Wayfarer64

My early training was for self defense. That was what I wanted... Judo when I was 9-10, wrestling in high school, I also started Hatha Yoga in high-school and have kept that going... Hung Ga when I was in my 20-30's, a home style dis-arming technique I found in Taipei, I had a basic street-fighter's knowledge throughout my trainings...That I eventually learned to curb the influences of... as they left no room to give quarter or leave off before things were "settled"... The "inner" development that allowed me to see non-violence as the better way is still developing! I can use just enough force to dissuade and discourage without actually harming anyone... But I felt that TaijiTuan wasn't a good start for me - now I look forward to learning it! as a health benefit more than a martial practice, but I do realize that with training it too can be most affective as a fighting style.

Here is an interesting story of what may have been -before the before we think of as the beginning ! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7440217.stm what a world we live in huh?

Thank you Lin, as always you bring so much here that is helpful- I shall use this link if/when I deside to go and fulfill one of my projected (longed-for)options to further my training /learning/teaching - growing! Stay well & happy !- Pat

I have two from Bali Indonesia. They are great blades but the scabbards aren't as good. I will attempt to get pics to ya ASAP... PDG

This is the first I've ever heard of "leg Chakras"... will wonders never cease!?

Living lights in blue Miles Davis kinda blue Like Muddy Waters

Mormons have been visiting me at work of late... two young ladies. I have been asked to read their book of Mormon- when I got to the part where it reads that the "Jews killed Jesus" I had to stop- as I know the Romans had to be the folks to have done the dead as Jews stoned those who were sentenced to death, while cruxifiction was the Roman way to kill off their unwanted...That is IF you believe JC existed at all I guess... Personally I think him to have been a Lama who was reborn in Judea and brought Buddhism to the Jews -the 3 wise men being monks who came to look for the reborn buddha -much as they still do to this day...

Rainbow colored sky! It was sky blue this morning... Did I drop some acid?

here's a poem I wrote back in 1970 when I was 16...it was who I was then... IN A MOMENT (1970) In a moment the heart can feel the eternity of life. The first light sparkle of sun just edging into day. The message of a silent pleasure felt in a touch, maybe someone you like. Or that sigh of motion flopping into a cool bed after a full day of being... In that instant of the ball drifting through the hoop, hitting that special note on your mouth harp... Or gazing into a starlit night as a skyrocket culminates in geysers of fire... Even when you finally accept that tearing realization: she doesn't love you...and... In that moment, when,all you've said, done, felt all flows together into a life, you die. I had been exposed to a love that hurt...& of course I didn't die -but it felt like I had just died! I trust the being here now aspect may be of some use- I hope so and shall say a prayer to that end... Peace -Pat

I felt as if I was a newbie for a very short time when I first was introduced to TTB by a friend...It was a welcoming and refreshing spot of brightness in the cyber world. It still is. Once again I tender much thanks to Sean for providing this small wonder! But it has gotten quite crowded. The abundance -or over-abundance of kunlun ala Max threads has been of some small interest to me. But I find it pretty easy to ignore as well... Further, it would seem that he has something to offer for quite a few who spend their time and energy here. The thrill of it seems a bit contagious... as humor or illness I will not judge it, to each their own... That being said, I have been put off by some of the salesmanship I encountered here, because it reminded me of the Guru Maharaji's and other systems I was drawn into over the past 40+ years...There are too many to recount now...It repulsed me, and still does. Striving is not seeking. Inner quitude can not be bought, it can be aided in its developement by folks wiser than I... So teachers are often looked for if not always found... karma maybe or perhaps we are just a bit lazy and want the quick fix, or the path of least resistance, which is often the best way, but not always... Sooo, the best advice I can relate to right now, is from Bob Dylan, " don't follow leaders watch yr parking meters..." As in -Keeping one's feet on the ground is a fine start. Meditation is basic and needs no system to approach. Is becoming other than a good example of humankind any more than we need ask to be?

These are rather new phenoms... the broader spectrum of topics and issues related to spiritual questing as Taoists - (and anyone else too, for that matter), may perceive them... can still be found in older threads and discussions... We each can add to the topics here as we wish, so hey, newbies... spring forth with yr various systems, techniques, jokes and mojos. The Tao is still one and all ! So inherently, nothing is left out, right nor wrong for many here...But alas many subjects have been beaten so as to make a dead horse seem untried... and the rehashing can be trying on the 8th go-round... Patience and compassion, are often needed here as else where.

