thelerner

You've probably tried cinnamon and some other spices can working as barriers. And prevention, looking at the pantry and kitchen area, making sure there is no food or crumbs out. Throwing out the garbage sooner, cleaning the floors, so old ant 'scent' trails are erased. If the problem is bad, kill the ants that have invaded your house, swat the mosquitoes that would bite you and perhaps spread disease, then do some good in another area, perhaps natural, to make up for it. In the West we live environmentally destructive lives. The chocolate, the coffee, the bags, the beds, the cars, the ink, the gas.. it goes on and on. We are environmentally destructive in a 1,000 ways, many of which we don't know about. I've read arguments that spread out, living simply we, all 7 billion of us would actually do even more harm. Cities contain us. Anyhow, the solution I have is pick the low hanging fruit, and try to do enough good to balance or beat the bad.

Welcome Efewq, the advice to back away from from what may have caused the problem was a good one. Long term problems are rarely solved with short term solutions. Over the internet problems are hard to diagnose or even know if they are energetic, physical, psychological or a mish mash of all 3. Yesterday I was listening to a Lin Ai Wei podcast on the MCO and he talked about how one persons pain doing the orbit was energy hitting a spot that was physically injured. Much pain is a biofeedback loop of pain, causing tension, tension causing tightness, tightness causing pain. You'll get advice here. Take it with a grain of salt, including this- One direction you might investigate is Shinzen Young. He's a meditation teacher who's dones much work with skillful handling of pain. We're an eclectic philosophy forum for learning, discussing and cultivation. Below are 3 important sections: Our Rules, The Insult Policy and our 3 Foundations. Before you join give them a read. Most of it boils down to being respectful. No name calling or trolling. Post as if your mom's looking over your shoulder. Discussion and arguments are what the board is about. Keep it civil, don't get personal. Don't be a troll or one issue zealot. We're here for good conversation and making some friends along the way, to be a community. Jump right in, start threads, ask questions, look for interesting threads and post your (relevant) thoughts. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. TDB team Read and review Our Rules: Please take a moment to review our Forum Terms & Rules detailed below. If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the 'back' button on your browser. Please remember that we are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content found on the website. You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, spam, obscene, profane, threatens or incites violence, invasive of a person's privacy, nor of denigrating and/or erotically suggestive avatars, signatures, links and pictures, or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board. -Mal Rules & Use 7/22/11 Our Insult Policy- Read it, Live it Basically No personal attacks. It is totally fine to vocally disagree with a person's opinion, technique, politics, approach, lifestyle choice, etc. But no insulting (or links to attacks) of individuals, nationalities, genders, political preferences, lifestyle choices, etc. While this may sound restrictive and categorically un-Taoist, I believe it is a useful guideline to help us stop for a moment and think about how to present our perspectives intelligently without just flinging unproductive rudeness at each other. This way other members can receive value from your perspective and you can gain clarity by reasoning out why you initially felt compelled to verbally put down someone else for being different. No one, including the originating poster, gains anything from statements like "So and so is a complete moron", etc. If you have an opinion and you believe it's relevant to a topic at hand, post it as constructively as possible so we can learn from you, debate with you, ignore you, whatever. If you can't abide by this simple constructive guideline, either create your post in a PPD or expect it can be moved. This is our mini-octagon here for those of you that insist on a more primitive breed of taoist war. TheDaoBums' Three Foundations: Eclectic, Egalitarian, Civil. TDBs' Cultural Context and Founding Principles ver.2020-Jul-16 The purpose of this document is to concisely state the most fundamental framework principles that give TDBs it's distinctive shape. This is not "all the rules, permutations, etc", just the steel beams. TDBs exists in the general field of "The Search for Truth". The Usual organized formats (schools) for The Search tend to have: 1. focus exclusively within a school 2. hierachical learning structure, hierachical ability to speak TheDàoBums' founding principles form a deliberate cultural counter-point: 1. run independently of any school, which allows a more eclectic atmosphere 2. conversational learning, egalitarian ability for members to speak TDBs' social format is "cafeteria", not "classroom". It's part of TDBs' premise that, broadly in culture, these two formats are necessary, distinct yet complementary. TheDàoBums has a strong egalitarian ethic in that it's whole purpose is to provide a civil very open context for member conversations. However, its governance structure is mostly top down; it's not a democracy. - admins - own / run the board - moderators - enforce rules - members - converse TDBs' Conversational Context: 1. At TDBs member participation in conversation is non-hierarchical. Meaning, members have equal ability to talk regardless of level of knowledge, achievement, or status / credentials of any kind. TDBs has an underlying ethic of valuing the communication of each person. 2. TDBs most basic rules about conversation are around civility. While TDBs provides room for, encourages, lively, often vigorous and sometimes rough and tumble, debate ... that is balanced by protecting decency and sensitivity towards each other in such a variety of instances that no set of specific rules could ever adequately cover. A moderator's basic role is to moderate members' incivility toward each other in conversation. Members support this process by 'reporting' offending posts A fictional example of how 1&2 shake out: If there's a TDBs debate about music between Mozart vs a beginning piano player, and it becomes heated enough that reports are generated for moderator consideration then, still, "level of knowledge, achievement, or status" are not basis for moderation. Civility is, applied equally to each member. It's up to each member, not moderators, to sort out the truth (and other questions of quality) for themselves in conversation. Moderators just keep the conversation civil within reasonable limits. For issues of staff bias, members can contact the current admin. The staff (admins, moderators) also deserve and have protection against incivility and against abuse of staff resources. Staff protection is enforced at the discretion of the admin, lead moderator/s, and by consensus of the moderation team. The admin also has broad discretion to protect the civility and resources of any aspect within TDBs e-community. signed, - Trunk, author & past admin - Sean, owner & admin of TheDàoBums

