suninmyeyes

I agree with Jetsun , but would say that it also posible to have a teacher from a different culture - if that person is truly open: mentally and spiritually and with deep wisdom. Which is very rare anywhere in the world. As to East and West and ability to (mis)understand each other. I think open mind and sincere desire to harmonise ourselves more as citisens of the earth and this universe is necessary on both sides and this will enable us to learn about each other deeply enough to understand each others ways and coexist in Wisdom. This is valid for individual as well as national level. As cultural differences are real and can be an obstacle and a source of much misunderstanding. If we try and harmonise there is bound to be fusions and new ways of adopting mentally, spiritually , emotionally and physically might have to be found. As well as relying on the different sets of tools than what has previously proven to work wonders . This is actually already happening. What dwai said in one of the responses about rebranded shit, well nothing wrong with that either .It has its place and may have a potentional to reach out and help someone to make sense out of their life. It is natural development of things, nothing lasts forever , not even traditional teachings and knowledge. It is all changing. However wisdom is different.

good stuff, good for my blood circulation ... more dancing you take drugs to psyche your mind 'You take wine, to forget about time you create a world of your own where the truth, will never be known'

Total mutual harmony - my answer is no. That implies that all deisres would be gone and how would the human race continue? More pleasant and harmonious enviroment - absolutley yes . If the world is to go on there should always be some opposing forces in play, even if they are very subtle. That is the way life is. Or shall I say more correctly, that is how I understood it so far.

Interesting post Steve. Ah, I was going to something , but it is just not coming out right. My mind got lost when thinking of connection between human and Earth and universe and just life manifesting.

Spo who is your master than Sir Yuri? Anything about him on the internet?

Free bagua classes, they are asking for commitment though . Yearly workshops are charged for. Reccomended to me by a friend who has a friend attending the classes. haha. Never tried it myself or explored the lineage , so cant testify personally. Bagua is meant to be very wholesome system, before starting with taiji I was toying with the idea of trying bagua out. http://www.bagua-zhang.info/martial-arts-classes Classes of that style run all over the world: http://www.yinstylebaguazhang.com/local_yinstyle_groups.html

London Free School Confronting hierachy and inequality in education Reclaiming knowledge and self reliance http://londonfreeschool.wordpress.com/2011/10/ Check out the site , free courses in tai chi, yoga , even counselling (I think I even know a person who offers it),sewing and loads more. Contact the people via email. As well as http://www.56a.org.uk/ A lot of stuff going on ,also free cinema.Years ago I used hang out with people involved in different projects there or just volounteering. They used to have something called anarchist writers workshop or something . It was very cool , another friend who was only 19 at the time used to attend and really enjoy it. Super creative and well run. Get involved, youll feel welcomed. Maybe you can ask there or get some people involved into expirimenting with making short films that you have mentioned. They are easy and fun to make even without a budget. Do you do any practises like qigong or meditation or martial arts or similar regulary? If not I would suggest taking on a practise and sticking to it . Much can be resolved and understood through continous practise as well.

I was gonna say the same . I must also add that I am on optimistical side too and enjoy feeling well. What preceeds thoughts? lerner said: 'If people think happy thoughts by themselves will materialize things, then to me its new age crap. Happy anecdotes are used to sell books, but in reality they can easily be countered with countless examples to the contrary. ' Why do you connect New Age with crap ? It may be helpful to some people. Dont draw inspiration from it personally, but it is just another path. I do generally agree with you on acting as oppose just thinking . Embodying conscious ideas and acting apropriately to the situation that is occuring proves to be the best guide. Funnily enough what you say about acting if one wants to cook the rice, well it is not always necessary the case... I used to be on yogic path for many years. I stayed with my teacher one time and it was lunch time and a big group of people is meant to arrive tierd and hungry for food , but food is nowhere near ready due to quantities (liters and liters of vegetable curry) and time. What happened next defies conventional logic. He sat infront of the pot unmovingly still for about 15 minutes and all of the food was cooked on time.(he dosent usually do this type of things easily if ever, there would need to be a good reason to prompt that action) Main techings that he teaches is connection between mind and breath through yogic predominantley mind/breath practises. It may sound untrue and imposible, up to whoever reads this to decide. To me it is just a deeper understanding of realtionship between mind, body , enviroment, elements .

