thelerner

Everyone should have a favorite chant. If you can't chant with others, chant in the shower, the acoustics make it more powerful. My favorite chant is the chant/canticle practice from Rawn Clark, YHVH, but I've enjoyed the loud rapid warrior chant from Shinto as practiced during misogi training as well as the long peaceful singing chants at Sivananda ashrams.

Don't want to listen to all 1 hour 40 minutes, but I doubt people lived longer 10,000 years ago. I'd put forward that traditional culture/tribes relatively untouched in Africa and South America might be free from many of the modern plagues that kill us, but have a wide host of there own killers and don't live as long. Antibiotics, modern medicine and overall greater cleanliness have helped alot. Though we may have crappy diets, during inevitable bad years, we don't starve. Your healthy tribe during single or multiyear drought, they do. Course longevity isn't everything. Living healthy without disabilities is pretty important too, and there might be lessons worth listening to from such tribes and our way way back.

heaven(s), hell(s), purgatory, reincarnation, off/gone/kaput, Oneness w/ God.., physical, mental and spiritual immortalities, going ghost, rainbow body.. working not reincarnate and go kaput..? Most of our beliefs are cultural and/or religious. Not too much in the way of science and what there is, is much debated. Though the above book mentioned is solidly researched. I think it can be stated as fact, that some young children have memories of another life and give (unknown) details that can be independently corroborated.

There are a couple of practitioners, I think, at neigongforum.com. You might find more answers there.

I agree. It also nice to get beyond videos and take a live class in the subtleties, physical and spiritual of a form. A good form is like an old friend.

I don't know the guy, but I notice he has a Linkedin page.

A agree with Oldchi, time to pick one and 'go deep'. Imo, its nice to have a system that includes sitting and motion.

My mom is in assisted living at the moment. They have a daily Chair Chi class.

It's not chi gung, but its kinda close. Wim Hof has a 10 Week course, Wim Hof method, a way of acclimatizing to the cold. There's cold showers into ice baths, deep rapid breathing method that produces some interesting body hacks. I mention it because you said eczema and many people have found relief as a side effect. Minor side effect it cured my dandriff. Its a powerful system you can learn quickly, though not easy. It doesn't take alot of time, but it requires and develops good will power. You may want to look into it on the web or there are 2 or 3 threads on it here, including one of my experience with it in my PPD or Google 'eczema Wim Hof method', you'll find people who've report good results. 10 hard weeks, 14 for me, and you might see some lifetime results.. or not, your mileage may vary

love it. nor is it alone. Atlantis indeed-

imo, shit happens and there were probably several 'Atlantis's'. I doubt Plato's exact version, yet it could well be echoes of a disaster that befell ancient Crete. Or any civilization, Island or otherwise that grows to great heights and gets mauled by natural disaster. I'd put good money that there were advanced civilizations that influenced the world and vanished. Not as technological as we are, not ancient aliens, but very advanced and something- barbarians or mother fckin nature buried them. The ancient world was incredibly fragile. Our image of classical Athens, was constantly in danger of absolute destruction, mostly from without, but also from within. It's greatest teachers and orators were often imprisoned or murdered straight out, see Socrates and Demosthenes. Athens survival was incredibly unlikely. Yet it did and changed and guided the course of Western civilization, only by sheerest luck.

HBO has come down hard on any bar having a Game of Thrones event. Too bad. It'd be fun to watch with other enthusiasts.

In the book above there was a practice mentioned on having your reflection disappear from a mirror. In dim lights you'd relax, turn your vision 'wide', tune down your thoughts and your image would disappear. It took some practice, but I could do it. Funny thing is, as soon as the thought 'I can see myself' came I'd reappear. According to Glenn Morris the advanced level was flipping around your aura (?) and it made you invisible to others. Above my pay scale. In truth I don't know if its an aura or trick of the eye and brain. In a similar vein in Ki-Aikido there are touchless throws. They'd work, but you needed strong simpatico between the players. Thus weren't really meant for combat. Though on one occasion a skeptical Judoka wanted to experience it with my sensei, John Eley. Thing is, many of Johns no touch technique had a physical blow behind them. We, his students went down, partly to avoid getting clobbered. The Judoka stood his ground and the touchless throw, touched, the elegant down up down motion connecting to the guys face; hitting him pretty hard and knocking him down. Invisibility would be nice, but keeping quiet, not making eye contact and moving away quickly, works pretty good too.

