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All the best to you! I think what separates the real article from the dross is that inner something which drives you at the most fundamental level. If you are dedicated primarily to pass on something useful and good to others, with the right perspective and motivation, without being driven by greed and excess, your students will sense this quite immediately. As long as motives are pure, students will stay. And the only way to keep motives pure is for one to embody the art/teaching beyond the obvious, meaning that how one conducts oneself away from class is even more crucial then when in it. Its easy to be in one's element in the presence of students cos so many 'teachers' feed off those kinds of vibe. Away from class, behind the scenes... thats where the real development of character and resolution is refined.

Were you an avid follower of Napoleon Hill's Think & Grow Rich by any chance, gMP? Thats the original LoA framework, i think. And a better model too, but thats just my personal opinion.

Thats what you get for not saving up fer crimbo

Have a good 'un, ev'ry'un

Is that Boomer gonna Ring Nunga's doorbell first or would it dispense with formalities and simply fly in thru his front window?!!

I was being specific - without thoughts, what can we say about a body? Yes, one may have a sense of a body, but 'body' is merely a conventional description, a linguistic convenience. Perhaps its more accurate and helpful to say, "There is sensation" without the common association of "My body is sensing...". There are a few advantages of not associating the body with sensations if one seeks release from attachment, clinging, etc. One can still acknowledge the whole spectrum of sensate experience without getting lost and limitedly defined by claiming ownership of these experiences, just as we cannot claim ownership of what transpires in dreams, for example.

Actually there is no knowledge of the body apart from thoughts.

There's always hope, my friend

Could this report be an indication of overdue reform in the Church, or another publicity attempt at repairing a broken image? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30577368

Link to an article which purports to straighten out some misconceptions regarding flavour enhancers, specifically MSG. (Btw, the Japanese have been using MSG in foods since 1908, and probably before that in China) http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/08/25/msg/

now, where is that bit? its lost to the tides of time inconceivably

How interesting, the creativity of intelligent children, knowing the intricacies of secrecy even at that tender age, and learning how to leverage the element of surprise and mystery to their advantage..

to land upon it a fly does not hesitate but man thinks too much

Seeing deeply is the same as raising awareness; raising awareness is meditation. Knowing or realising that you need space away from meditation is also meditation. Then, when you lay aside meditation, that is also meditation. Why put yourself thru the agony of contemplating in a dualistic manner? Know the inseparability of awareness and meditation, and also, distraction and meditation - then you will experience a new kind of expansiveness, one that feeds off courage (to acknowledge your present reality) rather than neurosis. Its just a matter of deciding to switch how you want to look at things around and inside of you. Nothing is apart from mind, and mind is empty - therefore, all that arise in mind is also empty. Dont take my word for it - investigate this yourself, and see if you can find any tangible side where the mind resides other than in the arisings itself.

but, syllables three do not worry, stars are many just pluck two, in dreams

a flaming hetro let fly cardinal arrows a bit hit and miss

Beyond cause and effect is ineffability... not even the sages have words for whats beyond cause and effect, so you cannot talk about that. Well, you can, but it will be of no use.

Not all who cut up bodies are called surgeons.

straight and true palm trees line the neighbourhood soon the fruits will come...

O yes, Source Code rings a bell, although i dont recall watching it.

That J Gyllenhaal movie is Nightcrawler. Sounds like a horror movie, but turns out to be a movie about ambulance-chasing for sensational tabloid news, or something like that. Anyway, my current bedside book, bought just today, is entitled 'The Inconceivable Emancipation' by Sangharakshita. It centres around themes from the Vimalakirti-nirdesa. Just started reading it. Quite good.

The triads of today are nowhere near as principled and upright as their founding brothers. Speaking from personal experience based on encounters with them over the years, i have found them to be ruthless, vengeful, immoral, easily corruptible, and without conscience. In this day and age, their activities span all things illegal, from human trafficking (the biggest money spinner) to gambling to drugs to smuggling contraband to money laundering, extortion (they call it 'protection') and guns for hire. These Tongs, or cells, have connections all across South East Asia, and they target everything vulnerable in sight. I have had the opportunity to clash with some hard triad goons during my brief stint as a police detective, and can say that they are the craziest, most inhuman group of people around when they are gathered en masse, but in singling them out and subjecting them to interrogative protocols, they turn instantly into back-stabbing squealers without a moment's hesitation, just to save their own skin. This is one of best weapons the authorities have at their disposal in the gathering of intelligence. If not for this, who knows how much more organised organised crime in Asia will be.

there you go.