Michael Sternbach

Thank you Brian for this brilliant introduction to Special Relativity. I am confident it will help some of us here to follow along when we are going to talk about some mind boggling questions now. Such as: How come you at rest and I travelling in a space ship at relativistic speed will both measure the light of, let's say, a distant star to move 300'000 km/sec, even though what is a second to you is (for example) two seconds to me? Another one: Why is c considered the highest possible speed in any frame if I in my relativistic space ship in fact travel at many times c, from my own view?

Here is a 1000 $ question to you guys: What has money got to do with the speed of light? Right - absolutely nothing! Let's try to get back on topic then... So, the OP states that time is the speed of light. I demonstrated above that this must be correct, in essence, as an object spatially at rest moves through time at c. However, this statement is not without difficultiess, since c is defined as about 300'000 km/sec, which obviously describes a movement through space. At what pace does something move through time? Well, in the most simple scenario, at 1 sec/sec. But accelerate it to a velocity near c, and its time flow will be reduced to a mere fraction of a second per second, as measured by the external observer. As I explained, that occurs because some of its movement through time is being transformed to movement through space. However, time flow as experienced by the moving object itself hasn't changed! Instead (again subjectively or relatively speaking), its movement in space now far exceeds the speed of light! (In my understanding, at least.) That's why a space ship travelling at a velocity very close to c could traverse the roughly two and a half million light years to the Andromeda galaxy in something like 25 years - 25 of its own years, of course, while in the outer universe two and a half million years would pass... Obviously, the relationship between the different space-time frames as described by Special Relativity is somewhat mind boggling. Perhaps Brain, um, Brian could shed some more light on this topic - in simple Dao Bums terms?

Hi Fate, Your metaphor is a good one. It was also used by Dr. Edward Bach, the founder of the famous Bach Flower Therapy which is treating problematic emotional and mental conditions. According to Dr. Bach, every negative condition is the mere absence of a positive vibration which the suitable flower remedy can temporarily substitute. Let's use the example of love; where its expression is blocked, it turns into hate, anger, jealousy - negative states by which the sufferer is hurting both others and themselves. However, as soon as the vibration of love comes in, all that which is not love vanishes just like the darkness in a room would once you let the light shine inside. Then there is the famous Hermetic text called Kybalion. Much like Bach, it talks of the transmutation of one psychological state to another by the raising of vibration. It employs the metaphor of a scale, with the most positive expression (love, in our case) at one end, the most negative expression (hate) at the other. In between, there would be lesser affection, indifference, mild aversion... Now, we could say that the lack of the mere 'light of love' does not equal hate but indifference. A 'zero condition' as opposed to a truly negative one. Actually, I see this as a difficulty of our model. Quantum physics demonstrated that there are in fact so called "squeezed states" of negative energy! So there is something like 'dark light'. Not mere darkness - which would just be the absence of light - but a 'want' of something. Where light heats up what it falls on, negative light would have a cooling effect. It is telling that black holes are thought to emit this kind of light. Food for thought.

Oh, btw, Nungalus, I would say that you have an excellent understanding of Jung - based on reading so many posts of yours that refer to Jungian psychology, and as somebody whose own work is strongly influenced by Jung. Did I ever mention that he was a friend of my grandfather's? Brian: Stay tuned. I am sure that N and/or I will have something to say about your cards shortly.

Nice job, Nungungali. Bugglebear! (This is an insider, folks. ) Some time ago, we talked about Nikolai's Tarot cards as derived from his birth date (August 23 1976) at length in general, and in particular (ahead of time then) his current annual card, The Hanged Man. http://thedaobums.com/topic/38456-my-theory-on-the-1111-phenomenon/page-10 Regarding his cards over the next years which you presented above, you will (now that you know his birth date) notice that there is going to be a break in the series in the year 2019 when The Chariot (VII) will take the place of The Tower (XVI). Your presentation is quite valid nevertheless, insofar two Trumps which share the same numerical value tend to manifest together, at least to a certain degree, as experience showed me. Talking about Nikolai's transits, I had a very quick look, and it was not super conclusive. However, I don't know his exact birth data yet. I may be able to get back to this later. Regarding your post # 24: It brought to mind something I read recently, which made me think, and which I would like to share with you. Hope you like it.

