thelerner

Hi David, What is Tuina therapy? I've never heard of it. Also are there any unusual practices that Master Tseng does? I'll probably post this on the main discussion site, but what makes a lineage? Are they essentially family practices traditions that survive the test of time? Okay enough with the questions Glad to have you here. Michael

In Kaishan Gi Gong they required 100 days of retention. It could be early in training or a bit later, but they thought it had to done and the sooner you did the easier it would be. The concept of 100 days of retention appears in many schools. Part of it is psychological, if you have the will to lay off for 3 months plus, then you're a serious student. I think we've all documented there are mental and physical effects of longer retention. If you raise the bar to knock out sexual thoughts then you make it that much more difficult and profound. It seems to put you on a higher level energetically where you can transform or burn. Michael

Ah, but what is the spirit? There is a basic Me that is awareness, but there's a big chunk of Me that is my memories and ego. How much of that is immortal? How much should I want it to be immortal? Michael

I think we have to acknowledge we're multi dimensional. At the tick tock workaday level things often suck; pain, death, stupidity and finally loss of hair. But there is the deeper level, where right NOW its fine, this breath tastes good, the sky is beautiful and the ground is beneath my feet. Where death is a home coming and Stuff is just stuff. That truth is also there even at the worst times, maybe because of the worst times, it is accessible to us.

I really like the japanese word Wah. The air, the psychic vibe, given off by a person. Animals seem to sense it better then we do. I've seen people run informal animal shelters and miraculously the animals get along remarkably well. Its held together by the persons wah, their loving aura creates peace. Michael

My 4 gig Ipod is full, but I can't get myself to delete Tolle's 2 hour audio book. His voice and demeanor are so relaxing, his words resonate so well that it stays on, while other things are gone. On the other hand he is a bit alien. He's so divorced from life as I know it that its harder to bridge the space between him and myself. McAllister on the Infinite Smile.org podcast site is similar (& free) and has a lifestyle closer then mine and mind closer to Tolle's . Dealing with anger and difficult people is essential. We're not in a monastery, its simply going to happen. We'd better learn how to deal with it skillfully. So in 'do what I say, not what I do' corner, I repeat, Consciously decide to confront, Consciously walk away or Consciously surrender to the situation. But you can't fool yourself. Anger denied is anger retained, in the back of the mind and physically. Michael

Sorry you're so exasperated. If you have another understanding of the picture then say it. These posts are about the picture and interpretations of it. Please chime in about the top, bottom or middle. Does your teacher use the picture to explain things? Michael

If I'm not staring at the screen, ring the bell to get me Hi Matthew Michael

Its as factual as any interpretation of religious art. Its a pretty famous picture. The above is Chia's interpretation of it through his lense of Healing Tao practice. Here's what another site had to say about it: The painting, together with the Xiu Zhen Painting, are very important in Tao pursuing process. Some qigong master tell their disciples that when they know all the skills they need the two paintings for direction. They mean this one and the Xiu Zhen Painting. Inner Landscape of Human's Body shows practitioners in a very abstract way of all all necessary points in the human's body and their roles they played in the qigong practice. It is not easy nowadays to get the painting. In fact it is a very eye-catching painting. If you're asking if Chia's whole system is fact or fiction, well thats another can of worms. Michael

When energy practices start over heating you. Stop them. Take some time off til you feel regular. Doing some emptiness style meditations can help too. That is counting breaths, repeating a mantra or just listening to music you like. People who are energy sensitive can go further and deeper, faster then the regular population, but it also increases the chance of burn out on several levels. So go slow, get a book, better yet find a responsible teacher. Yoda suggestions of AYP practices are good, check out the healing tao usa web site too. Michael

Lozen, you know your stuff and have obviously given it more thought then most of us have. I agree with you that he should be punished (but hope its relatively light < 2 yrs), I just think there is courage in his stance. There is also considerable power in it. He's making some pretty big waves and starting conversations across the world. Michael

Sean, TwoTrees, thanks. Urbis looks great. I have bookmarked it. I'll have to join and see if I can get some critiques. Michael

But its not aimed at teaching You. Some of the stuff written is for the guy who asks, "What is the Doh all about". Plus half the posts are off the cuff remarks thrown on the wall to see what sticks. If we had to check our posts for well thought out intelligent thoughts, we'd hardly be able to post at all. Michael

Thalamus, Thymus, Thelidium, whats the difference. There's an organ in the neck that controls hormone flow, the chi field is either intelligent enough to pick it up or it isn't, words is just words. You did a great job Michael

I'm reminded of the classic male/female split. I.E. When presented with a problem, women will tend to listen and offer support. Where a guy will immediately seek to solve the problem (no matter how clueless) and move on. For example: Woman:I just cut off my finger tip. Woman2: Oh my god, that must really hurt, I'm so sorry. Whereas Man1:Maybe you should put the tip on ice. Or superglue, I think I read somewhere you can superglue it back on. Based on a true story, names have been changed to protect the foolish. Thus in a worst case situation we are faced with sympathy and inaction, vs. immediate stupid reaction. One more angle on the dilemma. Michael

