zanshin

As far as application if someone is striking you. If want to seem tough and stand there and take it tense everything up and breathe out when they hit. If you want to be able to block, react and counter, stay relaxed. If you don't want to get hit, don't be standing there when the strike comes.

Probably more than anyone wanted to know re. physiology of standing. http://www.saunalahti.fi/borgbros/bisoni/bal%20ms%20emg%20cop.pdf

Exercise melts fat, but qigong seems to change the way the fat lies. I'm focused on doing long runs right now, hungry all the time, so I eat a lot and losing a little weight anyway although I was proportionate in the first place. Literally ran my butt off, longer and faster runs but craving junk, feeling tired, looking drawn and worn out. So I started getting up extra early to make time for regular qigong practice, now my cheeks look full again, energy level better during day, more focused to make decent meals for myself and my clothes fit better. Scale now holding steady. You really can't tell by body type. I know big people who move really, almost surprisingly well and people who are thin but no strength or endurance.

Just drawing sideways 8s on paper is an exercise sensory integration therapists have kids with handwriting problems do. It helps and is supposed to be integration for both sides of the brain.

Awareness leading to bliss. I always liked that sort of going out of control feeling, riding on a motorcycle, falling madly in love, crazy feeling alive things. But with awareness, everyday things become sublime. Wet grass under my feet, breeze blowing in the first chill of fall, sky morning pink and I cried because it was all so beautiful. Or maybe that was pms.

I also rescind my offer, since hadn't heard from anyone anyway. Maybe had heard too much hype here by time I got the book, but I was disappointed in it. Tried to read it and do a few practices, but it turned me on about as much as my refridgerator manual. Have done other spontaneous movement practices and being on the edge of a chair seemed like a contrived way made up for Westerners.

Anyone know any practices, techniques or suggestions to speak more clearly and make the voice sound better? I had speech therapy as a child, mostly for articulation problems. I'm fine in controlled situations. If there's a lot going on in the background or have to respond quickly, articulation gets worse, I stammer and clutter. Hard to explain, seems like my brain and my mouth get a little off sync. I don't become completely incoherent, but I don't like it. I feel I give an impression that I am a little more of a blithering idiot than I actually am due to not expressing myself clearly.

Thanks, Ambrose, those are good. I've had self defense teachers mention speaking slower and softer as way to calm agitated people down, so will try to apply when people talking fast or more than one at once. Breathe, slow down, instead of feeling like I have to reply at once. My brain gives me lots of stuff to say, probably too much, then my mouth hacks up the delivery ChiDragon, thanks, I do taiji and qigong. I think I breathe pretty efficiently. Can run for miles, used to play an instrument. I probably do chest breathe more when stressed. I have noticed my voice can sound a little nasally on recordings too.

Red Phoenix not in the book, secret stuff, good luck getting them to tell you. (I don't know the secret stuff, maybe better I don't since would probably tell.)

Jetsun, you're fabulous, time to go run 10 miles and then lay around and watch a movie, so that will be the one. I wanted to see it anyway, impeccable timing to remind me. Lerner, thank you too. Not so much fear, that's my problem more of a technical issue. I done a little teaching and run seminars, and not too bad if I have notes and time to think through what to say. Improv class might be a good idea and fun, I have a friend who is into amateur theater, will ask her if she knows a group. I also have, oh what do you call it- word finding problems

then don't hope. Keep your expectations really low, you won't be disappointed and occasionally might be pleasantly surprised.

It's worth something to have hope that we can change our circumstances by doing something. Hope is worth a lot, sometimes it really is all that's left.

oh, I was going to dig mine out to offer too. Would be happy to offer as library book in same manner as Lerner.

Maybe timing. I've known (so still knowledge) when to leave or come early and been right even though there was no objective reason to know that. When my grandmother passed away after a fairly long illness, I knew when I had to be there. Objectively, it could have been days or weeks, practically at least a few hours later would have been more convenient. I found a different babysitter and then I drove like Mario Andretti, still don't know why I went into gotta go right now mode, but I did and I was right. Okay maybe I have one, how about dowsing? You walk around til they cross and dig a well- water. I don't think it's been rigorously scientifically tested and proven, but back on the farm it worked real well. And welcome to the forum!

