freeform

This interests me - not because I agree, but because what I do is almost the polar opposite of that... I actually think that analysing emotion is a subtle form of suppression... (of course there are many things that could be meant by 'analyse') The important thing to consider is where does 'analysis' originate and where does 'emotion' originate?.. If you watch someone have an emotion and then watch them analyse it, with enough awareness you could see which is deeper, more influential, more fundamental... for me it's obvious that the part of me that analyses is a very shallow, ego-based part, completely disconnected with the body and having very little power outside its sphere of influence (and it pretends to influence FAR more than it really does) So this is what I might do if there is some drama stirring up emotion... pretend there is someone in front of me willing to listen to the whole story behind the drama - all my deepest feelings and thoughts about it... the catch is that I have to tell the whole story using only one word - "blah" I'm actually serious... I go ahead and start "blah blah blaaaah... BLAH blah blahhh" - with real feeling and passion... allowing the feelings to come up and just feel... There is a little lesson buried within the feelings... the way you get to it is that you stay with the feeling and allow it to emerge when it does... can be minutes, can be weeks... you may then be presented with a deeper layer of feelings that supported the layer above... and so it goes...

Really interesting observations, Brian, thanks.. I was playing with something similar (kind of)... it's started with the question 'who is it that is smiling at my organs'... well after a little while I noticed I could shift my perception so that the "I" was the organ, basking in the inner smile and smiling back... anyway - look forward to your personal practice notes.

Once you begin to see yourself clearly you will know why it works when it works and why it doesn't when it doesn't. This requires a certain level of clarity, but try this: whatever you want (let's say for example a yacht)... just say "I want a yacht"... and just pay attention to what happens inside. notice for any 'but' reactions... these could be thoughts or physical sensations or even pictures or ideas... For example when I, personally, say "I want a yacht" - I can immediately notice 10 to 20 parts of me strongly disagreeing... you see, much like most people I'm not a 'complete' person.. I have lots of fragmented "I" identities inside of me... each of those "I"s have a different level of influence on my actions... I have very primal "I"s - when I want to eat, the parts of me that don't want to eat are easily and quickly overridden... I have very shallow "I"s too... So what people tend to do is pick a surface desire (by surface I mean that the desire comes from a part that is on the surface and has very little influence in the "I" community)... Then they try to give it some weight by bringing in 'good feelings' and energy... of course mobilising energy is hard enough for most people as it is, and trying to do this from such a shallow aspect of ourselves is even harder. It's a little like having a capricious teenager trying to motivate a huge army to fight for his cause (a yacht! )... On the other hand a mother sees her child in trouble and a deeper, more influential part of herself takes over and without effort she can lift a car to save her child... So for me at least - it's important to first 'discreate' all the accumulated 'stuff' before even attempting to create more 'stuff'... So I'm attracting nothingness so it can wash away what is not needed... then, eventually, I may be able to develop enough insight to really bring about what IS needed in an effortless and efficient way. I suggest others take the responsibility to do the same.

The idea behind 'The Secret' (namely the Law of Attraction) - IMHO - is sound, it works and is real and is happening right now... 'The Secret' on the other hand is pretty much BS... what no one tells you is this: The Law of Attraction is Yang... it's about getting something... but you need to start on a base of Yin... which in this case is having nothing... Our minds are already full of stuff... imagine it as a room full of 1000 people all wanting different things. With whatever I want some agree, some disagree, some are indifferent. There is no congruence... If I think I want something, there are many parts of me that don't want it and many others that don't care... empty your cup and you can fill it again... better yet attract nothing and get everything.

Wow - that's a lot of 'stuff' for a 'basic' set... You can actually open the microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits very effectively with just 5 animal frolics - and in fact this would be a far safer way, IMO, than doing pulsing, gate breathing, bone breathing, water meditation etc... I would recommend really simplifying down to - inner smile in the morning a LOT of 5 animal movements in the day... and 6 sounds in the evening... Don't get too worked up over the visualization aspect... the key is to FEEL, really experience each 'phase' of the 5 elements... and the flow that occurs... with 5 animals you're trying to embody the spirit of the animal... it's like channelling the elemental energy in a kind of shamanic way... make the practice your own. Don't over-complicate things - the seemingly 'simple' exercises have a huge effect if you go deep into them... far greater effect than if you start doing lots of different disjointed things... simplify, simplify, simplify! and ENJOY it... don't do it out of duty or to achieve some aim, but out of the joy that it brings you to be doing it.