Wow, very nice. I also like the glowing yoga palm avatar on your myspace site. I'll have to google around for other Alex Grey elaborations. Michael

Is your avatar overlays of Alex Grey's work? I have his calendar and I've wanted to work with it, digitize it, add some movement, words and music. Things that people like you have already done. If you have time, let us know what graphics, programs and expertise you use. Michael

Well, its 2:49 a.m my time. Had a great conversation with Forrest, TwoTrees, TaoMeow and Matthewqi who led us in livechat guided meditations. Very nice. My thanks to them all. Michael

Welcome. You have a great avatar. Impressive myspace site too. Michael

Bravo to the soldier who disobeys because of conscience, not fear. I'm not saying they shouldn't be disciplined. Sign the line, commit the crime, do the time. You break a binding contract you are and should be held responsible, but I think is honor in his stand and in taking whatever consequences follow from it. Michael

I love this site. We have a nice community of regulars and new interesting posters show up weekly. People may want to consider filling in more information on themselves in their Profile section. It doesn't have to be complete or even totally accurrate, but its nice to get a feeling for where people are from and what generation they belong to. Just a thought. May the Great Red Pig smile on us all Michael.

He says he signed up for patriotic reasons, and then felt duped. He's got good reasons for that. The easy road is to follow orders, I think he shows a lot of courage. Maybe he's doesn't fit the mold of conscientious objector, but a man makes a decision and follows through, but when the newly revealed facts are against him, he should have the courage to change that position and take what ever punishment that might entail. Michael

I love my Dad, but working with him was hard. He has a double AA now now now personality and I'm more laid back. What really helped me deal with frustration and anger was the martial arts. I don't think I could have lasted 12 years with him, without them. I couldn't out think or philosophize away the anger I felt, not when the stressor was a constant. Practicing a martial art allowed me to burn away angry thoughts. There an internal physical part of anger and a hard work out works for that too. A good work out often do more to clear the mind then good psychiatrist. So if its possible try a class. There are lots of woman in the martial arts. Learning to punch(and be punched), kick (ass) , scream (Kiai) might be just the release you need. Aikido was particularly good for me since most of it's practice was hands on rehersal. You could attack hard, the person knew what was coming and would turn it into a throw. Then you'd take turns. There are problems you have to face and problems you can walk away from. Too often we stay a middle ground where anger and frustration ferment. Have a plan, face it, walk away from it, or make peace with it. Last, I believe that in our inner core there is a deep peace. Its our sacred birth rite. We can't always access it, but its there, waiting, almost like its watching us. You can find it on walks and during meditation. So even when shit piles up, its there, and no matter what happens, eventually everything will work out. Michael

I was thinking of Fill in the Blanks more as filling in options in the Personal section. But for my repeated 15 minutes of fame here is an except from my Introduction in 05. "I am a 27 year old Brazilian woman currently doing time in the San Quentin Womans correctional facility. I have a penchant for writing bad checks and lying. Actually I'm lying about the lying(wrap your minds around That). I am just michael. A simple house husband. I am leading such a domesticated life that that the thing I've gotten most excited about lately was a minimalist oat meal cookie recipie I found on the back of McClellns Oatmeal. I entered the rat race, won and quit. Now I have a bit more time to figure things out. In college I got way too top heavy, too much reading, too much philosophy. It was important to get into the martial arts where philosphy is nice, but punch is a punch and must be avoided. I've always meditated. I got involved in the Healing Tao, because it seemed very proactive. I like its beginning practices, the smile, orbit, chi gung routines. I'm just getting into Winns Kan & Li tapes. I think I'll stick w/ it a while longer. See whats ahead of the bend. I think the pre Kan & Li stuff is grade school, Kan & Li gets you into 'high school'. maybe This is a great board, and many kudos to the people I've met here and to Sean who has put a great deal of work into this site." Michael

Here's a piece that is taken from a discussion in the Lobby. It has to do with empowering our goals, very apt for the new year. - "I use to use talisman to freeze and attach certain patterns of energy. I draw them in a paper with astrological and geometric symbols and then, I charge them with reiki energy. So far, I've attained very good results, but anyway, and knowing more people in here use them, I'd like to ask about your talisman-making style. Should we start off a new thread on this? Let's suppose we want to attract something with the help of a talisman. How do you make it? First, I design in a paper a previous drawing. Usually I square everything in a big square so the energy can be held inside. Then I write the thing I want to obtain in the center and I surround it by a triangle (so, outside the square, inside the triangle and inside of it the text). I put in the blank space symbols of deities and planets that rule the energy that can give me the wish. After it, I charge myself with energy (MCO) and I summon reiki energy so I pass it to the paper. Then I fold it and I keep close to me (usually in my wallet), charging it everyday with my mere thought. That's my technique. I'd like to hear about other's." Somewhere I have a book on sexual magic. I thought it would contain taoist techniques, it was about using sex and its energy as a magical focus to influencing reality/getting what you want. Never really tried it, but got some nice sex pointers from the book. Michael -