Ninpo-me-this-ninjutsu-me-that

edit: I just saw your post Pietro, I do find Taomeows post rather interesting actually; I'm not completely convinced a form of humour is a negative, I'm kind of assuming she's more focusing on the desire 'to put someone down', and then one 'possible' manifestation of this may be sarcasm. If that's not the case then I would like to know about the other forms of humour...such as Irony and slapstick. To be clear, I think the majority of sarcasm is harmless, amongst most adults in any case. I've never met a sarcastic schizophrenic and I've met a few. But just so I don't confuse anyone Pietro, I take your point, and I would like to make it clear to all there is no brain chemical called ectoplasm! and as far as I know it's not much of a disability either.

I don't know, but I'm willing to give it a try. You're quick you are, I'd have to get up early in the morning to pull the wool over your eyes! I think the quote is perhaps 'sarcasm is the lowest form of wit', luckily the Dao always seeks the lowest point so sarcasm is in good company. I knew there was a tie-in somewhere.

I'm curious Drew as in what way you feel it's too western? I don't necessarily disagree actually, I mean it is a story about a westerner with a rather strong focus on mechanics as an ongoing analogy. Is this what you mean? Or is there another angle your coming at it from? I would be interested to hear it Drew.

Dude, you gotta stop watching 'sex in the city' re-runs. If there were so many of these types of girls around I wouldn't have time to type this. I don't think you can stop others having casual relationships Noon, but the vast majority of women DON'T want a casual relationship...yes, there are some. Anyway, it seems it doesn't matter what we all say...... I do get that you are disillusioned with women, but these as 'pure as the driven snow virgins' you're looking for, even when they are as pure as the driven snow, then become adults. Everything changes.... and sexual 'purity' is not equal to purity within the character. I retire.

You right, it does get better as it goes along, I'm 3 quarters the way through, and I really love the book..... I've been in actual possession of it for about 5 years now, but it's been around me all my life as it was in the family home...... but still.... that last quarter....??? Sometimes I wonder if I'm deliberately dragging it out because I don't want it to finish. In general what seems to happen is I read a particular chapter and it kind of sticks with me and resonates in some way; it takes me a long time for me to truly assimilate it and understand the deeper meaning it's hinting at. That books' wide open where personal interpretation is concerned. Don't tell me about the final chapters Soaring Crane..... .... you may colour my interpretation.... I'm looking forward to those, I reckon I'll get there within the next twenty years.... then I'll start at the beginning again. Some things in life are to be savoured, I've never taken this long to read any book.... I figure I'll just let it read itself when it chooses to be read.

Lol.... and no numbers observed tells you you're still asleep and late for work. Give me a nine any day, 2x9=18 1+8=9, 3x9=27 2+7=9, 4x9=36 3+6=9.....and on and on, ad-infinitum. I love nine. No other number quite like it.

It's not really any of my business, but I am a little curious at to why you guys never do a vote? There is a poll function, and if you came up with a shortlist I'm sure people would put in their votes. Bearing in mind it would be a shortlist you have decided, ie. people that fit the criteria you require, then others would decide who in their opinion they felt was most suitable. Personally I would have voted for Marblehead, I'm not sure he'd accept it mind you, kind of goes against his philosophy. But he does have a ritual every morning, as far as I can make out, of posting short and concise posts up and down the forum...everyday...consistently. I actually thought he was a MOD when I first came here, sometimes I still do! I can see the need for a female MOD though, as it is a bit one sided. Anyway, just thinking out loud.

What are you talking about Soaring Crane.... I have no idea.... what are you getting at? You know I still haven't managed to finish this book.... I'm not sure why...God knows I've tried...even I want to finish this book I can't for some reason. I always end up having to start up a few chapters before where I had finished and then only end up another chapter ahead...then the process begins all over again! Actually I just realize I've just taught myself something about my own character!

I stand corrected, good job. I'm happy to hear it. I'm not a 'pick up artist' as you say.... I simply like the company of women, always have. I don't always pick them up and throw them on the bed either(although there were a few). Honestly non, these things you call devious women call "huh?".... just because you can see something doesn't mean the younger of the variety sometimes even know themselves what they are doing and why. And the most 'devious' thing a woman has at her disposal is usually 'kindness and compassion', and deviously they have used it to make me feel like a better man on many occasions...even when I didn't deserve it. One day 'noon'(I seriously want to change your name)you will find qualities in a woman that you will realize that the majority of men are seriously lacking in. Women are an oasis in the desert.... and I'm not talking about sex. I wish you the best Noon, I really do

Non....seriously you need to get out more... Take that damn pc of yours and chuck it out the window and go do some weights or join a Martial Arts class or something for Christs sake(something physical)!....and no, not to attract a woman, just for yourself. You're making women into a charicature when you haven't even had a gf or as far as I can remember reading, even had a female friend. It's like talking about what it feels like to swim in the sea without ever having done so, it's pointless! If you played football non(and by the way I dislike having to call you 'non')you'd be the one always wanting to change the rules.... the way it is is just the way it is.... but it's nowhere near as extreme as you seem to think it is. Your obsessing about stuff pointless to obsess about, and blowing it way out of proportion. Stop wasting your time on a pc.... it will get you nowhere fast. Pal..... please live life.... go for a run, work up a sweat. Forget about women and forget about Daoism for the time being... you have more important work to do. Now that is good advice.... I would like to add that the more silly the better!

