yabyum24

One thing you will confront is the incessant battle between 'political' preachy vegetarians and their equally political and preachy opponents. They throw statistics at each other, which only serves to demonstrate how insecure both sides feel. With the feeling of compassion which has impelled you to make this choice, you have stepped outside of this debate. Ultimately, it's about no longer wanting your body to serve as a graveyard for the slain corpses of other beings.

There are plenty of other protein sources beyond meat, so I wouldn't worry. I've been vegetarian for years. Just make sure you eat a good balance and don't regard anything as a "meat replacement" in your life. Whatever you eat, eat it for it's own sake and for the benefits it will bring. It seems like a huge gap will need to be filled but once you start, it's not so dramatic. Good luck.

Thanks Hundun. This thread is really filling in some huge gaps in my background knowledge about Casteneda. He was certainly gifted and I'm one of those people you describe because his books arrived in my hands at just the time when I really needed them. I'll always owe him for that. I can see the answer is way more nuanced than it at first seems. Lee, himself, also seems an interesting character.

Yes, I tried to 'find my hands' in the dream state and experienced a lucid out-of-the-body style experience. It was quite awesome.

In my experience, half lotus is enough to help prevent ejeculation when in coitus, which I guess helps preserve energy. I think this has something to do with the energy in the body. You can't tense your thighs in the way you would normally do before you cum.

It's well worth taking some time to check this guy's site out: http://www.sanskrit-sanscrito.com.ar/en/trika-meditation-1-according-to-non-dual-shaivism-of-kashmir-1/514

Hi Maan, I don't know how Wallace defines it but I would advise getting an experience of it in seated meditation first. Then progress to walking when you have. The reason being, that it's essential to remove (as far as possible) any extraneous distractions or considerations, like counting and so on. It's enough to bring the awareness to the breath and see what happens then. Teachings on anapanasati are very effective.

I think this covers it nicely:

Beautifully said, and no doubt highly offensive to all true "believers". Why? Because they know that they have the 'infinite' in a little box which they keep by their bed. Only they, and their teachers - via their unique lineage, have the key. Everyone else is just howling at the gate.

Ideal if you can find her.

That's the question. Who knows? Namaste

I wouldn't know what to say about preserving/losing it or whether you feel sanctimonious about it. I guess only you can call that shot. I don't pass judgement on that point. What I was trying to say was that in the event you find yourself in bed for the first time with a pretty girl, events will take their own course. Whatever spiritual ideas you may have beforehand, they will probably be annihilated by the sheer awesomeness of her physical presence. Don't be surprised by it. On finding a real-life shakti? Brilliant if you can. Your age has another advantage, according to tantra. The energy of your subtle body is strong and replenishes quickly. It's what makes you hyper-sensitive to females. So, if you want a real life consort, you'd better start seriously searching and good luck with it. Don't disregard what's going on in your dreams though. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I think you have the right motivation with the wish for more spirituality, but I guess it comes down to what you are hoping to achieve by doing it. I wish you success in all cases, though you probably have next to no chance if you are a virgin. The key thing is not to give up if you blow it. I forgot to mention before that there is another possibility. There are four kinds of mudras (or consorts). From here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Yogas_of_Naropa#The_four_types_of_Karmamudr.C4.81s You may find that you are able to transmute the demon ladies of your dreams into consorts and practice within the dream state. This is just as powerful (if not more so) than actual physical union, as it is unconstrained. This is how tantrics can utilize the "poison" and create divine nectar from it. The manifested females are reflections of your anima shakti. She is deathless and always beautiful, you left her behind at the gates of the womb. You seek the shards of her reflection in every woman you will ever meet.

I get where you are coming from dhiggs and the contradiction you feel between sexual desire and your wish to conserve your essence. I've never managed celibacy for any significant length of time but I have experienced all you report and I understand your quandary. I've studied Buddhist tantra and, yes it does offer a means to transmute the essence into higher awareness and powerful internal bliss, which does not involve release, or even the reflex of it. The problem is, and it's a massive one, is finding a suitable partner to work with. There are three stages; 1. Being in the company of the lady - exchanging glances, smiles etc. This is similar to what you have already experienced and are doing (to some extent) with the women around you. 2. Physical touch. This is more intimate and more compelling. 3. Sexual union. The closest contact possible and toughest challenge of all. There can never be success with a partner who is not doing it for the same reasons as yourself, as the determination to succeed has to be warrior-like on both sides. If you have sex with an "ordinary" lady, then she will enjoy it like ordinary sex and her abandon and enjoyment will be overpowering and compelling. In other words, you can forget retaining anything and even if you do, there will be no spiritual benefit from the encounter - at most, a stud-like pride in your performance. (Big deal!) So, for most people tantra will never be the answer to this problem. There's a ton of stuff out there about it, most of which is just 'false dawn' material. Unless you are in the inner circle of a qualified guru who looks after his followers, you can pretty much forget it. You may have more luck with Taoist sexual teachings, but as I know nothing of these, I can't offer any help.

Just looking around for any such link on the site. Is there such a function?

I've recently started practicing Lee Family Style tai chi for heath. I'm already feeling some benefit but I'm curious whether anyone has mastered, witnessed or knows about how easy or hard it is to first locate then direct chi around the body. I've heard that it can be good for health etc.

Thanks Kadesdes, My style of Tai Chi is non-combat. The Lee Family Style does (in some schools) include it but my teachers emphasize the holistic health benefits and energy. They do teach sword, silk, stick and dance (as well as the form) but again, only for health. They don't seem to do push hands or sticky hands. I'm happy with that at the moment. Years ago I did karate and I now have no interest in combat systems at all. Unfortunately, there are no qigong teachers in my area, so I guess I'll stick with Tai Chi for now but I may see what I can find on line.

Thanks for the advice guys, it's brilliant. And yes, I can see a thread running through all you write. I've emphasized seated meditation for years, with the attitude that my body didn't need to be a part of the process. I'm correcting that now and I feel the difference.

Thanks dawei. I'm going to take some time over what you have written. Some of it we do, which gives me confidence that I've got a good teacher. When I'm doing the Form or the Taoist Walk, I do get very energized. I practice for about 40mins every morning and also during the day, if I get time. I'm loving it to be honest and wish I'd started it sooner.

Perfect thanks.

Thanks Ish, I'll try that out.

Thanks dawei, I'll look into Qigong. I'm really just starting out in Tai Chi but I have a good grounding in meditation, so I'm able to focus without much distraction. I do get the occasional feelings of heat/energy but it's very sporadic and inconsistent. I'm currently learning the long form but the teacher gets us to rotate hands etc to feel the energy. Hi h.uriahr, Thanks for the tips. I'm reading up and trying out MCO. It feels good and quite similar to Tibetan practices I've used in the past. Our teacher has given us a breath/chakra exercise. 1. Close eyes - breathe in 2. Breathe out - focus on forehead 3. Breathe in - focus on heart 4. Breathe out - focus on lower abdomen 5. Breathe in - no focus. 6. Breathe out - open eyes

I'm a UK Buddhist with a background in tantra and a recent interest in taoism. I like the chilled out feel of this forum and as I haven't got a clue about taoism, I thought I'd give it a go.

Thanks for the replies. I ask as I witnessed it once, myself many years ago but I couldn't assimilate it and didn't take the opportunity to go deeper and learn about it. Hence the interest.

More or less the same thing?