thelerner

I'm no herbalist. I took ginseng when I was younger, 20's 30's. After some reading I decided to stop. There is an old saying if you take ginseng at 30, what are you going to take at 60? <something like that>. Westerners tend to think the more yang the better, really its not so. Balance. Michael

Thankfully, thats not true in my reality. People other then sex gods seem to be able to meet and mate without ending up jobless or in jail. It happens millions of times every day.

I was surprised Body of Light was given a suspension. I'm not a fan of his; he was passionate, but I don't think he meant to be insulting. I could see how he could have felt people (like myself) were 'ganging' up on him and he needed to be more forceful. Did he get a warning, publically or privately? The moderators are stricter now then they've been in years past. That's probably been a good thing. Its a thankless job. Still, I hope that people, particularly new ones are given a warning or 2 (esp. if there offense is minor) before getting tossed. A warning that specifies what they did wrong and that they could be tossed if it continues. my 2 cents. Michael

I hadn't realized the earlier suspension. Guess its fair. Not an easy job moderating. Nothing like people playing the 'You have too much ego; No You do' game'. . Yours Michael

I might add while most people aren't enlightened all the time Some people are enlightened some of the time. A short blast, on experiencing something awesome or even in the face of tragedy I hope most people get that wordless experience at least once in their lives. I'll add, my concept of 'enlightenment' tends to be at a lower easier point then most. My view is of its more accessible level is a relaxed happy flowing, no conflicts inside, and those external seen through a very wide perspective.

ans. Simba saw Mufasa, but he looked very cartoony. I gotta start going to bed earlier.

They're increasingly finding out the 'whites' are bad and cause the real damage, ie inflammation. The whites being sugars and flour. You might try finding some substitutes for them for a while. Also this Spring has been a bad year alergywise, sending many borderline people into sneezing and wheezing fits.

Oh my, if he fell silent it can only mean ONE THING!! HE WAS RIGHT. I'm hoping with all the righteous gone, it'll be a lot more fun around here.

Good luck, God Bless, let us know how it goes. Michael

Hmnn, To me the Wabi writer is simple and accomplished. Poetry was his practice. He didn't have any powers or crave them. I take that back, his power was simplicity and contentment. His power was to eat a wild berry and say yum. Accomplished indeed.

Yup, here is some cut and paste from the site: Urban Homestead at a Glance Location: Northwest Pasadena, one mile from downtown Pasadena Property Size: 66’ x 132’ = 8,712 sq.ft. (1/5 acre) House: Simple, wood frame craftsman bungalow. Circa 1917. House Size: 1,500 sq. ft. Garden Size: ~ 1/10 acre (3,900 sq.ft. / ~ 66' x 66') Garden Diversity: Over 350 different vegetables, herbs, fruits & berries Productivity: Up to 6,000 lbs harvest annually on 1/10 acre Harvest Chart (last updated: 2009) 6,000 lb Harvest Breakdown Annual Results & Yields Energy Chart (last updated: 2009) Water Usage (last updated: 2009) Food & Garden Growing 99 % of produce 6,000lbs on 1/10 acre Garden Saving seeds Companion planting Square inch, intensive growing methods Polyculture/intercropping HEALTHY SOIL / PLANTING METHODS Remineralization Self watering containers Integral pest management Square inch plantings Polyculture Successive sowing COMPOSTING METHODS Making / Using EM Bokashi Vermicomposting Composting food, garden and green waste FOOD CHOICES Buying in bulk Organic Local Eating seasonally Reducing "food miles" Fair trade Vegetarian (since 1992) ENERGY CONSERVATION "Powering down" - cut daily energy use in 1/2 12 kwh to 6 kwh a day 12 solar panels provide 2/3rds of our energy Rechargeable batteries Cut and paste a little murky. Bottom line about 6,000 lbs harvest annually on 1/10 acre!!! Unbelievable. What amazing potential. Lots of work though, but very inspiring.

