Apech

As far as I can tell only four types of people vote Conservative: 1 ) the rich and powerful 2 ) those who want to be rich and powerful 3 ) those who look up to the rich and powerful and think they know best 4 ) people who have been fooled into thinking the rich and powerful give a damn about them and their lives.

Yes, well put!

You mean this one http://thedaobums.com/topic/36813-us-mid-term-elections/?p=590507 ? Did you do well? I haven't read it again. I don't know if you have this effect in the US as well. Here throughout the election campaign the opinion polls quoted the two main parties as neck and neck. This was very consistent over the whole period and also between the various organisations. But the exit poll on the actual night showed a lead for the Conservatives which shocked everyone and most dismissed as a fluke or error. This happened before in 1992 in similar circumstances when the Conservatives were in office and everyone thought they would lose. But again they didn't they won by a reasonable margin. So I am thinking that the business interests which prefer right wing government tamper with the results to make it look like a close race. This has the dual effect of frightening the core voters into turning out, creating scare stories about fringe parties having undue influence and putting their opponents off their guard. So its a deliberate tactic. I remember in the 70's a similar thing happened.

In a statement issued by the White House, Obama said: The special and essential relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is rooted in deep and abiding shared interests and values. I have enjoyed working closely with prime minister Cameron on a range of shared interests these last several years, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen the bonds between our countries, as we work together on behalf of global peace, security and prosperity. ...hurrah!!!!

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/may/08/russell-brand-stages-climbdown-over-support-for-ed-miliband-labour-comedian ... Russell Brand squirming slightly ...

In the end I don't think it was Scotland which caused this result but simply that Miliband was unconvincing and Labour failed to present themselves as more competent than the Tories. I don't think it's ideology as much as wanting things well run and properly managed.

Oh well ... how depressing.

... never mind didn't work ... so anyway I'm waiting for the post election right wing coup when theTories despite not winning refuse to leave 10 Downing Street.

https://www.google.pt/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=lucid%20dreaming%20magick

Plenty of books on this subject ... google it.

It has a lot of use ... why do you ask.

Only pulling your leg, old boy. But since you have revealed that you speak to Chuang Tzu I am beginning to wonder exactly how old you really are

Interesting vid. My first teacher was a 3rd degree witch who was a student of Alex Sanders ... so definitely 'Wicca' I suppose ... but there was no fluffy bunny stuff going on. It was sex and magic all the way. Very powerful guy but slightly bonkers. My second teacher knew Gardener ... but he was more a High Magick kind of person. So I've seen witchcraft from that side. But here where I live now there are many bruxas (witches) ... its a living tradition although with no coherent style or outlook. Herbalism, mediumship mixed with Catholic Saints, spells against the evil eye and some cursing. Its a mix. But why does it exist? Because an old lady's grandmother taught her and her grandmother taught her ... going back and back to who know's when. So over time it changes of course and maybe some old lady has a special connections to the Virgin Mary or Sao Roque or whoever and they pray to them ... so what? What they are doing is the same. Cos in the end all you have is your mind, your body, your will and the magic field (and the entities therein). The reason it attracted me is because it's practical and about doing ... not great theories or high blown spirituality ... but about relating directly to power.

So much for anarchy

It is my feeling that if you cultivate in any sense (I mean Daoist, Buddhist etc.) then all your actions need to be related back to your practice. So in deciding whether to cast a vote or not to ... then the reference point should be how that act impacts on your 'energy' (for want of a better word). This is the main consideration for me. of course others must decide for themselves.

That is true. But as an individual ethical being you make choices for yourself. Which might be, I am going to keep to what I believe to be true (e.g. that politics is not something to engage with) and am willing to suffer the consequences.

The thing about 'not-Voting' is that it's not always the same thing. Not-Voting because you can't be bothered - is bad and negligent. Not-Voting as an active protest at the choices on offer is a kind of active statement equivalent to spoiling the ballot paper. Not-Voting because you don't want to be responsible for the outcome - questionable. Not-Voting because you have worked out that all politicians are professional liars - personal ethics. Lastly Not-Voting for cultivation reasons - i.e. avoiding dirty qi (valid???).

Is that where you buried the bodies?

I recommend a competitive readmission where the banned are assembled gladiator style in a specific area and told to fight it out. Two submissions or a knockout gains them re-admission. We can fight over who does the ticket sales and betting.

Can we ban Nungali for shooting a peacock?

International LGBT Rights Envoy and a Global Envoy for Religious Freedom... the Labour Party want a Rights Envoy for Lettuce, Bacon and Tomato sandwiches? ... that's extreme!

Ah ok ... knowing that you know nothing is an excellent thing. I agree the word consciousness is not a good ally. But the word mind is a tricky little friend also. I would quote Zhuangzi about fish traps and all ... and say, as the Daoists did, that the written words are the dregs.

I'd like Alwayson back for more witty chit chat and bonhomie.

I think Russel Brand has been conned by the fact that Miliband went to be interviewed by him. Although he does seem to be saying do anything to keep the Tories out ...which is understandable. BUT I predict a Tory victory (although maybe not an outright majority) because people are naturally cautious and they don't quite know what they will get with Labour now. I hope I'm wrong.

I only ask because 'mind' itself is an elusive concept rather as Tao is. So to say 'it's all mind' doesn't really answer anything unless you say clearly what mind is. For instance in Indian Philosophy there are many words for mind - citta, Buddhi, vijnana, manas and even ahamkara ... all with different emphasis and all translated as mind/consciousness and sometimes self. I would say you come to have an understanding of Tao through study, meditation and application ... over many years. I don't know what you mean by surrender to ignorance.