Aetherous

That can be a sign of having an unhealthy relationship with anger. Ever see the movie "Anger Management"? In the movie, Adam Sandler isn't doing anything that would seem like an outburst, but people end up taking it that way from him to the point of him needing court mandated therapy, and it turns out that he does have some seething anger beneath the facade of calm and reaosnable. Sometimes really nice people have a very strong anger that no one is really aware of, themselves or others, until it comes out in various ways. I have this Buddhist friend who is the most peaceful person, has the most calm eyes, says the nicest thoughts...but if you cross him, he is unforgiving and can't ever let anything go. These nice people learned at one time, in one way or another, to repress anger completely rather than to just express it and have it be over with. Not that we should act as doormats for other people to smear their crap all over, at all...but I think it's good to consider that what we feel is our responsibility, and isn't really the result of anything anyone else does. "He uncentered me"...is actually..."I'm uncentered and blaming it on someone else". Part of the spiritual path is dealing with challenges in life, and learning how to stay centered through them. If it weren't for the challenges, our centering wouldn't really be strong. If we can be truly centered despite anything that happens, fully in control of what we have power over, we've attained something special. I'd also like to say: there is room in this world for everybody. They are the spice of life. Without them, what would we have to be dramatic over?

For people in the US, they can visit a Shinto shrine in Washington State: http://www.tsubakishrine.org/

I would understand your sentiment to some extent, probably on the obliviousness end of the spectrum, if it were Chinese historical context. But modern Chinese politics? We just don't see eye to eye at all in this judgment of yours.

Do you live in China, or something? To me, it seems like American citizens discussing US politics is completely normal, and to have an interest in Chinese politics would be more of a fringe interest for them. I'm sure you could, I would be moderately interested.

Even the Daodejing was a highly political text. Not that Daoism = politics. I think this forum attracts people that have many interests, who have been influenced by Daoism, and one of the subjects they're into is politics. That would be an entirely different field of thought. Most of us don't live there, so we don't care as much about it.

So for the past couple years I've had a question, which I've been trying to resolve on my own... Basically, I don't know what the point of studying the I Ching is. It seems like a really cool thing to know about...but I just don't see the point. Each time I pick up a book on it, all that I see is that it's a man made creation which has nothing to do with nature as I know it. I see that people use it as a divinatory tool, by tossing coins or stalks...but I don't personally need to consult oracles. I don't understand how it could benefit me in any way, or bring me any sort of useful knowledge. So, those who understand this book...what is your motivation for using it and studying it (besides divination)? How has it helped you personally? Do you think that it is accurate in terms of understanding patterns and powers in nature? Does the knowledge carry over to other Taoist practices in a substantial way? Why should one learn this book? Thanks

Is it actually a legitimate Buddhist teaching to not lose your awareness? If not, then best to not worry about it, and just practice correctly.

I hope to hear more about your experiences. It first struck me as gimmicky, overpriced, and illegitimate...but your initial review makes it sound great.

My suggestions were simply methods for people who are trying to not be lustful (basically, people who are aiming for celibacy on the spiritual path)...it's not advice for everyone. Has nothing to do with disdain for nudity, repressed sexuality, shame, etc.

It's from Ghost's new album that was released today, Prequelle. http://smarturl.it/GhostPrequelle

Yes I've learned that L-glutamine does this. Important to have the pro and pre biotics, and to avoid foods that disrupt the gut. Some people get a stool analysis to find foods that they get an allergic response to, and they go on an elimination diet to help the repair. There's also the low-FODMAP diet that might be good for this.

