thelerner

There are people who search so exclusively for 'extra special' that they walk over unpolished diamonds. Also people might be overestimating there own extra specialness too. I think we make someone special by .. treating them special, finding out about them. Sure its good to have mutual interests, but beware if you're looking for a clone or a supermodel. What I'm saying is don't be so quick to declare whole groups off the table. In the OP a girl who labeled herself 'spiritual but not religious' wrote him off and in consequence he'll never date anyone who puts down again. That sentiment is self defeating, in dating and probably in life. Cause dating (& much of success) is a numbers game. It usually won't work out but when it does, its sweet. There's a learning curve to it. My advice is be open, get experience, so when you find the right person you'll be an interesting worthwhile catch yourself.

, Love, dating.. marriage. its all optional, you don't have to do it. You can live a good life without it. But there are advantages to sharing your life with someone else. There are countless benefits to a good marriage. Dating can be a pain, but it can be fun too. Falling in love is a wild trip, built both into our genes, our jeans, and perhaps a little bit from that God is love stuff. Is this about being dumped and then trying to find 'spiritual' and social reasons to justify giving up on dating and romance? Seems like you're looking for a Professor to student relationship. One where you explain reality to some starry eyed girl. Not a good strategy. Solid recommendations, be funny, be open, listen as much as you talk. Don't send hour long philosophy youtubes. It may sound shallow, but compliment her, hopefully honestly. Everyone has good things about them. Do stuff together, and when you talk philosophy, don't do it in terms of absolutes.

Hmnn, in some ways any art can be thought of as inherently selfish. I mean, if you show off your art, be it music, painting or what not isn't that putting excessive work into a temporary asset? Yet many taoists were great artists. In that vein I think you can be a body builder or hard core weightlifter and keep to taoist principles and its simply your thing. What makes you an individual and not a stereotype. So I think few things are anti-Dao if done in the right spirit. I remember one or two yogi's who were renowned for there fantastic strength.

Pretty deep insight into the human drama.

Probably not necessary, I assume moving 4 posts in the same thread is as easy as moving a thread with 20 posts. Course you know what they say about assuming; it makes an Ass of U and Ming.

Which places stand out? Where did you enjoy going the best? (I could understand a moderator moving this thread to Off-topic)

I've dreampt of traveling the U.S slowly in a small RV w/ a kid or two but everyone gets so busy.

My sensei used to say something like 'Keep your mind in the emptiness that is not empty.' And describe it as not the hippy mind that is empty, but the meditator's whose mind is empty but awareness is sharp. Likewise he'd say we hit with the no-thing that is something, an aspect of no power that is strongest. Then he'd demonstrate, hitting us on the front shoulder and it'd go numb.

I think coffee shops like Starbucks would make a mint if they offered a mugs of miso during the winter. Its fast cheap healthy and really hits the spot. Heck they should sell a tablespoon of coconut butter too. How far behind the cutting edge do they want to be. whoops, going off subject. Other ideas for winter tonics? edit errata> Cool Facts About Miso and Its Health Benefits:-With as little as 11 calories per gram of protein, it’s a great source of healthy protein. -A low fat, high flavor addition to dishes; the strong flavor of miso means a little goes a long way, allowing you to cut down on calories and salt. -It keeps your systems in balance by alkalizing the body (the body needs to be in an alkaline state, as opposed to an acidic state, to maintain wellness. Acidity is created in the body as a reaction to substances such as animal protein, coffee and sugar.) -An excellent source of B vitamins, which may include B12 (There are conflicting reports on whether miso is a viable source of B12. This disagreement may be due to the variation of fermentation time and where and how the products being tested were produced.) -Aids digestion and nutrient intake (This is possibly due to the digestive enzymes, lactobacilli, salt-resistant yeasts and beneficial micro-organisms present in miso) These benefits can be lost if cooked away, so avoid boiling or overcooking miso. -A good source of manganese, tryptophan, zinc, phosphorus, copper, omega 3 fatty acids, lecithin, and linoleic acid. also Mugi = Barley, very nutritious.

Winter is coming. Some feel thats a good time to take a tonic for a little extra umph. Are there any tonic's you'd recommend? Either a commercial formula or a home made recipe?

Hmnn, I don't know if there any 'single thing' you can do to liberate yourself and find the truth. But, this might be a single thing that moves you in the right direction. ie, you want to practice overcoming debilitating suffering and fear, try going blind! I'm sure its life shattering, but this is going blind in a safe environment. After a while many participants have psychic episodes that aren't liberation, but might be sign posts that point towards it. maybe.. It'd be worthwhile to try, if you had the money, nerve and long time practice. I suspect we're only hearing from the successes, some people freak out early and can't go on.

There is some interest in it. Dream topics pop up relatively often, this would be a place for deeper discussion on aspects of dreamwork, as well as an e classroom with joint reading assignments and exercises. Perhaps it could be a subforum under Group Studies? Any place it'd fit in without cluttering up the board. If it doesn't have a self sustaining group by the end of a year, we could stash it away.

