thelerner

Don't worry so much about kidhood, you'll be on baby watch for quite a while . Lots of contact, hold'em smile at'em. Get a Bjorn papoose, hopefully they'll like it. If they do its a nice experience to walk around with them, good exercise for you both and it allows you to get things done while being w/ the kid, a huge huge plus. Sleep is a big problem, sleep when they do if possible. If you're anal enough, track both eating and pooping times. We did for our first born and we were able to anticipate his needs so it seemed less disruptive for all of us. Last, babies cry, some of them cry a lot. My #2 was collicky for two years. Do what you can for them, but realize its not your fault, they will grow out of it. Michael Answering the question. Single most important thing..Be the parent 80% of the time. Loving, caring, but also strict, setting rules and boundaries. Be a friend 20%, on there level, no teaching, just play. One of the joys of parenthood is having a chance to access the ages we once were. So be a baby w/ a baby, toddle w/ the toddlers. Have fun just rolling a ball around. Best toy, a puppet, because it allows you to fully interactively play.

I'll soak up some sun early in the morning or late evening or in the middle if its cloudy, I won't stare directly at it though. Be careful, it can damage your eyes, its also very yang and can be over energizing. If its bright I'll just face the sun with my eyes closed and let the various bright colors circulate.

I was going to put in a question earlier. Do animals deal with mara/ maya? I think most of us would say no. Because they live in the here and now. Our ignorance happens because we're trying to figure out the unknowable future, regretting a misremembered past. IMHO the world (maya) is real. We are the illusion, because we rarely just accept It without covering it up in layers of thoughts, judgements and stories. Michael

Didgeridoo music is deep, on lots of levels. At Tao Mountain a few years back an aussie brought a humble PVC pipe version. It made awesome music. Michael

Violence starts as anger, and anger comes from a sense of loss. The fear of something being taken away. It starts in the gut, with a shallow breath and moves to hurt the source of the loss. Its a madness that warms and focuses while causing us to burn and separate. Michael

It gives me a place to keep my stuff. M.

Highschool: Shotokan Karate (excellent taught by strict traditional teacher) College: TKD (after Shotokan this felt very..commericial, it was the only one offered) then 13 years Shin Shin Toistu Ki Aikido (good stuff, mellow, hands on, included meditation, healing, breathing, body/mind explorations) These days, Kuchi waza and Wu Wei Michael Kuchi waza = tongue technique. Generally used as sarcastic device in dojo As in "Excellent Kuchi Waza Michael, now get on the mat and practice.

When I was backpacking for a few months I had a copy of Stephen Levine's book 'A Gradual Awakening' with me. Its style of Vispassana probably started me on a spiritual path. I've been influenced by Glenn Morris's 'Pathnotes of a Ninja.." bad tittle, great book(I also picked up his Meditative Mastery tape series), and it led me to taking KAP classes w/ Varjatsu here . Freebies!!! I enjoy the Zen Inspired talks of Michael McAllistair downloadable as Itunes podcasts, my favorite. Zencast is another good one, it has many excellent indepth audio courses and talks on Zen. Multi-week lessons free! Rawn Clark's ABARDONCOMPANION.COM site has an excellent series of guided meditation and kabalic chants. For you Buddhist Jews, the Awakened Heart Project for Jewish Meditation and Comtemplation has some great podcasts. Indepth History I like Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast. Haven't listened to it much, but on Trunks recommendation I subscribed to the Guru Radio podcast w/ Mark Griffin. Michael

To a fundamentalist anything that doesn't kowtow to there brand of dogma is satanic. That said there are enough 'bodies' out there strewn along the kundalini path that it could be taken as evidence that kundalini is satanic. If you're unbalanced, doing energy work can tilt you over the edge. Way too many people aren't practicing under an experienced teacher. Course that includes me, and I'm just fine.. I think I read an article that showed Lucifer's heyday was right after the movie "The Excorist" came out. From extremely rare occurances, suddenly possessions were the rage, dozens coming in from every city. Most calls from Catholics, but every religion was calling the Vatican looking for exorcists. When the movie died down, so did the calls. Movie induced mass hysteria? demons taken advantage of an opening in human consciousness? I tend to think its the former. Most of our demons are our own strangely loved creations. Michael

Is this a fair test of a higher level practitioner: How they react when someone else's judgement? I.e. they're totally accepting when someone else says Chocolate preferers are supremely ice creamly deficient? Can they take it with a smile? Versus having to defend? or feeling enmity towards Vanillerer? I was given the finger while driving today and I was surprised at the string of negative reactions and drama my mind went through. All pointing out a certain lack of maturity on my part. (though mature enough to keep driving) Being able to take compliments and criticism with the same equananimity is essential to move ahead in the spiritual game or so I've heard. Michael

I agree with Bruce's angle. I judge it to be correct though I'm not attached to it. Like downgrading desires to preferences. I like chocolate more then vanilla, but its a preference, I'm cool either way. Michael

