doc benway

Aversion, attachment, and ignorance are the 3 root poisons in Bön. I’m not one to mix paradigms so much, not do I find much value in categorizing things as yin or yang in a static way so I’ll pass on addressing the second question.

In the Bön tradition, negative emotions are considered a major cause of illness and the 3 root poisons are the cause of negative emotions.

I have a bit more optimism about integration. I am encouraged by so many university programs opening their minds and curricula to alternatives to a formerly sole and rigid allopathic focus. A good friend runs a very popular program of meditation and energy practices in a major national cancer center. Most hospitals in my area now offer mindfulness programs for self care of staff and providers.I see more and more people asking about alternatives to pharmacology and surgery. I see the Dharma taking root in the US, Central, and South America, Europe, and the former Soviet nations, among others. Teachings that were once too secret and completely out of reach for 99.999% of people are now available at the touch of a button to at least 60% of the world’s population - truly miraculous. Many of these teachers and Dharma centers have the goods and are healthy and growing. No doubt the world of avarice and opportunism is adopting what it can to forward its agenda in both East and West but that is to be expected. I think when we look at the big picture, especially through the filter of media and hearsay, it can be frustrating and unpleasant. And certainly I am surrounded by frustration and ignorance daily. On the other hand, when I look at my personal connections and experience in the Dharma community and the expansion of open mindedness in my personal experience in the medical community, I feel lots of hope and enthusiasm. What’s important to me is more what I can personally do to improve the situation for myself and to those with whom I’m connected. Nothing more I can do. The more I focus on that, the less discouraged I feel about what seems to be impossible goals and frustrated expectations on a larger, more abstract scale.

At least traditional approaches emphasize and support personal responsibility and cultivation of health. Allopathic diagnosis and treatment is traditionally far too focused on the illness and the body, as you say, although that is changing (at a glacial pace).Too little support for the mind and energy. Too little support for healthy lifestyle and personal power and responsibility. Both have their roles in the modern world for me. Sadly it is challenging to make the most of either, albeit for different reasons.

That’s an interesting observation. The majority of Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans I come into contact with have far more confidence in allopathic medicine than TCM and qigong. I say allopathic because it’s certainly not limited to the west. Allopathic health care is very sophisticated in much of Asia.

I'll say this, your approach sure makes for easy parenting! ... Where do babies come from daddy? The Self! ....

For sure. If you recognize it, that is deeply meaningful. Otherwise it can come across as little more than a tautology, simply replacing the word mystery with the word Self. I have a good friend with whom I often have deep spiritual discussions. He would sometimes get frustrated with me as I was prone to playing the non-dual card. It can be used to easily short-cut just about any debate or discussion. It sensitized me to try to stay within the appropriate frame, absolute vs relative, depending on the nature of the discussion in order to have a worthwhile give and take. Yijing by its very nature is dualistic so I think it’s useful to stay in the relative frame when discussing it. Just my hang up perhaps.... 🙃

... and asks... The problem with that answer is that if you don’t directly know Self, it doesn’t explain anything and if you do, you wouldn’t need to ask the question in the first place.

I got vaccinated at the earliest opportunity, it was a no-brainer for me. I’ll take my chances with an m-RNA based vaccine over Covid with my risk factors and high exposure risk any day. On the other hand I do empathize with those who fear the vaccines and would rather take their chances with Covid. (edited to add —>) It’s difficult to expect much trust in our healthcare system when it is so pervaded by avarice and opportunism. Unrestrained, crony capitalism and healthcare don’t blend well. Count me among those who would not support mandatory vaccinations, especially when the vaccines are based in relatively new technology and have such short follow up. They do appear to be quite safe and effective but our experience is limited. Sadly, I don’t expect much concern for others or the collective in my country. Look at how we treat our elderly, our impoverished, our minorities, our children, our prisoners, our animals, our environment, our indigenous population, our neighbors, and look at our spending trends... I’ve always seen the national tenor as more of a libertarian tendency with a healthy dose of objectivism. I do bristle when I hear bullshit being spread like masks are dangerous or unhealthy and dehumanizing, they’re a rights violation, and so forth but I mostly keep my opinions to myself on the topic anymore. People will be as they are and I can only make choices for myself. As Anthony Demello said, I will paraphrase: each of us gets to live our lives as we see fit but we can’t expect others to live their lives as we see fit. On the bright side, Covid has provided limitless opportunities for practice and growth and an unprecedented lesson in impermanence for me.

Distrust is probably #1, along with lots of misinformation, disinformation, and an abject lack of integrity in media and leadership. Yes

That seems like a succinct and reasonably accurate description of the US mindset, IME.

No No but it may improve posture and alignment which may make you appear functionally taller No but it may help you to appear more youthful and preserve, even improve the senses Yes

Quoted and bolded for emphasis.

I feel the same about you and about the fragile and contentious nature of communication in the present time. My intention was not to attack or criticize your thread. You have been one of the most dependable and accurate sources of information on the subject since Covid began. On the other hand, I did feel a need to share my feelings even at the risk of coming across as upset or defensive. I feel neither of those things and continue to value your contributions here and our friendship. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

I initially was not going to engage in this thread but circumstances have proven otherwise so here is my offering. This thread was started about 2 hours after I posted a thread to host prayers for India. Whether intentional or not, it felt like a counter-argument or invalidation of the intent of my thread which is why I moved that thread. My thread was not in response to the media campaign or to statistics or even the powerful images of death we've seen. It was in response to hearing from friends both here and in India who are deeply suffering and afraid for their lives and loved ones. I've recently been hearing from friends in Nepal about similar fears and terrifying experiences. I let go of counting and comparing the numbers and following statistics and media coverage of Covid last summer. I don't object to anyone who wants to continue to discuss and debate the science, the anti-science, statistics, politics surrounding Covid, and so forth, but none of that holds much weight for me at the moment. I just thought it worthwhile to share where I was and am coming from. I feel like we have potential here to create community and mutual support. At least that's why I'm here, not so much for information. Peace and good health to you all _/\_/\_/\_

I think this is a valuable and insightful approach. The thinking, calculating, controlling aspect of our mind wants answers. When it adopts those answers, it changes our relationship to whatever it is sparked our curiosity. When we think we understand something, there is a subtle (or not so subtle) sense of control or ownership, and a false sense of security, having settled the question in our minds. Not sure if that would have a positive or negative effect on our relationship to an oracle or the divine. There's a liveliness and a deference inherent in our relationship to mystery. It may be challenging to develop trust and faith in mystery but really what is important is to see the results. That is something that can help us cultivate trust.

