thelerner

I find warmth in my dantien to be a good feedback. Strangely earlier in my practice I seemed to get more warmth. Yet when I'm consistent, I do feel more of an inner flame going on. Also when I rub my palms together I get heat, quite hot, when I'm on the ball, and steady. When I'm good, my startle reflex to loud sharp noise or sudden animal surprises is muted ie I don't flinch. Similarly my gag reflex gets less, when I'm well practiced.. ie keeping it consistent.

Very nice. Shades of book, The Boy Who Captured the Wind. I enjoy watching videos like this of Do It Yourselfers creating apple presses and solar generators, so important to keep this knowledge alive. I hope some highschool science programs see things like this and have the students build it. Theoretical book learning is so limiting, to build from the ground up. That's useful, that's inspiring, that's real. In many cases energy generation tech hasn't changed a whole lot since Edison.

Nice innovative set up. Wish there was a brighter picture, even a stationary one of the bike/treadmill speed. For camping or creating an exercise 'cost' for watching TV its a great idea.

Welcome to the 1980's. Really. Hacking at banks is nothing new. It's been an ongoing billion dollar war with trillions at stake. These days while things are incredibly interconnected, the problem is known and the army of bank employed hackers outnumber the 'free range' ones. Or so I've heard. Also cheap mass storage has helped, in that, if things are hacked, as soon as there's a whiff, systems are taken offline and things are reverted to an earlier copy, then things are sorted out. Thus most of the time an online system going down due to the bank itself, reverting and cleaning. It is and will always be a field in flux. Most bank deposits are insured to $250,000, nothing like having monthly or quarterly paper copies. In the past, banks were robbed, had 'runs on the money', or corruption and they folded with nobody getting nothing. So the banking system now is way better and safer then what your great grand fathers on down had.

I'd say there's some truth to that. Boarder security has to be holistic effort. Starting with myriad laws, that provide security and justice and financing. The best way to start isn't with hysteria.. ie they're drug dealers and when doesn't work, they're human traffickers. Lets talk about Laws. The reality is the US has a long tradition of hypocrisy, when it comes to borders. We look the other way because immigrants pick our crops, clean our houses.. build our houses.. take care of our elderly (this I have personal experience with, Haitians who did wonderful work with my mother). Moving this towards Trump his golf courses hired 100's of illegal immigrants. Only recently was there a mass firings. Similarly his building firms hired dozens (or 100's) of illegal Polish workers. Two of his wives visas were semi-illegal but thats getting a little picky. There have been several known attempts by known terrorist cross into the U.S border, but those were from Canada, and as all know it'd be insane to build a 2,000 mile boarder with them. It doesn't take a genius to know that if you want to enter the U.S illegally, all you have to do is enter legally and over stay the visa. That's how the majority of illegals do it. The Federal and State level have to work together to find the right solution there population and terrain. Create the guidelines, set up the time frame, set up the financing and get the ball rolling. It can't be from a politicians call for 30 foot wall, no a 40 wall. How about 5.7 billion for 213 mile section of wall? Which in Fed speak is 107 miles. If we had a plain speaking, honest man for president, compromise would be easy. I get the feeling simply calling the funding, Boarder Security, would move things along fine. Getting much more then Trumps original 1.6 Billion agreed on. Probably close to the 5 billion, but he needs the word Wall attached to it and is willing to shut the government for that one word. Trumps creates obstacles by his immediate use fiery insulting 3rd grade rhetoric, first on the the Republicans running against him, then using similar childish names and calling to lock up and fire those on the other side. If there's Trump Derangement Syndrome, it's because Trump is a bit deranged, childish, petulant, vindictive.. turns allies into enemies and gets into petty Tweet wars weekly. He's up at 3, 4 5 am, posting in all CAPS like child. Venting his rage.