Interesting. Course George Martin already deviated from that outline quite a bit, and the show has already deviated from the books. I think next season is the last ? Possible titles- Revenge of Starks. The Starks Strike Back, Return of the Targaryen, Throne Wars- Winter Finally Comes, Attack of the Thrones, Just a matter of murdering off lose ends, really.

I usually start out watching my breath, keeping it slow and steady, often counting breaths, sometimes 1-10 repeat, sometimes 1-100. At some point, I let it go and breath naturally. I think by 'stretching' out the breath at the beginning, my natural breath becomes more relaxed and longer. Likewise in the beginning I watch and correct repeatedly my posture, checking that its relaxed yet taut, as if a rubber band along my spine was stretched up and slightly down. As well as one running across my shoulders, gently pulling them apart, opening my chest. I slightly roll my pelvis forward, chin slightly down. Check my body to see if I can relax anything more, even the eyes and tonque. For years I'd concentrate on my dan tien. Lately I'm keeping focus under my nose, which helps me keep the breath subtle (like ninja who can't be heard). I'll change up my focus every now and then. Every now and then its good to have someone with experience correct your position. I'm sure if my old sensei saw it, he'd groan and start correcting.

Consequences of Trump. Trade war with China. His plan is to punish China because they're 'raping us' (his words) by slapping a large tariff on them. They would undoubtedly counter with there own. Such trade wars lead to much higher prices and inflation and uncertainty for markets. Such actions would increase the odds of a recession. Trade/Cold war with Mexico: Needless to say trade with Mexico would be disruptive under Trump, he's virtually declaring a cold war against them. His latest idea floated is keeping people (legal or not) from wiring money to Mexico. That, the wall and insinuations they're sending us there rapists, also will hurt our relations with a close neighbor and trading partner. All the while saying 'They'll love me'. It's delusion. Trade/Cold war with every country with large Muslim population: His goal of banning Muslims from coming into our countries, except certain 'good ones', will wreak havoc with our relations with over 20% of the world. If a country banned all Americans and/or Christians for entering a significant amount of Americans would drop all investment in any country that pulled that kind of policy. Our relations with the rest of the world. Trump has a very high negative rating in the U.S and even higher abroad. With his thin skin he's probably going to be a disaster with European relations. Though he'll say claim they'll love him and he'll be the best ever. Each of these things would rock our economy, hurt it badly. If president, Trumps will mean something. Dropping verbal bombs and threats every week against perceived enemies domestic, foreign. Those in his party, everyone not in his part, against reporters and newspapers who question whether he's telling the truth. Right now he attacks and name calls against anyone who disagrees with him or asks him a hard question. With the power of the presidency he could make Nixon look like a boy scout. All politicians lie, but he does it more often and with a straighter face and with such conviction that the scary is, he believes the lies, even when they're clearly and easily disproved. His pattern of lying, even about inconsequential things and refusing to correct them is close to psychopathic. His claim to fame is being a great business man; that he worth 10 Billions dollars. That's a lie, probably 3, 4 or 10 times more then he's worth, according to reputable sources. He probably won't report his income taxes because it'd be scandalous. His businesses have declared bankruptcy 4 times, paying creditors nothing while he's walked away from destroyed business's with 10's of million of personal profit. He has a reputation for ripping off his contractors by consistently underpaying them and claiming job not good enough, knowing they don't have the deep pockets to sue over nonpayment of $50,000. Its a strategy he's proud of. Going through life very rich and a narcissist means never being told no, allows you to lie to yourself constantly, telling yourself you're the best, almost godlike and no one ever contradicts you. I think he'd bring change, change for the worse. If he does what he says, what he's done in the past, the results of his presidency would be disastrous. Day one, minute one, market collapse, trade wars, automatic bad blood/cold war between us and all the nations he claims have raped us and all Muslim nations.

ditto. I haven't heard of it, though I have respect for Damo Mitchell's writing. It'd be great to see a review of the practice and its benefits.