Yup. Ride it out, baby Ride it out, and smile Yeee HAh

Its painful when a child realizes things change and can be taken away. I don't think the solution is to run away from family and pleasurable things. Good things should be cherished and appreciated, all the more so because they are impermanent. Enjoy your family, your friends, health and wealth; learn and grow. Change doesn't have to be bad. The experience of loss is bitter sweet because you connected; and in connection there is level of love and understanding. Is being a mushroom growing in the dark, the ultimate? Are ascetics who punish and deny themselves the way? How much of my humanity should I cede away; Friends, taste buds, eyes, or dick? No, let me have pleasure. Within wise constraints they make my life worthwhile. If you lack wisdom and these things cause you pain, by all means back away, re-evaluate, but to give them up because at some unknown time in the future they'll be gone is to lose the spice of life. IMO desire is okay as long as you are contented with what you have. Desires are a wind that can keep us moving on course. When they become too strong its time drop sails and reevaluate where we're headed. Ofcourse I write this as someone who is clearly on the householders path. There is a time to eat bitter. But it should be realized even that is a phase. We discipline ourselves to grow stronger. Once we've grown, we can laugh at ourselves and take the time to enjoy life, love and laughter.

The question is do you? Do you have the names of reputable tibetan teachers or organizations? I take it you don't speak the language. Have you done any work at tibetan yoga practices? Do you have any contacts here who can guide in the right direction? If you're not spending a couple hours at it now, methinks your an intellect overshadows your practice. And in the real world practice is all.

I find 4 miles an hour to be a brisk pace walkwise. You probably have between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Try it or see if you can hitch(or cab) a ride there somehow and walk back after work.

Thats the amazing thing. Its not so dead. Life has creeped back, big time. Just Google Life around Chernobyl, you'll find articles like this: PORTSMOUTH, England, April 26 (UPI) -- Lake wildlife near the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site is thriving, with effects of radiation apparently offset by the absence of humans, U.K. researchers say. Researchers from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom studied eight lakes contaminated by the 1986 Ukraine nuclear disaster, measuring the abundance and diversity of the invertebrates living there, NewScientist.com reported Tuesday. Some lakes had almost no measurable levels of radiation, while others had levels 300 times higher than normal, but neither the populations of animals found in the lakes nor their overall diversity were affected by the levels, the researchers said. In fact, the most contaminated lake, Glubokoye, had the most diverse ecosystem. "It's thriving," Portsmouth's Jim Smith said. However, the radiation in the area is still well above safe levels for humans, Smith said, so long-term exposure from the world's worst nuclear power plant disaster could mean an increase in chances of someone developing cancer. "You still wouldn't want to live there," he said. Smith says the evacuation of all humans from the area after the disaster has been a boon to the local wildlife, with endangered species such as European bison and wild Przewalski's horses making a comeback. "It demonstrates the impact humans have on ecosystems," Smith said. Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/04/26/Lake-life-around-Chernobyl-said-thriving/UPI-22421303865307/#ixzz1MfbwV5vf There was a fascinating article in More magazine on a group of old woman who are living close to the plant, against many regulations. So far they're doing fine. The area suffered hugely, but life is bouncing back. Seems like Humanity's presence is more a hindrance to nature then even a melt down. Its only been one generation. In 50 years it might be a paradise. Keep people out for 50 years and it might be an amazing preserve. I was reading about a visitor going to Hiroshima, apparently its very beautiful there. I don't think we'll see a rise in birth defects in the states due to the accident. In Japan, probably; some things are unavoidable, but again they're smart..precautions will be taken to minimize them.

Can't find the link, but there are people who've used every inch of space they have in there front and back yards, they've found ways to max out produce, going beyond square foot gardening into multi layer and multiple harvest techniques. They ended up with thousands of pounds of food from an amazingly small space. Lots of work though. I think Trunk provided the original link. Santiago is also big on cutting edge gardening.

Its been long in coming, but I'm seeing progress here in the Midwest. Nothing dramatic, but people are shrinking there lawns, adding more ground cover type plants that stay short and green without fertilizer and little if any watering. I'm seeing bigger gardens in the back and some, like me, are planting in the front. I've gotten great ideas from Mother Earth magazine. It'd be great to see a revival in chicken coop ownership. There are a number of inspirational sites on home owners doing massive farming on a half acre of land. Its impractical at the moment, but I was just watching a TED video on an architect who plans out the ultimate 'green' houses, built through growing plants. Fascinating. In the meantime, everyone should have a small square garden or raise something in a few pots. I've found a long square foot garden, instead of rectangular to be the easiest to care for. I literally put a border down and filled it with a 40# bags of soil, ala an article by Mother Earth, its worked beyond my expectations.

