Samuel

I have to agree with adrius on this one. Daily decrease, ladies and gentlemen, not daily increase. I do, however worry about the OP. How does this benefit you? Suppose that we are all wrong, would it make that much of a difference to your life? Would it make you happy? Give you a floaty feeling? On the other hand, if you didn't pay any mind to it, you could have done something else instead of research. Maybe have a cup of tea? Or a picnic, something nice outside? Maybe a little non-contention? Would a made me happy, I hate researching for assignments.

Shoots know spring, and grow, Taller, bigger, under care, Nurture weeds and blooms! (It's only dangerous to rhyme, if it happens all the time, If it makes you feel good, continue you should, but if it worries you so, to a doctors (or similar), you should go! )

Hi Strawdog! Haven't been here in a while! Crumble to the floor, Drop the constructed image, Let the green shoots show.

Not much left to see, 'Cept dusty cob-webbed boxes, Time for a clear out!

Thirded. I did Aikido for two years before going to uni. Not a lot of energy work did come up, but when it did, it was similar to how you described, concentrating on the "centre" a point below your navel to make yourself more difficult to throw or to be aware of your centre of gravity. One demonstration was two people lifting a third. Easy when the liftee wasn't concentrating, but difficult when he or she was. Sounds like what you were talking about, or similar anyway. You should keep it up anyway, it's certainly something I miss! Happy throwing!

From my point of view, my generation is just as bad, or even worse. I'm currently in uni, meant to be a melting pot of cultures. I know very few people who don't scorn spirituality outright and even fewer who actively follow some sort of path. Recently the buddhist meditation classes in the uni stopped because no one was going. It's just the way things are, no one wants to consider the way they live their lives, they only want to consume things. If it can't entertain them, they don't want to know. At least at some point it'll reach its peak and we'll get onto the next part of the cycle. I think.

Though we stand, timeless, We sit, wary of the time, Something needs doing,

I think I understand what you're asking. Using art as an example, if someone in love produces love songs, someone melancholic produces solemn songs and someone who is jovial produces songs that are joyful, what songs would someone who has returned to the tao produce? What kind of writing or paintings or poems would them make? Is that what you're asking, but also with respect to wider inspiration as well, not just art. If it is, then I don't know, amusingly. As for my understanding of art, I think what you're saying about it evoking emotions sums it up for me. Something that attracts me, that tugs on something inside is art to me. I could stare for hours at butterfly's wings, some kungfu forms, photographs of some people, or places, some paintings entrance me and I have a monolithic library of music that is full of bits of this and bits of that, because I only take the bits I like and leave the bits I don't. But then that makes what "art" is, highly relative to each person. Since everyone will be attracted by something different, it's as relative as beauty. That's my two pennies anyway, I don't know what the Tao thinks of art. Probably doesn't.

Last, low hanging fruit Almost ready to drop down, Old tree's passing gift.

lives are on the line! Who put them there? Are they wet? Are they hung with pegs?

Bah! Little Bo-peep! Never was a shepherdess, Sheep saw pink and ran!

Moon Buggy relay Across the grey cratered ground, Spacemen like fun too!

Hello folks I've wanted to start meditating properly for a while now, but I don't really know where to begin. I've flitted about the net and found the Inner Smile, which I practise intermittently, but other than that, I'm not doing anything. I've also searched meditation on here too, but that just confused me with the amount of things that turned up. I've looked for classes but there are none in my area or they're buddhist rather than taoist (there seems to be no taoists where I live). I've also thought about getting a book, but I don't quite know where to go in that direction either, (maybe Secret of the Golden flower? I've heard that one mentioned over and over). I've got a vague idea what's what (and I mean, vague), but I don't quite know where to start! Can someone please suggest some methods of sitting meditation for emptying the mind and some basic beginners meditations or exercises for cultivating chi. Any book suggestions? Is a teacher necessary for either? Does it matter if the emptying the mind meditations are buddhist rather than taoist, (i'd prefer taoist, since that's what I follow, but that might just be me being preferential rather than practical, i'll give anything a go at least once, really). There seems to be so much stuff out there! Someone help! Please!

Great, in that case, I think it will become a regular thing, I'll check out those other links too, thank you =] I realise I'll need to pick one and stick to it, I just meant testing things out in the beginning. I realise it's not gonna be an overnight thing. More excuses to be outside! Fantastic! Thanks for all the replies guys =D

Thank you for all your replies folks! Very helpful stuff. I had a scoot about and decided to try the Inner light meditation from this website here: http://www.meditationcenter.com/ (can't remember where I got the link, probably off here somewhere). I did it for about 5-10 (somewhere in between me thinks), before I started getting a pressured, tingly, vibrating sensation in my forehead, between my eyes and up a bit, (the third eye area? I think? waaah i wish i knew what I was talking about! >.<), like someone was pressing there with their thumb and wiggling/vibrating it. Is that a good thing? A bad thing? Could it be from tension in my forehead? I can't find anything about it on the site and the other forums I've read in my quick search say varying things. Any ideas? If it is something bad/negative or whatever, is there something I can do to stop it, I like the meditation particularly, something was particularly enjoyable about it, rather than other ones I've tried this week on breathing. Thanks you very big, Sam

Chinaman's sharp hat, Keeps the rainy thoughts outside, Smiling face inside!

A spy has loved me, Or did she? There one minute, Gone the next, oh well.

Sunrise on fresh snow, Change is as good as the rest, Nothing lasts for ever

I'd shrink into zilch, If I only ate thin air, Shrink, I don't exist!

Motivation for meditation: My monkey mind is particularly potent. Only twice, (and both due to listening to two songs repeatedly), I've only ever experienced even a vague stillness in my mind, (and I'm not even sure that was still, just concentrated, maybe). I think constantly. From the second I fall asleep to the second I wake up, I'm always turning something over in my head. I think my mind probably deserves a rest, and that meditation is the thing to do that. I don't really know, but I'm only 19! How much stuff could I have repressed? Plus as of so far, my life has been gravy, I have to admit. Great, thank you, can't hurt to give it a go. More questions! Are there great differences between culitvation of chi (that the right term?) and meditation? Is it detrimental to practice more than one method of meditation at a time? (I mean on a weekly/daily basis, rather than during each session and mostly because I'd like to experiment with different methods/styles/traditions or what have you). Why do people cultivate chi? Is there a specific benefit or something more general like improved health? I have to confess, up until now, the majority of my Taoism has resolved around the study of the books and attempted implementation of their teaching into my life, (I say attempted, it doesn't always go well). I'd now like to delve into the other side of things or at least learn of them. Thank you all for you answers, they're very helpful and interesting. Much love, folks. Sam

On a pink mushroom, the caterpillar puffs on, Cocoon of smoke haze

Triumphantly light, Floating serene, above the mire, Freed of heavy thoughts

Thank you for the continued replies, it's most helpful =]

Right! Just checking since I couldn't make "Secret golden flower thingy" fit TICHTC or whatever it was. I shall certainly check it out =] Do you think it's worth checking out the buddhist meditation classes that are near me? Is there a big difference between Buddhist or Taoist meditation or are they both trying to achieve the same thing? From what I've looked at, they seem to be.

I am indeed! I've never heard of it before, I shall Google it, thank you. I'll bear that in mind, Pilot. What's TICHTC?