I have some similar problems. Allergies, insomnia. They come and go. Allergies, trying different medicines. Also a quick shower before bed to wash allergens away from me. I'll also try a neti pot to clear my nostrils, they relax and help clear my sinuses. Raising the 'head' of my bed with books, so I sleep more angled helps. Insomnia, biting the bullet and getting up early and not taking naps can help. Cutting down on my coffee habit. Not looking at electronics an hour or two before bed. Meditating. Mentally not caring if I sleep or not, just relaxing in bed, appreciating the comfort. Listening to guided meditation. Sometimes the above help, other times, I just grin and bear it.

You're going to have accept yourself; all of yourself sooner or later. It can be in your 50s, your 40's or today. Maybe watch some Popeye or get drunk, but sooner or later you need a WTF moment and just accept yourself. It may as well be today. And you know what goes well with WTF, SEP- somebody else's problem. Some body doesn't like something about you, that's Somebody Else's Problem, cause WTF.

To take to heart, opinions read over the internet is.. not a good idea. Stories like that are nasty gossip meant as click bait for someones profit. Even more often such 'opinions' go after woman, trying to knock down self esteem inorder to get clicks and sell products. Your love life will be determined by how gracious and caring a lover you are. The actions you do before, during and after the clothes come off.

I don't get too choked up over it. I'm a proud American, but I realize without Independence, horror of horror's we'd be much like Canada. Which imo ain't so bad. Undoubtedly we'd be split into a few pieces- English, French, Spanish, various native tribes, some Americana states. Perhaps a smattering of other European countries. We'd definitely lose (never gain) a large chunk to Mexico, maybe even some permanent Russian province since they had a colony in California early on. Europe would have ended slavery here earlier, sparing millions from horrible degradation, as well as lessening Jim Crow laws, that's a helluva big plus. Probably less rape, theft and massacres of natives, a very good thing. No civil war, but Europeans may well have brought there own annual wars here. The Star Spangle Banner, celebrating the war of 1812. The US's first declaration of war (by congresss) on England which got pissed and burnt down our Capital. I toast the founders. Some were good, some were great, all were flawed, full of the prejudices of there time, yet also brave, glimpsing a world without kings. A democracy with checks and balances, ruled by citizens, at least those males who owned land (surprisingly there was an early state or two where woman could vote). They produced inspired documents, that would help set the world on a progressive path of democracy and equality. Ahh, nothing like a shot of Death's Head vodka from a skull shot glass, cept maybe a shot of some other vodka. Tomorrow we'll watch fireworks and stand to hear the Star Spangled banner, eat and drink and hopefully stand at attention later on that night. And that's how it should be.

If starting from scratch, I'd have at least one large area where all housing had to be hobbit holes. They could be big, the hills they're dug into could be artificial, I'd prefer them not to be. Thus good insulation, less energy needed also more natural views from the top. Maybe not a day of rest, but a mandatory evening of Party. Every other week, 12 hours of no work permitted, just a communal party. Giant potluck in the center of town. Likewise everyone there is in the Reserves, requiring 24 hours of work every month. The center of town, parks, gazebos, amphitheater. A maze of fruit bushes, a airy orchard of fruit trees. Well tended and all for sharing. Maybe a communal barn and farm too. Nothing too big. Maybe some aquaponics too. Created to compliment each other. For the community rather then as a profit motive. People could work in the town or outside. Hmnn, maybe set it in a Indian reservation where we'd be free of taxes.. if possible.

Best to fight against hate. It tends to turn you into the thing you despise. Avoid what you hate or change it, change your attitude- or destroy it, cut clean with as little emotion or attachment as possible. Words have power. Avoid the word hate, especially for petty things. Lest you cover yourself with little buttons of aversion, there for any situation or person to press.

Santorini has nice beaches, hotels for our minions followers. Invade now, plan later? More seriously, I'm thinking less Atlantis, more not utopian.. that's too close to unsinkable, rather a really great place. Might even be worth looking at copying places that have a high degree of happiness.

At some point, you have to blame the people who planned the crime and carried it out. Then stop them. The blaming society or mama, only goes so far.