Cameron

Hehe. Sorry, I'll make sure not to make any more posts unless Ime really committed to it. I didn't realize the potential that was lost. Frankly, I think it's funnier this way

Hi! Sean Denty is the person you want to talk to about your youtube video interests. Cameron

*post edited twice Good luck in your internal martial arts training.

post deleted

End of July, 5 day silent retreat. From what I understand it's totally booked now.

Sean and I are doing the Adyashanti retreat there this summer. Looks like an outstanding place with an amazing list of teachers.

Nirmala

Hehe. man, I hate this place. Can't I go one day without responding to someones opinion? LOL! So..Yoda..let's say, for arguments sake, that everything you think makes up Yoda is an illusion. Not that it doesn't have validity and helps you make your way through time and space. Helps you have good health and friends and beautiful kids and a nice home etc. But, let's say there is this other side to Yoda. An aspect that is already complete and perfect as it is. And this perfect Yoda doesn't need to seek the next cool thing or get the next cool insight it's already there. Mind you, I agree with you on many, many levels. The first time I saw Nirmala he made the point that most people seek more and better. I would put myself in that boat. Without a doubt I am in the same boat with everyone else seeking more and better. But what if that search is just the ego's need? I don't have any problem with an ego existing and having needs and desires. I mean, that's what makes the world go round right? Or maybe not. Maybe we just think our egos and desires are so great but all the really good stuff humanity has come up with is coming from a deeper place? Sailor Bob calls it 'intelligence energy'. Nirmala says 'desire what is', Adyashanti says 'Stop' etc etc ad nauseum. I think they are basically trying to point us to this deeper place of wholeness, silence, peace etc where there are no problems. And the search for more and better sort of pales in comparison to this other possibilty..a deep love and appreciation for life as it is. Or a desire for what is. Or just stopping and seeing what's actually in front of you. I still think the manifesting teachings and all that are cool. Just another point of view. And Ime really not even qualified to speak from it myself but couldn't resist. One thing I though was funny from the article was how Nirmala said when you really desire what is the ego's new job description becomes "Do nothing". What healthy ego wants to be out of a job!LOL! Open to feedback as always. I post this stuff for feedback as much as to share what I am personally studying. I value people here's thoughts. Edit- One other thing I wanted to just mention than I am done posting for awhile. What if this deeper place these teachers are talking about is not a desire free all is well limbo land. What if it is themost powerful and most creative and most beautiful and most exiciting and most fulfilling place we can live our life from? Just a thought, as I think there is misunderstanding on these things(including within myself). Cam

Yes. These are really deep discussions. To be honest alot of this stuff is way above my head. My view going forward is not to be in any rush or hurry to formulate an opinion. I am totally comfortable not formulating opinions on any of these deep questions until I really,really,really, really feel that I know. So, I'll defer to my teachers for now. Good luck in your study of I Ching and Taoism. Cam

edit-I want to study more with Nirmala before I comment on anything he has written or said. Will see him again this weekend. I don't have anything to say about Buddha or Lao Tsu or Jesus or anyone like that.

Burgers to try before you die

Of course I got pickles. I think the burger alone would have been ok but the fries and chocalate shake took me to insulin overload, zonked energy land. Got to balance out the carbs with protien better. arent potatoes like pure sugar when they get digested?

BTW I ate In-N-Out for lunch. Double Double Animal style, fries and chocolate shake. I feel like I am in a coma right now and my formerly high qi for the day is down the drain. So..though tasty..In my opinion delicious In-N-Out products are not really conducive with a healthy qigong lifestlye. And Burger King is even worse in my opinion. That is all for now. Cam

The website says they are only in Ca, Nevada and the awesome state of Arizona. Or are you meaning In-N-Out is everywhere in existential terms? I am saying delicious In-N-Out products will be phyisically unavailable to you. I know the ramifications of this sudden realization might be disturbing but be brave. May many delicious country breakfasts await you. In-N-Out website that says In-N-Out delicious products are only in Ca, NV and the awesome state of Arizona.

Still, you shouldn't deny that you will be going to an In and Out lacking region shortly. It's best you just accept you and Lezlie won't be enjoying delicious In and Out burgers for awhile. Just accept it man. Ime sure grits are tasty too.

