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Is this an implication that human beings are mere puppets, dangling haplessly, tossed about by the winds of change, with no control nor power to design their own destiny? Yes i agree that generally most of us are puppets to our thoughts, hence the possibility that outer conditions often determine feelings, emotions, compounded thoughts and actions. I am just wondering if this possibility will diminish as one become more attuned, or more aware of these 'strings' that are pulling at us? In other words, do you think we have the capability and transcendent spiritual intelligence to step out, or break out (whichever is applicable) of this circle? I am also wondering if this circle is nothing more than self-imposed limitations that is the sum total of the past? Can someone just suddenly determine that he/she no longer want to be a puppet, to sever all ties with the past and hopes for the future? What happens when this decision is taken? Or does this require, as the old books say, years of patient cultivation? Maybe its a bit like looking for happiness. Would you say that things outside of oneself can be manipulated, or cultivated, so as to create a state of happiness? What is preventing most people from breaking these seemingly unbreakable strings that are self-created, binding them to this circle of outer and inner dualistic perceptions?

tightly woven braids silken threads of royal blue adorn the hallways...

gone beyond, beyond praise be to the sentinels - menders of haikus...

I think concentration levels are determined by how 'present' a person can be at any given moment. The more present one is, the more focus becomes tension-free. Thats my experience anyway, having met some very special individuals who have reached the state where they no longer have the need to be anywhere else but in the moment, and its such a joy to be in their company, because the connection is constantly in flow, which then becomes even more apparent during moments of silence. The mind, the self, during that time, just drops off, and all the mundane needs to think, to react, to analyze, to weigh, and to judge, simply evaporates. Presence can be trained. The method proposed by Mikaelz is one of the better ways to get the grounding. It leads to mindful awareness. If this can then be translated to our daily activity, especially the routine ones, we will notice that concentration arises quite effortlessly. The activity of walking is ideal to incorporate mindful attention to the task at hand(or foot? hehe). At the early stages it is very easy for the mind to drift off, but thats normal. Generally those who first begin this exercise become overly hard on themselves when they notice that their attention have swayed, thus creating tension, and self-absorption takes over. Be gentle - simply allow for the distraction, and then joyfully guide the attention back to the walking, step by step by step. Consciously develop an attitude of gratitude, both for those moments when your attention is focussed, and more importantly, when you begin to notice that you have begun to be aware of even those moments when the attention is slacking. Thats usually the turning point.. marking progress. Personally i find that mindfulness lead to gratefulness, and gratefulness leads back to mindfulness. I try to apply this to all my daily activities. When its meal time, for example, i try to be aware of the whole process before, during and after the meal. If i was engaged in some activity just prior to eating, i will try to notice how i end that activity, what i do just before i sit at the table, like do i remember to wash my hands, do i remember how the water flows out of the tap, from where the source of this water is found, its temperature, how it felt on the skin of my hands, then turning off the tap, drying the hands, the sensation of the hand-towel against the palm, the fingers, and so on. When i sit down for the meal, i will notice why the body gets hungry; when i look at the food, i give thanks, not only for the food, but for how the food has made its way to where it is, and so on. This process is repeated over the course of the whole meal, and after as well. If i was not in any hurry to do anything, i would then spend maybe a couple of minutes to retrace the whole process in my mind, from the point where i started being mindful that it was almost time to drop what i was doing and get set for a meal, paying attention to as many sensations as i can recall. I would apply this same mindful awareness to other areas of life too. Anyway this is just one small example of training in mindful awareness. Same can be translated into almost all other activities. Hope this will help.

Astounding n intriguing... dont know what else to say really. Noticed his eyes.Probably does not have the need to blink as well. Sadhu.

just add hot water and give it a little stir instant sense pleasures...

Nice job Michael! Fully agree that gardening is such a 'tao' indulgence, and the payback is so worth the effort. When i was 10 yrs old i started planting my own veg, like sweetcorn, pumpkins, snake beans, okra, spinach, cucumber and a few other varieties, and also fruit trees like lime, mangos, and passion fruit. My mom totally inspired me to get all that going. It was super, always enough for the family and surplus to barter with the neighbors too. The equatorial conditions then was perfect. Somehow left that all behind as i got older... too many new and exciting distractions i guess. But amazingly, this spring i am rekindling this wonderful hobby, and its really a joy you know? Watching things grow, and tending to that growth is such an absorbing past-time, and totally karma yoga-like. Brings back such fond memories... Your post is great timing actually. Thanks a mil!

don't know what it is In Japan everybody delight in noodles... (there's a clue for you A7.. )

I think meditating on impermanence takes a slight precedence over going to the gym. Puts one on guard in the truth that death can happen at any moment. In the local news last week: 50year old teacher was out for her routine evening power walking. A truck drove past her, accidentally hitting and severing an outgrown tree branch, which then fell and hit the poor woman. She died 3 days later from her injuries. Pretty sure there are many more similar incidents that we have all heard about, alas they have yet to bring us any closer to the realization that clinging to this body can be a source of much agony and distress.

and fine Kyushu memories of roaming streets searching for ramen...

