RiverSnake

Howdy, we got a couple pother practitioners form Australia on here. Welcome to the forum. My 2 cents, Peace

Welcome to TTB. I look forward to reading your contribuitions My 2 cents, Peace

Some useful threads on the topic: http://thetaobums.com/topic/26533-great-spiritual-physical-mental-benefits-from-semen-retention-celibacy-and-mental-emptiness-my-experience-and-thoughts/ http://thetaobums.com/topic/22912-semen-retention-100-days-and-my-experiences/ My 2 cents, Peace

Practicing Qi Gong and Meditation is a good way to practice Taoism. My 2 cents, Peace

I recently casually took some "grass" and had some interesting experiences, but i think I only had those experiences because I have been practicing internal work for a moderate time. Also what I experienced was not permanent, as soon a I came down from the high everything dissipated. I felt energetically heavy for the next few days and did not practice normal cultivation for those days. http://my-path-notes.blogspot.com/2013/10/drug-notes.html By the time I finished I concluded that it wasn't good for my practice in the short term or the long term, though it did give some interesting insights into the energy body and resulted in some intense bliss. However, if I was ever offered the opportunity to do more intense types of substances (ayahuasca, DMT) this is the thought process I would go through. 1. Listen to my intuition and ask my guides for advice 2. Do divination to see the results 3. Make sure the individual whom is handling the substance is a professional in that capacity. (Shaman, Priest....etc) 4. Understand the intent behind the ceremony. Is this being done for fun kicks or is it for deeper spiritual insight and healing? IMO, casual taking of these kinds of substances is not intelligent at all. As others have mentioned, anything outside of a ritually sacred and medicinal context is risky. My 2 cents, Peace

Never tell a girl about this.....never, nothing beneficial will come from this, if you need someone to talk to share it with a close friend or a psychotherapist. These kinds of emotional and psychological wounds can run pretty deep and can take awhile to dig out and dissolve. I assume your young like me....early 20s and have your whole life ahead of you and lots of time on your hands? I can make several recommendations. 1. Practice Internal Work, this will be very beneficial in the long term...ie.....years. 2. Get a copy of Magical Pathworking....working with the subconscious mind to get over wounds like this is very powerful and this book teaches you how to do so, chapters 1-4 are especially important. 3. Find a good psychotherapist to talk to. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738704075/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_img_sol_0 My 2 cents, Peace

Awareness on the LDT. Tongue to the roof of the mouth. Turn of the monkey. My 2 cents, Peace

I found this excerpt on a blog regarding Silat and felt it was an important point that should be shared: "In mysticism there is a belief that you tend to attract that which your resonate with internally. So its best to resonate with things that keep you out of trouble and keep you in balance. The more you train to fight and defend yourself the more you should also study how to heal and be a better person." Santiago Dobles My 2 cents, Peace

Thanks for commenting Ish. I thought it might be a common experience, as it didn't take much to trigger it. My 2 cents, Peace

Recently had some experiences with Bliss that perhaps some experienced practitioners can shed some light on. I was sitting in meditation on my LDT. I remembered other techniques where people meditate on the LDT they squeeze there PC muscle for some reason. I squeezed my PC a couple of times and felt chi shoot up my spine into my brain. After doing it a couple times i felt a "foggy bliss" in my brain that was moderately intense, it lasted for several hours. It was quite pleasant but also a bit discomforting…i have not done it since because of the discomfort and i thought it unlikely to be good for practice in the long term. I have had other experiences where i was in Bliss for a couple days….but the states seemed lighter and less intense than this one. Could anyone here (Hundun, Seth…etc) share there thoughts on this experience? My 2 cents, Peace

Glad to hear you doing well bax. Wish you the best. My 2 cents, Peace

I think as we grow in are practice, the body and intuition naturally tends to pick up on stuff, kind of like how martial artists can sense killing intent. Nothing you can really specifically talk about in any objective way. A cool video on the topic, anyway who has read Path-Notes knows what this is : My 2 cents, Peace

I disagree. IME with writing there is also an exchange of energy. The energy and intent is possibly more important than the symbols/vehicles for the transmission…..but i can't say that for sure. IME, are instincts respond to intent. If a stranger is friendly or has ill will towards you…..you body will naturally respond accordingly. But perhaps i am getting nit-picky here. My 2 cents, Peace

Just because your not in a direct 1 on 1 dialogue with said person doesn't mean your not influencing each other. You can still post your thoughts and experiences for which everyone is able to read and be uplifted by……including Trolls….after-all this is an open forum….whether said individuals are receptive is a choice that is up to them. In regards to individuals whom are completely closed, we can only continue self-cultivation so that our own individual lights grow brighter and brighter. Cultivating oneself is the most powerful way to shift the world and people around us (in the longterm) and make it a better place. People just don't give it credit because its subtle influence. One of my favorite quotes from the good book. Mat 5:15: "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the TaoBums" My 2 cents, Peace

