KCHooligan

Does anyone know if this site is still an active congregation? I've requested membership a few times now in the past 30 days, yet haven't heard anything back. Even sent a couple email follow-ups to the site host. Just curious, seems like a cool idea.

I notice a lot of talk that is not philosophical in nature, but religious. So I figured I'd poll and see what the community consists of. To clarify the poll, I mean 'immortality' in an individual sense. As in, you (either body, mind, or both) can achieve, or someone can/has achieved, immortality. I ask because this is different from my own concepts and I want to find a place with like-minded individuals. This is not to say I'm right or someone else is wrong, or that I haven't gotten a good deal of sound, depth-filled feedback and discussion from this site already. I have. More just curiousity.

Good point. I want to further my knowledge of Taoism in the vein of a way of life, not a way to extend life. I simply can't apply the lessons I read when they pertain to trying to achieve immortality since that is not my goals/convictions. Finding the Way is important to me, as I've made it a big part of my recovery from drugs. Hopefully noone jumps to assumptions about this poll, as there is nothing malice or inferring a hidden agenda about it.

To clarify, I mean immortality in an individual sense. As in, you (either body, mind, or both) can achieve, or someone can/has achieved, immortality. I ask because this is different from my own concepts and I want to find a place with like-minded individuals. This is not to say I'm right or someone else is wrong, or that I haven't gotten a good deal of sound, depth-filled feedback and discussion from this site already. I have. More just curiousity.

Joao Maguira wrote a great book called "Faster than the speed of light". The central focused pertained to the novel idea that light may be slowing down. In theory then, black holes couldn't create wormholes in the space/time fabric; you'd just be stuck on its cernter point. The fact that we can change our lifetime by simply say, riding in a fast plane, is really cool as well. Sure you'd need some heavy duty atomic clocks in sync at take off to landing to actually be able to notice the difference (few miliseconds, maybe), but you'd be that much younger than had you never taken the plane! But the real topic is ether.

My favorite enlightened music for serene listening is "Godspeed: You Black Emporer!" They provided the soundtrack to the movie "28 Days Later". A group of young Canadian indies that make 20 minute post-modern contemporary classical tracks using eclectic audio sampling of spoken word, ect., to intensify the music. My favorite enlightened live music is currently Gogol Bordello. Only concert that demands everyone dance. You really don't have a choice!

Funny (I-ching, chinese rice paper painting, qigong)... all things I enjoy or want to secondary to my interest in eastern philosophy. Yet, I definitely feel it all depends on where you are coming from. I really desire consistent routine right now. Maybe to the point of tradition. I know desires need to be curbed, but I feel nervous about losing my momentum with my spirituality (track record speaks volumes to this). Without something meaningful and routine to remind me of the basics, I'll stray. Of course, the above mentioned things don't have to be it. Today its weight-lifting and meditation daily. And about to add soccer to my qigong 'to do' list!

Sounds like one of my favorite transient states I would achieve a few years back when I struggled to slow my thoughts (had/have issues sleeping due to this issue). I would picture a sphere (hole) darker than what I saw already (remember- eyes already closed, in a black room). I would then guide it closer and closer, very steadily and slowly, eating up all the lighter black around it, until it engulfed my head. Then start with another appearing dead center, the size of a pin head and heading straight towards me. Best part is I know I succeeded in my exercise for sleep when I could start to physically feel the blackness go by/around my head (losing concious control).

I find anything over 5 minutes for me (I'm VERY new to meditation) requires music (without words as to not stir language-based thoughts). Had my first 20 minute meditation on Friday (new Radiohead album- very few intelligible words- more so melodic expressions, plus easy to tune out the content when compared with the crazy rythm section). Felt real good. Had a sort of lightweight, spinning feeling when I really connected with the melody (HR actually slowed to bpm of song- not sure how). I find stressing over under-achieved aspirations to be a huge problem, so I try to recognize when to be soft on myself. Mediation is definitely in the realm of "not-the-end-of-the-world" kind of stuff. As long as I'm not giving up, I haven't failed.

Hello, welcome! Rather insightful words about Lao Tsu and Daoism. Think I feel very similar about the subject of "the Way".