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"If we weren't crazy, we'd all go insane." -Jimmy Buffett

I'll pass on the laptop sweetie. I mean it's very kind that you want to give one to everyone, mine really isn't cheap and crappy enough, I don't use or understand features I do have. Umm...can I have a trampoline instead?

Oh, definitely an old fool, all my best fishing buddies are, and there is this other old guy who really acted crazy after he lost the woman he loved. But that is a story for another time.

A boy married his high school sweetheart. They never spent a day apart. He was a tool and die maker for GM. Didn't make big money, but they had a little house and they worked hard to keep the house and yard nice, had a little garden where the boy spent hours puttering around. They had a couple kids. Their son died of cancer at a fairly young age. Their daughter became a teacher, started her own family and still lived nearby. The boy eventually retired, they did some travelling, spent lots of time with grandkids, volunteered at their church, more gardening, and generally had carried on a pleasant unenlightened life. Then the wife had a massive stroke. The boy didn't want her to go to a nursing home, wanted the love of his life to be with him in their home. Everyday he lifted her to her wheelchair, he took her to the bathroom, bathed her, dressed her, toward the end he even fed her. The daughter and family friends tried to help. They'd come help so he could rest or go have some time to himself maybe relax go fishing, but he'd usually go mow the yard or he'd go to the store to buy something he thought might make his now quite unlustable love smile. She passed away a few months ago. Now the boy, my friend, mostly sits in his chair. The weeds grow up and dust accumulates. I brought him dinner today, he doesn't eat much unless someone basically puts a plate in front of him. He doesn't really want to be here, hoping to see his love again soon. He thinks he's had a good life and regrets he didn't tell her how much he loved her more often. I know that because he told me so. Just a poor old broken down guy sitting in an arm chair lost in memories of his attachments, no grand material or spiritual attainments, telling stories about his unremarkable life. Sometimes he cries, but sometimes he smiles. This is love, this is life.

How about a fantasy go-kart? My 10 year old son has one. He saved and did jobs for months to pay for half (I paid the other half, we had a deal). Months later he loves his go-kart, none of the other kids have one. They have lots of fun taking turns driving it, he likes to teach them how to use the controls and do little tricks. Dumb material toy that has provided lots of enjoyment and entertainment. Til there's blood...hmm, they do have to wear a helmet. And crashes are awesome! Are crashes spiritual? Crashing might help clear up ambiguity over what is illusion. And light adults can drive it too! And toys are fun! (at least fun for materialist thrill seekers).

And then move from your center. And yes, stay relaxed at rest and don't tense your shoulders when you start to move. But are you too heavyhanded and tend to clomp and stomp when you move, or more doing clutzy absentminded things, or over and undershooting with coordination? Are you young or old any medical issues? Tai chi should help no matter which issues, but more background might help us make specific suggestions.

If you live in a safe neighborhood, walking meditation or just walking at night is terrific and seems more natural to me than trying to sit or lie quietly at those restless times. Have come to find insomnia is fine, when I go with it instead of worrying that I should be sleeping. Often around full moon, like last night. Walked about a mile, then laid on still sun warmed driveway, watched the moon, listened to crickets and night noises. Came in, dozed a bit, qigong, standing meditation- then almost morning so I made banana pancakes.

Okay, tulku, but the question was how do you do it? Some of the posters on this thread gave some good creative alternatives to a traditional path. On the road to enlightenment, at this point you still need to put food in your mouth? So how does it get there? From a practical perspective for you, tulku, personally? Can you become liberated from the system while staying in your parents basement?

The Tao might seem deep within your self and it is, but it's all around you too, not just in dreams or beautiful natural settings. Mundane experiences can even enhance consciousness. Think if you were an ancient hunter-warrior. You'd have to always be alert, aware and stay in tune with your environment, you'd observe small things in nature and adjust your routine in harmony with your surroundings. So watch for hungry wolves and helpful shamans, might be some at the grocery store or on your way to school, probably not, but sometimes if you're paying close attention other things of interest become apparent.

Sorry, I sounded like a grumpy old lady, perhaps I am. oh, old people have things they want to do too, your dad probably has a few dreams and things he'd like to do when kids raised and retirement etc., that's what I meant by his perspective. Life is short, but if we're lucky it's long too. So if you were your dad's age, what would you want your life to be like? What would make you satisfied that you lived well?