Apech

DxPDOBh941s Buddhist pop?

I think this means - the fisherman understands that the dangers of the sea are part of fishing ... the traveler that dangers are part of traveling ... and so on ... the Sage understands that when things go badly its just the consequence of circumstances, when they go well then its just the time for things to succeed ... so he is not afraid of difficulty because ultimately its just a consequence of the Way. Not so much awareness as such but more a state of wisdom. Just my thoughts. A7.

Taomeow, What does this mean? In every single video I have seen so far either a) the teacher destroys the balance of the opponent by subtle movement and then pushes using normal force - in this way a small push causes a big effect because the opponents own force is used against them. Anyone, even me when I used to do Aikido could do something like this. or b ) the opponent/student is showing a lot of respect to aged master and moves when he is expected to.

Well I'm not going to give you a formula/method if that's what you mean - cos you need to find your own - and its not about that anyway. Our minds filter what gets through like mad - and we build all sorts of assumptions about people on top of that. Also most people operate through a self-concept which is a kind of con. They present themselves as this sort of person and so on - and I say its a con because they don't really know themselves. Knowing yourself is a very high art - a very developed state. So if someone comes to you saying 'look at me I'm like this ...' then it is that you cannot trust - and funnily enough neither can the person saying it - because they don't know their own response in certain situations.

Steve f, That Lark Ascending was exquisite (not a word I use often - partly cos I need to spellchecker to do so!). Reminded me of this: L5C99JyP2ns

My experience is that it is better not to trust people. I don't mean this in a paranoid way, I just mean that in placing trust in someone you are generating expectations of them which they are almost certain to fall short of. This is true of everyone, with the possible exception of those with whom you form intimate bonds and with whom there is a tacit agreement to work through problems. Wishing people well is OK - in fact this is the right thing. You can be positive about others without trusting them. People are confused and the real nature of reality is hidden from them. In this state they find it difficult to act correctly and may do things which seem to you (or anyone) evil - but they can't necessarily see that themselves. Its weird because everyone is potentially free and enlightened but they choose to be selfish and stupid instead. Working on yourself - cultivation - creates a gap between you and others for this reason I find. Just my thoughts. A7. PS. Its easy to see their intentions - just use your feelings, suspend your thoughts and 'ask' - if you see what I mean - but we often block the answer cos its a bit difficult to take.

Please serve the soup now I'm through with enlightenment Need substantial food. (Man does not live on bread alone - he needs something to go with it!)

My observation is: Destroy the opponents balance - draw their dantien out of its position (within frame of body) then quite a small push sends them flying. These vids are very interesting. Thanks for posting.

Dear all (and Taomeow and Immortal Sis. particularly), I've read as much of this thread as I can but sorry if I've missed some points. I'm a bit perplexed by the focus on child bearing and women's obvious superiority at this. The OP said 'women don't create anything except babies' and I don't want to encourage this kind of idea. However I would dispute that having babies is evidence of creativity because its just a biological fact and happens without any conscious intervention from the mother (I mean in terms of the growth of the foetus) - although caring for children is undoubtedly a significant and difficult skill - but the fact that you can have babies is not evidence of creativity (surely?) So haven't you just fallen into the trap of the OP by suggesting that this is so significant. I know that there are different definitions of creativity but it seems to me that in the arts, sciences and business creativity involves something which is very particular and individual. I think that those people that we count as really creative produce something (a picture, music, whatever) from deep inner intuition, intellectual examination and willed exploration of their experience of themselves and the world. The hallmark of this is that what is produced is new in some sense. New because it is a new expression - even if it is couched within a traditional skill like calligraphy for instance. The question is this, is there anything specifically male or female about this process? If we are Taoist (or accept some other mystical system) then we surely understand that life, our life, our beings are at a deep level the product of the interaction of energies and that the most fundamental of these is the interaction of yin and yang. Our creativity comes fundamentally from the interaction and tension between yin and yang essential male and female energies. Whether we are men or women is irrelevant to the source of our potential creativity, although it will surely influence how it is expressed. It is logical from this point of view to think that men and women both have equal potential to be creative. The fact that in recent history more men are recorded as having demonstrated this ability means very little because we know that for many generations there have been false obstacles placed in the way of women expressing themselves. The reasons for this are complicated and I don't buy into the usual tired arguments around male behaviour. I think that one factor is about human survival and that there was some advantage to homo sapiens to have patriarchal social structures ... but as is so often the case the structures long outlived their usefulness. I have given some thought to the PUA thing as well and I think it is very interesting why such an idea should exist. I also think that ideas like this have some superficial similarities to mysticism - but that the motivation is quite different. What I would suggest to those who are practitioners is that you are being allowed to be successful and not for the reasons that you think. I will leave it there for now. A.

all we really have... packed up in a small suitcase the road leads westward.

Yes I like that one Marbles - but it seems you have to be bald to practice (?) I think Taomeow's is the most impressive so far ... keep them coming guys.

forgotten, not lost... What is? That's a good question, I can't remember.

for them past present is an unwrapped Chinese toy from last years Christmas.

Maybe only men - but not all men - only those who signed up to particular ways of enforcing power (aided an abetted by some women who supported them). They persecuted witches (mostly women) but also mystics who dared to think for themselves and they attempted to silence all challenge to their authority. It is they who handed down the male/female labeling through the doctrines of the state and church - the licensing of human relations through marriage and so on - and left us confused about ourselves. In saying men did this - implying all men is to fall straight into their trap (IMO).

HelloThar, Hmmm you sound a little bitter if I may say. It is odd I have to say that in divorce court proceedings women are treated as helpless dependents while actually in society they have most of not all of earning potential of men. Women who campaign for equal pay should also campaign for equality in settlements. "The majority of women are as you describe, boring, dull leaches ..." do you really go around thinking this way? Is it healthy? Don't get me wrong I see stupid people everyday as well but I could equally well say that everyone is potentially enlightened. Thinking this way at least makes me feel a little happier. I suppose what I want to suggest is a distinction between male/female archetypes (or polarity or whatever) and actual people. By labeling I think there is a risk that we deny individuals the possibility of rising above the base level function (men and women). Maybe the creative ones are the ones that do this - again male or female. Few and far between and quite often shunned and mocked by people generally. True creativity as a rare commodity (?). A7.

Bunny?!?

Graacher Himmelreich sweet as sipping the juice of forgotten summer (Sorry Artform couldn't work out how to link yours in)

mea culpa (its the middle of the night here - just the rantings of an insomniac )

...a German boyfriend... do you like my uniform? Ja ich liebe es!

To be frank Blasto - this story is about your own imbalance. You can't pretend to be in touch with your feminine side, you either are or you aren't. Men who can't understand the value of women - and women who can't understand the value of men - are just betraying their own lack of balance/integration. As we are all 60/40% (or whatever percentage you would like to quote) then if you denigrate women/men you are dong this to part of yourself. If you are doing cultivation then you have to learn to balance/mix and integrate yin/yang in yourself. This will make you stronger and more attractive as a person. Success at hitting on women - the polarised yang is just a game - those who report success are being used by the women concerned as much as they are using them.

sniffing at the air there is tundra in the wind forgotten summer

How about believing in individuals? (regardless of whether they are men or women)??? Difficult for anyone who practices PUA I think

forgotten summer yes its always been this cold forgotten summer

Thanks for that last bit of clarification anyway. So are we all for the nuclear family and gay bashing now? Where did the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s go ...was I dreaming?

darting, out of view may-flies don't live so long forgotten summer.