Birch

I agree with Non. I think that "working" from the mental back to the physical is one way, but it's not the only way. Hence the qi-gong, physical rooting, exercise, TCM, yoga etc Yes, it's mental/physical/emotional and all in interaction. I won't address "spiritual" because I am not qualified to do so yet. (I like adding "yet" because nothing is impossible). I just don't know what "spiritual" means yet whereas I know the other parts from experience. Blaming the "victim" is an easy way out IMO and is done all the time as a justification (or because of ignorance/denial about actual human suffering and the real cruelty that perpetuates such). However, I do think that the mental route might be the one more often used to heal because it is just easier to "hack" (i.e. "entrain") and it also fits with our current cultural model of attributing responsability to the individual. Whereas in many cases nothing could be further from the truth! I think it's worth exploring which aspects/cause of the "victimhood" came about prior to a person's autonomy (usually, but not always limited to the choices that were made/imposed upon us whether in childhood or other situations of loss of autonomy - such as a military setting etc) vs those that we carry as a result of the previous injuries. The former, no getting rid of, the latter, absolutely getting rid of - which ends up getting rid of the former, if you get my drift

Yes, I thought that's what's going on. That, or something like it. The road to "non-dualism" would have me become a proper "dualist" first, it seems. With which I agree because I'm sure as hell not going to let the small thing I was conditioned to be to start with get away with doing the driving. In terms of "spiritual warfare" that is called IMO "stacking the deck" and it's not fair play and I will remember this.

"now I'd really like to know... ; ) but I think he says: "la force creatrice", the creative force..." This sounds best to my ears. Thank you! Which of your family were French?

"bu ren" barren?

I have 2 (foolish - oh foolish mistake on Amazon.com) Can send you 1. I'm keeping the other one "just in case" PM me with an address for sending.

I liked the post Manitou, and I found this part in particular pretty interesting: "he is restricted by the effect of the hate on his ego and subsequent behavior." Now what if his (or her) behaviour includes restricting me from doing a decent ethical job? What if such behaviour includes cutting the grass from under my feet so I can't do the things that are right? What if I am speaking out against such hate? And his/her behaviour is to discredit me, making it so difficult to bring the latter to public awareness that I might as well never have spoken? Then what should one do? It's not a hypothetical question BTW. I'm all for love and dissing the ego that was formed under ridiculous conditions (mine is a work in progress ;-)).

Great TaoMeow! Another chapter for the book/website I voted some things untruthfully, because I'd rather see myself in a "nicer" light (read "acceptable" whatever the hell that is). Can I change my vote/vote again?

I vote no to all of it. TTB's doesn't need IMO no jumping on internet "2.0" train (also noted, the spammy emails I didn't opt in to :-)) IMO, if you do not concur with a post, say so. Not "pigeon-button-push" so. I'ma a$$hole and I got lots of green points. I was happy about that. BAD idea

"It depends" From what I've understood about them (not a huge amount, so take this as an innocent newbie reponse) mantras come in all kinds of forms with both specifics and generalities. Generally speaking, from my small experience with them: - they are used to replace the "usual" internal dialogue - they are used to focus attention on - they are used to entrain consciousness The "specifics" of them are more obscure for me. But from what I've gathered to date, you "get one" that is very adapted to you and your situation/path/whatever. What makes a specific mantra "adapted" is not in my present capacity to explain very well but I have a kind of a felt sense of what it might be. The "taoist" healing sounds IMO "work" in much the same way. But so could going to hang out in a beautiful garden (for me :-)) It's another reason to watch what kind of music I listen to, especially choruses.

I'm sorry to hear about this abusive situation Jen. Hopefully you are making plans to move away from this damaging situation which I believe (from experiences related to me) you may share with other Asian women who are born "West" to a "traditional" family. There's a huge sociological/cultural context that you're seeing up close and personal. I suggest the "hows" and "why me's" are (potentially) to mull over at a later date. I'd also lockdown the blogging and the stuff that is accessible to family on the computer. I know writing is therapeutic so maybe an old school notebook with really illegible writing? Or you could get a protected forum on here. Clear your cache every time you log out. The ex-BF doesn't deserve your call. Go no-contact. This young woman has an interesting site about it http://www.baggagereclaim.co.uk/ Because you need support, try to find a local group/counselor that can help young women experiencing abuse (preferably one outside your culture because they'll likely be mired in it and not useful, unless they've successfully navigated similar.) I believe Gerard's advice to take care of yourself physically is very good and it will give you strength to move forward. I like sandalwood. It does clear the bad vibes. In the past I think I must have burned forests of the stuff. Welcome to TTB's. If anything, at least it will take your mind off things ;-)

No, I haven't gone that route. I've been deliberating it. I find myself on a road despite myself. I also find myself (presently) more concerned with some of the "practical" things - of which qi-gong and minor healing are aspects, but they're not everything. I guess you might call it a "praise be to god but tie up the camels" thing

Well, I guess a good way to nail it down would be to get off those meds. I believe there are alternatives to aid sleep that don't have such heavy "effects" (I got that from an author who suggested we quit calling sh*t like that "side-effects". I agree. It's an effect, period Now try get FDA approval for a somniferous drug that also produces visual and (perhaps) felt hallucinations...oh wait...

