothly as the original hang. Partially through his construction, Edward soured on its location and decided to move it all some 10-20 miles away to another site. Neighbors reported offering to help load massive stones when they sat near his truck, during the move. He always refused any aid and the following morning, the neihbors would scratch their heads as the massive stones would be loaded in the truck overnight. He wrote a paper on magnetism, which I could not comprehend, but it seemed central to his process. I read and reread it dozens of times. It's just beyond me. I have a theory that magnetic fielding of the earth is unique to each meter, the magnetically sensitive gland in the brain of a salmon allows it to follow the current or flow of magnetism to its birth place, because of this unique 'magnetic fingerprint'. So if one can find this frequency, could it be possible to generate a magnetic resonance of a stone to cause its polarity to match that of the local earth field, causing the same bouyant resistance that we use to float massive trains on magnetic cushions and levitate along the tracks when they weigh millions of tons? Such a joy to ruminate on this stuff. I'm so grateful to Ed and his dedication to expressing himself so monumentally, mysteriously and privately, simultaneously. Here's a picture of the 'magnetic current' tool he fashioned for his work. Its entire structure is like an altar piece of sacred geometry. I may have that paper on magnetism in my old files. I'll root around and see if it's here if you're interested in giving it a go.

the following just arose in awareness: as above, so below heal the heart, heal the whole

Life flows. Never static, always flowing and unfolding in presence. No thing is unchanging and beyond shift. Reality expreses plural and mutable.

You had me at "I always wanted to be a turtle..." Welcome to the Bums friend. Your name makes me smile.

I'm going to channel some Robert Anton Wilson and share my interpretation of the last few months of news I've been reading: Every border between nations does not represent a line of peaceful intent, so much as it demarks the place where two rival gangs grew tired of killing each other and agreed to stop... for now. Seems as a species we haven't grown tired yet. All perception is based on gamble. We do not perceive the world as it is, but as we have been conditioned to interpret it. We interpret the signals of perception through the filter of our familial and social programming and assume that this is reality. It is not. Our family and society (politics/religion), shape our perceptive interpretation. They reinforce, reward and punish our interpretation as it is shaped into a Reality Tunnel. This tunnel is usually finished by age 7 and changing it is nigh on impossible requiring monumental effort and an alarming degree of discomfort and outright pain. Ask anyone diligently devoted to a path of spiritual awakening if confirmation is desired. When our interpretations are in accord with our society, we are called normal. Once the tunnel is formed anything that does not conform to our projected interpretation is refuted as illusory and false. This is the basis of Naive Realism, which has been refuted since the time of The Stoics. Yet the mostly invisible process of intepreting is sub conscious and gives rise to such firm reinforced beliefs that it pre-determines our notions of normal and strange, beautiful and ugly, good and bad in spite of the raw information arising in our environment; and is why facts presented in debate seldom influence the opposition's reality interpretation. Whatever facts presented by nature, or an opponent's argument that do not meet our expectation and interpretation, will be ignored, refuted, or attacked outright as falsehood; while those that reinforce our interpretation are held up as banners of truth and shouted at opponents as 'obvious'. Certitude is siezed by some minds, not because there is any philosophical justification for it, but because such minds have an emotional need for certitude. There is great comfort in certainty. The last years of my practice have brought me a very painful understanding of why some teacher's try and shy potential students away from spiritual pursuits. It's heart breakingly and mind shattering to have one's previously held comforting notions of assumptions, projections and beliefs of reality, of 'how things are' to be relentlessly and unavoidably dissolved, shattered and melted like fog in sunshine. Borders of Nations are imaginary walls just as certainties of belief are imaginary fortresses. Each are built to prop up the illusory notion of safety, and lend the individual a sense homogeny and control. The laws of the tribe are not the laws of Tao. Absolute certainty is the realm of the arrogant ignorant... and of that, I'm absolutely certain. wait... oh shit.

@rene I recall March in Minnesota. Relentless is the word I'd ascribe to it and on average it starts with a glimpse of Spring to come, then is the heaviest snowfall month of the Season. I never minded Winter all that much, but March was an endurance test. Those drifts are very real. Respect. It was all worth it for me when those Earth shaking Thunderstorms in April kicked in though. Gaia how I miss those!