LeirTheFox

I'd like to thank everybody for these insights, as they helped me to realize stuff with such different perspectives. It takes some good insights to realize and find a way to embrace cultivation in the middle of the daily society. And everybody here seems to be finding their own ways, which teaches me I can find mine too. But I think I can really talk about the difference after I finally got back to writing. Which, in case, starts today. And as de_paradise mentioned it, on "I might be exaggerating about my passion," well I must admit that even the foods we like the most can become flavorless if we eat them often. I admit that sometimes I'm really not into writing, as much as sometimes one won't feel like meditating. Rainbowvein said to me once, about meditation, that "One sitting is not like another," well, the same could be said to the act of writing. Bukowski perhaps wouldn't agree that it's all blissful (as naturally, it isn't by itself), but when he had the choice of working on his postman career, or "to write and die starving", can you remember what he chose? There are times I don't enjoy it, everything is cloudy, I can't find the words that seem natural to the description... and there are times I do. After working on different careers, that's what seems right to me -- at least for now. I might change in the future. But if I don't follow it... well, you get the picture. I promise to give you guys back what I learned after submitting myself to the creative process. I wish peace of mind for everybody here. Namaste,

After reading all of your answers, I don't have anything else to add besides my deepest gratitude. I came to this thread with a big doubt, and your insights gave me a different perspective on something I love so much. Perhaps, as mentioned, I come from a place that made me see the spiritual path as something distorted. What I feel right now is a motivation to follow both tracks simultaneously. The attachment of "being a successful, writer" is something I have, I admit. But its not even compared to the strenght of the feelings I embrace when I am doing the action. Nowadays, I think that "having a career of renown" is not important, althought it would help. Instead, having a life where I can enjoy the way of writing is what really matters, and what I really seek. Thanks, fellow bums, for such support. Means a lot to me. Namaste. (p.s.: Penfold, I have no stories translatted to english yet. But I promise to send it to you, as soon as I do it )

Thanks for the support, Wu Ming Jen. You brought an interesting point because I never looked at writing as something that was of my nature. That's because I've been taught that writing (as well as any other talents) is something we learn, and to be seen as a skill, rather than something that is intrinsically ours. Once I understood it as my nature, following it is just something natural, it feels that it has to be done. It's the way things goes, pretty much like Wu-Wei. Namaste

Thanks for the support, man. Perhaps I may be only dwelling in doubt, because the more I do one, the less I've been looking into the other one. Your questions came at a good moment, because answering them gave me some leads on what to do, and also see the value of both of the practices. What I realized was: 1) I like them both. Sure, I have longer contacts with the art of words, but I should not drop any of them, seeing that both cultivation and writing gives me benefits. Instead, I should look for balance, understanding that writing is writing, regardless of content, and cultivation is cultivation; 2) Cultivation haven't brought me that awareness because, in the core experience of both, happiness comes from inwards (the action itself,) not for the external motivations (i.e.: being praised, getting appreciation, etc). This is one big thing that always got me. We are searching for enlightement, but the "way of becoming a writer" is something I recognize as "earthly." I can't recall hearing that following a dream is a way to shape oneself better, while in comparison, it's not unusual to hear about people leaving everything to achieve (dreams included) to dedicate entirely to cultivation. Thing is, as mentioned, I don't feel like abandoning this dream, as mentioned before. Thanks, Silent Thunder. Perhaps, as cultivation flows, I may experience a change on how writing is done, and the purposes on it. But right now, I'm happy with it the way it is. I just got to find balance. About a journal... perhaps is too soon to start it? I am still focusing on the sole practice of one meditation I posted here in the forums, and I do not know how much it can be of benefit to others. Thanks for your words. Namaste

