Cameron

I prefer scones FYI.

Which is the better term? Awakening is IMO. Isn't the translation of the term "Buddha" literally "one who is awake"?

So it's Christmas eve and I am relaxing at home. I would have gone to the East Coast(NYC or Atlanta) or Las Vegas or Sedona to party but still nursing this damn knee injury. Atleast I can walk around without crutches pretty soon. But enough about me. I am in a philisophical mood(perhaps from taking Ron Teeguarden's Tao In a Bottle which I highly reccomend to Taoists) and the thought has been creeping up on me the last few days who have been the most relevant and important cyber Taoists over the years. In establishing any lasting online community such as this one here, alot of people were probably indirectly responsible and others entered the scene after it's creation to be helpful to it's growth or lack thereof. Even those who don't really contribute much here have alot to do with it I think. Some of them might not even like this site or it's management but still had alot to do with it coming into being. To me, this is very Taoist and how most great things come into being. My experience in business has shown this again and again sometimes an antagonistic force can actually supply the tension or motivation necissary for progress. Obviously if everything is comfortable and rosy that's great but that is usually not how growth occurs I think. So, it is probably not very zen of me but if I had to make a top ten list of cyber Taoists who have contributed to creating this community(whether this community is a success of failure ultimately is not for me to say) It would go like this. 1.Mantak Chia. Whether you think he is a phony or a Taoist Master he has to be given his proper due. There are alot of other Qigong teachers and probably some of them are better but no one else worked to create a central organization for Taoists. Years later, people can now critique the practices or Chia's style but the fact is he is the guy that " Got the ball rolling". Whether his 7 formulas from One Cloud are a true path to Immortality or big con is not for me to say. But the Healing Tao discussion board and Senior teachers obviously would not have even learned this stuff if not for this Chinese guy going to NYC 30 years ago and teaching people about Qi. 2. Michael Winn. For maintaining the HT site(even when it was for the most part a garbage pile) and attracting people to try to go online and talk about there experiences. And basically attracting a small group of core practitioners that would branch off and create this site. 3.Plato Rosinke. Whether you love him or hate him. Plato was instramental in keeping the HT site interesting to visit for years. Although many interesting and experienced practitioners would pop in from time to time for a good 2 or 3 years the HT site was basically Plato giving his advice or fighting with others. Also, Plato and his buddy Max were instrumental in originally getting together with Sean in developing this site when the HT site temporarily crashed a little over a year ago. 4.Kieth Franzen. Pretty much the most balanced and fair online cyber Taoist. The antithesis to the Plato's and Max's who take a strong position and hold to it. His website AlchemicalTaoism seems to be a major starting point for many cyber taoists into either the HT system or energy work in general. 5. Sean Omlor. Apparently Sean visited the HT site for a couple years but I never knew who he was or remembered anything he posted. Then out of nowhere this "lurker" gets together with Plato,Max and Pietro to start up a new site when the HT board crashed. The exact details for this are still fuzzy to me even after talking to Sean about it but from what I can gather Sean started up a temporary site when the HT board crashed then after getting together with Plato and company created Thetaobums to be a better, more comprehensive online cyber community. Sean had a disagreement with Plato and company and ultimately decided to maintain full control over Thetaobums. Sean is a fireball(an aries and a dragon) and a man of vision and principle. At first it seemed like he was mostly taking a back seat regarding his own practices except for talking about playing around with the HT system and magik. But as time goes on Sean has opened up more and brought a trememndouns amound of information through his site. 5 years from now he may have to be ranked right up there with Chia and Winn for most important cyber Taoist if his site develops to it's full potential. 6. Master Yoda. For me, humor is essential to the online communication experience. If your not ultimately online to share some jokes and practices and stories with friends what the hell is the point? To fight? Of course, we all have known a couple people like that. They seem to think it's fun to disrepect people, there girlfriends or even how they run there own website but I think that is ultimately a dead end as we have seen. Yoda is by far the most lighthearted and fun cyber Taoist. He does "crazy" practices sometimes and may be a little off center for the conservative Taoist but ultimatly I think he is a very balanced guy that is just testing the waters of different practices. I don't think he would hurt himself and seems to be backing off the more extreme stuff for more safe stuff lately. Bottom like he is entertaining and fun. Like Plato on the old HT board, he gives you a reason to come visit this place to begin with. 7. Lozen. First, she is a cool girl. Second, it's nice to have a female's point of view . The old HT board was basically a bunch of Taoist weirdos that probably couldn't maintan a real realationship if there immortality depended on it(I would count myself in that category but am getting better). For the most part there was no feedback from woman outside a few HT instructors like Raven Cohan. But even Raven, a HT instructor, finally was scared off. To me it is a weakness and fault of the community that almost no woman have joined the cyber Taoist community over the years. Becasue if you go to Taoist wokshops, I would say like half the class are woman. They are mostly very, very cool too. And then you come online and there is one or two woman out of like 160 members. Not balanced! Atleast Lozen is helping to pave the way for other woman to follow even though I know she doesn't tell any of her chinese medicine girlfriends about this place 8. Shining Arrow. A community like this doesnt' go anywhere whothout some feedback from "more advanced" people. Michael has taken higher alchemy courses with Winn, is friends with high level Chinese qigong masters and is a really, really cool guy. Hopefully over time this comminuty will attract more people like this in the spirit of sharing and taoist networking. 9. Thelearner. For being a really cool guy and showing us the householder can cultivate, be married with kids, run(or ran) a successful business and also do some Taoist practice. 10. Cameron. For having the third highest post count behind Yoda and Sean and putting together this damn list! Anyway, this was more for fun than to be taken seriously. Hope I didn't forget anyone that thinks they should be on the top 10 .Maybe if you think you should be make an argument on this thread and we can revise it.