I take it you are not Buddhist or Daoist. Do you mean to emulate them? Join their religion? There are many Buddhists temples around in big cities. You can walk into one. Ask a lay person or clergy how they handle ants and stuff. On the other hand if you're going there to argue about bugs, maybe don't bother. I noticed you asked a similar question regarding vegetarianism. If these thing truly interest you, hit the books. Start with basics and go on from there. I assume if you do your research properly you'll find there is more then one answer. Still the philosophy you learn along the way will make it worthwhile.

Saw a great cooking show that featured a Buddhist nun cook. The gourmet who produced the show considered her one of the greatest chefs in the world, though mainly she cooked for her convent. One of her soups was simply water run down a large vegetable repeatedly. That was it. Yet the man said the taste was sublime. The show had her in the garden, taking her time, picking vegetables and herbs. She went by experience and instinct. All vegetables spoke to her, none were bad or ugly, each had its place. To provide nourishment, strength and life to her family, the nuns. Her sect was vegetarian. The convent was very hard work, but religious and very well fed. Her reverence towards the plants and process made it holy. Hard work and things prepared, just so, with care and compassion. That's the highest aim, even if one is cooking meat. Honor the environment, don't waste, eat with the seasons.. Not that I keep to those standards, but many deep practitioners do. Personally without a brain or nervous system I don't think plants have compassion or feelings, and eating animals that eat plants is just side stepping the issue anyway. I have huge respect for vegetarians, though not one myself. Here's an interview with the Zen nun cook, it may have some insights on spirituality and food:

Often before meditating I have a pre-amble. I'm not my.. (body, thoughts, past, present, things..), when it comes to emotion what I say is I'm not my emotions, I acknowledge them and let them settle like waves on a pond. Unlike the other phenomena, I acknowledge emotions and let them settle. Later outside of meditation I can trace where they come from, their origins before rationalizations (conscious and unconsciously) start building to support them. I wouldn't want to be without my emotions. They make me human. Their 'drama' support my drives and makes life interesting. I wouldn't want to be controlled by them either.

