thelerner

I don't know if this counts as seeing chi, but there's a way to see auras that's not too hard. Look at some one in a dim room. It helps if there's a light background behind them and they're still. Your eyes should be set at 'wide focus', a relaxed peripheral vision, aware of the person but not staring at them. In a dim room you should be able to pick up a white aura around them. Some people see colors. I don't, just a white light, often more coming the head region. Some say its just a trick of the optical system.

I've been impressed with Stillness Movement qigong closing down after meditating exercise where you end with a vigorous rub down of the bottom of the feet w/ the palms of the hand. It feels right.

To enjoy life. Saving some quid for emergencies and having enough left over after a paycheck to spend on things you really enjoy make thrifty money saving tips and habits worth it.

Actually I'm not a dog person, but I liked this. maybe in my mid 60's i'll adopt one. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/16/dog-best-investment_n_3575025.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Allergy issue. I'm waiting for them to develop a skinless variety. Kidding, I'm willing to take allergy pills, but these days I like to travel and right now my kids are my pets. also I figure I'll need more unconditional love about then. It puts us on equal footing age wise. I'll take him for walks, then he'll take me for pulls, then we'll just sit around together.

As you say, this been repeated by quite a few people here. Maybe most systems that include the MCO don't teach it as a beginning exercise and take it for granted you have fundamentals and a few years of sitting under the belt before beginning.

I've heard good things about Spring Forest Qigong, I think this is a link. http://www.learningstrategies.com/Qigong/SmallUniverse.asp Small Universe $25 Minke De Vos Tao Basics $18 can be very slow to ship, but worth it imo. http://www.silentground.com/taotools.htm Michael Winn stuff http://www.healingtaousa.com/ckf2.html

Can anybody give me examples of spells that work and an idea of how much work went into them? I'm more interested in what was achieved, then the spell itself. I'm curious about how people use magic.

I agree, being Caucasian my skins not white like ice. Maybe albinos, but I think even then we're moving in the wrong direction. Though you never know, people see one albino immortal and get to thinking they all must be that way. After all, immortals are rare as diamonds on the side walk.

Constructive - yay/nay? Or is there another way? who am I to say.

Good competition stretches us. Makes us reach further, go longer and reach deeper. There can be too much of it, but some can be a powerful way to bring out the best of a persons talent. Like everything its about balance, neither a military regime, but too lovey dovey, everyone wins mentality, all the time, is bad too. It can create comfort in mediocrity. And competition can be great at teaching cooperation, being part of a team is profound learning experience. Getting along, working together, competing against other teams is not all bad. I think its good to play games non competitively, but there should be room for playing to win. Both can be very fun, for winners and loser. There is an obligation to raise kids to function in society. To never let them join group sports because of some social psych theory, or be competitive in anything, may be ham stringing them when they enter the real world. Balance. Ofcourse I'd add it depends on the individual. Kids with one predilection or the other need to be exposed to the other side. The competitive child needs to learn to chill, enjoy a game for its own sake and be sensitive to others. The kid who shy's away from competitions needs to stretched, to be okay with winning and losing gracefully while on a competitive team. Because they're going to be exposed to competition in life and you don't want them curling into a ball or finding excuses.

Cult?? The ideas behind Vipassana and long retreats seem sound to me. The individual who runs that particular retreat might be setting up a cult like atmosphere. Don't know. I'd like to go on such retreats myself some time. Though I doubt I'd have the intensity of the writer who went to 20- 10 day retreats and a 30 day one. Get too hard core with anything and there's regrets about how you could have spent your time. If you take the advertising with a grain of salt, you don't feel as 'burned' when enlightenment doesn't shower on you.

I suggest putting the word <Merger> or something similar in the title. It'll still be somewhat controversial, but easier for people to see what's happened, especially those who don't see the initial message of the merger. 2 bits.

I think the context and method of such begging is different then and how its currently done in monastic areas then here. How would people characterize such begging? It may be more religious dues paid in food then the dynamic of panhandling here in the west. It'd be interesting to hear from people on both sides of the rice bowl.

I noticed you didn't answer the question. I ask again, what Level do you give yourself? I'm just curious, I understand people like myself are #1's (yay!), but where do you put yourself in 7 layer system?

Sad truth is we're not masters we're amateurs, children who'll feed strong emotions cause it makes them feel more alive. I don't think emotions should be repressed, but they shouldn't overwhelm or control us either.

Taoism seeks harmony with the season. Are there any particular practices that take advantage of this hot high energy time?