To play in the wind Sailors sniff the breeze for land Lubbers fly their kites

Interesting thread this... I have been stabbed by someone wielding a knife- I broke his arm and tossed him under a parked car in a swift move that was gratifying, if a bit late... I too hold no actual right and wrong for almost any given action, the intent and timing are -to me -what makes action correct or wrong. The selfish over the compassionate, if you will... is often wrong to me in most cases, but not everyone... Internally it is what is needed for me to be my best self- which is most often addressed in deep meditation... Yet, in my interactions and my politics... many things may get too complicated to give values that are meaningful...

Vortex you make many good points and yes I dumbed-down my examples to make a point that was weakened by not mentioning the all too many other atrocities we should all pay attention to addressing. - And yes I do know for a fact that the Stanton/Pagonas "leaderless cell" of the KKK are multiple murderers and rapists. I also know for a fact that it was the KKK, (with the help from members of Altanta's police dept.)- who were the killers of the children that Wayne Williams was framed for. The KKK is still very strong in our nation- Remember as recently as the 1920's & 30's they had HUGH marches in our nation's capital...They now wear suits and talk as if they realize that racism has limits that they try to make seem reasonable to those suseptable to such pseudo-info...I for one KNOW neo-nazies are here. I have named a few of them here. And yes, they deal in death, torture and terror. Still. Many are threatened by them daily... the recent quip from Hillary about assassination is pointing in that horrid direction as well- to bring up another press related issue. There are many facts that have been obfuscated here and abroad as far back as history allows memory. And we each seem to choose what we believe as we see fit and as we are exposed to greater and wider truths...or narrower and narrower belief systems as the case may be...

A great entry here and a great boon to the site - many thanks to you Mike -that entry on this thread put much into needed perspective and even offered options and hopes for meeting new teachers as our futures unfold... We may each realize that change is inevitable so just being open for the lives we wish to develop to indeed develop makes some sense to me...Our paths and our karmas may be changed thu efforts of will and a little help from teachers and loved ones etc...I will believe for now that deep meditation with an intent to be my best self and shed my karmic baggage can and does work "wonders"... I await a teacher with peace of mind in the mean time...

How bright the stars are Does fame build Intelligence? Don't believe your press!

Vortex- that you choose to regurgitate the lies perpitrated by the press is a usual response to the truth I offer to you. I know for a fact that that gang have attacked many Jews and Blacks and Catholics over the past 25 years. They are a guy named Gary Wojohowitz or Wojohowski -known as "Wojo" in the navy -he was on board the ship that Pagones was officer on-& went AWOL from that ship circa 1980 or so... He now goes by the name "Ed" has had a face-job but as he has very small hands for a man he can still be recognized... a Native American -they called Chief was also from that ship. William Stanton was the true leader of the "leaderless KKK cell". Pagones' brother - Lee was there as was his close friend "Dennis" who has red hair and a white-power (sword) tatoo on his forarm... There were other NYC cops involved as well- A detective who worked in mid-town north & at least two uniformed officers... It is just another inconvenient truth. Because Pagones was the prosicutor of many cases against many blacks as an asst. DA in Paughkeepsie NY -it would be very awkward to reopen so many cases etc... That there is no (political/legalistic) will to fight for the truth I offer here, is not new to me. Nor is the lack of will to address the wrongs in Darfur, Burma, China/Tibet, etc. etc...That we live in a Nation where our elections are rutinely stolen by falsified results -by both major parties - is known to many of us. So there are many reasons to be angry! How we deal with this agravating situations is the question here. Do we let them take us down to the level of the miscreants who perpitrate them - do we address them in a civil manner ( which is not getting it done) or do we try to just work on ourselves to TRANSCEND THIS CRAZY REALM OF EXISTANCE...While we are still here? I think that is the question -not the truthyness of press clips. -In fact I have a very good friend who was a full-time reporter on the Tawana Brawly case who stands by the accepted verdict as well- and he was my campaign manager when I ran for public office... Some truths are just so very hard to grasp - much less accept as such. The crimes at Abu-Graib would have been covered up forever if the current administration had been able to do so. Many injustices are not open to scruteny nor is it likely that all will ever be -(unless ya believe in Judgement day!)

