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Havent had a hiccup in years. Rather odd, come to think of it. Back when i did have them, the formula used was to inhale, sip 7 teaspoons of water (not too fast nor too slow), then exhale. Always worked.

Its quite fun to see how mental formulas arise, shaping thoughts and images, based on people's outer perceptions. I think you are discriminating people with larger builds and implying something negative as a direct result of their eating habits. If you had been less fraught with weighty issues, you would have understood the quote in its wider context, and in its direct relation to the opening question, which is, "Is enjoying food important?" Nothing wrong with the derivation of joy from performing natural activities, of which eating is a fundamental one.

For dinner today, i had: 1 small bowl of rice porridge, sprinkled with seaweed. 1 egg, scrambled, fried with grated ginger and sesame oil. (a little sprinkle of salt when done) Steamed Bok Choi with black beans. A half teaspoon of preserved and salted mackerel, shallow-fried with bird-eye chillies. Yummy yummy rub my tummy oh, and finished with a freshly brewed cup of quality coffee... life is gooood.

Pavarotti once said, "One of the nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."

Hey!!! Semi-Taoist using Buddhist speak? Thats not allowed!!!

Excellent observation!

You seem to have missed the point, but its ok, cos it was intended for newTaoist, and he grasped the idea well enough. There is a certain discipline involved in this exercise (of attending to the altar each day, a few times a day). Besides being a sanctuary for the mind, body and spirit, its physical presence serves as a reminder of one's inner aspirations, and it being there means that it requires tending to, the way other aspects of one's life need to be tended. Usually, a chaotic mind manifests unkemptness, and vice versa. There are many aspects to tending to an altar. Ultimately, the process returns the caretaker to the centre (bindu) of the mandala, or mental universe, which is where divisions, dualistic thoughts and separative issues become nullified. In this way, one could say the altar is a very useful aid to gain progress in this particular direction. Then there are the more other-worldly aspects, which some bums have already mentioned. But for now, i would say there are more than sufficient info presently available for newTaoist to chew on. Lets celebrate his good merits and wish him well on his quest.

An altar is the outer expression of one's inner mandala, or mental universe. It is a reflection and also a statement of one's affiliations with the spiritual dimension. As you transit from philosophical to religious, the continual refinement of the planned altar would give you a good visual feel as to your progress. This process of refinement is like a gradual revelation of how you bring order to your mental continuum, or, if you prefer, your mental landscape. So the intention to create this altar would be similar to a landscape artist whose work is to turn something chaotic, or disorganized, and reshaping it so that harmony and aesthetic qualities would begin to manifest. Its a worthwhile plan. Go for it!

Thank you, Rex.

Amassing enough for mansions with heated pools, hot tubs and limos in the heavens. haha.... While a lot of Americans are struggling, some of these 'teachers' are really living the American Dream. Most of them aren't even originally American. Joke.

Currently reading Cascading Waterfall. Very helpful, imo. I love simple practices, being of simple needs.

Seems like your heart is in the right place. It is good if one has the ability to assist wandering entities to 'find their way home', but in most instances, its not such a straightforward task. There are obvious reasons which cause them (the spirits or entities) to remain in the human realm, mostly its due to premature, abrupt and often traumatic end to life, but in some instances, i have been told, it could be out of a strong urge to seek revenge, in which case its best to leave the task of 'assisting' to those who have the learned capability to perform the necessary rituals (with all precautions/protections intact). Such kinds of entities are not too concerned about what they share in common with humans, since its the collective human experience that has driven them to an early, often sad and cruel departure. Being in the Far East for the best part of 30 years i can say for certain that there are always malicious forces seeking for 'breaks' in people's natural spiritual defenses in order to find a host where such forces can relive their past in a human body. This urge is beyond their choice, just like addicts needing their fixes. Its their nature as wandering spirits to always be seeking compensation for the injustice which had befallen them. For this reason, according to Buddhist ideals, it has always been encouraged that one should engage in virtuous and benevolent activities as often as possible -- apparently this is the best defense against finding uninvited guests in one's 'house'.