I see. On a somewhat more serious note: Go easy on yourself. I think it's a necessary stage that will turn into something else in due time. Thinking of your current annual Tarot card.

So you feel a lack of love or companionship in your life?

No worries, Everything. We are just among ourselves.

Fine, Everything. Get everything out.

As Jesus says in the Gospel of Thomas, what matters most is not what goes into the mouth but what comes out of it. Besides speech, this also extends to one's unspoken thoughts. To lessen their physical boundaries. The non-physical aspects seem to be strengthened by the absence of food! The more sensitive you are on that level, the more careful you must be about what you eat. Which will tend to decrease your nutritional tolerance further, unfortunately. He also told them, when asking for donations, to eat whatever is offered to them... Actuslly, on the most advanced levels it seems possible to let the omnipresent Qi nurture you directly.

That's why as things move through space, their time flow slows down. The faster their movement through space, the slower their movement through time. It's a trade-off. If they could reach the speed of light, the time flow they experience would stop entirely. That's what Einstein showed.

It is mostly happening on the so called subtle levels, in the mental and emotional bodies. These can and do exist and function apart from the physical body. The function of the brain (and other organs) is to link them to the physical body. There are actually people with virtually no brain but capable of normal cognitive processes (it's called hydranencephaly). Yes, there is some give and take between the physical and the subtle bodies via the etheric body. It's no one-way street. Yes, as I have explained above. To a certain degree. At once, we are manifesting the environment, both individually and collectively. I know what you mean. But your outlook is quite on the material side too - literally.

Deep (or perhaps not so deep) inside, almost everybody has a dream or vision of what they would really like to do in/with their life. This is something that emerges from the unconscious inner self. But, sure enough, the conscious self has objections at hand immediately: "You can't make a living that way", "you're too old", "it would take too much time to build it up", "you don't have the funds for that", "you lack the talent", "the people around you wouldn't approve of it", and so forth. Obviously, what we tell ourselves is often the warnings that we once received from others. Yet these "stupid ideas" are messages from our soul; they are meaningful and should be looked at. Neglecting them is often the reason for our depression. Even if we will possibly never be able to put them into action as such, we might find some form of expressing them that will enrich our life experience and give us satisfaction. What is your secret yearning, Nikolai? Maybe you don't want to say it in public, that would be fine. But you really have not the least idea? Pardon me if I don’t quite buy that... However, if it is in fact so, then you must ask your inner self for a vision to guide you. If that works for the American Indians, why shouldn't it work for you.

There is some truth in the OP, but what matters more than any physical influences is one's psychological condition. A balanced and happy mind will go a long way helping you deal with all kinds of potentially detrimental stuff, but the opposite doesn't hold true. The healthiest diet etc won't overcome the physical effects of a troubled mind. Always, the mind supersedes the physical.

What comes to mind here is a metaphor by the philosopher Itzhak Bentov according to which the psyche of an individual being expands upwards like a cone. The higher you go, the more it intersects with other cones. On the highest level, there is but one field of consciousness. It would seem that the reishi increased your awareness of your "cone" joining all the others. Hope this helps.

I didn't say that you are Western, I only highlighted differences between teaching methods that seem to pertain to your topic.

It is typical for Asian teachers to teach silently even where there are no language barriers, simply by showing things which the students imitate to the best of their ability. The Western mind always seeks background information to set things in perspective, so the traditional Eastern way can be frustrating for it at times. Neither way is good or bad per say, they are just different ways of learning. I think it's a good idea for you to supplement your practice with books written by masters, the way you do. I see no problem in this, as long as you don't let variations due to different styles confuse you.

