Mal

It's been becoming increasingly obvious to me that a reason for my "sudden" onset of strong back pain was due to me stopping daily use of THC (via vaporisation) I'm currently on 50mg of Tramadol 2x a day, so my level of pain is nothing like what Vicodin would be prescribed for. But I'll be on Tramadol while I'm doing physiotherapy and since I've been taking if for a few months now I'm starting to build up a tolerance and have to top up with paracetamol in between I don't like having to take drugs, but obviously I have no issues taking them if I want to So I've done a bit of experimentation the last few weeks and FWIW while the sensation of pain is slightly different I would have to say that THC is noticeable more effective than Tramadol. For me I basically feel like normal just a slight aching sensation rather than the tingling pins and needles / numbness that I experience with Tramadol. I know I'm injured because a quick mindless movement can still lead to blinding pain that stops me breathing, almost at the point of collapse. I also know I'm improving from physiotherapy as the extent of the pain no longer extends to the top of my foot. But I notice that I have no real need to take my morning does of Tramadol after THC the night before. The downside is that THC isn't appropriate if you need to appear "normal" after taking it. Also I would not bother with those "legal" pot substitutes. IME they just focus on just the high and miss out on the fullness of the natural herb (as you would expect as the are not mimicking all the cannabinoides occurring in the herb) I would say that there is a place for prescription pain killers. I hate them on principal and usually I won't even take panadol, but I do take Tramadol because once things are really painful it's really just a positive feedback loop of pain-> increased muscular tension -> increased pain -> increased muscular tension. No fun at all when it's happening day after day for months. For me now that I'm finally starting to get some range of motion back I'm starting to think along the lines of acupuncture and massage. I've started to investigate pain sensations with meditation but that's only become possible now that the sensation is not just constant agony. Best success to you on your journey S.

My thoughts also, I've been toying with starting a thread like this. I never did KAP for the Kundalini, I just wanted a good teacher and that's what I got I got a system of practices that have built a strong foundation and improved the fundamentals of my life: health, finances, relationships, martial arts... I've even stopped using THC! Basically I'm at a place that I'm really happy with, where I don't really want anything else (except for fixing this back pain. But it's pain that I can live with, many suffer MUCH more) How could Kundalini make my life better? I feel I'm at a place now where I could now focus on kundalini. I know people here who have activated it and it sure seems to have made there lifes better. But it's a huge life changing event and I keep returning to- How could Kundalini make MY life better?

"interesting name of a site" Yes, the "history" of how it appeared, an ofshoot/falling out of healing tao members with a nod to dharma bums Glad you are enjoying TTB

Ended up going with "The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi" Always wanted it but tends to be a bit expensive in Aus. Then it turned up today as a one day special on fishpond but $1 cheaper at bookdepository So it seems it's time to check this one out properly

Currently for me 20 min seems to feel "complete" almost like I've finished a cycle. But I can remember at around 45~60 min feeling a similar "complete" feeling when I was doing kunlun.

Yea strange name isn't it, probably means something but I never looked into that part. I came across it in a weird place, a book somewhere. It just seems to resonate with me, good practice motivator. .... and I enjoy the sensation of scary stories. I'm reminded of The Little Match Girl, Hans Christian Andersen, another tale of all too brief moments in time The one I 1st read had these Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone illustrations 1977 "A Book of Fairy Tales." Missing a page but it's basically here http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.181796737.jpg http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.181798386.jpg http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.181798424.jpg http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.181799371.jpg http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.181799406.jpg http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.181800055.jpg http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.181800847.jpg

It's all good, + we are talking about a book Leif, I would be interested in your experience with Tao's info. I was told that the UMMA tantra material contained the missing key to really getting the most out of T5T but I did not look into it myself. BTW just in case anyone doesn't know me I am one of Santiago's KAP students. Santi is a partner with Tao Semko + I've also done level 1 KAP with Tao. Both are beautiful people that I really enjoyed learning from.

Yes. I personally find edits annoying as I re-read threads and like to keep them for later reference. But there are good reasons to edit posts so we do allow people to edit their own posts, if editing was a huge issue it could just be switched off. But intentionally blank, "filler" posts or flooding a topic is just pointlessly annoying. So please don't do that. _/\_

Balance that's something I want to get into. But I've spent 1h30min on TTB today and I want to go do some Tai Chi now, play a 2 person game with my partner this afternoon, if she has finished studying, and go out to dinner with my parents and do a bit of practice after that. So I'll have to come back to this a bit later.

Bet they snapped a lot of necks so lucky that Liu Ch'ang wasn't doing that.

