thelerner

Bump.. and a tear for a grand dame who has passed.

You find it on the 'Monk' path. Glenn Morris wrote about it in the martial arts. Probably not for everyone, yet I wonder if it is in someways a return to balance? A deep dropping of identity on a physical and mental and cultural basis.

What I find more interesting is androgyny in the advanced. That in many experienced long time cultivators you find such balance that they seem more.. sexless.

For many beginners, a loose 'indian' sitting style is better, ie sitting on a zafu, a blanket infront, keeping the legs further out, not resting on each other. Can help. When you start you can put the zafu against the wall and lean on it as necessary. After decades of sitting motionless, I've found as per Stillness Movement style, that a slight continuous bobbing motion helps me sit longer (in half lotus) without legs going to sleep or feeling uncomfortable. Like anything else, use aids, as needed and grow gradually. Stretching the time a bit each week. Or there's the painful martial art way. Sit seiza, ie on your knees, on a wooden floor, while listening to long lectures on how tough the early karatekas (or Aikidoists) used to be, powered by peer pressure and ego

I disregard promises and hype. I see if there writings show equanimity, balance and maturity. Whether they praise there past teachers or brag about themselves. Likewise how do there students carry themselves. Whether they stress basics and long training or secrets (I prefer basics). Lastly, what do people I know and respect say about them? Especially if they have real world experience with the teacher. It's easy to get googly eyed after a seminar, but long term, one hopes we can take off the guru glasses and can see the teacher and there teachings clearly.

In truth, no one does (or should do) martial arts as portrayed in movies. That said, in my experience, unfortunately most dojo's aren't geared towards the 65+ beginners crowd. There are undoubtedly exceptions to this rule. One might call local dojo's and see if they have classes primarily for older folks. If so watch a few before signing up. In my experience when you see the 65+ crowd performing, often with excellence, its because they have decades of experience. Even my beloved Aikido, a 'soft' art can be hard on stiff bodies; one doesn't want a break fall to be taken too literally. Tai chi is an excellent exception. Where many groups have classes aimed at seniors, because it offers so many good lessons on balance and movement.

Do some hard exercise. Tire out the body a bit so the mind is freed up. Or do the easiest kind, listen to a guided meditation or yoga nidra. They capture the mind and lead it into trance. For example here are youtubes that can be converted in mp3's. Stephen has a nice voice and good variety- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwRp13WDIrMO4UZiN0b3kqMdvEolQpeaf Yoga nidra- the original form of guided meditation ala yoga: http://www.yoganidranetwork.org/downloads While such practices are ultimately crutches that you need to get rid of, and 'just sit'. Until you can go deep naturally, they're a good option.

Another Frickin John Adams. I was hoping for Ben.

I've always thought people should have a chant aspect to there practice. Sound, Kotodama (sacred sound) is a wonderful tool for cultivation. The shower in particular makes an awesome echo chamber and its a pity not to use it. I was first introduced to sacred sound in Aikido (http://www.aikido-health.com/kotodama.html) which derived it from esoteric Shinto practices. In Judaism I found Abullafiah's Kabbalic system (Ecstatic Kabbalah) which places sound similarly to Taoist tradition in different parts of the body. So once tuned in, you can feel where sound effects the body. Later I found Rawn Clark's YHVH chant that is really more a canticle, using sound to focus on internal and external aspects during practice. Sing, make noise, enjoy rhythms, create your own sacred sounds and look for chances to join your voice with others.

I'll go out on a limb and say despite the violence and gratuitous nudity, that HBO's Westworld is worth watching for the excellent acting and philosophical questions on free will it raises.

Try this, click your name or avatar to go to your profile. Under Overview, at the bottom is [Posts], click it, it should show your last couple of posts and allow you to go directly to them.

I appreciate all the work that must have gone into tries. Thanks.

