Cat Pillar

Neat article, thanks for posting! For those wanting a summary, it's an article about how western science is finally able to put some definitions on how acupuncture works, paving the way for greater acceptance and use of the practice in western medicine. Also points to some fascinating evidence of a light body.

I'm ready anytime Yama is. Why fear the inevitable? What comes after death (if anything) will come whether I fear it or not. Better to treat death as a friend rather than an enemy.

Interesting...I get the gist of the story, but having a mouse run over me I think would be more startling than fear-inducing. If I woke up to a diamondback rattlesnake on my chest I might have to change the sheets (provided I survive the surprise, of course.) I may have to try meditating on death some time. At this point in my journey, death isn't really something that bothers me, at least not on a conscious level. Or perhaps I should say, it's not really death itself I fear...I fear a painful death. Getting horribly mangled in a wreck and suffering for hours while I slowly bleed out...that's the kind of thing that bothers me. Death itself is kind of exciting...it's the great mystery! I hope I'm awake and conscious for my death, so I can really get to experience it fully. Dying in my sleep might be peaceful, but I think it would rob me of a potentially awesome experience. As much as I care for my friends and family...I really hope I can be present enough to look forward during death, rather than behind.

I remember reading about a meditation where one walks about envisioning everyone around them as corpses, meant for the same sort of purpose. Still, something about the use of the images bothers me. I'm sure the families of the dead would really appreciate photos of the remains of their loved ones being used in such a way. Seems very disrespectful to me. Not that it really matters.

Are you trying to prove some kind of point, tulku? Could've found a better method than disrespecting the dead.

I never found Pamela Anderson hot. Milla Jovovich on the other hand could probably make me walk on all fours and bark like a dog. Leeloo Dallas Multipass.

It's a quote from a movie that recently came out. Meh, it's not real immortality unless it's Highlander-style. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!

Is it really so bad to seek power? When it comes down to it, I've realized that's really what I want. I tell myself this is bad though, because there are so many warnings about not following paths for the purpose of obtaining power. It's not like I want to hurt anyone or anything. I just really like the idea of playing with massive amounts of energy.

I don't see what the big deal is. We should have a cup of tea. And then maybe go for a walk in the woods. The world ends, the world doesn't end...tea still tastes good.

Classic.

One of my favorite songs from the movie/soundtrack.

It's from Jesus Christ Super Star, the movie version. I actually love this movie...if only that's how it had all gone down, lol. Judas had the most amazing voice.

Yeah, I was amazed to find how similar horse stance and gan sao in Wing Chun are to Qigong postures/movements.

I started watching that awhile ago but only got a couple of episodes into it...is it worth continuing?

I've been avoiding the side interchange on this thread, but wanted to comment on this. I do not believe cultivation of power leads directly to conflict, as power is neutral and has many applications - healing is probably one of the best examples for positive use of power.

Poetic. I'm still not sure how I feel about advice like this, or perhaps more accurately I don't fully understand the nuances. I don't feel that personal stature is my primary motivating force, but I don't think I could rid myself of the desire for growth and still maintain a spiritual practice. ----------------------------------------- Fair enough; certainly a reasonable position. I can definitely understand the mistrust of the subconscious.

Ahh, I see what you mean. Controlling, or forcing events is not something I'd want to do, but attracting events is something I'm interested in.

"I spent twenty years meditating and all I got was this damn t-shirt!"

Thirded. If you're talking elemental, Bardon is the way to go.

I hope you're wrong too, Encephalon. But I think you have a pretty realistic assessment of things.

I'll do it. From the site: "Sifu Justin Sang is welcomed back to the Budokan. Sifu Justin is continuing his family tradition under his father's tutelage, Dr. Stanley Ngui. Sifu Justin brings not only his traditional heritage but a new and modern intiative for the future of Qigong." Justin Sang is thus likely also Justin Ngui, since Ngui is his father's surname. Also...hello Justin. Welcome to the site!

Agreed. The Secret completely ignores personal responsibility.

Thanks for your responses, everyone. Mastery of myself is one of many forms of power I'm interested in. I'd gladly share power with my environment - helping makes me happy. -------------------------------- I believe my intent is good; I do my best to cause no harm to others, even if it harms myself. -------------------------------- I like sharing my excess. It's no fun having abundance if you can't spread it around. I'd like to have a lot more to spread, though. Manipulating others is not something I'm interested in. That's not the kind of power I'm after. I DO desire the power to effect changes in my environment, but not for the purposes of controlling others. I'd much rather work in mutually beneficial partnerships than master/slave relationships. You get better results that way. --------------------------------- My current view is that the power to destroy and the power to create are essentially the same thing; the difference is in how power is wielded. It seems that destruction is not always a negative thing; my view is that in this world sometimes destruction can pave the way to an explosion of growth. Having the wisdom to know when that applies is the tricky part. --------------------------------- Power over myself is one form of power I seek, but there are others I'm interested in as well. Controlling others is not an interest of mine; I'm not quite sure what you mean by power over life itself, though. If you're talking about killing, everyone has that power already. --------------------------------- It is not my view that power guarantees corruption. In my perspective corruption has more to do with the character of the person than how much power they wield; the acquisition of power merely amplifies corruption already present in the individual's makeup. I don't have an answer for your question. I don't know what you have when you remove the ego's motivations for "power." I think "power" would need to be more clearly defined in this context. -------------------------------- I like you, Sinfest. Always enjoy reading your posts, although I still haven't figured out how to read you. You bring up a very interesting point. Very glad you mentioned it. I do indeed imply to myself that I am not powerful enough, because that is my perspective. It is difficult to say to myself "Why am I so powerful?" when that power is not evident in my life. "The proof is in the pudding" they say, and my pudding does not taste very powerful to me. Is that an offer to help me get powerful at the top there? -------------------------------- My intent is certainly for individual and universal wellbeing. I would not like to grow powerful to the detriment of my environment. I know what kind of life I'd like to live. I just don't know if I can pull it off. -------------------------------- I don't know anything. The best I can do is go off what I feel is the closest to right. It is difficult for me to be content - I fear contentment would lead to stagnation. I'm interested in growing, not remaining the same. It seems to me that if I were happy as I am, I'd have no reason to put any effort into growing.

If he had just properly researched the safety aspect beforehand it never woulda happened. It's too bad those people had to pay for his arrogance.