Sloppy Zhang

Well as far as dream journals go, they help you learn to recognize patterns in your dreams, the idea being that, next time you're in a dream and you recognize a pattern, you become lucid. Yeah, except in the middle of the school semester/work days, I don't really have the luxury to do direct induction techniques. I gotta sleep when I gotta sleep, that's why I took up the practice of lucid techniques that occur while already asleep. Well what usually would happen is that I'd write my dream down as the day progressed. If I had a class/work early in the morning, I wouldn't even start on the dream entry until midway, or at the end, of the day. Sometimes I'd forget then remember, sometimes I'd forget completely, and sometimes I'd remember completely. Of course, with practice, your memory improves, I've found. So the recollection isn't the problem- it's that writing in this journal became, literally, an all day occurrence, and if I was busy, I might not have even gotten halfway through by the time I had to go to sleep again! x.x I dunno. It's just gotten to be a drag. There are some benefits to it. But.... I dunno.

Most of the spiritual community is not interested in seeking validation for a teacher's claims. There is a lot of rhetoric which has created an atmosphere in which the teacher is just assumed to be right. "Where the footsteps of the master falls, only the willing will be able to hear." Translation: if you don't believe I am legitimate, you are obviously not ready for my teaching. "Well it's spirituality, and that can't be proven." Translation: though one may claim to be able to do things like light stuff on fire, or move stuff, they aren't going to because "you can't prove it." "If you show doubt, it will damage your progress, because you must believe in order to achieve results." Translation: if you are a skeptic, you will never be able to get anywhere. And if you have practiced for a long time and don't have anything, it means you were doing it wrong, and deep inside, you never believed it. "People can't be persuaded by other people, no matter how much evidence, you have to prove it to yourself." Translation: I'm going to keep making claims. But I'm not going to prove it. If I do, it will be a demonstration on MY terms. If you ask questions, or if you know a way I could have faked it, it obviously means that I'm right, so I'm just not going to do it again. If you want to prove it, do it yourself. And seeing as how in some systems, it can take years, DECADES, even, to get to a point where you can produce some sort of ability, well....... I'm sure there are lots of "believers" out there, running in their hamster wheel, and never going to get anything. Because obviously they just didn't believe That's not to say there aren't real masters out there. That there aren't real people teaching real things to other real people who are getting real results. I am sure there are. But they aren't really in the public sphere. For whatever their reason, they don't want to be out and about. And that's their right. Unfortunately, that also makes it easy for charlatans to exist side by side, have an equal chance of getting students, and gain all sorts of things for their own person based on, essentially, a scam. And what's sad, is that a fraud can actually be using material from a LEGITIMATE source (respected lineage, capable teacher, or something else). So, even real material can be misused. Of course, that also means that some frauds (SOME), are not without value. And I say that last bit with GREAT reservation. So what do you do? Well if you don't believe it's possible, just quit. Or at least, don't do your practice thinking powers are going to come somewhere down along the line. It's not really a safe bet. Of course, doing a practice because you want a new outlook on life, because it makes you happy/gives you piece of mind, well that's all well and good, no problems then! if you think there are powers to be had, or you want a practice that gets them, find a teacher or holder of a lineage who has proclaimed to have had them, or that they could be gotten, and try it out. If it feels right to you, great, keep going. Find a teacher who seems upfront, honest, and legitimate. If they aren't willing to directly show anything, well you're either going to have to give them the benefit of the doubt, or just quit. Because again, the odds aren't very good that they're being truthful. Doesn't mean they're lying, just saying, you're taking a gamble with your time and/or money. Ideally, you can practice in person with the teacher in question. If not, go with reliable books or DVD's. I'm of the opinion that with the right amounts of work and dedication, that you can learn something functionally well from a book or DVD source. But I should point out that books should make up around 10% of your total work. 90% should be practice to gain lots of personal experience. It's important to have a RELIABLE book or DVD source. Because as you go back and read/watch, you will see things you didn't see before, or you will notice different areas. I've sat and watched the same three seconds of someone doing a tai chi clip for nearly 30 minutes, because each time I saw those three seconds, I was looking at something in particular, had noticed something, wanted to see how not to do it, where I was going wrong, etc etc. Though not everyone has access to a personal teacher, for a relatively cheap price you can find a lot of really genuine instruction. Far better than what some teachers do in person!

