Ninpo-me-this-ninjutsu-me-that

Easy to read....difficult to do! Can lead to some serious states of nuts if done wrong. Nice link too by the way. Thanks

Ya, there are some similar words, between mandarin and cantonese. But not that one...then again im useless with cantonese, so i cant say for sure about cantonese. Learnt it for about 3 months then forgot it all when i got here as they speak mandarin where I am. 'Chang' can also mean great as in the great wall, as you mentioned. 'chun' in this case is like 'chun jie' spring festival, or known as chinese new year outside China. Pin yin is a nightmare without some little symbols that can be put on the top to represent the tones.

No Cowtao..... I lived in that city for some years.

It means 'long spring'. chang = long. chun = spring.

Honestly, I would't worry about all the guns and stuff, as most people will be dead. Not a happy thought I know. But I'd spend your money taking your kids to Disney land instead, while it's there. There will be plenty of guns to pick up all over the place. I am going beyond the economic crisis though. A hill or forest will serve you much better than a gun, as Blasto says. He knows what he's talking about.

I have to say your post is very good Freeform. I would like to make a bit of a clarification(my opinion, obviously I can't make a clarification for you)though. If it's a feeling of being scared and uncomfortable that makes a man do a runner when a woman gets all emotional and chaotic, then he should stay. But, to be honest, women have a lot of emotional and chaotic times. It's my experience that after you've weathered the storm a few times(one that wasn't your fault or anything to do with you)it becomes somewhat habit forming and the man ends up as an emotional dustbin, especially if the woman likes to ignore the solution. It's much better to say "go away and sort yourself out, then come back when you're better.". It's not a popular thing to do I must say! And for sure, almost all women will tell you to stick around, of course they would. But sometimes the only way to help them gain true balance within themselves is that. I've been thanked for it......but certainly not at the time though!

Maybe you were just angry with the spoon. Try a wood one next time. The metal element doesn't suit your nature.

Orwell? Nice quote.

If you're gonna' survive Blasto, I for one, am very happy that the joy of sarcasm will survive long into the 22nd century. I feel sure our world will need it.

I was told an interesting fact by a friend the other day: 'America has never attacked a country with a McDonalds'. Bearing in mind it's much cheaper to get a McDonalds than to develop Nuclear weapons I think Mr. Kim Jong il has got it all wrong, instead of spending all his countries money on weapons and letting his people starve, he can kill two birds with one stone and open up a McDonalds. And instead of being on the 'axis of evil' he can be on the 'axis of Ronald McDonald'. The path of least resistance Here is an article I found when looking into the truth of the above fact, it can explain the theory much better than I can. http://www.fresno.edu/scholars_speak/duane_ruth_heffelbower/07_26_2007.asp

ROFL Secret agent 'o''o''ooooooooohhhhhh 7' . Hempel, Drew Hempel, licence to orgasm at a distance. It might be a good idea, with his covert orgasm skills he could change the 'axis of evil' into the 'axis of orgasm'. There'd be no more wars. No one wants to fight a war when they are having a post nuptial cigarette. I really think Drew needs to teach that skill. Has he??? There might be days where due to 'operational complications' he's unable to go into full lotus, in which case he'd need to use a high tech gadget, I think I've seen some of them on the internet! Never seen a telescopic one that can be secreted in a pen though. Where is the 'Drew Hempel teaches orgasm at a distance' thread? I'd be genuinely interested in that thread.

As does does James Bond. Carry on regardless.

Never said it was. Walk away. Add to the pain, or subtract the pain. No ones choice but your own regardless of who started it. Or who's wrong for that matter. I like this part!!! You are mistaken. Your mistake is not your fault(unless you agree you chose to be born)it is the illusion of the seperation. For example, the energy you develop connects to others on an inner level, transferring information and knowledge and helping them and supporting them on their path. The converse is also true though. Distance is non-existent on an energy level.... truly. Who set up this choice of only two options? You right? Well, ok, but the latter seems more preferable if you ask me. Problem is a stable female that you require to calm you down would only be attracted to calmness(back to square one)so, it would begin with developing that in yourself. Sad, but true. Would that I could find a female as pure as the driven snow, so I wouldn't have to work on myself but could live it through her(as men have been trying to do for centuries), somewhat unfair to expect that though without taking personal responsibility. You have. Thank you It is always your responsibilty. Don't kid yourself. If you are acting on the guidance of the Dao(and by the way, the Dao doesn't guide, it's impartial)you would probably have a good sleep, then when you woke up have a nice breakfast! That's about as Dao as it gets. I expect more intelligence than that from you. Certainly you have displayed it before. Again... The Dao has no volition of it's own. It's not drama. It's not the first time. What you are trying to do is secretly hoping someone will say something wrong to you, and then go and throw a wobbler, thus attempting to make it their responsibility instead of your own. But it will not be theirs. Theres not much more I can say Stoner, to externalize or internalize and work through it. As you can see by the state of the world and society most choose the 'easy' door. Hopefully you won't be the same.... but that, my friend, is your choice.

Yes, but that first begins with intergration of the self. Then you will be contributing to separation. I have no respect for that. Too easy. Thousands of years same same same. They are not responsible. They receive the pain from others, and those received it from those before them, and on and on and on. They perpetuated the pain due to ignorance. You are wrong. And to use the yin-yang theory to justify such actions is heinous. I don't doubt it. Welcome to the human club. Pull up a chair and relax for a bit. Impossible to do in exact measure, in which case you will be adding to the pain. Thanks. We already have enough like that. Neglect is endemic, and once again part of the human condition. The seperation from the source was the cause. But can you say for sure that you didn't choose that? I'm mean really say for sure you didn't choose to be born. Because if you cannot, then it is you that is responsible. What do you think we are all doing here? You are not alone, even though you may feel so. Again, part of the effect of ego seperation creating the impression/feeling that you are alone. We make do and go against the grain to achieve closeness(of sorts). I never said it was. But you're hardly helping matters by throwing a wobbler and hurting people. You would be just doing the same as the rest. That's the easy way, the way people continue to choose. You will not be forced. You may like to think you would be for your own reasons. But the responsibility is your own. Why is it everyone always chooses that way? What is it? 6.2 billion on Earth and only a tiny fraction are trying to work on the pain and all the others remain in ignorance making life harder for us and the rest. Adding to the pain...always adding... continued below...