Hi fellow bums, I'm turning to you, more experienced travellers on the Way to ask for help. I don't know who else to seek for support in this subject, because few people I've met have embraced taoism, and their answers doesn't seem to help either. I had a dream: to become a writer and live writing. It all started when I discovered this passion, when I was 16 years old, but I only had the guts to follow it four years later, after spending that time working on jobs I hated and following a career that made me unhappy. When realizing how unhappy I was, I decided to leave everything and follow this dream, as unreal as it seemed to me, because I had few people giving me support to chase it. I dropped off university, and slowly started to change my career from graphic design to writing-related activities. As one step further towards what I wanted, I decided to join a course that made me write a lot, so I applied myself to one of the hardest vestibulars (a brazilian special exam for admission in universities in Brazil) in Journalism. It took me a lot of commitement and dedication, but I made it. I think it's worth mentioning that I never felt so happy than when I was writing. It was an experience that made me explode in excitement. I don't write for admiration, ego-boosting or fame. I write because what I feel when writing, I haven't found out anywhere. But then, I decided to take a better look at the spiritual subject. It started with Aikido, and then Meditation, and then I got into the cultivation practices I first saw here on The Tao Bums. After reading so much of Taoism and Buddism, I start getting in touch with concepts of "abandoning the self", "dedication to enlightement" and other stuff that seem to imply so much on "abandon" this dream. Thing is, all this stuff started to make me question my dream, and slowly, I stopped writing. It's not anything related on writer's block, but more over on "not doing it because it's an attachment." And to be truly honest, in comparison to writing, I don't feel as blissful when meditating. I must admit that I do not write "enlightened," beautiful stuff with "conscious" messages. In fact, I'm a big fan of writing detective noir stories, and writing humanistic dramas (Henry Miller, Phillip Roth and Bukowski, for example) filled with sexploitation, violence and other nasty content of urban settings. But the more I hear on abandoning it, and the more I decide to give my writing career up, I feel unhappiness. I don't want to abandon my dream, as I don't want to stop seeking enlightement the spirit. Am I not ready to follow enlightement because of this? I feel confused, and I'd like to see some other bums opinion. Namaste,

Mine's a Virgo too, and sorry if I am sounding critical (it's my nature ), but I found this poll somewhat neglecting. With a title like that, I was expecting all the 12 zodiac signs, as the broad aspect of the horoscope, not some "how many sagitarians are here." Couldn't the poll be about it? If not, the title would suit better as "How many sagitarians use this forum?" Moreover, you could look at Pisces (I love this zodiac sign ) and find the same inclination towards spirit and occult, as this sign has a huge potential in "mystic" arts. The coolest thing, though, is that I used to think that we all had only one sign (the sun one), when we actually have a whole universe of them in our astral map. So, everybody has something -- minor or major influences -- of Sagittarius here, as well as the other signs.

The Book is called "Becoming The Iceman" (I think that there's no harm on directing to the website, right? ) and you can buy it here: http://becomingtheiceman.com/ As Flolfolil said, it's not hard to find it online (as most of the ebooks nowadays), but I admire your support. I'd buy it too, but I do not have credit cards right now to exchange currency.

Sorry, Viator, I wasn't aware of the board policies. Thanks for the correction!

So, I saw that there's a lot of good stuff on this forum, and, after downloading some ebooks, I thought it would be good to retribute back somehow. So, here is my first "donation" to TTB library of awesomeness: http://www.highexistence.com/the-wim-hof-method-revealed-how-to-consciously-control-your-immune-system/ It's the meditation technique that Wim Hof practice and teach in his workshops. As I mentioned some time ago, it's a mix of pranayama and tummo, but in a different manner (somewhat simpler imo). The main focus of this method is to stimulate and strenghten the immunologic system. I am applying this meditation for two months (I'm still a beginner), and I feel some good improvements, not to mention a slow, but ever-growing resistance to colder temperatures. He also has a book on this subject, called "Becoming the Iceman." I'd like to tell more about it, but I haven't readied it, so I think I'll just leave the torrent link where I found the ebook Link Removed here. Hope it serves to anybody. Namaste,

Eugene, just some thoughts on Aikido: I've been practicing it for one year, and since I started studying it, my masters explain that the Aikido founder developed it after Daitoryu Aikijitsu as an adaptation to the practice of Ahimsa, the non-violence, but still recognizes self-defense when necessary. And to not harm when you have the means is a practice of character and compassion. As I've been taught, Aikido is a practice of harmonizing conflict (both verbal and physical). Sure, one may avoid MAs for their core (for avoiding karma, for instance). But once I met a zen-buddhist monk that was, at the same time, a police officer and 5th dan grad on Aikido. I asked him about this, and as he mentioned it, not protecting people when its duty (or when you have the means) is a way to generate karma itself, besides the fact that when harmonizing, you are creating a condition where you do not allow someone to generate karma either. This is where "harmony" comes from. There are many variations of this practice, and although it has works with energy and spirit, they are rather subtle, as they are applied in the movements. Still, as you mentioned, I don't see (in applications, at least for now) the IMA having the same developing as non-MA neigongs and qigongs.

