thelerner

Thank you for sharing your experience with him. I am so sorry to hear this. He was man of wonderful presence. I wonder if people could post there favorite teachings of his.

There are some Taoists exercises where you link the elements and seasons to organs in your body. There are sounds and movements (chi gung forms) that you focus on to feel and accentuate it. For example I'll do a taoist meditation whereas The heart is summer/heat/ahhh sound, moving circling clockwise with the lungs autumn/dry/metal/Ssss circling down towards winter/kidney/Chsweii to liver/sprng/green/ Shhh back to summer. I also like a hermetic exercise like Rawn Clark's Archaeous exercises (http://abardoncompanion.com/csm/contents.html) that works by stacking the elements on the body and penetrating into there deeper meanings. Beyond that I'll try to meditate outside, particularly by water. Try to connect my lower body to earth, my belly region to water, lungs to air, head to (solar) awareness. In a set it and forget it kind of way. Get the imagery, feel it, forget it.. just sit. There are downsides to this, get to sensitive and you can't sleep much during full moons but maybe we're not supposed to.

there's also the sticky matter that at times, good intentions, lead to very poor results. Not making hard pragmatic decisions, ends up creating disasters. Running a government is about allocating resources. There's much need and limited money. To be too open hearted is to run up debts and create future crises.

I see your point. Yet there is an ebb and flow to this. Many caught in the flow are terrorist and/or terrorist sympathizers. It's terrible for those falsely accused, yet for the majority I can't work up much sympathy for. On the otherhand, the system needs to work with integrity. There should be changes to stop unconstitutional behavior but don't expect it after traumatic events.

Maybe not the average Joe, but imo the top guys there are religious to the point of that indistinguishable from insanity. Some.. out monking the monks. Crossing lines between admirable and bizarre.

Imo its important not to focus on only one side, and when it's reversed you ignore changes for the good. Some people keep themselves constantly enraged. There are good fights to be fought, but recognize when you win, celebrate it, let go of the anger. We all tell ourselves stories, be careful of clinging to much to hero in repressed society mode. My read is many of the encroachments you're talking about have been reversed (not all) and you ignore it because.. well you like feeling outraged so much that when the conditions end, you keep the feeling alive.

You'd think so, yet historically, countries with many high level spiritual traditions, I'm thinking Tibet, Cambodia, India.. can wind up in some pretty bad places.. tyranny, extreme poverty..

wait.. thats alot of words. Any freedoms you're prohibited from? I understand your worry about being prosecuted in a military tribunal instead of federal court, so am I, but much of what you write is aftermath of 9/11. During wars and traumatic national events there's always an over reaction but because the U.S does have a strong history and love of individual right they usually snap back. Even in your first example there's a mess of lawyers and Rights groups that fight against it. Not always winning but with some power. Again, any freedoms you personally don't have? I just voted, went to a rally.. wrote up opinions, I've exercised 7 or 8 rights the last couple days, none have been forbidden or a problem in the states. I've seen what oppressive and moving towards oppressive regimes are like and imo despite rhetoric from extremists on both sides, we're not. Though shit happens and sometimes citizens are caught up in bureaucratic nightmares, some bad laws on the books, but by and large, this is a real good country for freedom, imo.

Which ones? Religion, assembly, right to bear arms, can't vote, no free press?, can't move across states lines.. what freedoms are we robbed of?

We missed Full Democracy by .02.. now if only Malta would drop down a bit we'd b e on our way. There is good news. Democracy has been on a grown hugely for the past 100 years. Good strides in the last 40 too. See http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/06/despite-concerns-about-global-democracy-nearly-six-in-ten-countries-are-now-democratic/ And by one measure, the number of democratic nations around the world is at a postwar high. This is important since historically democracies fight much less especially with each other. They are tend to be more peaceful then authoritarian regimes. As Europe got more democratic, there near constant wars, ended. Also less chance of world wars. As of the end of 2016, 97 out of 167 countries (58%) with populations of at least 500,000 were democracies, and only 21 (13%) were autocracies, both post-World War II records. The rest either exhibited elements of both democracy and autocracy (26%) or were not rated. Broadly speaking, the share of democracies among the world’s governments has been on an upward trend since the mid-1970s.

eh, 8 7.98 out of 10 ain't bad. We are after all a Republic.. and while flawed at times it (theoretically) keeps us away from the tyranny of the masses, and voting ourselves bread and circus.. potentially. https://infographics.economist.com/2018/DemocracyIndex/ In any case, off to beat the crowds and vote early.

Interesting, that letter was written about 1855, Chief Seattle or Seathl was a Susquamish chief who lived near Puget Sound. I was just vacationing over there, breath taking country. I stayed by the Snoqualmie falls. Many placards talking about the Indian tribes and there beliefs, honoring them, telling there stories but.. their absence spoke loudly. The history is not pretty. In 1855 they were one of the largest tribes in the Puget sound region, numbering about 4,000, 163 years later its about 650 members. info-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoqualmie_Indian_Tribe History is interesting but the Now needs equal attention. Here is their official site: http://www.snoqualmietribe.us/ I highly recommend reading the old newsletters and magazine. Fascinating look at the tribes interests- passions, fights and modernity.

quite, my banana bread and soup comments here were mostly a reminder that no matter how spiritual we aim to become, it's still a chop wood, carry water world. We don't need the cosmic to find and appreciate the spiritual in the mundane.