I did 13 years of Aikido. It didn't save my life, but I think it improved it alot. Kept me in excellent shape. Before classes you'd be standing, rolling backwards on the floor a few dozens times, then hundred or two throws during class. You needed flexibility and whole body strength. Fair amount of awareness to keep others from rolling into you. Weapons training also honed awareness. Techniques required split second timing. It included much meditation, some healing techniques. Best of all when work was very frustrating it allowed me to punch, kick and choke hard, with people who could take it and give it. After a hard day, this full force, somewhat mock battle was what I needed to stay fresh and sane. Plus loved the special training, the misogi's.. the people in it were nice. My friends in other martial arts and boxing got the shit beat out of them regularly.. I got a fair share of bruises but rarely shit kicked. In real life I dealt with teamsters and gangster disciples and kept my cool and managed to.. if not win without fighting, then at least stand my ground and create peaceful terms.

You've talked about lacking flexibility. Perhaps look around, see what yoga there is near by. Energy runs best through happy flexible body (Doc Morris). Just doing a a few sun salutations daily can open up the body quite a bit. For foundation, breath is the link between physical and spiritual. Look at some breathing exercises. For a few months I was into this site- Breath mantra youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/BreathingMantra/videos. I'd turn a video into a mp3 and I had a nice 30 minute breathing exercise. As I mastered one, I'd move on to the next. Each was a nice 30 minutes long.

Our pleasure 0leg, welcome aboard. We're an eclectic philosophy forum for learning, discussing and cultivation. Below are 3 important sections: Our Rules, The Insult Policy and our 3 Foundations. Before you join give them a read. Most of it boils down to being respectful. No name calling or trolling. Post as if your mom's looking over your shoulder. Discussion and arguments are what the board is about. Keep it civil, don't get personal. Don't be a troll or one issue zealot. We're here for good conversation and making some friends along the way, to be a community. Jump right in, start threads, ask questions, look for interesting threads and post your (relevant) thoughts. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. TDB team Read and review Our Rules: Please take a moment to review our Forum Terms & Rules detailed below. If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the 'back' button on your browser. Please remember that we are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content found on the website. You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, spam, obscene, profane, threatens or incites violence, invasive of a person's privacy, nor of denigrating and/or erotically suggestive avatars, signatures, links and pictures, or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board. -Mal Rules & Use 7/22/11 Our Insult Policy- Read it, Live it Basically No personal attacks. It is totally fine to vocally disagree with a person's opinion, technique, politics, approach, lifestyle choice, etc. But no insulting (or links to attacks) of individuals, nationalities, genders, political preferences, lifestyle choices, etc. While this may sound restrictive and categorically un-Taoist, I believe it is a useful guideline to help us stop for a moment and think about how to present our perspectives intelligently without just flinging unproductive rudeness at each other. This way other members can receive value from your perspective and you can gain clarity by reasoning out why you initially felt compelled to verbally put down someone else for being different. No one, including the originating poster, gains anything from statements like "So and so is a complete moron", etc. If you have an opinion and you believe it's relevant to a topic at hand, post it as constructively as possible so we can learn from you, debate with you, ignore you, whatever. If you can't abide by this simple constructive guideline, either create your post in a PPD or expect it can be moved. This is our mini-octagon here for those of you that insist on a more primitive breed of taoist war. TheDaoBums' Three Foundations: Eclectic, Egalitarian, Civil. TDBs' Cultural Context and Founding Principles ver.2020-Jul-16 The purpose of this document is to concisely state the most fundamental framework principles that give TDBs it's distinctive shape. This is not "all the rules, permutations, etc", just the steel beams. TDBs exists in the general field of "The Search for Truth". The Usual organized formats (schools) for The Search tend to have: 1. focus exclusively within a school 2. hierachical learning structure, hierachical ability to speak TheDàoBums' founding principles form a deliberate cultural counter-point: 1. run independently of any school, which allows a more eclectic atmosphere 2. conversational learning, egalitarian ability for members to speak TDBs' social format is "cafeteria", not "classroom". It's part of TDBs' premise that, broadly in culture, these two formats are necessary, distinct yet complementary. TheDàoBums has a strong egalitarian ethic in that it's whole purpose is to provide a civil very open context for member conversations. However, its governance structure is mostly top down; it's not a democracy. - admins - own / run the board - moderators - enforce rules - members - converse TDBs' Conversational Context: 1. At TDBs member participation in conversation is non-hierarchical. Meaning, members have equal ability to talk regardless of level of knowledge, achievement, or status / credentials of any kind. TDBs has an underlying ethic of valuing the communication of each person. 2. TDBs most basic rules about conversation are around civility. While TDBs provides room for, encourages, lively, often vigorous and sometimes rough and tumble, debate ... that is balanced by protecting decency and sensitivity towards each other in such a variety of instances that no set of specific rules could ever adequately cover. A moderator's basic role is to moderate members' incivility toward each other in conversation. Members support this process by 'reporting' offending posts A fictional example of how 1&2 shake out: If there's a TDBs debate about music between Mozart vs a beginning piano player, and it becomes heated enough that reports are generated for moderator consideration then, still, "level of knowledge, achievement, or status" are not basis for moderation. Civility is, applied equally to each member. It's up to each member, not moderators, to sort out the truth (and other questions of quality) for themselves in conversation. Moderators just keep the conversation civil within reasonable limits. For issues of staff bias, members can contact the current admin. The staff (admins, moderators) also deserve and have protection against incivility and against abuse of staff resources. Staff protection is enforced at the discretion of the admin, lead moderator/s, and by consensus of the moderation team. The admin also has broad discretion to protect the civility and resources of any aspect within TDBs e-community. signed, - Trunk, author & past admin - Sean, owner & admin of TheDàoBums