I thought that was what I was sharing- the process of recognition, making it "myown" and then releasing it... That the bitterness has not been fully resolved does irk me -for it seems almost impossible to let it go - the issue is that I am unable not to remember being tortured by the Stanton/Pagones gang of neo-nazi miscreant thugs also imfamous for kidnapping Tawana Brawley- (they have attacked dozens of people over the years and continue to get away with murder- quite literally)... that so few in power are willing to investigate these matters, so to hold them accountable, (and also condone the torture of people in Abu-Graib and Guantonimo etc) - is the issue for me. By the way- I see the willingness to subjegate our fellow humans in Myanmar and Darfur as the same sort of thing, so- the issue recurs for me when I hear of those things as well... My ability to sit and make the anger my own is easy. yet the will not to go out and seek vengence is the problem. It is within my power to bring retribution upon those who tortured me, yet I do not...this out of my belief that it will, in the end be my karmic-undoing to be so violent as to seek such recourse.

" no living being gets to trade in all the shortcomings of their humanity in exchange for divinity. " This "rings a bell with me" ... I have recuring feelings of resentment for people who have done me harm in the past ...that I am trying very diligently to transcend and thus attend to my better instincts rather then dwell on revenge - (or even just ill will as it pops into my mind - as I am sometimes forced to recollect what angers me)...I can easily accept a new way to be... yet I seem unwillingly attached to my own past (in this life alone that is a serious anchor) Still, realizing that the feelings are of my human componant and my will to transcend these emotions is my "spiritual self" regaining a sense of otherness from my human distractions and yearnings gives me some sense of direction to attain a more "devine" state of being... But that is not the same kind nor level of anger that comes and goes with happenstances that are fleeting and minor-thus much easier to get past and leave behind... In all the use of emotions is a good thing. I can use anger as a tool as well as an obstruction for my better self -as becoming angry at the stupidity of George Bush's theft of my nation's progress and wealth to boost his buddies obscene profits etc...Lifts my energies to protest such activities etc...

I personally gain an actual sense of well being from a clean and neat home. ( abed with weather-appropriate layers of covers is a way to stay in tune with the world as I see it...) but - It isn't always so when I'm too bizzy etc... still, I do get a sense of well being from it - it feels healthier and tenders a notion of self-respect also... Slovenlyness is a sign of imbalance to me... those I have known who are severly mentally-off due to chemical imbalances etc... always seem to have really messy homes...('cept a lady I knew with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which was scary it was soo neat... The cleanest person I ever shared a home with was ex-army and extremely orderly... it was uncomfortible at times but ok for the most part... so as usual I say -the middle way the middle way -not fussy just tidy...

Back to the video that started this thread from hell... What I see is a few EMPTY video boxes being blown off the stand by the guy hidden behind the guy in the foreground. (or any gust generated within the room for that matter)... Anyone with a good set of lungs could get those boxes moving with a good exhalation that catches the interior of the boxes and topples them...I can blow out a candle from about 4 feet away, many can. Try it yourself at home.... And yes I expect a few "hot air" jokes from youze mugs too!!! If that is a secret power... then I've got a few bridges for sale too...

this story of the bull being killed reminds me of a well-worn joke-Who would say they are fine or not so fine when under-duress or mis-apprehension? Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine,'" said the lawyer. Farmer Joe responded,... "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favourite mule Bessie into the......." "I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, you were fine?" Farmer Joe began to reply,... "Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..." The lawyer interrupted again and said,... "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question." By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and told the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favourite mule Bessie." Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favourite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me." He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"