Nothing wrong with heartbreak. Its the cost of living with an open heart. It should be experienced. Like any wound, times soothes it, hope mends it. Mass quantities of liquor and chocolate help too.

Often the loud theoreticians are the ones doing nothing. The most talented find their path and work on it diligently. Really its not who's the greatest; its how much time do YOU spend on the mat. Michael edit: If BOL wrote he was doing things in preparation (studying the language, getting contacts, etc) I don't think I'd come off half so critical. The thing is most of Know what its like to be a 14 year old in search of mystic experience. We also know what its like at 15, 16,20 & 30. Where he's at, his desires and goals are probably similar at some point to ours. I don't think we're trying to take away a youngsters wings as much as make sure they're pointing in the right direction and capable of taking off.

Beware of 'protesting too much'. Have a plan, be prepared, go for it. Beware of getting to clingy and preachy, you may be creating attachments, strong ones. When your going to do something hard, you quiet your mind and do it. When you don't, you toss it around, argue w/ people; get self righteous instead get going. You never write about any practice or discipline you do. Instead its on things and places you haven't experienced. So people are skeptical of your drive and ability. You won't convince people with your theories of 'who's the best'. But give us details if you're really going. When you buy the ticket, how much, where you'll land. What your packing and any groups you'll be contacting there. There is a chance people here who could actually help. Have you even begun to plan such a trip? Or is it still in the fantasy stage? Are you fantasizing about being accepted by a great yogi, and you've never even done a YMCA yoga class? edit View Postbodyoflight, on 17 May 2011 - 01:46 AM, said: i will always feel shame for those who are wasting their lives away chasing after women and money and not know it! despite being far older and supposedly more "mature" than a 14 year old kid! Um, are you a 14 year old kid?

When you say half of Europe is contaminated by the fall out, are you sure? What does that mean? Is it a wasteland? I don't think so. It sounds wonderfully alarmist, but to what extent true? I don't think they'll be pouring salt water in there for HUNDREDS of years, I think it'll be plugged in a few months. Let me be clear it was a major disaster, but smart people are working on it. The 9.0 Earthquake and Tsunami were disasters of near Biblical proportions, but the Japanese are smart, resilient and resourceful. They'll solve the problems. Japan isn't Russia in 1986. There is an industry on scaring the wits off people. It makes for good press and fodder for conspiracy theorists. Lets take a Chernobyl, it was the worst nuclear accident to date, made more horrific by poor design, incompetency, secrecy of a magnitude far beyond Japanese situation. From a distance of 25 years we can see it as horrific, but not apocalyptic. Recovery happens, far faster then people at the time assume. I've seen a dozens of predictions of apocalypse on this site. Its not that doom and gloomers are wrong, its that they underestimate human (& Natures) resourcefulness and resilience. They see a downward pattern and draw lines that end in oblivion. Things cycle and the often our worst fears don't come to pass. Still one keeps an eye out and should be ready to get out of disasters way. I predict containment within a few weeks or months. What are your predictions for Fukishima?

Every day this month, 20 to 45 minutes before sunrise, 4 planets Mercury, Venus, Mars & Jupiter will be in the closest grouping yet this century. Seemingly a few "inches" from each other. Keep an eye out we'll see them come together then slowly separate as the days go on. article at on.natgeo.com/mUPBh9

Its a bad situation, but deadly serious for the ecology of the planet. I don't think so. The leak is bad but the situation is much much much better then a month, or 2 weeks ago. People are in the buildings, power has been restored, coolant is entering etc. There are going to be set backs but all in all progress is being made. The glass is only half radioactive. I've been reading about the Ladies of Chernobyl. Fascinating stuff, things bounce back much faster then people give them credit for; particularly when we're in the midst of the disaster. (Look at the dire global predictions of the Gulf Oil debacle) The Chernobyl area is seeing wild life that has been absent for 2 or 3 generations. It seems like the presence of man may be more of a disaster for an environment then a manmade disaster! If we leave an area alone, nature rejuvenates, usually quicker the predicted.