Aetherous

I agree, Spectrum.

Well it's a way of life because that's what it usually requires. Just like if you want to be really good at playing the guitar, you have to spend mostly all of your time doing it and things related to it. So people want enlightenment, and they let go of all the things that don't lead to that. Some get stuck along the way, in dressing like a Buddhist/Taoist, holding to certain rituals or whatever, reading books, thinking about it. It gets to a point where it can be likened to being a really good guitarist....playing guitar isn't about reading guitar books and discussing the guitar, or thinking about it. It's not about dressing like a rock star, buying the best strings or amps or pickups, etc. It's just about playing guitar. When you see it from that point of view, the people that focus on all of those other things are kind of mislead. They aren't interested in guitar playing at all....just in perhaps looking like a rock star or the guitar culture. And that's a way of life in itself. But the purist of Taoism or Buddhism...the one who has mastered it/become enlightened...it truly becomes everything they are, but at the same time they're free of all the trappings that it normally entails. So they don't have to adapt to it anymore, since it's who they are. It's their way of life. But the person that has to adapt to it...that's taking on a way of life. Kind of like if you need to go on a diet, you have to change your whole life to fit this new thing. But a person who doesn't have to go on a diet already eats well enough and doesn't even think about it...it's just natural. I don't know...you asked!

Check this out...another woman who had some spiritual experiences due to a brain tumor... http://www.angelfire.com/realm/bodhisattva/segal.html

Beautiful speech on that youtube vid. Seriously.

God is super-easily amused.

Welcome back, Thom Yorke.

It helps to listen to music that gets you out of your head. One thing they've played at the seminars was a tuvan throat singing song that was really bouncy and fun. So yeah if you're listening to music and you're thinking about a lot of things, in the beginning it'd be useful to find music that constantly stops your thinking. Red Hot Chili Peppers (older stuff) worked well for me. Because it's fun, funky and interesting. Also: shakuhachi music has been good for me, because it's bursts of notes and then bursts of silence. So when you start drifting off into thought, all of a sudden a burst of notes will come and shake you out of it. Like a zen master smacking you on the head. Another thing that I think could work is using one of those sleep brainwave CDs. Some of my best moments come from being in the hypnagogic state (between wakefulness and rest). But I haven't really tried listening to this kind of thing. I did gamma brainwave sounds, and didn't notice much. And I like Gyuto Monks, or stuff like that.

If they actually healed me or taught me something truly substantial, I would pay them. Even if they didn't insist on it. Strike me up for charging. Donating your skills is great. But I am arguing for the healer/teacher who has to live in this society, where they need to pay rent and be able to eat something. Our society has no respect for those that don't "work". The societies that Buddha, Jesus and Chang live/d in aren't like ours. Buddha begged. Jesus accepted whatever people gave him. And those things weren't really obstructions. But in our culture, if you're homeless and jobless it's a toss up whether you'll be able to make it. Everyone is too busy to listen to what the homeless have to say. Not many people believe in healings, and as is obvious from this topic, not many believe a healer should be supported financially. If for any reason we should be "shocked, saddened and disappointed" it's because of this. But I'm not saying that people who do this stuff for free are fakes. If they have the means, then good.

Yep that about sums it up!

So you should be poor because of that? I don't personally see the morality in being broke. I think people have this delusion that you're supposed to sacrifice everything when you're a spiritual teacher/healer, because that would make it more spiritual or something. To me it's just a sign that the ego is more crafty than ever. "I'm not going to charge anything because then I will seem very humble, and that gives me great pride and satisfaction in myself." Is there really any other reason for not charging anything, than this? Yes, charging too much and having a luxurious life for yourself doesn't seem right. But expecting all the "badasses" to work for free just isn't practical.

These are good questions.... It's the same as if you were a doctor. Do you only work for the money, and have no heart? Are you unwilling to give up a little bit of your free time (even if you don't have much) and let someone die when you could prevent it? Or are you a kind doctor, who makes an exception and works free of charge for this one time. That would be nice, but it's ultimately up to the one charging the money. If you don't get your money back, then you're free to say their stuff sucks on a public forum.

Yea I can totally agree, then.

People have specialties. Some are doctors, firefighters, cops, astronauts. They all get paid. Why does someone with a spiritual/energetic specialty deserve nothing? It takes a lot of dedication to live this kind of life. Just like any other job, you almost have to give your entire life and soul to it...so perhaps for some teachers there isn't time to take on another profession. So should they starve and be homeless? And how much do you think these teachings are worth? If it causes you to finally enjoy life instead of feeling miserable; if it helps you find health instead of constantly feeling sick and run down; if it shows you compassion so you can see the need for helping others, and cause you to lead a meaningful life....how can you even put a price tag on these things? They are priceless, but definitely not worthless. Now: some courses aren't worth much and are overpriced. I agree that it's bad in that aspect. But expecting this stuff to be totally free, or very cheap, is a poor expectation.

The boiling doesn't happen because of heat. Having a hot head is the opposite direction of the kunlun flow. This is very helpful, although quite advanced.

Sweet...I like this style, although it is somewhat hard to teach yourself. I wish I was near where your classes are. Welcome.

And what's THAT supposed to mean???

Yea I neither believe nor disbelieve. Regardless: it was a blast watching this.

Stop thinking you're sick.

I was thinking the same thing. Especially when that Ben dude who lives in a van and drinks Smirnoff starts finding EVERYTHING.

Truth is the way things are regardless of whether there's rational thought or mind to judge it, or not. A truth is: "everything that arises, ceases". It's true and will never be untrue, regardless of anything.

That was a greatly entertaining film. Much more enjoyable than the Da Vinci Code!

To me Kunlun has become: bliss, emptiness, compassion, vast freedom, peacefulness, etc. I think some people just get scared by some aspects of the practice. They apply what they think they know to learn about something they don't. Like "demon cave" in the story of the history of Kunlun. Is it possible that in that area of China, they don't regard "demons" as Satan's helpers...but rather as wrathful deities that represent helpful aspects of an enlightened one? Or about "coyote": is it possible that Native American's actually venerated the coyote figure and didn't consider him to be the devil as we think of it? The whole world wasn't raised Christian, although it is a great religion...so it's good to be open minded about different cultures. They don't all fit into our paradigm. We shouldn't force our paradigm on them so that they change their cultures to fit it. So yeah, I don't think this is about triggering astral energy or Kunlun being too astral (I don't have any astral experiences)...I just think people are misinformed, closed minded and afraid. Like you said, they are strange accusations.

I disagree with that last sentence. True concepts only cease when we stop being aware of them...that doesn't mean they cease to be true.

That sounds like a great plan. I hope Taomeow is okay, too...although I'm not a friend to her. I think she is okay though. Her will and reason aren't gone unless she willingly gives those things (for some reason that has nothing actually to do with kunlun), and if she does, they aren't permanently gone. Time will tell whether getting the transmission and practicing is a good or bad thing. Maybe it would help if you were open to listening to her experiences with it, instead of saying she's deluded and infested with some evil parasite. If she is wise, then nothing can stop her wisdom...not even a demonic coyote sorcerer who implants persuasive worms into people's eyes, in an attempt to gather the gullible. She would be able to see through such a thing. I hope you two work out your stuff. And in the meantime, it's best to not comment on things you have no idea about.

Sweet this stuff is always fun, I am going to watch it!