Aetherous

Try this experiment...have a plant in front of you which you like. Get a sense of how your body feels in general...kind of like the atmosphere around your skin. Feel free to think of other thoughts for a moment...such as contemplate your grocery list. Notice how that feels to do (in terms of your vibe or skin sensation). Then pay attention to the plant in front of you, and notice how the feeling changes drastically. Stay focused on that feeling, because that's how the plant spirit is beginning to communicate with you. It's how you're aware of the spiritual aspect of the plant...because of course, a feeling is not something entirely physical. I haven't personally played around with it much, yet...but someone who does it successfully told me how to do it. Then it will communicate in many different ways...especially if you're grateful and appreciative of the plant. That grateful energy opens you up to it...it's similar to how if you see your best friend, you feel positive and so do they, and the friendship works. You want to be around each other and help etc. Versus if there's someone who is your enemy, the connection will be closed. So in order to open up the line of communication with a plant, appreciate it. Thinking about getting this book soon, which not only talks about this plant spirit medicine aspect, but also focuses on the symbolism of plants and what they can mean. So for those who are less intuitively inclined, there can be something gained from it. Disclaimer: I have no idea if the book is good or horrible, just stumbled upon it without looking into it. There are probably also certain plants which are better to start this kind of meditation with, in order to open up the communication and one's intuition. Maybe mugwort is one...not sure. Gotta put time into attempting, in order for anything to happen.

It's good to think of Shangqing Daoism as being the sect that deals with receiving revelations (as can be seen from the wikipedia)...mediumship is where their texts came from. Many Kunlun people know that their dreams change after beginning, they have personal insights into the path that come out of nowhere, they sometimes deal with other beings and have visionary experiences, etc. It's kind of mysterious and not logical...so that is why: because it's part of Shangqing. Not that the Kunlun school is representative of Shangqing as a whole by any means, but it's one part that came from that school of Daoism, and it's good to realize that the practices work the way they do because of that. Specifically, the Kunlun stuff is based around mudras and sometimes visualization...so we can be pretty sure that it's a later addition to Daoism coming from Buddhism's influence. And I suppose within the Shangqing school there were various branches of training...perhaps some were alchemical...I don't know. But whatever they are, the overarching theme would likely be: personal revelation. In the Kunlun school, the main purpose is the gold dragon body, which is like the rainbow body except you don't shrink and leave only your fingernails etc...you're still a normal person. You just sometimes experience your body vanishing, as can be seen very well with Kan on their website (if those photos aren't doctored). That's one goal a person can have, and while it's interesting, it's not amazing. Something more amazing in my opinion is mind training from Buddhism, which has the potential to change a personality completely into a benevolent force. Becoming a good person, and dealing effectively with life, is impressive. What's the point of momentarily fading out of material existence, if you're not a good person? If you still get bitterly angry when someone wrongs you (as I'm well acquainted with personally)? Then it becomes like a parlor trick (if other people can even notice it). I think the gold dragon body effect actually depends on being highly virtuous, as well...so likely that the effect doesn't even take place so long as the practitioner is trying to have it happen for poor reasons. Furthermore...I view the Kunlun methods as being like gently opening Pandora's box. "Opening up" is a good thing, since any form of attachment aversion or ignorance indicates mental poison, as opposed to equanimity acceptance and awareness for instance, which are good qualities. But not everything that you open up to is good. Then it becomes about how you deal with it, which was the theme of this one thread from back in the day. And it's also why I moved on to fully positive practices. No use in being afraid of the dark side of the force, but do you want to spend all your time in there? Better to go hang out with the Jedi council after having been there and done that. Just my ideas at the moment.

It actually is helpful to be told not to listen to psychics. But sorry my comment pissed you off.

Repeated for truth.

Thanks for sharing!

