Aetherous

I look forward to watching it. If you wrote a book or something I'd buy it, because your experiences are pretty awesome and unique. I hope I wasn't mean. Congrats on the wife. When I asked what a real Chinese Taoist is like, my first Taoist teacher told me, "They really look up to, and try to be like the 'ordinary man.'"

When you apply your conceptual framework to reality, you miss out on the reality.

Well, the truth is: they are. A lot of teachers start teaching because their egos outgrow their seeker status. That's not to say they aren't still seekers, but just that they've stopped seeking. They're too good for it now that they've had all of these peak experiences. And it's nice for them to make money off of something like spirituality, which requires little actual work (compared to a day job), and is something which is easy to be interested in. Of course all desperate seekers who have made spirituality their lives see it as an easy way to make money...unless they are genuine. I don't mean to pick on Darin because I like him (nothing personal), but for a while he was saying how he must have failed in his Taoist training because he didn't achieve a confirmatory sign at the right time. I don't want to be taught alchemy by someone who has failed at it. And also, he didn't have a teacher but (if I remember correctly) practiced entirely based on descriptions from books. Those books (like Taoist Yoga or Secret of the Golden Flower) are pretty misleading, in my view, and really require a Taoist sage to decipher and make relevant to you. His attitude here is pretty condemning for no good reason, based on that info. Personally, I don't understand the anger based on the subject matter. It's very normal for people to not expect spiritual teachings to cost a lot. Maybe it's not something wrong with the seeker that they expect that, but with the teacher who expects the students to pay them instead of paying with dedicated practice. Also, in my opinion, it's kind of sad to see someone begin to start "teaching" when they haven't gotten very far. But to each his own. Every teacher is different for every student. Just be cautious in who you choose as a teacher that you'll pay a lot for and stick with. Probably 95% will mislead you and waste your time. This website rocks because you can wade through it all and make up your own mind. EDIT - If Darin is just talking about teaching Taiji, then that's totally cool. He'd probably make a better teacher than most out there, based on what I've seen in his youtube videos. I interpreted what he was saying as him wanting to teach alchemy. Sincerity and dedication.

Well, that's just bad business! There are many teachings and practices out there for free which are very powerful and can take you all the way to enlightenment, fulfillment and health (I really like 'awareness watching awareness meditation'). The internet is great! So is this forum...we have an opportunity to learn so much, and actually surpass many people in the past who didn't have such great resources...if we put in the practice! That's really the key. Do the time. Be consistent and endure. See the results for yourself. The nice thing about teachers is that they help us be consistent and endure. If we're "practice-hopping", like trying one meditation for a month or so then moving onto something new, we won't be making much progress and will always remain on the same "level". But teachers slap us on the wrist and say, "just stick with it and be a master like me." It's great motivation for the low spots, because of course us students are ego-driven, and we want to be awesome masters too! I'm studying under someone right now, and thoroughly enjoying the techniques...but without her guidance I would be totally lost. I would've been practicing incorrectly from day one (for too long, too many times per day, in the wrong mood, without the right intent, etc), and even if I initially had it all right, I would err at some point because I wouldn't have someone telling me to stick with the main techniques. Paying helps you value what you're learning, too. I'm in college right now, and if it was totally free for everyone, I wouldn't care to try. That was like high school. I just barely got by, and screwed around. But now I'm paying many thousands of dollars per semester, and the rest of my life depends on how I do now, so I value it a little more. I guess what it all comes down to is: how much do you value attaining enlightenment? Enough to give your life for? Enough to give all of your money? Or is it worth less than 200 dollars, with which you could pay for like 3 months of cable television? I'm not saying that money is necessary...but it's not totally negative. It would be nice if teachings were totally free, and sometimes they are. For instance, when you have a guru situation where the students support them. But then you get into other negative issues, like someone developing too big of an ego and taking advantage of students. Pretty much any way you look at the situation, it can be negative, or it can just be the way things are. If you walked up some big mountain and found a long white bearded master who put you to the test, that would suck too.

After looking at it more, I'm very disappointed. He dowses using various methods to find out that using a green adventurine sphere on a jade base is the key to self realization and dissolution of all dark forces, yet claims that his method isn't influenced by these dark forces. I like his enthusiasm, and it'd be great if a stone could assist in actual spiritual progress and exorcism...but that is not the case. If there are dark forces at work through people and things, how can he know that his energy testing methods and stones aren't influenced? Perhaps he is being fooled! He's a very honest guy when it comes to his experiences. I think he may actually have had an enlightenment experience. I would be his friend. But I don't believe in his methods at all.

My suggestion is just stay at this forum for a while and look at everything. Do a bunch of searches based on key words you think would be important based on what you want to learn. There's no easy answer, because everyone looks for what they think would be a good Tao teacher...and maybe the truth is that since everyone is different there are different ways to approach it, all equally as good.

I like how he is put off by all of the 'entities' no matter who/what they are. Total self-reliance. It's refreshing to see. It seems clear to me that anyone dealing with entities or beings of any kind for spirituality is going down a horribly wrong path. I will review the site further...

May the water be clean.

Awesome. PS - G, you really do need to try biscuits and gravy. It's very tasty!

Butt I can't help it.

Seated Taoist meditation....on your bum....Tao bums!

I look forward to checking out Strauss' new book! Didn't know he was doing that. He's a greatly entertaining author no matter what he's writing about. The subject matter, from what I saw in the link, was pretty informative. More so than other stuff I've seen along the same lines (like from Paladin Press or whatever). At this point I'd only be reading it for entertainment. I don't have enough money to be Jason Bourne.

I don't think that makes TheWhiteRabbit a bad person! I'm interested, and I'm sure others are as well. Thank you rabbit for asking for us. You just don't like him because you're a WhiteTiger.

I do, definitely. Many of us don't deserve what we have at all. It has nothing to do with "karma" what someone is born into.

I go for the nice beard most of all.

I have nothing against homosexuals, and have had a few friends who have been so...but I don't think it's a genetic thing. The way I see it, it's a learned behavior due to some imbalance or deep issue. Yes, I believe it's natural to be straight. Sorry if that offends anyone, but it's just what I've observed based on the behavior of most homosexuals (men and women).

I'm glad you've found a fun way to stimulate the economy.

Totally agree. Also, personally I can't stand anything new age. It's all absolute junk. Especially channelers. Just my opinion.

Totally fake.

www.smiletrain.org

Kings is sweet. I'll have to check out BSG.

What methods are used, according to Eva Wong's translation? Or should I just go buy the book?

I think the two books could easily work in unison. Haven't read the Infuriate People one yet, though. Anyone who has had to deal with a very annoying person, in a work situation (like if they're your boss) or wherever else...How to Win Friends and Influence People is priceless. You can turn bad situations into decent ones, and make other people's days enjoyable...how very Taoist! They will stop being so annoying because of your actions. It works. I agree that real friendships have a magical quality that you have no control over. And that you should be true with your good friends, and not keep up some kind of act. After having read the book, I don't see it as a science. You don't need to apply it mechanically and expect the best results (although even that works). It's just a bunch of ideas, and stories to support those ideas. So just keep the ideas in mind as you go around 'being yourself', and it helps you change your attitudes.

At least personally, when I smile, I physically feel the fascia (and whatever else) pull the crown open. But I agree about not being tense or forcing anything.