thelerner

Let's see. Capital Punishment.. in some very strict, very well documented cases involving particular sadism, yes. Thus, not for rape, yet if a rape perpetrator gets killed inwardly I think.. good. For justice to work well, it needs to be separated from personal feelings of vengeance. Otherwise it risks devolving into gang prejudices. Still.. if the rapist was lying dead of his wounds.. I'd be fine with it. Personally, if say I had a gun and stopped a rapist, I hope I'd discharge at least one bullet, even after he stopped and surrendered. I don't feel that way about robbery, stuff is just stuff. Not even saying I'd kill him, but I hope I'd put a bullet somewhere, then lie about it and say whoopsie. I doubt that'll ever happen, but its the way I feel. I don't think they should be places of victimization, but what I think doesn't change reality. The fact is, many if not most are. With luck, they'll be caught, do jail time and be scared straight. Though probably, they won't be caught and might do it again, until they're caught and have there own epiphany. I don't think the penal system should be eat or be eaten, nor do I think it should be particularly pleasant, though inmates should be protected from each other, murder, rapes and intimidation should not be tolerated. More man power, supervision, technology and changing the layouts should help. You should acknowledge that a slap on the wrist, turn around courts/bleeding hearts can also make crime more prevalent. I took a class in American Prisons, the swings between rehabilitation and punishment. I think you need both, and particularly more money should be spent, after prison, in both monitoring and support so they don't fall back into crime. I think in civilization its a necessity. If you break a law, hurt, rob, steal, rape or kill, that its appropriate to have an unpleasant penalty. With my children, in my household, there are rules and responsibilities, break them and there are consequences. I've seen households without consequences and the kids do not benefit. Similarly, there should be rehabilitation and much more support after prison. I appreciate your thoughts. The Holland system of kindness overkill is interesting and worthy of setting up test cases here in the U.S, but we are a different society. Localities should have input into the rules and punishments. The government should do research and make recommendations based on pragmatism into how to best balance rehabilitation and punishment. And in my mind do a much better job of aftercare, both watching and helping those stay straight. Technology can help. Having communal work and housing available for those who choose it. I'd like to see conditioned surrender in the war on drugs. Having unbiased studies look at the whole picture of how legalization and decriminalization has affected the various levels of social structure. Studying how it's helped and hurt because I'm sure its done both. Weighing both and allowing the States to decide based on the best evidence. Some drugs should be controlled and regulated, but perhaps there's a way of doing that which side steps the whole crime/prison circle, ie specific supervised places for hard or psychedelic drugs. Similarly it'd be smart to see prison population reduced for non-violent drug crimes. Also to end crazy forfeiture without trial laws that some districts have and abuse.

I'm sorry it was only potential. I'd just as soon have a rapist dead. Good for her. A trained boxer, female or not, is a fair match against 2 untrained young thugs. I hope they're found and do time in prison, have a chance to feel what its like to be preyed on. Maybe there are times you can place some criticism on a victim, that there was behavior that increased the risk of attack, but that doesn't mean they deserve it, just that they and others can learn from it. The blame is still on the attacker and the coward, thief or would be rapist should feel the fullest punishment of the law against them.

A bit of an aside, but I've also heard of certain chi gung practices that, after many years of practice, seem to open up skull bones. I frget the details though. I also remember a cranial sacral therapist had classes with had a device that showed how the skull subtlety moved with breathing. We think of it as hard bone, yet that may not be the whole story. Amongst some heavy practitioners there can be some weird affects on anatomy. In the book "The Life We are Given' by George Leonard & Michael Murphy had practitioners work toward amazing goals, and showed how with focus and steady practice, highly unlikely things were possible. Time, sacrifice and long term steady practice can create amazing things.

I get where you're coming from and respect it, but I've got people and things I want to protect, and I'll fight those who would hurt or take them away. Which is a reform from my youth where I also had ideas I thought needed protection.. thankfully for the most part I've given up that foolishness. Still, and undoubtedly egoic, there are times it feels good to have blood on my knuckles. Geez there's a line right out of a comic book. p.s for learning to 'fight' I have my doubts about strip mall dojos. Yet I'm glad my kids had a chance to go to them. In their traditional karate class were important lessons in honor and discipline, strength and endurance that are hard to get in our society. And an overall lesson that fighting was a last resort. Yet its an option, and standing tall and knowing how to throw a decent punch, makes it less likely you have to.

Yes, you generally want something 5 or 600 pages. Hold it a few inches from your head and when a thought comes, Whack. Kidding, but imo it's not a book you need. It's your ears. Breath so quietly there is absolutely no sound. It tends to create a slow but not too slow rthym. You can no longer sniff the air and have to use slow abdominal movement. I find the focus on listening helps create a deep quiet alertness.

