zanshin

I think with intent you don't worry about it since you already know you've done it. You study for the test, the test is easy for you, you don't anxiously wait for envelope, might not even open it.

I think it is better to help kids understand why and feel compassion for others, than to present a right way to act because it is a rule from an authority. Back in preschool the teachers constantly said, "hmm, how do think your friend feels when..." and very rarely yelled, grumbled or punished. Do adults need rules, shame and fear to act ethically?

Mao, Pol Pot and Stalin were regimes where no religious dissension was tolerated; I don't certainly don't think all religion should be tossed out. Extremes where all are mandated to conform are a problem. Somehow we need to learn to coexist with those who think differently- and anyone who disagrees with that should arbitrarily be cast into the abyss

Competent And use apostrophes when appropriate. And your R is backwards! I too, am feeling a little pissy today. So forget it, and then rise above it.

A problem with using religion as the external moral compass is people are told it's in a book from god and we should accept the scriptures. If morals and ethics are from god and passed on from religious authorities, then it becomes heretical for people to use their minds and challenge application and implications. Perhaps if morals and ethics are recognized as based on human agreements, we can be more adaptable and understanding of differences. I think we actually are born with an internal compass, but forget how to follow it, why I do not know for I am lost and happily content to be so. I am grateful for separation of church and state. It seems the most darkness and corruption is in regimes where no religious dissention is tolerated.

of course that too. Tan tien is more weird psychic premonition stuff, nothing too supernatural but feeling if really trouble or they need help. That's why I asked if OP male or female, maybe more for women since we had kids there for 9 months might make sense a connection would remain.

Is your daughter okay? Are you male or female? I still feel a tan tien connection with my kids sometimes, not a real consistent pattern, not with other people.

I don't think you need language to form concepts, it's just one path. My dog knows very little language, but she has ideas attached to implications of the flick of the cat's tail around the corner or birds chirping in the back yard, babies make associations with touching and smiling before they learn language too. Perhaps nonverbal concepts are more firmly based in natural reality, then again I am pretty sure my vaccuum cleaner is not actually a scary monster.

is too.

Oh, I think I am in strange goo vortex. But with the high traffic volume of children and animals here, there may be a conventional explanation, I probably don't want to know.

Wherever you are, yeah you're there, but never really still.

Part of the reason we made religions is people feel compelled to get together and say a few words at life events like weddings and funerals and it can be great to get together for community and support for people at this time. Recently I went to a calling hours after an elderly friend's son passed away. A very nice Christian lady sat with my friend and talked to him about 1/2 hr about memories of his son and went on about how they loved him and would really love for him to come to church more. And while she was very kind and supportive, it seemed kind of vampire-y. Have had it happen in my own experience too, something bad happens and probably well meaning friends seem to see it as an opportunity to suck you in. I wonder how many really buy into it or if they're in it for the support and sense of community. Even when I was a kid Christianity did not make sense, still doesn't, just can't do it. Nature is my religion, not a hypothetical being worshipped in a madmade building, out walking in the woods or by large bodies of water is where I feel spiritual and return to harmony. (started to fix my typo, but left it, think it's better this way).

I don't know that's it's a weakness to alienate other people if it's simply that you seem "weird" and many find that offputting. Maybe you are a little more of a solitary animal than most. Used to think I should try harder to make connections with people, do social things, and acheive things, happier since realized I really don't like that anyway and find it draining. But most people are actually (some more secretly than others) quite weird and even unpredictable, so chances are you're quite human although the idea of what you think a human is supposed to be might not resonate with what you feel you are.

Why do people with OCD have really clean houses? The ability to fixate and even hyperfixate can be useful, but when people can't turn it off and don't have some sort of balance in life it can really be a problem too.

But how about us girls? Another paradox, all that vibration will be bound to get me off.

Interesting. I like eating Milky Ways too.

Except for runners, runners of all abilities, ages, body types etc. are fabulous and we genuinely love them all and are proud of them just for trying. I think a lot of it is genetic. We know narcissism is largely genetic, although I'm sure environmental factors of overpraising is not helpful. Some kids are pleasers and praising can easily become manipulation even abuse, some kids need lots of encouragement and reassurance to try things, then some are natural rebels and contrarians. Kids are not just clay to be shaped by parents and society to make them chubby or stupid or happy or motivated. I don't really disagree with the posts, but I don't agree with idea of if you do X result is Y applied to kids.

Come on over, I've got plenty of laundry. There may even be a washer and dryer back somewhere behind the piles.

I had an Asian martial arts teacher, who told me he lived and taught here a few years til he realized he should tell Americans "good job." He still didn't quite get it, he would say "good job" and then go on in detail about how terrible we were and why. He did seem genuinely impressed that I knew how to use chopsticks well. I try not to say good job since it is horribly overused or if I like a school project I'll say why. For chores instead of "good job" I'll usually say something like "thank you for feeding the dog today." Of course intrinsic motivation and natural following interests is great, but no one wants to take out the trash, no one enjoys doing dishes, parts of speech and long division are tedious for most. Kids say "good job" to each other though. They pat the crappiest runner on the team on back and tell him "good job" when he huffs and puffs and finally comes in, it's really sort of cool.

It's paradoxical. Striving to be good and to be first is subjective and inherently frustrating, if you give that up it's all good and you're a winner. I like the words compassion and simplicity. Not so much humility or modesty as to me, these suggest a backing down or conformity as trying to be first requires a sort of wearing a mask to impress others. I like the word integrity as I feel the third treasure is about being who you regardless of scorn or praise from others. My personal practice paradox is- I am fussy and love comfortable even decadent things and am a sucker for exquisite workmanship, it's my nature, not too much about showing off, but then I feel guilty about it. No one knows I am wearing 20$ alpaca socks (umm.. except you guys since I just told you, but more for illustration, it is not something I go about telling people, I just really enjoy these super warm soft socks). So does simplicity require ascetism, should I feel guilty about these things and give them up? Can a sage sleep on Egyptian cotton sheets?

Even worse, were those times I did know something I thought I didn't know. Usually because I didn't want to know. Shoulda known better...

hmm, yeah, help a sister out? Although I basically intend to suck it up and just let them suck it all off. Would really be tempted to go hide in a cave for the next week, but I have kids so I feel like they should have the full holiday experience complete with extended family, so I'll take one for the team. Also, planning a few nice peaceful days off next week, time to rest, exercise, get outside, do practices, can always make more energy.

However life forms began, that's when I think conciousness began. First primitive one celled things didn't think and want like we do of course, but somehow they had that drive to live, do, grow and replicate. Rocks never cared if they were pulverized or slowly ground down by erosion, most still don't, and that is beautiful. The sky and ocean wouldn't care either, but somehow even inanimate things became embedded and intertwined with conciousness of life.

Sophomoric is closest word I think of offhand.

If it's better, how can it be nonduality?