Pietro

Grasshopper, it depends on the person. In you it would. In Ian it means exactly what He is saying. Way to go Ian!

Jared Diamond (in Guns Germs and Steel) showed quite clearly how the level of hierarcy in a society depend on the surplus of food/energy that can be produced. Not the other way 'round. Now the leaders of this society might not like this to happen. Might prefer to avoid it, but they cannot change this universal law. Conspiracy or not conspiracy. What can happen is that they remain so attached to the little power they have that they damage the ecosystem to the point that they loose much more than if they just have stepped down a bit in the ladder. And personally I don't see this conspiracy problem. People with similar interest, at similar job if they are high enough in the piramid of power WILL know each other. It is unavoidable. Just do the math! And of course when they have problems they phone with each other. WHo should they speak to? The plumber who does not even know what GDP is? Com'on. (No offence for plumbers, plumbers too will not consult politicians on how to fix a house, is just that there are more plumbers than secretary of states). And as part of this discussion they do help each other. It is not strange, we all like to help people that we know over other people. Maybe this is why this system cannot work, but is unavoidable. And it can only be so because this society produces so much over abundance that the people who are dying of hunger are not enough to make a revolution.

emphasis added mine In the 16th century if I remember correctly Spain collapsed. Spain was the richest, strongest nation in Europe. It went to America and imported enough shitloads of silver. And yet 100 years later they had to declare bacrupt, and not one but several times. Those things happen. If things go bad, as they are, you will have to start the printing press, and if you do that, the other nations of the world will want less and less of your paper. Euro will become even more The currency. When this happens nothing will stop your internal inflation to go really high. Look those trends take more than one lifetime to happen, you cannot base yourself on what has happened in your life, you need to at least expand over centuries and different nations. Maybe you should start local currencies. But the problem with local currencies is that they are only good in a region. They cannot be used to import food from abroad. Shit happens.

Holding the One Integrating what was missing Holding the One Integrating what was missing Holding the One ...

Why don't you leave? Why don't you go to Mexico? Or Canada? Why don't you go while the frontiers are still open? I would not suggest that everybody need to leave, but if you are so scared (and maybe with reason), then maybe you should just be in a better place. And I am coming to the US for just 2 weeks for a workshop, and I am already feeling uneasy about it. Like walking under the leaning tower of Pisa, on a windy day, while the tower is moving and cracking.

Yes, happy happy birthday. Wow, 40. You are so old and still playing with those spiritual ideas! Shouldn't it be the time to put your head on your shoulders? So here is my gift: how do you imagine your next 40 years? Feel free to answer here, or not .

I would like to add to everything Jess said, that next year, from the 26th March to the 8th of April there will be an instructor workshop on opening the energy gates in Brighton. From what I heard no one ever, so far, had become an instructor in opening the energy gates with Bruce if he did not know the whole set before. (In contrast with *ehm* the Dragon and Tiger set, for example). The opening the energy gates instructor training is given every few years. On the other side it is not unreasonable to study now with Jess, and then come to the instructor training, and become an instructor yourself. Cheers, Pietro

If a teacher says that he wants you to pay because he needs money, he is telling the truth, and I think that if affordable you should pay him. But if a teacher says that he wants you to pay because you need to give something to have something else, or for any other reason which is important for the student, but not for the teacher, then why is the teacher who have to receive that money. Can't you just burn the money, or give it to people who really need it. By the way, burning the money has the effect of making money in the society more worth (lowering the inflation), so you are effectively giving your money to everybody in the society, just you are sharing it giving more to people who have more money. So if you think that having money is a sign of spiritual superiority than burning money makes sense. If you think this is BS, then donating the money is better. Maybe you can find a cause where both you and your teacher feel the money would be well placed. But I just don't get why a teacher would say, "I make you pay because you need to, and, ehm, as a side effect I get the money." And, btw, when I teach I generally charge, too. Not for them, for me! Edited for spelling mistake

Hello, I am looking for images of Wu Jianquan doing Tai Ji. Both when he was young, and later in life. Either on internet or in books. Anyone has any suggestion? Many thanks. Pietro

Thanks! I will order one of the two books. No, I am not, it was very demanding, and you can't ride two horses at the same time. But it did inspire me to practice with at least the same intensity the style I was already committed to. So it was all good. And did you went to China? Pietro

Well Daoists were mostly chinense, and in this chinese tend to have their altars of the ancestors. I think we should have an altar of the ancestors here in Tao Bum. A page where all the people who use to write here, and then died are remembered. With a link to all their entries, maybe the entries more important immortalized, a space for people leaving a sign, and finally a button to get a random i-ching answer. So the spirit has a way to reply. We should suggest it to the administrators.

you are doing wuji standing? Wow, congratulations. I know many daoists who don't.

Classy!

Hmm, seven exclamation marks. Now that is something. You look a bit hype, is this your 14th day?

Spectrum, you seem to be up to something over here. Unfortunately I cannot understand you. Can you please explain better what you mean. Maybe with an example too. Like I was stupid. Thanks, Pietro Yeah, but you probably give them. But yes, I do suspect that on this men and women are different. Com'on I will not come and tell you how you can get over the depression of your cycle, because I did it.

