thelerner

I like to walk and I'm often too lazy to read. Thankfully there's a site DIYDHARMA.ORG . They have over a dozen audio speeches from my latest favorite spiritual writer Ajahn Brahms and a many great speeches from teachers, even guided meditations. Well worth checking out, everything free and easy to download.

Would you say- people who are chronic worriers and plotters are furthest from Wu Wei and those who might or might not take action and 'let the universe decide' are closer to Wu Wei? Moving closer to Godwin's law, could we say Wu Wei operates without regard to virtue?

Huh, page 14, I was wondering when Godwin's law would become involved. Godwin’s Law is an internet adage that is derived from one of the earliest bits of Usenet wisdoms, which goes “if you mention Adolf Hitler or Nazis within a discussion thread, you’ve automatically ended whatever discussion you were taking part in.” The parties involved seem to be getting too personal and too distracted from the subject imo. Too bad there have been some good ideas on this thread. I like the philosophy how Wu Wei should be seen less as non-action and more in terms on non karmic attachment. As always these terms are slippery as an eel.

I wanted to send a shout out to Templetao for sharing his elemental fire practice with me. I was impressed with the power, depth and practicality of it. Thank you very much. Michael

I am happy you are going on retreat. I'm sure it will be a special time. Come back and tell us all about it oh, one last thing you'll be missed.

Yeah, and when asked if they were of above average intelligence 97% of people said 'Yes they were' . Not only is it 'most people' its also Us, me..you. We're most likely to get played in the area we the most confidence in, plays to our ego. That doesn't mean we shouldn't believe in things, but beware of emotions and call$ for your wallet or to vilify others. I

Its 'out there' that under hypnosis we wouldn't do anything against our will but then there are all psych experiments that show regular people painfully shocking or mistreating others just because a man in a white coat tells them too. We may not do things against our will, sadly our 'will' seem to be more manipulable then we think. I don't think mind control needs to be subtle. Just pay a trusted actor to give a testimonial, boom baby, calls by the thousands, cause on TV they were a doctor or genius, so it must be true. Great article on a cons from an ex con in AARP magazine. They'd pay a well known actor he'd read their lines on TV to the con, in his contract it'd say he bares no responsibility, make the commercial, get big bucks, the sheep would line up for shearing. Look at politics, stand behind a big flag, play exciting music, wear a flag pin, look the part, brush up on body language, have a speech written by experts in sound bites and manipulation. Hell just show a kid a 30 cent prize and they'll get there mom's to buy cereal that's 50% sugar. For adults maybe it takes the promise of 60 cent savings to super size them into something quite unhealthy. I don't think 'they' need subtly, we can be manipulated for pennies.

on a thread about spiritual malpractice, I thought this was interesting: Brainwashed into quitting medical school By Kang Soon Chen, The Star/Asia News Network,Oct 6, 2012 PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- A group of Universiti Sains Malaysia medical students has allegedly been brainwashed into leaving their studies by a Buddhist monk. Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia lay adviser Chong Hung Wang said the student Buddhist association from the campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, had voiced its concern that around 30 medical students had shown behavioural changes and disinterest in their studies after returning from a trip to Thailand with the monk in August. "These students were led to believe that patients should not receive medical treatment for their condition as sickness is the result of their karma. "They are convinced that they should not become doctors as the act of treating patients will interfere with karma," said Chong. It is believed that the monk had approached the students in March this year and had gained a following through religious activities conducted off-campus. The monk also allegedly claimed that he had supernatural power and was able to tell the past and predict the future of the students. "Compassion is central to Buddhist beliefs. What the monk had propagated about leaving patients to their sickness is wrong. "We hope to curb the spread of misleading religious beliefs among students by creating better awareness on the true teachings of Buddhism," said Chong. The students are said to want to leave the medical school and transfer to other programmes such as nutrition and sports science. They are also having strained relationships with their family members following their decision to quit medical studies. It was understood that some of the students were in their third and fourth year of studies. A university official confirmed that three students had applied to transfer to other courses. Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Datuk Omar Osman said none of the students had received approval to switch courses and the university viewed the matter of students being influenced by misleading religious teachings seriously. "We do not want the students to simply switch courses because they are very good students and had worked very hard to gain a place to study medicine," said Prof Omar. He added that the university was reaching out to the students through counselling.

