.broken.

Good question... Everything I do has purpose, whether it's the rock climbing I do or the bus pass I choose to have. Ultimately everything in my life stems from my beliefs, including my practice of cultivation. And my beliefs? Guess that's what underlines everything, and they are derived from observation... my greatest interest. That aside, I enjoy rock climbing, camping, cooking, and many forms of art (though I mainly appreciate, as opposed to create) in my spare time Yours humbly, James

"The Complete Book of Vegetables, Herbs and Fruit" - A good place to start whether you are cultivating, buying or cooking. Tesco is one of the most unethical supermarkets that one can buy from in the UK. The Co-op's take over of Somerfield is a ray of light in a dismal UK food market. If you wish to buy your fruit and veg, rather than grow it, then check this out. Good old Ray Mears has a great many books if you are interested in live outside this culture. Also, check out your local Friends of the Earth website about becoming an ethical shopper. Here's an example from the Scottish branch. Loads more stored on this subject in this brain of mine, but it's late and there's much to do tomorrow... I shall bid you adieu Yours humbly, James

Non, je ne regrette rien. One would only regret past actions if they weren't what you wanted at that time. I have done everything in my power to be as happy as I can be when presented with a choice. If things didn't go to plan it was generally due to external influences. They were the right decision for me then and that's all that matters. I stick by those decisions because they make up my experience in this life. To regret anything would be to mock your life with disappointment... I should've done this, I should've done that... Codswallop. Regretting also stops one from enjoying the ride. Quite simply, fuck it if it could've gone better, who cares? My ego will die, so if anything is left over that'll remain as it always has. In the middle where I have always been. Fairing my way between one polarity to the next. My true nature knows where I'm going, I have no need to bother my conceptual mind with it. Gladly Most humble, James

Glad you managed to find someone dude. There's always guidance no matter what your path. Seek and thou shalt find Have to say your last post made me laugh Keep your light heartedness and sense of humour and you can be sure to see happier days mate. Keep truckin' James

A noble cause; a passionate conveyor; a simple task. You can count me in witch. Yours humbly, James

Agreed. Well written and distinctly clear. Anytime I can help, Bobby, gimme a shout. I guess you're going through something that I went through too, hence the connection you have with these words. Two of a kind, if you play cards I gladly accept you hug, and return it my friend. Your pain is mine and I am glad you shared. I'm glad I could do something constructive here... my weekend's DIY, on the other hand, is left entirely neglected Balance is such a tricky business! Yours humbly, James

Be careful. Everything changes, and will always change. Going back to how you were ignores the fact that what has happened did indeed happen. You have to acknowledge that it did happen, you have to acknowledge that it will affect the relationship, you have to acknowledge that as every second ticks by nothing will ever be the same again. Keep your chin up, smile through your eyes and spread love everywhere you go. Many. Self-observance is the same thing as mindfulness. By being self-observant you are aware of all your actions, because you modify your behaviour consciously. Mindfulness is exactly the same - being aware of everything you do and think. All meditation practices generally enable one to eventually be mindful at all times of activity and inactivity.... Taiji, chi kung and yogic asanas are particularly good at making one aware of one's physical body and its actions... Vispassana and one-pointed concentration meditations are good at making oneself aware of the mind, and how this affects your actions. Keep practicing James

Bobby, my friend, it was my pleasure. I rejoice that what I wrote had some resonance. I would like to share a quote with you, if I may, from Lin's article on relationships: I can only assume from the information that you have given that she is the one that informed you that she slept with someone else. If this is the case, then she has a good heart. Let her example be yours. Mutual growth and benefit is the only real basis for any relationship. Grow alongside each other. Yours humbly, James ... Probably should've posted the link to Lin's article - thoroughly good read

Believe me when I say that I have been where you are. My ex-girlfriend was a similar character: she cheated on one of my best friends to be with me and dumped me some months later... I also understand your pain. I think most Tao Bums, if not most humans, have been through the trials and tribulations that love can bring, so you won't be alone here. One bit of wisdom I have acquired throughout the course of my life is that we learn the things we need to when the time is right. It is time for you to learn the lesson of your dog's death, and it time for your girlfriend to cheat on you and for you to adjust accordingly. Only you can know what the right thing to do is at this juncture in time - only you have all the information. If you feel that going to apologise to the man who your actions affected would soothe some of the pain, then go do it. If you feel you can forgive the girl involved for her drunken antics, then go do it. By taking appropriate action, you will move forward from your pain. By taking inappropriate action, you may hide the pain but the emotional scarring will find a different method of manifesting. Yours humbly, James P.S. I have no real knowledge of EFT, but if you use it as a manner of escaping your emotions as opposed to being mindful of them then I would suggest stopping.

