forestofsouls

This is an odd sychronicity--- I was reading allan's old post today on the germinal vesicle. He mentioned it was alluded in the Shurangama Sutra which caught my attention. I don't think it's physical-- but by association I thought of JJ Semple's place where you feel the breath flowing front to back.

Rudy Rucker pointed out in his book The Fourth Dimension that a 2D being would not have any solidity-- they would be a ghost or colored area of space and would pass through one another. Rucker theorized that Flatlanders must therefore have a minute 3D Depth. By analogy, if there is a fourth spatial or fifth dimension, then, we too would have a small fourth dimensional "thickness." For Rucker, this could explain various spiritual/psychic phenomenon.

Does anyone have recommendations for charities? Lately, my family and I have been considering giving a monthly donation. Ideally, we would like to give it to an organization that will put it to the best use. Any suggestions?

Freeform, Your model is not unlike the Buddha's skhandas. The only place I might disagree is the idea of the 0 or Void being a pole. The Void I think underlies ALL things--- from the movement of atoms to the shape of galaxies.

I fear I must disagree with you. No-self follows from impermanence like thunder follows lightening. It is not a mistake, it is a cornerstone of the Buddhist way, indeed, a dharma seal. But to illustrate what I mean, let us consider an example. In Zen, you might say there is no river. Clearly, there is a river--- if you step in it, you get wet. But there is no river as a static, unchanging thing--- the river is dynamic, impermanent, etc. You can never step in the same river twice. So it goes with the mind. Zen practitioners sometimes say that when the mind gets caught, and no longer freely flows, this is ignorance. Yet to even say there is a river separate from the bank in which it flows, the clouds which feed it, the earth's gravity which pulls it, the ocean it empties into, without the solar system and the sun, in fact, without the whole fluid, dynamic universe, this is also a mistake. You could of course say the changing, dynamic, interdependent river is in fact the "true river" or the "no river", this would be the same. So I do not think the Buddha was "using a convoluted set of ideas to avoid acknowledging a Self." I asked Shinzen Young why some people say there is a Self and some say there is No-Self. He said that it was because half the old masters realized enlightenment and said there was a True Self. The other half realized enlightenment and said there was no Self. Same thing, different words.

I think true giving comes from the heart, without conditions. I've been taught that if you give, you should give without expectations. It doesn't matter if the beggar spends the money on food or booze. Our role is to be generous.

Become aware of thoughts, feelings, and sensations with relaxation and bare attention.

Granted. The book becomes so popular that Bums buy them for everyone they know. The demand is high for one sequel, then another, then another.You become so caught up with keeping up with the demand that you no longer cultivate... anything. I wish I had five million dollars, tax and trouble free, to build a nice spiritual center. I would invite all the meditation and chi kung luminaries to teach at low, low cost to the practitioner.

The problem is always out there, in the world, never in here. I don't change myself, the finely crafted ego with well-balanced opinions and filters. No, it is the universe that needs to change to suit me. Right. Exactly the reason people will live their lives as dogs rather than as true men and women. You never look to see the chains around your own neck, it's always the other person. All present company excluded, of course.

Ha ha! You want a habit, try to smoke every hour and a half to two hours for ten years every waking day. Now that's a habit. But look at all the old grandmas who've quit. If you want to quit, do it today. No more talking, planning, etc. Just do it. For two weeks. Unless you like being a slave to an inanimate chemical and live your life on a leash... I sure didn't.

Uhh... Can I join this Club?

I wonder if the person living in a ramshackle slum in India or the child permanently scarred from being tossed in hot bathwater would agree with that assessment.

This is a perfect forum to practice right speech. You get to write, edit, etc. before pressing that post button. I believe that many posts here are not directed at people but at the unseen masses--- which in some cases may be why people seem overly defensive of their teacher/method/way and how it gets presented here. One of the reasons I like the Taobums is because there are so many people out there practicing and posting their experiences.