Go to sleep at 10 pm (reading a book first helps you to become sleepy, as opposed to looking at screens). Getting appropriate rest (which requires timing like this) does a lot. Walk for an hour in the morning, in natural surroundings. Breathe the fresh air. If you miss doing it in the morning (which is the preferable time), do it in the evening. Walking is one thing that helps with qi problems. Pick a leaf or flower that you like, which has a fair amount of detail to it...look at it for 15 minutes a day, as an object of meditation. When thoughts come, notice how they cloud your perception, as if the light leaves your eyes and goes inward to light up the thought you're experiencing...but then look at the leaf again and feel how it clarifies your perception of the real world...as if you break through the cloudiness. Use the leaf as your object of meditation, so just gently bring attention back to how it looks, if the attention drifts away. And instead of forcing the eyes upon the leaf, instead cultivate a way of looking at it that's as if you're "taking in" the leaf with your vision, effortlessly, rather than exerting your vision outward toward it (hopefully that makes sense after trying the method for a while). This method will calm and release the mind, which will strongly influence the body and qi for the better. Give your body a break by not practicing what you were until you're back to normal...and then consider practicing slower next time...general rule of thumb. The body heals itself slowly if you practice nothing...quicker if you (the sense of self, and mind) get out of the way while practicing nothing. I've heard that foods with lecithin can help with the "wiring", the nervous system...such as egg yolks.

Maybe it can help to think of things in this way... In terms of physical attraction and lust, it's basically a brief and meaningless thing that is totally not about the people involved (which is why anyone can learn about seduction and pull it off). And it can happen both ways...there's the idea that men will want to conquest a woman. You see an attractive looking one out there and you wouldn't mind seeing her naked, having sex with her, just to know what it's like...but then who knows how you'll feel after. Maybe the sex was unenjoyable, maybe her breath smelled bad, etc. So then, what was once a strong drive, turns into a repulsion...and in her eyes you'd be going from truly desiring her, to desiring to be away from her for some unknown reason. Same thing when a woman does it to a man. And it truly is disgusting. (It can be overcome, though...people can still make decisions in the heat of the moment. Both men and woman can deny being seduced.) So that's all in the realm of physical attraction and lust...which have nothing to do with relationships. If you're compatible with the person, if you care about them and who they are (which requires knowing them first), if you communicate and work together...then perhaps the whole thing is more fulfilling. Then you can tell her that her breath smells, and encourage her to do oil pulling and tongue scraping...problem solved. And people who call sexuality, "tantra", are missing the entire point and have fallen for newage marketing. Best to not think of sex as something spiritual, unless you're taught that by a legitimate teacher of it. Better to aim at making it more of a committed relationship thing where you truly love the other person, and just leave it at that...anything more can cause problems that aren't apparent at first.

This guy is...

Thanks for taking the time to write such a great reply! Yes that does answer my question very well.

The course isn't well regarded after 5 years? Why is that?

These deal with symbolism and parable, so do we really understand them? In the context of modern Christianity (with salvation happening because Jesus died on the cross) they do make sense, though.

Nice post. I've heard some say that Paul was an Adept as well...I think he was one of the Sons of Mithras? That could just be a false rumor. It's one interpretation, and the one of the modern church, to say that everything was accomplished with the resurrection. However, I personally think it means literally what it says, that heaven and earth didn't pass away with the death of Jesus...heaven and earth are still here for us, and so is the reaction of the Law. The wineskin concept might not relate so much to the new versus old law...it might be referring to something else entirely.

That teaching is likely from Paul, who was highly influential of beliefs in the modern Christian church, but who wasn't one of the 12 Apostles who were taught by Jesus while he was alive. Personally, I find that a lot of what he wrote was nice to consider, but it's not infallible in terms of representing Jesus' ideas and teachings, especially when it contradicts them. Basically, who are you going to believe? A guy who didn't meet the teacher, who contradicts the teachings at times...or the words attributed to the teacher himself, sometimes in multiple different books? The guy saying that the old law is "obsolete", or the teacher clearly stating that it's still in effect?