Welcome Sketch. What a worthy project, translating the DDJ. Nice sketch too. I look forward to your contributions. We have a section on the DDJ, and periods where we've gone through each couplet. We're an eclectic philosophy forum for learning, discussing and cultivation. Below are 3 important sections: Our Rules, The Insult Policy and our 3 Foundations. Before you join give them a read. Most of it boils down to being respectful. No name calling or trolling. Post as if your mom's looking over your shoulder. Discussion and arguments are what the board is about. Keep it civil, don't get personal. Don't be a troll or one issue zealot. We're here for good conversation and making some friends along the way, to be a community. Jump right in, start threads, ask questions, look for interesting threads and post your (relevant) thoughts. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. TDB team Read and review Our Rules: Please take a moment to review our Forum Terms & Rules detailed below. If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the 'back' button on your browser. Please remember that we are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content found on the website. You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, spam, obscene, profane, threatens or incites violence, invasive of a person's privacy, nor of denigrating and/or erotically suggestive avatars, signatures, links and pictures, or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board. -Mal Rules & Use 7/22/11 Our Insult Policy- Read it, Live it Basically No personal attacks. It is totally fine to vocally disagree with a person's opinion, technique, politics, approach, lifestyle choice, etc. But no insulting (or links to attacks) of individuals, nationalities, genders, political preferences, lifestyle choices, etc. While this may sound restrictive and categorically un-Taoist, I believe it is a useful guideline to help us stop for a moment and think about how to present our perspectives intelligently without just flinging unproductive rudeness at each other. This way other members can receive value from your perspective and you can gain clarity by reasoning out why you initially felt compelled to verbally put down someone else for being different. No one, including the originating poster, gains anything from statements like "So and so is a complete moron", etc. If you have an opinion and you believe it's relevant to a topic at hand, post it as constructively as possible so we can learn from you, debate with you, ignore you, whatever. If you can't abide by this simple constructive guideline, either create your post in a PPD or expect it can be moved. This is our mini-octagon here for those of you that insist on a more primitive breed of taoist war. TheDaoBums' Three Foundations: Eclectic, Egalitarian, Civil. TDBs' Cultural Context and Founding Principles ver.2020-Jul-16 The purpose of this document is to concisely state the most fundamental framework principles that give TDBs it's distinctive shape. This is not "all the rules, permutations, etc", just the steel beams. TDBs exists in the general field of "The Search for Truth". The Usual organized formats (schools) for The Search tend to have: 1. focus exclusively within a school 2. hierachical learning structure, hierachical ability to speak TheDàoBums' founding principles form a deliberate cultural counter-point: 1. run independently of any school, which allows a more eclectic atmosphere 2. conversational learning, egalitarian ability for members to speak TDBs' social format is "cafeteria", not "classroom". It's part of TDBs' premise that, broadly in culture, these two formats are necessary, distinct yet complementary. TheDàoBums has a strong egalitarian ethic in that it's whole purpose is to provide a civil very open context for member conversations. However, its governance structure is mostly top down; it's not a democracy. - admins - own / run the board - moderators - enforce rules - members - converse TDBs' Conversational Context: 1. At TDBs member participation in conversation is non-hierarchical. Meaning, members have equal ability to talk regardless of level of knowledge, achievement, or status / credentials of any kind. TDBs has an underlying ethic of valuing the communication of each person. 2. TDBs most basic rules about conversation are around civility. While TDBs provides room for, encourages, lively, often vigorous and sometimes rough and tumble, debate ... that is balanced by protecting decency and sensitivity towards each other in such a variety of instances that no set of specific rules could ever adequately cover. A moderator's basic role is to moderate members' incivility toward each other in conversation. Members support this process by 'reporting' offending posts A fictional example of how 1&2 shake out: If there's a TDBs debate about music between Mozart vs a beginning piano player, and it becomes heated enough that reports are generated for moderator consideration then, still, "level of knowledge, achievement, or status" are not basis for moderation. Civility is, applied equally to each member. It's up to each member, not moderators, to sort out the truth (and other questions of quality) for themselves in conversation. Moderators just keep the conversation civil within reasonable limits. For issues of staff bias, members can contact the current admin. The staff (admins, moderators) also deserve and have protection against incivility and against abuse of staff resources. Staff protection is enforced at the discretion of the admin, lead moderator/s, and by consensus of the moderation team. The admin also has broad discretion to protect the civility and resources of any aspect within TDBs e-community. signed, - Trunk, author & past admin - Sean, owner & admin of TheDàoBums

