Aetherous

To me, this kind of view seems very judgmental, besides being inaccurate. Someone who speaks freely would say "get off yer high horse"...I don't like to make commands like that, or actually accuse someone of being haughty...but only point out a potential problem area in spiritual cultivation for everyone's benefit. Having this kind of viewpoint seems self destructive to me. It's my view that the real path embraces all aspects of life, and that no humans are on a "high level" of existence...we're all in the same boat. Thinking we're high level compared to others is a trap. Thinking others are higher level than us is another type of trap (and can lead to gurus abusing their disciples, etc...which is direct evidence of their flawed humanity). Being informed and involved, caring enough to try to help others, are good things. We're born into a social world, and are stuck with others...it helps us learn and grow in our spirituality. Cultivation doesn't end when we get off the zafu. It extends into our dealings with others, in every moment, and definitely extends into the political arena. This isn't to say politics is part of the topic of spiritual systems and methods. No, they should be considered separately. Just that (what I view as) good spiritual cultivation doesn't end in different moments, and isn't neglectful of any area of life. Spiritual methods have a set time...who we're becoming is a constant process.

If it works to have OG hidden from "activity", that seems it'd solve the issue. I can imagine, if I were using the forum that way, that it'd make the place a lot more enjoyable and pleasant.

One possible answer that I thought of for you... Perhaps your subconscious mind was able to kind of see the future (by predicting various things based on your experiences...the mind can be very powerful), and it pieced together that place with other aspects of the mind included, like experiences of talking to people. It associated them together. It might even be the case that you never dreamed of it (or remembered the dreams), but it was a feeling and image that occurred, hidden deep in the mind's processing...due to its ability to kind of catch glimpses of what will come based on current and past events; or perhaps simply due to being extra sensitive to changes in the energetic atmosphere that might reveal what's coming. Then when you actually went to that place, the sense of familiarity happened because the mind was already kind of associated with the sense of the place. It may not be that you ever actually went there before, or were even aware of the place such as from pictures, or are associating it with a similar place. It's just the mind functioning as it should...piecing our experiences together, and sometimes revealing things that are coming. It could also be the spirit actually traveling while sleeping...I'm not sure about that.

Very nice. Genuinely back in response.

(I'll try to make this my final post in this thread...simply because I don't like the idea of threads that discuss other threads. I think it's a waste of time, and cultivates a sense of being gossipy, rather than genuinely participating in discussion. I also don't want to seem more argumentative against s1va than I really am...I actually haven't noticed many of their posts until now, so I don't know this person. From my perspective, I'm saying my piece that needs to be said, and after that, both parties go back to being neutral and open to each other/not holding grudges. But hey, that's just how I operate.) About this idea: The entire rest of the forum is for such purposes. Furthermore, as a staff member, you should recognize that this forum has evolved over years into the form it currently is in - where there's a place for off topic discussion, and even a further place for political and other challenging discussion. To suggest that only spiritual discussion take place on this entire site, so as to make the site be "charged with spiritual energy"...well that's a pretty radical idea which goes against the trial and error process we've already been through to get the site to this point. This isn't a temple. This is a discussion forum for people with an interest in Daoism or other similar subjects. Also, consider that it's a balanced form of spiritual cultivation to do it in relationship to reality, and not as an escape from reality. This is not to say that we should meditate while Fox News is playing in the background (although if you can legitimately do that, wow)...but it is to say, metaphorically, it's a little too intense to refuse to have a TV in your living room simply because you want to meditate in your bedroom. Just focus on what you like. Even as spiritual cultivators, we have to live in the world, filled with people ideas places things we dislike. You can't change that. There is some hope of changing yourself, though. This is the correct view of spiritual cultivation. The Wudang temple doesn't attempt to destroy nearby cities so that the temple can radiate its spiritual energy better. It's my personal view, that as more seasoned practitioners (though not necessarily advanced), we have a duty to teach beginners what spiritual cultivation is in an appropriate way. The above is the appropriate view. Spiritual escapism is the wrong idea of cultivation, and would lead beginners astray. So even the fact that political discussion is taking place here is a lesson for beginners coming here for spiritual help. It helps ground them, and lets them realize that seasoned cultivators care about society and don't fly off to heaven, and they don't simply ignore the issues. Also that seasoned cultivators can tolerate others, and other opinions. So yeah...these are my thoughts regarding that thread, and ideas about it. By "steer a conversation" in this case, I meant something like trying to shut down the Talk Trump thread. But I see what you mean, and agree...no need to spend your time quoting portions. I wasn't referencing suspensions, and I hope that's not on your mind simply because I told you to "focus on yourself".

Focus on yourself.

These things can and should be moderated.