I agree, and I'm aware of David Deida concepts as explained in The Way of the Superior Man Yet I maintain No. Except for game playing, like jumping off cliffs, catching bullets with your teeth etc there should not be any difference between how a life is lived dependent on (im)mortality as the distinction is functionally irrelevant. eg. Lets say a genie suddenly appeared and granted a person immortality and that person changed their lifestyle. Then lets say a year later the genie comes back with, "My mistake you are not immortal anymore.... actually you never were so you are just a year closer to dying. Have a nice day!" Because of that should the person change their lifestyle again? What has actually changed? I would say there are some faulty assumptions causing poor choices. In mortality discussions I often enjoy contemplating heart spoon although it's long and SCARY so Mal hates reading it and thank you Kate I'm also enjoying this discussion. I'm sure that understanding will come to all in the fullness of time _/\_

What about just the beginning to the 1st cross hands in the yang long form, although it's closer to 5min than 2min. Not sure of a video link but IIRC The Inner Structure of Tai Chi by Mantak Chia uses short form that is basically grasp sparrows tail and single whip done to 4 corners.

follow the example Liu Ch'ang from seven taoist masters? Liu Ch'ang was unable to free himself of sexual desire. He dreamt of going to visit the Palace of the Empress of Heaven, yet unable to control his desire, he steals a glance of the court ladies out of the corner of his eye and therefore shows his unworthiness. To overcome this, he takes an unorthodox approach and lives in a brothel until he can control his desires and master himself.

^ rigid thinking is a dangerous trap because you are not what you think you are; but what you think, you are. If we wanted to go "hard core" we shouldn't be wasting valuable meditation time on distracting entertainment, like 'net surfing TTB But I think making the jump from enjoying computer games to pathetic lab rat on a life sucking treadmill status is going rather too far.

But doesn't this exist currently for everyone? i.e My back hurts, I'm conflicted between reading TTB and going to practice Tai Chi. But while these thing may/will kill me at some time in the future, baring an unexpected heart attack or natural disaster they can't kill me right now. Exactly and while that freaks poor "Mal" out sometimes because I/we are pretty sure that the thought construct that is "Mal" which is created from neurological interactions in the cerebral cortex won't survive physical death. I/we are pretty sure that whatever is there that is more than just the thought construct that knows itself as "Mal" is "immortal".

http://humansarefree.com/2011/02/china-bans-reincarnation-without.html A step towards outlawing non government mandated practice that can/could lead to immortality? I wonder if there is an accompanying reincarnation tax Hopefully this is just one of those stories that newsfeeds pick up as an amusing soundbite.... hopefully

WTF a law against a natural bodily function... As a child I can remember once thinking I was abnormal because I farted and had ear wax. Adults didn't discus that sort of thing except for comments like "don't do that"

I've recently returned to gaming, getting a PS3 around New Years. I was motivated after having a total blast playing guitar hero and mario cart with my friends over Christmas. They brought in WII's and Xbox's into work and we set them up on a projector tv. Great fun. The only downside is the amount of time gaming takes, but I recently stopped using THC everyday so I've got much more free time now. As well as unusual games like flOw, Flower and Hard Rain I'm currently enjoying playing Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit online against people from all over the world, being a hero in inFamous but most importantly we are currently investing days of playtime in Borderlands split screen 2 player co-op with my partner. We use to play 2 player computer games a lot when we 1st met, ~20 years ago especially Diablo which we played together LOTS on the PS1. I'm certain returning to gaming has improved our relationship at least 200% (we also have a great time playing singstar mowtown and downloading new songs to sing together) I also use my PSP to get 20min of "standing post" at work without people trying to talk to me during smoko I still think it cheating, despite people saying you can practice standing watching tv etc. But physically I feel better as getting out of a chair as standing up helps my back (that's also my excuse for playing guitar hero ) artmgs73 on PSN.

I'd just like to say thanks to the people hitting report post. It makes moderating TTB much easier as is gives us as moderators a "heads up" from Members. We REALLY appreciate it _/\_

1st edition? Yep that's the one. I almost gave it away as the 2nd edition had those extra practices and the color photo's; which made the field of sunflowers rather beautiful (didn't even notice the sunflowers previously ) But I'm glad I kept it as I really like the little "Pillars of Bliss" book. And thanks for the info Joeblast, I'm sure I'll be able to get another copy eventually if that's how things work out

Why would/is there a difference in thinking/action predicated upon this mystical achievement termed "immortality" ?

Hi G, I'm not too sure what you mean?

Right here and now, I AM immortal, so I guess I'd be posting on TTB