Ive seen his ads in The Empty Vessel. I will be in Vegas but let us know what you think if you check it out.

And here is another cool one from ADCC. Eddie Bravo vs. Royler Gracie. This was the first time an American tapped a Gracie in competition. http://rds.yahoo.com/TID=V999_7/S=96781308...20Highlight.wmv And here is Eddie getting dominated by Leo Viera in the next match. To his credit(or excuse) Eddie said he was injured during this one. http://www.clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=4052A1EFCD3FCB47

Jacare. http://jacarebjj.com/ Him and Roger Gracie go back and forth as #1 in sport JJ and submissions in the world right now.

Don't worry I still ranked you top 3 cyber Taoist behind Chia and Winn didn't I? Honestly, your never going to give up the shieky thing are you? Holla!

I used to do a little but the little wouldn't do it so the little got more and more. I just keep trying to get a little better said a little bettter than before. We've been dancin' with Mr. Browstone, He's been knockin' He won't leave me alooooooooooooooone no, no, no, he won't leave me alooone. *Said in best high pitched Axle Rose voice* I need to do my daily Taoist discussion post man..don't bum me out actually I totally agree with you but I get alot of cool stuff from here and elsewhere that translates to "real life". Like Sean mentions a teachers name I don't know about..I then see an add for this teacher in a meditation magazine, I order the retreat CD's . Of course the next stage would be actually taking the plunge and doing a retreat or something but who has time? Lately I just like bangin' back ideas and stuff with some of you because we basically share alot of common practices. I am just getting into Sonnon's work and Sean has been into it for a couple years so can answer questions . I am not aware of too many people that are into retention except this small community. I mean, maybe if I really look hard around town I can find a Yoga group that has some of these elements but I already decided BJJ is my main body practice besides qigong. But maybe your right. Maybe I should try to start up a qigong group myself. Actually I was thinking of doing Ken Cohen's qigong teacher training at some point since I always think I want to be really qualified before I start teaching people. Or maybe become a certified Kettlebell or Sonnen instructor and teach that and start blending qigong into the workouts like some of the Dragondoor crowd does. Do you not visit with the Shing Yi group anymore? They seemed pretty cool but it was like $60 a month just to meet for a couple hours once a week which didn't seem worth it to me when BJJ is $100 a month for unlimited classes and frankly..more fun for me.

