thelerner

a) I always wonder what level of disbelief I'm dealing with? Do you believe in outer space? Or is there a dome and we live on a flat earth? Do you believe the sun is a star or a giant bright flashlight? Do you believe rockets exist? Or that the entire history is made up? Were there space shuttles? Did they fly? Are there satellites in space, giving us weather for 40 years, GPS, broadcasting? Put simply what parts of physics and engineering do you believe is a hoax, that only the brightest and most paranoid can see through. b)We have been back to the moon, just not manned. We've had satellites circling it, getting high res pictures (including pics of the original landing sites) and bouncing radar but landing hasn't been worth the price, instead the 100's of millions were put into the International Space Station, exploring other planets and asteroid belt. The cost of the original manned were in the billions (Total Apollo cost about $25 Billion). So it can be done, cheaper but we're still talking 100's of millions.. mostly for a photo ops. Wait, though its visible with the naked eye, and is continually manned and taking hi res pictures, do you believe in the International Space Station? Doubters try to use 'science' to debunk, but mostly prove they don't understand the science. They'll look up melting points, but not understand that temperature works differently in a vacuum then in an atmosphere, just like water boils different at high altitudes. We know these things because science asks questions and sets up experiments to find the truth. Because skeptics don't know history they won't or can't look up hundreds of tests done, step by step to get us here. They ignore rockets and high altitude balloons that took us to the edge of space in the 40's and 50's. The first astronauts were balloonists. We learned about the atmosphere and vacuum from them. Progressively we got launched rockets and planes higher and higher, learning as we went along. Our rockets went higher. We launched dogs and monkeys into space. So did the Soviet Union. Almost a dozen countries have launched satellites plus private companies. Using the scientific method, we set up experiments and we learned. Most of us, anyway. One could read the books, learn about the pioneers in aerospace; the hows and the whys that made there progress. It's amazingly documented. These people are proud of there accomplishments. We have the pictures and the people are still alive, mostly. You can talk to them, read there books, follow the steps.. Tech improved and these actions were not done in isolation. The original launches of satellites from Sputnik on, were tracked around the world. All of these things were tracked.. well you know where I'm going.. being a doubter is easy, being a scientist, or engineer, putting in the study is hard. As the world grows more paranoid and superstitious..stupider, it'll be more dangerous. Diseases that have been cured will re-appear cause why trust modern medicine? Early warnings of danger from tech satellites etc., will be ignored cause they it could be faked and lying. Ideas easily and thoroughly debunked decades ago, will..

I just saw a meme, let me see if I can find it. By Dan Broadbent | July 20, 2018 | Category Space Share and enjoy! Nearly 50 years ago today on July 20th, 1969, humans stepped foot on the surface of the moon for the very first time with the Apollo 11 mission. It was a remarkable achievement that gave the United States victory in the Space Race, and solidified NASA’s role as a leader in space exploration. The Apollo program was an incredible time of space innovation and development. It used innovations spawned from the worst parts of humanity to create some of the most incredible things we’ve ever done. Read more at: https://ascienceenthusiast.com/49-years-ago-today-celebrating-over-400k-people-who-helped-nasa-fake-the-moon-landing/ And the amazing conspiracy goes on, as Japan has launched many moon missions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Lunar_Exploration_Program and Chinese lunar missions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Lunar_Exploration_Program all recording various moon statistics with photos and measurements. At 250,000 miles away, the moon isn't that far away, most of us will drive our cars much further, but because we live in a gravity well, its expensive to get to. The tech required isn't much more then a Boeing 767, its just dozens of times more expensive without commensurate payback. To me the doubt is driven by a anti-government anti-science paranoia.

I think they're important, as role models and teachers. Wait.. was that impotent? are they? really?

Will I be the first person to say it? yay You Can't Handle The Truth. or maybe you can. personally i find people who've found the truth have only found a truth. one that's right for them. later you find the newer truths make you discard earlier ones. i only have room for 2 truths and pocketful of lies that help me through the day.

