doc benway

cracker

You may also enjoy something I just read - Helgoland by Carlo Rovelli. It detours a bit into history and politics for context but mostly concerns itself with modern physics (quantum mechanics primarily) and its implications regarding consciousness and reality.

@Shadow_self & @Pak_Satrio … it is finished, enjoy!

I’ve been reading some very interesting things related to entropy and time, the subject has fascinated me for a long time. There are many misconceptions, even in the scientific community. Fascinating stuff. Here is a somewhat technical but fascinating article on the subject. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7516914/ Another great resource is the book Time's Arrow and Archimedes' Point by Huw Price. Regarding freedom, the greatest sense of freedom I’ve yet experienced is the ability to be with whatever is currently present in my field of awareness without feeling compelled to judge or change it. Being equally OK with order and disorder alike. I agree that a certain sense of order can be liberating and yet freedom does not need to depend on circumstances, like the degree of order. It can be more fluid and flexible than that, although this type of freedom can also quite fragile and elusive.

Covid, like Trump, is a particularly thorny subject for online discussion. Given the politicization, polarization, and evolving "post-truth" culture we are increasingly subject to, I foresee rocky times ahead for communities such as ours. We are very fortunate to have a group of committed, experienced, and knowledgable practitioners; and the ability to connect to each other, unrestrained by temporal or physical distance. The only way to survive and thrive is for the leadership, and community, to remain flexible, open, and empathetic to one another. It is very reassuring to see such qualities on display here. Cudos to @Trunk @zerostao @dwai and @ilumairen for their wisdom and service. My own approach to the Covid topic has been to make a decision for myself, as informed as possible, and to move on. For me, continuous attention and engagement in such a difficult topic can be as harmful, if not worse, than the disease or related treatment... YMMV

Magical creatures… cicadas and humans

You can dress ‘‘em up…. but don’t take ‘‘em out!

Very nice discussion…

Thanks to the gods! 🤓

@steve cowered beneath a huckleberry bush, trying to catch his breath. The power of the shape-shifter’s gaze had sapped him of all creative energy. “I’ll be good, I’lll be better “ he croaked. “Please!” The cat slowly morphed back to human shape and the group collectively shrugged, carrying on as if nothing unusual had transpired…

@Apech had been gaining the advantage over @Nungali with a rarely seen, and questionably legal, wrestling hold. He was uncharacteristically and only briefly distracted by @mrpasserby’s unexpected return when the ever vigilant @Nungalitook the initiative. The friendly competition was over in a matter of seconds….

When @mrpasserby arrived at the clearing, he found his companions engaged in taijiquan practice. Some were in a group moving slowly through forms, others engaged in pushing hands, a few scattered about immersed in qigong and zhan zhuang. @Apech and @Nungali were involved in a lively randori, their knees and bottoms smeared with mud...

... Don't you see?! mumbled @steve, It's RON JEREMY and deci belle, they're controlling everything! it's why @liminal_luke is wandering around in the buff, going on about vaccines and viruses, and now locked in a paranoid delusion of incarceration... it's the only possibly explanation! We need to save @liminal_lukefrom the large-breasted blonde! @Apech recognized her at the cave. We always thought she was being channeled by @Jeff, but it seems he was only one of @RON JEREMY's many masques... This is a matter for our occultists and mages...

... as the sky darkened and the air developed a chill, there was a soft glow just beyond a patch of blue spruce. @zerostao led a small recon group to investigate. Crawling stealthily through the undergrowth, a wide-mouthed cave came into view. Just inside the opening was a small fire. An androgynous appearing form sat dimly illuminated in the shadows, cloaked in ochre, creating complex mudras using both hands and feet. Only a distinctive birthmark and sanguine lips could be made out at this distance. Perched above the fire, immune to the heat and stinging smoke, loomed a tall, gangling figure shouting pornographic obscenities at a superhuman rate and volume... ... shimmering, colorful figures danced above his head, writhing in rhythmic bliss... RON JEREMY! hissed @zerostao just loudly enough to be heard by his companions, and that must be deci belle in the shadows! added @Apech with a sense of urgency. With that the small band quietly made their way back to report to the larger group. This unexpected discovery would certainly mean rethinking their next steps...

@steve slows, a wide vista opens divided by a steady current, this spot seems nice, he sits and rests the black guitar on one knee, fondles a khorlo tied at his neck, i’ll rest here for a while a beautiful view expansive in its shared vision as open as the sky as alive as the sun above a line of friendly clouds follow the flow which has no beginning no end neither here nor there ever and always as it is now

One of my favorite films

Yet another method of teaching, particularly in spiritual and martial matters, is by example. No need to preach or even teach, simply live it. Share it through relationship. The most powerful lessons I’ve had were to be in the presence of masters walking the walk. If we want to teach, we need to do so through our view, practice, action, and realization.

We are able to change our minds far more easily than it often feels. Changing our mind changes reality. Imagine the power to change reality at will... It's always in our grasp! https://wearenotdivided.reasonstobecheerful.world/are-you-liberal-are-you-sure/

I have learned that, for me, the value in participating in a forum like this isn’t so much related to the information exchange. It is more the camaraderie and the opportunity to look at myself more closely. In watching what I post and when, how I respond to others and how they respond to me, I can see myself a bit more clearly, in the mirror of others and in having the ability to see my own activity here months and years later. It’s fascinating. Helping others is wonderful and sacred, and quite delicate and challenging even under the best of circumstances. On an anonymous message board those circumstances are far from ideal. I have found it helpful to exercise a bit of caution whenever the “helper” identity surfaces. Sometimes I think I can help more by simply observing.

Thanks Jose and @liminal_luke It looks great!

My sincere condolences Apech... _/\_/\_/\_ ---------- Exorcism sounds about right, let's do it!

Daaang!

I'm simply enjoying the connection with you all here, nothing much to say. I do appreciate this space. Somehow it is a bit of a refuge for me. I value the spiritual discussion, the stories, the poetry, but somehow it is not about the information so much. It is more about the shared experience.

"Mind is unborn. It is as boundless as the sky. Clouds and wind, light and darkness, these appear spontaneously in the sky but don't block space. So when you concentrate and remain in the natural state, this nature self-appears spontaneously. There is neither subject nor object. There is no need to practice meditation in a special way or focus on anything. This nature is called Bön-Nature. There is no way to search for it or find it. No way to focus on it, so simply leave it as it is." ~ LHABÓN YONGSU DAGPA ~ Photo: Sunset over Indian Ocean from the shores of Bali / 2019