It's not my interpretation...as he is calling those who don't do the will of the Father, "lawbreakers" or "evildoers" or possibly another translation would say "sinners". They all mean the same thing of course. False, as we can see very clearly here... “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-20 NIV Pretty direct, eh? Perhaps healing on the sabbath wasn't actually breaking the Law, but people only assumed it was. He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” - Matthew 12:11-12 NIV Well, he said he came to fulfill the old law, not to come with a different new version that negates the old. The new version (fulfilling the law) is actually more challenging than the old version, as we can see here... "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,a and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sisterb c will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’d is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. - Matthew 5:21-22 NIV Who can never be angry with others? That was one thing he said. It certainly wasn't the only requirement... "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:48 It's kind of a good idea, that the law could be engraved on one's heart...following the spirit of the law rather than the letter. I think this idea is throughout the New Testament as well (vaguely recall seeing it). To follow the law too rigidly, at the expense of the good, is what the Pharisees did, as we know...and apparently they were not kosher to Jesus. So you're onto something here, perhaps. But how could we discern whether our guidance is from the wisdom of God, or wisdom of the world or just from ourselves? What seems right or feels good in the moment isn't always right! Anyone who has tried their hand at celibacy knows this. It certainly appears that way sometimes, for instance with the actions of the Westboro Baptist church (if you're aware of them). To be clear...accusing others of being sinners, judging them or treating them poorly, is not the path that Jesus taught. But that's not to say that sin is non-existent according to him! It just means that mercy and forgiveness are important. ...Another way to look at "loving and trusting" God, is to actually obey the laws...for instance, believing that God inspired or guided people to write those ideas down on how to properly live, trusting that they are accurate even if they don't make sense immediately (because we lack wisdom to grasp why they're necessary). If a person doesn't do this, and just feels love for a nebulous concept of an all powerful all knowing creator being or something, which they have no personal experience with...well, perhaps there is some good to that. Maybe they get some comfort in believing in that kind of God. But my entire point is just to not associate it with being the same as Jesus' teaching. As we can see from his own words, it's far from it, to say that sin isn't a consideration in his path. Anyway...the Christian way isn't for all. I can't even honestly call myself a Christian...only someone who has an interest in it and who wishes they were able to practice it. I don't expect anyone here to follow it...this is a Daoist forum for the most part. There are other spiritual paths. It's incredibly difficult, and almost no one likes to hear the truth of what it really involves. Because who can be "perfect"? None of us are. All I ask is that you don't misquote or misrepresent various teachers who can't speak for themselves in response. When you put words in their mouth, which directly contradict words that already came out of their mouth, it's highly dishonest and slanders their teaching. That's my only point here!

I was hoping it wouldn't come off that way, and would just come off as being about not misquoting teachers. I hear they like to dance to this tune...

I'm sure most of the forum isn't interested in getting into a Christianity discussion, and your post was mostly playful rather than of a serious and direct nature...but here is a definite inconsistency... Anyone who reads Jesus' words in the Bible knows that he didn't consider sin to be a figment of the imagination. It's also not one of his teachings in any way to say that "the only sin is believing there is sin", or that "believing you need to earn Love is a sin", or that "believing you need to rid yourself of sin, is a sin". None of these ideas have to do with Jesus. For instance, here are some of his actual words... “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - Matthew 7:21-23 NIV So that is an example showing how Jesus spoke of obeying the Law (other translations say lawbreakers instead of evildoers), or the Will of the Father...which is to say, not sinning. And that if you do "sin", you won't achieve success in his teachings, even if you use his name (for instance if you call yourself a Christian but then rape and murder people or something...it's missing the point entirely). If you have your own teaching to share based on your personal experience, then that can be a good thing. But here you were putting words in the mouth of someone who isn't going to correct you, unfortunately...and actually, words which contradict what that person said and the core of their teaching. Just pointing this out in the spirit of adding to your knowledge...not trying to be argumentative or something. Maybe you won't want to associate yourself and your philosophy with a teaching that directly contradicts what you think.

