thelerner

a bit, but thelerner is also a lazy slacker. I admire both practices, but never did them together. I'll probably go for the new book. Those who have it should give start giving us some reviews.

I was reading TI's post - Great post. I've been thinking about Tummo and some similar exercises like Healing Tao's Steaming practice lately. In discussions on filling the dan tien, I can't help but wonder about 'heat' as a necessary ingredient. To what extent should we 'heat up' our cores? What practices do you do? Winter is coming in 3 or 4 months, it'd be nice to bone up on Tummo.

Hmnn, looks like a giant heart is blasting off like a rocket and a giant brain is shooting out blue lightening. Both are tearing a guy in half. My analysis: The giant rocket heart is powerful but I think it'll use up its fuel quickly. In a grudge match my money is on the humongous electrified brain. Analysis 2: the guy would have survived it he'd just let go and let the organs do there thing. Lesson, don't try to capture giant mutant brains or hearts, let'em go. I'm sure Lao Tzu would agree.

I've heard we should be leery of test tube (only) based results. After all, oxygen kills most things, alcohol kills most things, heat, cold, exposure to air etc., until things are tested in at least the conditions of a warm blooded body, putting drops into petri dishes unfortunately means little.

I've been cycling through some of my old Monroe Institute CD's. A very interesting collection of guided meditations that build on each other. Unusually minimalist, mostly sounds, very little instruction. The later ones build on exercises from earlier ones, instruction is vague, some visualizations, energy circulation, affirmations and very little instruction. I listened to two in a row. The first one I blanked out on, I had no idea what if anything it said, the second I was conscious and did the exercise of color breathing, deep green for peace, red for strength..etc., I'd grown used to/ tired of them. Its good to go back and refind there potency.

Very interesting. Could you give us some examples? Thanks Michael

Actually an hour and 45 is pretty impressive to me. I wonder if you've found your ideal sitting set up. Maybe experimenting with a pillow/zafu of a different height and firmness? A softer covering underneath your knees? On a physical level finding the right support could be the ticket.

I'd add you can tell much about a practice by its students. They're not the loudest bunch but the TaoBums who are dedicated practitioners of S-m seem very impressive to me. A couple of them have written about there experiences in their Personal Practice sections. Michael

I'm at his stage.

Ya Mu's Stillness Movement meditation has a long sequence done after meditating that includes quite a bit of long rubbing movements. I've been shortening it because I wanted to save time and didn't understand the 'why' behind it. Thanks for your post. It answers a question I didn't know I had. Michael

I'm in the minority here. I disliked it. Thought it was too much pop culturish. I thought the author created overly manipulative stories to get his points across. But then, while I like Poo, I also like Rabbit and see all the characters as essential and purposely reflecting human character. The author clearly had favorites, creating dialogues where Rabbit is the bad guy and Poo transcendent, whereas Poo being Poo is both wise and foolish, struggles along in hope and friendship.

Cool esoteric stuff. You should get a Personal Discussion Page and make sure this and other how-to posts are kept in a single place where they can be worked through. You've got some fascinating techniques. Thanks for sharing them.

I like this. Could you go into more description of what you mean by resonance & alignment? I see resonance as a feeling or affirmation done then let go of, seeing if it echoes through emptiness to get deeper. Alignment? To what extent do see it as physical, mental, or spiritual. Thanks

My Aikido Sensei had an extremely long breath cycle gave this advice: Breath like a gourmet, sip the air, in slow relaxed appreciation. Early on I got one of Silent Grounds Breathing CD's. This one was just timed tones. Starting with a tone getting louder for an 8 count then lower for an 8 count. Next was 10-10 all the way up to 50-50. Having on my ipod makes its an ideal tool for lengthening my breath, I set the ipod on repeat and when I'm comfortable enough with a rhythm I'll move to the next longer setting. Insight Timer is an app that does similar timing, but any old metronome can be used. It's a tool that needs to be discarded eventually so you could 'just breath' naturally, but by using the tool you're natural breath evolves long, smooth and deep.

SHUT UP and sit quietly

Nice links, great information, thanks

Good to see you back. What have learned during your journey away? Next we'll have to work on HarrySunshine, Yoda, Plato, Ron Jeremy and a host of other long timers.

I agree. A foundational practice might be years of seated meditation, years of yoga or tai chi with an hour or more of daily practice..etc. And beyond the practice is the work of disciplining and quieting the mind and emotions in everyday life. Maybe you can learn it all, but you'll go faster and steadier if you start on a strong foundation and not focus on exotic powers. Course you might be able to do both, but the foundation work is far more important (imo).