TheSongsofDistantEarth

Sigh..., yes ralis, I agree. I've tried pointing out to Vajra that he lacks clarity and cogency, making his posts largely a frustrating waste of time. They only make sense in his head. vsaulki, don't bother getting into 'discussion with him, it's entirely frustrating, because he has his own self contained reality system that he is here to dump on us, and then to let us know that he is right and he "knows" because he has had profound meditative experiences (proof, that!) and when he was 12 he had an enlightenment experience and when he was born he was blue and in the lotus position or something. A modern prophet? I think I'm going to start a thread (not directly about about him) on Spiritual Egotism. I think that would be an interesting topic... .

Welcome, ninpo. Hey, your shoelaces are untied. Ha! made you look! {message sent via my Blackberry from the summit of Kachenjunga}

'Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts. Unforgettable. http://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Greg...2400&sr=8-1 .

Hardyg: How do you explain the transit this past week of two cargo ships through the Northeast Passage from Asia to Europe for the first time ever? Obviously fake news information! Stick to your guns, babyowl dude. Don't let anything get in the way of your reality-- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle6832885.ece .

Tried the 5 Tibetans 2 or 3 different times over several years for 2-3 months at a time, never noticed any benefit whatsoever. Maybe doing more of them or longer...? .

all is transparent no- all is calm, all is bright? Help, Mister Wizard!

No, not a clone, but a look alike/soundalike of obvious inferior talent and ability ('I mean, Let 'Em In', and 'Listen to What the Man Said'??). Sorry, I am not able to comment on that at this time.

Don't mean to be rude. Where is this information from? I'd love to read the references. I'm just getting frustrated with a lot of the magico-pseudoscience that drifts through the taobums transom. LOTS of magical thinking here about science, health,enlightenment, energy. It's not that those things don't exist, it's just the way anything exotic goes here. I think I'll start my own topic about this....

Do you want honest commentary? .

Yes, chemtrails are real. Their first appearance has been traced to 1969, coinciding with the well-documented disappearance and death of Beatle Paul McCartney. There was an unsuccessful attempt at cover-up (see the Abby Road album cover, why is he the only Beatle not wearing shoes??). Proof was later found in the Beatle's 'White Album', playing the song 'Revolution #9' backwards clearly says "Paul is dead", and then the sound of a horrendous car crash. In 'Strawberry Fields Forever', John Lennon also is clearly heard to say "I buried Paul" in the final refrain. Since then, an musically inferior look-alike has taken over the career of Paul McCartney (the real Paul McCartney would never have written and performed anything like 'Silly Love Songs'). It was precisely during this time that the toxic chemtrails were first noted by researchers in the middle east who were on the trail of the Ancient Astronauts. It is believed, though not proven, that the release of toxic benzine clouds introduces errors in the DNA code, resulting in evolving mutations (Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter) or outright physico-mental transmogrification (Michael Moore). It is thought that the only way to avoid these chemtrails is to remain underground, and small numbers of important people have found the vast underground networks peopled by an ancient race of highly intelligent beings, who are currently orchestrating a reworking of the healthcare system in the United States. .

Reading through your thread, my intuitive hit that an important part of your feeling better about your life will be to let go of your self involvement. You must do some other things, I'm sure others will make additional suggestions, but the "magic ingredient" in making your life work starting from where you are now is this: Focus your life force on serving others. There are plenty of places to volunteer your energies. Start by loving other people as they are, and serving. Take your focus off your self. I'm sure there is a nursing home within a few miles from where you live. Go down there and visit some of the people. Go to the VA hospital and play some checkers with some of those dudes. Volunteer at a church. A homeless shelter. A clinic for underserved people-give patients rides to their appointments. There are billions of opportunities to give your time and energy. Focus on others, not yourself. Just show up and give of yourself. You'll soon learn how to be and how to belong. It will be a way in to how to create that in the rest of your life.

