thelerner

To Sloppy Zhang, You've pointed to a direction (vast magical powers). One way to find out how to get there is to see where you are now and how quickly you walk. So, what do you do now, in terms of practice and time spent? What have you accomplished? How fulfilling has it been? Knowing these things is vital to which direction you should be sent. Michael

I love looking at the sky. I've even gone UFO hunting w/ Kunluners out in Phoenix, heading out to alleged secret bases in the desert. What do I have to report nothing. I answered positively to losing time, but thats just the way I am. I do have a friend who is seriously into Aliens. She's able to contact albeit in meditation and is involved in some large organizations that track them. She'll send me Youtubes and various web postings. All in all I'm not a true believer. Michael

1. Just do it, or rather meditate. Begin w/ 15 minutes same time every day work your way up. 2. Standing meditation is good to build up Chi, maybe 10 minutes work your way up. Look up Zhan Zhang and/or standing on the bums. 'The Way of Energy' is a good book. I'm sure there are some free references on the internet. 3. A good chi gung routine. I like Michael Winn's Fundamentals II video. There are some good ones out there, even on Youtube. Still its best to learn live. Good is good, there may be an excellent yoga or Tai chi teacher in your area. Or martial art, like Aikido (my martial art of choice). 4. The basics eat healthy, get plenty of rest, exercise. 5. I've enjoyed the KAP class that Santiago offers, lots of energetic & shamanic style meditations where you can get an experienced teachers feedback. Many of us here started out with the Healing Tao, through the founder Mantak Chia or Michael Winn (I mentioned him earlier-he has some good course material IMO) Michael

Karma-I'll define it now as 'Getting what you deserve' is a nice theory philosophically, religiously and appeals to our scientific sense as well. Hard to argue with short term cause and effects. But as we go past short term it becomes problematic for me. Who the hell is keeping score? Don't they have better things to do. Aren't some things just plain random? When karmic reactions start getting into past lives that seems ultimately unfair as well as unknowable guesswork. Its also the ultimate in might makes right, validating the caste systems and the worst in snobbery. Well to do tyrants and oppressors are blessed by the universe and victims are getting what they deserve. Murderous villains in the East have been aided by sentiment that it was the victims karma, no need to get involved, mass murder and torture are fine. Michael

Sometimes we get a little emotional because we've all read about groups sorta like FD committing mass suicide or murder. They start off with a talented charismatic leader who is very inspiring. Along the way the Godlike praise turns them bad. They end up increasingly paranoid, setting a path that leads followers into persecution. The more I hear of Li's pronouncements of the evil world and how groups of people are no longer human, the more I want to tell 'followers': Don't drink the lemonade and if he tells you to kill people, don't. The sad thing is there are so many good points about FG that we can learn from and what we get is the end of the world prophecies (& we're to experienced to be scared of your boogie man) and Li's Godlike nature(which is step 1 on the road to cultism). You rarely mention good solid practices, breathing, movements, even morals beyond FG platitudes. On the otherhand, Gauss has been nothing but polite and is sharing his passion for FG and gets mostly crap from people like myself. For all our disagreements he's a solid member of TTB's. I respect him, but not FG. Michael

Good question. I hope someone has an answer. Things that are relatively easy to track. Acid/Alkaline balance, w/ relatively cheap strips. Resting heart rate in the morning. Sugar levels in blood w/ urine strips. Those are easy. For experts the pulse can be a diagnostic tool similar to blood samples, but that takes rare expertise. I wonder how far you can go w/ inexpensive urine tests? Michael

Most things, such as a lengthy commentary on IIH are free at Rawn Clark's website abardoncompanion.com . He has a series of downloads on Hermetics that he charges for. They're just $7 or $8 and are very inspirational. Strangely they are taken from 'live' recordings from speeches in Second Life, a computer Sim world. Rawn says people dawdle too much doing the IIH. Set goals and move swiftly, think weeks, not months for the first levels. Its not exactly mastery as much as familiarity and adding to the old practices. Michael Actually it wasn't just the lady on the cover of Modern Magick that I commented on, its that in the same book the number of Lessons went from 12 to 11 in the new copy. & also Burners come in all flavors and ages, but there is an aspect of spirit they all share.

#8. Don't piss off Psychic's in the first place..