You're making great progress! it's a good sign! Allow any emotions that come up to do so. Anger is an expansive energy - it grows it comes out and expands with force. You've been keeping it in, taming it, suppressing it your entire life... now it can finally express itself. Well done - you're doing well. Don't be surprised to see sadness next...

'Ego' is such an over-simplification... it's a made-up idea that points in the general direction of something that's there. You see this 'ego' was never really captain of the ship... it's just been pretending to be... a dog has no 'ego' but manages to look after itself better than most people do. The 'ego' is an event that filters perception... imagine a little middle manager in between your raw perceptions and what gets into your conscious awareness... this little guy cuts up the raw perception into little pieces and sorts them and then places each piece into one of thousands of pigeon holes... well it's only one little guy and even though the number of pigeon holes is vast, this operation just cannot even come close to capturing and sorting all of raw perception... ego happens after the event. it's like a story you tell yourself... it's there to protect you from the emotions and pain in your heart and the frightening emptiness and void deeper inside. Just as a tiger can feed itself without commentating about it, without trying to live up to some artificial image it has in mind, without ignoring things it doesn't want to see... well so can you... you have a house and a life and money and food despite your ego... but because ego comments on everything, it twists everything to make it seem like it's the one in control... which is really far from the truth... but it's fine... it's only protecting you.

Try this: make an audio recording of yourself doing a 4:4 breath! Then listen to it as you follow along. 80% of your attention should be on the sensations - 20% on the sound... over time try and move to 100% on sensation and see if your breath still matches the 4:4 rhythm. Personally that's too much control for me

GIH, One thing that I enjoy about people is their curiosity. You seem to lack any curiosity. A good story-teller watches his audience and learns from them... you only seem to 'talk'. For me, you epitomise my mind - thinking it knows everything - master of the universe - a simple change of its incredibly narrow awareness changes the entire world. Not a bad thing - just an observation of its/your tendencies. For some of us - 'energy' is not an idea or a belief. For some of us we can feel it happening and we notice that. Just as you can feel your breathing happening and you watch that. A teacher is not just an information source (well - it is for the mind)... a teacher is a relationship on many levels. For the mind anything other than the information is useless... seems the case with you... When I read your stuff my mind engages, my heart feels hollow and my 'being' disappears. I have to take a moment to go back to 3D again. Disconcerting. But an interesting experience...

I also agree with Mikaelz that you need to find a teacher. Have the intention in mind and be open to possibility and you will find a teacher I'm sure. Also remember that when people tell you 'the truth' - it is their truth. What Mikaelz tells you is his own truth. Of course if you are practising stilling your mind, don't get swept up by emotion, keep returning to the breath. However - my personal opinion is that emotions are indeed very important - not the story and the drama of them but the internal weather they create. Stuck emotions will be stirred up - especially if you're stilling your mind by focusing on your breath... Whether they are unblocked and transformed through your day-to-day life (coming up as dramatic events that trigger internal patterns to be resolved) or through playful exploration and awareness

This is only from my experience - and reflects my path and what I have done. I get very bored with the idea that one should only feel 'good' feelings. In my opinion that's just an idea that comes from a western (particularly American) cultural dogma... It's like wanting only daytime - no night-time... The universe is balanced and so are you. You will always have as many good feelings as bad feelings. It's just a case of how your attention and awareness works. A lot of people only allow their awareness to rest on the positive, and avoid the negative like the plague. When one starts a spiritual practice the attention is freed, and a torrent of suppressed 'negative' feelings and thoughts gets released... it's only time before it all evens out - as long as you allow everything that is there to enter your awareness. Each and every feeling has a lesson hidden in it. Rather than attempting to 'hold on' to the feeling, just give it space... give it your undivided attention and the space of your body to express itself fully - ask it what lesson it has for you. GIH has his own opinion - based on his path and his experience - although he likes to pass it off as a universal 'truth'. The idea that silence is dead reflects what I see as his very mental, top-heavy development.

Check out the enneagram... you're most likely a type 4 personality...

I tried to avoid making it seem like a technique! If you treat it like a 'technique' or with a goal in mind you'll lose the fun of it... maybe that's the 'art' of it And yes - I do agree that this is about arousal (not just the sexy kind either), friction and tension - not 'comfort'... with arousal often all kinds of emotions come up... That's kind of the point, and that's why it's important to deal with it lightly and as fun rather than as some kind of goal-oriented 'technique'... be attentive and be playful.