Winpro07, that link to benzodiazepine withdrawal is helpful for those who are unable to come off of them without a severe withdrawal syndrome, severe and unrelenting rebound anxiety, etc., which is fortunately a small minority. The vast majority of people will not need this long drawn out step down process, thankfully. Posting should serve as a reminder that these are not benign substances. Thanks for putting that up. I must say, however, that your knowledge of basic chemistry, pharmacology and physiology is utter nonsense. A carbon ring in a substance does not mean it contains "benzene". For instance, dopamine, a neurotransmitter occurring naturally in the brain, contains what you refer to as "benzene". The benzodiazepines under discussion (like Klonopin) do not contain flourine (although many SSRI's do, like prozac, lexapro, etc.). Just because chlorine or flourine is attached to a molecule does not mean it gets "loose" in the body to bind to tissues, it is usually excreted as part of a metabolite. Where are you getting this information? This is obviously not the place to debate chemistry and physiology, but the information you're posting has no real basis.

Keep practicing the breathing, the more you use it, the more powerful it becomes, I can assure you. Much more powerful than the taste you had when you first tried it. Keep at it, soon you will be able to feel a wave of relaxation sweep through you when you use it. Theanine is certainly worth a try, some people get good results from it, others get nothing. See how it works for you. Kava Kava, or Kava extract can be very effective, but it works best taken for 4-6 weeks at a time, and the effects are cumulative this way. It doesn't work that noticeably if taken as a single dose for a social event. The stuff about liver toxicity is mostly unfounded, it was related to using other parts of the Kava plant than just the root. In addition, people who had toxicity (liver failure- a bad thing, can kill you or require a liver transplant!) were also taking other hepatotoxic medications. Don't take tylenol with it. If you use it take Milk Thistle 3 times daily to ease any mild strain on your liver. You can also get Kava powder from some places, and if you take enough of it, or make a drink of it, it can approximate the 'intoxicating' drink of the South Pacific with immediate effect, certainly relaxing and anxiety reducing. But you would want to use that infrequently. But even though Kava is a plant, it is not that 'clean' in your body...liver enzymes can be elevated mildly with the kind of use outlined above. I do know that the 'brain doctor', Daniel Amen has used it to get over a stressful period after the death of a friend, and does recommend it for occasional use. But the question remains...if you come to depend on an outside substance, natural or not, to function socially, you will not develop any power to do so on your own. Again, reinforces the experience that 'I am not enough' without this substance. I know Ram Dass has talked about this, maybe in 'Be Here Now', I don't recall for sure. Better to use breathing. Or explore Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Or google cranial electrical stimulation (CES), as a standalone treatment for anxiety,or an addition to what you are already doing (theanine, breathing, etc). Lots of information on the net, here's a start: http://www.elixa.com/CES/CESfaq.htm One type of low cost unit for home use is the CES Ultra. As far as the chi ramifications of using something like this? I don't know.