From Chicago Chinatown I used to pick up cheap pre-sliced ginseng, steamed and flavored with something. It was sold in a pack like Lifesavers candy. During cold winters it'd be nice to chew on. Been awhile since I hit that area. Worth a trip, see how its doing, get some slices, some teas, see if the old haunts are still haunted. You know what else was fun. Getting the 'Flower'ing teas. A thick ball, putting it in hot water made it blossom into a flower on the bottom. Very pretty. They weren't the best tasting teas, but the presentation in a small glass teapot was unbeatable.

I must- In the year 2020-

However you define it, I get the feeling 'New Age' is dying. Once upon a time there were a couple new age book stores in Chicago. They're gone. Normal book stores used to have huge sections of New Age stuff, some good, some woo woo. They're much smaller these days and books stores themselves, sadly, are dying off. The New Age used to spawn a new Thing every season. I don't think it does anymore. No bright trend to sell soft covers. For all its bubble gum, it was usually optimistic and had the opportunity to lead proponents into deeper more constructive subjects. 'Conspiracy theories', like New Age, is a nebulous term. Its dark cousin, has taken over, supplanting it. It's got the books and the crazies now. Which is too bad

So many outlets that we use to blow off steam are shut down. There's a general stifling. An invisible blanket of increased anxiety hangs over us. I've picked up the bad habit of following covid statistics. Good news, currently the trend of new cases is down, bad news 920 died yesterday. Such study is an abyss, and sometimes the abyss stares back, whispering horrors. On the other hand.. I'm good. Bored. My family is doing well. I'm taking long walks, listening to audio books, doing some stuff with friends. Yet its been a lost Spring and Summer.. and Fall ain't shaping up to be better.

I think that's fine, part of the discussion within the forum. What gets me is insulting the forum because the discussion is allowed.