I could say something else but honestly don't feel like repeating the same stuff we went over on the phone today. I think we pretty much covered the subject and can now just focus on positve

I didn't put RJ or Yudelove up for a reason. Ultimately they are cyber Taoist failures. I am trying to put this in context with Taoist practice itself which from my understanding has alot to do with patience, moderation, longevity etc. IMO these 2 guys exhibited none of these traits and they did as much to hurt the community than to help it. But if you really think he should be on there I say fine let him have your spot on the list ps. S Biel would also definetly be on there but since he basically "bowed out" I don't see him in the same league as Plato or Kieth who have consistently put there input into this community-good or bad- for years without fail.

Rickson vs. Royler... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=45...646472&q=gracie

You and Peter can share #7. Or knock me off #10 and replace with peter

S.Biel-Steven Bielicki- was a friend of mine. We emailed alot over a year or so. He was only like 19 at the time but so deep. I think Plato and company scared him off with constant attacks and something about him wanting to have sex with squirrels or something. I don't remember exactly as it was a period when I rarely visited the site. I asked Biel for his phone # several times but he never gave it to me .Which was sort of strange to me considering how well I thought we got along. I beleive Kieth was the closest to him though and if anyone knows what he is up to it would be him.

For you cold water dousers. Apparently it is quite healthy! http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/11/15/living.well/

This top 10 cyber Taoist list is the direct result of not being able to work out at all for 3 months. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it! Merry Christmas BTW.

Upset that you didn't make my list? Ime kidding

Any brand of condom that stands out as being more comfortable and less annoying to the Taoist Sex Clan? While we are on the topic, what kinds of birth control/STD protection do you all employ?

New one from dragondoor. Looks pretty good. http://www.dragondoor.com/dv031.html And John Ducane's Qigong Recharge program http://www.dragondoor.com/dv018.html

I'll probably get both Ducane's and Wu's stuff. Looks like both are solid stuff that I havent seen before.

He is a friend of yours Jerimiah? He sound slike a pretty interesting guy an aerospace engineer and Qigong master! I probably already have enough to practice for the enxt 6 months but will probably get his DVD along with DuCane's.

C'mon I know atleast Yoda and Sean engage in the sex act on a regular basis. You don't have to say if your the super tiny size or the extra massive size just what brand is best. Or are they all basically the same technology? I mean there has to be something better than these Trojan things, no?

The newest member of my family just born after Thanksgiving is named Dara. But it's a boy. Is this Dara a girl?

He doesn't even masterbate? Dude should cultivate.

I think it actually gets better and better the longer you take it. I prefer taking one in the morning and one in the evening(per the bottles directions) and have had deeply relaxed, almost blissful states .The difference between TIB and drinking a six pack is I feel very focused on TIB. It sounds like it is making you drowsy and less focused which would be a different reaction. Then again, I think he says TIB calms you down if your too excited/hyper and stimulates you if your too mellow. I wouldn't call you hyper but your defenintly not mellow so maybe it's just an initial mellowing out and will balance out. Probably good just to finish the first bottle atleast before giving any real feedback of how deep your experience or just basic emotional balancing(one of the major beifits which you defiently don't get from alcohol). I have found it so helpful to my practice and emotions/stabilizing shen.

Just take the whole bottle and do sungazing/standing. I am sure you will have some sort of experience. I am kidding! Don't take the whole bottle man!! Shen stabilization is much different than beer giddiness for me. One is balanced and my qi feels good. The other....well.... I don't have the heart to say anything bad about Beer. You wiring might be a bit different than mine.