Jung would have liked your vision, its symbolism makes perfect sense if you look at it in terms of the collective unconscious which belongs to all of humanity; thus, its symbolism is intercultural. The dragon is a symbol for the universal life energy in more than one system, including Western Alchemy. It is more or less interchangeable with the snake. Talking about Alchemy, its aim is to create the Lunar White Stone and the Solar Red Stone (hint, hint ). White and red are also the colours of the Lunar Ida and Solar Pingala, two main channels (nadis) in the Indian model of subtle anatomy, wound like snakes around the Sushumna or central channel which coincides with the spine. As the above graph suggests, in modern times, Ida and Pingala are often identified with the twin snakes on the Caducaeus or Serpent Wand of Hermes, which are also Lunar and Solar, Yin and Yang etc. Hope this helps.

Thanks. I was indeed thinking of you when I wrote the part about flexibility, because I know how much you endorse this concept, even though your user name doesn't suggest it (the way, let's say, "Spongebob" would).

Likewise, when faced with a challenging situation, we should not panic and act headlessly, but summon our internal forces: Our cognitive powers, imagination, knowledge, calmness, strength etc. Do not take unnecessary chances. Optimize your position when you have the opportunity. But when in a difficult position nonetheless, never give up - fight your way out of it! And always remember that using stratagams can give you the edge. An appeal to conduct warfare wisely. There can be any number of reasons why the actions mentioned need to be avoided under certain circumstances. For example, it will do you no good to either overestimate yourself or underestimate the opposition in a conflict. Also, Sun Tzu, the master of baiting, knew that one must be careful not to be lured into something. Or give one's intentions away prematurely. And so forth. Somewhat surprisingly, Sun Tzu even concedes disobeying a command from a superior, if it seems stupid. However, rumour has it that Sun Tzu himself was not always too understanding of folks who heeded this advice. Once again, Sun Tzu emphasizes variability and flexibility. Something not typical of average military men - but of Daoists. Thus, the wise leader considers a situation holistically. Before making a decision, they carefully weigh the pros and cons. Another very Daoist advice: Don't be overly perfectionist, satisfy yourself with achieving what really matters. While being ever ready to seize an opportunity as it presents itself, of course! And if no opportunity shows up... Use your ingeniousness and create one! Just hoping for the best is not good enough. It's always the ramifications of one's ego that make one a loser. The one who fights without haste, fear, anger and pride is quite invincible. Sun Tzu really knew his Daoist sages.

Very sad story. Stuff like that is giving martial arts and their practitioners a bad name in public.

Not necessarily. So called "internal" and "external" martial arts have a lot in common. I know because I am a practitioner of both. The further I progress, the more I feel the distinction to be an artificial and unnecessary one. But it depends on one's school or individual practice. Stretches are useful, but to say that strength in IMA is based on it is an exaggeration, imo. It is based on many things at once. Key elements are muscle relaxation and smooth connectivity between muscle groups, and stretching can go a long way to enhance those factors. As a preparation for a training session, some warm up and stretching is very recommendable, to be sure.

In a sense, our lives are our answer to the Universe.

I find it quite remarkable that the article linked above explains the concept of Kamma-niradha as follows: Doesn't this sound a lot like wu-wei, as generally understood in Daoism? But it goes without saying that even amongst Daoists, interpretations vary, and the same can be observed in Buddhism. However, I believe that amongst the spiritually most advanced individuals across different "religions" and philosophies, opinions don't vary very much. It is at the less advanced stages that different views, seeming contradictions and confusion abound. Frequently and quite inevitably, the most enlightened ones are inadequately interpreted by the less enlightened ones. This may well be happening in the case of Nietzsche too.

Do you have the source for this? Very interesting post overall. Nietzsche would have liked not only the anarchistic side of Daoism but without a doubt also its wide spread interest in super powers and immortality.