Hello kepoi, eclectic is one of my 10 most favorite words. Welcome to the board. We're an eclectic philosophy forum for learning, discussing and cultivation. Below are 3 important sections: Our Rules, The Insult Policy and our 3 Foundations. Before you join give them a read. Most of it boils down to being respectful. No name calling or trolling. Post as if your mom's looking over your shoulder. Discussion and arguments are what the board is about. Keep it civil, don't get personal. Don't be a troll or one issue zealot. We're here for good conversation and making some friends along the way, to be a community. Jump right in, start threads, ask questions, look for interesting threads and post your (relevant) thoughts. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. TDB team Read and review Our Rules: Please take a moment to review our Forum Terms & Rules detailed below. If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the 'back' button on your browser. Please remember that we are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content found on the website. You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, spam, obscene, profane, threatens or incites violence, invasive of a person's privacy, nor of denigrating and/or erotically suggestive avatars, signatures, links and pictures, or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board. -Mal Rules & Use 7/22/11 Our Insult Policy- Read it, Live it Basically No personal attacks. It is totally fine to vocally disagree with a person's opinion, technique, politics, approach, lifestyle choice, etc. But no insulting (or links to attacks) of individuals, nationalities, genders, political preferences, lifestyle choices, etc. While this may sound restrictive and categorically un-Taoist, I believe it is a useful guideline to help us stop for a moment and think about how to present our perspectives intelligently without just flinging unproductive rudeness at each other. This way other members can receive value from your perspective and you can gain clarity by reasoning out why you initially felt compelled to verbally put down someone else for being different. No one, including the originating poster, gains anything from statements like "So and so is a complete moron", etc. If you have an opinion and you believe it's relevant to a topic at hand, post it as constructively as possible so we can learn from you, debate with you, ignore you, whatever. If you can't abide by this simple constructive guideline, either create your post in a PPD or expect it can be moved. This is our mini-octagon here for those of you that insist on a more primitive breed of taoist war. TheDaoBums' Three Foundations: Eclectic, Egalitarian, Civil. TDBs' Cultural Context and Founding Principles ver.2020-Jul-16 The purpose of this document is to concisely state the most fundamental framework principles that give TDBs it's distinctive shape. This is not "all the rules, permutations, etc", just the steel beams. TDBs exists in the general field of "The Search for Truth". The Usual organized formats (schools) for The Search tend to have: 1. focus exclusively within a school 2. hierachical learning structure, hierachical ability to speak TheDàoBums' founding principles form a deliberate cultural counter-point: 1. run independently of any school, which allows a more eclectic atmosphere 2. conversational learning, egalitarian ability for members to speak TDBs' social format is "cafeteria", not "classroom". It's part of TDBs' premise that, broadly in culture, these two formats are necessary, distinct yet complementary. TheDàoBums has a strong egalitarian ethic in that it's whole purpose is to provide a civil very open context for member conversations. However, its governance structure is mostly top down; it's not a democracy. - admins - own / run the board - moderators - enforce rules - members - converse TDBs' Conversational Context: 1. At TDBs member participation in conversation is non-hierarchical. Meaning, members have equal ability to talk regardless of level of knowledge, achievement, or status / credentials of any kind. TDBs has an underlying ethic of valuing the communication of each person. 2. TDBs most basic rules about conversation are around civility. While TDBs provides room for, encourages, lively, often vigorous and sometimes rough and tumble, debate ... that is balanced by protecting decency and sensitivity towards each other in such a variety of instances that no set of specific rules could ever adequately cover. A moderator's basic role is to moderate members' incivility toward each other in conversation. Members support this process by 'reporting' offending posts A fictional example of how 1&2 shake out: If there's a TDBs debate about music between Mozart vs a beginning piano player, and it becomes heated enough that reports are generated for moderator consideration then, still, "level of knowledge, achievement, or status" are not basis for moderation. Civility is, applied equally to each member. It's up to each member, not moderators, to sort out the truth (and other questions of quality) for themselves in conversation. Moderators just keep the conversation civil within reasonable limits. For issues of staff bias, members can contact the current admin. The staff (admins, moderators) also deserve and have protection against incivility and against abuse of staff resources. Staff protection is enforced at the discretion of the admin, lead moderator/s, and by consensus of the moderation team. The admin also has broad discretion to protect the civility and resources of any aspect within TDBs e-community. signed, - Trunk, author & past admin - Sean, owner & admin of TheDàoBums

