Aetherous

I've been busy with other things, so that's why I haven't stuck with this topic. Getting a decent definition was somewhat challenging...especially because it was decided that the definition should be based on what the majority of people think. Sadly, the majority seem to be talking about a different kind of enlightenment than I was hoping to discuss. That's why it's so important to tell which type of enlightenment we're talking about exactly, before we continue on to discuss its nature...and we can only do that through defining the different kinds, and choosing one (and only one) to talk about. So far, the only person who has been talking on the same page as me has been "Xabir". Maybe a couple of others, like Ian, too. To continue on, I think I'll forget about the 'have everyone agree' thing, and just come up with a decent definition...one which would also rule out a lot of other types of the word, "enlightenment". So I'll do that later...

Well, we'll see if the pieces fit by 2013.

Sent.

Well, your behavior seems nice!

This is the official word on soaking: http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/about_bett...ugh_soaking.htm From a really basic chemistry viewpoint: if you put salt in water, it causes it to be more conductive. You can actually pass an electrical current through the salt water, which you can't through normal water. Please don't ask me exactly what's happening, because I have chosen to forget everything about chemistry after last semester. From my basic understanding of qi and the body: if there is an excess of "bad energy" on some of the outside areas of the skin, the salt bath will be more likely to take it away. It's especially good if you heal others, because you can pick up their erratic qi and be afflicted by it...for instance once I chose not to wash my hands in salt water after the session, and that night I couldn't sleep and was really uncomfortable, squirming around in bed. It's as if I picked up some of her bad emotions. The other time I did healing on her, I soaked my hands in epsom salt water when we were done, and I felt great afterward. There's nothing like personal experience to prove a point. "Bad energy on the skin" is called an "external pernicious influence" in Chinese medicine, and you can learn about it from The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk...although it's very theoretical and not very practical. My opinion is that salt baths should be used any time you are in close contact with sick or emotionally unbalanced people. It's not a huge deal, but it's a small thing that can help a lot.

Aasin, Listen to Prince... And your friend is not stupid. She is living her life the way she wants, and you're too closed minded. To be a friend, just be there for her to confide in and laugh with. Please, forget about all this "stupid" and "immature" bullshit. I hope you don't learn the hard way!

I thought she was a man, before hearing her speak. Not good. She really deserved looking better. And her singing is amazing: 9lp0IWv8QZY

Kate, Well there's a difference between understanding it and living it. If you only understand it, it doesn't impact your life; you have to remember it after periods of forgetting and living in delusion. So it really does have to be a spontaneous experience of the "realization" rather than learning it from thinking about it, like another piece of information that the self recalls. This makes realization a confusing term to use.

Nothing needs to be done, because I'm okay with dying if there is actually a sudden pole shift. Not much you can do about it, then. Also, not much you can do about it beforehand, unless you know which piece of land will stay above water...or unless you have a boat and like to fish. I don't believe in psychics at all. They are consistently wrong for any prediction I've ever heard of. Since this has been predicted by ALL of the high level psychics, then I hope that when nothing happens and 2013 comes around, you see that psychics aren't to be trusted. I think it'll be exactly like the y2k bug event. We will move on, and go back to work. Many of us will continue to come up with crazy predictions for the future...we never learn do we?

It's amazing how many people actually believe this type of thing. When 2013 comes around and you're still alive, remember how wrong you were, and never believe in predictions again.

Still working on getting a decent definition... I'm wondering what "realization" means, exactly. It could be misleading to say something along the lines of "enlightenment is a realization of no self", because many people think that realizing something is understanding it. Someone who understands that the sense of self is false, isn't necessarily enlightened. So is there a more appropriate term to use?

Like what?

It's interesting...but the problem with science like this is that it's so young. The same thing can be said about the global warming issue. We look at data from the past 100 and maybe 200 years and think we've discovered something earth shattering when we see that there's a minor glitch which doesn't fit into the tiny pattern we've perceived. But I'm glad that the astronomers are baffled. We all should be, because the universe is constantly reminding us: "You don't know the half of it!"

Si ti eossiblp ot dear eht sordw hitw ynlo eht tirsf dna tasl setterl dixem pu? Ton os yase!

What style of meditation do you do? There are many types which have many different effects. The type where you focus on something, then when your mind drifts, you bring back your focus...creates problems for some people. Silencing the mind can be done in other ways besides sitting down and meditating...you can do an enjoyable activity, like cooking a good meal...you can do puzzles...go for a walk on a nice day. Or just sit down for 20 minutes and do nothing. Pretty much the main thing which will help you progress is not getting all wound up in daily activities on a constant basis. Take some time for a breather... Just take notice of your surroundings...that's enough! Taking it slow is much more important than hammering away at a mantra, or forcing your mind to focus on your breathing for example.

when looking for advice... shut up. when giving advice... stop giving advice, no one knows what they're doing. when in a fight... make sure your enemy won't take revenge. when fighting more than one person... it's best to use explosives. when choosing a teacher... look for someone with no flaws. if you meet someone and fall in love... treat them like you want to be treated at all times. when you have nothing to do... realize that you're always doing something, even if it's just sitting there. when you feel life is testing you... pass the test. when you have to do something that you are afraid of... stop being a pussy and just do it. when people don't agree with the way you live... stop being so loud that everyone knows the way you live, you're not that important.

Holy shit...this is like my nightmares.

I think it's a valid point. Teachers of enlightenment traditions should produce enlightened students. It's a great point.

Amber dragon oolong is my fav. http://www.rishi-tea.com/store/bai-hao-ool...oolong-tea.html

I like gongfu tea (probably not done in the ceremonially correct way or whatever)...but getting a Yixing clay pot (which is like the size of a mandarin orange usually) and putting a scoop of tea leaves in there, then putting hot water in for like 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then you can use the same tea leaves for like 4 or 5 cups. There's a little bit of skill involved in making it not taste bitter. If you use good tea leaves, it can taste REALLY great and be so relaxing. It's fun.

I think it's a Dayan qigong rule. I read it once on one of their websites, and I think perhaps Max borrowed it from that (although as we now know, there's no direct connection).

Stick around and make the place better, please.

Awesome. Link?