Birch

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Everything posted by Birch

  1. What is your opinion on "human nature"?

    Birch replied to Flolfolil's topic in General Discussion

    Are you saying that a person living alongside others can be part-demon? Part-god? How does this 'mass human consciousness' get transmitted? I guess I should ask to take your demon/god recognition course:-)
  2. Turtleshell, I think the suggestion is to remove sexism, and racism and homophobia, not the people holding these views. I gotta ask, what is being gained by holding sexist, racist or homophobic views? Or what would be lost without them? Maybe that's more to the point as a question? Of course, given I'm female, you might point out that it's only because sexism is to my disadvantage. There's a argument for that, but I'm also thinking that the advantages of removing sexism, racism and homophobia will (paradoxically) result in the type of society that racists, homophobes and sexists actually want for themselves. Bear with me and I'll get back to you on this one:-)
  3. I'll go check out the film. I was looking at this the other day. http://www.amazon.com/History-White-People-Irvin-Painter/product-reviews/0393339742/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R2IZ8KGMQ7H220
  4. 100%
  5. Well, there's some social studies out there that suggest how you might have reacted (how 'most' people might have reacted) and the answer to that is...wait for this...they wouldn't. I'll send you the book once I'm done reading if you like.
  6. I was just re-mulling this last post Mokona and I was wondering 'Why not?' What is is about people, what is it about cultivation methods that requires 'Time' and repetition? What about those guys who get enlightened when walking in the park? I have an idea that Buddhism would have a frame/explanation for why.
  7. So there's a lot more that falls into that 'category'. But the mods are only 3, have to rely on reports. I agree with Cat about the 'spirit of friendship' but it's clear to me too that that rides up against personal opinions in many cases. Someone (not anyone in particular) might really believe they are being friendly by pointing out others' flaws as something to improve upon or that needs work and be taken aback when it is not received as such. And not ironically where 'spirituality' is concerned it can get very personal. I'd say that's as it should be, as a living part of, well, one's life. Not an abstraction. ZT, I've noticed the 'pile ons' too and I've regretted being first to call another poster on something that was directly related to their treatment of me because the pile on has followed. That definitely made me hesitate before posting, and in other cases, nothing happens at the time, but like Cat mentions above, it comes out later. In the case of the racist/sexist/homophobic stuff, I just recently decided I wouldn't sit back and not say anything.
  8. Great suggestions Seth. What about the situation where a poster claims to be diminishing another's 'ego' for their own good (ostensibly the good of the person on the receiving end of the diminishing). Are you calling a situation like that a case of 'add-ons'?

  9. Ancient Egyptian symbols

    Birch replied to Apech's topic in Esoteric and Occult Discussion

    Really great post on the practices Apech.

  10. What is your opinion on "human nature"?

    Birch replied to Flolfolil's topic in General Discussion

    I can see why the use of the term 'human nature' might annoy. It's been used (and abused IMO) in order to justify use and abuse of humans. I think there are basic qualities (or faults, depending on who you talk to:-)) that humans share. A lot of these are unconscious, yet we often speak and act as if they were fully conscious and intentional. And on the basis of that we condemn or (for some) leverage it. Then we could get into 'are there ways to make the unconscious conscious?' I see cultivation as an attempt at that, a work towards that. But the problem (I have) is I don't know what remains unconscious, just because it is.
  11. Good! Now all that has to happen is for everyone to believe it:-)
  12. I'm quite delusional too, but not New Age delusional AFAIK. How much does that matter? Haha. I'm interested in the differences and similarities between New Age and cultivation practices. Especially those that are harmful or helpful to the cultivator and others they are involved with. Some of what you're mentioning can be found on here as well, I've found.

  13. Right Wing War Against LGBT's

    Birch replied to Vmarco's topic in The Rabbit Hole

    Sure, suggesting we not contribute even more to people's suffering is the idea here.