Its a pity that GIH has been ostracized temporarily. I for one enjoy his insights and the ways his mind works. Not that he is right all the time, but thats besides the point. What i admire is his willingness to engage, which is obvious - and its clear he puts his soul into his debates most of the time, and because of this, he enables that part of him to express itself freely, which i think is wonderful, and creative, to say the least. At the beginning of my participation in this forum i thought he was the most arrogant and narcissistic individual here but after engaging with him on one or two occasions, and his posts having forced me to learn about my own prejudices and to quickly put them aside, i have noticed underlying all that is a good heart, which is a common quality found in many of the Bums here, and it is from this same quality that i believe we are all the same, all connected, sharing the common goal of bringing ourselves first, and then others, to 'the other shore'. I hope to see GIH back soon. My humble testimony to a friend i have not 'seen', but 'felt'.

a wild west garden with tumbleweeds rollin' east destined for Honshu...

when you get it right high defines low, so be it that Man shall be chained...

Yes.. Thanks Mark, that would be helpful indeed! But all's well cos the 'old hands' are all pretty swell! mmmmm, so good, so bad! buttered, them croissants, yummy fresh, soft and tasty...

How about: goin' to be raining but man who cuts cheese burnt eyes vintage Cheech and Chong. ... vintage Cheech and Chong informed of Flying Phoenix delicious Tao buns... (here's me quietly slotting in the 'but' - hopefully goes unnoticed! Could have sworn i counted 7 earlier hehe...)

An excerpt from the book "The Tao of Gardening" by Pamela Metz: Weeds may be seen as beautiful and flowers may not be attractive. Some people see growing things as desirable while others may see growing the same things as undesirable.. Good and bad are necessary parts of the whole. In a garden, all are a part of life. Weeds become flowers, flowers were once weeds. The Master Gardener therefore works with all things. She learns to do nothing when nothing is to be done. It may be her garden but she understands that it is larger than herself. (Chapter 2 - Paradox and Weeds)

Great topic. Would love to see more contributions! For now, here's a thought: The outer are the teachings, and inner is the Teacher. When listened to, the teachings become bearably soft and harmonious, even welcomed; when ignored, the teachings become a pain in the back, a real struggle, and much aggravated aversions arise.

this life friends, this life eat all the baked beans you can fart till kingdom come... :lol:

From a philosophical standpoint: Before the existence of Mrs. Jones' manicured garden and lawn, there were weeds. Perhaps a day will come when the earth becomes parched and barren... then one day, someone discovers little weeds growing in a tiny crack on the pavement of 5th Avenue - wait for the jubilation at the sight of that!!

lentil is the night boogie till the break of dawn Frankie goes downtown...

Hey Forest, I am just wondering if there is room to consider the view of one as possessing outer and inner nature, outer being that which has been accumulated/indoctrinated, and inner is that which is beyond all dualistic distinctions and cannot be convened without first moving out to the external aspect of self? The outer nature is subject to all the natural laws of existence/change, whereas the inner nature is perpetually changeless, centered, and transcends all known natural laws? Instead of gaining immortality, perhaps it could viewed from the perspective of gradually dissolving the limits of mortality thru adopting/practicing the various authentic spiritual paths? Just a very basic premise to consider.

..watch out its a trap each morn i pray that all beans be free from sorrow... (beans = beings -- same difference, for all are interdependently caused and effected, imo)

Hello S Curve, Sorry to hear about your current experience, which i hope you will be able to transcend in due course. You appear to have a fair grip on things happening in and around you, which i can see as a great way to be. It would be interesting to learn more of your association with kundalini, for eg, how you came to be initiated and thru which mode, whether it was directly transmitted person-to-person or by some other means? There seem to be insufficient awareness surrounding the potential dangers and pitfalls of a laissez-faire approach towards invoking the serpent (K), hence the request. Many whom i have met seem to disregard the fact that submersion in K requires enormous amounts of devotion, dedication and Discipline, so it would be wonderful if you will share some of your 'past notes' with us. Unfortunately there are many who seem to promote the activation of K as if its the gateway to paradise, and then these promoters also say that the nature of K is so vast, so malleable, therefore structure and system ought to be of secondary concern. Just do what one feels is right, they say... which i find hard to buy, maybe becos i am old school, or have been cultured differently. What are your thoughts in general? Thanks SC.

I am pretty sure this is quite an inaccurate assessment. Vile crimes are quite rampant in Europe and organized crime is major in SE Asia. People smuggling, child labor, illegal gambling, prostitution, drugs, gun crimes, hi tech piracy, pornography, money laundering... Asia (think Triads/Yakuzas) produces some of the smartest/craziest criminals in the world, with crime lords creating global networks so sophisticated, powerful and cancerous that it is now impossible to eradicate the problem. They have ironically become "The Untouchables" (used to be the cops that once prided themselves with this label?).

barely lasts five years the wonders of modern tech watch out its a trap...