True, and the additional of illuminatti or nutty was a poor argument on my part. I could argue that breaking a code and knowing its accuracy, intent, time and date are different things. Cultural differences, hyperbole and the sheer amount of world wide data even at that time creates noise that we don't hear 60 years later. Its possible Japanese militants were calling for attacks on the U.S. every month for the past two years. We were in a cold war with them and it was bound to heat up. Lets look at an angle where both conspiracy's have commonality. Reading bio's of Roosevelt demonstrate to me he wasn't the kind of man who would knowingly allow the mass murder of his countrymen. Even if he was, he was intelligent enough not to start a war through the destruction of large piece of his navy. It just doesn't make sense, we'll start a war with the Japanese but only after they've crippled our top ships. There attack was enough reason to start a war. You could actually defended Pearl Harbor from surprise attack, and then declare war cause they attacked us and had just declared war on us. Which they did just as they attacked. Being crippled doesn't help, quite the opposite. Any extra hate generated has to balanced with your conspiracy being found out and being hanged for treason or at least losing everything and going to jail. With 9/11 experts have patiently pointed out holes in the conspiracy theories. Truthers will continually and unabashedly move dates, figures and people around to fit there latest version of conspiracy. When the facts are against them they move to the next mistruth. (course thats what they say about the other side ) So your left with the big facts. Like Pearl Harbor, crashing planes into the 2 building and another one or two into the ground is outrageous enough to spark war. You don't need to spend days, and have dozens of people involved in wiring a building to quickly collapsed. You've hit the damn thing with a big plane, killed hundreds and sparked a war. In both cases doesn't somebody in the Evil Genius Committee raise his hand and say WHY?? and point out the utter stupidity involved. If the Japanese attack our base, we'll go to war whether we defend it or get caught with our pants down. Why not just defend, that way we get our war, keep our war ships and have no chance of being called traitors. & We're destroying four full plane loads of people and hitting two symbolic towers, thats enough to start a war. No need for a dozen people to be setting up explosives in 2 or 3 buildings cause they could get caught, leave evidence or even feel guilty later. By the way maybe we should put a couple of Iraqi's onboard since thats who we want to pin it on, duuh, otherwise we waste our time for months in Afganistan. It seems to me the both theories paint the Government as both Evil Genius's and real real stupid. Michael

I think Sloppy Zhang put it best: Know your limitations. (and your arts) I remember two lesser species arguing who would win a fight Godzilla or Rodan. The argument got so heated the Rodan fan hit the other guy in the face and sending him to the floor. As the attacker walked away the guy on the floor yelled at his back 'Godzilla would still win'. The moral: Be more concerned with your own martial ability then discussing about others. 2. Godzilla would win.

I can't help but think that in real life, after asking the gentleman with the bat that question, he would start beating upon you. Giving you a chance to realize how wonderful the world is while being beaten (to death?) by an angry thug. Sometimes the world calls for action, whether its calling 911, taking the bat away, or attacking a thug. Screw philosophy, when action needs to be taken, do it. Just like Nike says. To the enlightened- the world, the now, is indeed perfect. To the other 99.9999 percent of us, we need to take action because we're not in there world and pretending to be leads to wrong action and stagnation. Michael

The more I study the more essentials have popped up. Starting with a program like Healing Tao, it has lots of stuff, energy practices, but its easy to leave out stillness, just sitting. I think with an actual teacher you'd be reminded to include it as a base practice, but within the norm of short seminars, books and videos it gets too little emphasis, when it is a base practice. Energy arts whether moving or internal compliment stillness, but reaching emptiness is essential. Stillness and energy, is that all I need, not by a long shot. I enjoy Kunlun, a practice where you get out of your way, hit 'the position' and let your body do what it wants, no particular thought, just letting the body and energy move without you. I find that to be a neccessary leg of practice, for me. I've said a selfish bastard who begins energy practice can be become a talented bastard with a lot of energy . Dharma talks, particularly those that put you and your mind in there proper place are essential. There are some good ones on the net, even better to be involved in a live sangha group. Another essential leg. If these are the base and legs of practice, then space around them is even greater. That is everyday life. How we sit, eat, work think. My two cents. The stool of practice wobbles less, but I still wobble. Michael

I study by creating my own booklets. By cutting and pasting to a word processor (most often Google Aps) I create booklets of ideas. For example for the Bums, I have a Best of Tao Bums document. I cut and paste the best insights into it. Sometimes I'll put in my own comments. I have similar booklets on Kap and Kunlun, almost a dozen of various types of investing philosopies. Creating the booklets(10 to 40 pages), gets me reading with discerning interest. More importantly it I don't lose the best and can review them periodically. Michael