There's a time to read and learn and a time realize to realize its all bull shit and only practice matters, then a time to go back to reading & learning.

I was listening to some Ajahn Brahm audios (diydharma.org free!). He was saying the measure of meditational maturity was in ones deep living calmness. The fruits of long proper meditation was increasing peace. Calm is the byproduct of true reality perspective.

Thank you for sharing this.

yes, and Woman, lots of woman (I lie biblically they're a minority, but an important one). I think its important to understand the literal and historical, but often teachings I can use come from underneath the literal. Judaism is particularly rife with this, there being 4 main ways to look at biblical text, the literal often considered a lower understanding. You have biblical text that are horrific dissected flipped refocused into lessons that are universal and useable. In my humble opinion most of the old testament are legends and loose histories of a people in the bronze age viewing the world from the mystery school perspective. I don't like the bible itself but there are wise men and woman who've extracted and developed a body of wisdom from it that can improve life. Maybe it could have been done through Shakespeare's works and we'd be Shakepearean's. if anyone was interested I find the best explanation of how Jews read the bible in the Itunes podcast 'How We Read Torah' by Awakened Heart Project for Jewish Meditation and Contemplative Judaism. Not having a pope, temples and different sects have widely different customs, but I think there explanation is as true for orthodox as it is for reformed.

well, mind control is probably too strong a word. He uses long pauses naturally, but there are people who use long pauses as a quiet way of shouting quietly. K. I have something... .... important... ... to tell you. ... ... Everyone in your life... ... has been brain washing ... you... .... I am... ... telling you this.... because I... ... know.. the truth... when you realize... ... this... ... you will... $end money... ... that's exaggerating a bit. I have one guided meditation where two stories are read at the same time that have nothing to do with each other or the subject, in this case procrastination. You hear them at the same time through different ear pieces. So you listen to one story on the left, another on the right. Nothing to do with procrastination, but you tend to focus on one story and the other is mostly missed. But at times lines in both story come together so they're saying the same thing. I think thats the power, the sublimity of two story lines connecting for a sentence. The style is disorienting but strangely relaxing. Again due I think to suggestions where words meet between the ears. Regular hypnotic tapes use imagery and accenting suggestions a little stronger. Ofcourse that's what all good readers, actors and teleprompt reader do. I suggest we are more suggestible then we believe. I forget the street magician who'd ask people for a number and was able to repeatedly guess it. Turns out they'd been walking down Eighth street and several advertisements and boards on the way had prominent 8's in it. Didn't work all the time, but enough.

Yup.What comes naturally is often the most powerful. <<yawns stretching arms out>> yoga with excellent breath and extension-natural

I'm kinda weary of Old Tyme Religion myself, but I think there are were some good men who created some good..dear I say..lessons from it, worth while ones. I think its possible to teach and learn good lessons without being prejudiced against other ways. I'm Jewish, my kids go to Sunday school, which means they're taken to Catholic churches and learn about the Catholicism, they've gone to Mosques and learned about Islam there and explored various branches in Judiasm. Pride in Judaism is probably lesson one, but understanding and tolerance goes along with it.

Haven't listened to it yet, but I will. I like the idea of putting up particularly good videos and getting feed back on them. Thanks Anamatva. edit-listened to it. I've enjoyed many of his talks. This one I didn't. Felt I was hearing the same line hook and sinker every group uses to justify there beliefs. Everyone else is mind controlled, they're all conditioned; You should believe the real way.. my way. Ajahn Brahms had a similar talk but he was clear on the individual finding your own way, the Americans are wrong, the Thai monks were wrong, as long as the prism is cultural conditioning its wrong. Griffin was in the same vein but got too wrapped up in the Good Us, the bad Them rhetoric. Ironically using the control methods he rallied against. Buddha said it best, "Don't believe anything you see, read, or hear from others, whether of authority, religious teachers or texts. Don't rely on logic alone, nor speculation. Don't infer or be deceived by appearances.."

