thelerner

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Everything posted by thelerner

  1. The Double Bind

    Posted Today, 11:56 AM View PostOntoneetica, on 28 October 2011 - 02:54 PM, said: When it is increase, it's petrified to carry on makeup in flawless condition. But uniform in the most irascible days you do not partake of to make over up painting. You should, however, alter the character and application them a teensy-weensy more economical. If you shell out your vacation on the water, practised instead of you determination be waterproof *********. They are particularly recommended seeking skin inclined to oily. Apech: "If you read the above post and it made some sense - then you need urgent medical assistance ... it's a spambot I just banned. " Damn, it kinda made sense to me. Thought it was a play off on the Double Bind reversal hypothesis obfuscation.
  2. Some say Mantak Chia is a fraud...

    I agree with this. A problem is that these teachings are best done with a live teacher. I think if you could study with the man on a regular basis you'd be golden. But reading a book allows you to pick and choose. There's no feedback. People will over due it, cook themselves and complain. Others will practice haphazardly, get no results and complain. I've taken a class with him and from my observation he is no fraud. He's not a high master either, but I don't he claims to be. In my eyes he's a pioneer, one of the first who opened the door to the Wests knowledge of Energy Arts. He's got talent and juice. Not perfect, but studying his techniques and books at least allows a practitioner insights and the ability to ask the right questions. Bottomline is there have been a few bums here who've taken his teachings to heart and have gotten very far with them. Personally I prefer Michael Winn's take on Healing Tao.
  3. Hmnn, I'd say going to strange seminars and events. Going to Kunlun in Phoenix meeting up with some Bums before it, going hiking and doing the seminar with them. Putting on a long black skirt(hakama) and doing martial arts in it. Winter misogi training that involved walking into ice filled rivers. Finding the Full Moon Meditation group in Chicago, doing 3 bouts of 45 minute meditation then 15 minutes dancing. Going to the Burning Man retreats. Its scary and inconvenient, but it forces one out of there comfort zone. I can't think of any solo home bound exercises that do that. In short courage comes from leaving the nest and doing/joining something that stretches and challenges you. You carry on the feeling if you could do that, then the mundane stuff is just stuff.
  4. My latest, greatest attachment!

    The quality of the board comes and goes, ebbs and flows. Different people like different things. I'm sorry to see you leave, you've been a good thoughtful contributor. But you're doing it in a very dismissive way. Sniff, sniff you're not as good as you used to be, so I'm leaving. No doubt accurate, but not tactful.
  5. Learning to Burn

    Write up on Burning Man Decompression in Chicago: Last Saturday was the Burning Man Decompression party. It was held same place as last year on the top floor of a south side warehouse. I'd bought a ticket two weeks ahead of time. The party is 13 hours from 2pm to 3 a.m. On the day of I was reluctant to go. I didn't feel like it. I didn't want to drive 80 minutes to get there. I didn't think I'd like the noise and crowd. I waffled throughout the day. At 6:30 got in my car, drove to the highway, saw it was jammed, didn't get on, instead went for decaf coffee. The question was 'If I didn't go, how would I feel about myself?'. Lousy, but ..I didn't feel like it. But I'd feel lousier for longer if I didnt' go. So 7:15 I got on the highway, traffic eventually opened up and I made it there by 8:10. Downstairs I showed my preprinted ticket at the booth, got the requisite greeting hug. Most of the people around were wonderfully and outrageously dressed, in a kind of Mad Max meets Longerie kind of way, think leather overcoat over bustiers. I was as always conservative, jeans, my shirt orange shirt was from last years event. It had the Lakes of Fire logo on its back. Not too square, but no where near the color or flair of those around me. I'd set up a bar last year. This year I had a bottle of wine, 2 folding chairs. Not much. I also had a bottle of make shift Manhattans. The mix must be about 60 proof. That high a proof could screw you up. On the way there I thought I shouldn't have any, I don't want to chance drunk driving. I didn't want to set anyone else up for it either. I never opened it. Taking the elevator to the 5th floor I was cognizant of the reasons I didn't want to come. Loud Techno music, crowd of people who I didn't know. I set up my chairs in a corner and walked around. In a side room there was no Fire Water lounge this year. Too bad, it had been a crazy place during the Lakes of Fire mini burns. Instead there was small stage with a dj. Outside there were several art exhibits, a live painter, places to get photographed within psychedlic winding lights. I wandered around, in the main area was a bigger stage as well as trapeze. I willed myself to accept the Techno music, it wasn't so bad really. Near my corner a large bar was set up. There was a childrens Fire show scheduled at 8:30, I went back downstairs, got a good seat on dirty warehouse ledge. A woman, joined me. We watched, I liked it, she was critical. Not enough safety people, dancers were wearing synthetics, which was a no no. She was an old hand at Burning Mans. She been part of some of the big staging. Interesting woman, very artistic and totally unlike me. At one point she pulled out a pouch of weed she'd scored from her daughters boyfriend. She asked they had a pipe, they didn't but they had a 'hitter'. Apparently thats just a tube. She filled it and puffed. Asked me if I wanted any, I said no. I have enough vices. She was an interesting mix of free spirit, experience, and worry. BarbaraBeBe, she works Milwaukeefest, she told me to call her if I wanted to get some free tickets in for my family. Very cool. After the show I wandered back upstairs, The bar had set up a pinball machine, one from my youth Xenon. I drank my wine played it. A couple guys came over and we played multiple. It was fun. There was a large oversized chess set on the floor. After being beat in Xenon I challenged my opponent to chess. The board was so big you had to walk around it a bit to move the pieces. It was a long game, probably incessant drinking made it longer. An advantage I had was I'd created a shot glass chess set in college and was used to playing tipsy. I think I outplayed him, but foolish mistakes almost did me in. In the end it was my king against his king and rook. I offered him a draw, he took it. I walked over to the main stage. There was a group of belly dancers taking turns with each songs. They had talent. In the middle of the floor was a round hula hoop trapeze. A young woman was spinning around on it. Also good. At 11:30 the Fire Show started. There was more 2 people at a time acts then last year. Often they'd have different accoutrements, like the woman had a fire hula hoop, and the man a long roped poi. As always, exciting to watch. One guy had an over sized poi ( rope with ball on end) that created a huge fire ball. He started the show by repeated hitting the ground with it, leaving little puddles of flame as he walked. This was outside ofcourse. Left around 12:30..not too late. I was very glad I went. If you want adventure you have to travel. To really live you have to push yourself.
  6. DNA Evidence Rocks the Boat

