thelerner

I liked The Shape of Water. You don't see enough romantic Creatures of the Black Lagoon flicks.. not since Hellboy II anyway. Interesting reflection on tolerance. Yet those very reflections made me question the choices for 'bad guys'. You need protagonists in a flick, and for color you need background. Probably best not philosophize too much on it. A bit heavy handed with some of its themes and a little long, but solid story telling with great performances. A nice reflection though a little overly pessimistic of the period. Though it nicely answers the question- can a woman and man/fish/monster live together happily? yes but not with cats.

Let me throw this in. Somethings don't have to be true or logical to be useful. The concept of past/present/now being the same can be an powerful mental tool. Abiding there gives a deep sense of patience and peace. It knocks causality on its head and opens the mind a bit. So.. very useful. Best to time things with an hour glass. When we want more time we can always flip it over.

Welcome to the site. If you want to go beyond logic. Think of a question that's bothering you, then open the DDJ to a random page and read. See what insights (if any) the passage has for your problem.

Some of the best guided meditations are from the Indian tradition called Yoga Nidra. There are dozens if not hundreds of them available and they are wonderful for putting you into a deep state of openness and relaxation. They tend to be less visual then most western scripts, so work well with people who don't visualize as well. Here is a link to a short simple 16 minute one- http://www.yoganidranetwork.org/mp3/bridget-reader-yn-1 Here's a nice one for sleep- http://www.yoganidranetwork.org/mp3/yoga-nidra-good-night-sleep Here's a long one with nice tibetan bells http://www.yoganidranetwork.org/mp3/colour-ling-mann I encourage people to go to http://www.yoganidranetwork.org and try out a few, find one they like, download it and work with it. Often there are bits we miss the first few listenings that have experiential teachings. For those with Amazon Alexa units, you can Open up the skill Yoga Nidra, then anytime you want to hear a nice one you simply say Play Yoga Nidra and it plays. I notice the Yoga Nidra network changes there selection. One of favorite longer ones Beach and Stars is no longer available. So if you like one, download and why not throw them the organization a pound or two for it. Google or search youtube for Yoga nidra and you can find many other sources for them.

Moving away from Qi, Darkness training- days spent in the total darkness seems to activate different centers in the mind. Melatonin production and inner eye awareness is greatly enhanced, many report psychic centers opening. It's fascinating to read accounts of those who go through the Healing Tao Total Darkness Retreat. info on it-https://www.universal-tao.com/dark_room/ One guys experience- https://www.universal-tao.com/dark_room/thedark.html

Images like those above bring to mind my favorite adventure, travel, philosophy book- The Gods Drink Whiskey: Stumbling Toward Enlightenment in the Land of the Tattered Buddha https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Drink-Whiskey-Stumbling.../dp/0060834501

Its infamous to hear people lament they spent 2 bitcoins on a pizza, and hear someone else chime in, yeah, except I bought 2 pizzas for 4! Bitcoin spent all of 2010 under a buck, first 3 months of 2011 under $2.. then it exploded.

I'd also say take it easy. Perhaps, dinner, movie.. Don't be too forward or move too fast. After all, you can't teach an old ttc manuscript new tricks.

I find the Bum part as important or maybe more important the Dao. In that we are an eclectic board, filled with many traditions and practices. Bums can be pretty cool. Open and traveling.

I don't know, if local currencies fluctuated like bitcoin does, it'd be disastrous. Hyperinflationary and a host of other problems. To me the most interesting global currency is the one we have in our pockets now.. the credit card- Visa, Mastercard. Amazing stuff, useful throughout the world; buys, sells and converts easily and effortless. It's not there for speculation rather its an amazingly convenient tool for trade.

What would you change about your life to make it better? What job would suit you best? Where would you live? What would you change about your body, your attitude and circumstances? Preferably nothing magical, but in the realm of possibility what would make you happier? For me, I envision living on one of the lesser Hawaiian Islands. A bartender or barista. Meeting people, serving them. Some creativity in drinks, menu and decor. A beautiful place, with nice walks, some near waterfalls. Group meditations, sitting and moving, available daily, run by those with passion. Bonfires on the beach. A place that welcomes singing and dancing. On the island of St Lucia once a week there is an island wide celebration. Don't know what they celebrate.. maybe just life itself. I should go back there and check. Last time there I stayed in an all inclusive. Nice but stifling, decadent, artificial. I'd design hammocks and terrariums. Terrariums that capture moods. Ahab on a boat trying to find the great white Beta fish. A terrariums with miniature rivers and water falls. Hot deserts, hills with vineyards, working miniature farms.. Hammocks, dual sideways hammocks, dark room hammocks some with sound and projection, minimalist ones too. How little can you go, in terms of support and rope (4 strands? 5?)

Thanks for bringing this up. What am I waiting for.. responsibilities, to wife.. kids.. I've compromised my integrity enough so that one more dream delayed is par for the course.. Responsibility is as much a cornerstone of life as dreams. The plain unglamourous redundant work.. that builds something.. trust.. daily bread. Little things that shouldn't be belittled. Still, I'll get something like it some day. In the meantime, I'll hit Burning Man(s) and could probably put some work into pieces of the dream.. working on hammocks and terrariums..

