zanshin

I am sitting in the sun petting the dog with reggae music in the background. The music is not the Tao, as the dog, the sun and I are not the Tao. The cool little breeze that might be bringing rain and the almost ripe garden tomatoes are also not the Tao. I do not know what is the Tao, perhaps someday I will understand. In the mean time, nice feelings of peace and tranquility. As long as I am waiting to understand, will choose temporary happiness over temporary ascetism. One love. One heart. Let's get together and feel all right.

From the first poster's srticle- "I've actually become a Daoist missionary. Which means I stay home and mind my own goddamned business." Great line!

Not for me, my temperament since childhood has been not to show upset or anger. It never was a struggle for self discipline to suck it up or keep my cool; I just do. Much more of a challenge for me has been to percieve my negative feelings and attachments at least to myself or even to express hurt or anger when I do feel it. Being able to keep your cool can be very useful, but some effects of cultivation for me have been more emotional experience and expression. Actually, I think perceiving while refraining from judgement would be high on the list if there was a list of requirements, maybe close behind nothing.

I don't know if temperament is the really the word you want. You mean how the person relates to the environment, but in psychology temperament is something you're born with. It refers to innate qualities. So some kids (and adults) might be calm, quiet and introspective, others may be noisy, extroverted wild nonconformists. But what qualities of our nature are good or not good? Are there qualities in our nature that do not conform to Taoism? Do good Taoists temper their temperament and do what is expected of them? I find questions usually better than answers although nothingx4, yes, pretty much rocked.

Could be, doing things we are not good at or don't like at first can be the best thing to do. Everyone is bad at first when learning to play music, but I think it's a great thing to try and learn and practice.

Thanks that will be a good running song, didn't even know Bryan Adams was still making music. But something even more basic to music than tonality and harmony. Why do we like rhythm? Even babies like it. Some babies like vigorous bouncing, some like slower rocking and swaying, but almost all are soothed by some kind of rhythm. All our senses think certain things are good but not others, some things look, smell, taste or feel good too, but not everyone agrees on those either.

From physiological perspective sounds like irritation at lower trapezius attachment, this is postural/shoulder blade stabilizer muscle that brings shoulder blade down and back, so stretches are okay just to keep it gliding, but if posture not good it's already weak and overstretched so you need strengthening. To isolate it lay face down, raise one arm up then the other (alternate) keeping your thumb rotated up. Rows and pulldowns are good too. True midback tightness is unusual since people sit hunched and rounded shoulders so much, midback weakness is real common. If you used to have bad posture it may be a little irritated when you work on better posture, because you're turning that muscle on and making it stay engaged all the time, but should be a temporary stage,

Full rhythmic abdominal breathing is example of Taiji symbol in action. You breathe out and always a little bit of old air stays in lungs, you can't breathe it all out, right away transition to breathe in, fill with new except that little bit of old was there, rhythm continues til you die. But when you breathe properly just a little dot in the next wave, it's not a little puff of air or half and half. Abdominals help with the exhale, without exhale next wave brings in new air on top of a lot of stale.

Find your own passion, compulsion, love and play. Don't do it for success or because someone told you to. Flow with where life takes you. Let karma, retribution, rewards and even gods can take care of themselves, I don't know if those things are true or useful, but they're not much fun.

But, assholes are so amusing. People who make you less than happy aren't necessarily assholes. What if your friend is sick or has troubles, if you have compassion this probably makes you feel at least a little sad. But it would take a real asshole to not tolerate the bona fide troubled person who causes them to feel less than happy. Or if someone questions you or has a different opinion that is troubling, this could be potential opportunity for discussion or introspection, not a reason to avoid them and think they are an asshole. So I am not sure if the original picture and saying is about avoiding assholes or a suggestion for a way to be one yourself.

I don't like the conventional idea that you should basically wear the same things as everyone else to be fashionable. I don't shop for clothes on line, but find some unique interesting things at thrift and vintage shops. Even if I had unlimited funds, I'd still shop there. My other suggestion is learn to sew, even if you don't design and create your own outfits, it is very useful to be able to do some basic repairs and tailor things the way you want them.

It is very difficult to borrow one for semen retention, although it is very easy to borrow one from guys who do not wish to do retention techniques. I would not want one for 100 days or even 5 hours. I meant I don't know if it beneficial for women to refrain from having orgasms. I've read about Slaying Red Dragon and Female Deer exercise, but haven't tried or know anyone who has.

Okay, I am inspired too, although never could get a definite answer if recommended for women. Will be an experiment. If I can remember.

Epiphany.

NLP usually works to help people calm down and if you genuinely seem interested in understanding his problem (which is not same as being able to solve it) and can even feel a little love for your human brother that helps too. Mirroring, basically restate his concerns, start with your body language, speech and breathing sort of similar to his but of course less intense, then instead of becoming more keyed up, relax and slow down see if you get him to match you. This guy does sound quite intense, but try the technique with more typical grumpy customers and see if you can help them leave happier. Afterward, if you feel a little drained, go take a walk or something. With a job dealing with public good idea to have ritual every day to reset when you're done with work, go wash your hands, change your clothes, go outside for a while, just something simple. God on a bad day- I like it!

thought it said "grass level" instead of gross level, read it 2 or 3 times trying to understand where the grass fit in. Still think grass might be helpful in trying to understand. Taiji barefoot in grass helpful for understanding microadjustments too.

Jesus could walk on water, but Chuck Norris can swim on land.

Looking at the first part you wrote, I think you should definitely avoid romantic relationships for now. Glad you are feeling more relaxed and happy, but relationships can really hack that up. Once you've done some of the other things you want to do and feeling more consistently calm and content, then later if you feel like it's a piece you want in your life you can become more open to romantic relationships.

First were some good intentions, then they put in a road, been hell here ever since.

So many delicious ways to waste time. Someone doing almost anything you can think of, but never mind what someone else does. TV is other people doing things. What do YOU want to do?

What kind of animal is Set?

There's a lie in believe.

Thought there should be a positive thread about it. Post your ideas if you want to.

Sure, but generally the time constraint is a problem since my work schedule is arranged around my kids' school schedule. Am mostly considering it just for the 5 weeks in the summer when they are mostly with their dad. Tried to scout out (driving home) a couple more potential routes for my running home home plan; it is looking like any way I go will be a stretch on a somewhat busy road where I will have to try to stay way over on the berm since no sidewalks. I don't know how much it really saves electricity to unplug everything when not in use (toaster, tv, blender, printer, really try to get the kids to watch chargers and unplug them, I no longer use a coffeepot). It does seem like my electric bills are less when I remember to do it fairly consistently.