"One of the reason why we seek enlightment, Martial Arts, Qigong and else." If that stuff is going to happen, then I might suggest learning some more, um, "practical" things? Not that qi-gong ain't practical, I guess if you become a healer then you're (relatively) safe.

No vote. I didn't think the poll was "scientific" enough.

Great! Thanks! Did he really mean the ""creator's" force"? My highschool French is rusty but it didn't seem to be what he was referring to.

"The Middle Way is balance, and balance is always worthwhile. Just a thought... " Thanks Mr Cow. I have come to see the "Middle Way" (so far) as somewhat unnatural and tense whereas a "natural" (per my interpretation) position may very well be on the edge at one point and on the other edge at the next point. If you think of how much "balance" you need to lose every time you take a step to be able to move forward? From experience, compassion practices do indeed smooth out many of the "issues" that I've encountered during practices. I also think it's funny that the "yin/yang/ symbol" is so often pictured as static and perfectly balanced. While I would like to believe/ I believe that the "great ultimate" is in fact totally still and totally balanced; being one of the 10,000 things, I myself am not always such - and indeed if the great ultimate is to remain still and in perfect balance then it seems to require that I not be, much like it "requires" the sun to be very hot and the moon to reflect it's light, tigers to eat gazelle (throw in another cliche if you want ;-)) However, if you're referring to the kind of balance you can get to when you quit the left-brain stuff and give right brain a chance, then I'm in ;-)

I'm opening this as a follow on from this post by TaoMoew elsewhere. "Ego is a term of Freudian psychology, and Freudian psychology is one of the most contrived and least fruitful approaches to the human being ever concocted. If you study taoist anatomy, physiology, and psychology, it disappears, like all other junk memes replicating mental constructs and abstract ideas with no concrete organ-system-function task in the real world. Everyone who tells you you have an ego is merely making a confession: "I am infected with a Freudian meme, and it commands me to transmit it to you." All you have to do is politely decline the offering with a compassionate thought, "I forgive you, for you are not the one in charge of what you are doing, saying, or thinking."" There are lots of ideas in it. Thank you TaoMeow. However, the one I want to set up here is the "study of taoist anatomy, physiology, and psychology". As usual, the bookshelves have the potential to be filled by rubbish because I wouldn't know (although I'm getting better at spotting) an authentic source from a non-authentic one. So could people who know, please suggest books (or even articles) on the topics of taoist anatomy, physiology, and psychology that they consider to be "the real deal"? Thanks!

"Anyone care to comment? Or own up to sending disembodied 'things' at me out of anger?" The first part sounds like an Ambien-fueled hypnogogic state. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia Speculating, I don't know how Ambien works but if it interferes with your kinesthetics then I'd expect it could provoke the "felt" trips you're talking about. Had you begun meditation or "energy work" before taking the Ambien? I've had what I reckon are "spontaneous openings" of things while half-asleep but the specifics are (as usual) subjective. I really hope no-one on TTB's is even considering sending "things" to people out of anger.

Interesting idea TaoMoew. I have personally taken the route of "wholeness" which is to say I'm unconcerned by trying to be "good" or be "bad" because I'm just the way I am. However, I'll add as a caveat that I seem to "naturally" choose to uphold very specific attributes that I guess some people might refer to as "good" but they differ greatly from the early admonishment to "be good" that I'm sure many of us encountered during early socialization. What those exhortions meant were IMO less about being "good" than complying with attendant social/behavioural norms. I was wondering a while back what would have happened had this been explained for what it was as it was being done. I speculated about creating a sociopath. I really don't know.

"How apropros since this is World Kindness week." Just a week? I guess after it then we can get back to being our usual "unkind" selves ? This is very subjective, but I'm not in favour of all this "ritualizing" of values. It seems that every day, it's "earth day" or "women's day" or "kids day" or "whale's day" or something. Secular observence seems like an interesting idea but I suspect it lets us off the hook the rest of the year. And I don't have a calendar.

Thanks Creation! Seems JAJ is a well-reputed source. I wasn't aware that "chakras" were included in Taoist qi-gong. Have they "always" been there or are they a "recent" additon?

If it's been good and pointless then I fall asleep. If I'm in love then I spend days wondering about what the other person is thinking.

OK, I read the Obama pdf and it ocurred to me that the pdf has almost as much NLP in it as it puports to diagnose. Not sure what to do with it following that.

From small crappy monkey earth experience in the face of actual life/death I've found things take over by themselves. No need to think. Just does. Our next impending doom (scheduled at 2012 our western calendar) is too intellectual (IMO) to elicit such a response - although that could account for all the anxiety. Sort of like a slow dive - relatively-speaking. I reckon the main thing(s) to do (if we have leeway) could be: - Don't give up - Don't do the things that precipate demise on any level Otherwise known as: - Do no harm Not quite as easy as it sounds, huh?

Ok, i give in. I bought your book Ya Mu