The 'fuck' part sounds good to me, is this in KAP 1 . But seriously, 'to ejaculate or not to ejaculate, that is the question'(I think shakespeare said that). I really wanna know, I'm highly confused about this whole retention thing.... personally I would go along the lines of 'sometimes, what the hell, it's Christmas after all!'. To retain or not to retain? Thanks in advance

Ya, I like her beard, she rocks.

There is a simple answer to this Kate, if I went on a date with you and I made it clear I just wanted sex you may be repulsed.... many women would be, there are some women who wouldn't mind at all...but much fewer than I've met. So if the man tried this approach of being totally honest unless he's in a club and both parties are fairly drunk, the lady in question will go elsewhere....unless she thinks she may be able to change his mind and she thinks he is worth the risk. I tried total honesty a few times, total failure.... not in the womans opinion as she could separate the wheat from the chaff, but in my view it was.... as nothing happened! There have been woman who have been totally honest(first)as to what they wanted, ie. only sex... but those always changed their mind after(maybe they had already made up their mind in fact, but just wanted to convince themselves otherwise). Men don't always know if a relationship will be long term or not, sometimes we do.... but very occasionally you can be pleasantly surprised that a woman you thought would perhaps be only temporary turns into someone you really get along with and also deeply love.... but it doesn't happen that often. If all the men in the world were honest to women(I mean totally honest)they would all be at home starting masturbation threads and/or masturbating.... We don't always know until we try.... and in our mind we lost nothing if it doesn't work out, we gained in fact, which can be quite opposite from a females view point. Hence the ongoing issue. In defence of men I will say this, if you were a man for a day and had a penis you would know how very distracting it can be....VERY distracting... and very demanding too I might add. That's not a justification or an excuse, it's just a reason. It is also dependant on how attractive a man is, you can keep the average guy for life, and he may be happy....but throw a lot of temptation his way for a consistent period of time and he will change(he may think he won't.... but a man can only take so much). So.... if you want mr average you can get him and keep him, whether your attracted to him is another matter. The only exception with this I've seen is an older guy... around about 30 plus(30 is low balling, higher is better)simply because he's probably already done it all before and now understands true value within a relationship. If you want a normal guy Kate and marriage you can get him today. There in lies the problem. If you find him attractive, so do other women(temptation), if you find him funny, so do other women(temptation)...and on and on. There must be some exceptions...but they are exceptions. edit: I should make something clear that could be misunderstood.... I consider mr average to be very 'dao' like... and often much happier than the other kind in the long term.

You're right, but you can see my train of thought when it mid-swing can't you.

Holst's suite the planets, in particular Mars - Bringer of war I find to be exceptionally stimulating when in need a bit of inspiration. Rhythm is the key, but there are inherent dangers in this piece particularly towards the end... but it does remind you of Star Wars and princess Layer a bit(Empire strikes back, 'Jabba the Hut' costume). I would like to make it clear that I do not advocate this practice to beginners, but to seasoned veterans such as myself. Mercury the winged messenger is way too whimsical a piece to even attempt and steer well clear of Saturn - Bringer of old age, for obvious reasons. For anyone who would like to try this advanced practice you can click on the link below and try them out for yourself as there are sound files that can be played. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets ps: If you do opt for Mars - Bringer of war, then it helps to imagine world domination during the process. This is only based on my own experience of course.

I suggest you get a copy of 'Zen and the Art of Masturbation Maintenance'.

HAHAHAHA That's a good piece of writing that is. It would have been a parody masterpiece had you left out two full stops/periods....but it's close!!! I hope there's a sequel, as that's right up my alley for reading material. Edit/ps: I feel you've deliberately avoided the fundamental argument as whether, in fact, the grass is always greener on the other side.

From what I've seen I'm inclined to agree that anger, hatred and vengeance simply traps the individual and can, if strong enough ultimately destroy them.... and sometimes does. So....Marblehead, my question is simply do you allow a repetitive anger filled hatred to play out again and again in your mind, or, as I suspect, do you simply let it go without making the conscious decision to forgive? If this is what you do(and I suspect this is what you're getting at)then I would say you have reached another point perhaps equally as useful :passivity/neutrality. That would work. Am I right? ? ?

I think Daoist practice and/or meditation returns a person to a state of innocence but with a wisdom that was previously absent, as has been previously mentioned here this doesn't quite gel with society, which is why many sages and enlightened ones have been considered childlike or crazy. The key to return is love, first a love of your own faults and so a gradual understanding of others. Innocence lies in the space between thoughts.

Bizzarely that's true. I'm no Christian but the big 'J' has got some skills. I don't know that it's genetic though Little1, although I can't say for sure.

In general around here people would point you in the direction of Santiago(vajrasattva), fiveelementaltao or possibly Yamu. F.E.T has already responded on this thread and seems to have done a lot of work in the area in question for some years, you can ask him for the details, or the others. There are things you can do yourself, but I get that you really want someone to help you. Hope it's some help.