From my experience and perspective I'd say no. Looking at it from a historical perspective I'd also have to answer no. Dropping what you'd like to believe and the lense of philosophy you come up with no. Especially if the question is rephrased as Do ALL people get what they deserve? To think otherwise is IMO to do semantic twisting and not be willing to call shit shit and suffering suffering. Course my perspective is by definition subjective and my experience limited, so on levels beyond the tic toc mundane..maybe..but we spend a hell of a lot time in the tic toc world and thats a lot of suffering to accounted for. Michael

If you look at cults, particularly doomsday ones, you might find you have much in common with them. From the flawless charismatic leader who's the new Jesus/Buddha to the end of the world soon, to the so many people aren't even human. The doctrine your preaching is thousands of years old and appears several times in every generation; same dogma, dance and theme. Some hit it big, most go down in flames as the apocalyptic due date goes by, and they're forced to say either 'Because we prayed so hard it was averted' or 'Gotta redo the math, it'll happen in 4 more years'. There's some good things in Falun. On the surface it has good teachings and very good chi gong routines, but below below the surface is the same old rot that permeates old religions; filled with prejudices born of superstition, technophobia, xenophobia, heck I'll add homophobia too.

For what its worth I just put a list of Healing Guided meditations in the Healing Circle section. Michael

So sorry for your loss. I've discussed TCG with my 3 children. The good we do goes on. I think your powerful warning will save lives. Yours Michael

Hi Lomistick, Actually Dao Zhen, who wrote the piece I copied is unfortunately rarely on the board these days. But fear not, we have many "unqualified" teachers who will probably not be able to help you for free Which in some ways is a gain. We should probably start up a post on what good books there are on Tantra and Taoist Sexual techniques. Michael

I echo what others have said. When you wrote "I've heard that a good beginning point for a water fast is one day for every year you have lived, which would put me at a 23 day fast, which doesn't seem too bad." That could cripple you. Even water fasting every other day is very extreme. A practice built up slowly over time creates a strong foundation and makes you stronger. Rushing to extremes will burn you out mentally, physically and spiritually. Start way way way slower and get some proper advice from a responsible source. For what its worth I've done some fasting through Daniel Reids Book The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity. Its not something to be taken lightly, there are potential dangers even to a short fast. Do your research from a couple of sources. Michael

If there is time and if its not a huge effort, I'd love to see the Personal Discussion section 'cleaned up'. People who haven't written in years or have never written should be placed in limbo or at put to the bottom. Likewise those who have the most active discussion sites should be placed closer to the top. My 2 cents Michael

Really, you don't know?? definition 1. The third step of the 7th element of Tantra, only possible if the woman can spread her legs 174 degrees. definition 2. Black tea with spicy herbs, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg etc., often served with milk- popular in Tibet and Starbucks.

Use your Chi.. I mean Chai. Tell her you've found a place that makes amazing Chai and ask if she'd like to join you there after class next week. Step 2, finding a place that serves chai. Michael

Give meaning to your time In Chinese it would doubtlessly be fewer characters Michael

Tempting not to write a reply and prove my vast knowledge then I was going to write stay away from braggards and slick salesman, but you know what? The best teacher will not necessarily fit your stereotype. Some will talk a lot, some won't, beware litmus tests. Michael

Too much?? Sure , in a monastery it would be 2 years of this, then two years of that, maybe 3 years for the next step.. But you're not in monastery, you have the opportunity to go on the University's dime, you're enthusiastic and passionate. Go for it. Just work hard to stay grounded and let us know how it is. Yours Michael

Great writing as always. Insightful without lapsing into vague philosophy. Michael

I'm an abusive Netflix user. Mostly TV series like Lost, Heroes, etc, and a few movies now and then. Its amazing that I can watch shows on my Ipod Touch. The last movie I watched was 'Ponyo' w/ the kids, Miyazaki is the Japanese anime genius who did Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, his movies are beautiful and thought provoking. I'd be interested in more spiritual titles. Michael

Must be something in the air. I got up, put on Rawn Clark's Archaeous meditation and stood 15 minutes in ZZ. Listening to it while standing makes it very easy. I could probably set the piece up twice and do 30 minutes. It was probably a combination of things, but I energetically cooked myself about a year ago. I took the event as a sign to stop and slow down. Time to get back on the train I think. Michael