Wayfarer64

that is true but may be not entirely relevant... We find what we need when the time comes for it... I for one have been unemployed since July- applied for food stamps on November 12th and am still waiting for an initial appontment.(nowgranted on Dec 30th-7 weeks later, and another 30 days may be added before any $ is granted)... I have written to the press and to my elected officials about that situation and now have appontments with other elected/ appointed officials trying to quiet the press interest in this situation...Taking charge of one's own problems is usually the best course of action. Which, as far as Gossamer's situation goes... I have questions about- who is the attacker and what are his reasons -or lack there of - for his malevolent intentions? why can't we face him down as a group without paying someone to intervene? If we are a society of sorts can't we combat evil together, as a brother/sister hood of compassionate intent and activity?

As I opined earlier - the basic problem is one of growth. We have had more than a few negative reactions to the Kunlun onslaught and this new wave of Fu is similar. There is an element of salesmanship on this site -I also am trying to introduce folks to my book of sonnets... http://www.lulu.com/pdgart... So there youz bums! Creating a more cohesive offering would help. It seems that a least a few here think that the intrusive nature of so many posts from a single person who is trying to offer wares as well as wisdom is not entirely appropriate. therefore- a more cohesive offering may be a good idea for both kunlun and Fu entries... but for me the time it takes to re-find threads I am interested in has grown so much anyway -the input from any one source seems sort of by the way-(pun intended)- happy holidays and new year gang!

there are plenty of good ideas here and on the Gathering of Immortals thread- I am serious about trying to buy a lottery ticket and asking all of us to concentrate on those #s when the time is right and trying to manifest this idea into a shared reality- I do not need to be the buyer of the ticket but I would delve into all viable possibilities as my prime objective if I were the holder of a winning ticket..., until we could begin the actual purchase or building of a center or three, one in Asia... One in Europe one in the USA seems the best idea to me ... they would be simple and utile places to share and learn. and to give back to the communities they are in as well...I know good ecologically sound architects who use very good materials etc... I have forsaken the idea of me going to China to do anything constructive - I think I would be in trouble with the Govt. in about a New York minute! lets try this ! many seem to have an interest... I shall buy a ticket for NEXT TUESDAY's Big Ball Lottery and post the "winning" # I'm thinking I'd use the path to character building #s -From the I Ching's hexagrams...10, 15, ...41, 42 etc...I need to look them up, as they are not all in my memory just this moment... more later- Pat

As I've written on other threads this forum has GROWN so much that there are bound to be more frictions and tense interactions amongst us all... not to worry!!! this is all just growing pains and our bro Sean is doing a great job keeping this wonderous site afloat do not be embarassed at all Gossamer- your perspective is not wrong- it may seem a bit overwhelming for one person to add so much here in a short period of time there is so much coming in -not so long ago a thread would last for days on end on the 1st page -that just doesn't happen much anymore -we are losing some ease of digging deeper as we are offered so much from eachother, but I guess that can be adapted to- hope so!- peace & love to one & all- Pat

I zipped around NYC Yesterday but it was strictly biz...see youz bums 'round next time or two I'm hoping!- anyway have a great year ahead the Ox is a frieend of us Horses!-

nice post! And for Brian- I am just a seeker as so many here - but I suggest using the I Ching to get in touch with Taoism on a concrete level... meditate on a question -throw the coins or sticks and see what the answers mean for you- peace in the new year - the year of the Rat is usually a poor one for us Horses -I'll be glad when the Ox rolls in!

I hear Fox news is balanced?!

It seems that there is a slight problem for some with the massive amounts of input from one person each day --the value of these inputs seems very good for many as well. Perhaps the addition and segmentation of a "Practices/Traditions being offered would help- That would have negated my obstreperous interaction with Mr. Denty all those months ago and would ease the congestion of this new issue as well- the problem being our dear friend Sean probably has enough to do already-Yes?- In any case I hope these cold days in our northern hemisphere and the hot days in the southern are easy to deal with for each & all- peace-Pat

I have been involved with one long "spat" here a couple of years ago now- I think it was cathartic- but probably annoyed some folks too- these things run there course and go away-such is the nature of our little on line society- We can only try to behave ourselves so that empathy and kindness may prevail... I wish us all good luck in the new year with these issues and every thing else that comes our way- love to all-Pat

Hi gang! Does anyone have any info on a reliable practitioner of Acupuncture or acupressure on the East Coast of the USA?- My sister has chronic back pain after a car accident and I wantg to find her some real help... Thanks for any input- Love to all- Pat

Many thanks to you sir ! I will relay this message to her and send her reply ASAP- PDG Now its Tuesday - my sister is being sceptical and seems unlikely to delve into what I am trying to offer her- we shall see...

