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There is. Though i dont think for a minute that the practice of 'killing' thoughts is the way to go, as per the post above. The nature of the mind is vast like the ocean, and thoughts are like the waves - just as waves are inseparable from the ocean, so too are thoughts inseparable from the mind - the essence of meditation is in learning to ride the thoughts, not to do away with them, and in this regard, it is often encouraged that the best medium for this is through sound (mantras) and visualizations, either one, the other, or combined.

Pssst... guys, pass the word around - there is massive potential for anyone interested to teach authentic Wing Chun here in Ireland. Population 4.45million... number of Wing Chun academies = 2!!! One in the North of the Republic, and one in the South. So if any of your mates are looking to expand into 'fertile' territory, especially now that the visa laws have been relaxed, they ought to seriously consider setting up shop here. Premises are currently quite cheap to rent, and if anyone wants to come and have an initial look around, PM me for a chat anytime. (apologies for veering off topic )

Would that be chicken or the house special, sir? :lol: (Great share btw... thanks bro!)

I would imagine that boundaries are instinctively set by individuals out of a deep feeling or sense of lack, so deep that it literally overrides every other conscious sense that we think makes up this identity we insist on calling 'me, myself and I'. As Ernest Becker had observed, "The irony of man's condition is that the deepest need is to be free of the anxiety of death and annihilation (extreme lack) - yet it is life itself that awakens this very knowledge, and so tendencies arise that makes us want to shrink from life". (paraphrased) Similarly, Norman Brown made a parallel remark, "The ultimate problem is not guilt but the incapacity to live. The illusion of guilt is necessary for an animal that cannot enjoy life, in order to organize a life of non-enjoyment." Since its impossible for the ego to absolve the self's seeming sense of lack, a kind of perpetual dilemma is set in motion, and no matter what an individual resolves to do, this shadow cannot be shaken loose. So the problem is very fundamental. It needs addressing at the core of one's being, and to this end demands unflinching honesty and using radical responses that could ultimately mean rediscovering and putting into effect very basic, simple virtues like mere patience and endurance. Through patience and endurance, coupled with the knowledge/faith that all things are impermanent, we set the psycho-physical stage towards facing our fears, leading eventually to freedom from such. Perhaps such a freedom creates the right causes for consciousness to seep out of the restraints often mistakenly thought to be bound tightly and limited to the 6 human senses. Just a small reflection on what you have shared, Steve. Thanks for the insights! Very good ones too.

Incidentally, Taomeow also echos with a popular vegetable called Dao Miu, a delicate and delectable green, nutritious when wok-tossed for just 45 seconds, with minced garlic and a pinch of salt, or shoyu. Pics here -

Thank you, Pero.

A good pair of tackies? (thats the wurrrd for running shoes here in Ireland) ( having a friendly doberman next to me would be handy, too...) Good points again, btw.

Noted. Nothing to disagree here, SZ. Wing Chun is one of the better forms as mentioned. Did not say it was the best. I have seen WC guys getting no let-in at all against top Muay Thai fighters, not because MT is a more superior art, but, IMo, the main difference is the dedication level of the exponents, most of whom begin their training at 5 or 6 years of age, and also their ability to withstand pain. Not sure if its true or not, but i have been told, by a Thai friend, that most of their boxers carry some sort of talisman that aids in pain tolerance. Having said this, i have witnessed a number of free-style MA contests (in South East Asia - MMA had not made inroads yet back then) where Wing Chun fighters have emerged as impressive winners, against forms such as Hung Gar, Ba Gua, Wushu, Mantis, TKD, Karate, Cheung Khuen, Fut Gar, Li Gar, etc. I think its the adaptability aspect built in to Wing Chun that gives the students a slight edge over the other styles. I could be wrong, of course. If i had to pick two forms to practice, i'd go for MT and Wing Chun for sure.

What seems to be your problem, Aaron? You are so fogged up by your aversions that you allow yourself to get worked up so easily. Why? Patience running out? Not everyone has to see things the way you do. I did not see the clip as one that tried to push any notions of whatever you think its agenda is. It proposes to investigate whether it can be determined where an action actually begins, besides other relevant ideas. If the mind was more open, there is some connection in there that directly relates to this discussion, but you are so blinded by your own pre-formed judgements that you cannot even see the obvious. Too bad mate. And for your info, i am not the only one who is beginning to tire of your lopsided views. So please burger off, and hog the playground all to yourself... if that makes you happy. Tantrums, tantrums.... unbelievable.