Laughing meditation, Damo's cave, dancing ala Gabriel Roths Wave programs. Hanging out with little kids and playing. There can be good playfulness at seminars. The 5 animal frolicking qi gong set can be fun.

uber cool, thanks for the heads up. New launch info: Mission delayed due to weather. Target launch now 5AM PT/12PM GMT on October 9! Watch it LIVE at http://youtube.com/redbull and http://redbullstratos.com

Yeah, cost and break even data is what its all about. It could just be vapor ware. There are a lot of concept companies out there that talk a good game but are more about getting $$ from investors then changing the world.

Most people here 'cultivate' in some way. Are we happier and living more abundantly then most? It can be a crude awakening when people find out that spiritual organizations, monasteries included have there fair share of problems and egoic battles. on the third hand, while I don't believe money should be used to justify doing things that are immoral . When leaving the fantasy land that was college and having to face the world and make a living my working ethic was- I'll do it for the money; in that case selling computers. Working 8 to 10 hours a day is not easy. Two decades later as the boss it still wasn't easy.

Turtle- big one. I like to take my time and gather my thoughts. .. .. Me and Dowie- gong for a stroll

I asked How should I frame my investing in the coming month? The answer: "Sarcophagus — Arcanum XX (20) Expresses in the spiritual world, the immortality of the soul. In the intellectual world, the judgment of conscience. In the physical world, unexpected elevation. Remember, then, son of earth, that all fortune is changeable, even that which appears most stable. The ascension of the soul is the fruit that it should draw from its successive trials. Hope in suffering, but mistrust thyself in prosperity. If Arcanum XX should appear in the prophetic signs of thy horoscope, fall not asleep, either in idleness or forgetfulness; for thou hast a mission to accomplish which providence will reveal when thou art prepared to receive it. In Divination, Arcanum XX may be read as an Awakening or Resurrection. Arcanum XX is figured by a sarcophagus on whose side is pictured a scarab. Above this tomb a genie sounds a trumpet, whereupon it opens and aman, woman and child rise from it, still dressed in their winding sheets. The sarcophagus is the tomb through which man ascents to a higher life. The scarab is symbol of the immortality of the soul. The genie blowing the trumpet is the call to ascend to higher spheres. A man, woman and child arise together to indicate that immortality depends upon the trinity of positive and negative soul-monads united about their Deific ego. The innocence of the ego is represented by the child. The real tomb is the physical body which confines and envelops the soul while it develops its powers through the functions of social life; its relations to other life-forms. After one life in human form it has acquired self-consciousness and has no need to return to earth. As indicated by the trinity rising from the grave, there are opportunities for family life and other experiences on the next plane, the total ensemble symbolizing this entering into a new and active life in a realm above matter." There's some 'meat' to answer for me to digest.

I'll answer this because I too have occasionally hounded (& at times praised) SunLover/Tulku. For me the answer is like coconut milk. Wet & creamy. No that's not it. Rather we're worried him because he seems to see things in absolute black and white terms. He labels many things evil, at times woman and has talked about his role to punish temptresses and other evil doers His past writing had increasingly suicidal themes to it. Many were worried we were giving an audience to his 'point of view' and if he did something rash we at some level would be responsible. We come off as harsher then we should be because we're focused on some of his old posts and themes instead of just his newest ones. A more ontrack answer to Aarons post might be: If your religion teaches you fear and loathing then its time to get a new one. Thankfully mine doesn't, quite the opposite.

What is paranoia and messiah complex? I think Tulkulike people make for great highly speculative conversation. The problem is while we're just mixing metaphor and pop cartoons for fun they may be creating hellish conditions for themselves with manic dreams of super powers vying with heavy depression.

Shaking exercises seems to be a common thread in relaxing and normalizing the body in a number of qi related arts.