silent thunder

i get what you're saying and perhaps contentment is not conveying the semantics of what I'm experiencing and attempting to convey, but so far, it's the only word that fits for me. The contentment I'm referring to, does not seem to arise as a result of any achievement or contemplation of a concept, or the result of any particular input of the conditions about my local awareness or from my local awareness' reflecting to and of the greater whole of Indra's Net. Another way to phrase it might be it is a sensing and acknowledging what is as is, an expression of acceptance in abiding. A very mundane sense of my own beingness as one is, where one is and this abides as the ground state of not needing, seeking of, or seeking to dismiss any of the conditions of which local awareness finds itself a part of... a ground state recognition and release of beingness simultaneously part of the whole and an expression of the whole. Gah, words are often such tiny things when relating to experiences. I'll let this attempt rest here for now, perhaps another set of words will arise that may convey more the sense of what I'm experiencing and trying to share. G'day mate, thanks for your contributions, as always they are deeply appreciated and help me to know my own self better through their reflection.

I'll echo the sentiment of iinati regarding perpetual bliss and even its more moderate cousin happiness which have been revealed as manic, unsustainable states resulting from craving and desire. I used to crave happiness as a state to be maintained indefinitely as if it were some expression and result of progress on 'the way' but now happiness is revealed as hollow as fear in its insubstantiality and unsustainability and i no longer seek it, nor seek to sustain it. Contentment however, appears to be a potential foundational state, requiring no upkeep but seemingly arises as a side effect of abiding as one is, where one is. Perhaps it's a matter of semantics and my definition of bliss. I suspect this is often the case in discussions of such concepts and esoteric frameworks.

Nothing unique about motion capture in video games lois. It's industry standard.

Fair enough old chap. We all have our triggers and you seem to have found your balance and have a good heart and a deep knowledge and commitment to learning and following your path. Good on ya mate.

Pits are for digging and dirt is for filling...

That's a crazy video @Taomeow. Is that pressure from rain runoff causing that? Did anyone mention? Never witnessed that myself. Here in South Bay it's been steady welcome rain and drizzle and minor winds, had we not been tracking the news we wouldn't have known anything unusual was occurring at all. It still amazes me how pocketed the weather can be in SoCal. Seems the brunt of HIlary moved inland to the East of us. How are things with you @manitou ? I hear Palm Springs got some of it. We also had an earthquake similar timing to the one down south, but it was centered 62 miles north of us in Ojai and was a 5.2. Here it was little more than a momentary jostle but enough that my son and I paused our game and glanced at each other... then resumed our fun. All in all it's been the most mellow summer of my 23 years here in terms of temps. Don't think we broke 90 degrees once this season and June gloom is still in fell effect each morning, most days it's stayed marine layer lovely gloomy and cloudy right up till sunset. Honestly if things keep on the way they have the last 3 years in Summer, I may decide to stay here when I retire fully. Love to my fellow bums.

Well worded and insightful responses GreatAutumn. And inevitably, when nothing comes of this practice, those offering the program (and taking your money) will blame you for not being dedicated enough to achieve what is being offered. Hopefully for those who take the bait, it is merely a blank and nothing truly comes of it and they walk away unscathed (a bit lighter in pocket but richer in experience of what not to pursue), as opposed to the very real potential for deeply disturbing their system in ways that can take many cycles to recondition along with much discomfort and disruption to body mind and life. Remember folks, a little knowledge is a very very dangerous thing. Every time I encounter such offers I pause and send gratitude to my teachers for their time, effort and skill in learning and carrying on a proven tradition, and then for being able and willing to teach in a dedicated and appropriate manner that will bring results and not harm. And I am also reminded that these arts are marathons, not sprints. Turtle not hare. One could not pay me 10x what they ask in price, to engage with them in this 'course'.

well... at least you're not bitter about it.

I forgot about that rail line. Woof! That one's days are numbered. I used to climb similar bluffs on the coast of Palos Verde. No longer.

When I poke my nose into the news at any point these daze... I'm struck by the keen insight of Samuel Clemens' quote regarding news. "If you don't read the news, you're uninformed, if you read the news, you're misinformed." That always comes to mind along with the old Chinese curse which once heard, has never left my mind. "May you live in interesting times.

I'm right there with you on the unpopular nature of my paradigm of reality. Been that way all my life, and it's only become more intense noticeable as cycles pass. and as for SoCal and the ridiculous oddness of the lack of rain collection, I know you didn't forget, but I'll mention the mud slides that the rain brings after the fire season...

Given where you live, perhaps another option would be setting up a garden to tend. Gardening work is quite grounding as well as productive, yielding healthy food and time spent with hands in soil and good solid physical work, not to mention connecting mind in a more active manner.

Have you tried Horse Stance?

George Carlin, to me, is a modern day Chuangtzu. George very capably elucidated the extremities and subtleties of social interactions, unwritten more's and the limitations and potential abuses inherent in the structure of the english language and its built in assumptions, (particularly in the euphemistic misdirection used by beaurocracies and legaleze). He did this using long form story humor to highlight the abstracted and absurd aspects of socialized conditioning and misdirection. I highly recommend his sharings.

I've had the opposite experience, having met a small tribes worth of people, some from around the globe and formed wonderfull friendships of two decades and more. Multiple pen pals and several from this site who I consider as close as family and have met in person. Seems to me, it depends heavily on the types of sites you contribute to and what folks are around to be connecting with and then... how you reach out. My wife and I play an online game and have also made collective friends with plans to meet up in person when timing allows. Meaning and connection abound.

Elvis and Clint Eastwood were ridiculously over-hyped.

Absolute certainty is the realm of the arrogant ignorant... and of that, I'm absolutely certain. <oh wait... d'oh!>

If you don't read the news, you're uninformed. If you read the news, you're misinformed. ~Mark Twain

ok how bout this one? The notion of 'choice' is illusory, thus there is no free will.

sometimes peeps overthink also... particularly edumacated ones it seems. sometimes... other stuff occurs also. is it a big universe. i enjoy this tech stuff... sometimes.

makes sense to me mate. enjoy your time here.

Wow, we really do live in interesting times eh?

Didn't I read that Australia had made an agreement with the chinese gov't to authorize the building of bases on islands off their NE shoreline? This would be about 18 mnths ago or so? I recall it made the hairs on my neck stand up when I read it.