Trunk

Hm. Turns out I've been a tad confused about streaming fees (though it's clear on the HardLight website). The fee is a for a streaming one month pass. That means that it gets you an intensive plus as many regular meetings as occur within the month following your streaming membership date. (I had thought before that there was a streaming fee for only the intensive itself.) Transmission occurs during all HL events, btw, not just intensives (though intensives tend to be more ramped up).

It's possible to flex~relax the muscles in little sections to cover the whole "lower U": from just above the pubic bone down around and to the sacrum and first few lumbar vertebrae. This should not be a forceful held "clench" but flex~relax. Some people go at this with such muscular force that they end up creating more tension, which is counter productive. You just want good muscle tone and good blood circulation. Still, the above is rather more physical and there is a different version that engages the energetics of HuiYin ren-1: Simply gently lift the spot 1/2 way between the genitals and anus, like it's being pulled up by a string from the inside. It's a gentle thing, not muscle work out, and activates the acupoint HuiYin Ren-1 which is very important and connected to all sorts of stuff up & down. - Trunk

While testicle breathing is useful, I find turtle breathing to accomplish much of the same goals many times more effectively.

Way cool!

I like to think so, though I don't look anything like Doyle Brunson (the poker player who is my current avatar).

Couple more thoughts, rememberences re: "kinds of transmissions", ones I've experienced w/ Mark. - "invoking the lineage", done regularly at the beginning of events. On the inside there was clear association with an organization of heavenly beings, some human, some like diamonds in the sky. HardLight has both Siddha and Tibetan Kagyu grace streams running through it. How those are organized on the inside (same neighborhood / over-lapping / friendly but on the other side of town) I don't know. Reliably stabilizing and supportive, though. - "mandalas" My experience of mandalas at HL is that they are a way of folding space, a kind of origami done with layers of consciousness, in such a way that power is flowed into the group event in a very structured organized powerful way. That the mandala is stable, "it's up" and stays up for the duration until Mark specifically takes it down. Very distinct, even down to the moment, instant. - "individual mystic maneuver" Mark does something specific in his 'body' and it's powerful enough so that it, to some degree, invokes the same activity in the bodies of those present. (The term "body" used very broadly.) ~ later edit ~ - "room saturation" This is the basic just assumed with a teacher like Mark: the room becomes saturated with the energy of refined states of consciousness. Just being in the room and breathing is an experience, whether there are 20 people there or several hundred. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ok, that's enough. cheers, Trunk p.s. Often blessings are given to all beings of the three times (past, present, future). It's connecting the primordial Light (which is beyond time or limitations) with the structured manifest. Something I remember from blessings in Tibetan texts (don't recall which one/s).

Yeah, I know. I'm not much of a numerologist, either. btw, if someone has genuine $ limitations, HL is flexible to adjusting so that that is not a barrier.

Go to the HardLight contact page and send them an e-mail via the form on that page. Say that you want to stream the San Francisco Meditation Intensive Saturday, May 15 and mention that you found out about here at TTBs (I don't get any $ or anything, just nice to let them know where you heard). If you want to double-contact them you can call 888 294 1072 as is shown at the very bottom left of the HL website. If you experience any delay (as the intensive is day after tomorrow) then pm me and I will do what I can to expedite. - Trunk p.s. If you miss this one then look ahead on the HardLight calendar for future special, plus I will be posting similar HL-video-discussion-event-promo threads 1-2 weeks before events... at least for some little while (or until buzz builds a momentum of its own). ~ later edit ~ p.p.s. Got a msg from management: Just go to this page: http://www.hardlight.org/streaming-audio/streaming-membership.html and sign up. Then HL tech will send the email with confirmation and technical support.