I have a very good friend who is a 'green" architect in California...materials used is very important isn't it? and I'm serious about using our massed intent to win a lottery to pay for the construction of this viable and doable(with $$$) idea-

thank you-(both) for this info -I'll pass it on to my sis ASAP- Pat

My one time sifu Bill Chung demonstrated the iron palm and could teach it but it would take many years before he would teach it - these abilities take discipline and proven purpose to be attained - they are not for anybody to play with and yr lucky all that happened was 1 stitch I toyed with it once after learning a little bit about it and messed up my whole arm-from backed-up energy... I was stupid too- thirty years ago- take yr time - grow naturally, don't be rushing yrself etc- peace -Pat

It would seem that there may be many WAYS to find a state of being that could be discribed as enlightened...and just as many ways to lose one's way even after finding a certain amount of bliss and insight... It seems as if there is alwys a state of being that we have a chance of awakening to - any moment can bring Satory and just as quickly our state of being can lose that insight and allow for callow thoughts and inane activity to regrow... I am pretty sure there is not just one way just as I'm pretty sure that the moon actually moves the oceans of the earth back and forth... We tend to absorb and allow many elements to enter our lives/selves/bodies/ souls/spirits/karmas/ and thinking - manifesting wisdom and an enlightened perspective has many paths for attainment... why make it harder on ourselves with bad vibes and rancor?- because we are human and that is our burden and our joy- to transcend the downward motivations of sorry-ass elements and use the uplifting elements takes training and directed intent for most of us... but the instruments and teachings may vary as to be counter-productive to eachother - so be mindful of the tools you choose - My thing is harmony, it sooths me and tenders peace and happiness, it is simple as a tune being hummed- and mellow as milk & honey being sipped- love to all- Pat

I said it at my Mom's funeral and I've said/written it many times before and since- Death Sucks! No one wishes sadness and that is the strongest element generated by funerals - so if there is a charm that may help dispell such emotional duress -many thanks for sharing- & All the blessings our little circle of friends may gather - are with you I'm sure - we all mean well here I believe - and that still doesn't change the reality -death sucks!

the way I hear it the Buddha ate too much and died of gastric problems- he too seems to have been swept up in hero-worship in the end...and The Christ had such a bad end as to be avoided as well- lets just be ourselves and leave the value judgements behind- this seems very self engrandizeing -why not just have a meeting of seekers without claims of any sort-? I have designed a few buildings meant to be panthiist centers that are based on Bagua (8 sided central atrium surrounded by a park, not archatectural but on graph paper with feng shui being the most enclusive basis for design...It is a long held dream of mine. let us buy a lottery ticket together- using our collective energy to win the funds?! it may just work!

none of that matters this is what is mattering- stuff happens to us

Yo- I'm living in Atlantic City these days but come through the Apple about once a month or so... I'll keep my eye on this thread to see whats what... happy trails amigos!!-Pat

yet another interesting thread! My viewpoint is that the origins of Taoism stem from the ancient shamans and that the I Ching was the first codified "Chinese" attempt to adjust human behavior to a naturalistic WAY to comport ourselves that would be in harmony with the needs and ways of the world at large- Harmony being the way and the objective, so that the doing becomes the being... There were early ritualistic means to help get folks moving on the path of harmony, just as basic meditation may be thought of as a ritual We continue to seek harmony and still devert our energies in attempts at being assured we are on the right path... I am one who is fed-up with religion per-se... I see it as devisive and manipulative. I hold natural laws as truth, human constructs as attempts to seek truth and that the world could not care less what anyone of us thinks- as long as we do not do evil or harm in the world we live... For me the most basic truth is that I am a being of spirit having a human experience in a world that offers us each life beyond our spiritual selves, but that spirit has a place of honor and power in that world -which unites everything into a wholeness that is comprised of parts- only of itself (as it were)... Maybe I should say universe rather than world but you get the drift - peace-Pat

