hyok

Peak Oil is tricky. Similar to the observance of money manipulation in that maintenance of control is at the Highest Level - meaning national, international and moral law does not seem to apply, only control through whatever means seems to matter. There are those who believe that the Arabs aren't as stupid as we think. There are those who believe the Arabs began hiding oil a long time ago, siphoning billions and billions of barrels to unknown locations in the desert. Who can know of this than those who are hiding their own natural resource? What measuring instruments can read the minds of men? If I were the Arabs, that's exactly what I would have done in light of the odds against me.

^Nice! He's definitely more right than wrong. I like this guy! Thanks for the hook-up. While on the subject of, whatever this is.... http://www.gardeninacan.com/ How can you go wrong with a garden in a can? Might be the best $79.95 you've ever spent!

These guys are awesome! Thanks.

Brahma Nandam, cover by Deva Premal. Seductive, alluring, serene yet dazzling. Beautiful song.

What's going to happen in Fall 2009? It's good to have mountain land and reserves of essentials, but date predictions tend to be incorrect. I'm sure things will happen in the fall of 2009, but it's a slow car wreck in my book. I think 2011 will be when it really hits the ground level (my date prediction. lol)

Why did it have to be "swine"? Why can't it ever be something like, "Rainbow" flu? Remember "mad cow disease"? Its medical name is "Bovine spongiform encephalopathy" which sounds worse than mad cow disease. I dunno, I keep picturing membranes and tubes. As far as the OP, I think there's so many demoralized groups with delusions of grandeur who are so filthy rich from the ballooning economy over the past century, that anything is possible. Anything.

I'm thinking you're right.. - if a person desires a personified relationship with the Tao, so it will be. - if a person does not, thus it will be. Makes perfect sense to me and this is probably the way it is.

It is interesting to me that there is an on-going debate on the nature of Tao - whether its essence is influenced by a Great Consciousness - i.e. Creator or whether this is in fact the aggregate of mixing energy/matter within the laws of physics. It seems in Taoist teachings it is never directly stated that it is one way or another, but traces of a greater mind seem to litter its words. Like the words "pre-heavenly qi" or "post-heavenly qi". These words seem to insinuate that there is order in the heavens, and that the regulation of this order is beyond the abilities of the conscious ego and mind. From the Tao Te Ching... 21. It lies in the nature of Grand Virtue To follow the Tao and the Tao alone Now what is the Tao? It is something elusive and evasive. Evasive and elusive! And yet it contains within Itself a Form. Elusive and Evasive! And yet it contains within itself a Substance. Shadowy and dim! And yet it contains within Itself a Core of Vitality. The Core of Vitality is very real, It contains within itself an unfailing Sincerity. Throughout the ages Its Name has been preserved In order to recall the Beginning of all things. How do I know the ways of all things at the Beginning? By what is within me.

I'm getting odd vibes from this thread.

Quick addition... 87. Buddhist priests don't keep the commandments, Taoists don't take their immortality pills. Lots of wise men have lived since ancient times, and there they lie, under the green hill. A running theme in his poems is a harsh criticism of Buddhists and Taoists. Not necessarily the teachings of either, but more so the BS of the so-called Holy men and their egos. One more example... 84. With mind as lofty as the mountain peak, And self-righteous look ("Me bow to others?"), He announces he will lecture on the Vedic canon, Having mastered all the writings of the Three Religions. In his heart there is no trace of shame, though he breaks the commandments and ignores the holy laws. "My sermons are for men of superior understanding. Few are the priests who can compare with me!" Fools all shower him with praise, While wise men clap their hands in mirth. This hoax! This phantom flower of the air! How could he escape from birth and death? Better to understand nothing at all, to sit still and quiet the ills of the mind.

Bought this book a while ago. Considering i'm not a fan of poetry, I find him to be an interesting poet in the blunt and truthful vein of Charles Bukowski, where poetry is just a format to express short and simple observations and thoughts.

Today was a super-horny day. It was tough. I began backward-flow meditation but the whole time I was rock-hard and kept thinking about the Chinese masseuse who gives happy endings. It was one of the most sexually frustrating days i've had in a while. Then I began to jerk it, but I wasn't thinking about sex or girls, basically just not thinking of anything other than orchestrating the flow of sexual energy from my cock to the root chakra to the waterwheels of the dan tien. In my mind I could see the sexual energy mixing with psychic energy and then saw/felt it flowing up the spine and becoming spiritual energy. After 15 minutes of doing this, I wasn't frustrated anymore. It was like a moderate sense of relief - not entirely pleasurable but better than sober reality. I feel energized. This event could just be the manifestation of time passing, but it seems different. There was some sort of sublimation that happened. I don't know. Will keep you guys updated as I continue the practice.

