thelerner

Portion size might have much to do with it. Six or eight ounces was standard coffee cup size in my mom's day. The advent of the modern coffee shop has sized smalls as 'talls' at 12 ounces. That 50 or 100% larger then a normal cup was. No idea what the size of serving was in Voltaire's time but it could be pretty small. Making coffee lately I'm surprised at how much wasted water there is. I rinse the pot with cool water, then fill it with more then I need. Cleaning out the french press glass and plunger, washing my cup and suddenly I've probably used 30 or 40 ounces of water to make my 8 ounces. edit> a friend pointed out I'm not preheating the french press carafe, thus losing much temperature and not getting a perfect extract from the coarse coffee. So more water down the drain. hmnnn. oh well, the stuff falls from the sky, doesn't it.

small steps. Know thyself, be aware of ones actions. There is no perfect, but there's better. That is spiritual evolution. ofcourse you can get there.

I wonder if drinking 72 cups a day is like adding the equivalent of 7 frenetic extra years to ones life?? minus the 14 or 15 trips to the washroom. I just got a Hario ceramic coffee grinder on Amazon. Just $25, it works well, takes a few minutes but its a slow no heat kind of grind. It's allowing me to buy whole beans and not grind them up in the store. I'm drinking less burnt/dark coffee these days, trying to reacquaint my taste buds with truer coffee taste. Just 'scored' some of Peet's Columbian for half price. I'll dig in once I finish the Big Shoulder Ugandan beans that inspired us to get the Hario. Mostly doing single cup French Press these days, 4 to 5 minute sitting time.

Personally I've always disliked the original sin philosophy. I think taking a creation myth and using it to form a pretty dark philosophy isn't good. The whole 'thoughts' can make you evil is similar to the farce of never say Jehovah. I think our actions are much more important then stray thoughts. Teaching kids (& adults) that they are inherently evil feels controlling and sets up a standard that can't be met but flows into you deserve eternal extreme torture for being born human, unless you follow my rules/system/religion. More about control then bettering people. I think we have free will to do good/help others or bad/selfish. I don't think basing ones actions on old creation myths is a good idea, but we improve our lives and create a better world when we work together and help each other, no particular theology needed.

Zhan Zhuang is a great practice, such stillness is the root of powerful movement. Lots of good information on it in the 'Zhan Zhuang Suggestions for Short Practice' thread As far as an easy qi gong routine, here is a quick easy one I like. Simple, but effective. This is Michael Winn's version. There are others.

I don't think a good answer to the question will appear based on finding 'energy' in the body through either practice. Rather the best way to see the difference is to look at how each modality treats patients with the same problem. What does Western medicine do, what does Eastern? Then look at effectiveness and costs. Only then will find the answer you're looking for. And it'll differ with different maladies. Western medicine is great for trauma, but often not so good with long term chronic problems.

I'm just spit balling here because you never know what will motivate someone else. In some forms of Taoism is the practice and veneration of Kwan Yin. Specific prayers and stuff. People form a personal relation with her. It may evoke the same experiences you felt when you were younger.

Credit Dustybeijing with this in the 'Intelligence' thread. I don't have time to write about it, off to pu kids. But thought it was a pretty good topic. One we haven't chewed on in a while.

That's a good question. In the West we might assume few. In cultures that have an active monk population the answer might be many! While it depends on the monastery, most often your average monk takes extreme vows and lives an ascetic disciplined life style. Not that they're all taoist monks either, but even in that population I wonder how many there are?

I wrote the same thing when his name came up. His story is in one of Daniel Reid's taoist books. He was a real person, an herbalist, he taught some taoist arts but.. his age, as far I know simply can't be reliably determined. It may be less of a lie then a very old talented man getting a date or two wrong. That's where I'd put my money, for the reasons you mention, ie no 200 or 150 year old kids or 180 year old wife. If its true, it seems it couldn't be taught to his family or students. Still, one never knows, it'd be interesting if someone knew more facts about him. Daniel Reid mentions other famous Taoists and the reality is some died in there 60's some in there late 90's. While longevity is considered one of the 'fruits' of the taoist path, and I think it does help, but not much more then clean active living.