At 24 I quit working at a computer store and went back packing to see the world. Was gone for 4 months. When I got back I learned the boss had committed suicide. He was a nice guy. I wish he'd gone with me instead. If he was so distraught with his life, instead of ending it, walking away for awhile. Seeing the world in 2 bit hostels, the excitement of new people, new places. A girlfriend told me about a string of suicides that happened in her highschool. So sad. For a teen the world is full of drama, anxiety and comparisons. Hang on, seek help, age out of it; so many of those problems are phantoms, not real. We gain perspective and make our own life. A neighbor about ten years older then me was struck with very bad back pain. Excruciating and it wasn't going away. He felt like suicide, bought a gun. Didn't use it, and you know, the pain went away. Life went on, his kids grew up, married, he has tons of grand kids now. He plays with them, which makes his back hurt, but these days its not so bad. Life is a precious gift. During the bad times, keep going, it changes, gets better.

A. Very good to see you B. People are so much more then Political arguments. It's awful, what happened on the bums was a micro-cosm of what was/is happening to family and friends across the US. People breaking up because of strong opinions on a matter they have no power over. It's a damn shame. I'm glad much of the political crap (not all & its simmering) has settled down, but I also mourn the loss of some good members I consider friends.

In tune with the Tao: to follow ones true nature without fear or calculation, Hopefully with it, We get goodness, we get kindness We get justice Ritual, we can probably do without.

Glad you have other places to go. I'm pretty sure most New Age ideas say the same things on a similar line.. our roots go back to yada yada. Out of curiosity, based on something you wrote earlier. If someone said 'My friend has cancer, can the Akashic Record help? How would you answer? <don't mean to beat up on the Akashic Record, just that many consider it New Age..many consider modern yoga New Age, it's not necessarily an insult>

my limited take is, it supports the body, particularly circulation, it does act testosterone like, good for the wood. I've seen it pushed at body builders. From my readings years ago, probably more likely to get less effective in time, then to overtake the body's production. So my limited understanding is, if you're younger and things are firing fine, stay with a more balanced stuff, or as people above have said, no herbs, let nutritional food do its work. When you're older look for more yang-ish boosts, if thats your thing. Haven't researched it in the last couple years. There may be new research looking directly at that. For me at 55, I'll use it for 3 or 4 days in a row for a week or two, then forget about it for awhile.