My eyes into the real world opened in 70s Malaysia. Back then, there wasn't much prosperity among folks, and the streets were quite rough. Street fights were the norm. A favorite indulgence for Malaysians is food, and people could avail of delicious grub 24/7, in cafes, restaurants, makeshift huts set up by the riverside, mobile stalls, and roadside hawker units were everywhere. Even though people were not rich, they made sure they enjoyed food!! Its a weakness of the Chinese, and so is gambling. Now, in Malaysia, where there is food being sold, there is bound to be some form of gambling happening, and where there is gambling, chancers and thugs congregate, and where these people come together, fights could not be avoided. Anyway, sorry for veering off. What i want to say, from observation, is that street fights are completely unpredictable, in the sense of outcomes, like who will walk away unscathed or who ends up without an eye or perhaps being carted off to the hospital in a coma. Sometimes the 'winner' becomes the real 'loser' - he wins the fight, but two days later, dies of brain haemorrhage. IMO, No matter how much MA is under your belt, its useless. I have seen big guys being floored by little guys, and i have seen MA experts taken down by punks in one-on-one combats. I think whoever can withstand more pain goes some way in determining who wins. Or in the unpredictable nature of street fights, whoever has the good fortune to grab hold of a bottle or the arm of a broken chair, and gets first hit, is often the victor. In the end, i think the person who can run fastest is the ultimate winner. Having said all this, i am still biased enough to say Wing Chun is one of the better system to master in terms of training in power, agility, and super-quick reflexes, all of which provide sufficient leverage in real-life fight situations.

Where does intent begin? Where does it end, and action begin? Are actions real to begin with, at the beginning? Something to watch and mull over...

'Direct' is pretty precise, i would think. Stick a finger directly on to a hot plate and the end result is a sore finger. Its not even the least metaphysical, unless of course you insist on determining it in ways that are only clear to you, and no one else. Of course nice people get screwed over, but what is the real motive behind your emphasis? There is you, and there is life. Are you saying you want guarantees that life will treat you good before you set about to practice positivity and compassion? This makes very little sense, to me anyway. As Wittgenstein said, "I sit astride life like a bad rider on a horse. I only owe it to the horse's good nature that i am not thrown off at this very moment." Even if one rides well, who is to say the horse will always oblige to carry one to one's destination? But then, this should not in anyway mean that one ought to cease riding, or even to learn how to hone one's riding ability. It would be rather foolish to think this way.

Found a clip from happyseaurchin relating to a particular contemplation on the Dzogchen path. This gentleman is not a Buddhist. He happens to be a school teacher, and while waiting for his next teaching assignment in Glasgow, he decides to share his (undoctrinated) understanding of the Six Vajra Verses, and how it relates to everyday, ordinary life. For greater clarity, here is the Six Verses that he is referring to: THE NATURE OF PHENOMENA IS NON-DUAL, BUT EACH ONE, IN ITS OWN STATE, IS BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE MIND. THERE IS NO CONCEPT THAT CAN DEFINE THE CONDITION OF 'WHAT IS' BUT VISION NEVERTHELESS MANIFESTS: ALL IS GOOD. EVERYTHING IS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED, AND SO, HAVING OVERCOME THE SICKNESS OF EFFORT, ONE FINDS ONESELF IN THE SELF-PERFECTED STATE: THIS IS CONTEMPLATION. hope this can be a source of reflection for anyone interested enough to go deeper into the words, just like the man in the clip.

After practicing the Meditation of Giving and Receiving for a number of years, i have found that i no longer experience any imbalanced emotional turmoil. My heart is always in the right place - when there is celebration, i celebrate, where there is joy to be shared, i partake, with gracious openness, and embrace fully with thanksgiving... never asking for more, nor less. What is even more crucial - where there is sadness, sorrow and grief, and pain... these too, i have learnt to embrace with a yielding heart. Thru this, I have gracefully learnt to overcome certain attachments and fears, mainly thru the gentle, gradual process of taking in other's pain, and in return, sending them whatever joyous merit i have. The more i send out, the more spacious and equanimous i become. It also brings presence, more than anything else. There is an abundance of unconditional acceptance wherever i am - be it in the company of those who are happy, or those who are grieving. I have also learnt patience along the way. I do realize that taking in other's miseries may not make a lot of sense to some people, but then, emotional freedom, as we have been taught to believe, if seen through on a deeper level, is that which is truly ridiculous because to be utterly free, we need to train the mind to develop the willingness, the mental capacity to forego our limited ideas of self-cherishing, which often leads to a distorted and dualistic view, and move towards a more altruistic one, where others are equally as vital, if not more, than us. Within this capacity of condition-less surrender and acceptance lies the seed of spiritual awakening. This is my experience at this stage of evolvement. Whatever we dish out, its bound to deflect back and hit us square in the face. Tis better not to fake it, i would humbly suggest. May you all be filled to the brim with the causes of happiness, free from conditions! A link to what the practice entails - https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.naturalawareness.net/diversity.pdf&embedded=true&chrome=true

