thelerner

Great little house design. 140 square feet, beautifully done. Nice video explanation of its design and philosophy. I like the loft and that it makes good use of grey water. http://www.sun-gazing.com/woman-shows-beautiful-tiny-140-square-foot-house-incredible/

As one matures, as lessons are internalized, one drops artifice, picking and choosing. Ones natural way becomes the way of harmony. Til we get there, and I'm a long way off, what I call ethics is setting up some rules of conduct for myself and listening to dharma lessons from those who are certainly wiser then myself.

Must admit I feel a little safer and empowered when I carry an umbrella. When I'm older, I could see myself with a cane; whether I needed it or not. Nice strong hickory cane.

I enjoyed reading Spotless's account.

Since you're into Hermetics, I'd suggest you look at Rawn Clark's site abardoncompanion.com . He's got some very good (& free) practices there. I like the Archaeous series, his YHVH series- lots of interesting visualizations along w/ the chant/canicle, and his Center of Stillness Meditation- that has some difficult visualizations but if you can get them, they're very interesting, ie after separating each of your various senses away from you (& in orbit) you're put above your normal consciousness which is visualized as mutli layer web, and put into the Center of the Universe. Its pretty cool. All available for free as mp3's along with written notes on them. Great stuff.

Master good sex before trying for sexual jhanas. Caring, sharing, rhythm kind of stuff. You may find good sex is enough. Don't worry about weakness, its a necessary phase in life's cycles. No need to be a rockstar, I'm not even sure rockstars are rockstars, its probably hype. Margot Anand has some good books on Tantra. Lets keep matter, matter. Once it turns energy it tends to explode, burn or otherwise be destroyed, so lets keep solid. One kind of freedom is accepting your responsibilities without resistance. Indeed, accepting what is, is freedom. Resisting what comes up, is captivity. Not that one can't redirect circumstances skillfully, with patience and awareness.

I remember one Musashi tale. The man he was about to duel drew his sword and dramatically tossed the scabbard down. According to the story Musashi said 'Good, you won't be needing it ever again'. I think I heard that the bokken/oar was on view in a museum somewhere in Japan. Course whether the object and even the story is real, can be hard to tell. Still the man was real and his writings and drawings survive.

The main bitter food in the West is coffee, at least when its not sugared. Mustard is another very popular bitter. Its one of the healthiest condiments. Eating (or drinking) bitter before anything heavy, particularly meats is a very good practice. It gets the digestive juices going. Sauerkraut, kimchi, horseradish are all good. Bitters are making quite a comeback in liquor stores. In the past there was mainly Augostura, nowadays you can get grapefruit, lemon and many exotic bitters. Traditionally taking a few squirts in warm water a few minutes before a meal made for much better digestion.

Aren't we assuming that John Chang has his abilities because he studied from a young age with masters? If you're not on that very track, you're not gonna become as good. It seems to me a moot point what John Chang could do, because we are so far from following in his footsteps. I studied Aikido for 13 years, but it'd be silly to think I could reach a level like Morihei Ueshiba, the founder. He started young, with masters (his father literally set up a dojo of 1!), was a genius and mystic. By definition I'm 0 for 4. Still I had an excellent teacher who studied under O'Sensei's top student (Koichi Tohei) so I could get some small piece. But from a book?? ..no teacher or live feedback.. transmissions . connections.. When choosing a martial art I've always thought one should looker closer at the students then the master, because the upper level student are inevitably what you'll become. The teacher/master not so much, unless you make it your life. Odds are Westerners studying Mo Pai are also starting with those deficits. Still, the first 2 steps can take you far (or not, in truth I've read'em but its not a path I'd follow), but so imo can other arts and you can have a live teacher which is invaluable.