In their defence they do sometimes give some nice 'free' gifts. I got a lovely world cup glass recently, so that's gotta count for something

So why because you feel so bad S.S.S should all humans die? You wish to externalize a pain inside and create that pain for others, but would you really wish that pain on others? No matter who is to blame, society and its focus has been messed up for a long time. The change is not external, it's personal and internal. It's a choice, the choice to work on the pain inside and stop externalizing it. It could be argued in fact, that all the pain created in the world is due to people not making this choice and continuing to externalize it. It's not an easy path, but it is the path most have chosen to follow around here, even those not quite aware of it as yet. I think that includes you Stoner. If you could for even a brief moment take on anothers mind and experience their pain you would realize the true quantity of your own pain by comparison....and you would be amazed that those people can even get out of bed in the morning. That is the issue, the separation the human ego creates. So, people meditate and cultivate to break this down. And as for girlfriends, they can cause more pain than ever imaginable .... but they simply stripped away a layer exposing the pain that was already there... the pain of initial separation from the source.

Honestly man, I'd rather put your full name, but I'll be damned if I can ever remember it. Names are certainly not my strong point, and certainly not Indian names I have a couple of questions Vaj, all revolving around one topic, that of enlightenment. I was gonna' post this on the other thread but that thread isn't really about this topic, so I decided to start a new one for the specific purpose. I am also aware that this is a Daoist forum so apologies to anyone who takes exception to something 'off forum'....but let's face it.... it's hardly the first time is it So, my questions are sincere and as follows: 1. Have you ever met someone enlightened? 2. If you meet someone enlightened how would you know? As in, on an inner level can their state of mind/no mind(sorry if it's not the correct term)be transfered for a time to you, and so, therefore, you can judge it. 3. How can a person judge actual enlightenment unless they themselves are enlightened? And how can it be known if it is actual enlightenment or just another way-stage on the Buddhist path? 4. What is the actual experience of enlightenment(if it is a certain specific stage kind of thing)in simple terms? 5. What's the point of enlightenment? I kind of know(in the most simple of terms), but I'd prefer a live, actual explanation of the benefits/no benefits if that's possible. Anyway, do me a big favor Vaj, if you have time to reply, imagine when you reply you're replying to someone quite dumb and you will really be doing me a big favour!(keywords: 'dumb down')I may not be here later so give me a bit of time to give a response.... but I will read it. Thanks If anyone else wants to chip in feel free to do so. Peanuts are welcome too! Edit: ps. I hope you don't mind being defined as 'Vaj the Buddhist', it's not meant to be derogatory, although looking at it just know I'm wondering if you might take it as such. It's not meant in that way.

Not to get involved with the ongoing fight between the fixed and the fluid.... but I noticed something interesting a short while ago in another thread. I used to think it was true that Ralis chased you around the forum Vaj...and honestly speaking, sometimes it was...BUT, I have since realized you really like Ralis! I would even go as far to say as need Ralis, Ralis is like your exclamation mark in making points.... although for the most part he is the pursuer and you are the attractor. The reason I say this Vaj is simply that I noticed on the other thread when Ralis was completely leaving you alone you suddenly threw out a comment about Ralis that wasn't even related to the topic... you must have known he would come along! I mean it's Ralis! Personally speaking I think you two are possibly the most determined people going around here....both with very good points I might add(when it doesn't go pear shaped). You're like long lost brothers or something! I wonder if either of you have realized yet you both share some similar characteristics, although the views are fundamentally different. I think you'd get on like a house on fire! Anyway, just thinking outloud...don't fry me please

haha...nicely played Marblehead, very nice, you can teach us youngsters the art of applied strategy yet. They say 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks', but I say 'an old dog doesn't need new tricks as he has survived just fine so far with the tricks he has.'(not that I'm saying your a dog by the way, but you get my gist I'm sure). True true. That's the answer I was expecting.... but you threw that banana in the barrel and I just had to go for it.... as you knew I would! very good final point. An important one too. I'm gonna go find another banana!

That's probably about right. So when you buying an ipad then? Don't act like you don't want one!

Awwww, that's not wu wei though, wu wei means to not do what you think needs to be done, to simply leave it. 'non-action', retribution is a human concept, first there must be a conceived need for retribution, but true Daoism does not hold to right or wrong, so therefore there can be no retribution. At least a human has no right to retribution.... I would say a 'God' too. I hold to wu-wei as a concept that teaches all forms of retribution, as in an action, is not of the Dao. Let the Dao do what it will do, and keep out of it. Surely that's wu-wei or I've misunderstood you before.

I think you're talking about the later developed religious Daoism? Personally I've never been able to reconcile religious Daoism with it's roots, it was somewhat of an effort to make it more popular/mainstream. In a bit Matbleheads gonna' mention 'wu wei'.

Oh never mind, I've been there and done that before.

Congratulations. Not in a happy place today are we.

Your welcome. I'm sure you'll find something better suited to you Leon, you seem like a bright guy. Half of the challenge is simply finding something that suits you. I've had jobs before that I thought would really suit me, then after getting them found out I was completely wrong. So the search went on. It does take time for some of us to find a job that suits us. So don't worry, your not the only one.