What you waiting for? Sounds like a potentially profitable bizness, from weed tree to entrepreneurial success story!!! Come to think of it, i heard today there's big bucks in sea urchin farming too. In Japan, premium quality urchin roe can command up to 450 dollars for a kilo's worth. Apparently NSW in Australia is the new 'big' in urchin farming. I know a guy who harvested 900 of these prickly thingys in 2 days and made 10,000 bucks. Go figure.

"Personally, i'd be perfectly happy to just call it a day and f@%& off to the nearest hammock and a frosty boat drink with an umbrella in it." -- Anthony Bourdain

abracadabra! zim zala bim! hey presto! hocus pocus all...

Nutritional comparison chart between blueberries, mulberries and pomegranates per 100g servings: (notice the high percentage of vit C and presence of Iron in mulberries [iron is rare in berries] compared to the other 2) http://www.healthaliciousness.com/nutritionfacts/nutrition-comparison.php?o=9050&t=9190&h=9286&s=100&e=100&r=100

It is possible to visualize all the divine qualities of what you think a Divine Mother possess, and then consciously allow these qualities to suffuse your being, like the scent of well-made incense permeating space. This is best done during your meditative or quiet time, and then, as you slowly reintegrate back into mundane activity, be consciously aware that you are carrying and giving the same divine qualities to other beings, from all the realms. This generates great compassionate energy, and is good for the soul. In time, these divine qualities will overtake unwanted tendencies, and will transform you from within. Its a really cool way to practice, similar to Vajrayana deity visualization practices. In fact, now is a good time to begin the visualization, while you are feeling inspired by Mother Meera. For me, i get a lot of bliss-like sensations in the heart area whenever i go into the energetic presence of Sri Anandamayi Ma. When i was starting out on the spiritual road years ago, she was my biggest inspiration. I was so loved on the astral plane. hehe....

i just googled images of 'The great ocean road'. One word.... WOW! Its really breathtaking, Mal. Sending the best wishes for a lovely lovely week, and come back to share? Australia, the land i love. Might be retiring there, in a few years. We shall see.

I think this website has a wealth of information on Kundalini in all its pains and glory! http://kundalini.se/eng/engkni_1024.html A friend who used to be bound by kundalini manifestations would do prostrations each time he felt the early rumbles of the K thunder. He told me that the practice (prostrations) is the primary cause of his learning to manage and ride the waves these days. He's happy as a lark now.

