doc benway

I was able to get rid of chronic back pain with two methods - 1. Recognizing the connection between my back pain and repressed/suppressed emotion - primarily anger. Thanks to Dr. John Sarno's work. 2. Hamstring stretching, by the time I could easily relax into a stretch with my palms flat on the ground and my knees fully extended, my pain was gone The change was remarkable. Wonderful to hear you also found a solution.

The OP is a great example of how the intellect is not always useful in our daily lives.

Great example of how the intellect is not always useful in our daily lives.

This is a wonderful lesson in impermanence, I would offer the cat my deepest gratitude for her sacrifice and dedicate the wisdom and compassion gained from this experience to helping others. _/\_

I don't see this as a goal or consequence of religion. It is a goal of the humans who do not understand or practice the religions they hide behind - they are power hungry cowards, religious people are humble and loving. At least that's how I look at the world.

I made the decision to work with a therapist several years ago. I looked through some photos and descriptions of local therapists and picked one that "felt right" to me. She happened to specialize in a method called Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT - http://contextualscience.org/act) It proved to be exactly what I needed. I guess I was lucky but I would recommend you go with your gut feeling, if you trust that. If you feel drawn to therapy, do it! If it isn't working, don't be afraid to change. Good luck

Sorry you're leaving bubbles, your contributions are valuable. It is so important to not underestimate or dehumanize the "enemy." I actually puts us in a vulnerable position and at a disadvantage. Yes, it's extremely difficult to feel genuine compassion for people who do terrible things and hurt us. If we're not ready to work towards that, then we shouldn't because it takes enormous dedication and energy. The secret is that forgiving people like this, when the time is right and we are ready to do so with sincerity, is that it is an act of strength, not weakness. Forgiveness helps us much more than them, it gives us strength, confidence, and frees us from the grip of fear and the feelings of weakness and vulnerability. It doesn't make things easier for the perpetrator but rather puts the responsibility back on them where it belongs. Don't take my word for it. If you have the feeling that it is something you want to pursue, find a teacher or teachings that can support you and work on it and see for yourself. Jihadists are not stupid or crazy even though it may seem that way from our perspective. Data shows that they are intelligent, highly educated, and quite sane - from their perspective. Yes they think and feel quite differently than most of us do most of the time. They are different and they are criminals and, in my opinion, need to be held accountable for their actions. Nothing we can do or say can change their minds. I think the only way for them to be change is through a fundamental change in the Islamic world and mindset, meaning the reformed and moderate Muslims as well as the more orthodox deciding that they want to teach their children to be loving rather than full of hate. From my perspective the radical Islamists are not so different from what I see in the speech and actions of the Chrisitan right here in the US. Certainly we see less violence here BUT if you look critically at the US military behavior outside of the US in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, I think you see a very different picture. Also, when you look at the continued racism and intolerance domestically (homophobia, etc...). This is what I think people around the world are reacting to, not our "freedom and democracy." These are the karmic seeds we have sown and that are coming to fruition in the violent behavior we see both around the world and in our own cities. Anyway, I'll stop there - I want to get back to Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche's free online workshop on Soul Retrieval - it's brilliant. Peace and love to all, even Marblehead.

I have to disagree here, a few dead murderers may be somewhat positive but doesn't turn this into a positive situation for me overall. You're misunderstanding me. Again, you misunderstand me and are misquoting me I didn't "claim to know that the cause of terrorist acts is satire of their religion." Certainly that is one extremely small contributing factor - if you poke a rabid skunk with your finger it's likely to get bitten. What I said was simply that satirizing Islam is likely to lead to negative consequences and it certainly did. Had there never been a satirical article or cartoon of Islam published by Charlie Hebdo, it's a lot less likely that their employees would have been attacked. Deny that if you like, but I don't see that getting you anywhere. But that is a tiny piece of the puzzle. This wanton and obscene violence would be going on with or without cartoons. Nevertheless it is happening as a result of infinitely complex causes and effects.

Interesting, does it appear to you that positive consequences occur as a result of satirizing the prophet of Islam? I'm not a Buddhist teacher but karma is quite clear to me, I see it in everything. The thing is that it is not simple or straightforward, it's infinitely complex and subtle. But no question it is the way things are in my view. I'm deeply hurt and disturbed by it as well but that doesn't mean that it is not a manifestation of cause and effect. And don't misunderstand, karmic effects do not imply that they are somehow deserved... that's a misunderstanding of the principle.