Here's a good story about an Aikidoist who lived along wolves. http://books.google.com/books?id=GzetjT7L1L0C&pg=PA128&lpg=PA128&dq=aikidoist+wolves&source=bl&ots=TeIN0dbF5Y&sig=o9PG7FN2yeBx2VN6VS-Qe_Ityb0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EkPfUav-FcXUiwLJ_4CQDA&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=aikidoist%20wolves&f=false note for some reason the story starts a page or two above this link.

from RV's quote: "The Fire element of this season is seen in such things as people’s passion, strength, and courage when in balance, while an over excitable expression or its seemingly opposite, depression when not in balance. When the heart’s energy is balanced, the result is the ability to think clearly, remember well, and sleep well. The tongue, which is the outer organ of the Heart/Small Intestine system, is used in Chinese medicine as an important diagnostic tool. By examining the tongue, one’s state of health can be quickly assessed. The tip of the tongue reflects the state of health, both physical and emotional as it relates to the heart and fire element. (For more information on tongue diagnostics: http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/exam/exam_diagnostic_inspection.html). Among the various “dangers” of this season, is Summer Heat, which is one of the six external pathogenic forces (cold/wind/damp/dryness/fire/summer heat). This particular heat only exists in the summer season. It has to do with an overabundance of Yang Heat and some of its symptoms include high fever, red face, abundant sweating (not from physical exertion), intense listlessness, nausea. It is important in summer to eat cooling foods, drink fluids that are not ice cold, dress appropriately. In hot weather it is advisable to eat lightly, drinking teas such as Chrysanthemum tea and eat foods such as mung beans both of which help wick away heat. I’ve been told that the direction of South for the heart came about because the Heart is considered the King/Monarch of the organ systems, and that the Emperor always faced south at important events. Some General Guidelines for Healthy Eating Some Foods That Are Harmonious With Early Summer Include: apricot, beet, bitter melon, black coffee, broccoli, celery, coffee, cucumber, dark unsweetened chocolate, escarole, ginger, job’s tears, lettuces such as Boston, chicory, endive & romaine, lemon balm, loquat, lotus root, lotus seed, mulberries, mung bean, okra, peach, peppermint, persimmons, pumpkin, radishes, red lentils, red peppers, red plums, rhubarb, soy beans, spinach, strawberry, summer squashes, tamarind, teas, tomato, water chestnuts, watermelon, Chinese yam, zucchini, and others."

Only the open-hearted can ever understand the repetitive depths of Vmarco, all others are level 1 or lower!? Another philosophical piece that lets you insult most people. That's your specialty. Negativity, If its not there, you find a way to add it in. Constantly spread poison and you'll end up wondering why its all around you. As long as you're declaring the 'level' of a moderator, why not humbly state your own? I assume I'm 7 or 8 levels above you. Actually I don't. At some point one stops playing that game. Travel enough (w/ an open mind) and you'll start losing your extreme prejudices. Stop comparing and belittling and you'll grow a little spiritually.

interesting story and nice site. Thanks for sharing it.

Fundamentalist mindset is the problem. Fundamentalists 'know' there way is the best and should be the only way. Not always, but too often they turn bigoted and prejudiced. Its a trap for us to. To live in the world, know what's going on and keep your mind and heart open.

If people want to start there own daily or weekly anti moslem site perhaps it should done elsewhere. I understand the conspiracy minded think the Jews and Christians are covering up bad news about Moslems cause theye're all Abrahamic but that's stupid. While there's not a whole lot news on the attack <few headlines though easy to find on the web>, if you look through Latest Headlines under Google you find 4 of the first 10 top stories have elements that can be considered anti Moslem. Syria, Egypt & Lebanon have been making front pages nearly every day this month. Its not so much conspiracy as much as budget cuts have decimated foreign newsrooms. Thus we hear little about India and really most countries. We end up with short attention copy cat articles because its cheaper. Anti Islam stories are out there. Unfortunately they pop up here every other day too. Which I think is too much. If its near and dear to your heart print it somewhere else or maybe in a Personal Practice section. This is an eclectic philosophy site, not a soap box to launch attacks. We have people from all walks of life and religion here, when criticism becomes unbalanced, new threads against the same group popping up every other day, we lose members, prospective members and the board becomes a magnet for negativity. I don't consider a few threads out of bounds, but new threads every other day degrades the board. IM (non moderator)O. If you gotta spew it daily, do it somewhere else. We're not that kind of board. But there are many that welcome such pile ons. My 2 bits.

Too often its used to convey the message: I am awake and if you disagree with my opinion- You must be asleep, nehnehneh, nehneh neh.