Mantak Chia's group in Thailand Tao Gardens has Dark room retreats. Its fascinating to read what happens after a few days. Pituitary gland opens, senses expand etc., Here's a link to Minke De Vos's experience in it: http://www.silentground.com/VisionaryAlchemy.htm and Dennis Huntington's http://www.universal-tao.com/dark_room/thedark.html

I think there is great value in considering it true and not true. To keep the two considerations like heads and tail of a coin. In the tic toc everyday world it is not true. I am typing what you're reading from a distance. I am not you, I am separate with a long history, as is everyone else. Yet considering the other side of the coin, allows you to take ultimate responsibility for the world. It becomes a Rorschach test reflecting your mindset. You see and interpret it differently. You live a better life, rich in synchronicity. Robert Moss's work is all about seeing'real' life as dream, and taking dreams as seriously as 'real' life. He has some good stuff on the shamanic side of dreamwork.

Hmnnn, I was thinking no, but this is an interesting point. It might be worth an experiment.

Yes comprehension issues. Aiming an 'if your stupid' post under another member's quote can create silly flame wars. My post had nothing to do with 'intelligence', its about a pattern of Mo Pai threads going down in flames because of inflammatory writing. If you, KenBrace wrote a comment then another person (who you've argued w/ on other threads) quotes it, and writes, 'you won't understand without at least average intelligence level..' its going to come off as insulting and possibly wind up in the Pit. If you quote someone and write a line about needing average intelligence to understand then you're creating a bad environment. Maybe it wouldn't come off as derogatory if you didn't quote a specific person above it. We shouldn't have every frickin Mo Pai thread wind up in The Pit. We should be able to avoid it with a little more sensitivity.

How do the three Gunas relate to the unborn?

by aiming this at another member you're setting the stages for yet another flame war into The Pitt. Someone mentions Mo Pai and a couple people (cough cough MPG guys) launch an offensive. Its not necessary, JoeB was just talking about the need for balance. Not just Mo Pai but for many energy arts it makes good sense to seek out a balancing counter part, otherwise paranoia and delusions of grandeur are possible. Just like a sitting art needs an exercise program, lest you cripple yourself, an energy art needs the grounding of solid dharma talks.

Hmnnn, maybe an unknowable question. Materialistically, things have a beginning middle and end. Before the beginning, they don't exist. I guess the question is about the nature of the soul.

That fits into an ancient taoist text of the Yellow Emperor. 15/8 SNC as quoted in I-hsin-fang- The Yellow Emperor asked the Plain Girl (goddess in disguise?) 'Now what if one decided to refrain entirely from sexual intercourse?" She answered 'This is wrong, heaven and Earth have their opening and closing, Yin and Yang develop from each other. Man is modeled after Yin and Yang and embodies the sequence of the 4 seasons. If one should resolve to abstain from sexual intercourse , one's spirit will not develop since the interchange of Yin and Yang will come to a halt. how could one thus supplement one's vital essence? Blending the vital essence during frequent exercise of the sexual act, substituting the new for the old, this is how one benefits oneself. I fthe Jade Stalk becomes inactive the man will die. But its activity should be controlled and guided.."

Thats a good point. For some arts its good to supplement there weak spots. I don't think Mo Pai is known for its darhma/wisdom teachings. There are practices that are Mo Pai's opposite that stress wisdom and skillfulness in life and have no energy components. Even series of podcasts like Infinite Smile or Zencast are long running programs that delve deeply into the philosophy and practice of living well. Or what ever series you connect with. Without balance you have less then nothing, you're self destructive. I applaud your dedication to Mo Pai but suggest adding to it listening to the words of wise people in wise traditions to balance and ground yourself.

It'd be interesting to learn more. We don't know when.. maybe 1925, maybe 1930 or date C. We don't who. We don't know his name. Possible it could be someone else. I assume a person approaching an irreversible step, would let someone know. Leave a rainbow body note, 'My name is Clyde, I've been doing x for y numbers of years with Rinpoche Z. So long suckers, I'm going rainbow.' It just seems polite, if its hard to do and you're not triggering it accidentally, you leave a note behind to honor your teacher and provide a pathway for your fellow hardcore practitioners. Heck, why not do it infront of others to inspire and perhaps allow them to replicate the feat easier.

It's alcohol, man. You're drinking the piss, waste products and bodies of millions of yeasty creatures. A poisonous substance that kills off liver and brain cells. Cells you may need later in life. Drink enough and you won't be able to spell gmo. on the third hand, it tastes good, the alcohol acts as a preservative and the biochemical nature of alcohol further alters the genetic make up whatever random ingredients have fallen into the mash and boiling chambers, so its not the gmo's you should fear, its whatever new hybrid mutation you should be afraid of.

I think its also a truth that our species owes its survival more to its ability to band together. Stand as one, then its killer instinct. Because for the first couple hundred thousand years, we simple weren't good killers. We survived because we protected one another; our family, our group, our tribe. Its undoubtedly been at the expense of nature, but the human race has grown and thrived. While the civil wars going on are horrible, the great majority of nations and people are living in peace. There's a chance we're living in a Golden Age and don't realize or appreciate it. hmmn, I wonder if that'd be easier recognized if things got much worse.. or much better?

I'm very sorry for your loss. I think your words and sentiments have been echoed by many families and good friends. But know this, you are blameless. We aren't omniscient, we don't know the future, we do what we can, with what we know at the time.