I am also on the spread by example side. First of all because if I am not a good example it means I haven't really understood correctly the practices, or the practices I do aren't really that good, so another reason not to spread. Second because I recognise the fundamental freedom of people to not be enlightened. Third because I think I am not yet at a point where I can really speak about many things. You see I only speak from my experience, but my experience is everything except a rosy nice one. It is quite wild, man, and often when I tell about it, people hear, are intrigued, but then are very happy to leave me to face my demons, and go back to their usual life. In short I am not really sure why should people practice. I cannot do otherwise, but other people? It has been said: to practice gungfu you need to love the aim and you need to love the work. If they already do it, why would I need to speak. If they don't, why would I need to speak. SO what's left is the case of those who do it, but don't know where to start. Well, those have plenty of occasions in the modern society. And my words would just show the difference between what I am trying to achieve and my state. nonono. I cannot spread the gospel. I also cannot really work by being an example (LOL). Is there any viable alternative option?

...that's how Darin did it!

I would like to add to this whole discussion that is absolutely possible to embrace both sides at the same time in ones life. Even in the same period of life. In other words to be both the neurotic pornographer who masturbates to releave his nerves, AND the superior lover that has sex-love-union with their (temporary) partner reaching orgasm, without having ejaculation, or ejaculation without losing energy. Being able to do the later does not necessarily precludes you from being the former. In particularly because to do the later you need a partner. I remember a sexual partner I had. Wonderful woman, but who never reached orgasm with someone else. While making love (which she would enjoy immensly, she just would not reach orgasm, probably witch diet would have helped), in a stroke of insight (lol, no pun intended) she said: coming while making love in two is harder because you are totally here and now, with no part of you in a sexual fantasy. I too would love to read Kornfield article. If anyone finds it (maybe their community has it) it would be a good thing to have it scanned for the whole community. Also many people have suggested that having moderate sex is good. While in theory this is true, in practice, it is often harder than full celibacy. When you are in full celibacy you do not need to make any choise. Choises has already been done for you (now) by you (in the past). But generally to hold to your word you need energy, which needs jing... So you might decide that you only come once a month, and with no sexual fantasies! Or every 2 weeks, or every 40 days, or 100. And all goes well for the first round, but then you come one time, and now you are there, holding your desire in your full hands, your head clouded by weakness, and you concede a thousand years of immortality, for a second second of immediate bliss. And you are digested one step deeper in the belly of the sexual fantasies demonic worm. And, instead, if you decide that you are not going to let your head be clouded, your orgasm will not be total release, and will not recharge you of energy (yes, I spoke about an orgasm as a way to recharge, go figure that out), so you'll feel even worse. In case you haven't understood I speak from my experience. SO I would add myself to the list of the practitioners who says that celibacy is important, without myself being able (anymore) to practice celibacy. There are different forms of celibacy, and maybe I will write about them. But the key think is the mind. Celibacy is important because what is important is to be in reality, and you cannot have sexual fantasies while being in reality. But then if you are so advanced that you don't fall for sexual fantasies even after an orgasm, then you might be able to do it. But generally an orgasm (even a valley orgasm, of the highest kind), can make you weak enough that fantasies will get the hold of you, and eat whatever else was in the cup. You did it the first time, because it was overflowing, but this has attracted creatues who drank you the second time, and only leave you when you are empty. Until you fill up again. How wonderful human beings are, we are the cup, and we produce the nectar. Just for whom?

I think there are many people here who are interested. I think that as China opens up possibilities will open up too. But all the taoist priests (that is, 1, Bruce) I know lived in China for some time. So maybe going there wouldn't be a bad idea. In the meantime studying Chinese also would not be a bad idea.

fractal unity from cells to galaxies, see life's complexity

Bruce use to teach the following: Omm cocacola, omm cocacola, omm cocacola, ommmmmmmmm pepsi. He did it for a week end and then tested the results, and found similar measurements than the more traditional ones. If this works than maybe you can make up your own

One thing that I notice is that many masters seem to have studied many years here and there, but then they studied 1-3 years daily with -insert big name here-. It seems that those 1-3 years, of daily study, with the key person on a one to one basis are what really 'makes' masters. Nice to see you back, CT, btw. I really enjoyed your book. Since you now speak english could you suggest us what translation is more similar to the original you wrote? Pietro

As a scientist I would find absolutely fascinating ( ) receiving a death thread for an experiment I am about to make. "Sir, if you are going to destroy the world, I warn you: Do it, and I will kill you!" I suppose they found out I have a small spaceship in the backyard with which I am going to fly away! Regarding the hasthelhcdestroyedtheearth page: check out the source page

According to Bruce, this McNeill or his school is one of the teachers of Chia in Taiwan on the sexual stuff. I just ordered his books, all except the one on xingyi P.

I suppose that's very personal. I studied with Bruce for a number of years and never had a problem with him. I am not resisting him, or suffering his presence to have the teachings. I actually enjoy him as he is. But I admit that some people are instead in that position. I feel many guru who never swear, never use bad language, never show any anger, are very often big hypocrits. So from my point of view, I don't see him as having a problem. At least not more than we all have. We imperfect human beings. When you feel someone has problems you then need to analyse what is the problem, how deep is it, and how much is this impairing his ability to embody the teaching, understand it, and teach or share it with you. Also sometimes the teacher does not have a problem, according to the teacher himself, but you feel he has a problem. Now is it you who have a probem with him, or he has an objective problem, or what? Your message seem to suggest that there is an objective problem. Maybe you could be a few more words generous and tell us what you see as being a problem. Then we, who study with him, can answer you.