I studied it a little. The government had multiple chances to discover it, but a series of miscommunications and doing business as usual led to the Japanese being successful in there surprise attack. Reading evidence after the fact with perfect foreknowledge of what happened can lead to the wrong conclusion. The evidence you know, and is indeed true was only scattered maybes to the people who lived through it. In the case of Pearl Harbor the government led multiple investigations and even trial into what went wrong. Peoples carreers were destroyed, it was not kept quiet. Ultimately you have to look deeply at the men involved, the whole body of work, the philosophy in which they lived there lives. Its easy to say the illuminati did it, but in my opinion too simplistic. I understand the arguments that people have about Roosevelts and others complicity, but my view and research (probably less then yours) reveals its not true. Michael

Albion would you need from David to convince you that the harassment has or will stop? Is there any steps he can take here on the bums that would ease the situation? Keep in mind he probably won't admit anything that would send him to jail or overly cow tow to you. Also words typed aren't neccessarily worth the paper they're not printed on. Still, even knowing that, in the interests of moving the conflict from angry stale mate to resolution, what steps could David do to begin to disengage? Please give it some thought. Peace Michael

I was told vacationing in the Carribean was expensive, but it wasn't until I got off the plane and near a dive shop where I saw a sign that said, AIR $35 that I really appreciated how expensive it was there. M.

Good post, I agree. It reminds of commercials during saturday morning cartoons that tell kids to get up, get out and start playing outside . We just had a post on healing (against modern medicine) where a poster said true healing is here and had some breath taking shots of mountain scens. Spring is coming, maybe we can find our mountains within the trees, clouds and stacked rocks . Living in the flatlands. Michael

None . No experiences what so ever. I was only working with it for a month or two, much of the work on level one is psychoanalytic. Analyzing your good and bad traits, quieting the mind. It forces you to learn about yourself. I didn't have the discipline for it at the time, but it earned my respect, so has Rawn Clarks work. Its not on the site anymore but in the discussion section there came a question to Rawn, 'Prove it to me, show me some magic'. The answer was no, do the work yourself. The questioner asked again, even for something small, to give him motivation. 'No thats not the way it works, do the work yourself'. Thats not much of an answer. But..he's not a reality TV show, he doesn't run a religion; need or want publicity. It is about doing the daily practice, self understanding, seeing the world through the eyes of a Magician and ultimately connecting to God. Its not about power, spells or even magic really. Michael

Taoism (alchemical sorta) has given me a way of looking at the world through the 5 element system. To look at the sun and feel it in my heart and go Aaahhh, see a river, lake and ocean and feel it in my kidneys, a breeze and reverberate w/ it in my lungs etc.. To see the worlds interactions from an elemental view point. Michael

Good luck. I've heard good things abou Mak Ti Sin, trust him. The Ox stands for a good year, calm strong and steady. Yours Michael

I think that is what the author of Gods Drink Whiskey was getting at. His knowledge of Buddhism is pretty profound, he's been teaching advanced studies of it around the world, not just the U.S. but in Buddhists countries to graduate students. What I like about him is he doesn't say Buddha says.. He puts in where, which sutra Buddha says it. More importantly he's traveled enough and been immersed enough to recognize that in his words, 'There is no Buddhism, there is Buddhisms. I don't think thats neccessarily clear to a sedentary practitioner. Its easy to cling to your local version, but if you travel and have an open mind, read and study you see more. His writings read like a spiritual adventure but his scholarship is clear. He comfortable with drug dealers and holy men, a rare combination. When he says Buddhism would be better off without Karma and rebirth on its main plate, he knows its radical. He compares it to asserting Christianity would be better if Christ was not considered divine. Toss out heaven and the afterlife too. The teachings, the heart of the teachings have to be taught and understood without divinity. They have to stand on there own, here and now. No theological back up. Do they make sense and can you Socratically back them up without pulling out a holy book. The beauty of Buddhism is mostly you can. He has nothing but scorn for self help crap and new age, but his love of Buddhism is clear. His argument isn't even neccessarily right, he knows that. But, it provides a door way to deeper understanding. Like robbing Christ of his divinity, taking rebirth and karma out of Buddhism creates an opportunity to deepen understanding; if you have the intellectual flexibility. Travel widens it, dogmatism closes it. I don't think K shows it by immediately jumping on the concept as cheap self help jargon, instead its a rationalist strain that has always had its place in Buddhism and stands as a defense against the 'folk magic' side that would deify the Buddha and corrupt his teachings. That is the real enemy that Buddhism is facing. I don't have the book with me. Wish I did so I could quote out of it more intelligently then I write since I'm no Buddhist. Michael

Here's one of my favorite Zen tales: One of the guilty pleasures at a Zen Monastery was listening to a Master's dying Haiku. For years they would be retold, compared and discussed. Nearing death one of the oldest and most esteemed Monks Banqui was asked, what are you final words? He said, "I am afraid to die" and was dead. This disturbed the younger monks greatly. One asked a Master "If master Banqui was enlightened how could he give such an anwer?" The master replied, "Banqui was indeed enlightened. Above all Zen is honest"