I'll tell you one thing. That quote won't bother me again!! But that's the awful downside of fighting. We're cued to movies where the hero wins and the next episode comes on. Life is sticky. You see the guy again and win or lose things continue or escalate. Everyone is a hero in there own mind and too often that gives an excuse for some of our worst behavior. If you have to fight, fight. But if it's an ego thing, suck it up, walk away. The world has enough violence in it. And once started you don't know when it will end, what dark events it might trigger.

Eating is a very communal affair. Eating only one meal would inevitably create social awkwardness at times. Not the worst thing, compared to its benefits, but undoubtedly problematic.

double post :(, hit quote instead of edit

I'd throw out that can learn much from a teacher who isn't 'enlightened' or a master. Imo, the beginner who goes searching Asia for a true master, may well fall behind the guy who goes to a local YMCA, learns basic yoga, learns basic tai chi, sets up an intelligent disciplined meditation schedule for a few years. Then transitions to Ashrams.. temples.. builds up connections and when they travel East, have skills and a better understanding of solid from so so.

It's an extreme measure, but so is calling someone a couple times threatening suicide. You give them attention, they may feel better but you become a nervous wreck, and the cycle continues. It can feel like emotional blackmail, as if they're holding a gun to your head. It may be a way to call there bluff and/or lead them to get serious help. Maybe not the best tool, but its one that at a certain point should be considered.

There is something magical about sports. Such a powerful connector. got its dark side too, but somehow, their greatness is our greatness; we share in it, bask in it. Our team, We Win, GOOAAAALLlll! If only wars could be fought on the soccer field, wouldn't that be nice**. ** maybe not soccer war circa 1969- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War

Nicely done. It looks good. Nice flow, good pictures. And a truly amazing deal, just a fraction of what most retreats are. In a couple months my last bird is leaving the nest. I'll give you a buzz, sounds like a retreat would be quite an adventure. *Pressing Gallery got me - The page cannot be found

There is the strong surrender. The surrender where you don't stop. You trust the process, and even when its hard, you keep going, because you've surrendered to it. Open eyed, with faith and endurance you make room for grace.

I consider myself a fake Taoist, fake Buddhist and fake yoga-ist. For example I've enjoyed hanging out at Ashrams but avoid doing actual yoga, love the people and the meditation. And being a somewhat corrupting force there (ditching classes for coffee & casinos). Taoist.. I enjoy reading some taoist literature, certainly the DDJ, occassionally try to see the world and various problems through Taoists eyes, ie a path of nature and patience, yet I'm no Taoist. Matter of fact I often confuse Taoism and Zen Buddhism. I have lots of respect for Buddhism, find there tenets clear and self proving. Yet to say I was a Buddhist would be an affront to true Buddhists; same with Taoism and Yoga. I simply haven't spent the time, effort and sacrificing to truly call myself any of those. I hope with my study and rubbing elbows with those who are, that I've picked up bits of wisdom, some perspective and different ways of looking at the world. Dabbler that I am.

It's on my To Read list. His book Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance, was amazing. An interesting compilation comparing refound secrets, using the history, particularly the Nazi invasion of Crete as a litmus test for what's possible. Using past inspiration to find and celebrate modern masters of strength, endurance and pieces of the good life. FWIW on my phone I use an app called Overdrive to take out library ebooks and e-audio books from the library. Which is how I read Natural Born Heroes. Hard to beat free.

hmmnn, so what I'm getting out of this, is that you might be Coons. now it all makes sense.

A common misunderstanding is that this is supposed to be a Taoist site. As I understand it's supposed to be eclectic and include spiritual practices of all kinds. The name came from Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. Which is onsale now $1.99 for the deluxe version Kindle version- https://www.amazon.com/Dharma-Bums-Penguin-Classics-Deluxe-ebook/dp/B000W4RFHK?_bbid=10159524&tag=bookbubemail7-20 *note no kindle needed. I often read books with the kindle app on my phone. from Amazon- "First published in 1958, a year after On the Road put the Beat Generation on the map, The Dharma Bums stands as one of Jack Kerouac's most powerful and influential novels. The story focuses on two ebullient young Americans--mountaineer, poet, and Zen Buddhist Japhy Ryder, and Ray Smith, a zestful, innocent writer--whose quest for Truth leads them on a heroic odyssey, from marathon parties and poetry jam sessions in San Francisco's Bohemia to solitude and mountain climbing in the High Sierras." I paged through the book along ago. I don't even remember if I liked it,a but for $1.99, may as well take another swing. After all, at heart aren't we all dharma bums.