My apologies in advance: I'm going to cut loose and say things how I really see them, here. Some of it will seem like I'm exagerating the good points; it's just how I see it, based on experience. Transmission is the forte of the Hard Light school. Mark is extremely advanced in this regard. It's the primary modality through which Mark learned: his primary teacher didn't speak much english... not only that, transmission is a classic very-old-school method of teaching & learning. Just frankly, imo, Mark is a Maha-Siddha and would be considered a very high end vajra master if he was in the Tibetan tradition. Everyone feels something sitting with Mark. The issue used to be, "can you stand it?", some of the sitting sessions used to be just excruciating, there was so much light roaring through with such organized precision. It was like sitting quietly still while someone located bones that had mended incorrectly and broke and reset them for you. "Hard Light" was not just a figure of speech. In recent years he has softened the vibe, included more heart emphasis, partly - I think - in order to be easier on students so that they'd stay for the long run. He is capable of a great variety of internal gestures: it's not the same thing every time. There are cycles, rather long internal gestures, that are transmitted through the group that often go on for months... where very specific things are done, brought to fruition, and concluded, wrapped up. He does not just "blast away" with the Light (as I've seen some teachers do); there is variety, precision, and courses of action. I've heard a certain very popular Tibetan author and teacher speak once to a large audience, and he talked about being with his teacher for some years and then sitting in a cave one day and asking about the nature of mind and the teacher looked at him and 'gave' him that experience (transmitted). It was talked about as a rare experience that occurred only after some years, and not frequently there after. Mark offers very high end transmissions, every week, every meeting, every special event, (and often in between classes) just for walking in the door (or for attending via streaming-over-the-internet technology). I've studied with several high end teachers whose primary method was via transmission and this was my perpetual expression during the time I studied with Mark. The curriculum is very open in HardLight. You can really practice any method that you want to, believe anything you want to, come and go as you please without a hitch. The things that make you "part of the program" are that 1) you show up (either in person or streaming) and 2) that you include stillness meditation in your practices. There are lectures, and there are methods taught, but all of that is relatively unimportant to the internal teachings (transmissions). That's where the teaching occurs in the HL school. When I was there I knew of more than one advanced student who wouldn't even listen to Mark lecture, couldn't tell you what was said during a HL class, but just meditated the whole time immersed in the internals. It was deep immersion in the real curriculum of Hard Light. Again, it's the forte of this school and why I am promoting HL here. There are a number of ways to taste-test HL. There are lots of free recorded talks often during which transmission occurs. (Though obviously it gets turned up and sustained during the silent meditations which are usually not in the offerred recordings.) A couple of my favorites are here and here (both mp3 files). There are loads of other good free audio mp3's at the HL site. Also, there are youtube videos. The ones that I included in the previous discussion thread were pretty juicy, starting late in the 1st video and on into the 2nd. He doesn't have the Light 'turned on' (outward) all the time. Sometimes during sections of spoken lecture, all the time during formal meditations. There's also of course the structured study materials for sale at the Hard Light store, and the orientation of those is more towards theory and method. Some of the theory and methods are good but, frankly, it's hit and miss. I sometimes learn a few really useful things but at least as often I find the methods beyond my scope or assuming abilities that I don't have or extremely advanced detailed technicalities. There's been a lot of work to improve this aspect of the school and it is improving, but the real pile o' diamonds of this school is the internal teachings. Then there's the opportunity for streaming participation in the Hard Light intensives and other special events. I'm promoting those by starting up discussion threads w/ HardLight videos a week or two prior to each HL special event, such as the one I recently posted. Personally I think, especially for www e-crowd, that the streaming opportunity is really really cool. And, based on a success from last intensive (and based on the experiences I've had via audio & video), yes, it does work. - Trunk p.s. There's generally between 30-50 people attending Hard Light classes, which is pretty astonishingly small. If you're in the LA area, it's an opportunity to sit regularly in an intimate setting with an extremely advanced being, with no barriers to entry. Relaxed open setting free from traditional trappings.

I would avoid going to Chia's Tao Garden in Thailand. I went some yrs back and it was such a disappointment that I ended up taking walks through the country-side rather than continue going to MC's lectures. That, after saving $, taking time off from work, and traveling (literally) 1/2 way around the world in order to attend. The instructors' presentations were far better than Chia's. Chia did not seem to have the genuine interest in teaching students any more - and so would ramble through various stories etc. and the practices he did teach were more aligned with his own interests rather than what is appropriate for students.

