thelerner

Course we also share 50% 60% of our dna with bananas. Ya know every time I eat one I feel a little cannibalistic. https://www.getscience.com/biology-explained/how-genetically-related-are-we-bananas Read on to see how genetically similar we are to these living things: Chimpanzee: 96 percent identical By studying the genomes of chimps (which after bonobos are our closest living ancestors), researchers are hoping to understand what makes us uniquely human. While we don’t have that answer yet, recent studies show that certain genes, and parts of DNA that regulate the expression of genes, account for the greater complexity and size of the human brain. Chicken: 60 percent identical Mapping the genome of the Red Jungle Fowl, a modern descendant of dinosaurs, researchers have gained more insight into the genetic differences between birds and mammals. Some surprising potential similarities were discovered, as well: the genes coding for proteins found in chicken eggshells and bones may have some related counterparts involved in bone calcification in mammals. And the gene for several immune response proteins, such as interleukin 26, previously thought to be specific to mammals, was also found in chickens. Banana: more than 60 percent identical Many of the “housekeeping” genes that are necessary for basic cellular function, such as for replicating DNA, controlling the cell cycle, and helping cells divide are shared between many plants (including bananas) and animals. Fruit fly: 60 percent identical There’s a reason why fruit flies are among the most studied insects. These tiny winged creatures share common genes for many biological processes involved with growth and development. In fact, nearly 75 percent of genes that cause disease in humans are also found in fruit flies, making them good models for the study of human disease.

Ya know, obstacles don't have to stop you, sometimes you only have to change directions to get around them. There are katas and weapon work that can be explored by oneself. Fast, slow, still.. with greater awareness and looking for hidden potential in them. Similarly there are chi gung and tai chi routines you can explore for years. Or open yourself up to body work, yoga classes are all around and some can get pretty hard core. You can explore your limits with programs like Wim Hofs 10 week programs. A poor concept in the West is that only martial arts have belts and mastery. In the East many arts follow the novice to master approach. We tend to miss that. And mastery of one art helps with mastery in other areas. And mastery of oneself, mind and body is ofcourse the most important. If weightlifting is stopped there are books like Convict Conditioning that take it slow and easy from pushups against the wall to one armed push ups and slowly at your pace to one armed hand stand push ups. So.. no weights, no problem, there are hardcore programs out there, that you can work and modify to your own circumstances. You don't have to stop, you have to look around and pivot to a new challenge.

A metaphor or maybe visualization I use is that I have 2 record players in my head. One plays my surface thoughts, what I hear, the stuff I immediately see, feel and Think. The other is playing an emotion'al tune, long droning often under my conscious, unless I listen for it. The long playing emotion is based on my conditioned programming, if-then stuff and some biological factors too. Sometimes I can replace an emotional state by changing the record. sometimes. I have more control over surface album, certainly not total, but I find this metaphor helps. So for me its about being aware of the emotional album that influencing my surface thoughts, and learning how to replace it. And seeing the underlying programming (if-thens) that put on the albums in the first place. There's probably survival mechanics in negative thinking. For a couple 100 thousand years, we lived in a dangerous environment and the happy go lucky types might have been at a disadvantage to the worrisome paranoid group. **for those born after 1990, records and albums were round vinyl mediums for music in record players, these days think playlists.

I don't think there's dragons in this dimension. That doesn't mean they aren't in other dimensions. Perhaps we get visitors but most don't have the eyes to see.

Feels reminiscent of some of the rambling speeches I heard every now and then in Israel, aka Jerusalem Madness. We all want to save the world, be prophets, messiahs, dragons or superheros. To bitch slap society and make it behave. But that's just spitting into the wind. The best change, imo, comes from simple kindnesses.

I certainly hope its a bunch of seasons. Nothing like a Doctor with staying power.

achh, the truth is just more words. show me your plate show me your action.

I think dharma talks, ie discussions on wisdom and living well are as important as exercise and esoteric energy development. Gain 'energy' without gaining wisdom, discipline, compassion and restraint and a person get lopsided. Personally I enjoy listening to Ajahn Brahms and Michael McAlistar and a few others who have thoughtful teachings on the net about being a better person, living a better life.

I wonder if reading is like happiness. We think if we just read this or get that we'll be better. But our happiness tend to be at a set point. We may get a 'bump' in happiness from stuff, but its not long lasting. Same with reading about an interesting technique or philosophy, we oo and ah, but it rarely changes our practice or life. I don't want to diss reading (or happiness) but at a certain point, the benefits of practice outweighs filling the head.

Enjoyed it. Looking forward to Doctor Her. It was time.. after 12 men moving between young, old, serious, goofy.. it was time for a bigger change. It was the highest watched Doctor Who ever(?) If they write well, it'll be fun to watch. Too often episodes are horribly formulaic, so I'm hoping for a more human Doctor who travels and explores and doesn't have to save the world daily with last minute plot devices. Speaking of political correctness it'll be interesting to see how well people, past, future and alien handle a woman taking charge.

I'd be happy with pseudo-enlightenment. as long as it was gluten free Course I'm not even pseudo enlightened at the moment, but from my meetings and readings the enlightened aren't superhuman, matter of fact, to me, they seem pretty human. Less ego driven and their desires controlled to the point that they're preferences, but they'll still prefer strawberry over vanilla, and chai over coffee, pleasant and quiet over acid rock. The kundalini experience can be struck by Lightning awful, if you're not prepared. The satori experience fleeting and not leave a permanent mark. But Enlightenment, to me, seems like a wonderful state of flow. Probably worth it, perhaps we'll find out.