Taoism tends to offer confirmatory signs for attainments. Perhaps attaining pre-heavenly Shen is not an attainment, or is self-evident once it is attained. Just throwing possibilities out there.

Fascinating. I'm beginning to love your threads, Stig. when I think back to the moments when I felt most inspired, I recall feeling as if there was so much to live for that even eternity was not enough to get it done

This forum is a great support group. It's why I come. Well, not "come", but ya know.

Thank you everyone for your insight and perspective. And thank you Ya_Mu for your kind words. I think i've figured it out.

Personally i was cracking up while writing that response to Joe, but of course, as i should have guessed, he wasn't laughing nor were some of you. Threads dead.

Vajrasattva, YaMu, i know both of you are teachers so I offer my respects first hand, but I would like to interject your points with what seems like valid alternative points. On the issue of semen retention, Gopi Krishna and JJ Semple have both insisted that retention, and even long-term retention may be necessary for certain practitioners under certain conditions. Going back to part of your original quote -- "You are as powerful as you give yourself permission to be." I actually seem to understand the depths of what it means. But be that as it may, could retention or posture be in-and-of-itself a lesson placed upon the practitioner? I am confused and would very much appreciate some enlightenment on this issue. Thank you.

I honestly think it's the only way to know for sure. Otherwise the discerning of mind creations would have to be placed on check. For me, it's been a total "WINGING IT" attitude. I've dabbled with a lot and only when experience revealed itself would I accept it as part of some "system" for me, as well as something similar that others have experienced. Basically i think it comes down to this -- we don't know who we are yet. We don't know what our connections are and what relationships we have within the universe. From what I gather, this is what we're trying to discover, so I would surmise that intuitively we sorta know what's good for us. Some how or another it seaps into our levels of attraction towards those sources. Lastly, I think many things are different now - i.e. the rules of the past still apply, but it seems like things are bending to accomodate time. I dunno.

so what exactly is an "adult glove"? Please, i would really really like to know your definition of "adult glove". Hey, check it out, i did a google image search of "adult glove" and guess what it turned up? My, my, it's Anakin Skywalker's glove - the one he had to put on his mechanical arm after he turned into Darth Vader and joined the dark side. The second image that turned up for "adult glove", leads to a dungeon with leather straps and dildos.

I apologize for freaking out on you Mikaelz. You certainly did not deserve the FIRE AND BLOOD spewing out of my fingertips. Regardless, please know that the intent behind my expression was not malicious. That said, I actually think you're a nice, bright fella, and sometimes I actually learn from your posts (when they're not directed at me). But like Chicultivation says, ya just gotta word it a little differently. That is EXACTLY what the issue is about. Show just a little more respect and humility towards the recipient of your expression and you will notice a cournicopia of positive reactions towards that. It's human nature, my friend.

Alright, Fine you can have your opinions on MJ and its effects on practitioners. Everyone will have an opinion and nobody will know for sure about anything because everyone is themselves and reacts differently. So -- truth -- NONE OF US KNOW FOR SURE. MJ Case - settled. BTW - what is this ceiling? Please explain in detail! But if we look deeper within the responses that pattern themselves behind Mikaelz expressions, (which joe_blast seems to be oblivious of), we can see that Mikaelz ENJOYS communicating information in a way where HE FEELS he's better than the other person. Like he's above that person. This is called "subtle arrogance" Notice the pattern, "Don't take it personally...", "no offense...", "why do you take it so personally..." Hey jerk, I AM A PERSON with feelings and so is everyone else on this board, so naturally people take things personally when you're talking about them. Everyone is like this. Nobody is not like this. Mikaelz, i'm pleading with you -- please try to understand that people DO take things personally and that you CAN fashion your statements in a way that is more FRIENDLY and SUGGESTIVE instead of indoctrining shiet as if you're an absolute authority. (PS - personally i could care less if you improve yourself, but at this point it's effecting me and my mood so i feel compelled to correct your MISTAKES, because that's what they are -- MISTAKES.) (PPS - if it makes you feel any better, Mikaelz, i would rather be trapped on an island with you than your Buddhist friend who trolls this site)

seriously dude, what compells you to say things like this? Do you think I actually listen to you?

Oh great. MAN! Why can't anything be EASY? I swear, practice just gets more and more difficult as it progresses! In the immortal words of Cypher, "why O why didn't i take the BLUE PILL!" (just kidding btw. it's all worth it! or at least it better be.)

There's nothing wrong with smoking pot to facilitate meditation. Problems only arise when one cannot achieve heights of meditative states without it. But for the most part, IMHO, The Tao is totally cool with MJ.