    I think we may all be mature enough to have this thread moved to off topic. It may have dabbled in 'Pit stuff', but I don't think it belongs there. Others??
  7. I am You were the 3,290,508,923rd person. Wow, thats my lucky number
  8. In a codependent relationship, you're less free; it comes with responsibilities, but there are payoffs; love, support, companionship.. Our responsibilities limit our freedom, yet are often the things that make us grow and mature. Like everything know what your trading for in advance. You can't choose your family, but you can say adios at adulthood. Lovers and friends are your choice. What one person feels is control is another persons advice to wake up. We all have blind spots and we need true friends to point them out, even when its painful. 2 1/2 bits
  9. spring summer autumn winter and spring

    Hmmnn, sorry the wife dies, but cute kid.
  10. Everyone post some favorite quotes!

    A little secret to life: Develop the mental trick to make "have to's" into "want to's". If you have to go to work, find the way to "want to". If you know you "have to" eat healthy to be healthy teach your taste to "want to". Once you learn this trick, discipline becomes a non issue. Michael thelerner
  11. Another place to look is Dainin's journal in the Personal section. Its not what he's written, but the record and measure of what he does and its consistency that is so inspiring. If we could be like him, we'd all be much further along.
  12. A Poisoned Well

    Thank goodness it happened a long time ago and far far away so it nothing to do with us here. As a great historian once said: 'Those who obsess over a certain point in history are bound to repeat its theme in there own lives.'
  13. 30 minute 30 day mentorships

    We're approaching a new month. I admire Kali for putting an offer out there. I hope others follow suit and we have some good mentorships going on.
  14. Haiku Chain

    The path is ahead Choose the green pill or red one Our choice defines us
  15. Real Kung Fu Movie

    I like the part with the bad guy taking down the boxers while smoking a cigarette Just the way I used to do it also I've found when things say 'Real' before the tittle most often they are not.
  16. Is Peace sneaking up Unnoticed

    Yeah, I had a problem with that part of the article too, and thought of editing it out, but thought it would be cheating. But Vortex, you fight so hard against any sign of optimism. Your reflex is to go to dark places. Are there any bright spots of development in the world for you?
  17. Truth is a burden for me

    I'm reminded of a part of Glenn Morris's book where he brings a person through the Greater Kan & Li. The woman sees everyone around her as robotic, slow, lifeless. By taking a big step in enlightenment the people around her seem duller. He states its not an unusual occurrence. The upshot was, in a few weeks it calmed down and people were just people again. While TRUTH is important to contemplate at times. In REALITY we chop wood, carry water. There is no truth is our daily action, just levels of awareness.
  18. Is Peace sneaking up Unnoticed

    I don't think its about exuberance, or the coming utopia, but its a reminder that things may not be as bad as we're led to believe. The dark projections are by no means inevitable. We've solved the whale oil problem, the streets aren't filled 200 feet high with horse shit as projected in 1900. Things may not improve, we could go downhill, but there is some very positive news out there. And its good to celebrate it, because we're inundated with so much negativity that if we don't stop and appreciate what is good, we're at risk of damaging our psyche.
  19. the weak yin male cannot find balance

    At some point you leave the alpha and beta mind set alone and have the confidence to be your best self. Forget the cultural stereotypes, phony goals..be authentic, leave the racing to the rats, make a decent living, and find the one or two most important things. not that I'm there, but seems like good advice.
  20. TTB Song project

    Not much talent, but I sing. If thats acceptable I'd lay down a track.
  21. I was thinking of you. I've been practicing dreamwork. There is an Itunes podcast called Dream Yoga. It looks at dream work from a Magical White Lodge perspective. Its not a path I'd take; its austere, demanding and has White Lodge Magicians in dream time that will help worthy practitioners who follow the method. The end goals seem similar to what you've expressed to be yours. You might want to check it out. Yours Michael
  22. an oddly optimistic post for you lots of good stuff out there depending on where you focus
  23. Haiku Chain

    Movies of the mind Mine, Yours, Reality Which one should I choose?
  24. Cure for masturbation addiction

    Nice. Good wisdom to a thorny problem.