He’s been there too...

In the deep blue sea Bioluminescent waves Caress inky shoals

Thank you for sharing 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 I think you are right. For me a big part of living right is my practice.

I used to experience a lot of guilt, anger, and discouragement related to the inadequacies of the system, education, my personal limitations, and the bad apples I encounter, not to mention the frustration of dealing with those conditioned to seek and expect a doctor and a pill to solve all their problems while refusing to take responsibility for understanding their options and investing time and effort in their own health, as you described. Your approach is so important and so obvious to many but there is also a huge, glaring blind spot in so many lives, not unlike the blind spot McCullough points out in our national (lack of) treatment for Covid. While the specifics aren’t identical, they certainly have common themes and players. At the end of the day, we cannot depend on the system, the government, a doctor, even a guru; we must take responsibility to learn about and maintain our health and wellness. And then we need to die well also, at least that’s a big part of why I practice as I do - for my death. I think there is enormous allopathic potential, folks like McCullough and many others inspire confidence, and hope. At the same time we need to continue to reform the system as aggressively as possible. There is so much untapped potential outside the allopathic paradigm. We need to change provider education, public education, and return control of the purse strings to those willing and able to create a system that serves the public health rather than illness and avarice. An elusive goal for sure. A great source of hope for me is the continuous influx of bright, dedicated, and compassionate nurses, doctors, supportive people, researchers, teachers, healers and care providers of all kinds and backgrounds into our world. Covid and our response has created a lot of harm but also enormous opportunities for personal and collective growth. Good things will come if each of us takes more personal responsibility and initiative. Cudos to people like you and Taomeow and many others here who are trying to understand and live from a place of awareness. May we all continue to learn, discover and share more!

Taomeow probably has more knowledge and insight on this topic than me but I’ll share an observation, if you’re interested. The US illness care system is like an enormous cruise ship with a rudder that is attached to countless cables. Those cables have varying degrees of control and those most influential are solidly in the hands of opportunistic business persons, mostly white men. The specifics of those on control can be surmised but I suspect there are competing interests rather than a coherent and collaborative cabal... just my guess. There is little to no overall sense of a coherent plan or initiative for national, public health maintenance. The organizations that claim such a mission are largely compromised by politics and inadequate public support and funding. The public has in large measure been convinced that such initiatives are evil or doomed to failure, hence the absence of large scale public outcry and support. Health and human life are far lower in priority than monetary and political power. What comprehensive systems are in place have been hijacked to largely serve as a conduit for wealth concentration and political manipulation. Medicare and Medicaid are somewhat exceptional in that they are reasonably efficient and effective programs, within their inherent limitations. There are lots of good and great providers and researchers, like Dr. McCullough above, at all levels within the system but little organization, communication, or collective power. This has been ensured by federal law that ties their hands quite effectively. There are also lots of bad apples, of course. I have great confidence in the potential for a sane and comprehensive health care system to enhance our lives but the current system is too deeply compromised to be effectively modified or sustained, IMO. Like our “two party” democratic fallacy, it needs to be torn down and rebuilt with fresh eyes and minds, and with a heart. The problems are certainly not limited to Covid but the pandemic has exposed the complete and utter failure of our system to support and provide optimal care for our people. The good news is that we can see clearly and objectively how ineffective our system is at anything other than wealth re-distribution. The terrifying news is that we do not seem to be able or willing to make the necessary changes even when faced with such clear and powerful motivation, regardless of which wing of the oligarchy is in control.

Colchicine is magic for gout Few side effects in low dosage Nasty stuff though

This is an important fact that is often overlooked. Covid deaths and illness are unavoidable. Allowing hospital systems to become overwhelmed is less so. Somehow avoidable deaths and suffering are a bit more painful. This is what drives a lot of what is considered by some to be over-reactivity to Covid, IMO. A lot? No, but they do exist and are generally published to elicit a reaction as is everything published in western media. I agree that denial if death is paramount in US culture, unfortunately.

It’s not at all unusual in the west to publish photos of funerals, graves, cemeteries, and coffins. I see that as more or less comparable to funeral pyres elsewhere. In neither case are corpses on display. This is why I did not anticipate your reaction to the photos I posted the other day. Do you feel there is a major difference?

"How hard or easy is it?" is an erroneous question to ask on the Spiritual Path While I acknowledge the truth of the OP, I'll offer an alternative perspective. "How hard or easy is it?" is, indeed, a question that arises for many people entering or moving along the path. Therefore it is valid, whether or not it has a straightforward or consistent answer. In fact, questions which do not have ready or finite answers can be the best questions of all. Such questions are alive and full of opportunity. We can learn a lot from such questions, about ourselves in particular, provided we're willing to hold them without expectation. Honoring whatever questions may come up is an important part of the path for me, no matter how ridiculous or inappropriate. Viewing questions and experiences that arise as deficient or erroneous is an error, in my view. Nothing is to be rejected, everything is allowed to be as it is.