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/eclipse-full-moon-comet-friday-february Friday's Sky Bonanza Includes Full Moon, Eclipse and Comet By Dustin Nelson Published On 02/08/2017 @dlukenelson Friday is going to be a gonzo night for stargazers. No, it's not another supermoon; it's an odd confluence of events that you won't see often. There will be a full moon (the so-called "snow" moon), a lunar eclipse, and a comet flyby on the same night. If you're looking up, you'll catch a penumbral lunar eclipse early in the night. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth's outer shadow, also known as the penumbra. In the outer shadow, most of the sun's light is blocked. Since it's not blocking all of it, the moon will still reflect some light, giving it a dark gray color opposed to the total blackout of a full lunar eclipse. NASA has said the eclipse will peak at 7:43 p.m E.T., which has the eclipse occurring just at moonrise for most of North America. It may be seen to be shaded gray as early as 6:14 p.m. Of course, as is the case with any eclipse, the moon will be full. Not too long after the eclipse, Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusáková will make its closest approach to Earth. Though it's been visible in the sky for the last couple months using binoculars or a telescope, under clear conditions it will be visible to the naked eye as it passes just 7.4 million miles from where you stand. The comet will be at its closest around 10:30 p.m. E.T. Around 3 a.m., the comet and it's blue-green glow will be visible near the constellation Hercules. It'll remain in view to telescopes until the end of the month and then not again until 2022 when it passes by once again. Though, if you can't be bothered to taste fresh air, Slooh will be live-streaming the eclipse and some good views of the comet, which will give you a look through a telescope.

Near the end of cooking, adding vinegar to a pot of soup brightens the flavor.

For the sake of our peace, the thought 'They are just doing their thing' is a powerful remedy to anger and anxiousness.

Here I see a saying at work: The opposite of a great truth is another great truth. Maybe moments don't call for anything; clear observation is a kind of effortless learning. With proper learning, right action arises. ??

discreetly bringing up suspicion with the suspected seems like a good course.

It's one thing to bid, another thing to pay

Yet using tools to get comfort is not only something we're all guilty of, but should we feel guilty for it? I'm willing to bet, if you put any of us in a successful homesteading environment, ie no electricity but set up, cabin, gardens, chickens etc., and we had a decent mentor, even part time. We'd do fine. Our ancestors were tough and if shit hit the wall, we can be tough too. I don't think we're lazy or dumb, its just we're adapted to the environment we live in. Probably not so fine if we were suddenly competing with a 100,000 people flung into a non-tech environment, but given a few acres and intelligent supplies and a little instruction; I think we'd learn a whole new world of skills very quickly. Intelligent foraging and gathering including snares, skinning, all manner of wild craft etc.,

The Olden days were always better. One day these will be the Olden ones and people will tell stories about how amazing things were now, and how they wish they could go back. suckers

Not a bad technique, but as far as the all important getting to sleep, I give you Under 11 minutes and works pretty well

OP written in 2010, that's like 25 years ago in internet time. links change, one guess- http://www.laoziacademy.com/

Finding a good stretching and strengthening routine is half the battle, maybe two thirds. The other is keeping a calm mind. Minimize tension in your life, treat yourself almost like you were pregnant for awhile, ie more meditation and relaxation, less bad news and getting into arguments. The back is a very psycho-somatic. Tightening brings pain, pain brings more tightening (or as Yoda would say- Tightening brings pain, Pain leads to tightening, tightening leads to the dark side). For many emotions can be a trigger that starts the cycle going. So, part of the solution might be actively seeking and staying calm.

Nice and useful, just what I like about Buddhism. interesting how an 11th century practiced was re-invented as NLP.

Soup. Making a big batch each week. Last week, a vegetarian black bean. Used dry black beans, red lentils (which dissolved nicely), the moirepoix from Trader Joe's (cut up onions, carrots & celery cause I'm soo lazy, even w/ spellign). Lots of cumin, paprika, warming spices, quite a bit of hot sauce too, and some sugar balance it out, then a can of chopped tomatoes, and little vanilla to balance that. It ended up great. I added a table spoon or two or 3, of ghee to it. Wanted some fat for mouth feel. And put in a splash of vinegar for some counter brightness. Today, Split Pea soup. Split Peas 59 cents for a pound. Didn't go vegetarian this time, used a beef bullion and some cut up ham. Lots of smoked paprika, ground garlic, sea salt, pepper, hot pepper flakes, more moirepoix. Added olive oil, early, as well as floated some on top later. Plus some apple cider vinegar to help wake up some flavor. Did a light blending to create a smoother texture. Delicious. Winter and soup go together like Summer and fruit.