Cat, do you mean just the 'verbal' examples I gave, or the whole concept? I find that the 'level' on which the push-pull works really depends on the people and the relationship... Certainly sometimes verbal, behavioural or even physical 'teasing' just doesn't create the tension I was describing. The push-pull can also be on a very subtle, energetic level... Everyone is different! Also - this push-pull - it's just an observation - not some 'rule' you 'try and do'... notice it happening already and then play with it gently... like if you have a tub of water and you notice the water slowly sloshing from one side to the other, you can pick the tub up on one side and follow the rhythm to increase the amplitude, or counter it to stop the waves altogether... dunno if this makes sense... 80% awareness, 20% 'doing'

You've had some great advice so far in terms of nutritional solutions and what the problems could be... I can offer some advice of what you can do yourself... I've no idea what the problem really is, or know you or him at all, so rather than diagnosing i have a few suggestions that might work or might not. Firstly - approach this thing as a creative challenge rather than a 'problem that needs to be fixed'... if there is a shift in your view of this, then it will no doubt help him shift his view too. Seems like he's really embarrassed about it, and it's a sore-point - he probably sees it as a problem, a major failing/flaw of his... of course this perspective is obviously not helping things, right? Your shift in perspective will energetically rub off on him. So - it's no longer a problem, but a creative challenge... something to be playful with - not serious and grave about... Firstly, to make the shift - stop trying to 'get sex' from him. I'm sure it makes you feel silly and him uncomfortable... There needs to be a shift where he tries to get sex from you! This could feel better for both of you! So this is how it works... let's pretend there is a certain 'dance' that activates sexual feelings... now the dance is metaphorical... it's just a certain interplay of behaviours and energies that cause arousal... For example - maybe not a great example for a girl, but still - if you ever watch sports, or any contests, the most amount of excitment occurs when there is a powerful "Push - Pull" interaction going on... We all want our team to win, but we're much more excited when we're nearly losing, then suddenly we turn it around and almost winning, then suddenly we're nearly losing again... this is push-pull... if your team is definitely winning, and there is no competition, there's little excitment... do you see how this relates to your situation? and how it relates to this dance I'm talking about? Another way to look at it is how one gets a fire started with just two sticks... it takes friction... the friction of Push (yang) and Pull (yin) creates the heat necessary for a flame... it's this friction or tension that sparks the flame... if it's all comfortable, no tension, then there's no flame. Soooo.... some applicable push-pull situtions: (and maybe others can join in with suggestions...?) Remember the playful attitude!! Don't do this in a manipulative way - this is all about playfully ecouraging the right sort of friction! ( ) so one way of looking at it is Push = giving attention, Pull = withdrawing attention... so for example giving a passionate kiss, then non-chalantly walk away and go about your business... or spark some intensity by looking deeply in the eyes, then the lips, then the eyes, allow yourself to feel 'excited' ( ) then when you can feel a subtle response from him, give him a giggle and run away (into another room or something)... Just use this principle of Push = yang = attention/affection/touch etc. and Pull = yin = withdrawl of or opposite of attention/affection/touch etc. for example - and this might sound a little rude out of context, but sometimes I find myself saying "I love you.... my little slut" (so push=affection, pull=crudeness) or Me: "I missed you sweetie" Her: "aww really!?" Me: "No. " All of this sparks passion if done with the right intention (playfully)... the idea is to keep doing it! it's very easy to let the tension 'collapse'... like if you immediatly jump him when he shows sexual interest, the tension will collapse... but if you keep building and building and building the tension... well.... you'll see Good sex also works in the same way - you build and build up to climax, then slow down just before - the arousal deminishes... then you build and build and build again... and repeat it over and over again untill you're in almost constant sexual ecstasy - and again - it's easy to just give in to temptation and climax before you reach that level... anyway - sexual examples are probably not a good idea, considering how frustrated you must feel

I healed a fractured bone in 1/4 of the time predicted by the doc using qi gong, cod liver oil, a good quality calcium/magnesium supplement and lots of green veggies!

Please lets not!

Should've also made a treasure map to find the mindmap Is this the guy who's a 'champion kickboxer'? - a champion because he completely de-hydrated his body during the weigh-ins so that effectively when it came to the actual fight he was 2 weight divisions above his opponent... and then learnt all the technicalities and loopholes in the rules (such as if you get them out of the ring, they are disqualified - and you win) what an inspiration There are certainly things one can learn from him - such as finding the cracks in a rigid system, getting through the cracks and benefiting... I'd like to read the book even though the guy (if it's the one I'm thinking of) is really not my cup of tea...