Welcome to TTB. May you find all the gems of wisdom you require. My 2 cents, Peace

This post will follow in the spirit of my last one in raising awareness on how to deal with trolls. For clarification purposes this how i understand the word Troll. A troll someone whom is mentally rigid, emotionally immature, and is not open to any conversation outside of their psychological make-up. They only know how to respond with anger (rather than self-reflection) when there perspective is challenged. Its also someone whom feeds off attention and energy (consciously or unconsciously) that is given in order to continue divisive dialogue. The following is a list of some of the most basic ways that i have seen Trolls responded to and what i think are the most effective methods of dealing with such a situation. Example 1 Troll: (He/She says something negative, personal and patronizing regarding whatever topic is discussed) TaoBum: (Member becomes emotionally unbalanced and starts to discuss the topic in a very aggravated and annoyed way, thus starting a flame war) Example 2 Troll: (Once again says something personally offensive and divisive) TaoBum: (Continues to discuss topic with said troll in a level headed manner….but eventually gives up as the dialogue just goes in unproductive circles and is quite emotionally and psychological draining) Example 3 Troll: (Writes something divisive and offensive) TaoBum: (Looks at the post, sees and understands person as well as the intent behind the post, tells the Troll "Thank you for your contribution" and walks off to other threads completely detached without a 2nd thought.) IME examples 2 and 3 are the most skillful and cunning ways of approaching said situation. Example 2 as a technique can have great merit when you are dealing with individuals whom are slightly intellectually open and not overly rigid. IMO it is ones duty as a practitioner to assist others with sharing thoughts and experiences that will help uplift others. But this only works if the said individual is slightly open. However, if said individual is 100% Troll and compares to what one might call a fundamentalist in his ways of thinking….then Example 3 is the most cunning solution as there i no point in depleting oneself emotionally and intellectually in unproductive dialogue. I have found that you can usually sense the intent behind posts and tell whether said person is open at all. In that case of open-ness it is really a joy to discuss and engage such individual and both people can mutually benefit from said discussion. How do you deal with trolls on a practical level? My 2 cents, Peace

"K" knows what it's doing....we don't. My 2 cents, Peace

In continuation of the topic of this thread I'd share what I feel is another important point of having a thread like this. The point is to be having an active conversation about trolls so that we are all aware of the dynamics that can go on in an Internet discussion forum. If we are aware that there are people whom intentionally insult others, mudsling, and play the my teacher is superior to yours game....then we can be psychologically and emotionally ready to handle a written confrontation when it occurs....or simply have the foresight to stay clear and report it before we become emotionally involved in the situation. It's kind of like martial arts, you train to fight and to kill another person.....if necessary. Though a mature martial artist never goes looking for fights, because as he masters his art he also masters him self and knows that is rare that a physical confrontation cannot be diffused with other methods (talking, persuasion, negotiation, understanding....etc). Martial artists whom have really put the time in and grown in there field are usually some of the nicest and kindest people. This is because they know how fragile life is and how easy it is to take. Therefore they value it infinitely more than others....at least that has been my experience. Thus when we talk about trolling, when we understand trolling, when we train in mental and emotional control....then we see trolling for what it is.....and thus it no longer effects us. IMO, it is an unintelligent approach to only address these situations when they are occurring and were all soaked up in the drama, we must be aware off ourselves and of the many social dynamics on the Internet that uplift and also drag us down. It is also important to continue conversing about such things so others who are unaware become so. Will make more posts on this into the future. My 2 cents, Peace

There no rush. Welcome to TTB. My 2 cents, Peace

Welcome to TTB. Cool pic. My 2 cents, Peace

Welcome to TTB. I look forward to your contributions. I see your interested In healing? Have you ever considered Medical Chi Kung? My 2 cents, Peace

Josephine McCarthy has just released a free downloadable book entitled: "The Magicians Health". I am a big fan of her books and look forward to digging deep into this one. http://www.theinnerlibrary.org/the-magicians-health-survival-guide.html My 2 cents, Peace

Just took a shower tonight and used Sandalwood soap. I always come out of the shower feeling so much lighter. Regularly cleansing is highly encouraged. Even with daily energetic practice .....sometimes is still not enough.....cleansing with physical materials (incense, soap....etc) is still highly beneficial. My 2 cents, Peace

While Ideally I think this would be a good idea....I think too many egos were getting attached to giving out advice on Kundalini.....which is all the craze nowadays.,,,,this could be very dangerous for individuals undergoing the process and the forum as whole. My 2 cents, Peace

I got to say I was very impressed with this video. My black belt test in Tae KwonDo was easy as pie in comparison: My 2 cents, Peace