thelerner

It's hard to get tickets to the main one. They had a lottery this year that sold out almost immediately versus 3 years ago when I bought them a week in advance. The regionals ( http://regionals.burningman.com/na_index.html ) are shorter local events that give a good taste of Burning Man light. Cheap too, I think the Michigan Burn is about $45. Because people can't get to the big one the regionals are getting bigger and better.

Two weeks to the regional Burning Man in Michigan. I think its more about freedom and self expression then getting high, though for many that is part of it. Radical sharing and self sufficiency, creating art, hanging out, listening to music, watching fire dancers amidst bonfires little to building size. There is nudity, fornicating, but little or no belligerence. Its probably lower key then EDC because its in a camping environment and mostly Midwesterners who tend to be mellow. This year instead of beer, I'll set up a Murkish coffee bar, coffee mixed w/ cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger(?) coconut oil(?), I'll use my amazing but slow royal Belgian coffee maker that heats with alcohol to make it, ironically using an instant coffee so there's no clean up between loads.

DTHE, we call you Tulku cause that is the name you posted under here for the past two years, and it's faster to type ; rest assured no one here assumes you're a Tulku. I'm reminded of the last Superman movie where, Lex Luthor tells Lois Lane 'Say it, you know you want to..'. Fine I'll say it, you don't have enemies in other dimensions, I am not a devious enemy trying to trick you away from a genuine spiritual path. I whole heatedly wish you were on the path with a responsible experienced teacher, but you're not. You're filled with fantasies and delusions. You need professional help. You need to get your feet on the ground. Look at some of the personal discussion sites, like uh Old Green, steady practice, steady progress, there are many like him here. When, if they find a super high teacher, they will be worthy of them. Feet on the ground, steady, even dull practice, nothing grandiose, find a good teacher, no dramas keep it simple.

Twinner, II was with you til 'everything happens for a reason'. There we split ways. I think shit happens, no rhyme no reason, bad timing, wrong place, wrong time, no greater purpose or plan. Not always, at times there's purpose, maybe just the purpose we decide to create ourselves. I don't know if God plays dice with the universe, but I think there's a couple of 00 crap outs on the table. I'm always suspicious of people whose 'god' believes in exactly the same crap they do. The earth is fertile, the sun graces all with light. I hope when I die I'll realize- I spent all my time and money on booze, woman and sex, and like a fool I squandered the rest.

seen for what they are we chuckle at the old myths clinging to our own

On the anxiety front there is a well done guided meditation called Evening Inventory. It available as a free podcast download from Itunes, search for Evening Inventory Meditation or Meditation Station. Unlike most night time meditations it has you bring up problems you had over the day then release them, so its not covering them up, but acknowledging and putting them away. It's a short 11 minute audio. They also have another called ZZzzzz that is good for sleep.

I'm far from an expert but I don't see that much separation between them. Matter of fact I see them as complimentary. For example the Micro Cosmic Orbit, Michael Winn teaches a sequence of physical movements that augment the mental aspect. Even in stillness there are teachers who recommend moving the eyes up and down to help cycle it. It goes the other way too, there are times I'll do a chi gung routine without motion (or very little motion); standing and doing it in my mind, there is flow going on, sometimes more profound then when I do the 'physical' motions. In sitting meditation most of my training was to be motionless, but in the past few years I've been picking up rocking ala Michael Lomax's Stillness Movement system. When rocking in emptiness meditation is it moving or stillness? My mind is empty my body rocks.

hmnn, so...how are you doing on the spiritual prerequisites? Do you have a quiet mind? Is it silent all day? Are your emotions in check? Are your desires? How is your self control? You can't skip steps. Real spiritual work is measured in decades, indeed to finish a spiritual mile stone is easily a decade long endeavor. Telling me what you want <godhood> doesn't mean much. Your daily practice that tells me whether you're a poser or a serious student.

Let's see. I can no longer get off the floor without moving my hands, but I can sit quietly. How far spiritually? So far.. level 6.9 out of infinity. Open other Chakras? Let'em open there own chakras, lazy bastards. How powerful is the energy I build? I'm trying to keep it pretty calm these days. Take in others karma? No by definition its something they have to work through themselves. How far can my the current Taoist practice take me? Into the moment, no further. No powers, no abilities, just sitting, standing and walking with a clear quiet mind and getting out of the universes way.