I don't know. We tend to get things we aim for, but that's not really destiny. Perhaps the most interesting proof of Destiny is in separated at birth twins. Again and again, you find examples of twins raised 100's of miles apart, having similar jobs, marrying woman with the same name, naming there kids the same.. Is genetics so controlling? Or astrology or by what mechanism racks up so many coincidences? destiny??

Here's a thread on the Kap's Secret Smile. As far as sustaining pleasurable energies.. that's a hard one. Personally I shoot for low level contentedness instead of bliss or happiness.

A. not me. B. I liked Yudelove's 100 days practice book, but the man himself is.. problematic.

idk I find most people quite pleasant if you give'em half a chance. Particularly if you don't need anything from them and catch them when they're not in a hurry.

Things that are simple, are often not easy, but here's a solid practice that's both, easy and simple. All you have to do is relax and listen. The first guided meditation I have is from Barry Long. It focuses on relaxation of mind and body, physically then mentally. It goes on to open the heart and into a metta of forgiveness and acceptance. It could be just what you need. Or maybe one of other guided meditations in the greater thread. Ultimately these are crutches that will have to be given up, but often they are just what is needed for a while.

My thoughts. Anger can be a good tool and an honest strategy to get what you want* . To show other parties you are serious and need attention. It's not a tool to be used often but at times its the right one. If you continue to feel angry after an event is over, then you're not using it properly. My sensei would say, if you're angry, be angry, but don't feed it. *hopefully constructive.

I learned two things from the above. 1) Bodhi was a very agreeable guy. 2) Huilk is strongest of them all. .. spirituality begins with a sense of humor

Excellent, but you forgot about coffee. only half kidding. After the fundamentals, those who are older, traditionally turned to tonics. For millennia your middle aged would be brewing up herbs in the summer and fall, and taking a teaspoon or two daily to help us through winter. That reminds me that its time to take 2 or 3 droppers full of Pine Pollen tonic, a great blood and dare I say qi & testosterone builder. I use this brand https://www.etsy.com/listing/252925448/pine-pollen-tincture-wild-harvested-from?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pine+pollen+tincture&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&frs=1

I like medium dark to dark roast (ie the Starbucks curse). For a couple weeks I'd go to a Whole Foods that roasted beans every couple days. The idea was to buy just 4 oz of freshly roasted beans. I'd seen a Ted talk that said after a week the beans lost there oils and freshness. So I'd only buy a little bit of the freshest and grind'em up as needed. Use a french press and wait 4 minutes. Wait til the pour was thick and dark. Good stuff, full bodied, nutty. Leaving the empty cup with dark circle of coffee muck on the bottom. Always on the look out for new, I saw an article in Thrillist ranking all 30 brands of Trader Joe's coffee https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/best-trader-joes-coffee. So this week I got there organic Ethiopian blend (couldn't find Honduran), medium dark. My wife uses it for her drip, I ground it in the store. It's been pretty good. Its probably relatively fresh, but as one cup a day user it'll out last the freshness. I'll probably get back to buying a $3 of beans and using'em for a week. My recent 'best buy' was an over night stay at Lake Geneva in a beautiful B&B, the Baker house. A month earlier we did a single night in Geneva at the Harrington hotel right on the river. Both places are under an hour and a half from Chicago. They're a short but sweet, break from the monotony of life. Living high for a day. In a new place you're a little new yourself. I'd like to find special but close places at least every other month. ie buying an experience. Cause stuff is just stuff.