I, too, will miss you dude. Will be sure to tune in daily Stay true and take good care, James

It appears that you are stating that everyone who doesn't agree with you is in denial. If my understanding is correct, then I would have to disagree with you entirely. Maybe the deterioration of the human body is a new concept to you, or maybe it has more meaning because you are having the direct experience of looking after a family member. This alone does not deem it to be disgusting, nor does it mean that Taoism is essentially a life line because it encourages longevity. We start off being incontinent and needing nappies, generally ending up that way too. Form is an attachment many have, and many aim to lose. One can indeed be fortunate to come across Daoism when one's body is degrading. However, if one is interested in avoiding the death of the human body then I would guess that they have not accepted the nature of change... they know not the Dao. Life and death give rise to each other, and are mutually dependent. I have been coming to terms with my death since I first came across the notion - it surprises me that you started so late. Yours humbly, James

Om

Got one to add - it's my favourite ______________________________________________________________ As Glenn once said its more fun to Play in Both Mandalas..... The Dual & The Non Dual... Hi Mikaelz, Depends how you use it and what its for and what your "DHARMA" is for the benifit of others. again it all depends on what you want to do and what your "ROLE" is you are nothing more than an instrument for the divine. True God resides in all of this "ILLUSION" we are nothing but a drop of the creators grace. again Dzogchen.... Well again in the "relative truth" or dual state it has a purpose in the "Absolute truth" no it is all illusion. However if you choose to truly be NON dual than you should live as an asethic and away from being in the duality or society. The real mastery is in the integration of all things anywhere and everywhere you are is good and you are able to play both games in the cosmic play. As the Mikkyo say living in the the Both Mandalas. This is the approach of the Buddha or the truly Enlightened master. Now if you do not want to be in this "duality" fine walk onto uncoming traffic and say its all illusion : ) Bye bye. Watch what happens next. In the relative Truth you are road kill in the Absolute truth it was all illusion. ( I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE BY THE WAY) just making you realize that if you want to be "here" you must respect the "Dual" and also the "non Dual" and also you must know the sciences that help you succeed in the "dual" or the illusion hence why the "Tantras" where revealed to the sages. But again if you don't want this...do not do it. There is a path for everyone and they all fall into 3 renunciate tantric dzogchen Well here is my question for you....if you are GOD as you stated a few sentences ago then would you not have a Beginning nor and END? So how can there be an end? True again in the "absolute truth" But not in the "relative Truth" you need both if you want to sustain this existence. What I meant is the PHYSICAL BODY would die with out Kundalini. No Shakti....NO LIFE ..NO ANIMATION. the "WORD" in the Bible is "SHAKTI" you get it? No breath of creator or word...you not exist anymore smile.gif True on the ABSOLUTE truth level there is no you. But on the relative truth there is a YOU ad if you want to sustain that YOU in this present form you have to abide by certain "laws" and also know how to work them in order to prolong what ever it is you need or desire in this Relative truth. Hence "Magik", Ilmu, Tantra, Vajrayana, Taoist cultivation. The absolute revealed revealed keys to people so that they could in this "relative Truth" acess and under stand the "ABSOLUTE TRUTH". In Nirbija Samadhi you spend a vacation lets say in Absolute truth. But if you wish to stay "here" then you go back to this relative truth and live out your life and live as if Creator is with in you so you help others benifit & and also find THEIR enlightement. Very : ) But its ok i know where you are coming from. Come visit me one day you are welcomed any time. God Bless Santiago Dobles ______________________________________________________________ Yours humbly, James

You are not over weight, so I doubt adopting a healthy diet will make a huge difference to the amount of fat you have. However, please do change your diet if it is unhealthy... it'll help your energy levels. My understanding is that you wish to become more sculpted and less flabby? Take up a fun sport that you might enjoy... my personal favourite is rock climbing Reminds me of the fun I had when I used to climb trees as a kid. Check out the multitude of extreme sports if that's your thing. Otherwise you may have to stick to the tried and tested methods of running, circuit training, weight lifting, harder martial arts, etc. Yours humbly, James

Right on, bruva. Purists would say you don't need it, keep practicing and you'll get there. Pessimists would say you need it, so keep it. Realists would say that you'll need it to begin with but in time your posture will improve, and when it does you should discard it. Realists have wise advice

Thank you Cat, you randy creature To risk sounding like a broken, no pun intended, record... Defining each other's understanding of a word, and empathising with the other's definition, is what helps in fixing my aforementioned linguisitic subjectivity. Your realisation that "lust" in this instance had not been defined by both parties is an example of this... you may both have different understandings and experiences associated to that word. (A theory of mine is that a large proportion of arguments are created due to a lack of this knowledge.) That aside, I also feel I need to correct myself. I wrote: ... implying that all randy women are healthy. This is not the case, and I would like to reverse that statement. Yes, if a woman is healthy their libido is unimpeded. However, I had the pleasure of having a relationship with a lady who had psychological imbalances that made her think she was randy, when there was no physical symptom whatsoever - a problem stemming from vulgar sexual abuse which contributed to many issues she had. Dry as a desert, though thankfully not as sandy. James

Dare I mention the word 'desire'? All spiritual traditions I have studied seem to point to not attaching to one's desires. Simply a thought... that has now passed James