Hi Tao-pai-pai, I've heard good things about Sifu Wong, Welcome to the site. We're an eclectic philosophy forum for learning, discussing and cultivation. Below are 3 important sections: Our Rules, The Insult Policy and our 3 Foundations. Before you join give them a read. Most of it boils down to being respectful. No name calling or trolling. Post as if your mom's looking over your shoulder. Discussion and arguments are what the board is about. Keep it civil, don't get personal. Don't be a troll or one issue zealot. We're here for good conversation and making some friends along the way, to be a community. Jump right in, start threads, ask questions, look for interesting threads and post your (relevant) thoughts. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. TDB team Read and review Our Rules: Please take a moment to review our Forum Terms & Rules detailed below. If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the 'back' button on your browser. Please remember that we are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content found on the website. You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, spam, obscene, profane, threatens or incites violence, invasive of a person's privacy, nor of denigrating and/or erotically suggestive avatars, signatures, links and pictures, or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board. -Mal Rules & Use 7/22/11 Our Insult Policy- Read it, Live it Basically No personal attacks. It is totally fine to vocally disagree with a person's opinion, technique, politics, approach, lifestyle choice, etc. But no insulting (or links to attacks) of individuals, nationalities, genders, political preferences, lifestyle choices, etc. While this may sound restrictive and categorically un-Taoist, I believe it is a useful guideline to help us stop for a moment and think about how to present our perspectives intelligently without just flinging unproductive rudeness at each other. This way other members can receive value from your perspective and you can gain clarity by reasoning out why you initially felt compelled to verbally put down someone else for being different. No one, including the originating poster, gains anything from statements like "So and so is a complete moron", etc. If you have an opinion and you believe it's relevant to a topic at hand, post it as constructively as possible so we can learn from you, debate with you, ignore you, whatever. If you can't abide by this simple constructive guideline, either create your post in a PPD or expect it can be moved. This is our mini-octagon here for those of you that insist on a more primitive breed of taoist war. TheDaoBums' Three Foundations: Eclectic, Egalitarian, Civil. TDBs' Cultural Context and Founding Principles ver.2020-Jul-16 The purpose of this document is to concisely state the most fundamental framework principles that give TDBs it's distinctive shape. This is not "all the rules, permutations, etc", just the steel beams. TDBs exists in the general field of "The Search for Truth". The Usual organized formats (schools) for The Search tend to have: 1. focus exclusively within a school 2. hierachical learning structure, hierachical ability to speak TheDàoBums' founding principles form a deliberate cultural counter-point: 1. run independently of any school, which allows a more eclectic atmosphere 2. conversational learning, egalitarian ability for members to speak TDBs' social format is "cafeteria", not "classroom". It's part of TDBs' premise that, broadly in culture, these two formats are necessary, distinct yet complementary. TheDàoBums has a strong egalitarian ethic in that it's whole purpose is to provide a civil very open context for member conversations. However, its governance structure is mostly top down; it's not a democracy. - admins - own / run the board - moderators - enforce rules - members - converse TDBs' Conversational Context: 1. At TDBs member participation in conversation is non-hierarchical. Meaning, members have equal ability to talk regardless of level of knowledge, achievement, or status / credentials of any kind. TDBs has an underlying ethic of valuing the communication of each person. 2. TDBs most basic rules about conversation are around civility. While TDBs provides room for, encourages, lively, often vigorous and sometimes rough and tumble, debate ... that is balanced by protecting decency and sensitivity towards each other in such a variety of instances that no set of specific rules could ever adequately cover. A moderator's basic role is to moderate members' incivility toward each other in conversation. Members support this process by 'reporting' offending posts A fictional example of how 1&2 shake out: If there's a TDBs debate about music between Mozart vs a beginning piano player, and it becomes heated enough that reports are generated for moderator consideration then, still, "level of knowledge, achievement, or status" are not basis for moderation. Civility is, applied equally to each member. It's up to each member, not moderators, to sort out the truth (and other questions of quality) for themselves in conversation. Moderators just keep the conversation civil within reasonable limits. For issues of staff bias, members can contact the current admin. The staff (admins, moderators) also deserve and have protection against incivility and against abuse of staff resources. Staff protection is enforced at the discretion of the admin, lead moderator/s, and by consensus of the moderation team. The admin also has broad discretion to protect the civility and resources of any aspect within TDBs e-community. signed, - Trunk, author & past admin - Sean, owner & admin of TheDàoBums

For sci/fy Chirpbooks.com has real cheap audio books available, many .99 to $4.99. All genres, but many sci-fy and fantasy. I've been walking and listening all summer. Wearing holes in my shoes. Good source cause usually audios are 2 to 5 times more expensive then books. Course nothing beats the Overdrive app, which loans out ebooks and audiobooks from your local library for free. Huge selection. Real gem of an app, particularly these days.

Thing with pine pollen is, its very yang. A wise herbalist once told me- "If you take something very yang when you're 20 or 30, What you gonna take when you're 50 or 60?"

Astronomy- some dude who wrote 3 posts. 3rd one blasting the site. Probably an old disgruntled member. Don't know, don't care. banned. "Cultivators, authenticity and honesty are not welcome here. If you do have any attainment whatsoever do not come here, because people will feel offended by what you write, attack you, and if you retaliate you will get banned. The purpose of this forum is socializing, philosophy, "feeling spiritual" and various styles of circle- and solojerking. Also, the forum will be renamed to "the disney bums". the wannabe-mod me- I don't find socializing, philosophy, "feeling spiritual" to be all that bad. They should be part of the site, but not all. People with maturity as well as spiritual attainment can 'retaliate' disagree without trolling and insulting.

omg, I didn't even read the last one, too long. If you have a point, try to keep to short. (I didn't think you were using hyperbole at all) It also occurs to me. For all your bitching about New Age, - if you tried to join a serious, no New Age site, you'd be thrown off or laughed off because you're involved in Akashic Readings. I have no problem with it, but it is considered New Age to many. Tolerance isn't so bad. It's what keeps you here, tenuously.