It's such a challenge to face. I haven't been victorious, but won minor battles in this a couple of times. I've found that lust works like the snowball effect...you get minor exposures to sexual or attractive things, and those gradually build up and lust becomes stronger. So the trick is not necessarily to fight lust head on, which ends up being like repression and is psychologically harmful...the trick is to cut it off at the source by choosing what you place your attention on. Let's say you're watching TV, and a beautiful woman appears and is looking seductive. You have the choice to keep watching, or to look at something else during that time. If you keep watching, lust will end up developing stronger later on and eventually it becomes hard to control. If you look at woodworking magazine or something, lust simply won't get generated. So yeah, basically distracting yourself from things that generate lust onto other things that don't...that's one method. Another is that sometimes people use masturbation to go to sleep...or else if they don't, night time is just naturally a time when we're more in our thoughts, and that can lead to lust. So a solution is double pronged: 1) to have worked hard enough throughout the day that your body is tired and wants to pass out. 2) read fiction stories that distract your mind until you're ready to sleep. This tends to really help stop the night time masturbation issue, and prevents it becoming a time of going toward lust. This being said...these are just little tricks. The drive to procreate, or even to experience the bliss of ejaculation, is thought by some to be the strongest force of nature. I think it's best to keep that in mind and not be too hard on ourselves about "failing"...but that's just my view. PS - I also think that making love in a relationship is just fine, no need to curtail that if it's not excessive. Dual cultivation!

In China they use the lotus as food and medicine, for instance with lian zi (lotus seed). Here's an example: I haven't heard of any religious prohibition of consuming lotus.

This thread is solely about helping people gain an understanding of the terminology in the book Taoist Yoga, by Charles Luk. Please do not take the thread off topic, with debate. All interpretations from all schools are accepted, as long as the intention is to help readers gain more understanding about specific passages from this book. Merci!

Last year we discussed Memorial Day on the forum, but I don't think there's ever been an official thread for it which we can use from year to year. I didn't personally lose any brothers from my unit during my deployment, although might have lost some that I trained with and never heard about...but I did lose one of my brothers from suicide a few years after we got back. I don't care if it's not technically his day, since he didn't fall in combat...I will still remember him on this day for the rest of my life. (I put this thread in the Rabbit Hole because it's not political or controversial, but simply a national holiday)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_of_Naturalists

This. If even just for the cultivation of humility and integrity. It's a big universe out there.

I don't think Holotropic is compatible with Daoism. They're all about experiencing weird mental states with breathing very rapidly. Daoism isn't like that in my view.

I had to look it up on wikileaks' website: https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/19/1975381_-ct-huh-mysterious-vortex-warned-is-creating-global-weather.html It'd make for a great scifi film.

In a certain sense, it still is the beginning. It's still the wild west in many ways. Will people who buy BTC become millionaires in a decade? Maybe not. But historically, big jumps in value have occurred that could make this happen. People who criticize on the sidelines will get nothing. They might avoid some losses, though.

I personally keep a routine of disciplined practice at a certain time of day, which I never neglect unless there's a true emergency. In which case I forgive myself. There are other practices that I'm less disciplined about, and do them as I'm able to. In terms of the requirements of life (working), I like to have those in a routine so that my rest and relaxation time is spontaneous. I find that routine helps us to have free time feel more satisfying. For instance, if nothing else is scheduled for the day and you've completed all your duties, it's a great feeling. So basically, it's good to have a balance of disciplined routine, and spontaneous play. Too much of either isn't good.

Yes, that was quite the spectacle. I personally think that should never happen in US politics (two Brothers of a secret society, especially one so small, running against each other only). Interesting, I didn't hear that until now! I tend to not have so much fear regarding secret societies (especially not the Freemasons); although Skull and Bones do have a lot of influential world players, I really think a lot about Skull and Bones has to do with selecting people who are already destined for bigger and better things, and it's really just a Yale networking club. The ones who were doing good at Yale get a leg up from other members who are doing good in the world, or give the others a leg up. A more realistic way to think about them: it could be that Mnuchin got into his position due to the good old boy network. It could also be that he legitimately earned his way there. I think for Skull and Bones, it could go either way. And once in that position in the world, the person has to earn their stay in that position...basically, I think of it more as meritocracy type networking and less of it being like the good old boy networking.