Birch

Spot on! So what next?

What's THIS doing all the way down HERE? Are we just not interested in this topic? Maybe it's been overdone. Maybe I'm channeling an archetypal Jewish Mom (no offense intended to anyone, really) Or maybe, just maybe, everyone on this forum is already awake and enlightened. Which could be a great thing. Or, could it ? And if it is the case, why would it be a BAD idea (and for who?) that people become awake and enlightened?

This is not a trick question! Why did you start doing it? Did you have a goal in mind or did someone tell you to do it?

I liked this http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/michael...stic_brain.html Edited to add this http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9041701372.html and this http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/juveni...ts/braindev.pdf which is not the thing I wanted to get but close enough. Take care of your ego. Wait till you have one before getting rid of it;-)

Thanks Trunk for responding to my request for stuff related to female practices! Much appreciated. Kate

Oh GOOD! Shouting at last. Scott, your thread has TRACTION;-) I'm going to throw a spanner in there (and put my non-reputation on the line;-)) and say that experience IS MOST OF THE TIME only self-reflective of the -ing of the moment -(which is unfortunately just another -ing) otherwise you wouldn't know that you're having an experience of the -ing (I'm wondering if that's what some people mean by 'intellectual' vs 'flow') When it comes to enlightenment The gap between -ing and the experience of that -ing disappears. Or at least it gets smaller -otherwise no bliss;-)

I should read the book before commenting BUT ;-) Here are a few things (the real list is ten times this one!) I delegate to others that it could be argued I 'ought' to be doing myself (although that would take more skill on my part and I just don't have it - or I don't want to have it): - growing my food (since I cut back on meat I don't have to kill quite as much;-)) - making my clothes (I tried making a t-shirt once - FAIL) - taking my voice messages - thanks computer - twice a month, housekeeping - not because I'm a woman that I enjoy scrubbing - getting me from home to office and back, buses and cabs - what? some people still drive themselves in stinky cars;-)???) As far as I read on his blog, the author had outsourced most of his administration, communications and representation. He also apparently let 'bad things happen'. It seems like mainly he was willing to give up A LOT of control over his persona in exchange for more free time to pursue what he 'really' wanted. It also seemed he moved to a place were the lifestyle was comparatively cheaper (that old excuse;-)) And so things that were previously not permissible to him suddenly became so. Does anyone know if he wrote the book as a confession or as another cash-maker (both?)

Var, What is psy self defense and why would people need it? Thanks, Kate

Great thread! Can anyone say more about the meaning of burning the money and why there might have been a shift from 'real money' to 'fake money'? I'm also really interested in why the shift from thinking ancestors were "pleased" to "not pleased" when the activity was the same. Also, what preceded the money (real or fake) as something to be burned and what were the reasons? Thanks! Kate

Sending right now.

How about a "WTF section" for things into which knowledgeable folks can put things they deign WTF? Otherwise just keep up some high practice/ theory threads - Scott's on enlightenment was a great one but it didn't seem to get a lot of traction WHICH IS VERY WEIRD. Edit - That thread actually DOES HAVE TRACTION Don't we want people to go there? I'm no bodhisattva but I am surprised and a bit disappointed at the 'take what you can get and run' kind of attitude I'm perceiving. I DO like Trunk's site. Some very good and coherent stuff there but the good man himself seems mostly to spend time here so that's where I hang. Yoda is like sunshine on a stick. And one of the few folks on the door welcoming people. As is Stig. I love Cat, Meow, Shon, Rain and other women posters(the feline thing is interesting) that don't seem to have a lot of presence in other venues. Had you not already noticed, I'm a woman and all the talk of retaining jing until my balls get sore isn't relevant but nevertheless interesting;-) I want more things related to female practices. Var is an all round nice dude. Mal is hot right now and we don't know why but suspect it's his current practice;-) Scott is also hot right now and I suspect nothing;-) GIH reminds me of one of those student communist intellectuals but he is a smart guy. Todd is a frequent poster on my forum and I enjoy our discussions. I come here for the people mainly. No matter if the ancients decide they can't get anything more out of it. - edited for remarks about TRACTION and Scott

I don't know. it's been pretty magic for me. The only other thing i'm getting is that maybe (just maybe) it might be the old folks' turn to give something back to the n00bs. Or a very big reference wiki site thing could be built...

I just bought some sea salt from the pharmacy today. I'm going to try it in 10 minutes. Prior to that, I had Epsom salts. Nice and heavy. From what I can remember, sea salt is fluffier than Epsom salts. Both are very nice. Suggest that if you use essential oils with, then buy them separately (i.e. don't buy 'flavoured' salts). I liked the idea of Yoda's intent. Although my present intention is to go lay in that tub and read the end of an epic novel. Have fun!