Sorry, but I will give you a second hand accuount. I had a conversation with a psychic once, a professional. Becuase of my interest in meditation, I asked her for a subjective account at how she "picked" things up. She was one of those that could touch a person or place and pick up messages. She said that her mind would get dark and the images would appear naturally, like thoughts. The way she described it, it was like passive imagination--- the thoughts were not different from other thoughts, but they would relate to the person/object she held. Specifcally, they were mental images, smells, etc of varying degrees of vividness. She also said it was like recalling a memory. She was raised a Baptist and this ability came to her out of the blue one day. Now as a meditator, I know that behind our ordinary thoughts, there is a chain of seemingly unending random thoughts. These thoughts I know from experience lead to dreams. It sounds like this was the same source she was drawing on.

Carson, Right here: I think I misunderstood it--- You seem to now say that not one thing is necessary, not that nothing is necessary. Sorry, I think I tend to overreact when I think I sense "neo-advaita" at work. Sort of like nothing v. No thing! Glad we cleared it up! Carry on!

I would add, as a former smoker: Once you decide to do it, be aware that you will trick, beg, cajole, and lie to yourself to give yourself a reason to engage in that behavior. Set a time: two weeks, and say "no matter what happens for the next two weeks, I will not drink a soda." Stick to it. At the two week point, decide if you want to go a month, then six months, etc.

The only people I've run across that seem to approach anything close to a level of liberation have worked their butts off. I think this sort of "nothing is necessary" approach disempowers individuals from taking responsibilities for their own spiritual growth. I don't think a sage would sit around waiting for the Tao to direct a roast pigeon into their mouth. As Michael (lerner) said in another post: 10,000 hours of sitting IS the short cut.

Shinzen also says that the best approach is intensive practice maintained by daily practice. Santiago makes a good point about quality: personally, my practices improved once I put quality over quantity. There were times when I was sitting several hours a day. Now, I don't have that kind of time, but I really put an effort into the time I have. I have also picked up the technique of stealing moments--- practicing in life. There are so many "dead" moments when you're walking to your car, walking down the hall, getting a drink, going to the bathroom that you could easily plug in some meditation/chi kung time. I find that these micropractices strengthen and maintain my practice far more than I would expect.

Depending on what you mean by psyche, I may not agree with this. The personality is like the surface of a planet. There are peaks and valleys, forests and rivers. But the true stuff is formed deep, deep down inside. People who spend time on psychology will only rearrange the furniture on the surface. In order to get down deep, you need to go to the core. One can make a nice, colorful prison for oneself, but fundamentally, it is still a prison. I agree with what Santiago has said here--- he is confirming many of my secret suspicions. My KAP practice in minimal (@ 1 hour a day, plus stolen time here and there), yet I have had a lot of kriyas, trembling, increased vigor, etc. I have also had many breakthroughs in my mindfulness meditation practice. I would also add that so far, what happens also depends on how much mental concentration/relaxation I can bring to bear. For Santiago--- I wonder, if you want to juice up the practice but the only time left to cut out is sleep, are there any practices for that? Have you been liberated?

I think I learn more by interacting with the goldisheavys of the world than most other folks. I do think that goldisheavy is sincere and coming from a good place. Not everyone is a bright, joyous Santiago ball of energy.

gold, I think it is a fallacy to say that a teacher cannot teach. A teacher can point the way, this is their role. A piano teacher can show you how to play piano. You still need to do the work, but the teacher can show you how. This is not innate. Likewise, a teacher can point you in the right direction regarding the truth of things. In addition, a teacher and a technique can allow you to gradually approach potentially unhinging realizations. If one is firmly rooted, these insights are more liberating that startling. Finally, a teacher is living proof that you can jump into the abyss and survive safe and sane. What we think is "ours" is a fallacy. Do you create your thoughts? Do you create your habits, your predispositions, you propensity?

My lessons (ongoing): All things are impermanent. Accept what is offered. Surrender.

Have you tried tactile imaging? Google Robert Bruce and you're sure to find information on it. Instead of using visual imagery, you use bodily sensation imagery. It is generally much easier for qigong.

Granted. All the people at your party become enamored with your chili. Obsessed. So much, in fact, that all reason and control leaves them, turning them into Chili Zombies. They roam the party, eyes dilated, barely awake, moaning "CHIIILII!! CHIIILIII!" Eventually, when the chili runs out, they turn to human brains. Thanks! I wish for a nice cup of tea.