I see the long breath holds as gaining vitamins A's- Alkaline & Adrenaline and showers and baths provide Vitamin C- Cold which is anti-inflammatory

If anyone wants to try it. Cause winter is coming, may as well make friends with the cold and learn some pretty cool mind/body hacks. https://www.wimhofmethod.com/free-mini-class

Cool, how's it going, how do you like it? Most Taoist practices go along with nature and tend not to be forceful, so I don't think you'll find similar things in most Taoist playbooks. Tibetan and Yogic practices probably have breathing patterns that use retention and fast 'fire' breathing. It's not very close but has a couple similar concepts, Tibetan 9 Step Bottled breathing has the same elements - https://www.meditationexpert.com/meditation-techniques/m_9_step_bottled_wind_pranayama_practice.html Some compare Wim Hof to Tumo, which is not really accurate in my book, though they arrive at similar ends. The Tumo practices I've been exposed to used 3 equal part breathing, 7in 7hold 7exhale or 10 10 10, and specific visualizations.. some had specific chants and deep poses too. Even thats beginners level, the practice gets pretty deep.

I'm no expert. I've always considered Neidan to be internal meditation style that enhance inner body energetics. Generally no body movements, though thats not a hard and fast rule. There are different systems with different maps and techniques. They all have the goal of strengthening the storage and circulation of inner energy. Some are simple, some take decades, or lifetimes. Done right, greater energy, insight.. perhaps some form of enlightenment.. theoretically immortality, but I don't see a whole lot of them walking around, so.. personally- insight, greater energy and some form of enlightenment is what I'd figure in a best case if one has dedicated a significant portion of life to it. Dedicating less, and you'll get less. Grace also plays a part, some people have a talent, for others its swimming upstream. For example, I tend to be energy insensitive, so its swimming upstream but I like the exercise. Much depends on the quality of the student and the teacher. In the grand scheme of things is it better then watching TV, less then the love of a good woman (to me). The DDC is philosophy, good philosophy, often applicable, as is traditional Element theory, but philosophy only gets you so far. Good Neidan gets physical.

Don't know if this helps hip flexors specifically, but its simple and stretches a whole lotta systems. Sitting in a deep squat. Relaxing and letting yourself go down as far as possible, technically butt on floor (which I can't do) and staying there for 20 to 40 seconds. Its simple and seems to stretch all the big muscles.

You seem a overly concerned about other people and tend to exaggerate, making some into All. You might be confusing different from you with problems. If people are getting along with there lives without causing too much ruckus, that's good. They don't have to believe in what you do to be okay. They're not the one with a problem. You are. you are. You want a modicum of peace, don't worry about other people or the world so much. Figure they'll do there thing, you'll do yours and thats fine. We have a good guy or bad guy thread somewhere. To me its not about that. Its about skillful living and the right amount of assertiveness and right amount of don't give a f#ck. If its a long interview is bothering, just give a few sentences and let'em know you're done. That's it, all he'll get, now lets move on. Or don't give a hoot and play the game. Or some other strategy that doesn't leave you angry.. at the whole world, due to an interview. Skillful means = balancing assertiveness with don't give a f#ck. Keeping things in perspective.

Zen fable: A young monk told his master every night during meditation a demon would visit and torment him. The master told him to ignore it, just keep meditating. It kept happening, a month later the monk told the master that he would bring a knife to his meditation and stab the demon. The master considered and brought out a marker, telling the monk to use this instead. That night the monk meditated, in the morning he woke and found an x on his belly made with a marker. meditation is life slowed down. there is still drama drama drama. breathe, steady the mind, let it settle, be at alert peace.

I enjoyed the video. Great body control lessons, dynamic motion using the bodies big tools.

my 2 bits would be include the above, ie getting fundamentals down, healthy life style choices.. diet, exercise, goal setting.. discipline. I'd add you might want to look into Win Wengers stuff. He explores increasing 'genius'. Including some less orthodox ways. To me Genius is connecting things in useful unorthodox ways, then a whole lotta sweat and time to make it practical. P.S. unless your in a specific art that deals with changing jing to qi.. kind of stuff, then at 19 retention may bring more tension and exasperation then genius. Generally for the young, imo, aiming at a disciplined approach is better. Still, nothing wrong with seeing what month or so without does if you're interested.

apples of my youth

Without a formal teacher, I believe it's easier to get a good feeling and flow from short gi gong routines, then from the longer complex ones of Tai Chi. Unless you break up the Tai Chi into a short looped forms.

