kathrynwyles

So I've just been having a quick read about chi nei tsang and it sounds really good. I've been suffering from problems with my digestive system and also my neck/shoulder for quite some time now and I'm wondering if this might be a valuable thing to investigate. Does anybody know of any practitioners in Adelaide or Melbourne? How useful is the self-massage technique? Thanks Kat

I don't have on particular resolution for 2008, but I did manage to think of 6 goals I'd like to achieve. 1) Start tai chi classes in February. 2) Devote more time to meditation. 3) Work hard at uni and maintain my distinction average. 4) Have my first ever white Christmas - Scotland or England. 5) Organise and plan a big family reunion (and convince mother that it is a good idea). 6) Sort out my diet issues and get on the right track to becoming healthy again! (I guess this should be higher in the list...) Wishing you all a happy, joyful and fun 2008.

A fascinating interpretation and a most interesting read, thank you. =)

I realise this is not an original thought, however it's something that has being milling around in my brain recently and I decided that I should attempt to express what I was thinking. Within each of us there are billions of living cells, each one made up of a variety of organelles. Each cell and each organelle has a specific purpose that it was made for. At the beginning each cell originates in a similar way and as they mature they differentiate and take on their own role; their reason for living perhaps? Some of these cells have a role in defence. They recognise foreign molecules and attack. Sometimes, but rarely, they attack "self" molecules: they generally only neutralise molecules that they do not recognise as belonging to the individual. Our bodies also consist of a lot of other materials as well - water, protein, fat, minerals and so on... It occurs to me that our planet is simply a massive living organism. All of the individual living organisms - cells - that make up this earth originate from a common source and as they mature, over however long, they differentiate and take on an individual, specific role. A reason for being, whatever it may be. Humans are simply one type of "cell" within the greater body. We all originate from the same place and we are all recognised by the body as "self". None of the living organisms on this planet are recognised as "foreign" in the sense that they do not belong to the self. There are no wars within a person's body. Each of the cells lives and continues alongside the others in harmony. Each "knows" it's place and purpose and simply does it. Some cells live a very short time and others live a lot longer. In the course of one person's life their cells are replaced a multitude of times. Just as everything in the body has it's purpose, everything has it's time. Why then do humans feel the need to conduct wars against other products of the self? Why do humans feel the need to consume other products of the self? We all originate from the same source and we all have the same basic needs, just as each and every cell in our bodies does. Why can we not coexist in harmony alongside the other products of the self that surround us?

Thanks minkus, that's pretty much what I had in mind when I was writing that =)

I collected money from my friends and family and bought a cow for my 21st birthday this year through this Australian charity - http://www.usefulgifts.org/ This caused much hilarity amongst my peers =)

I don't think we're a virus. We evolved on this earth just like all the other organisms. Viruses don't exhibit the same characteristics of life that other organisms do.

OK, so I'm quite new to meditation. I'm struggling a bit to say the least, but that's OK, I realise that I have to persist to get anywhere with it. My problem (if you can call it that) at the moment is that when I meditate I feel seriously off balance. My right side (which is dominant) is much heavier than my left side. It feels quite uncomfortable sometimes, almost like I'm going to topple over. Anybody got any suggestions as why this might be, or how I might be able to change it? Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll give this a go next time I meditate =)

Thanks for your replies. I sit on a meditation stool that was given to me, with my legs tucked underneath and knees on a pillow. I find this much more comfortable than sitting on the floor cross legged or in a chair. As for the actual practice, I'm currently practicing with mantra meditation (internally that is, I get distracted by saying it out loud) and also just concentrating on breathing.

That's a nice way of looking at life =) I might just borrow that and repost it.

Blood cells don't stay in your system for very long, only a few days usually. They're constantly destroyed by the liver and new ones are made by bone marrow, so your body actually has a constant supply of "new" blood.

It's a lovely idea! I hope lots of people get on board and help out.

