thelerner

I'd add going through the 'Dark Night of the Soul' probably hits every one who is sensitive and striving for cultivation. Maybe its even a necessary dip along the Dao of life.

Another word for Dao is path. Sometimes we know the direction we're heading in, we have goal and that makes the journey worthwhile. Sometimes we don't have a destination but the journey itself is worthwhile. Why? For the people we walk with, for the things we learn along the way. For the seeds we plant that will keep growing. Mark Twain said Travel broadens the mind. Along the path, we have opportunities to learn and grow. To be solemn and have fun. Roger mentioned Viktor Frankl's books, "Man's Search for Meaning," and, "Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning", good books. There are others that delve into your quest for finding meaning. Research them, read them. See what connects. Or go the karmic yoga route, if you don't see a reason to live for yourself, find a cause and live for others; to improve the world.

Seems to me some people have an innate wisdom for spontaneous action, there instinctive action prove pure and right. Kinda like heaven smiles upon them. It's amazing, they are naturals. Others try, listen to there instincts and everything goes to hell. Their desires, plans, life end up a mess. Those on this side of the spectrum would do well to always think before acting. Probably most of us are in the middle. To use spontaneity in certain circumstances, other times just act. The only way to know where you fall is to know yourself. How well has instinct done for you? Do you follow it and life is good? Then keep going. Otherwise, don't trust it too much, think and plan.

hmnn, there not all Buddhists.. course there are Shaolin Monk and Zen lent itself to the Samurai ethos. Why Football $$$ and fame.

From stories I've heard he's quite hip and open minded, deeply spiritual as welll as keeping up with the latest science plus has a great sense of humor. A very good man.

Always a chance he knew exactly what was being said and was making a very funny joke.

Here we get into the main problem. The assumption that what we say, what we like, must automatically 'work' for you or it is wrong. Things we discuss are not always aimed at you. Playing and dancing exercise the body, bring joy to the spirit and freshen the mind. Keeping one from falling into crotchety old man syndrome. You know.. tons of negativity, arguing all the time.. While its good to be able to act your age, its also important to have access to all your ages. The effortless sleep of a baby, playfulness of the child, the ambition, hope and drive of the young man, the steadiness of the adult, the wisdom of the elder. Not letting myself calcify mentally or spiritually.

That's a mindset we don't have to lose. Not if we value it. Karl has a point that we wouldn't want to stay there, not always, but what he's missing is that it's a great place, rejuvenating, simply happy, to spend some time in. Playing.. keeps us young and happy, easy to forget in the adult world. It may not be the point of existence, but it makes existence quite a bit better.

I'm angry too. I woke up this morning and thought, I wanna look for things that makemeangry. First the bed was too high off the ground, second who made the light so bright, third why was the bed so high off the ground?? Forth why am I obsessing about the height of the bed, Fifth because it was too high, that's why and why so much light on?? Next I put my feet on the ground and an entirely new set of annoyances popped up.. I'll finish this later, cause its getting annoying. I can see we're two pods in peapods. and here's a song going out to out latest member, to ease the pain: study it closely there will be a test afterwards. on a more serious basis, there are spam bots that producing dozens of garbage or ad type posts quickly once they get onto a site. This system helps keep them at bay.

Thanks for the link, there are a couple (Chicago/Evanston) in my area that I'll try to catch tomorrow.

I think forcing people to give up there religion would start new wars. I think that's anti-peace. Likewise forcing nations to give up there arms might also lead to disaster and paranoia, ie they'd fight to keep them. I think the best answer is individuals giving up there fears. Nothing wrong with being cautious, but as much as possible, give up fear. For more peace we need closer communities. From block parties, to community celebrations; anything that gets people to know there neighbors and be ready to help them. I see peace best created from the bottom up. My formula for Peace- If you want peace, be prepared, as a nation have sound economics and be prosperous, as a student- having your homework and studies done. Then worry less but have contingency plans.

To shoot the shit, learn from the wise.. share thoughts with friends. Also to write more. I don't always know my mind unless I allow myself to write in a free flowing style without editing.

two thoughts, no on else's answer should be accepted. you have to find your own. what helps me is this saying- there are two truths you should carry in your pocket. - for me the world was created in the other - i am only dust. Pull each out at the proper time.

There is some natural curve, even with a straight back, imo. One way to check, standing or sitting is to have your back against the wall. See how much space there is with your hands, low, medium and higher. For example its fine to get a few fingers through, but not the arm. A little space is fine and natural, straight should not be ramrod straight. On a similar note, most Westerners need to slightly curve/roll there pelvis's forward to get better alignment.

My youtube channel gives me lots of questionable flat earth videos because I investigated some when I was researching the movement a year ago. One sad thing about there followers is they by definition have to miss so many exciting things happening in the exploration of space because it all has to be a hoax. From new astronomical discoveries, exciting space missions and even SETI information, everything space oriented must immediately be labeled made up, and that's too bad. this good too.

my son in college was complaining about his (3) roommates turning on lights when he was in bed. So I sent him an eye mask and wrote: 'Better to blow out a candle than complain about the light'.

dammit

Good news guys, only 49 more days til the elections. In 50 days, hours of free time opens up for some here, til we start the Election 2020 thread in February 2018, then we can let the obsessed run wild once again.

I'm finding lots of energy in the air lately. Full moon and harvest time, might be astrological or might be deep in my genes. -Work hard, work long, harvest, brine, can, dry, store in order to survive the coming winter. Not doing any of that, I haven't been able to sleep much this week. My libido seems a bit raised too, perhaps some old nature instinct planning for a spring litter. It's been pointed out that all cultures (who have winters) have important harvest holidays. One reasons for this is because for thousands of generations, not everyone made it through the long dark hungry winters.

If the two of you Liminal_Luke and Lessdaomorebum have explained your positions why don't you both let this topic rest for a bit. Maybe you're getting too far into personal tangents and entanglement. Give others a chance to do that.

The last few nights the moon has been beautiful. I didn't catch the eclipse, but in the past I've been surprised at how interesting a lunar eclipse is. You get a sense of distance and celestial mechanics as the sun (93 million miles away) creates an earth shadow that travels across the moon 250,000 miles from it.

WW II abounds with silly mistakes and lucky coincidences. The more I study the more unlikely fragile history seems. Our present has gotten here largely through a series of dumb luck. As we say in golf, the ball has to go somewhere. Yet the exact place it lands, is from the pasts perspective a one in a million shot, almost impossible to do again.

It might mean we're lucky. To be here and know it. A chance to ask and find answers. Live out dramas, create happy endings. To find meaning, passion, love! A chance to look Infinity in the eye then binge watch Netflix.

domo arigato, daimai

I've always been pretty inflexible. Lately I'm doing some simple gravity assisted stretching. Maybe its a little dynamic too. I'll do an easy stretch, hold my breath for 4 or 5 seconds (sometimes tensing), then breath out slowly and relax into the stretch. I'll gain an inch or two, then repeat 2 or 3 times more. Using a saunas and strangely breath holds, seem to help my flexibility. These days I'm not interested in yogic style flexbility, just enough to be comfortable on the floor and picking things up.