Paradoxically it'd be a better investment if it held its price or went up (or down) in a slow predictable manner. That's what a currency, alt or not is supposed to do. The way the price behaves means its not fulfilling its design. Rather its a speculative, erratic and well.. balloony. Yet there's times dumb money beats smart. This is one. If a person is willing to gamble with money they don't mind losing 50% of then.. maybe? but if you can't afford to lose half quickly, don't. In truth the regular old stock market has some good wind behind it. Slow and steady wins races.

Any Traditional Daoist winter practices we should know about? What do Daoist do during duh winter? describe in detail?

This is common sense, even instinctive, when walking in the winter there's a strong connection between warmth and heart rate. A higher heart beat, not racing, you don't want to sweat, just higher, creates much more warmth then a calmer one.

The first mask-like image struck me as part African, part Cirque de Soleil. They had some amazing artistic skills. I wish the pictures had something so we could reference the sizes of the objects. That eye popping mask is also interesting, shades of Hermes, god of optometry.

Morning Meditation is interesting because its mostly empty and there is no particular induction. Rather it begins with a call to remember that you were recently in that twilight area between sleep and wakefulness. That deeply relaxed hynagogic state where the body is supremely relaxed, the mind slow and open. I've always found it to be one of the greatest luxuries in life, staying in that state. So the induction is remember that state, feel it, go back to it. Then imagining it's night and remember what a good day it was, what goals have been accomplished. Mostly blank except for the ending. Very NLPish.

Well, those things are experiential. Things you can do yourself. They're especially not about living in fear. I headed West with my family last summer. Hit the trails in Wyoming, talked to Rangers.. Asked, learned, somewhat first hand.. Its dangerous at night, and there was myriad things to be aware of.. accidents happen, but all concluded its much safer then my home town Chicago. Anyhow Hiking was a good time. Should be encouraged not feared due to boogie men, imo. Part of having an open mind is looking at evidence on both sides. Maybe my distaste for Paullides is it gives into (imo unfounded) fear. Creating a conspiracy that probably doesn't exist. Reading through the comments in the youtube does little to convince me otherwise but it's faster then wading through 2 hour plus videos. Yet inbetween the killer sasquatch and the grey aliens comments were a few intelligent voices of people with experience that had reasonable explanations of why people disappear in the wild. There are unexplained disappearances.. well everywhere. There are also real dangers hiking in the wilderness people should be aware of. Not aliens or Big Foot, imo. And its a pity you read comments saying they'll never visit such places (or even the entire US) because they're afraid. Maybe, one of the good things he's doing is keeping the fearful out of the parks which can get over crowded, so kudos.

Aloha, I'd love to hear about the state of yoga and esoteric practices on the Big Island. It strikes me as an amazing incubator between east and west for many arts, including one of my favorites, Aikido.

Quiet Mind Good.

From Jan 6 to 12th a free daily online join-in chant service with Master Chunyi Lin and 3, not 2 or 4, but 3 Tibetan Monks. Doing such hits as The Diamond Sutra, The Heart Sutra and classics like Prayer for All Beings.. A good introduction to chanting and famous sutras. Performed in the morning and 12 hours later in the evening (7am & 7pm, CST) http://healingenergy.springforestqigong.com/7-day-blessing-2018?inf_contact_key=ccb607f4d4d60cde7744946e2cab202d552e6c7d46eb23ce4089593a31ee8535

Excerpt from an email- "..reminder that the 7 Day Blessing Meditation for the NEW 2018 begins tomorrow, Saturday January 6th at 7:00 pm Central Standard time. Thank you so much for participating in this extraordinary event and helping us to heal our world! The first day of daily chanting will be a “Prayer for All Living Beings.” Please click the link below to access the live audio streaming session. Note: Please be sure to be on time as the prayers begin. You can use this link to access the live event. Click Here To Access Day One Evening Session Chanting with Chunyi Lin and Three Tibetan Monks We will heal and bless this world in one voice and consciousness when we come together online starting tomorrow, Saturday January 6th at 7:00 PM US Central Standard Time. With love and blessings always, Chunyi Lin

After posting here dozens of times Mak Ti Sin created youtubes about the evil of the Daobums. Which is probably why Yoda has been absent here. A shame because he's a long time member with friends here. I hope I never get my head stuffed so far up the ass of an 'ism that it keeps me from communicating with friends.

Not just politics but news itself, can have a poisonous affect. We get, for free, in volume.. a distillation of the very worst things going on it world, told in a way that is.. tantalizing. This gets to Barry Long themes, think enough to decide if you can take action on a thing.. but if you can't.. keep a quiet mind. In the second video, Kim Walsh's ideal of Happiness & Contentment lie in a quiet mind. We torture ourselves as much as any medieval demon with our circuitous thoughts. The angry bitter arguments we recite to ourselves do us no good. And releasing them out into the wild isn't great either. State your truth and walk away.. body and mind. Course, do as I say not as I do. I'm a news junkie. With a silly undisciplined mind that keeps me up til the wee hours of the night. I'm sipping pineapple rum as I write (iced and watered).. Sometimes good isn't in our nature.

Every year or two I'll roll up my sleeves and work at it, but I have little natural skill at dream work. I did find an interesting youtube guided meditation on shared dreamwork. Meet Me in Dream Lucid Exploration with Friends by Lilian Eden. It had you discuss a place before hand, then listen, get inducted, suggested finally put to sleep where you'd head there to meet up. I tried it with a couple fellow bums, we had so so results. Can't help feeling I was a weak link in the project due to poor dream recall. But for others who want to take up the challenge of meeting up in Dream space, its as good a tool as any.