Last year I bought the uber dark glasses and drove 345 miles South to view a total eclipse. I'd never seen one. Huge traffic, people were driving like nuts to reach a stretch of ground zero. As I drove the GPS kept adding time to the ETA. It'll take 5 1/2 hours, then 6, then 7.. until I was only going 15 miles an hour and decided to take side roads and cornfields. But I made it. Was it worth the drive? Sure, the total eclipse of the sun, that's where the fun is.

If my family needed money enough, if it was a life or death situation. I'd lose the sight and use the money to save my family. I enjoy seeing but I got other senses and they only have one life. Sadly its a kind of calculus much of humanity makes. Millions (Billions?) are in boring dead end jobs to provide for there family. And sadly millions are in jobs that slowly kill them to provide better lives for there children.

I get the feeling, like drugs, its the kind of thing people experiment with but then move on from. I.e you get energy but like (hard) drugs the high chance of burn out or over dose makes long term use questionable. The original Kung Fu series with David Carradine had an early episode that copied Bruce Lee's movie where he faced different masters as he climbed a tower. Caine similarly faced masters and the last one was seated on the beach eyes open, staring at the sun.. a mystic master, the toughest that Caine would have to face. The series mythologized a bit but also had solid researchers behind it. Wish I could find the youtube for it. Again, I'm not encouraging the practice, as I say its on the dangerous side. Eye sight is too valuable to play around with and I've heard about beginners and advanced people getting hurt.

Hair is often wrapped up in human pride. So shaving it off can be a way of less ego. <so would be covering it up, or letting it grow naturally without grooming>. side note, I also see an example of very yin becomes yang in this, in that if you're tough guy and can pull it off, a bald head is actually a sign of extreme bad ass-edness.

imo, when responsibility is spread out, tactics like a hunger strike aren't optimum. It's like yelling to a crowd for help. Everyone assumes someone else will help and keeps walking. Probably better to make a list of the main sources of pollutants and start working on each them one by one. If its a factory, find out what helps them, what hurts them and strategize from there. If its farms, find out what fertilizers in what quantities do the most damage. Find substitutes and start shaming the farms that use the worst practices. Change works best when its got tight specific goals.

I enjoy doing salt scrubs in the shower, ie rubbing salt and oil mixture all over. A nice defoliant exfoliant. Traditionally salt is purifying spiritually. For decades athletes would take Epsom salt baths. So, I'm for it. Listen to your body though. Before and after, that's the real test.

One thing I highly respect about the Krav Maga school near me is how inbetween techniques they do pushups/situps/calisthenics. This means they practice tired with a high heart beat. Closer to the fight/flight reaction during actual fights plus gets you into better shape.

No news is good news. There's a certain amount of enlightenment in getting off the grid and living a simple life. Getting back to practice and peace versus the ever wanting world where everyone wants and expects piece of you.

Cook bigger, ie in an hour you can cook one meal or 6. Get a book (or google it) of stews and work through it. Slow cookers and Instant Pots are great. For gaining weight you can add some ghee or butter (fat) to recipes or an extra helping of rice or noodles(carbs). Find a couple of recipes, soups, stews, etc., master the ones you like. I like chili, its easy to make, can work well with fattier cuts (or go veggie), plus you can top it with sour cream, shredded cheese and avocado, and 'bottom' it with noodles or polenta. Eat it for lunch, dinner and put on top of eggs for breakfast. Same with most stews. Winter is great time to learn to make hearty soups. Ofttimes its easier to drink extra calories then eat them. I've also heard eating late tends to be better for weight gain.

Interesting question and I hope you get a good answer. There have been a couple of high level masters who've been known to smoke. The only two things I got are you may want to try the 10 Week Wim Hof method. It gives the lungs a good work out with its rapid breathing, it teaches you how to completely fill your lungs. It also develops will power as you work with long breath holds and have to face cold showers each day. It builds the will. If you can step into an icy cold shower and stay there for 10 minutes, you can go a few hours without lighting up. Another angle for practitioners is to turn your addiction from dirty habit into something sacred. Start buying the more expensive 'Indian' brands or roll your own. Keep them in a special meaningful container. Then create a special setting, have a mini ceremony for each smoke. Return smoking to the sacred and perhaps you can gain control over the addiction.

Welcome to the bums. Good learning, teaching & sharing to you.

carried from afar the leaf settles down just so To rest completely

Why do I get the feeling the 'prince' is seeking a kiss from the unconscious woman for his own pleasure rather then helping her? I say that because kissing a stranger who's unconscious, particularly due to drugs does not help them. Matter of fact its pretty pervy. What was he gonna do after kissing the kiss, drop his pants, thinking to himself perhaps this will revive her? The fact he got a life sentence means this wasn't a first offense, far from it, more likely he was on probation and had a long record and this was his third fourth or fifth strike. Perhaps as a senator the woman could create programs to remind such 'princes' that kissing or groping unconscious people is not to be done.

Sometimes I search for it. Sometimes I give up and let it, find me. Not interested in power or immortality. I've got enough of that stuff now. I'm fine with the unknown just like I'm okay with death (i think). I am successful in Western terms. Which is nice. Less so in Eastern terms.. but i have time, i think and a glass of ice and vodka with a little too much limoncello in it, which is throwing off the balance, making it too sweet. only a few drops is needed to keep on the proper side of martini, more and it gets frou frou. i could search for a better balanced drink, but if i'm patient, the ice will take care of the balance. thus is life. sip slowly and wait for the ice to melt.