Impressive site. A lot more then just homes. Some nicely presented ideas there.

I like baoding balls. I also enjoy simple 3 ball juggling. It helps the dexterity. Juggling clears the mind nicely, you can't have too many extraneous thoughts while you juggle. Its kind of a physical activity mantra.

mum & dad were lefties, so's the wife. often feels like i'm a minority.

Latest thing I'm watching is The Almighty Johnsons. I'm watching it on Netflix, but its a scyFi network show. Very good, shot inexpensively in Australia, low budget, but more then makes up for it with snappy dialogue and plotting. The Norse gods have been reincarnated, as mostly powerless mortals. It focuses on a family of brothers, and at 21 the youngest finds out he is Odin. He dies they all die, if he finds and weds the goddess Frig, they all get back full powers. Yet they're living in the real world with various problems. Fun and well written. A crazy concept done well.

Sorry to veer off target, but talk of the astronomical talk reminded me of this video: Perhaps its an example of how we have static mental maps of things, when the reality is much more more dynamic.

Good idea. Especially beware sugars and starches.

I think intelligence is a great tool but its one of many. The problem, at times, with great intelligence is lack of street smarts/common sense. Also thinking expertise in one area will naturally and effortlessly carry on to others.

In general it sounds like great progress. When I did Kaishan Golden Bell qigong (years ago), where there much time spent hitting various spots around the stomach, the physical aspect of the training gradually strengthens most of the internal organs, making them work better and more efficiently. The stomach bloating, I don't know.. Hopefully there's a teacher in your art you can talk to about it. These very physical 'hitting' qigongs are best done with a live teachers guidance.

This was taught to me in a religious yeshiva. The way around this is beating the 'I, We, Them' game. This is psychological game we play when things 'I' do are considered in the best light, ie, running a yellow light, 'I' am brave. Seeing a friend (a 'We') do it and it he is foolhardy. When we see a stranger do it we think 'They' are dangerous idiots. In other words we reframe our own actions in the best light, give a slight benefit of the doubt to our friends/group and judge others harshly, especially others the further out of our circle. The way around this, I was told, was to have clear definitions and not let yourself off the hook. This can be positive or negative depending on how you define things, but you have to mentally consider 'Them' as 'I' or at least 'We'. Done enough it tends to show how prejudiced flashes through our minds daily.

I'm a guy, I needs my gadgets. Gadget, gadgets, tools & gadgets thingamawobs and duudads, need'em need'em you will too. but wait.. there's more.

I've heard good things about it. Any particular brand and potency?

funny you should show that. I just saw such a Fu dog stand (older and on stilts) at an antique store and was very interested in it. Unfortunately I've sacrificed my office/meditation room for a kids bedroom and don't have a good place to use it. <I can imagine myself, shrunken down, having to pick it up with my fore arms ala Kung Fu series, to prove my worth to the temple >

When I was tired during meditation I was told to get more sleep . Part of the work is keeping a quiet mind. Not just during meditation but during the day watching your thoughts and letting them settle. Not feeding them. That tends to be grounding (also long walks, exercise, simple sitting-all good) and help with sensitivity. Quieting the mind is the aspirin of meditative practice.

I think thats a great aim, but since you ask.. a great holy saintly guy like the Dalai Lama, is exiled and has pretty much lost his country.

What the guys above said. I'll add this. Before I meditate I'll often start with a vispasana style preamble. Which sets me up for a quieter mind. I am not my body- I am that which inhabits it. I'm not my thoughts- they are like clouds passing through the sky. I am not my emotions- I acknowledge them and let them pass like ripples in a pond. I am not my past- those are old memories and patterns I can choose not to repeat. I am not my future- that is projections and fears that mean nothing. ... I am breath and awareness depending on my time and mood I might add a little more to it. The exercise tends to start my mind off quieter. Sets a good mood for my meditation.