Entertaining thread. Some points I would like to make: - It is possible to have sex that has no lust and lots of love - a real appreciation for the other person that develops through genuine companionship. Lust, in my eyes, is just hormonal. - Venus flytraps do not eat often... - Ian attempted to describe an experience. All experiences require an experiencer and as such words do not do them justice, unless the experience is one shared... if that's the case then there is only linguistic subjectivity to overcome - I reckon it would be a worthwhile experience sharing sex with a woman whose heart chakra is as open as Witch claims hers to be. - Women are randy if healthy, as Witch rightly pointed out. Any preconception that man is at fault clearly indicates that person never met one (a healthy woman). - Modern society plays a large role at dangling sex in front of men's faces from the moment they are born. This is responsible for much of the uncontrollable, obsessive attitude that some men have. My spiritual journey is taking me along a path that encourages a 'healthy' relationship with the desire to have sex - I know that for me to spread my seed is against my true self. - Sex, by its very nature, has a large part to play in the physical evolution of all species, however, many here seem to neglect its cultural evolution. There is a reason why sex was only permitted in many societies after a certain time frame, or when a certain ceremony was held. Sex is a spiritual practice above all else. Evolutionarily speaking, sexual relationships between two organism evolved from asexual reproduction... the splitting of one into many. Sex is one of the ways we can experience oneness. - Feminine and masculine must be balanced properly to attain enlightenment. Females should not reject their masculinity, and males should not reject their feminity. Yours in humble typing masturabation, James

Fair point My post does come across as quite dramatic. Think anyone will notice?

Wow, not sure I know where to start... You would not be experiencing any form of psychosis if you were ready for the amounts of energy you are creating. My opinion is that you are forcing too much energy into your head simply to start being able to have long periods of coitus - perhaps to impress your ex girlfriend in an attempt to be able to get back with her. Regarding the heartache, you love this girl and she doesn't love you back. Simple as. It may be amplified by your excessive energy manipulation somewhat. You have many options: - I could tell you to stop practicing for such long periods, to take things more slowly. - I could tell you to stop practicing because it's seriously messing with your brain chemistry and I worry you might cause some serious damage. - I could tell you to try and stop lusting after the ex and examine why you really want to practice internal alchemy. However, I know this is not what you are after. If you insist on continuing with, what I am assuming is, a very misplaced motivation then I can only point you in various directions that may help minimise any harm your body, mind and spirit may endure. 1. Qigong, and the various internal martial arts, will be able to play a role in rooting your energy and teaching you discipline, humility and courage. Take it up if your heart takes you there. 2. Find yourself a nearby Buddhist or Dzogchen teacher. See what help they can offer. I would imagine it would be along the lines of seated meditation... They will help open your mind and release it from its habitual thinking. 3. Please consider practicing for small amounts daily, as opposed to long periods of time occasionally. I hope this will help reduce the adverse effects you are experiencing. 4. Find yourself a good practitioner in either: acupuncture, shiatsu, tui na or pranic healing. They may be able to restore some balance. 5. Read the philosophy behind the taoist and tantric exercise you are practicing. In particular the Dao De Ching and the many yoga sutras. Through this you will see your practice is unbalanced and unhealthy. I would not personally recommend yoga as a path as there are many teachers out there who just teach the asanas with little, if any, knowledge of how to fix energy issues. If you know a teacher who is into asanas, pranayama, bakti, mudra, bandas, mantra, samyana and tantra, then fine. Otherwise, this is a no go. I hope you will ease your pain and discomfort, my friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Yours humbly, James [Edit: Reading over this I think I failed in highlighting and emphasising the fact that you ARE doing some serious harm to your body and mind by practicing the way you currently are. It will get worse if you continue. Please heed my advice for your own sake.]

Clearly never met Chen Xiaowang's son - he likes pizza That, and his taiji is superb. Pranaman, may I be so bold as to ask why you want to lose weight? Yours humbly, James

A brief history of yiquan.

Then let Bruce Lee guide you my friend. He was fast - very fast.

Indeed. It's commonly written xinji, short for xinjiquan (much like taiji and taijiquan). The wikipedia article hua_na_da posted is probably the best source of information for now. Failing that, youtube as steam kindly illustrated. Yours, James

Really can't help feel that this wonderful thread has done a little downhill, and it's my fault Cat, yes I did read that it is genetic. However, I'm simply regurgitating information... Don't believe everything you read. If it is indeed true, then yes, there are many men out there who are "disadvantaged" (for want of a better word). Personally it may depend on the lady. I have yet to experience it, but I am told there are some fishy specimens about. That being said; I won't contribute to this line of conversation any longer. Jane's post was wonderful to read and I can't help but feel guilt for doing it this injustice. I took have had a dark night of the soul, and am scraping the surface of one now - at least, that's how it feels. Jane, thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful thread and your fantastically written insight. I can't wait to check out more of your writings. Off the the blog I go... Most humble, James