Consider the intensive offered streaming-over-the-internet in this thread (link). I know it kinda sounds hokey, but this guy is the bomb. We had good results last intensive w/ a Tao bum who was dubious as to whether it would work and considered himself not very sensitive to energetics. - Trunk

This is a good opportunity for me to clarify my role in these HardLight threads, the tone I'm hoping to set, and what I'm trying to accomplish. First of all, I am not playing the typical "public relations person" role. That is, I've seen, over and over, public relations people consistently (like %1,000 of the time) deflecting/diminishing/demolishing any criticism of the school/teacher that they're promoting. I think that that approach is ultimately unhealthy and thwarts the well rounded and deep learning that they're actually hoping that students will get. While trying to be protective of the school/teacher, it's actually self-sabotage of the school, imo. I'm embracing the (good parts of) TTBs model. I've seen, for more than a decade in the e-community, that it usually takes around a half dozen people chipping in each with their own very different points of view - in order to get a rounded view of a topic. No one person can say it all, doesn't happen no way no how, no matter who that one person is. Not me, not you, not any single Truly Accomplished Teacher. I just see that, as each student's role in the scholarly aspect of the path that we have to practice clean discernment and really take things apart and put them back together again, from a number of (often apparently contradictory) different angles, in order to get a real working knowledge of a topic. Good working knowledge just isn't accomplished without this, imo. And I think that TTB's open level playing field, outside of the immediate environment of any particular school, allows the social culture where this can happen. Bottom line: I'm embracing and encouraging the spirit of clean scholarship and debate. That's the scholarly aspect of the path in regards to intellectually understanding the teachings. The other side of the coin, with an Enlightened Teacher who Teaches through Transmission is that - during meditation with that Teacher, you need to be as clean and focused, centered and open as possible so that you can receive and integrate the internal transmissions. That's tricky because maybe as a scholar you've been aggressively chopping up the teachings in a dozen different ways and maybe you've generated some knashing of teeth as you're chewing things over, some degree of personal turbulence regarding the teachings and the Teacher. Well, it's important to refine that all as clean as you can so that when you meditate with that Teacher that the internals can be transferred as fully and cleanly as possible. And also to be careful and clean in communicating with others so that you don't produce undue turbulence in them that would hinder their internal interaction with such a Teacher. Often the traditional orthodox view is that you simply never question the Teacher and accept everything that that person says %100, period. imo, that doesn't work, simply ends up just suppressing your responses, not working through them, and shunts the intellectual part of the path and perhaps ultimately the full fruition of the internal Relationship as well. I'm a non-traditionalist. So, again, basically, I'm embracing TTB's model: open debate on a level playing field with each person putting their honest real 2 cents in and we can all learn from each other. Obviously I think that Mark Griffin ~ Hard Light has something good (actually, extraordinary) to offer, and that's why I'm promoting. At the same time I don't think that any single teacher/school can be everything to everybody - that the ultimate solution is to gradually promote a culture that is well rounded and has many different schools/teachers with different areas of expertise. And a big part of promoting such a culture, in the long run, is to encourage students to be discerning and progressive. Bottom line: fight clean, have at it. - Trunk p.s. "Embrace diversity as a source of richness."

Part 3 of 3 ~~~~ Hard Light Intensive, 1 week from today ~~~~ Available from anywhere on the planet (or off) that has an internet connection , via streaming technology. (Details in previous post.)

p.s. The book says that, ideally, one would get a colonic both before and after the cleanse, but it's emphatic that you'd at least get one after the cleanse. The reasoning is that all sorts of toxic debris, of all sizes, are coming down the pipes and you don't want it getting lodged in the folds of the intestines and causing trouble.

A serious spiritual-scientific-nerd friend of mine recommended me to a digestive enzyme product from HealthForce.com some while ago. Turns out they also have a Liver Rescue formula which I just want to note here for now. oh, p.s. I find that Peet's Tea "Ti Kwan Yin" (expensive, but worth it) assists smooth & flow. Sometimes I'll toss in a piece of licorice root, which is a detoxifier and harmonizer. uh, oh, p.p.s. Then of course the the other side of the coin from liver cleanse: liver nourishment. (just using this thread as my personal notepad)

I've been having private dialog with my Ch.med.dr friend "DT". Here are some quotes worth passing on. In his initial e-mail to me recommending the cleanse: I asked "how long after the critical flush drink before the wild sh*tting begins?", his reply: Notes from me: The book says that you should wait at least a month between liver cleanses. My sense is that the olive oil chemical reaction re: liver debris is similar to how, in clouds, rain drops form around dust particles.