Welcome!

Perhaps it's not only CSF but other chemicals inside of the CSF too. Not like I know what I'm talking about, but just saying.

What strikes me about this reply is...put yourself in the shoes of someone who is attempting to preserve the true teachings of their church. Then you come along and says something incredibly common, which is that the true teachings can be questioned and that all religions are equally good etc...basically things opposed to that church. Is that person with the duty of preserving the particular religion going to be ecstatic in hearing something like that? Will they think you have achieved gnosis, or will they think you have the "wisdom" of the world instead? Consider that pretty much every person you encounter will believe that most religions are talking about the same thing. They won't have much thought of being "saved", certainly not by some guy in a book who is long gone. From a certain perspective, to question Jesus as the savior and to assert that you already have knowledge of the truth, is not humble...and that on the other hand, spiritual development or attaining grace would bring humility, instead. From a more extreme perspective, to deny Jesus is to be a walking anti-christ...it could be that this emailer had that in mind as well. Anyway, just shifting how you can look at this. That person responding obviously doesn't have the authority of God in telling you that you "shall not" enter the priesthood or whatever...you can do it if you think it's good. They're just giving their view as a person with a limited view. But it is good to consider that perhaps you'd be better in a different faith...like Universalist or something that more matches your experience. Or perhaps you like the idea of being part of the Orthodox faith, yet on the inside being a bit more radically enlightened...it can add some spice to the church.

This is a split off of the Baltimore topic, and is not at all addressing it...this topic is only a meditation on how jobs come to be... For one, there is the obvious way: some company exists which needs help and lets you know that they're hiring. Like the local grocery store needing stockers. But lets say that you live in an area where basically every job is taken, where no companies want to establish themselves. There seem to be no jobs and lots of people are living in poverty. What is the solution in that area? Is the government for instance actually able to swoop in and create jobs there? How would those jobs be created? How does one create a job that pays money, out of nothing? Is there actually a service being provided, that people will continue to pay for, or is it just a way to say that someone got hired somewhere? I'm truly wondering how the government would be capable of just making jobs appear, unless they are government jobs that open up by expanding various departments. ...another option for where jobs come from: entrepreneurs. Individual citizens identify the needs of a part of society, and fulfill those needs. For instance, doctors exist because people get sick and want someone to solve that problem. There is a need. There is even a human need for entertainment, and it can become very lucrative (for instance, look at the money involved in the NFL). A tricky aspect is...once you've found a really brilliant idea for a new business, how are you going to get customers if mostly everyone in your area is poor? The nice thing about our world right now is that we're globally connected, and lots of small businesses can sprout up online, rather than relying on locals. But not all small businesses are capable of that...for instance if you have a solution to a problem that only applies to your local community. Anyway, it's like the saying, "money doesn't grow on trees". It comes from somewhere...lets think about where that is. It's easy to say that money comes from jobs that you work. But then where do jobs come from? Do they come from the government? If so, then the government can take them from your community as well, or simply not hand them out to your community...and you end up living your life on your knees. It's easy to say that, at the root, jobs come from identifying solutions to problems that exist and building businesses based off of that...but then where do customers with money come from? It's not easy to build something from the ground up. Yet, others have done it.

That's refreshing to hear.

I thought it was bogus, although that channeler is perhaps an interesting person.

Thanks for sharing, will check it out soon!

Not totally on topic, but I just came upon this wiki which is pretty interesting for beginning to comprehend different economic opinions out there, which seem to not make any sense...such as why the dollar being worth more is apparently considered a bad thing to economists... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deflation

I've noticed the kidney yin pulse on the wrist tends to become stronger from doing it when it's weak. Not sure if it is 100% reliable, but just something I noticed.