A local instructer (2nd generation disciple of Yip Man) Randy K. Li teaches wushu wing chun, qigong meditation, and t'ai chi. He outlined his course to me via email stating it was an intense 3 hr. once a week program, where I chose what of the 3 areas to direct my training in (apparently I can cross-train during the 3 hr. block). He also said all levels of pupils and ages train in one group. This is not what I anticipated finding out. Is this a normal practice for gongfu schools? (There's always #gong talk, so I assumed this off-topic post would be palatable)

I'm interested in seeing what others think about this one. Definitely the biggest problem area in my life right now is emotions. What I gather from Tao Te Ching is you experience emotions through a two-part process. First part, you go through the emotion completely, feeling it straight through to its finite conclusion. Doing this allows you to let go of it on the other end. The theory here I guess is to suppress any leaves it in your ego for later. Makes sense. The second part is to conciously detach yourself from the emotion as you have it so as to not impulsively act on it. Sounds easy, real tough in practice. But I've been making headway when trying to apply it. The best way for me to do this is remember that the emotion is part of that artifical 'ego-self', and that the eternal me just feels it through the ego. Sort of 3rd party observer. Works good with emotions not rooted in anger. Anger on the other hand, totally still gets me.

Ask your employer if they provide benefits for smoking sensation aids. A lot of employers do these days, and included with the patch/lozenge/gum is information on support groups (internet and phone) that are part of the purchase. Of course, having studied this from the medical side (I'm a smoker as well), the most success comes from a 'cold-turkey' quit. I know this sounds dumb, but don't quit taking outdoor breaks if your used to smoking outdoors. Your mind is addicted to this as well, yet there's no reason to refrain from giving it these 5 minute nature breaks. Also, carrying a cut straw to suck on will feed the craving for a few minutes until it passes (doesn't take but a few- just happens quite often at first!)

I want to start by saying I've only refreshed myself with the 1st 40 verses. That said, there are some golden rules I've decided to post for discussion. If one finds fault with this list, or feels it lacks anything, pease post. A Sage has compassion (unconditional love and kindness, resorting to contention as a last resort), lives in moderation (simplicity, frugality, and restraint from desires), and practices humility (selfless in action, and acts without competition). Nourishing life (healthy living). Maintaining a calm, clear, and open-mind through emptying oneself of desires and actively practicing detachement from emotions and concepts. Being a profoundly deep thinker (staying mindful of T'ai Chi, and that all dualistic things are in reality opposite manifestations of the same non-dualistic reality). Remaining impartial to the outside world, and detached from one's self (free of ego). This about it?

Hooligan is included in my name to let others know I'm a soccer fan. With an ego GO SPORTING KC!!! Stephen Mitchell's notes on the Tao Te Ching included one of my favorite quotes, that I was reminded of when I read it last night, and sums up all the twisted paths one needs to venture before they know who they are (well, some of us!) "The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom." -William Blake

"Trying is the first step towards failure." -Homer J. Simpson

Upon reviewing my previously written view of this verse (private notes), I realized I basically paraphrased opposed to summarized. So, off the cuff, I believe it means you are your actions. And if your actions reflect Tao, you obtain te. If they reflect someone acting out of virtue (ego-related), you embody those virtues. If your actions create chaos, disharmony, or of dualistic nature, you embody a lost being (lost from the Way). In simplest form, you are your actions. The last line (like many other instances I've been noticing)- is a repeated idea that a Sage has trust in Tao, therefore should have trust in everything, as everything is Tao. Now, how off am I when I can't connect the body with the conclusion?!

I know I'm well worse off than the average person in terms of selfishness. I desire change, that's why I'm studying the Tao Te Ching. I am curious though. It states when in accord with Tao, you're good by nature. What if you're not though? I always feel I'm betraying myself when doing "overly-generous" things with my time. Should I assume that what I feel to be my true nature is just my "ego-self" attempting to keep control of my actions instead of following Tao. Or might I, when all said and done, just be an ass at heart? I can't say I want to be more selfless for others, I'm so selfish I hurt myself in the process, so my desire to be selfless has selfish motives!

I read a Scientific Research randomized control study this week that suggested acupuncture, which utiizes the specific meridian lines, although appearing to have benefit, does not lose its qualities when performed in a fake way, by purposefully placing needles in areas that are not meridian line specific. This suggests to me that myofascia is possibly the reason, as it exists throughout a muscle, and is not specific to meridian lines as are traditionally placed on the body. But, it also implies that placebo may be the case. Although it'd be hard to test this- perform a research study where you tell someone your performing acupuncture, yet don't actually stick them!

Wouldn't any expectations, good or bad, be setting yourself up for struggles? The good obviously doesn't always come out in the end. Or do you just mean control your actions to reflect a positive expectation, without holding on to this expectation. Sort of detached from it, but using it as a guide to actions?

Now, in hindsight, I was just suffering from inaction. To be clear, I'm not referring to 'non-doing', but literal inaction. We are beasts of purpose; I had spent a little too much time in leisure mode. This always fills my ego with shame, as I am happiest when in motion. Very good discussions though.

I just finished "The Book" today, after catching its title mentioned here 2 days ago under a meditation thread. Very, very neat stuff. I'm a skeptic, so I'm not "won over", but I also realize I like thinking of myself and everything like he describes. Which leads me to the question, why not think this way?