I believe the world is not, by any means, restricting you to anything. You may or may not act, according to some beliefs that might or might not happen. And even if your parents and friends have never suggested you to become liberated from society's demands, it's not their obligation either -- at least, if you are responsible for the way you live, and the things you experience. Sooner or later, one who lives in society gets to live by his/hers own ways, and with that come choices to follow these expectations you mentioned, or trying to find another happier way of living. I believe I am practicing dharma (I'm not familiar on using buddhist therms, I myst admit) by following a career on what makes me happy by doing it, regardless of the "society demand" of having a rich job. In my experience, it applies to follow my dreams on a creative career. By following this path, I met many people who were afraid of following what made them happy because, at some moment, "society" would be against them. And by sharing my experiences with them, they started to gather themselves toward careers that were closer to wu-wei. Luckly for me, I had not needed to reach my mid 30s to realize that I seek a life of liberation and happiness. And I'm not the only one in this wave -- there are many people that are starting to see that society's demands aren't the means to experience liberation. You mentioned it right, at some certain point in everyday life,one may realize that the clinging and obtaining cycle of the so-called "social values" (i.e.: money, reputation, fame, power, etc) won't make him/her fulfilled. When one realizes this, he/she may start directing a life to besides these "obligations," and then, start to cease the cronic dissatisfaction that is usually experienced. Thanks for adding this much to the subject

I don't get it. If that's the point, should everybody follow careers on medicine, healing and other "good-doing" professions? We have a society that is delicately connected in every activity. Our chances of survival are bigger than our pre-historic counterparts because of this factor. Then, why not living on it? From my (limited) perspective, you don't need to be away from the entire world to feel gratitude, happiness and joy. You can cultivate these feelings in an everyday life, with everyday routines, if you are aligned to it -- and share them with the world around. Of course, that's just what I believe. I believe that following our passions (I'm by no means stating "being a slave of it"), as risky as they are, because once you are connected to it in career, you seem to flow with it. It's a great way to get closer to wu wei, if not being on it. 4bsolute gave a good quote on a different subject, but in the end, it relates so much with this post:

Hello dazed! We seem to have things in common here -- both the seminal retention and the interest in Aikido. That's great! As for the No-FAP stuff, I've been doing a challenge with two of my friends. Since we are friends, we don't do it to see who's the best or anything like this, but because the challenge, as a friendly group, means to share experiences and hints to each other, by growing together. We often kid to each other, "hey pal, stay strong. I don't want to beat you that easily." Meanwhile, I'm going to explore how "Jing" (sexual stored energy) can be transmuted. About Aikido, I'm a bit suspicious to talk about it. I really love it because its totally directed to avoid destruction and conflict, it's an art with peaceful spirit. There's no fight or competition in this art, but rather a focus on discipline, respect and growth. Their work with energy is suble: I've been training for one year and now I'm only starting to perceive the importance of the breath on the techniques! I also see Aikido it as a way of praticing Wu-Wei in agressive situations, since you're teached to not resist/control the battle, but instead, flowing in every moment. Not to mention the emphasis on learning that a fall is not the end if you know how to fall. But that's my experience. I think nothing would teach you best than attending to an aikido class (or even praticing a month), so you can see if it's the way you want to go. It varies to every people. Let's stay in touch, man! Namaste,

Well, in fact, no. You got a point there. Thanks for the suggestion. I already downloaded the ebook and it'll be one of my first readings on the subject, since, as far as I perceive, the summary give some good leads on energies. I'll also follow OldGreen's suggestion on chi kung, so I can start to know more about the subject. I'm not going to drop off Wim Hof's, since I started to show some results. Thanks for your insights, everybody. I'm starting to love this forum!