$90 for the Wednesday to Sunday morning regional Burn in Michigan (2400 people vs 70,000ish), that's $22.50 a night. Not bad in my book, though you need to get there and camping supplies etc., FWIW, I didn't get tickets to Lakes of Fire the first day and was put on a waiting list. A week before I got an email giving me 24 hours to buy a ticket. An organizer told me most people on the waiting list had a chance to get a ticket, albeit very late in the game. Nevada has gotten expensive, though its what $400ish (for ticket, some <$300)? That still under $100 a day, not too outrageous for a vacation of a lifetime. Again, supplies and getting there easily double or triple that cost. Still worth saving the ducats for and maybe contacting some of the established camps (2nd time around I joined Whiskey and Dust) in order to have community support once you land. My biggest complaint is that you can't get tickets at any price. They sell out immediately. Its a victim of its own success, until people start creating there own versions. That how it started anyway. A few dozen people camping and keeping things loose, building a little effigy and lightening it up. Maybe its time for hundreds of 'Burning Twig' festivals, keeping the spirit & ideals, but losing the crowd. <actually that's brilliant. Burning Twigs, the idea of setting up miniature unofficial Burns. Advertise through a few channels. Get the land, sell tickets 50 to 150. I'd also say make sure most of the people, at least early on, were former Burners, because without the Burner spirit it'd just be camping.

I was listening to a guided meditation by Master Chen called Emotional Peace. At one point he puts your age down to 6, before we get such a conditioned mind. You just play around and relax there. Its nice. At 6 there's nothing to solve, we're much more in the moment. The stresses of adulthood seem like a game thats no fun. So why play it.

If if interests you, go for it. There's years of work to be done in level 1 and 2. By the time you've completed them you should have a solid foundation and can look at systems with live teachers who can move you along.

Looks like no ones thought about drinks yet. I'd bring some wine, probably some rum, agave, limes, fresh orange juice, maybe some peach juice, ice. Should be able to whip up some interesting drinks from virgin to very strong. I'd probably bring some version of quick cassoulet too, probably veggie version.

I try to be a good and moral cause I don't want to have to remember a whole bunch of stuff. In a world where you can't be sure of outcomes you may as well set your default setting to good. I.e. when choosing between a selfish act and selfless one, you don't really know how it'll end up, so go good. It tends to make a stronger character and in a small way, better world. Lies get complicated. Get in the habit of lying to others and you'll undoubtedly end up lying to your self. To a large extent we create our life situation. Be honest, help others, because thats the kind of world you want to live in.

That was 2010, nowadays its $90 and hosts 2,400 people. Hit it last weekend, Thursday to Sunday, had a nice mellow time. Third time going, the last two were at Lucky Lake campground near Rothbury Michigan. Much nicer place then that original burn, where we were eaten alive and it has a lovely lake. Still the original spirit back in 2010 was amazing. The giveaways at the camp were so generous, Raku pottery, photo opportunites, etc., There was less big giveaways but maybe thats because there were so many more people. The FireCreek Saloon people weren't there either. They had a wild place. Late night strip dancing. This year there was a XXX adult space away from the main area. I didn't hang out there much. I did follow one of my camp mates to a 'beaver eating' contest in one of the large tents but I didn't go in myself. Hours later he emerged ecstatic. Instead I went nearby to the Radical Consent bar. It was small and outdoor, a guy was pounding the table and coughing violently. I told the bartender 'I'll have what he's having.' I was no, I had to do the Pachinko machine. It was about 7 feet high, had an opening at the top, a puck you put in that bounced around on nails, then landing into a bottom slot. Mine landed on BEER. note the next in line landed on 'Show your Junk' and she did. Told the bartender and mentioned I thought that was kinda boring. He asked if I wanted the house specialty. I said yes, cause thats the way of Burning Man, 'Yes' is the word. He poured me a tall shot of a Pepper Whiskey, made in my home town. I eat spicy so it was no problem, a quick downing, and loud Haaah to see if there vapors coming out of my mouth. Nope. It was pretty mellow time. Favorite things, watching movies or collections of short videos late at night at the Videogasm tent. Drinking and playing pinball at the Secret Gentleman's Club. They served top notch drinks. I kept it simple, bourbon and soda. Big place, they had a generator that ran everything including the pinball machines. An old Mata Hari, where four people could play. Being an old timer, I rock at pinball. I was even able to solve some problems when the ball would get stuck. They had a talent show one night. Amazing talent on stage. Really blew me away. From belly dancing, extremely witty comedy acts to great great singers. I'm sure some of them were professionals. The lake didn't have the floating bar it had last time, but it did have a float. No volleyball nets either. But it had a nice, if somewhat cliquey crowd. I helped a small boat dock to it and was rewarded with some beer. Just like colorful mutant vehicles, colorful boats came and went. One with a mermaid lounged casually. Without being double decker there was no relief from the sun, so I left after 45 minutes, a bit redder for the experience. Jumping off I got some lake water into my horn cup. Hopefully not too much. On shore someone with a portable was making fruit smoothies. I had'em pour some in hoping the cold would neutralize any bad lake bug remnants. Not recommended, but I didn't get sick. Strangely I didn't get hangovers in the mornings either. Sun and fresh air, little sleep, must neutralize the poisons some how. As usual my favorite times were spent sitting and bullshitting with others. I found a camp of native Michiganers who had built a big geodesic dome. Entered, introduced myself, got a drink and sat around talking to them. We talked about stuff, particularly a discussion on aspects of human nature, good or bad. It made for a mellow evening. My nearby tent mates were half my age and bit more drug oriented. So being with an older mellow crowd was nice. There's usually an undercurrent of desperation with those who are into drugs. My tent neighbor Jazz had a fateful story. The night before I got there he was camping and a random guy came into his tent. He nudged him to leave but the guy was passed out. In the morning he got up on all fours, threw up, and left. Thank god it wasn't my tent. But that's burning man for you. At night the Smorgasm camp always a camp fire and smore material, including strawberries, that roasted and worked very nicely. Two camps had gourmet pancake giveaways. That were delicious and much appreciated since I'd brought 8 frozen Smucker premade PBJ sandwiches with me. Plus junk food, wine, cheese, crackers and cereal. That's about it, unless I think of more.

