rex

Thanks!

Has anyone heard of the Nordic martial art based on the runes - Stav? Apparently there's postures based on the runes with different breathing patterns. Interesting stuff.

I've often heard this term and wondered what was meant by it. It encapsulates a lot of complexity: Mind Stream Edited for tpyos

Wunderbar! "Attempting contemplative practices without clear understanding of the body ... is like trying to milk an animal by tugging at its horns." edit: Link to potential copyrighted material removed

Scott Sonnon has released TACFIT Warrior. The bonuses - if you buy by 17th Dec - includes the flowfit videos.

Parenti's article does the rounds every now and again. Michael Winn posted Parenti's article on the Healing Dao forum and also this critique: http://forum.healingdao.com/general/message/15159 There's also this: http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/04/a-lie-repeated-the-far-left%E2%80%99s-flawed-history-of-tibet/ And for an analysis that's still on my 'to read' list and challenges claims on both sides: http://www.amazon.com/Authenticating-Tibet-Answers-Questions-Lilienthal/dp/0520249283/

I've seen a few references on the net linking the Kalachakra to militaristic conquest. Here's one explanation: Holy Wars in Buddhism and Islam In regard to abuses of power, history shows that when there is a conflict of interest feudal/state affairs will often take precedence over spiritual affairs. The Himalayan region is no different to Europe or the Americas in this respect.

Don't worry about it. Everyone experiences and lives dependent origination/emptiness/fullness all the time - we are dependent origination/emptiness/fullness. There are practices and approaches to experience this while earning a crust in this vale of tears - have you considered Dzogchen? eidetd for tpyos

Excellent excerpt and kudos to you for tapping it all in. Anything by Caitlin and John Matthews is well worth the trouble to read. Cheers!

Absolutely! Also quippy facile one liners that ruin the original spirit of a post. This is a hazard of public forums that TBs is not immune from. Not easy to moderate for sure. Quippy one liners may be the appropriate response to particularly insidious posts though patterns of constant quips can, and in my opinion, do reveal disruptive intent. On balance TB's has probably got the best option between e-sangha over-moderation and total descent into chaotic acrimony. It is clear that people can make honest mistakes that can be perceived as a select coterie closing ranks. The fact that this thread exists and that individual moderators are being called to account speaks volumes for the moderating team, the individuals concerned and the oft abused spirit that underlies the TBs.

I practiced TM for three years and found it beneficial. I was calmer and more relaxed in post-meditation sessions and my general sensitivity and awareness increased which improved various aspects of outer life. The idea was that by focusing on the allocated mantra the mind experienced more subtle states of thought until the source of thought itself was experienced. This experience could last seconds or micro seconds so even if you weren't consciously aware of experiencing it the ordinary mind was subtley imbued with it. The instructors used to say this was like a process of dying a piece cloth, each immersion in the dye would gradually increase the colour. TM was supposed to be purely secular but on the few ocacsions that I did hook up with a monthly practice group (I was never actively involved in the TM movement) it seemed like Hinduism window dressed for westerners in that there were readings from the Upanishads and we listened to tapes of Vedic chanting - though this may have been more to do with the inclincations of the local instructor. As far as I'm aware the TM movement has split and my original instructor now teaches it virtually free of charge. The idea of changing the world was based on something like the 100th monkey syndrome; if a certain percentage of a population were to experience subtle states of mind the benfits would automatically flow into the wider population. There were a couple of experiments where the TM movement organised arenas full of meditators to focus on the Iran-Iraq war but didn't let on when the sessions were occuring. According to the studies, UN observers witnessed increased acts of co-operation between opposing sides and reduced conflict on the arena days. After a time I felt a more active and conscious method of spiritual engagement was needed and changed practices, though as a matter of spiritual etiquette and gratitude I never forget the sources of spiritual help that have I benefited from.

Baguazhang is a long held interest of mine though previous posts have drawn a blank: http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/54-resources-books-links-articles-movies-etc/page__view__findpost__p__45707 http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?/topic/13835-the-gompa/page__view__findpost__p__178611

I like this thread too and all your other recent ones as well. The Association of Traditional Studies is well worth checking out: Yin Style Bagua Animal Systems There's even a few hours worth of streaming videos of Yin Bagua internal cultivation methods - now that's generous and I tip my hat to them! Yin Style Bagua Internal Cultivation

Here's some concepts and texts: Trulkhor e.g. A Complete Manual for the Practice of Miyowa Trulkhor In Chogling Tersar The Kalachakra Tantra rlung sems Yantra Yoga

A lot of good advice has been given Jenn and so all I can add as a possible supplement is: The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain De Botton Invoking Angels for Blessings, Protection and Healing by David Cooper Invoking Mary Magdalene: Accessing the Wisdom of the Divine Feminine If you're attracted to Buddhist imagery you can always recite Green Tara's mantra. She doesn't care if you're Buddhist or not. Perhaps you'd might also like to check out the six healing sounds and Michael Winn's Deep Healing Qigong. All the very best.

For anyone interested in Mahayana Buddhism there is a free online video/audio study course on Shantideva's Way of the Bodhistattva. Bodhicharya Online Study

You're most welcome Ed :-)

'scuse me for sticking my nose in but it may be this one: http://atouchofancientszhouyi.blogspot.com/ Actually its interesting to see which web pages link to this forum by using this google search: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=link%3Awww.thetaobums.com&hl=en

I like this from Alice in Wonderland ... A meeting of two unbelievable people: 'What--is--this?' [the Unicorn] said at last. 'This is a child!' Haigha replied eagerly, coming in front of Alice to introduce her, and spreading out both his hands towards her in an Anglo-Saxon attitude. 'We only found it to-day. It's as large as life, and twice as natural!' 'I always thought they were fabulous monsters!' said the Unicorn. 'Is it alive?' 'It can talk,' said Haigha, solemnly. The Unicorn looked dreamily at Alice, and said 'Talk, child.' Alice could not help her lips curling up into a smile as she began: 'Do you know, I always thought Unicorns were fabulous monsters, too! I never saw one alive before!' 'Well, now that we HAVE seen each other,' said the Unicorn, 'if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you. Is that a bargain?' 'Yes, if you like,' said Alice.

Mantak Chia has another new book coming out this December: Taoist Shaman: Practices from the Wheel of Life Might be worth a look ...

Hmmm ... without wanting to divert the thread away from a genuine enquiry, people can read for themselves why and, indeed, make their own minds up: http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden I have nothing further to comment on in relation to this intrusion.

Nice one! I've seen the Dalai Lama three times. Just show up with a good attitude, relax, and listen. The rest will follow. Have a great time!

You're welcome Sloppy Zhang