Thankfully, to actually steer conversation in this case, you would have to collaborate with other moderators and Admin who (I think) don't share your personal opinions that other forum members' "inner demons are coming out" or that they have an "obsession". Focus on your own cultivation. You can't control the spiritual cultivation of the forum or anyone else...and furthermore, your personal opinions about the spiritual cultivation of others is not at a level of clarity. As someone who has been at this forum since 2005, I can say that how moderation has been this past year or more has been great. Let's keep it that way, and keep staff members moderating the forum rules, rather than attempting to control the spirituality of others.

Thanks for the concern about our collective spiritual progress.

Absolutely. I can even say I changed my mind about a few things. One of them (you're not going to like hearing this) is that I went from strongly anti-Trump, thinking it was laughable he was a candidate, and that if our country voted him in we'd get what we deserved...to thinking he was the best man for the job, and today thinking he's a fine President. I participate in the rest of the forum just as I do in the political threads, since those other subjects are really what I tend to be passionate about. Regarding politics: "One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." - Plato. I think it's important to stay informed, and sometimes to debate in order to learn new things, as well as teach others new things. Politics brings out some of the worst in human nature, and some of the most shameless people participate in it. Sometimes it makes you behave shamelessly, if you don't watch yourself. Sometimes you need to take a break to regain your faith in humanity. None of these are reasons for quitting, and letting shameless inhumane people run everything. Giving up is not a virtue.

I missed this back in 2017: Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-hungary-soros/israel-backs-hungary-says-financier-soros-is-a-threat-idUSKBN19V1J4

It sounds like it'd be best to meditate on your own. It's possible for others (even animals) to negatively affect us during it, and vice versa. No one else should be touching our body. Yes, I think if you avoid overworking and being stressed, and if you live a healthy lifestyle (going to bed earlier, eating balanced). Having too much sex or masturbation can be a cause of malfunction, so take some days off between to recharge. If you're with someone new, and are even the slightest bit nervous, sometimes it can cause a malfunction...again, that's just the stress and will go away as you get used to them. I think the more genuinely stress free you are, the more it can be rock hard. I'm not sure. Maybe kidney yang is increased.

Have you tried other places? Maybe the hairdressers you've been seeing have some kind of negative qi...but other ones might not. It's true that sometimes there are individuals that aren't good for us to be around. If you experience the same thing at multiple different places, I'd suggest that it's just something within you and doesn't have to do with them. For a weak aura in a certain area, you should build your own internal qi. I'd say to practice zhan zhuang. That will over time cause your qi to rise up the du mai, which will help it spread through the neck area so that it's energetically protected.

My diet hasn't been at all strict these days...but I will end up improving it when I'm able to. I eat meat and feel like beef is a balancing food for my nervous system, energy, and mind. Without it, I become a bit too airy. Meat in moderation isn't so bad, depending on the person...unless it's a moral issue. When I want to feel slightly healthier, I eat lighter foods, chew a lot more, and eat a little bit less than normal. I think that takes some work off of the digestive system, so it can become efficient again and not clogged down. I like foods where the vegetables are cooked together with other things so that they're just part of the dish...an example of this would be almond spring rolls (where the main ingredients on the inside are: chicken, tons of cabbage, some almond slivers). The cabbage is made enjoyable to eat this way. Another example is Tibetan momos made with spinach. "The sauce is the boss"...I think sauces help foods be really enjoyable. It's not so much a matter of health, as it is a matter of getting a lot of pleasure from eating, versus just eating for utility. If we make our foods healthier, then making them more enjoyable will ensure that our diet is something we want to stick to. For some vegetables, cooking them is necessary. Think of kale or swiss chard...I don't believe in eating that shit raw. I don't think it's so fun to eat grocery store vegetables raw, even if it's something easier to digest like iceburg lettuce...imagine biting into something fresh out of the garden; there's a world of difference. Here's an example of something I tend to make, which is enjoyable and makes me feel healthy...a burrito bowl: Basmati rice (mince up some cilantro, then squeeze some lime juice over it...just a bit, not excessive like at Chipotle), black beans (preferably soaked overnight then cooked thoroughly with ginger), fresh mango slices (and or avocado slices too), lightly steamed spinach. Shred some colby cheese on top, put a dollop of sour cream and a dollop of salsa. Splash some hot sauce over it all. Here's an example of something else... Make some congee (take 1 cup of organic California basmati rice, rinse it clear under cold water, then add 7-10 cups of water to the 1 cup of rice...cook until it's all very liquified and soft). Cook up some pork, let's say with a honey crust. Steam up some veggies - I'm a fan of spinach. Boil an egg until the yolk is almost hard but still kind of soft. Put those things in the congee, and sprinkle nama shoyu (a type of soy sauce) on top. Dairy, grains, meat, carbs, fats...these all get a bad rep. It's true that some can cause digestive issues...like dairy can easily cause bloating in most people. But it's not that these things are 100% bad. For instance, dairy has some benefits, too - it's very strengthening to the constitution of the person. Our society tends to view bodyfat as a horrible thing, but for an underweight person, they would benefit from having a glass of organic whole milk, or cheese, if they could tolerate it. A person who tends to be ungrounded can benefit some from eating meat. It's all got to be in balance. Eat too much meat, and your channels get all clogged up. Have too much dairy and you get fat. Our best tool for understanding diet is our own body...the more sensitive we are to its signals, and the more we know what causes those signals and what can make them go back to normal, the more we can know what helps and hinders us.