It's the internet. And a free forum (mostly). People can, and do, post whatever they feel like. If you don't find it relevant.... skip it. I will say, however, that on more than one occasion, the information found post-"hijacking" tends to be very valuable, though oftentimes, not immediately. Later I'll realize that something important was in a post, then I'll try to go back to it, only to realize I can't find it because it was an obscure comment, not in line with the thread title, lost amidst tons of replies. Just a figment of my own memory (imagination?). Or I'll be able to draw on a piece of information I had read in passing from a "hijacked" section of the thread. So it's not all bad. I think we should kindly ask people to stay on topic and be respectful, but I also think that some very valuable stuff comes up when you give people "free reign" to roam and whatnot.

I'm skeptical.

Put out a book or DVD that has some practices to get people going. People who don't want the real stuff, or who can't make it to higher levels (for whatever reason) won't get significantly past that material. People who want the real stuff, can recognize the real stuff, and have the talent and dedication to move on, will run with that material, then after a while seek you out for personal instruction. From there on you can teach them the next stuff, and then screen potential new students after they have already gotten some basics of the basics down. If there's one thing I've noticed about some teachers- they have students from all over the world. If they want to learn, they'll find you. If you put stuff out there, it will find its way to the right student.

I don't think about death too often. One day I thought, "where was I before I was born?" and while some people, when asked this, come up with some past life memory or whatever, I get nothing. Not "nothing" in a depressing or negative way. Just, absence of anything. So I figure, if I die, and go back to that, then I wouldn't really care. As I wouldn't really be there to care. Anyway, sounds depressing I guess but..... eh. Unless, you know, the Christians are right and I didn't exist until I was created when I was born and after I die I don't go back into the nothing, but instead move on to my afterlife

I don't consider myself a Star Trek expert, but to my knowledge, in the Star Trek universe, the big change came about after the human race was discovered to by warp speed capable. In fact, in the movie in which the borg go back in time to take over the planet and prevent the first warp engine test, some crew members actually meet the guy who invented the first warp drive, and he was really mad because they envisioned him as some sort of hero, pulling mankind out of the modern dark ages, and ushering in a new era. And he was like, "I just built this thing to make a boatload of money!" Only to find out that in the new civilization, there was no money, or use for it!!! But see the impetus for the change was contact with an alien race. Humans realized we weren't the only ones in space. Attention was shifted from down on the ground (and each other), to the stars. People were unified as "the human race." So if you want to get to a Star Trek world, there would have to be some means of people identifying themselves as "THE united human race." Otherwise we'll wind up going down some other dark path to dystopia, some other barren, post apocalyptic world, or have some genius come up with a new power source which we can base society off of, have them become the runners of the new (world) government, and then put of mass societal collapse for another couple hundred years. In my unprofessional opinion

I think it's good that people are being more open about their practices I really do think there are lots of people who have a genuine desire to get in contact with legitimate teachings, and legitimate practices, and their only limitation is location, the ability to travel, and expenses. If there's something, anything at all, that can be taught by book or video, I strongly encourage people to make them. I've been on the receiving end of a fraudulent martial arts school (started when I was 14, left at 16). It was the only one in my area claiming to teach what I wanted to learn. Unfortunately, I didn't have anywhere else to go. It wasn't until it suddenly smacked me in the face that I could get some books or DVD's (my teachers had always told me learning from them was impossible), that I realized, uh, that 1 book or DVD from a legitimate teacher was worth over a year's worth of classes from a less than reputable teacher.

Unless they're the type of astrologer that can actually perceive energies and things like that... it's probably going to be some generic life advice. "Hi, I'd like to find a new job." "Well let me ask you a bit about your situation.... when was your last job?" "I got laid off about 6 months ago." "Been trying to find a job between then?" "Yes, but I haven't been able to find a job." "That's tough. Anything else?" "Well since it's been hard to put together the money for rent, so I'm thinking about moving back in with my parents, or my brother, but I don't really like that." "Okay, hold on a second." *pours over natal chart* "I see from this that you are a naturally independent and fiery person. You like to be in charge of your own life. But lately you have been on the receiving end of tough times. This has challenged you, and knocked you off the proverbial horse. Subsequently, this is putting you into contact with people and issues from the past. This makes you uneasy, as you are a person who likes to move forward with your life. You don't want to go back to the person you were, but you can't seem to get back onto the horse. "You need to understand that just as you cannot go back to the person you once were in family matters, you can't go back to the person you once were in business. Find a new horse. Start small. Use your head strong attitude and take on small, manageable challenges. Build upon them. Establish a new identity. "Yet your soul, your true self, has manifested this scenario in your life for a reason. It is telling you that you need to resolve past issues. So as you establish a new business identity, try and address the issues with your family. Get in contact with your parents and sibling, and try to forge a new relationship. This will allay your fears as you become a new person through and through." In summation- you're probably better off doing it yourself. Unless, since you're the friend of a friend, he could give you a reading for free, in which case, hey, why not. Or unless he's demonstrated that he's got some genuine perception, in which case it might be valuable. Otherwise.... in my experience, it's not worth the money.