In'N'Out Burger is the best IMO. And I know for a fact Lezlie would agree.

I don't know if 'the argument' stands or not. Just saying maybe that is a reason you don't see any real IMA wanting to fight in 'cage fighting' or MMA shows. I mean you hear these stories occasionally. Like from Matt Furey. Who from all accounts is a very strong, athletic guy who has competed as a wrestler etc. and he claims he emt an IMA in China who with ONE FINGER could over power Furey. I don't know if it's true or not. I mean I like matt, I like how he brought bodyweight training to the public. But I can't say his word is necissarily 100% factual truth. But, if he's is telling the truth about that .Then you hav ea guy in China that has more strength in a finger than Furey whole 200 lb combat conditioning body. And for whatever reason that person has no interest in going to Japan or the USA and making millions of dollars beating MMA fighters with his finger. I don't know. I mean wouldn't Furey do everything in his power to make a DVD of this guy to make money off of if it was true? Maybe on the other side of the coin if you have that power and can throw around a 200 lb wrestler with one finger you don't have the desire to fight in a cage with millions of people watching, girls probably throwing themselves at you, making alot of money etc etc. Hmmm....

Great!

Beautiful. I agree with everything you said.

Hi SeanD, My understanding, limited as it might be, of Adyashanti's teaching or invitation to just stop is to, for a moment, rest your need to grasp or understand or know. The idea of Buddhism, from my understanding, is we are enlightened Buddhas. Adyashanti says always and already. So, if we look at this human condition of being always and already enlightened, then the emphasis shifts from a seperate self wanting, trying, seeking and searching for something to simply resting and abiding in that which already is. A Zen Buddhist might compare this to the cultivation of Great Faith in ones own Buddha Nature. You don't get Buddha Nature or create Buddha Nature with a set of formulas or have to go to a special place and see a special person to recieve Buddha Nature. You ARE Buddha Nature. God Bless.

Yes. Wang Zhang Xai of China, Morihei Ueshiba from Japan and the Great Gama of India are like the 3 super men of the last century. Each was said to be basically indestructable. If I have to guess...each of these warriors began SERIOUS training from a young age and had from what I can gather bold natures. They werent your typical martial artists. Each had the goal to be the greatest martial artist and basically no one else was even close. Also, their entire lives were dedicated to training. We are talking like training all day every day for their entire lives. Who can really train like that in modern times? Of course, it would be intereting to see another internal fighter like that. I think someone mentioned Master Kenny Gong had that kind of abilty. I may begin training in his system this year. I don't know if I will have the time. But if I do I will. Then at the very least I can say I easily defeated some BJJ blackbelt or whatever using internal MA. But to be honest, I don't really have the deisre to 'test it' myself. And I don't have any delusions about being able to beat Chuck Lidell or Crocop or something. I look a those guys as professional athletes. You might as well try to use kung fu against a 400 lb NFL linebacker or something. It might work..but you better not let him get on top of you!

Buddhism per say is filled with alot of teachings and alot of teachers. You can probably point to different teachers for different aspects of what Buddha taught. As far as what I personally feel is the essence of all of this. Master Dogen's words, "To study the Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things of the universe. To be enlightened by all things of the universe is to cast off the body and mind of the self as well as those of others. Even the traces of enlightenment are wiped out, and life with traceless enlightenment goes on forever and ever." And..dare I say I like Adyashanti's direct teaching to just stop even better

This may be another perspective. From my experience the training internal martial artiists do sort of removes the desire to compete. Maybe the training itself sort of just takes you to a place you don't need to 'prove' yourself anymore. I mean, if you really feel you have the ability to more or less kill someone with a shot or break there arm with little effort or whatever you have that confidence inside but don't necissarily want to prove it. The last Jet Li movie sort of talks about it. I think it's called Fearless. Really cool movie with deep lessons about martial arts and the ego aspects of fighting. UFC and MMA are entertaining to a point but for long term training Ime going to turn towards the more internal. Which for me will be Aikido, Bagua Zhang and Shing Yi. Cam