Nope it's not.

Welcome. I think you've already gotten a good start. This forum is a great resource to find discussions on these subjects, which can lead us to further research. It's a great jumping off point, and common meeting ground for a wide variety of subjects and methods. If you just stick around and keep your eyes open, you'll end up learning lots. You can google things, and use the search box here, to dig deeper into things you don't yet understand. You can also try to find books on Amazon, Scribd, etc, based on concepts you discover here. While you're here at the forum, it's a time for learning about yourself, as much as it is a time to learn about various practices out there. When you know yourself, and what your goals are, then you can be clear about what practices are needed for your goals, as well as what path fits you the best. This may all change over time, as you evolve and learn more and more. There isn't a common set of practices for everyone at this forum.

Interesting. Outlier etymological dictionary says that the original meaning of 修 xiū was "to decorate", based on the 彡 shān radical...kind of the opposite idea of getting rid of something, as Walker suggested (not to contradict him for any other reason than exploring ideas...he knows way more than me about the Chinese language). Outlier's reference for that: 王力 主編，2000《王力古漢語字典》，北京：中華書局，2007 重印。 The Shuōwén Jiězì agrees: "The meaning ‘adorn, decorate’ (修饰 xiūshì) is suggested by 彡 ‘feathers’. 攸 yōu is phonetic, as it is in 悠 yōu and 條(条) tiáo." Similarly, according to Kroll's Student dictionary, 修 xiū can also carry classical translations of "adorn", "embellish", and "improve" in addition to things like "refine" and "discipline"...among many other definitions. So it can carry a subtle meaning of addition of things that make better, rather than a reduction of things that make worse. In Medieval Chinese, 修 xiū can also mean "perform". I'm not sure when 修煉 was first used side by side. As other have said, if the two characters are used as a compound in modern Chinese, it means for a Daoist/religious person to "practice austerities".

Not historical development, but modern US law...I tend to refer people to this when they don't know what the militia is, or are making things up about it (saying it's the military, etc).

I was really impressed, just having stumbled onto his version with his commentary. Not so much in the quality of the translation itself, but in terms of everything his book has to offer.

See the verses above. Where is the several deaths and births in one lifetime talked about?

Interesting. I found this decent article about that, but agree with one thing that the author said toward the end, that gehenna was used as a metaphor for what I'd call an "undesirable afterlife". Here are two sections I quickly found which reveal that: Matthew 10:28, and Luke 16:19–31. I also think that perhaps sometimes "gehenna" was used, but other times another term was used for this "undesirable place after life"...I don't have a good Greek interlinear Bible just yet to see.

I think aphorisms are sometimes given for specific people in their unique situations, and shouldn't always be applied to everyone. "Change yourself first" would be something taught to someone who is too focused on others' issues, and is trying to change the world too much while ignoring their own inner issues almost entirely. They need that advice, so that they won't cause problems in the world, and would benefit themselves. Someone else, with a duty and destiny to affect the greater world, shouldn't be hearing it. It would stifle them, and wouldn't benefit anyone else. Lots of people change the world without having become perfect internally first...so it is possible to do. I think it takes being in the right place at the right time...and I think it's true that it takes a lot of work to make any sort of dent in history. Is it good to change the external world? It depends on the change taking place. Some have good intentions, and good change takes place. We should aim for this. Some have good intentions, and bad change takes place. Regrettably, this happens sometimes...due to our lack of wisdom. Some have bad intentions, and good change takes place. We'd be lucky to achieve this. Some have bad intentions, and bad change takes place. We should avoid this. Perhaps there comes a time when someone has done so much internal work, and they radiate so much benefit, yet the external world is hurting so bad, that it becomes necessary to put more weight on the side of changing the world. They've gone too far with this aphorism, and need to attend to reality. With their beneficial energies, they're able to be more effective in their efforts at changing things. For the relatively balanced person, it's their duty to do both at once. To better themselves, and to better everyone and everything else. Religious teachings don't neglect good deeds in favor of spiritual attainment...they teach to help others around us in real ways. It wouldn't be correct to see something wrong taking place, and ignore it just because you're focused on fixing yourself. Do both at once, if you're able to.

Feel free to use this thread to 'count your blessings', or name the things that you're grateful for in your life. Maybe it would be fun to limit it to one thing per day/per post...that way we can spend every day in gratitude. That is, unless you don't like limitations. ... I'm grateful for: A warm bed.

Absolutely no. Pleasure and desire are life. You can attain equanimity by making the right choices in each moment.

Places with children have very good feng shui...I think that one is a good sign.