Michael Sternbach

You are wrong. Bud Jetsun is living what he teaches to the fullest, as he as well as his partner are regularly engaging in high risk activities that would make most people here run for shelter. And while this gave me a quantum of hope, I must caution you that if you relapse to your pattern of ad hominem attacks, there will indeed somebody be banned in an instant, and it won't be Bud...

"When a new girlfriend comes between Emma the dog and her owner George, Emma e-mails "Ask Queenie," an advice columns for dogs having problems with difficult humans."

An immortalist is not necessarily afraid of death, they may simply find an (indefinitely) long life preferable or, yes, desirable. I believe our desires often lead us where we are supposed to go. It could be a successful immortalist's soul mission to do learn their karmic lessons all in one lifetime rather than ending it and again starting from scratch as a baby. They could also keep pursuing some project for which one life time isn't enough. Or just do a lot of good for the world based on their growing knowledge and experience. Maybe some few such individuals really exist? I wouldn't exclude this possibility...

Works fine for me.

I believe that indefinite rejuvenation is hypothetically possible, but very rarely achieved. I see nothing fundamentally wrong in pursuing it though, some practitioners may in fact increase the quality and length of their life this way.

LOL https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915091625.htm Hey, this is even somewhat back on topic...

I heard from a reliable source of a somebody successfully walking away from a mass execution in WWII Germany. The person didn't run, just calmly walked off as if to express: " I don't wanna be part of this; count me out", and was gone before anybody realized what had just happened.

I think the word is "organic" in English.

This is a somewhat cheesy metaphor.

Yes, what is inherent or potential flowing out into manifestation, just because it is ripe and it can.

Mui (for Junko: 無為). It's the Japanese translation of wu wei. Is that fair enough?

solitude

Poimandres is one of the foundational texts of Hermeticism. Glad you have posted it.

I would call this a true philosophy. My granddad - who was a philosophy and mathematics professor who wrote a couple of books about this - called it an open philosophy. He also talked about the philosophy of reversibility sometimes. Daoism approaches this perspective, in my understanding: "The way that can be spoken of, is not eternal."

One day, philosophy and all the other sciences will unite: When it will be understood that the same principles govern each level of existence, from macrocosm to microcosm, from spirit to mind, and so on. The Hermeticists and Daoists realized this long ago.

While certain realizations may make us more self-reliant, they don't completely change what we are. Some of us are natural loners, for others, having companions is crucial. It's mostly a question of what type you belong to, I would say.

That's looks like a helpful introduction to Ba Zi, Gerard - thanks for sharing. However, as a Western astrologer, I need to tell you that the emphasized part: is incorrect. What star sign you were "born under" most definitely does not show how evolved you are on the soul level. Or are you seriously stating that Michael Jackson (Virgo) was more evolved than Voltaire (Scorpio)?

Let your friendly moderator guide yo! http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/41290-iaido/

Lots of difficulties there. It has not even been possible to prove that any of the classical psychotherapies actually work.

Time can be reversed on the biological level, leading i.e. to the shrinking of tumours and general correction of molecular alignment in the DNA etc. Tissues can be rejuvenated as I often observe in application of vibrational remedies (homeopathy, spagyrics etc). The methods of internal and external alchemy are designed for that, even though success will vary from one individual to another, due to a number of conditions.

I was working as an alternative therapist together with a psychiatrist for a fairly long time, and it was frequently most natural and appropriate to talk about philosophical questions with the patients seeking a way to live a more balanced and happier life. This was also (and especially!) true for patients with suicidal tendencies. Philosophy in my understanding is anything but an abstract matter with no relevance for day to day living, it is the very foundation of how we deal with our experiences and the decisions we make. But you need to understand yourself both what philosophies you are unwittingly following, and how to translate philosophical tenets into practical living in order to help your patients on this level. The openness, sensitivity and world view of the individuals you are treating must be carefully taken into account. Often, my familiarity with a variety of philosophical and spiritual approaches enables me to choose the particular language that the person in question is susceptible to.

Yes, I know what you're talking about. It's not unusual for people that are open in a psychic sense. Where this takes the form of intense foreboding, seeing "omens" everywhere etc, it is recommendable for the sufferer to take the Bach Flower remedy Aspen for a while. Probably along with a few others to cover what else may be contributing to the condition. Best to talk to an experienced Bach Flower therapist for that.

I am no practitioner of iai-do myself. From what little I know, the sagao is not usually tied to the belt, and I'm not sure why you would want to do that. Have you seen this somewhere?

Let's talk about this on your Iai-do thread.

I agree that to visualize, affirm and believe in the perfect state is an essential part of healing. When it is too much to genuinely do so, it can be done gradually. I.e., if a practitioner of self-healing cannot convince themselves that a tumor is about to vanish completely, they can sometimes nevertheless visualize it a little smaller and, once achieved, continue from there. The activation of a state of health is crucial, but there will chi projection involved, and it is important for healers to have strong chi at their disposal, or build it up and renew it. "Physical alone" healing that does not address the emotional issues that are almost always involved in an illness is superficial and not always permanent. The best healers will treat the patient, not the illness.