For those fossils here who remember the 4rth Doctor, Tom Baker aka the one with long scarf. He had a female companion who was a time lord, Romona. At one point she regenerated and had the power to change several body types until she found one he liked, changing bodies (and actresses) as easily as one would change clothes. Seemingly having complete and relatively long control over her regeneration. Course in Doctor Who, rules are like the polarity of the neutron flow.. made to be reversed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDaCMhKPGys

I was expecting a little more explanation to falling from several miles up, smashing through the roof of train then dusting herself off and carrying on, but that's sci fy.

Was having trouble falling asleep for a couple nights. The usual insomnia I get every now and then when I can't fall asleep til 4 am. For the last 2 days I've been self treating with melatonin 3mgs, mint flavored edible ones from Trader Joes. Plus listening to Sleeping Pill Hypnosis by Jaqueline Powers, under 11 minutes and works well if it grabs you. It's good in that it doesn't leave you sleeping, rather its training to get to sleep faster. The last 2 nights listening to it earlier in the day have helped me get to bed within a half hour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMD5PSVmO8 I turned it into an mp3, also put it into my amazon music account so I can listen to it on my Alexa Echo unit before they stopped allowing such add ins.

This might be a bit hypocritical since the OP is doing something I might try myself, but I hope it occurs to all of us that a hot sauna and some of them get very hot, can be dangerous (ie hospitalization or death) if you stay in too long. Using a drug that turns off your sense of time or possibly knocks you out, inside one might not be a good idea. Certainly not without another person backing you up. Micro-dosing is subtle but you'd want prior experience with that exact type and amount before doing something like this and having back up to watch you would be a smart decision.

These days I've downgraded loving myself and others to accepting them, that's the best I can do at the moment. Some days I accept and like'em. Agree with gratitude and think generosity is the flip side of it. We express gratitude by being generous. Having a sense of humor about the little things, and most of the crap is on lives are in true perspective, small, is an important step to peace.

If it was spring I'd tell you to plant a garden. Now that it's fall Irecommend cooking some soups or banana bread. I can't bring your family back, but there is peace and growth in simple things. Plus cooking may help you with the family situation, woman dig men who can cook. Something about patience and being about to follow simple directions and knowing how to handle heat seems to drive them mad.

Sure there is, lots of it, infact. We are quite the foodie planet. You just have to look for it. Or for a sure thing, roll up your sleeves and make it yourself. I just made some banana bread, not to sweet, lots of bananas, bit of whole flour.. 10 minutes prep, 15 clean up.. 48 minutes in the oven. Done. I expect I'll like, and kids would probably dig it too. It's there because I baked it (and ignored the bananas for a week), thus is life.

ahh, nobody screws you up like your parents. I don't know about cosmic plans, but generally to live well, long term/cosmic planning should be 1/20th of your time, most of it should be on what you'll eat, chores, jobs, human interactions.. what time to go to bed.. that's the more important 95%, imo. Cause we can appreciate the cosmic plans and jokes but can't do much about them. But controlling ourselves and learning to live skillfully, thats the hard part, maybe what we're all put on this Terre firma to do.

We all have our crazinesses. Its normal, but if they get obsessive and interfere with life, that's a problem. I'm hoping that the hair dresser feelings are more a one off, and that you're not constantly framing things in power vs powerless state of mind. If you are, then it may be something to work on, cause most situations are harmless and the me vs others keeps the body in a state of anxiety that isn't good. It's not easy but its mentality that should be examined and probably dropped.

I'll be a little Pollyanna-ish here. As you acknowledge the answers are education and opportunity. Countries got'em tend to be population neutral. Most successful countries have steady or negative birth rates. With computers, investment and will, there could be a new revolution in education globally. There are $50 tablets and with free wiifi they are resources to go from kindergarten to expert anything. Its a potential that's largely unrealized, but its waiting. Digital gold.. waiting for a spark to create an educational renaissance. We can take these time wasting devices beyond porn and philosophy forums. <not me personally but it's theoretically possible> I was going to write propertyabove but you guys have a point, Western style prosperity is wasteful, polluting and not possible on a global scale. But odds are other sustainable models can be made. The time will come when waste is a luxury we can't afford. Economics will force us to find sustainable ways. The West has relative freebies now, when they get expensive, hopefully we'll get smarter and find ways that consider long term impacts. We've ended much disease and cut the poverty rate hugely in the last 25 years, beyond the experts expectations, we just don't recognize that great accomplishment though. Human engineering can clean up the air and seas, if we put our minds to it. The human race is no slouch, we're smart and adaptable but planet earth is way older bigger and a champion recycler. If we make mistakes, the Earth will easily outlast us; as long as the air and water hold out our planet will keep being a laboratory for all kinds of life.

yup. these end of the worlders haven't seen bad. they need a time machine or good history book to see what bad really was.

Guy here, so no cosmetics, but I've been using Tom's of Maine deodorant, it works pretty good. I'm not using shampoo or much soap these days. Instead in my daily shower I scrub and rub myself all over. The idea is that gentle but vigorous rubbing removes the grit, but keeps the native oils intact. I end showers putting the water on max cold, when it hits my hair it immediately thickens and solidifies it. I used to have dandruff but not since I've been using the cold showers. My hair looks better for it. Occasionally I'll use conditioner, but mostly I'll just massage it in the shower, again the theory being keeping the natural oils in tact. After a shower I have a stiff bristle brush I'll use to comb and massage my scalp.