Apech

What is mind?

Saying it cannot be defined is not the same as saying we cannot talk about it. In fact if you think about the word 'about' that's exactly what it means ... without saying what it is we talk around the subject. By the way, I would suggest that correctly speaking energy = qi ... which is in its broadest sense manifest energy in all its forms, including for instance other properties of existence such as space. Qi arises through the interaction of Heaven and Earth, Heaven being the origin of images and names; and earth the origin of substantial existence ... from their interaction come the 10k things (which includes not just physical objects but also more subtle things such as processes, feelings, thoughts, emotions, concepts and so on). As humans we observe the dance of the interaction of the 10k things ... a dance which occurs to the beat of the drum of Heaven and Earth. Human's follow earth in that we observe and interact with the substantial world, the earth follows Heaven which is the initiator of patterns of movement and flow, and heaven follows Tao which is the whole process as both origin (non-being) and sustainer of existence (the Mother=being). Tao follows Ziran ... self-nature ... that which is what it is of itself and nothing else. The flow we experience is Qi which condenses into Jing and dissipates through Shen (repeatedly), it kind of wraps itself in and then radiates itself out. This is life. Just some thoughts for what its worth ...

I'd definitely move this to the Healing Circle for more advice. I suspect there is a some dietary factor involved in your condition. I don't think it's about taking supplements and so on as much as simplifying your diet. Is there anything you eat regularly which you particularly like or feel hunger for? You might also try 'Unwinding the Belly' self massage. There are some case studies in that book which you might relate to. http://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Belly-Healing-Gentle-Touch/dp/1556434782/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430643366&sr=1-1&keywords=unwinding+the+belly

I think you mis-spelled that last word. Its odd that in the last election there was Cleggmania because basically he wasn't either Labour or Tory ... and this time we have Nicola Sturgeon as the most popular person most people can't vote for. So it seems that there's a huge feeling of wanting something different ... which is unfulfilled. There's Tory, there's Labour Tory, or UKIP Tory, they all merge into one somehow. And the leaders are all PR specialists ... everything they say is scripted and repetitive ... dull, dull, dull ... in the old days you could look forward to some off the cuff banter or witticism but not any more. And its been going on for nearly 100 days! Long enough to attain enlightenment through semen retention ... or something.

well yes for two reasons. 1) he pretends to be otherwise 2) being a Tory is evil

Anyway sod the election ... whatserface has just had a baby!!!!

Cleggy is a closet Tory IMO.

Why not do a poll?

I'm idealistic. Who knew?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/apr/26/nepal-earthquake-death-toll-exceeds-1500-rolling-report ... prayers for the dead, injured and homeless.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/24/liquid-mercury-mexican-pyramid-teotihuacan Interesting in view of use of mercury in ancient Chinese tombs.

Thanks I've fixed it in the OP now ... no idea how that happened.

Some connections? http://www.livescience.com/22454-ancient-chinese-tomb-terracotta-warriors.html Buried deep under a hill in central China, surrounded by an underground moat of poisonous mercury, lies an entombed emperor who's been undisturbed for more than two millennia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_alchemy The term Neidan can be divided into two parts: Nei, meaning inner, and Dan, which refers to alchemy, elixir, and cinnabar (mercury). Neidan uses techniques such as: composed meditation techniques, visualization, breathing and bodily posture exercises. Breathing exercises were used to preserve jing or "life essence" and bodily postures were used to improve qi or "energy" flow in the body. Neidan comprises the elixir from the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the cultivation of substances already present in the body, in particular the manipulation of three substances in the body known as the "Three Treasures".

I have to start by saying I'm not really qualified to answer your question properly as I am neither Theravadin or properly a Daoist. But you raise an interesting question which has already provoked some interesting answers. If you were to ask a broader question as to whether Buddhism and Taoism can be compatible then I think I could answer yes, since in China this happened in Ch'an Buddhism and Complete Reality school of Taoism - though even here there would be some here who see both of these as somehow 'contaminated'. I've never held that view as I see it more as evidence of the underlying truth of both religions that they can be symbiotic rather than some kind of tainting. But this was a merging of Mahayana Buddhism and not Theravada. The Theravada uphold a view which might question the view that the Tao is fundamentally real as the only real would be mental events or dharmas. But even here it might be possible to understand the Tao as the flow of dharmas (?) not sure about this. I think the only problem on a practitioner level would be the possibility of generating confusion for yourself by mixing concepts from the two systems ... or perhaps concepts and approaches to practice. But again to do this might be a good exercise in itself. Provided you can protect against merging into a kind of New Age mud. The Buddha gained awakening or personal realisation which he said in the first instance he found to be inexpressible. But he was moved by compassion to teach it. When he taught he was of course interacting which people who lived in the Vedic culture and he used terms, images and so on drawn from that culture. For instance the terms karma, samsara and so on. He re-interpreted these ideas in a fundamental way in order to try to help people. He wasn't a social reformer and as has been pointed out he did not cause lay Buddhists to challenge the caste system ... but there was no caste system in his sangha, in fact it has been suggested by academics that the Sakya clan was on the periphery of Vedic culture and the organisation of the sangha reflects the social order of the gana-sangha. Some of the quotes from the suttas in that paper which purport to uphold the varnas and jatis are actually the buddha critiquing and lampooning the degenerate practices of the Brahmins (or so it is said by other academics).

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/gallery/2015/apr/01/over-population-over-consumption-in-pictures ... quite shocking some of these.

"ok"

Takes me back.

I think that you need to develop your scepticism even more ... with some focus on how certain you are about demons. (said with the greatest of respect).

Aha! So you feel comfortable with the term 'ego' but not the term 'demon'? While one is defined as an inherently unreal sense of self and the other as a real non-human entity? Horatio?

And now you turn the sludge into Macburgers and export them to the world.

I don't think I ever specified 'Western Medicine' ... I was perhaps thinking of building clinics and health centres and perhaps linked to public health measures like clean water and sanitation. I wouldn't exclude homeopathy or say, aryuvedic medicine if that is what people want. A midwife service would probably be key. The problem as I see it is that these kinds of initiatives get taken over by sponsoring pharma companies who either force things like vaccines or actually experiment. Totally against that. I would see it as more a case of making things available and giving enough information for people to make their own choices. Education ... well the essence here again is helping people equip them selves with the mental tools to think for themselves. So basic numeracy, literacy, general science, history and geography, art/music and so on.

Bill Gate's intentions are without flaw like his operating system Windows 8 ( )

"The irony of the seal is that, in fact, the English settlers generally had no interest in helping the Indians and the Indians did not want English "help." ... from your link. This is about how colonialists interfered with peoples who were living in harmony with nature (to a degree). No one is suggesting this kind of thing.

Not sure I follow you. Perhaps I could put it another way. People can develop their own solutions but need the tools to do so. I understand your reluctance to influence cultural changes for others. And I guess mostly I agree. But there may be exceptions like for instance female genital mutilation ... I think I would be quite happy if it were possible to insist that this become universally illegal. Not sure what you mean by 'gong a little deeper' perhaps you could explain.

You haven't thought that through I think as dustybeijing has pointed out. By 'culture' I mean the unshakable assumption that women exist to breed and that having large families is necessary. there have been studies in India where a good school (open to girls of course) and a health centre were provided to a local village. The effect was prolonged life expectancy, reduced birth rate, increased prosperity and life expectations. This is low tech -nothing to do with western technological dependency and you might argue that an education will impact on culture and outlook but surely its more about combatting ignorance and unnecessary suffering. the opposite of imperialism this is about community empowerment.