Sean & Harry, I wish no conflict with folks who I believe are being misled. I wish to question the influences that sway them onto dubious paths. I also do not seek peace for its' own sake. Often times the courage needed to resist and challange is more important to exhibit than the much prefered peaceful attitudes we all hope will prevail... Thus, I do not wish conflict. I am tho... a warrior at heart. I have fought the lies and the actual beings who are part of the KKK, of neo-nazis, of corrupt landlords, and filthy police departments in NYC... as well as any bully that happens to threaten the weak under their thrall, (if/when I am around to curtail such behavior)... I often need to hold my speach in check when prudent -as when I was in Burma and could not get out if I were to be a known problem to the Ni Win regime...But I will always challange those who I believe are corrupting/mis-using/ harming my fellow human beings or other senscient beings for that matter. I think conflict is a natural state at times, & that there is a need to fight many forms of evil in this world. That is not to say I think DSV is actually evil... merely greedy and manipulative of the avid seekers he wishes to sway into his sphere of influence. While it is true I have come to hold Sean in some contempt due to his language and attitude, I have a great respect for Harry and his obvious good heartedness...Sobeit... we all make personal choices that have repercussions. I do not in any way want to foster ill will. But I will not stand by when I see charlatanism at play as I do with DSV ... it just does not ring true to my open ears mind and heart... I am sad to say so- I actually wish it were not so... Peace may reign yet on this thread but not for its' own sake...

Harry- I am sorry to have offended you with my entries on this and other threads about DSV. Still, I think anyone who can be as wrong in attitude, rude, narrow-minded, and myopic as SD has shown himself time and time again to be; and is allowed by his supposed teachers to continue to represent them/him in a public forum offers very little in the way of path-finding. It just has a very false tone to it. It truly seems MOSTLY to be about scamming folks out of their money- hard earned or other-wise. And remember - even mass murderers like Ted Bundy had huge amounts of charisma that charmed his victims with apparent ease... This may be an unjust comparison, but it serves to give pause I hope... There is a truthyness to some of what is offered by DSV, but I see a bottom line to the operation that smacks of a scam par excelance that uses known paths and techniques but holds no heart, no soul, no compassion, and is in its essence meant to absorb energy, not expand and cleanse spiritual strength ... Denty's continued rudeness and personal slurs offer a picture of self-serving and distructive impulses that is easy to see. I need not meet some-one to get to know them ... In fact a woman who became my lover and deepest companion I did not meet, but communicated with on line for 3 months before we met. and it was that communication-(plus a few phone calls) that drew us together! Vibes are real my friend... and should not be discounted. ALSO- Much content... both deep and trite can be communicated in writing-otherwise how did literature catch-on!? I am hopeful that yr inner strength will not be absorbed in this path to be redirected to serve the cravings of those who so obviously (to me at least, if not several others here as well)- seek to use yr human/spiritual development in order to inhance their own place in this world... EDIT/ADDED: "Argument implies a desire to win, strengthens egotism, and ties us to the belief in the idea of 'a self, a being, a living being, and a person'.." - Hui Neng I have visited the foundation site a few hours worth (using an alias)...and found it full of more BS than wisdom.

Dear Friends, Humanitarian relief is urgently needed, but Burma's government could easily delay, divert or misuse any aid. Yesterday the International Burmese Monks Organization, including many leaders of the democracy protests last fall, launched a new effort to provide relief through Burma's powerful grass roots network of monasteries--the most trusted institutions in the country and currently the only source of housing and support in many devastated communities. Click below to help the Burmese people with a donation and see a video appeal to Avaaz from a leader of the monks: https://www.secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/23.php Giving to the monks is a smart, fast way to get aid directly to Burma's people. Governments and international aid organizations are important, but face challenges--they may not be allowed into Burma, or they may be forced to provide aid according to the junta's rules. And most will have to spend large amounts of money just setting up operations in the country. The monks are already on the front lines of the aid effort--housing, feeding, and supporting the victims of the cyclone since the day it struck. The International Burmese Monks Organization will send money directly to each monastery through their own networks, bypassing regime controls. Last year, more than 800,000 of us around the world stood with the Burmese people as they rose up against the military dictatorship. The government lost no time then in dispatching its armies to ruthlessly crush the non-violent democracy movement--but now, as tens of thousands die, the junta's response is slow and threatens to divert precious aid into the corrupt regime's pockets. The monks are unlikely to receive aid from governments or large humanitarian organizations, but they have a stronger presence and trust among the Burmese people than both. If we all chip in a little bit, we can help them to make a big difference. Click here to donate: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/23.php With hope, Pat