?? sorry I was thinking of what came out of his mouth. Those things, his words, statements are often a multitude of lies. Easily checked. His speeches do get applause, but they're filled with false statistics, seemingly made up on the spot. People aren't sure whether he believes them or not. Even when clearly wrong, he moves on, never acknowledging or apologizing. It works for the yokels, but constant compulsive lying is not what you want in a leader. You overlook and forgive it, at great peril. Question, when he agrees to a budget deal then reneges like because Ann Coulter and Fox news calls him a spineless wimp, is that about what he says, agreeing to a budget or something he 'does'? To me its showing his character, he's easily manipulated by praise. Thus tyrants get it and kiss his ass but leaders of the free world tend to see him clearly and not trustworthy. Throughout the world America's standing has dropped dramatically. Except and this was a very old poll, only two countries didn't have a much lower opinion on the U.S under Trump, they were Russia and Israel, both gained, but it was an old poll so those numbers could be down too.

When you say he's a pretty straight shooter.. you realize he lies.. alot, a phenomenal amount. I think when people say 'he's a straight shooter', what they mean is he speaks his mind. And the hope is that people listening either won't fact check or don't care about the truth of what says. For an expert he's gone bankrupt alot. While he's the only modern American President who won't release income information, the last one that was partially leaked showed an $916 million dollar loss. American banks having financial information would generally not do business with him. When he says he's worth 10 Billion dollars what he's doing is he's lying. But people are captivated by reality show reality, buy into it. That's not to say he hasn't be successful, but his methods are wine, dine, and duck out of bills.. in that after making deals, he often claimed substandard work and refused to pay the contracted amount. You accepted his new offer or face his lawyers and years of litigation. Most business men don't work that way. There's also a good chance that as president he's setting a new low as far as actually working. Spending most of his mornings watching Fox news, and chatting with friends and advisors who'll echo what he says. Obama didn't deserve the Nobel prize, but he didn't apply for it either. Its a European award and was given in the hopes that he'd be the anti-Bush, ie clean up the war mess left by Bush administration. Which he didn't have much success at. For better or worse most presidents do a round of high paying speeches. What they don't do is make millions off there coronation. Seems like Trumps election party costs over a hundred million dollars, twice Obama's. With $100,000's paid to friends and $40 million not accounted for. That is on DAY ONE. Trump being Trump and increasing his coffers by tens of millions purely by instinct. Trump is a narcissist and compulsive liar. He's a solid to middling, if somewhat unethical business man. The truth will come out about him. We're already learning some of it in books by his friends and enemies, though they often tend on the same list. Because he talks in hyperbole, you can get Trump quotes on how smart and honorable, and how dumb and despicable his staff is, often flowing back and forth. He may not be the most mentally stable and two more years on the job may not improve his equilibrium. P.S the chocolate bars (Gold Bouillon bar) from the Trump Store which requires your phone number and email, cost $10 for two 1 1/2 oz bars. Not a particularly smart deal, especially when you figure in the $7.99 charge for shipping. So they kinda rip you off on the bars, then even more so on the shipping. You can buy better quality chocolate locally for half the price but then you won't get the gold colored tinfoil on it.

To me, its best to allow the locals to study and figure out what kind of barrier they need. I just looked up pictures of the barrier, it looks like 12 or 13 foot fencing topped with a thick round layer of barb wire. Its in no way a 30 or 40 foot cement wall that Trump envisions as The Great wall of Trump. San Diego being near the Tijuana peninsula is particularly vulnerable. Homeland security should and probably has done studies on what fencing would do best where. But its become a political football. I'm for a secure border but strongly dislike the old game of vilifying refugees. There is an intelligent area between letting everyone in and letting groups of the most needed who will make good citizens. We are a nation of immigrants and to call them drug dealers and human traffickers is playing to our worst instincts. The solution is listening to experts who with locals input can create intelligent fencing around our borders. If you do a reality check, the last major wall push was twice as expensive as planned. So Trump would get 115 miles or maybe less for his 5.7 billion. We need something secure and cheap to upkeep, economical and ecological. Trump knows more about war then the generals, more about taxes then accountants and knows all the best words. But his demand for a needlessly expensive <120 miles of walls when other solutions make more sense because he's creating on populist emotional sentiment. A good Republican President would listen to experts, call the bill Border Security and get it passed with bi-partisan support.