Links added. ~~~ On reflecting on how I acted during this spring equinox (over exuberent, let's say), I think it would be a good idea for me to do *some* kind of liver cleanse in the weeks / month prior to spring equinox, as well as perhaps something in the weeks following. I guess, ideally, I'd like to just be practicing during spring equinox itself - not doing any special cleanse diet or anything (though maybe something real mild would be ok, but mostly just work on practice).

Thank you. Interesting. Always gold to hear from direct experience. And, TaoMeow, some interesting points. Certainly for women the time in cycle would be important. For everyone, season especially I'd think (as well as any specific personal conditions). Early spring-time ideal, I'd suspect.

DC, The Ch. medical adage is that "the Liver rules spreading and flowing". Thank you for your experienced-based feedback. The friend who referred me to the program also experienced very substantial improvement in conditions. I've known him for a long time, he is a dr of Ch.medicine and also a serious cookie (w/ a sense of humor that you wouldn't believe). I believe his observations about his improvements: they're quite substantial enough to not be delusional, imho. Seems to me that the 'liver flush' does something. What that is, I don't know. And I really don't know what those things are; I'm certainly not convinced that they're gallstones (at least probably not entirely), especially given the counter arguments presented. If the program produces improvement, that's the bottom line for me. As to knowing exact mechanics, that's a distant lower priority (though of course would be cool, just not always easy/possible). I paid $22 for the book via amazon (obviously not all of that goes to the author). Other than that the main expense is organic apple juice (all of the elements of the diet are commonly bought items). If I do it multiple times it's definitely the apple growers who are going to win $$; personally, I think that they're behind the conspiracy. There is no 'fast'. You continue eating meals, just not heavy stuff like steaks. - Trunk ~ edit ~ p.s. Also, since you applied the same protocol but ultimately got a 'stone'-free poop, that says that ... well, something changed inside. Sounds like there was progressive change. So, imh conclusion, the process itself doesn't create an entirely bogus result independent of your internals: it does something. And the beneficial results that you've stated and that my friend stated do line up with Ch.medical views of Liver function. Whether the mechanics & results are exactly what the book author claims, ... (the discussion goes on)

Curious, if you'd be so generous and if it's not too personal.. Aside from the fact that you pooped out that wild green stuff, did you notice any changes in your health before / after? ... of either by any subjective measures of sense of well-being (ex's, "some pain went away", "I felt more energetic", etc) or by any external measure (ex's, "I could run further", "skin condition cleared up", etc). ~ edit ~ Did you follow the same protocol each time?, and was there a diminishment of the amount of 'stones' that you passed from 1st to later flushes? - Trunk

Interesting. Thanks for the research, which I certainly hadn't done. Assuming the 'stones' are entirely bogus, self-induced by the 'treatment'. A natural following idea would be that any felt benefits (beyond just that "interesting stuff was pooped out") would be entirely self-delusion. Curious as to what felt resulting benefits people who've tried the flush claim, and if those benefits are easily attributable to self-delusion.

btw, it just struck me that oysters (obviously laden with minerals) are the yin to ox tail's yang. Also organic chicken liver is extraordinarily healthy, nourishing, and mostly tasteless if you prepare it right. Also, as previously mentioned, adding Ch. herbs to soups. All these approaches are *cheap*, too. (vs. buying tonic herbs encapsulated)

The herbs I got at a local Chinese herb store. Oxtail, red vinegar from Ch.market, cheap red wine from Trader Joe's.

There's a link to it in my signature, "om mani peme hung". The sylables work the centers from top to bottom: om - head ma - throat ni - heart peme - down & up through the belly hung - lower tan tien & hui yin You can get fancy with it and combine chanting while doing puja to Kuan Yin. Also, there are visualization methods. I hope to write an essay about this at my site some day, if I ever get off my ass and write anything more. It does a lot of key stuff all in one little package. - Trunk