This is a very interesting thread indeed... I was recently living with an old friend who is seriously ill -mentally...he has always been a drain on all of his friends. He has cultivated a laziness demon that basically runs his life, in that he has never accomplished anything, beyond the ability to drive a car-which he needs to go about and steal energy. I spoke with him often about his being a black hole of energy absorption and how I would not support that -I made him wash his own dishes for instance etc...I tried to make him aware of his proclivities and responsibilities as a human, he remained infantile at most instances... I refused to placate that demand for energy and activly faught his demon to get him motivated, he became suicidal. I kept him from finishing the job but he was removed to a hospital where he remained for months. since he returned I have avoided him to a large degree and told him it is because he remains stubbornly lazy and unresponsive to anyone else's needs etc... My point is that sometimes we just can not awaken people to their own better selves. It is a waste of time and energy...it may take him many life times to regrow his own spirit, but I believe the best that I can do for him is chant and pray that he awaken... I let him know that I care what happens to him, bbut I will noy allow myself to be exposed to his constant negative energy levels...I have visited him briefly a few times over the past 6 months and realize he is just a sponge for attention and human contact that anyone would want and need-still I remain absent from his draining presence, self preservation wins out! Nothing is easy that has any meaning... but we need to try and help those we encounter as we are able to do so-without harming ourselves in any serious way- love to all-Pat

obviously none of us are getting enough done -what!? with all the time we spend here! and it is still a high quality experience- love to all-Pat

This rings true to me - as well as what Cat adds(as usual)- My only points would be -balance and moderation in all practices usually gives us the most benifit- I remain Taoist in my outlook in that the middle way is what I seek - not any extreme state of being or power, but natural growth- which takes time -like bamboo- it takes years to break the surface of the earth and then goes wild with growth -work within yr potential -push yr limits as you feel it is a benifit and PAY ATTENTION to the results as you cultivate- Keeping an open mind and an open heart will help too- Love to all-Pat

well it is still ap retty small world - but no that is not GMC... I know how Roseanna Danna must have felt- never-mind!

" I think you're on to something here. I studied Wing Chun in Baltimore. My teacher's teacher was William Cheung. Cheung visited us from time to time and I was usually his driver (not many of my classmates had cars). A a result I got to spend a fair amount of time with him. He was good friends with Bruce as kids and told me that he was the one that introduced Bruce to Yip Man and managed to get him accepted into the school. He described Bruce as being a very quick learner but much more interested in a career in movies than in fighting. Cheung said that Bruce was not as good a fighter as he was assumed to be in the US. He only learned a relatively small part of the Wing Chun curriculum before being asked to leave the school because of problems with other students. At least that's what Cheung told me (as best I can recall - it was about 20 years ago). Soon after, he came to the US, studied other arts and synthesized all of that into JKD. When you look at his history, though, it seems to me that acting was always his great love since childhood and was probably the inspiration for his martial arts training and dedication." Hi again- There seems to be a bit of confussion in this... First- Grand Master William Chung was how I always knew him- (no e in the name)...his son remains a good frind, but I no longer study with the system-Its an all or nothing situation -so I bowed-out.. Also GMC related how Lee was a student more "under his roof" than a childhood friend- Bill Chung grew up in NYC- the studies with Lee took place in Hong Kong in later years...that lee came from there to here is the same I heard - and for me this was also about 29 years ago in NJ... I have noted here on other posts that Gin Fu Mark was one of Chung's sifu s that I met in NYC's China town -back in the 80's, that was a guy who amazed me -I think he is still teaching and accepts non chinese now-which, as I remember, was not the case when I met him.. it is a great lineage that I am proud to have been a part of at one time... that I no longer claim anyone as my sifu is just a choice I made not a problem with the sifu I had... I'll try to ask GMC's son to clarify if anyone thinks its relivent.