moment

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly. Buckminster Fuller

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea."-- Robert Heinlein

"Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage."-- Ray Bradbury

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." (Foundation)-- Isaac Aasimov

- "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right." (Foundation) Isaac Aasimov

- "I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." -- Douglas Adams

Kites harness the force of the wind. They express our intent, But they cannot change the wind. 365 Tao, Deng Ming-Dao

Whatever, I enjoyed it.

I must say, I was encouraged following this thread. You guys reconciled well together.

You have been working the extremes. There is a much better middle road. Relax more, worry less. At eighteen years old, losing semen as much as once a week makes no difference in your development at all. Maybe after five or ten years of consistent/productive awareness and energy work it might be something to look into. Getting rid of the alcohol,cigarettes, pot was a major good move though. If a teacher is advocating sexual practices or restraints, early on in their particular discipline, you should probably view them with an open but cautious mind. I would recommend finding a local very reputable Tai Chi teacher. If you can learn a system well, under the personal direction of a good teacher, it will change your life, for the good, forever. The key to everything is focused, RELAXED, attention.

the tyranny of politics

I just got a personal message from tryingtodobetter. He says no. No Tai Chi.. What do you recommend for a newbie with no teacher who needs results in the near term? Something that can be built upon. I know Yang and Wu. I am sure that you have some ideas.

Hey there! Do you know any Tai Chi?

Tai Chi is awesome. I love it! Not the best in the in the short term though, if you have never done it before and you don't have a teacher. Quick fixes here for what tryingtodobetter considered an emergency. My sense is that since he did not mention it, he did not know it. But, who knows? Lets check it out.

Thank you for being solid and consistent.

Happy trails!

David, Hang in there and do what you do. Worry less about what other people think. I may check in now and then and ask you questions, if that is okay with you.

Thank you. That really hits home for me. I have never told anyone this before but, sometimes when I was doing vigorous moving meditations in the woods, I would stop for a minute and hear my blood whisper to me. It was like generations before me and more were there. Again, I thank you for reminding me.

Yes, it is the butter meditation. If concentration meditations are done before a certain level of a calm aware mind has been attained, a lot of crap is/can be kicked up that we are not ready for. Eventually, you will become very efficient, just pared down to a few techniques that work best. Be well..

First off, no more candle gazing, avoid it like the plague. Walking meditations in the forest or nice parks is useful. Start eliminating stresses. Everything negative you are feeling is an artificially magnified condition. You need to soothe yourself. Do more of the things that relax and calm you. Absolutely stay away from drugs or alcohol. Simplify. Keep in contact with the people who care about you. I wish you well and you can contact me at any time..

Digestion is good!

Ok

You are all over the map.

Hmmmm

What Liminal is saying is of course true. A good in person class is better. But, if that is lacking, go to youtube and search for 13 postures. Get a feeling for what you are seeing in common and then try several until you get a good fit. Now, what I am giving you below may seem like a little much at first but, it will start helping you over time. Good Hunting--moment SONG OF THE THIRTEEN POSTURES by Unknown Author The Thirteen Postures should not be taken lightly; the source of the postures is in the waist. Be mindful of the interchange between insubstantial and substantial; The ch'i circulates throughout the body without hindrance. Be still, when touched by the opponent, be tranquil and move in stillness; changes caused by my opponent fill him with wonder. Study the function of each posture carefully and with deliberation; to achieve the goal is very easy. Pay attention to the waist at all times; completely relax the abdomen and the ch'i rises up. When the tailbone is centered and straight, the shen [spirit of vitality] goes through to the headtop. To make the whole body light and agile suspend the headtop. Carefully study. Extension and contraction, opening and closing, should be natural. To enter the door and be shown the way, you must be orally taught. Practice should be uninterrupted, and technique achieved by self study. Speaking of the body and its function, what is the standard? The I [mind-intent] and ch'i are king, and the bones and muscles are the court.