TheSongsofDistantEarth

Wow, very funny Serene! Hey, it's nice to see you appearing here again, shweetheart!

Great post Nilo, thanks. I agree that the stories we tell ourselves are the 'invisible' source of negativity. I had a breakthrough realization about this when my (Buddhist) therapist mentioned it, and I realized, "Hey, I don't have to feel this way!" It's not just negativity, though, but also about limitation and possibility and happiness. I'm looking forward to working with the breath in the way he describes.

Absolutely not!!! The buddha strictly forbade this, said it may lead to blindness, moral turpitude and a destruction of the younger generation!

taste buds a-tingle.. I ponder the chee'burger. Ah! but not them fries! Mudlotus, I like your style!

Here's how. Obtain a Schumann Resonance generating device that generates an electronic signal at 7.83 Hz, the frequency of the Earth's magnetic field. Wait until there is a powerful lightning storm, then go with a friend outside in your backyard, out in the open. Stand in the basic Zhan Zhuang posture, facing south, begin to align the breath exactly with the 7.83 cycle of the Schumann device. Begin Microcosmic Orbit inthe usual direction, Macrocosmic Orbit in the reverse direction. The begin to visualize the electric power of each lightning strike as being directly connected to you lower cauldron, the dan tien. It begins to heat up powerfully. Continue to reinforce the visualization, the breathing, and the circulations while the lightning and thunder crashes all around you, and you stay rooted firmly in the Tao. Begin to notice how all your meridians are now beginning to tingle and wait until you can feel each of them lighting up clearly and distinctly. Have your friend come out from his cover, and using a large lever as a wedge, he topples over an old refrigerator directly onto your toes, trapping them. Now, focus all your chi, and easily lift the refrigerator from your bloody, pulpy feet and effortlessly toss it to the side. Stay tuned for lesson two.

Taoist teacher Ken Cohen is tubby too, last time I saw a picture of him. Nobody doubts his attainment, although I don't believe he is a martial artist.

Tubby is as tubby does.

Blew me away... http://pangeaday.org/filmDetail.php?id=4 .

Ah, obviously you have not yet worn 'the Jockstrap of Compassion', or you would feel differently...

I haven't been there, but from the website, it looks like they will try hard to sell you a bunch of 'scientific' tests and treatments by their doctors. Be wary. I'd be more impressed if their spa was more simple, holistic and energetic than these fancy machines. Just my opinion.

Can any of you guys relate how long you've been doing Intu-flow and what benefits you have gotten from it? Thanks

Hey, no worries, JoeB. Never say never. We'll let you slide on the Glenn Beck reference in one of those threads you started and also the "Vajrahridaya Infraction" of exceeding the accepted smiley-to-word ratio in the above post. Hey, while were at it, is there any value in old-growth forests? Also, if there is 'deforestation' (the permanent conversion of forest to human use, like in the rain forest or in Malaysia), does that count in the declining tree population?

Hmmm...sounds like you should have been wearing the Jockstrap of Compassion...

Here's my basic take on democracy: it's basically an alive interaction, a great social-political experiment that depends for it's vitality, on the see-saw 'back and forth' motion of the process. It's not meant for any side to permanently "win", as long as there are elements opposing or pulling in other directions. The 'conservatives' have the reins for a while, then the 'progressives' get to influence things so a healthy homeostasis that represents the middle way is charted. It depends on this interaction. Even if we were an extremely conservative (or liberal) society as a whole, and were far off to the right (or left), within that extreme there should be elements pushing for the middle ground. There should not be many years of one-party rule, but a healthy back and forth. So whatever is happening, seems to be healthy. It appears however, that the democracy is sick when there is the undue influence of money and corruption, so that the will of the people is thwarted and not expressed. It appears this documentary may possibly expose the side of corruption and insider favors that many had hoped would be absent in this administration. In this respect, it appears both of the sides are quite guilty. I was hopeful that Obama would usher in change, but it looks like he'll have a failed presidency. (BTW, I think Bush was also a failed President, he left office just as the "fruits' of his Presidency were flowering...he didn't have to clean up the mess). Blessedly, this forum has been about spirituality and cultivation for the most part, and has really avoided heated political discussion. I am hoping that it will remain a sanctuary from the onslaught of bitter political discourse and diatribe we have everywhere and members will post those political opinions on other forums so we can keep this a special place. Maybe we can keep this forum relatively free of politics so members of all backgrounds can come here and discuss the Tao, the dharma, the Holy Ghost, Allah, Atman Brahman and Krishna, Sri David Verdesi, L. Ron Hubbardji, and the Ecstatic Grace of the Mahalingam, His Holiness Ronietsu Al-Salaami...

ding dong, the stick is dead Waxman Malarkey I can understand why you forgot about these, anybody dealing with a possible backyotomy really has their hands full...