Um, sorry, but from a scientific standpoint, much of the above post ^ is total nonsense. (BTW, it's benzene, not benzine). OK, here's a stern warning: Stay the fuck away from benzodiazepines (Klonopin, Xanax, Valium etc.,) if you're on a spiritual path! THEY ARE BAD DRUGS. They are highly, highly addictive, a certain percentage of people have an extremely hard time getting off of them: Search youtube for 'benzodiazepine withdrawal", or "Klonopin withdrawal". Google the same. Basically, benzodiazepines work extremely well at reducing anxiety. The problem is, they cause a numbing of emotional discomfort,and easing of anxiety, but while you are feeling"better", it's all just the drug. Stay on it, and your emotional and psychological "muscles" atrophy...grow weaker, so when you're off the drug, you have even less ability to deal with whatever stresses than you started with, so now you 'need' the drug even more. People with anxiety can get rebound anxiety very horribly. The problems go on and on. They can be useful in a short term, very limited situation for more severe stress and anxiety (death of a loved one, etc.,). If all you've got is a little social anxiety, taking the slide with Klonopin is definitely spiritual cowardice, may lead to addiction, and on some deep level will create and reinforce a notion in yourself that "I am not enough", and need this drug (or this drink) in order to function or 'be myself'. You bet, Klonopoin will will negatively affect your chi. Get in the habit of using it for your social anxiety, and you will always need it in those situations. You won't learn how to conquer it. Work with breathing, man, that is the key to anxiety and fear, and there are lots of simple techniques to start with. It'll take a little work, but you will be building personal power and spiritual strength. Even practicing a simple breathing exercise like the one Andrew Weil teaches is very, very effective if practiced often and regularly. Here's why: There are two things in the body that fall under conscious control (unless you're an advanced yogi)- blinking, and breathing. Both are things you do unconsciously and without thought, or you can consciously override this and blink or breathe with intention. These processes, when not consciously done, are under the control of the autonomic nervous system (parasympathetic and sympathetic--the 'fight or flight' response) that has also to do with the underlying autonomic 'tone' in your body/mind that create anxiety from fear. When you're anxious and fearful, you are breathing rapidly and shallowly. Because breathing is under both conscious and unconscious control, it is a wide-open 'window' from your conscious mind into your autonomic nervous system. By overriding it, you can thereby gain control of this system that holds your anxiety. The more you practice it, the more powerful it becomes, it's natural, you become stronger, and you always take your breath with you everywhere. Say no to the Klonopin. Be a warrior. Here's a simple and brilliantly effective technique: ------------------------------------ The Art and Science of Breathing "Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." Andrew Weil, M.D. Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. I recommend three breathing exercises to help relax and reduce stress: The Stimulating Breath, The 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise (also called the Relaxing Breath), and Breath Counting. Try each and see how they affect your stress and anxiety levels. Exercise The 4-7-8 (or Relaxing Breath) Exercise This exercise is utterly simple, takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. Although you can do the exercise in any position, sit with your back straight while learning the exercise. Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth, and keep it there through the entire exercise. You will be exhaling through your mouth around your tongue; try pursing your lips slightly if this seems awkward. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight. This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths. Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth. The tip of your tongue stays in position the whole time. Exhalation takes twice as long as inhalation. The absolute time you spend on each phase is not important; the ratio of 4:7:8 is important. If you have trouble holding your breath, speed the exercise up but keep to the ratio of 4:7:8 for the three phases. With practice you can slow it all down and get used to inhaling and exhaling more and more deeply. This exercise is a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system. Unlike tranquilizing drugs, which are often effective when you first take them but then lose their power over time, this exercise is subtle when you first try it but gains in power with repetition and practice. Do it at least twice a day. You cannot do it too frequently. Do not do more than four breaths at one time for the first month of practice. Later, if you wish, you can extend it to eight breaths. If you feel a little lightheaded when you first breathe this way, do not be concerned; it will pass. Once you develop this technique by practicing it every day, it will be a very useful tool that you will always have with you. Use it whenever anything upsetting happens - before you react. Use it whenever you are aware of internal tension. Use it to help you fall asleep. This exercise cannot be recommended too highly. Everyone can benefit from it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are many other breathing practices in the various practices discussed in this forum. But don't get bogged down Start simple, gain some strength, and build from there. Go for it!

The one I find most beautiful and poetic, and that I keep returning to to read for inspiration, is Witter Bynner's translation: http://www.terebess.hu/english/tao/bynner.html http://www.amazon.com/Way-Life-According-L...u/dp/0399512985 Note the Amazon reviews. I use verse 20 as my guideline, I know it, and whenever I see a new Translation of the Tao Te Ching, I turn to #20 and compare. Bynner's translation always wins. Not the most scholarly version, but certainly the most beautiful. .

"I yam what I yam and tha's all what I yam." -- Popeye the Sailor Man ~

What happened to the puppy dog? Is she OK?

Good topic, Marble, thanks for puttin' it up. Looking forward to the discush. [ this post conveyed via my iPhone from Everest Base Camp]

First reading: powerful, right on. Second reading: "Accept everything just the way it is". Good. Then a few neutral aphorisms and a lot of negatives- "Do not..." and "Never..." If I am saddened by a separation, for example, shouldn't I just accept my sadness as being "just the way it is"? Isn't he saying to accept everything as it is, but reject your fear of death, or my partial feeling? Is this not inconsistent? Third reading: "In all things have no preferences". I prefer to live in a safe neighborhood in a clean, well-built home over the opposite. I can see how to strive to live without attachment, but I cannot see how to live without preferences. One can have preferences and not be attached to them. Can someone explain to me what this aphorism means, and why I should have no preferences? Nice collection of sayings, but does it hold together as a whole?

Wow, I keep wanting to think that thing is actually a living thing instead of a machine! Here's some living things... A0n6BhhDz2M&feature=related

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I was just cornfused. I read it as though you were saying you were in favor of someone who has the same views as you, rather than someone who is impartial and hands-off. That was what I didn't understand.

huh ?

delete