Haven't added anything here in awhile. Too bad, I like the writing, its edgy controversial. This is less so and by a different author. Going after the big one, the master tyrant.. Stop Spending So Much Time In Your Head, 99% of all thoughts are useless but they’re still controlling your life. Darius Foroux Aug 15, 2016 I know something about you without knowing you. I bet you spend A LOT of time in your head. You know, thinking, worrying, stressing, freaking out — call it whatever you want. I call it a preoccupied mind. And with what? 99% of your thoughts are useless. William James put it best: “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” All my life I’ve been obsessed with practical things. Practical philosophy, practical knowledge, practical books, practical work, and practical advice. That idea comes from Pragmatism, a philosophical tradition that started in the 19th century in America. Charles Sanders Peirce, who was a Harvard professor, is considered as the “father of Pragmatism.” But it was William James, a trained physician turned philosopher, who really defined the philosophy. About thoughts, worry, and stress, William James says: “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” Pragmatism believes that the mind is a tool. Your mind should work for you, not against you. People who don’t master their mind, don’t believe it’s possible. They say: “I can’t help but thinking these things.” Well, you can with enough practice. It’s a skill. In other words: You have the ability to decide what you think. Or, you can choose NOT to think. And that is one of the most important and most practical things you can learn in life. Before I learned that skill, I would spend hours and hours inside my head. Just think about how much you think. “I wonder what my boss thinks?” “What happens if I screw up and lose my job?” “Does she love me?” “I think he doesn’t care about me.” “I just keep failing.” “Why does my life suck?” “Why is my life awesome, and other people’s lives are not?” “What if I get cancer?” And the list goes on. That is all REAL shit. That’s stuff people tell me when I ask them what they worry about. You know what those thoughts do to you? Guilt, anger, suffering. I just have one question for you: What’s the practical use of your thoughts? Yes? I’m waiting. Still no answer? Exactly. Thoughts have no use. 99% of them that is. Which thoughts are useful? Thinking about how you can solve problems. A problem is just an unanswered question. Put your brain to use and think about how you can solve problems. There are a lot of those on this earth. Understanding knowledge. That mean this: Try to internalize knowledge and think about how you can use that knowledge to improve your life, career, work, relationships, etc. That’s it. You can ignore every other thought. If you’re constantly thinking, it’s because you haven’t trained your mind yet. You HAVE to get out of your head. If not, you go mental. Everyone will. No exception. Also, you’re probably thinking so much that you’re missing out of life. Did you notice the sunshine this morning when you woke up? Or the raindrops? Did you notice the smell of your coffee? Did you feel the texture of your cereals? If your answer is no, you definitely need to get out of your head. Stop thinking and start feeling. Now, you might think: “How do I train myself to stop thinking useless thoughts?” Awareness. That’s where it starts. Every time you start drifting off, become aware of it. Just observe your brain. Step outside yourself and just observe the crazy shit you’re thinking about. Don’t judge. Don’t think you’re stupid. If you do that, you’re thinking again. No, what you want to do is say this to yourself: “Ah that’s a cute thought. Now, let’s get back to reality.” “If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” ― William James Are you back to reality? Do you feel your eyes reading the letters on your screen? Do you feel your phone in your hand? Are you thinking about how you’re going to apply this information to your life? Great. You’re USING your mind, and it’s not the other way around. Now, keep using that brain of yours. Because I’ll tell you this: It’s the most powerful tool on earth. Originally posted on dariusforoux.com. Me. So is that our thought flow chart Be Aware > Is thought Trivial > Stop or Something Practical I can take action on > Consider and take action. Don't be afraid of the silent mind. Be friends and at peace with it.