When life sucks.. its hard. Worse we create an invisible hell for ourselves by reliving the experience over and over in our thoughts, adding stories of greater personal hurt each time. It's bad enough life sucks, but somehow we carry around a perverse self torturer in our heads. So.. disrupt the torturer. Recognize it for what it is. Take a walk, real quietly, feel each foot step, listen to nature. Or the opposite, listen to music- the blues, or hard rock, or something that resonates. Here's another things I'll do, listen to guided meditation. I've got a couple in a thread I started. Here are some of my favorites for quieting the mind. Often they help, but not always. Sometimes we slog through days, swinging on vines of hope, knowing tomorrow's coming and it may be better.

Pick up a healthy habit, change the rudder a few degrees and in time you're in new better place. Let your partner know that You personally need some rituals in your life. That this is very important to you. In the morning and at night, you want some bitter(herbal?) tea and a cup of whole fat yogurt (don't mention the whole fat part). The actual food isn't as important as something whole and caloric. Avocados are great. To add spirituality to your life, you want to eat a snack mindfully, quietly twice a day. You've heard it rejuvenates the soul, creates balance. A way of spirituality from inside out. That people who try it, even force themselves to do it, for one month see vast improvements of mind and body. And that its a spiritual quest that's important to you and you need to do it with a partner. One month. Nobody likes being told what to do. Or that they are wrong or have a problem. So instead frame it as a 30 day gong, a test of tenacity and perseverance. Dine with a candle, nice dishes and cups. This is where the Chinese and Japanese have a spiritual decorum we lack. Bringing a spirituality into the mundane plates and cups. Make it special. Eating should be spiritual, but in our culture it's hard. But perhaps for 2 snacks a day. You can work to bring that spirituality back, til even the peeling of a small orange becomes a beautiful even sensual thing. If you get buy in, add some fruit preserves to the yogurt. Try different types. Most importantly get into the habit of eating mindfully. If you go the avocado rout, see how different spices affect the taste, different breads; I like sprouted breads and store them in the freezer for freshness and longevity.

It's a terrifying hard subject. I think you do your best, be compassionate but at some point you can only save yourself. Having given time, and skillful strategies, the final move is to leave them alone or set limits and minimize help. See if they hit bottom, find there way and recover on there own.

This was my most memorable hitchhiker experience.

forgive me, but that seemed a little too new agey for Einstein. Not that he was averse to metaphysics. In any case, according to the quote investigator.. it's not from Albert- https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/05/16/everything-energy/ according to the site above this is as close as he got- Albert Einstein did speak about the relationship between matter and energy. The following quote is from a 1948 film called “Atomic Physics” [AEAP]: It followed from the special theory of relativity that mass and energy are both but different manifestations of the same thing — a somewhat unfamiliar conception for the average mind.

imo what it'll take to win the Alt-coin wars is a low and stable price plus wide acceptance. Fluctuation and high prices are the opposite of what you'd want in a alt currency. You also don't want a common currency to be $1,000 or even $50 a unit. Being a speculation play is not what Alt-currency is about, and those that are will ultimately not be the top contenders. If Visa or Mastercard ever accepted any alt-currency as payment, then it'd be a legit coin of the realm. Acceptance will come from marketing and getting shops and sites to accept it. That battle ultimately will be more important then price movement.

<deleted> or to sum it up. I applaud those who strive to create and live in there ideal environment. Be it homestead, cave or city dweller. Seems better to put ones energy into that then be too much a prophet of doom.

Your quote by Oswald Spengler is probably from the early 1900's. He died in 1936, while things got pretty bad during his lifetime and ofcourse after, he didn't have the vision to foresee that things get better too. He wrote a book about the Decline of the West but didn't realize it'd have a powerful rebirth too. If he lived today, would he be amazed and happy at how wrong he was? Or simply put his focus on the next coming apocalypse. Cause that was his thing. There is bravery in optimism, its easy to fall into depression and forget time and culture often moves in pendulum fashion, swinging to extremes and coming back to center before swinging the opposite way. We forget as trends build opposing forces mass against them. It's short sighted to draw long term conclusions without considering that factors reverse themselves. You have one life. Probably not an immortal one. Philosophy is great, but sometimes we get head heavy, and it robs us of living our lives well. There's a time to shuck philosophy aside, put away books & lofty ideas and focus on finding peace, simplicity and happiness. While that itself is a philosophy, it means get out of your head, and its multitude of rationalizations and focus on skillful means to live happily and healthily.