  14. Right Wing War Against LGBT's

    Birch replied to Vmarco's topic in The Rabbit Hole

    I want to add that human rights are not 'deserved', nor are they earned, you just have them by virtue of being human. You don't have to do anything. In practice, things are different depending on where you live http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_the_United_States#Sexual_orientation This is why (to me) it's important to not lose sight of the issues, get complacent... The UN suggests the following http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

  15. //

    Birch replied to 三江源's topic in Forum and Tech Support

    Yo, my friend, the sent messages appear in the conversations as a thread. At least that's how I see them. Matey.
  16. "If you know the history of Daoism then you can see the New Age-ness there, too." Can you point to a history of this? I've looked at the crossovers between Buddhism and Taoism and a few shifts in gods and immortals but haven't gotten into the 'New Age' bit of it. I guess you might call Black Hat Feng Shui New Age but AFAIK that has its roots in Tibetan Bön. Things I'm considering 'New Age' for the purposes of this thread - or at least explaning what I 'hate' about it. I realize that the following probably cross over into other areas of cultivation practice and theory. I agree with Seeker of Self above that the differences are subtle: - Intention is 'everything' - Karma = deserving - Everything is subjective - Everything is vibrations - Hierarchy of manifestation (generally translated 'higher' = good, 'lower' = bad) - Suppression of 'negative' pole (more 'thoughts', 'feelings' than actions,...)
  17. Punk guy? Now I recall his name, Brad Werner I think. Sure, I'm interested in all this stuff:-) I'm finding this thread really interesting so far, thanks for all the well-considered posts!

  18. Birch replied to Immortal4life's topic in The Rabbit Hole

    It's not just a troll post IMO. It's a flight of trolls haha. Like a flock of sheep or a shoal of sardines. I haven't been pushing the 'report' button to get any action taken and they don't seem to be going away if I engage them. And even if I don't, I've noticed they glom onto anything they can. These dudes need attention to function.

  19. Right Wing War Against LGBT's

    Birch replied to Vmarco's topic in The Rabbit Hole

    Seems that the issue is not restricted to any specific website or comments section. I guess it depends on whether the/us TTB's wish to make an effort to discuss things with the people posting the offending stuff or whether the/we'd rather 'see no evil' and enjoy a forum where we don't have to deal with such things because they are banned. I dunno why but my gut is telling me that some of the guys on here doing this are doing it to get a rise and for 'fun'. I hope you're really enjoying it because you're boring the hell out of me.
  20. Notice I've asked for both what works and helps as well as what harms and what doesn't work. The criticism of Greer was a good one. What ideas or practices fall within the 'New Age'? What don't? I have this idea that what might happen with New Age is a misapplication of insights. Much like Seeker of Self suggested above in his writeup (well done BTW). I don't think it has much to do with generations, those are themselves constructs.

  21. Right Wing War Against LGBT's

    Birch replied to Vmarco's topic in The Rabbit Hole

    Freud started out as a neuroscientist then went towards psychoanalysis as a clinical practice. His ideas were interesting (although most do not bear up to empirical scrutiny). AFAIK he was one of the first western psychologists to attempt to describe early childhood development. His concept of 'libido' could be taken to be closer to 'kundalini' than 'sexuality' as such. I believe Jung did a better job with that although IMO he squandered the opportunity by insisting on his own translations of concepts that were already clearly described (e.g. Shiva/Shakti sort of ended up as Anima/Animus). For people who are interested in human sexuality beyond the stuff posted by WWROA, I heartily recommend http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Dawn-Stray-Modern-Relationships/dp/0061707813 For Taoists, the origin of marriage is attributed to Fu Xi.

  22. Right Wing War Against LGBT's

    Birch replied to Vmarco's topic in The Rabbit Hole

    I don't understand why people who have declared themselves heterosexual would take it upon themselves to 'educate' homosexuals. If the aim is education about promiscuity and lifestyle 'choices' for all, why not just discuss those issues without making them about a particular group of people? I'd leave it up to people who are homosexual or straight to weigh in on their own. But it seems to me there is (yet again) a bizarre desire on the part of some people to comment and discuss (towards what aim is unclear) the behaviour of other people whose behaviour the former do not share.

  23. Stress, Grieving, and the Tao

    Birch replied to illyria's topic in Daoist Discussion

    My condolences.
  24. Because for many an issue, seems the polls are out and used as a way of defining the situation. I think that sets things up, and if not badly to begin with, it claims definition of an issue where none might be necessary. As in, open questions might be more necessary. To me this polling is pretty new. But I wouldn't say it's an improvement
  25. Means I have to go through a thread I wasn't that into. I didn't think stuff can be decided by polls. Haha How about Aaron, you (or anyone else) just gets very very good at presenting their own POV? On this or on any topic. Just because bums x X +1 say whatever, doesn't make it so. I'm suggesting this because the people on this forum are (er, supposed to be) beyond 'majority rule' and very self-referential (as in 'know thyself') when they do comment. What this polling thing is showing is that that's not the case yet. Or, not as much as I thought. Whatevs.