Good deal.

Depends on where it's happening. And where is it happening? Where would one go to learn this? Where are the teachers who teach this?

Muggers don't use air rifles....

Starjumper, you know I like you but..... Really? I don't know if these posts can be taken seriously. There are a lot of frauds around here, and I'm sure they all have stories as wonderful as this. As someone who has been on the receiving end of frauds..... I just can't let your posts go by without questioning their legitimacy. Not to mention the vigilantism laws, necessary use of force, etc. What area does this happen in?

The more you try not not do something, the more you wind up doing it. "Oh, it's 5:30, this is when I usually masturbate, I should stop masturbating because it takes me further from my spiritual quest. But the urge to masturbate is so strong, it's hard to overcome! Last time, I wanted to masturbate, and I actually did, and when I was doing it, I was fine, but after I just didn't feel like I accomplished anything. So I decided to stop masturbation. But here I am again, ugh, why!?" How many times did the word, phrase, or thought "masturbation" show itself in this train of thoughts? No wonder people going through this process succumb every time! (you can replace this with any vice you are trying to overcome). Rarely is the vice in question even a real problem (though some people do legitimately have issues with excess beforehand). The problem comes when you start trying to stop, and the above situation happens. In my experience, it's what happens because someone read somewhere, "to succeed in a spiritual quest, cut out your vices." So then they try and stop. Rather than trying to stop something, it is infinitely easier, much more constructive, and far less dangerous to work TOWARDS something, rather than trying to work yourself OUT of something. Focus on something you want to do. Like jogging. Think about getting in physical shape as often as you can. Have an exercise routine, and stick to it. When you start having thoughts you want to get rid of, instead think of/do some kind of exercise, the simplest being going for a jog. You can replace this with whatever you want, but the point is still the same. This gets you accomplishing something successfully, and it also starts to work the vice out of your life. Getting rid of a vice should not be a pre-requisite (or even a co-requisite) for spiritual practice. It should come as a result. Don't think you gotta rid yourself of any unsavory element before, or even as, you do a spiritual practice. Do your practice, and over time, you find the unsavory aspects of yourself fall away on their own. At least, in my humble opinion, and in my limited experience.

'Tis alright! In fact, I'm glad to know that one such as yourself has been keeping their eye on me (or at least taking notice of my presence!)

So just because YOU do not see someone do something, you assume they do not, are not, can not, have not, or will not do something?

Probably when someone who knows them teaches people what they are, and they see that anyone can learn to do them. But it's not like people with siddhis go around doing that. Unless we got people levitating, walking through walls, and walking on water somewhere that I haven't seen, teaching other people to do them successfully

Yes.

Well first off I'd recommend that you make sure you aren't just fooling yourself. Sometimes when the mind thinks something hard enough, the body responds. You could very well be causing a feedback loop- you think you feel kind of tired, so you feel kind of tired, your mind hones in on the kidney area, you feel something back there, you are positive it must be the feeling of energy having been drained, you falsely attribute this to the masturbation, this reinforces your own thought that you have depleted your energy, it reinforces your own preconceived thoughts on masturbation, this makes you feel more tired, this increased focus on the area brings about more feelings........ And before you know it, you're resting at the bottom of a very sad, damaging slippery spiral which has taken you down down down to the very bottom of a very unhappy place somewhere in your mind. Some place that is so unhappy that you actually physically respond. Now I don't know your specific situation. And I'm not an initiated guru that knows the energetic ramifications of masturbation, nor have I been trained in traditional healing and medicine traditions, so I really can't say anything other that, from my knowledge and from my experience, masturbating twice after a period of 9 months of inactivity is not going to kill your or significantly put you back development wise. As Scotty put it in another thread, you lose a lot more energy worrying about it than might if you just did the act.

Who said there's only two ways?

Depends on how you want to look at it

I'd be quite interested in hearing about it, if you don't mind sharing

You can win a thousand battles, but only lose one Hey, I wanna help other people too! Don't see anything wrong with it. At the very least, there are a lot worse things! Unless you had the power to know which mountain top is the one you have to go up

Not entirely. Depending on what they're doing, and depending on your own training and experience, you may very well have the ability to easily overpower someone with a gun. Or you could say, "damn that was a good life! I was a badass!" Don't make assumptions about powers, about people who have power, or about people who seek power!