Eh, its a cartoon, not a lesson plan. Bozo's who think watching will allow them to 'bend' or gain 'true' spiritual insight are also the ones who need to labels on superman costumes that say 'Does not allow wearer to fly'. On the other hand, I think the show, more so the old Avatar series did some good. Entertaining and it brings up fundamental concepts that otherwise the public would have no knowledge of. In some ways it's a modern Kung Fu series for a new generation. That show also spawned its share of craziness and over exaggerations of eastern martial arts, but it also led to some serious study and cross cultural knowledge. To make something truly deep, authentic and spiritual would probably be too boring to watch, especially as a series. All that can really be shown is cliff notes, ala Rocky Montage. The light weights (majority) play around then drop out, but the serious people see and go on to learn. As someone said it (has the potential) to make wise people wiser and dumb people dumber. But you know, silly people will do silly things, as long as they don't hurt themselves, let'em have at it. my 2 cents.

I'd..I'd.. I'd spend less time on the internet

I agree with these. We don't really know. We can suspect, even have some proof, but absolute knowledge, probably not. Yet our lives are less about what we know and more about how we live. Hopefully we'd try to improve ourselves and seek a path that helps our brothers and environment whether we believe in reincarnation or not. The path that connects to your soul and makes you a better person is the right one. Real Truth is secondary imo. Though in deep meditation we may get glimpses, but too often they're filtered through personal and cultural bias's.

I agree, ultimately the argument, We don't have the money- is the most powerful one. Yes there are wonderful things we can do, but we don't have the money. Its no virtue to give to good causes when you're heavily in debt (two trillion?) and are borrowing the money to do so.

It could be, but there are way worse kind of escapsism. Compare it to other escapsisms, TV, drugs, alcoholism, karaoke . Worse case scenario you could have equaled others and watched 4 hours of TV a day. Best case scenario, a quiet efficient mind, a strong healthy spirit, enlightenment?? Possible good seems to outweigh the bad. But balance is needed, it shouldn't be practice instead of life to keep you from what you're afraid of.

Rawn Clark has a unique guided meditation called Center of Stillness Meditation (CSM). It's free on his site, Abardoncompanion.com. It's method of 'sealing the senses' has you putting the each sense (hearing, seeing, touch etc.,) into a globe that circles you. Ultimately you have globes that represent thought and emotion circling as well. You relax in it. You might want to give it a try. Other then that, meditating when the body is tired after exercise and just plain deepening practice helps. Michael

I think if the Old Man was around today he'd either ignore politics or get in his car and head for the mountains.

double post

From listening to some of Minke DeVos's Fusion meditations I always got the feeling Pakuas used in them were diamond shaped with the tai chi symbol on the octagonal side. They absorb, purify and send energy, often in pairs.

I have respect for Mak Ti Sin, he may be close to what we'd find in real working Taoist Monasteries. The reality of formal old tyme religious Taoism is often off putting to Western sensibilities. Those who consider themselves following Taoist precepts are often taken by surprise at its pantheon and dogmatism. Mak Ti Sin's lineage, commercial aspects and defensiveness can also be off putting. Yet if your interested in Taoist magic, Fu's, religious Taoism etc., his site may be a good place to gain knowledge. Personally, I find it to be as superstitious and controlling as any religion. Maybe more so because you can buy Fu's that protect you from evil's as slight as stepping in dog poo, as well as buy your own and ancestors way out of a relatively nasty hell. On the other hand, there are good practices and strong basics taught along with the mythology.

I saw the preview twice. I can wait..

For what its worth my sister has a fear of death. She faces it by volunteering in a hospice. Modern society separates us from the truth of old age and dying. The best way to know is go deep and participate. Another answer might be found in dreams.

There is a 'warm up' before meditation I do, I think its from the Vispassana tradition. I say to myself some variation of: I am not my body, I am that which inhabits it. I am not my thoughts, they are temporary, like clouds floating across the sky. I am not my emotions, I acknowledge them and let them settle like waves in pond. I am not my past.. they are memories and patterns I can choose not to follow I am not my future..that is just projections I am not my possessions I am breath and awareness then I'll go onto meditation. I think the practice of acknowledging I am not my thoughts and body make the concept of death easier.

I think he's got a couple of them. What did the ashram meditation consist of, if I might ask. Thanks

I think the epitome of childishness is the attitude, 'Those who disagree with my position' are.. insane, dishonest, not true Whateverzis. I think it also shows poor conversation skills to write, 'You must think this..' and launch into some off track absurdity. In real conversation if you want it to continue and learn, ask the other person to clarify there position. Don't come off as an ass by saying You must believe this.. Ask..Learn..converse. Find out what common ground you have, find out where it differs and why. Stay away from assumptions and juvenile vilifications. two bits and a hair cut.