I have enjoyed reading your post SirYuri. Sounds like you had a transformetive expirience. You are so right to say how we influence each other and get different type of motivations due to thought field. Learning to say no when necessary is important. The power of thoughts is incredible , it could cause wars and destruction or it could nourish and heal. Physical world is in a way materialisation of the thoughts. As you say it is important to be aware and pick and choose what to think whilst having harmony as a driving force. It is important to be aware of ones own driving force , this can be tricky issue and easily misinterpeted due to habits and memories which includes memories and habits of society and the country one is in and continent and the earth and solar system and so on. For example anger in all its colures and different clothes is such dominant mood this days ,and it is a strong fire that burns and spreads super easy. It has tremendeous power to affect immediate enviroment and spread through them very fast further. In my dealings with anger and learning to relate to fire I have noticed that I actually enjoyed it , something in me was gaining satisfaction, it was that 'yes!',invisable but very much felt nod . Until fire started to burn me too much and I had to learn to choose what to eat,what is most harmonious , balanced . I am implying to 'eating' on mental/emotional/energetic level, a type of eating that has had very little attention payed to in our society. As yogis say that we are not only eating through our mouth/belly ,but with the sight, with smell, with the touch and sound. This does not imply avoidance of any sort , but learning to choose . And also learning to say : 'No thanks , I am just not going succumb and be an asshole and spread toxins . Fire , no fuel for you here.' if that is what situation requires. Or take it with the clear mind and use as a tool.

How interesting , I didnt even know that that practise has a name. That is what I do as main practise during the day at work(not that I am an experet or something). It brings much understanding about relating to enviroment (and elemnts on a deeper level) as my larger being.

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Hello Steve , can I offer some sort of answer anyway? It is an interesting pondering material I just cannot resist right now. Anyway I am glad you are not here to respond immediatly, so I will take that as yes:D. Where is it not that conscioussnes resides? Does it arise or ? Could it appear to arise through the dynamic between a perception (individuality)and what is ? What is what is? Do all questions have an answer that can be written? Just remebering what Rumi said in one of his poems, I have lived on the lip of insanity, Wanting to know reasons, Knocking on the door. It opens. Ive been knocking from the inside!

A very interesting book I have read by sufi Hazarat Inayat Khan :'Mysticism of sound and music' Following is just some parts of the book: http://www.sufimessage.com/mysticism-of-sound/index.html

Twinner, Well it is great that you are 'selfish' in that way and would be loveley if more people have that kind of 'selfishness'. I understand where what that person who told that idea you is coming from, but personally I am for being practical. Recgonising what is aprropriate to do and do it. Sometimes it is apropriate to want to help and feel good about it. Armchair emptiness talk just doesent do it for me, not being afraid and this includes not being afraid to feel fantastic and good and being sensitive and aware to whatever is occuring works for me. I know an American couple who went to Georgia teaching English and they had great and interesting experience. You will be all right , dont think it is very risky, just very different (culture difference) . Best, sun

Yeah , I am sure you would be in a better position for belly dancing for real. I for example got the moves literally in the first lesson , purley becouse of the background in internal arts and meditation . My sister used to do Nauli, I always used to ask her to show me her stomach like that haha. Shaking is great. Dancing spontaniously to the music too ,letting the body guide is radical for freeing things and feeling fresh and full of life. So good and it comes so naturally, music just moves the body inviting it for a dance and body knows what to do.

Took up some belly dancing lessons recently. Bellydancing is incerdible good for strengthening the core of the body . Fantastic actually. Deeply reccomended to all the girls out there (and guys if theyd be into it ). It so good. Very smartly designed. Plus we were thought some great streches . It is a fantastic antidote to all that martial arts stuff I regulary do .