What a boring topic hehe Well this forum's become huge! I think that's the main problem... And yes - being able to follow members who's perspectives I find interesting becomes hard, as we need to sift through a lot of other stuff... I remember Sean suggesting a way of 'rating' members and topics or posts, this could be handy or it also could create a thoroughly british class system, would still be worth a try I think...

I think there may be a confusion because we're mixing 'levels' when talking about these things... I won't go into it too much detail - but it's generally an artificial, but useful way of looking at the level of 'abstract' vs 'specific'.... so 'Transport' is more abstract than 'Car'... and 'Wheel' is more specific yet... On one level energy moves 'everywhere' - up, down, in, out, left, right, clockwise, anti-clockwise etc etc... on another level energy just is - there is no 'direction'.... It becomes problematic when you use one level of abstraction to compare with a completely different level of abstraction... In my experience - the spontaneous practice moves energy in every which way... normally what happens is it heats up in my lower back, moves into my belly, then moves up to my heart - at this point it does different things - but there's certainly an 'awakening' - and a 'moving upwards'. RP on the other hand opens up certain head centres and awakens the almost liquid 'kundalini' that resides there. this then flows downwards - from the head to the belly and feet. Sometimes there is an Alchemical mixing in the heart area... Now - this is on just one level - looking at it from another level, it's all just vibration... on another level the microcosm is reflected in the macrocosm - so in the head the entire body is 'reflected' energy activating in one part of the head, in turn activates the energy in the belly. Looking from yet another level there's figure 8's.... another level it's spirals... Now with all these experiences - if someone says 'oh kunlun is a downwards flowing method' it becomes confusing - but if you tune in on the same level of abstraction it all makes sense... For me, personally, my 'conductor and capacitor' metaphor bears a little more fruit - for me it covers several levels including the 'upwards - downwards' and 'nothing - something' ideas (which, thanks to 5E-Tao have illuminated a whole lot of light bulbs for me). Moving to a completely different level of abstraction - just remember that 'thought' is there for entertainment not for 'truth'. if you pick up a coin and look at only one side and say "I've found the truth", that will just constrict and limit you... if you look at one side than the other and say "ohhh - thaaat's the truth" then you're still limiting yourself... or you could take the coin look at it from all different angles, in all different light conditions and all of it's influences and all of the influences on it and go "wow - that's cool" not only do I find this much more nourishing, but also more entertaining!

yup good idea. "I want some chocolate"...

Thank you.

What is it that you want most in life?... and I mean the ultimate desire... to find out, try this: ask yourself - 'what do I want most right now?' let the answer come - it can be as materialistic or shallow or deep and profound as you want - doesn't matter at this point... when the answer comes just imagine yourself already having this complete and in your life... then ask yourself 'what does having this in my life give me that is even more important than that?" Wait for the answer to come - don't rush this... when the answer comes - again, imagine having it - then ask the previous question again... wait for the next answer... be patient... keep repeating this process until there is nothing possibly more important... if you do it right you will notice that the quality of your awareness will be very different from what you started with. When you have this final 'most important' goal, sit with it for a little while, then begin going back and reviewing the ones that came before (I warn you - you might giggle at how silly they sound now)... sit with that for a while... let the new sensations permeate your body... picture an image or a word or phrase or anything that will remind you of this. this can become your intention... trigger it using the word/image/phrase/whatever you chose before practice. During practice forget about it and just let go. some things to note: If there is not a very noticeable shift in the quality of your awareness, you've not done it right - notice the quality (depth, 'amount', stillness) of the spaces between thoughts. Notice if any emotions come up - allow them to fill your body and subside in their own time. Do this often - your 'ultimate goal' might change... start it with literally any desire - notice if it always leads you to the same 'ultimate goal'. if you do this and find it useful, let me know - I'll show you some other tricks ;-)

Thanks for trying it out. Different isn't it? yes you keep your attention on the body the whole time as you type... You can try actually talking like that. See if you can start talking and pay attention to your body at the same time... and without knowing what you are going to say. (there is something magic there - I'll leave it for you to discover ) - oh - it's also an excellent practice to pay attention to your body whilst reading a story to children - you will see the effect of this practice on their reactions... Also congratulations on finding your subtle breath. I find that the key with this is to keep concentrating on the body and normal breath - and not on the subtle breath... because as soon as I divert my attention to the subtle, it disappears. Once it becomes steady and 'bright', it's much easier to focus on it without it 'escaping'.