If one does nothing, that can be positive or negative. If one does nothing to interfere, that can also be positive or negative. Neither is absolute but rather depends on circumstances and perspective.

They certainly are... I can't speak for Buddhism but I think it's pretty clear, at least to me, that satirizing the prophet of Islam leads to negative consequences rather than positive ones.

Beautiful post and sentiments, manitou. War has always been with humanity and I suspect it always will be. One possible explanation is that it is a naturally occurring phenomenon that serves to limit our population growth. It may sound a bit off, but I think that a lot of things that lead to death or restricted reproduction are desperate attempts by the collective intelligence of the species to restore balance to our ecosystem. Humans have so disrupted the natural homeostasis through technology that we have completely overrun large areas of the planet and smothered all competing life forms wherever and whenever possible. We need to be controlled and are not willing to do it in a conscious manner so things like war, pollution, abuse of natural resources, unchecked genetic experimentation and modification, and so forth, will do it for us. I don't think technology will always be able to keep up with our exploitation. Your main point is very well taken. With great freedom comes great responsibility. When that responsibility is treated lightly and without respect, without compassion and empathy, karmic seeds are sown and eventually come to maturity as we see in the world today.

Sorry to be contrary (it is my nature and I am working on that ), however, this may be an interesting concept but I don't really think it has much value. Yes, it is important to have a feeling for what motion is occurring at the hips and what is occurring at the "waist" (any motion occurirng at the waist is actually rotation of the lumbar spine). On the other hand, I don't think there is any meaningful separation of the two in practice or application. They work together as an integrated unit at all times in my experience.

I'd like to respond to this post. The rotational motion of the torso used in bagua occurs primarily in two areas - the hip joints and the lumbar spine. If you look at photos of any bagua master (such as my post above), the degree that they rotate clearly indicates full rotation of both areas. There is so little motion in the pelvis (sacroiliac joints and symphysis pubis) that it's contribution to rotation is negligible. Each level of the lumbar spine allows a small amount of rotation (~ 3º), when all 6 levels of motion are added, the amount of motion is considerable. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2223353/). This lumbar rotation is natural and something we make use of throughout our day. It is nothing to be afraid of. The hip joints allow for quite a bit of rotational movement. The standing and walking bagua posture restricts how much rotational motion occurs at the hip joints - my guess is in the 5 - 10º range but I don't know of any data to confirm this. Finally, there is a little bit of rotation occurring in the thoracic spine, shoulders, neck, and legs. The rotation should be felt as a wave of rotational energy propagating from the root to the crown. Eventually, that rotational energy is the focus but in the beginning proper posture and mechanics is the focus. I agree that no one should force the motion beyond what is comfortable and physically possible, but it is fundamentally important in bagua to engage the muscles in the axis of the body to have a continuous, isometric contraction occurring that is continuously creating a rotational momentum as we stand or walk the circle. This is the core exercise. Without it, we are not practicing bagua, IMO. The basic martial tool of bagua is using the turning of the "waist" (hips and spine) as a weapon. From a health and fitness perspective, maintaining flexibility of the hips and spine through exercise is an important method for reducing pain, weakness, and stiffness. Maintaining strength of the core trunk musculature (the very muscles we are exercising while maintaining isometric rotation of the axial skeleton) is a well established method of promoting a wide variety of health benefits (reference yoga, pilates, etc..). Don't fear the rotation, embrace it! Yes, the muscles and joints will be sore and tired in the beginning but that will improve. And if it doesn't improve, maybe bagua is not the best activity to engage in - try taijiquan... Just my $.02.

Really good question - I do think it is important to have a somewhat discriminating understanding of happiness for practices like these to be effective. If one wishes others happiness in a materialistic and egoistic way, that is potentially reinforcing ignorance and generating additional karmic burden. It's pretty easy, however, when generating positive will towards others to simply focus on a wish or prayer that they be relieved of their problems and suffering. That's a safe bet and doesn't require much knowledge of Buddhist jargon. Just my $.02.