Hi Twinner , Sorry to hear of your troubles. It is heartening to see everyones care and help though. I have been living kind of an alternative lifestyle most of my adult life till some years back. Mostly squatting ,living in communities and sometimes nature. Living in nature was less often than Id like too , but it is my long term project to try again and pursue my dream of living in a tree house and see how I feel. So I am quite professional in living and travelling with very little to no money , it is my skill in a way. It is possible, and it is possible to do it with dignity by working for accomodation, exchanging skills and assesing 'your 'priorities . It is easy if this lifestyle is a choice and not a necessity of course. Here are some links taht may be of some inspiration, WOOFING links etc: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:MZ-EEcdB-LYJ:free-wwoof.info/+costa+rica+vegan+farm&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com Here are some ideas in Europe that may be interesting for you or someone who reads this(dont know places in USA).. There are many squatted villages , especially in Spain (now sprouting in Greece and Switszerland too I hear) . They are 'ghost' villages in ruins where people have not lived since fifties or even longer. People get together and renovate them. They accept visitors and after someone proves to be useful and fitting into the community ,they can often stay and build up some sort of dwelling too and stay. Here is one for example: http://thatroundhouse.info/matavenero.htm However this people are smart and sensitive and weary of freeloaders and scavingers. This is their home. Then there is this for example http://falconblanco.com/, the guy sounds a bit wierd but he kindly accepts people to stay for free for long/live there retreats(just search the page , youll find it) if they fit in with the rest of community. There are so many communities that take on people all over the world. Most of retreats and sanghas in Europe have volounteers living and working there. I have lived in sangha too for a while although not Buddhist , but becouse my keen interest in spirituality and liking of Buddhas teachings they took me in . Than in Granada (Spain) there are caves outside of city that are inhabited by people, converted into dwellings, it is like a community. No electricity and such though. Some are parts are full of artists and alike. Some are full of dodgy caracthers. Another interesting link: http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/sustainable_communities.htm http://www.en.argayall.com/work-with-us/ OK this is costs , but its a good opportunity for someone with a bit of cash, worth mentoining in here (a friend of friend volounteered there and had amazing time and said that the deal was very fair) http://www.yogafarmcostarica.org/volunteering.htm I found this , dont know of anyone using them http://www.workaway.info/12634161864b-en.html Just read your post on going to work in Georgia. That sounds great. Proabably very big culture difference to Florida. Good luck.

I am writing a story these days and me and my mate are cocreating an off beat graphic novel/story . I am enjoying it and doing it becouse she suggested it and it sounded like fun , but my heart and mind is mostly in spiritual really so I am being very slow with writing . Got dictaphone now , so that is new fatser way of recording ideas.

Whose illusion?

I think choosing the right teacher, rather than the perfect one is the way to go. Making very exactly sure what a person wants to learn and finding someone with that skill/ability/understanding . For me it is also important to get along well and have a good communication more like a friend as I dont do master and student scenario .Also I would like to ensure that my teacher is mentally and emotionally stable and mature ,as well as having developed skill in desired field . Rise and fall of the teachers is also very real as power can be so seductive ,hard to resist . As real as teacher projections of students being shattered. Brutal honesty is always the best remedy and a good companion. I have heard somwhere that teachers are like wine bottles ,drink the wine and throw away the bottle.

Thanks Tao Meow!

Eating worms! Yuck. Watched most of it, it was fun ,than become little boring. There is a lot of black magic/shamanisam going on in that part of the world,plus people are really into cursing each other very professionally too. It is almost like a national sport.

Guys this is beutiful, you just made my morning. Can we have more poetry please? I am falling in love with life for breakfast.

Hope you get to visit that doctor in Paris, maybe tell us what area you live in and someone may PM with suggestion for a good energy teacher/healer you could work with if you are open to that of course. Otherwise it is good to come here on TTB for a chat if you feel down . Take care and all the best .

No I think he should whine even more ,what is wrong with that? That is also a path, but it is more dissolving ,rather than power path. The only thing is that Everything has to get scared more so that whining becomes very strong and fed up , and that will be like a spiritual 'homeopatic' remedy .