Hey, doesn't "Jesus Ortega-Johnson" get any credit for containing the 'Testicle of Hope' and the 'Testicle of Doubt' in the 'Jockstrap of Compassion'?? .

Hey if GW is not true, I will be ecstatic! If you guys can convince me of it, please do! But like professional 'debunkers' you don't seem neutral, but seem to have an axe to grind and by being so, you appear biased, and people turn off to you. JoeB, you've started a couple of threads on this before, and no one seems to pay any attention...so, either this is not the right forum, or perhaps taking a more moderate tone than "Al Gore is out for carbon bucks" might get you more converts. Just sayin'

JoeBlast and Smile, you guys would have more credibility if you didn't keep hitting on Al Gore doing the Climate Change things for the "carbon credit money". Why are you guys so emotionally invested in discrediting the climate change arguments? I know! You guys must be making money from exploiting natural resources!!

Incorrect assertion, GIH. Many things in the world are not able to be reduced to a cookbook. The true Art of Healing is one such way. I have spent much time and money studying with some great healers all over the world. The real essence of healing goes waaay beyond simple method. In the same way, most spiritual traditions, Taoism and qi gong included, are best learned directly from a master. You can go so far learning from a book, but there is something mysterious and nameless that is transmitted in the way Ya Mu talks about. One can never hope to reach the highest levels of a healing art without such transmission, unless one is born with special abilities, and even then it is still better to study with a teacher. If you haven't experienced something like this, you may not understand it. There is no way I would have made the efforts I have to learn from great healers without this essence. I could not have received the same thing learning from books or videos.

It's an interesting question to ponder. I have actually thought about it quite a bit, on and off in the past. In the event of a sudden traumatic event, it is important to realize you will not be in your ordinary state of consciousness, like you are now when you think about this future happening. Trauma and injury initiates an altered state of consciousness (time slows down, a dreamlike unreality unfolds), and what you do with your consciousness is extremely important. Rehearsing this mentally perhaps can prepare you to stay present during the experience. First, don't assume that you're going to die. Some studies have shown that after an accident the altered state one leaves one in a highly suggestible state, and open to hypnotic suggestion. A study done some years ago showed that paramedics trained in extremely basic hypnotic suggestion were able to actually cease trauma victim's hemorrhaging by simply reassuring them and using a basic sort of guided imagery. (I've never understood why this was never implemented in the training of paramedics and EMT's). Obviously, this could work the other way as well, so if you ever are around a trauma victim, be very careful what you say because you can possibly save them or doom them by what you say. I believe if you are a practicing yogi, or meditator or energy practitioner, you can retain enough presence to give yourself suggestions, but I'm just speculating here. The other thing would be to recite your mantra (e.g., om mani padme hum) or the name of God or something that you have previously practiced, as your 'lifeline' to a conscious recovery or a conscious death. If you have really worked with a mantra, your mind should go more easily to it and may possibly be the only thought you can cling to when you are badly injured.

Milk teeth and tibia awesome jugs and labia they're only bodies...

I found that as I grew and my spirituality deepened, I had no desire to be in the vibration of loud clubs with usually drunk and mostly superficial people. I stay away, if possible. If I had to go for some reason, I could make the best of it, but any social anxiety I once might have felt would be absent, since I didn't care about the people or the scene anyway. You might be surprised to find that if you stop caring, you will attract a few people who are on the same vibration as you, not really wanting to be there, and you might connect with her, or them. I spent a number of years as a bartender when I was in school, and actually enjoyed that scene once. If you want to 'conquer' that scene and make it yours, perhaps get a part-time job working as a bartender (it ain't hard, and you don't need to go to school for it) and you get to kind of enjoy the scene and the women from a 'meta'-participation. Women come up to you, and it's natural, and you don't feel awkward or have to think of things to say because you're in your 'bartender' role. You'll learn how to relax and make conversation.

Jesus Ortega-Johnson is currently living in an old boy scout tent in my pineal gland, panning for gold, which is expected to reach $1,140 an ounce within the next few months...

Awesomely beautiful!!!

"Lest the Testicle of Hope and the Testicle of Doubt dangle too freely, jangled by the viscissitides and vagaries of Life, clanging together painfully, verily I say unto thee, wearest always the Jockstrap of Compassion, and go forth into the big, bad world with a smile on thy face and sweet surety in thy step". -Jesus Ortega-Johnson