Here's guided meditation that might be of use.." If metta is spreading love, Chod is giving up the self, literally offering yourself to a demon.. Perhaps in Tibetans terms the ultimate in metta. It's strangely satisfying and purifying. Maybe not the best thing to do if you're not too balanced though. I found it interesting, here's a guided meditation on it. Chod Meditation 2.mp3

To the OP question. I'm open to both, but.. Much of the metaphysical out there stuff, the gods. angels and dimensional beings I file in the I Don't Know bin. Which until they contact me is as honest and open as I can be. And find it fascinating to talk to those who are on closer terms with such beings. With Wiki-pedia, when stuff goes against my common sense or seems low odds, I look for back up sources.

Good, but what have they taught you? How have they made your life better? Anything specifically or was it more cliche-ish?

I don't, I'd recommend listening to people like Spotless and Jeff who have real experience and insight. Cause with people like me you'll get a little bit of craziness. For example, I suggest you eat ice cream. Will it help? I don't know. I do know that Michael Winn a teacher and guy who runs Healing Tao USA did eat ice cream when he was going through some kundalini-esque problems. The cold fatty creamy sweetness, the treat of it, seemed to help. Not long term, but nothing wrong with short term relief. My solution is easy too. Get ice cream, take your time, eat it slowly with reverence or maybe as a child would. Settle down and know this too will pass. and if it doesn't at least you've had a nice cup or cone of ice cream. also, the fact that your eating ice creams means you're not in hell. Cause in hell all they serve is frozen yogurt.

If you want to start working on yourself. You have to start working on yourself. Doesn't matter what other people are doing. Whether anyone is stronger then anyone else. All that really matters is you, what you're doing; the state your mind body and spirit are in. Beware of getting caught up in trivia and measurements.

hold on.. .. finishes shaking fist at universe that largely ignores him. Thanks, but I set a pretty low bar in terms of practice and realization. I'm hoping most of you aim and achieve a little higher

Satori, enlightenment is a pretty high bar. If one gets a sense of peace and a smile.. lowers the blood pressure a bit.. learns to let things go.. that's good enough for me. I'm not chasing enlightenment anymore, at this point, it'll have to come to me.

I have no idea where its from, but I like it. I see parallels with Daoist thoughts in it.. ie the final goal seems to be deep rejuvenating sleep, not lucid dreams or astral travel, but a deep sleep with an almost paradoxical bit of awareness in it.

Don't know about triangle breathing in particular but in most kinds of chi compression and in some Tummo exercises (7in 7hold 7out) that also compress the held breath, its considered very important not to force anything or use much tension. Especially without an experienced teacher. Less is better. Don't over do things. Build up slowly. People who are very energy sensitive and/or over do things can get into trouble. addon> the Tradaya LEVEL 1 manuals seems a little on the hokier side to me, particularly the exercises but everyone is different and has different aims. Much of the aim there seems on the power/martial side. Which can be problematic without a teacher, ie easier to fool oneself and/or get hurt. Course I greatly enjoyed and recommend Glenn Morris's 'Pathnotes of a..' book which also tended to be on the more power/martial side.

It's wonderful that you've found such a teacher. For the man who needs and wants nothing, perhaps a good gift is service. Thanking the priest for the lesson, letting him know you have some spare time and could you perform any service for him? Sounds like you've discussed it properly with your gifty friend and hopefully it'll slow or stop it. Otherwise let them know you want to keep things simple and clutter free, so no gifts, thank you.