This is really good, Otis. Enjoyed your understanding, and the time you took to share it. Thank you. Still trying to figure out this tight squeeze you have around the 'I don't know' thingy though... ---------------------------------------- () ------------------------------------------ Mr Songs.... welcome back! God! You were missed so much! :lol: Where you been? Steve... Thanks for the courtesy. A gentleman, as usual. Let us know after you get time to watch the clip.

Hey Flynn.. thought you might find this link helpful in regards to a portion of your query: http://www.wingchunpedia.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=WCP.KuenKuit#Maxims

I'm no psychotherapist, but this is precisely the kind of mindstate that i was talking about... first off, you are working from a base where you are holding a bag of 'incorrect' seeds, and secondly, you have not even tilled the ground to increase yield potential, and yet you expect to harvest the 'correct' crop. It won't happen. See where you are coming from in terms of motivation (seeds) for change - ashamed, loveless, morally wrong, wrong perceptions, etc... you are standing on infertile ground here, hence whatever you plant on this ground, you are leaving to chance that somehow, hopefully, something nice will grow and mature. What are the odds? Its about leverage, and, sorry to say, you have not got it (yet). With leverage, its not merely about trying to get things right, or even by trying to be more positive. More than this, Its about fully understanding and accepting that you get exactly what you give. The unsatisfactoriness of your present circumstance stems not so much from doing things wrong, but from expecting the inappropriate results from your thoughts and actions. If you want to learn to be ok with what/where you are now, start to do so with the idea that you want responsible accountability and ownership of your situation, at the same time, bearing in mind that change will come from this mature and sane attitude. Then the right kind of result will be made possible, and in all probability, this mindstate, one of total acceptance, will shift you to creating a more fertile base with a higher growth potential. Here is where you begin to get leverage, one small nudge at a time. As a start, you have to realize where you are now, to see it for what it is, without being mentally stuck with negative self-programming. Self-talk can be altered only when we learn to accept what we are without attaching judgement or bitter cynicism to the program.

Hi Non, having nothing to be unhappy about does not equal happiness. You appear to have confused the matter somewhat. As the Dalai Lama, and many other spiritual guides have said, over and over, "Happiness is the direct result of your thoughts, words and deeds." You appear to be allowing what is going on to sweep you along, as if helpless to initiate a different set of conditions that will help steer you in the way you want to go. Its apparent you are quite intelligent, and are able to assess things rather well... so why not attempt to create the right causes in order for you to obtain the desired results? You cannot expect to harvest a bumper crop of corn by planting grass seeds? You expect conformity, but at what price? What are you willing to dish out? Certainly, whatever that is being released out of your thoughts, words and deeds are the exact causes of your present frustration. To avoid tomorrow's frustrations, rectify today's sequences and patterns in your general behavior. Time to reassess your priorities, friend.

Hah! I have forgotten so much that i no longer remember what 'being light' feels like.

d.p.

Its even more wonderful when we realize that we only think we have departed from this 'original self'. Its forever with us, like it or not. In sickness or in health, wholeness is our nature. This is why the authentic holy person laughs all the time - they lose identification with separation, realizing each moment that even contraction is not outside of the wholeness that is life itself. Total vulnerability, absolute surrender, unconditional acceptance. Like water.... she holds all things, yet retains nothing, formless forevermore. Recognizing this 'original nature', allowing its radiance to reveal itself, is a consequence of spiritual freedom, and not the cause, i would think. Sometimes, the more we do, the more we look, the less is revealed.

Yes, you could say we are sort of saying the same thing. Although i sense that there are many people who are often caught unawares when it comes to stuff, even everyday stuff...

Great tips here, HE! Another anti oxidant which offers immense benefits is the juice from Montmorency Cherries. Read it here: http://www.mi-cherries.com/anti.htm