I'm definitely interested in the Fast-5 diet, since it's my opinion that I eat far too much and far too often. However, the thought of skipping my morning sugar boost (i.e breakfast) sort of freaks me out a bit. I can handle skipping breakfast when I'm at home doing nothing, or at uni studying, but often I'm working at a hospital from early in the morning. I'm usually going non-stop from 7am until lunchtime and I find that I get very very hungry in that time. If I skip breakfast it gets a whole lot worse - headaches, cramps, general cranky-ness etc. I seriously don't think I could survive an entire shift with no food intake.

Sounds fascinating and seems to make sense as well! I'll have to look a bit more into it once my current elimination diet is finished. Thanks.

Water is bad for you. I think I might write that in my human biology exam tomorrow... I wonder how far I'll get with that? Every single cell in our bodies relies on water to function - to move molecules into and out of them; to maintain correct blood concentration (too little water leads to high blood pressure); and to filter urea and other waste from the body into the urine. Water is GOOD for you! =) My only problem with water is that the tap water here tastes like shit... plus we're having a drought, so I might run out of water any minute now. Stupid Murray River.

As a sufferer of food intolerances this sounds like a really interesting theory to me. Where does the idea of body typing come from? And how does blood type fit into dietary needs?

I think a nurse trained in those areas would be in great demand in Australia as well. They would have to get past a number of hurdles, such as public hospitals who have policies against complementary medicine.... But I think the environment is changing slowly as people realise how much eastern medicine has to offer.

Well said. I completely agree with you about western medicine being in its infancy. It's such a shame that so many influential people in the field are so arrogant about their work that they can't see past their own noses and realise that western medicine can only develop further by looking in other directions and taking other perspectives into account. As a nurse, hell even just as a human, my instinct is to do everything in my power to ensure my patient recovers from their ailment as far as is possible, or is cared for in such a way that they pass on in comfort. Surely if incorporating "alternative" medicine into a patient's treatment helps them to recover or maintain comfort, it's a good thing - right? Going a bit off topic I know, sorry....

So long as it involves chocolate....

It's an interesting idea. The body does naturally know what it needs and what it doesn't, but it seems that humans really do have this goal of being master over everything, including our selves. Most people instead of listening to their body's needs will just tell it what they think it needs e.g. by smoking, drinking, taking drug or doing anything to excess. My body knows that there are certain foods that simply do not agree with it, and it has been trying to tell me that for the past few years. Only recently I've actually been taking notice of it and changing things. The effect of actually taking notice of my body and making the changes has been profound, in that I don't feel ill all the time like I used to. Do you think that, along the same lines, Western medicine works with or against the body's natural abilities and needs? As a nursing student I'm beginning to really think about this issue and I'm finding it's quite a deep complex subject. Kat

Thoroughly enjoyed it! Once my exams are over I'll be going to the library to hunt down some of Alan Watts' work.

I just finished reading the article. It was very long, but well worth the effort! Watts speaks so well and makes things seem so easy. The way he explains things just helps it all make a bit more sense. Thanks for posting the link.

I haven't read a huge amount on Taoism, but I am expanding my horizons slowly. What I have read and learned has made a fair bit of sense (as much as the contradictions of tao can) so I'm really hoping to learn a lot more .... but I'm finding it very difficult to find a starting point - who to read to grasp the basic concepts of taoism and the most basic principles of meditation. I feel I need a teacher to help guide me through my learning since I get off track so easily, but unfortunately I don't seem to be able to find anybody in Adelaide to speak to. My biggest issue at the moment is time, or distinct lack thereof. I'm studying nursing at uni and have very little time to think about anything besides studying and sleeping - which is causing much stress in my life. The stress is urging me on to study more about tao to find a balance ... so it's a bit of a vicious cycle. Any suggestions or advice are greatly appreciated =)

Thanks to my very limited knowledge, I've been contemplating the question of sex and Daoism. I've seen in various places the idea that meditation should be used to exercise restraint from any form of sexual expression. My problem with this is the need for human beings to procreate - the requirement for our species to survive. How does meditation and procreation fit together?