Heart advice from Master Thinley Norbu. Thus it is said. In order to sustain the wisdom mind of the Great Perfection, if one wonders how body, speech and mind are directed to engage in this practice, it is as follows. For beginners, in order to purify the flow of karmic energies so that they enter the space of the central energy channel, the body must be straight. If the body is straight, the channels are straight. If the channels are straight, the vital energies can flow. If the vital energies can flow, awareness becomes clear. Whenever awareness becomes clear, the pure essential nature of mind becomes apparent, free from clearing away or keeping. In order for that to occur, in the seven-point vajra posture, the legs are crossed, the hands are in the gesture of evenness, the stomach is pulled back toward the spine, the chin is slightly lowered, the shoulders are open like a condor's wings, the tongue is touching the palate, and the eyes are looking out over the tip of the nose like a tiger, directly into space. Various methods increase and enhance samadhi, including the vajra recitation with the movement of breath by inhaling with the syllable OM, letting the breath remain with the syllable AH, and exhaling with the syllable HUNG. This practice is helpful to rely on in order to increase stability in samadhi. According to the wisdom mind of the extraordinary Great Perfection, however, should one be a great practitioner of sustaining self-nature as the sole essence of awareness, then all phenomena are synthesized as wisdom appearances, sound, and awareness. Only knowing that the self-nature of one's own mind is the Three Kayas and never waver from dharmadhatu, there is nothing other than the natural abiding of body, speech and mind, so it is absolutely unnecessary to apply effort to fixating on acceptance and rejection. The precious Vajra Master Guru Rinpoche said to his consort, Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, in the Essence of Butter Pith Instructions: Devoted consort, listen to me. Even though there are many profound pith instructions for the body, just leave the body comfortably at ease. Everything is contained in that. Even though there are many pith instructions for controlling the vital energies, such as mantra recitations and others, be like a mute, free from speaking. Everything is contained in that. Even though there are many pith instructions for the mind such as holding, loosening, creating, gathering, drawing in, and others, in the ease of one's own uncontrived nature that settles naturally, everything is contained in that. From Omniscient Longchenpa, "With relaxed body and mind, in the mind's bed of tranquility, Like a person with a mind free from engagement who has nothing to do, Without being rigid or careless, Leave the body and mind comfortable. However one stays, stay in one's pure nature. However one abides, abide in one's pure nature. However one goes, go in one's pure nature. In the space of enlightenment, there is naturally no going or coming. Not going and not coming is the wisdom Body of all the Victorious Ones. Whatever one says, say in one's pure nature. Whatever one speaks, speak in one's pure nature. In enlightened mind, there is naturally no saying and speaking. Free from saying and speaking is the wisdom Speech of all the Victorious Ones of the three times. Whatever one thinks, think in one's pure nature. Whatever one considers, consider in one's pure nature. From the beginning, there is no thinker and no considerer. Free from thinking and considering is the wisdom Heart of all the Victorious Ones of the three times. From nonsubstantiality, everything that manifests is Nirmanakaya. Pure appearance of self-sustaining inconceivability is Sambhogakaya. The state of no original substance is stainless Dharmakaya. The Three Kaya's result is simultaneously accomplished in the inconceivable state." Thus as he says, this must be realized. As Saraha said, "Since sole mind is the seed of everything, whoever aspires to transcend samsara and enlightenment is granted the fruit of their wishes. I prostrate to mind, like a wish-fulfilling jewel." Just recognize again and again one's own unconditioned stainless wisdom mind. Buddhas are buddhas due to their faultless, one-pointed, unending recognition of this. By realizing and applying this, there is no Dharma to accept or throw away. All phenomena pervade in the sole oneness of dharmata. There is nothing to discriminate, like on an island full of gold. Once again, the great saint Saraha beseeched, "If there is recognition, everything is included there; no one has known anything other than that." As it is said in The Great Perfection Tantra Containing the Absolute Meaning: Since the mind experiences the three times, The lives of the past, present and future will occur. Since the mind changes and transfers, That is why the body is born and dies. Since illness, happiness, suffering, and so on Are one's mind, this ripens as samsara. May all beings experience the unending causes of equanimity, peace and joy.

The analogy is plainly direct, Miss K. Sheep = thoughts. Sheep dog = mindful awareness. When this (mindful awareness) is fully functioning, there is no need to watch/discriminate thoughts. They simply come and go at their own leisure. Give them (thoughts) enough space, like the sheep grazing the fields. One cannot afford to waste precious energy watching arisings/subsidings. This is quite a futile attempt to train the mind. A more viable, helpful alternative is to investigate the empty nature of the mind, to see for oneself if this is indeed what the mind is. Disenfranchisement is the result of people attempting to hem in and control thoughts, under the false notion that this is the means to overcome whatever they think needs overcoming. Spaciousness is the key, not choosing what to think, and what to discard. Whatever is discarded is never really gone.

A wise farmer does not spend all his time watching every single sheep or farm animal he owns. All he or she needs to do is to ensure there are a couple of good sheep dogs around.

"A thousand years ago, five minutes equalled forty ounces of fine sand." --- Vladimir Nabokov

You think so? Im not so sure... Im guessing that the emptiness cannot be filled. There is simply eternal flux, nothing remains the same for long enough to fill anything.

What a silly postulation. Spiritual questers employ philosophical constructs as wisdom-developing tools, just as tradespeople employ tools to lay foundations, build solid frameworks and add structural finish, or, for that matter, chefs with their uncanny instinct for using a mix of ingredients, optimal measurements and correct heat settings to create worthwhile meals which bring satisfaction to others. Are they hiding behind their abilities, or perhaps utilizing their skilled knowledge out of fear? The measurement of any system or technique is the end-result. Whether one moves forward or remain stagnant, evaluation is constantly needed, and one needs to be sharp and present to notice obstacles. How could this be reasonably achieved without having some sort of philosophical layout in place? Dont you have any philosophical maps to guide you on your spiritual rounds? Those who attempt with experimentation, dabblers and self-teachings may at best achieve accidental breakthroughs, which are few and far between, not to mention the frequent meetings with anti-results which compound mental inertia and physical stresses. This sort of happenings are (unfortunately) already so obvious on TTB. Should we not strive to become a little more aware from the stories we read here everyday? I would hope so.