Still.. the Buddha is also credited with '“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”' So not so 'Ipsey Dixiy' Unless you dig deeper and find out its somewhat loose/poor translation based on the Kalama Sutta, but even then the actual quote is about using your own experience to make judgements. From Fakebuddhaquotes.com- “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. This is a bad translation of the Kalama Sutta — so bad, in fact, that it contradicts the message of the sutta, which says that reason and common sense are not sufficient for ascertaining the truth. And it’s very common as well. Here’s the original version, from Access to Insight: “Now, Kalamas, don’t go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, ‘This contemplative is our teacher.’ When you know for yourselves that, ‘These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness’ — then you should enter & remain in them. The Buddha is talking to some people who live near his home country. These people, the Kalamas, are confused by the multiplicity of teachings that they hear. Many teachers arrive, who extoll their own teachings and disparage the teachings of others. And the Kalamas want to know, “Which of these venerable brahmans and contemplatives are speaking the truth, and which ones are lying?” The Buddha’s reply is very full, but it’s clear he says that “reason” (logical conjecture, inference, analogies, agreement through pondering views) and “common sense” (probability) are not sufficient bases for determining what the truth is. It’s not that these things should be discarded, but ultimately it’s experience and the opinion of the wise that is our guide. So this brings up at least two questions: 1. If experience is to be our guide, does that mean we have to test out every theory and practice? No. If a teacher says something like “taking drugs is the path to happiness” you don’t have to try drugs. Your experience includes observation of other people’s experience, so that if you have seen others suffering through taking drugs you don’t have to repeat their mistakes. 2. Who is to say who the wise are? You are. Through your experience (see point 1, above), whom have you found to be reliable and insightful in the past? Those people are “the wise”. Now you don’t have to take everything they say as being the absolute truth. You can use your reason, your common sense, and your experience as a guide. Not all of “the wise” will agree, for example, so you’re still going to have to figure things out for yourself ultimately. It’s this second criterion that is often overlooked. The first instance of this version of the quote that I’ve found is in a libertarian book by the pseudonymous author, “John Galt” — Dreams Come Due. I strongly suspect that Galt’s libertarianism caused him to alter the quote in order to make it supportive of his position. Incidentally, the “no matter where you read it” is an anachronism, since spiritual teachings were orally transmitted at the time of the Buddha.

I enjoyed it, even slept well, cause I took long cold night time walks to watch the eclipse and the next night. The full moon, so Yin its yang.

The way I live it is this: The world is real, or if its an illusion its a damn persistent one. Yet to also understand the world as dream, to see synchroncities, messages and deeper meanings in things, symbolic ones can enhance ones life. Robert Moss said something like we'd be better off if we treated our everyday world more like a dream, and our dreams more seriously. The benefits life as dream is it becomes more adventurous, the world is full of symbolic meaning, yet we also don't have to take it so seriously either. The downside is that the rent is still due, and the car coming at you will still put you in the hospital. Taking dreams more serious can lead to opening up the subconscious, understanding motivations and breaking a little free from the tic toc world and don't we all need that sometimes. Don't be stupid, but following some dreams is not so bad.

It's not chi gung but I think the Wim Hof Method could be helpful for athletes. It involves deep rapid breathing, long retentions, cold showers.. it a mind body hack that helps develop mental and physical toughness. ..it helped Wim Hof jog around Mount Everest in shorts and run a desert marathon without water and me to offer to my coat to a cold woman when it was in the 40s. Its easily found on the net, and there are a couple of threads on it.

As someone with only the smallest knowledge I see functions of Feng Shui that are practical. Visuals, line of sights, layouts and flow that would be very important strategically in planning a battle.

Here's a song I like to listen to once a month. It reminds me its a big universe and pretty much everything we know is wrong. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qits3nn73ks

In Aikido there was a saying, Don't leave your Aikido on the mat. It meant this stuff is to be used in real life. Not the martial techniques, but lessons in awareness, movement, mind body stuff. Lately I'm going over Adyashanti's stuff. He seems pretty down to earth. What I'm pondering is his saying that if we keep meditation special and as a separate consciousness, then its not affecting our every day life, ie its either not going to get us to enlightenment, or its a slow rout, as long as meditation is separate 'special' activity. I think Musashi said your warrior walk should be your everyday walk. Adyanshanti seems to want our meditation to be our every day mind. Not even quieting mind, nothing special, just watching it. Thus it'll settle down by itself, but keep watching it, for its tricks, its moods. Anyhow.. I suppose we need to do things mindfully.. yet beyond that.. how do we stay in meditation.. what mindset do we need.. ? Its kind of Pollyannish, but the mindset It's All Good, seems to be a good one. And when the shits hits the fan heavily, it can be naturally dropped. Or is no mindset the best. thoughts..