"Shift happens" I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist;-) Anyway, what does "knowing what might happen" in 2012 change for you today? If the prospect of a less distant death than the one we usually count on can spur folks on to better things then why not? It reminds me that I need to kick it. Yes we can;-) P.S.Any early 90's musical reference is intended

Thanks for 'coming down' ;-) to give your input into this one Var. I appreciate it a lot. Kate

Ok. How about 'visceral understanding'? I'm trying to find a rich enough paint colour for your plate that would match what I reckon you're getting at. OT - people I meet are always saying/doing things that would in my opinion tend to point towards an enlightened individual, then they (purposefully;-)) go ignore the whole thing. Could we get the Dan's and others down here to give their definitions and such? That would be interesting. I don't know any of them though. Kate

How about "making it so" or "making it real" for realization? I'm wondering right now why an intellectual realization wouldn't be 'enough' (seemingly it isn't) - does it have to be guts and all? To what point? Just how much do you need to realize it? Does it require agony? Bliss? Isn't all that just a question of degree? I'd also understood that traditionally blissful states could really just be so many more illusions on the way. Useful to point out that other ways of being/feeling do exist but that's about it (I'm not knocking them - you gotta love chilling ;-)) Sorry Scott, I kind of wandered off there;-)

when looking for advice _____choose people that both do and do not agree with your opinion when giving advice ________check first to see if you've been asked for it when in a fight______I have no idea when fighting more than one person _____turn them against each other when choosing a teacher _____spend time watching how they live if you meet someone and fall in love __enjoy when you have nothing to do ____enjoy when you feel life is testing you _____relax when you have to do something that you are afraid of _you never have to do anything when people don;t agree with the way you live ___let them have their opinion, that's all it is thanks!

I guess we almost nearly did;-) Anyway, I should be calling Mal on his offer ;-) It seems your practice is a goer!

Hi Scotty! "A sliding scale of realization about reality. So if someone realizes that they exist, is that the beginning of enlightenment? This could contradict other definitions, like "enlightenment is where you don't suffer" because even according to Buddha, "life is suffering"." Hum. The ideas I get from this one are: - is a dog enlightened? That's just if we look at the scale of things that are alive. and - so is enlightenment where you don't live? That's just being very literal (possibly erroneous - it is late!) about life=suffering, enlightenment = no suffering = enlightenment = no life I'm thinking that the deal with suffering is similar to wu-wei (sorry to bring this in to the lot) Still mulling it all over;-)

Oh THAT green and black. Thank you!!! Kate

I'll have a stab at this one;-) 1) The exact definition of enlightenment. We'd need a desk researcher to go through all of the concepts. My opinion (precisely what I was not asked for, but I don't have a paid desk researcher handy;-)) is that enlightenment is a sliding scale of realisations about reality, your place in that reality and how you affect it and vice versa. I would like to think that it is a big enough deal not to be culturally/religiously bound in definitions although lots of different cultures do extremely well at pointing. Hopefully I can point well enough to take a stab;-) 2) Reasons for why enlightenment (as we define it) either is or isn't an experience. Why it is an experience: because it is by my definition self-referential Why it's not an experience: because it's a also a process by my definition 3) What else it could be besides an experience. A different set of perspectives through which you realise your experience of reality? I'm really just guessing;-) 4) Reasons why people think it's impossible to fall from a state of enlightenment. If it is in fact a state (and not a process) then I guess it's just again that specific set of perspectives. The only reason I would give for not falling is that the thing is available potentially all the time except you don't realise it. I guess once a certain level of realised perspective is gained, you can't lose it - like knowing the map is not the territory, or how to ride a bike. I don't think all stages of realisation makes anyone better skilled (which is why we have all those moral and religious precepts, but I digress;-))

Here's what I got from this thread (admittedly didn't go all the way back to the start - I started on page 7) Secret club - intriguing black and green easter eggs for Cat (no idea why - Caribbean flag?) Scottish Socks -? new grounding typing practice (am doing now) Lots of fun for all - somewhat more fun for the Brits on the forum (i am making a big assumption out of 2 pages;-)) need to start new secret club kind of a tapering off of a kind of a weird thread that seemed sort of antivar but that Var himself started (hum, why?? ;-) But I should know better than to ask;-)) Have just lost the feeling in my left foot Really old movie with Daniel Day Lewis in it This is almost like the Morning Pages I do every morning except those are handwritten. Also, the above is auto censored because it's on a public forum. Fun to do. Thanks! Kate

Lily Allen is one of my favourite singers and YES ! I hate it when that happens and YES! it has already happened to me and YES! It should absolutely be avoided. Here is an idea how to avoid it. "Don't act too jerky right away." - We have enough of us doing that. YES! Myself included OR "Begin like you intend to continue" - Stay and be a jerk with us all And the circle shall be complete! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Seriously dude. Are you from 4chan or something? Kate

I think there is more than enough weirdness everywhere for me to say I have no idea what's going on most of the time;-) I'm happy there are still dreams and the jerk of waking up. I don't ever want to feel like butterfly/Zhuangzi.