三江源

Thanks Xabir. I agree with you. Deep, deeper, deepest. Transformation at root, finding the root, reaching that level,is the journey.

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Just saw this post! this is precisely what I am imagining!

Hi Xabir. Thankyou for your extra info and clarification,I am completely unfamiliar with the language you are using but I totally get the ideas. What interests me is the methods used to reach the stage where it is impossible to be an asshole. Because I really am fed up of being an asshole. And being of a practical nature, I want to know how to get there, which is why practices interest me more than concepts. I reckon the heart is the way. Heart, heart, and more heart. refinement of, opening of, refinement of, opening of, and on and on and on. From a taoist point of view it would be a totally clear energy body, with zero congestion, very strong and refined. That would lead to a deeper enlightenment that just that of the mind.. because the body and mind are one, so if the mind reaches and understanding but the body is full of all kinds of blockages and weaknesses, then obstacles remain. So enlightenment has to be on all levels, and if the primary levels are neglected, so that self awareness/ self knowledge is patchy or overly defended,like simply too large areas remaining unconscious, then one cannot travel far. Just rambling here a bit...

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Yes, it must be nice to have a long holiday, eh? Scotty , what is the mudra you have as your avatar right now?

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I think this is a pretty good definition of first stage enlightenment, which is why you can be 'enlightened' and still be a complete asshole. Further stages of enlightenment would include intelligence of the heart, compassion, discernment and many many other ting involving ability to be true, to be love, and to be untangled in personal complexes, in other words, to have self knowledge, without which enlightenment is as an ice cream on a summer day... cool, but so what?

Bearing in mind nobody lies to cover up happiness.

Michael! I read your book too, I have it by my bed. It's grrrrrrrreat! Actually it gives a big load of energy out of it, streaming out loud and clear, particularly from your teacher...phewww! Powerful stuff, really nice, thankyou and again thankyou. xxx cat

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yep. the Path of No More Suppression.... of anything. only Witnessing and Transformation.

Take the energy out of your semen, so that you are losing a fluid, not energy. When you are feeling sexual, accept it with an attitude of gratitude as a gift of life that is deeply beautiful, and draw the sexual energy into your heart to refine you.

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The actual subject it seems to me, here, is "How is your practice going?" If it's going well, the 'need an ego boost by doing something that looks good' is really alien.

Hi JohnC. I had a long long period of rashes after my first taoist retreat, seriously annoying as they were on my face and itchy.. I went often to a TCM practitioner for help, and I really would recommend you do that, get yourself some good herbs, dietary rec's, maybe some acupuncture. I couldnt eat anything spicy for a few years, which kind of was painful to me, and a piece of chocolate would result in SPOTS and no way could I drink any alcohol at all, not even a few mouthfuls of red wine with a great meal, as the rash would not like it. As you can see from the Bodhri link, it's very common. Part of purification, and seeing as how the skin is the most superficial organ, it's pretty good that any problems come out there, rather than float around - or whatever they do - inside your system in deeper levels. Good Luck with it.

Hey rodgerj, I'm really sorry to hear about your upheaval. It would be great to see what the IChing would say and if you wanted it to be here on the forum we could all learn a bit more about the I Ching, whilst supporting you.. Stigweard is our expert. Let's get it rolling..