That's about right (for the Big Burn in Nevada). Here's what Lakes of Fire is more like: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6v1mt_8P63U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Here's some writing about older Burning Man adventures- http://thedaobums.com/topic/14600-learning-to-burn/?p=191747. I don't think I finished my write up of the 2013 burn or started a writing down stuff about last weeks regional, which was pretty mellow.

me too. Just got back from the regional Burning Man in Michigan called Lakes of Fire. Lots of campfires, many big ones, the last burn is epic, so large they have a fire truck nearby and half dozen firemen on call. 4 days of drinking, socializing and finding ones utopia.

I'll add to the list later, for now let me talk about a book that combines travel adventure and philosophy very well. Don't be put off by the name. Its written by a Buddhist professor here in Chicago who takes a job teaching in Cambodia. I learned alot from it. The Gods Drink Whiskey: Stumbling Toward Enlightenment in the Land of the Tattered Buddha (Plus) by Stephen T. Asma http://www.amazon.com/The-Gods-Drink-Whiskey-Enlightenment/dp/0060834501

Depends on the country and time. Yet I think if it wasn't a time of war carrying a sword or any kind of large or flashy weapon was rare. More likely to call attention to yourself and create problems. I'm thinking last 200 years. In the late 1800's Japan abolished carrying swords. I don't think China was ever that much of a sword carrying society, outside of soldiering. Though some Chinese Knife can be pretty machete-like. Probably more common is a knife or cane. A knife being utilitarian and/or easily hidden, and there a couple of arts that had formal routines and katas for canes, since you could carry one innocuously. Famously Okinawans who were forbidden to carry weapons developed farming tools like nunchuks for self self defense, still such things were private and probably not taken into common areas.

I'd be against it, certainly not without a 'master' level mentor who'd be there with you. If such asceticism appeals to you, then try fasting- keep it safe. Find a position where you can selflessly serve a needy person or organization, literally karma yoga. Or hit the road, even if its for a short while, do some camping, get back to nature, away from people.

first time, I got 17, eyes of the cat . woulda done better if I'd been prepared, i think.

Speaking of urine, I wonder if the human stuff repels any pests? I thought that wolf urine keeps some animals namely deer away. just musing..

Hmnn, you think it annoys him when people reply to his posts. Goth darn it, hadn't thought of that. Still, the d00d needs advice. badly, and that's what i'll give him. maybe a new car is what you need. It'd perk you up. Perhaps a chevy. something you can drive to a levy. see I bet you're not feeling empty after reading that. You're also getting attention, and who'da thunk that's what your after?

last thought, join a Goth group. ba bye. except this:

Actually the 90's were no picnic either. <kidding.. sort of> maybe you can use this experience. This state of blah. Take advantage of it. The blessing of it is- no distractions, an unusually quiet mind. That's pretty powerful. It'll probably pass by itself, but for now, if you can muster the will power, meditative practices might be much deeper, ie gain the equivalent of years of practice in months. Use this space of time skillfully.. maybe