If a teacher got good Kung Fu in his Chi Kung, Karate, or Tai Ji, he be good to learn from... that there is a safe bet.

I think one of the most important things is to make sure feet are in line with the knees while stepping around the circle. There is a tendency to rotate the lower leg inward or outward relative to the knee - this can cause collateral ligament strain, uneven cartilage loading, and even meniscal tears. Turning from the waist and hips is how the feet stay on the tangent to the circle without stressing the knees. Another thing I find enormously useful is standing meditation with the waist rotated, it helps build the isometric core strength that we maintain as we walk the circle and can prevent issues related to back pain. Edited to add standing posture photo

One thing that I do and highly recommend with any kindness and compassion practices is to make it very personal. It is easy for us to say words like, I wish and feel compassion for all sentient beings, but at the same time treat those close to us poorly. We also can get bogged down in concepts and intellect but feelings are where it really happens. I don't mean to say that your request for discussing the meaning of words in a prayer isn't helpful, I just want to supplement that with a less conceptual perspective. I always begin with bringing into my heart and mind, someone who I love dearly and feel that connection and how I would feel if they were hurt or afraid or needed help. Then I gradually expand that to less and less close people and move on to people I feel neutral about, and then those who I really have problems with. Then I move on to generating this sort of feeling for "all sentient beings"in a more collective sense. I think it takes a lot of practice to really get the last piece to be genuine and heartfelt. Making these practices close and personal rather than abstract and theoretical is extremely valuable for me. If the practices are done well and over time, one will find themselves in tears at times, and other times experiencing enormous love and joy for those in our practice. How it feels in our heart is the litmus test for skillful practice.

Wishing you health, happiness, and blessings in 2015, CT. May we all be more effective in our own practices and personal growth so that we may develop the wisdom and means to help all of those we contact in the coming year!

At one point or another in my life, I've probably been thought of as each one of these synonyms by someone or other (including myself). I don't really fit the mold expected of me by most of my colleagues and friends. I see it as a sign of mental health and awareness.

Ever read anything by Jose Saramago? Amazing fiction - especially Blindness. I wish I could read it in Portuguese...

The Instructions on the Six Lamps translated by Jean Luc Achard The Jew in the Lotus - Rodger Kamenetz Cultivating the Empty Field - Hongzhi Zhengue Tibetan Dream Yoga - Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche Guidance for Living and Dying: Bardo Teaching from the Bön Mother Tantra - Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche And I just finished the first fiction I've read in a long time - The Martian by Andy Weir It was quite compelling and technical, a nice interlude.

This is not the absolute. This is a mental state of dullness, apathy - depression, nihilism. I don't know what your practices are like but too much emphasis on emptiness can be problematic. Emptiness is inseparable from pristine clarity, it has infinite potential. The absolute 'gives rise to' all states, including the dullness but it is not dullness. Contact with the absolute is quite the opposite, it is infinitely full and magnificent, it's often described as great bliss. I'd suggest you talk to your teacher, if possible. This is not where you want to be, although it may be a stage you need to pass through to move forward.

In an absolute sense, there is no returning when one has never departed. Until we are familiar and habituated to the absolute, the relative predominates. In a relative sense, returning seems to be about constructing and then deconstructing. In life, we construct our reality through conditioning, learning, memory, judgement. It starts before birth and continues beyond death, doesn't it? Towards the end of our life all of that weighs very heavily and we must let it go at some point, often very traumatically. And then it starts all over again. If we are fortunate, we may see the wisdom in beginning to look at this whole process of construction and deconstruction while we are young and healthy. Then I think that we use alchemical methods to see the reality we have and are constructing, and many (?all) of these methods are used to create a new reality, something we can work with more effectively. At some point, however, we must see that we need to let go of all of that, even the method. That process may be a gradual one, a systematic deconstruction, but the more expedient way is to simply let go completely. In my experience that letting go is not a one time deal. It is an ongoing process that is very active in the sense that the habit which takes us in the opposite direction is very strong, like the paper. (PS credit goes to my teacher for the paper analogy) Perhaps at some point there is no longer a need for any effort but I'm not sure about that. I certainly have not reached that point. It appears to me that even the most advanced masters continue to live in the world and work at something or other while they are alive.

The first time I saw Jon Gomm play, I thought it was fake...