三江源

Hey Dude. You can jump over my star any ole day,you big hunka spunk you. smooch rightbackatcha, and then some. this board doesnt have a "DONT FEED THE TROLLS" policy, I noticed that before. rich pickings.

I agree it is essential Tao and Zen to allow the Trickster to flow through one. The danger is of the ego adopting the guise of a trickster, in order to sabotage and agress. In this way the Trickster double tricks. It goes without saying that Tricksters dont belong to gangs and argue about whose gang is the best. And yet there is a Trickster element present even in the most trite of baiting and boasts that go on here - because when someone rises to the bait with querulous voice demanding the trollism not be unfair and diss their gang/treasured beliefs/heavy investment project, they show their vulnerability with the protestations.

WonderfuL!

Taoist /Zen humour would be so refreshing, but no, Darin, this is about bickering boys again. ultra tedious, and I dont even read it!

there's your answer, boys.

Do women say "my teacher can beat your teacher?" or just the boys?

Wonderful post from Craig, as ever. Beautiful deduction and flowing logic! You know what is so interesting to me, is that we assume - as a first principle - that "Qi cultivation" is part of the package for someone on here who does practises that we think of as involving Qi activation and by inevitable correspondence, effect an awakening of Shen. In fact our primary assumption is not correct. Which I find amusing.... the very basics, even, cant be taken for granted. We truly dont all share experiences/interpretations/effects. Would you expect a member of a Taoist Board to have experience of Qi and have integrated Qi cultivation into their world view? I guess so. Isnt it a fundamental Taoist Art? It surprised me when I first found how many people thought that Qi was something you imagined, rather than something you felt. We discuss what we think Enlightenment is, but I dont think we even know one another's basic experience of Qi, do we?! So nice to have your contribution, Craig. Happy New Year. I always appreciate your posts.

I agree it is a savagely difficult practise to hold on to for an extended length of time, to feel uncondtional love during one's waking hours, while the ego is operating and one isnt in the midst of practise. it is a default setting to revert to an 'us and them' mindset. The way to feel uncondtional love is to realise we are all one, to get rid of the sense of division that the ego loves and needs. I was thinking of starting a thread about Fear of the Sublime, fear of Exaltation, fear of Bliss. But what is there to say? The ego wants us unmerged with the divine. I was thinking about mens fear of women's exuality, in conjunction with this, and the endemic making of sex into really quite a small event, physically and spiritually, whilst at the same time making that small event terrifically ever present in our culture. Love of smallness of feelings, and seperateness, and judgment. We are going against the grain to want Big Feelings, Oneness, and Unconditionality. It's like we dont really want to know our Humanity.

I wonder where is Spectrum? He is a guru of embodying practise. His posts emanate embodiment and integration, methinks. I miss him when he isnt around. And Sunshine, his posts embody humility and dedication and good intent to all. And Ian, my guru of humour and openness, and quiet steadfast intent. And Pietro, a guru of Independant Thinking and Tricksterishness. Happy 2008 everyone.

I remember being in a western church and seeing the vicar do blessings in which his hand moved to the four directions, and I felt it was a calling in of the spirits of the four directions in a way, and that the cross is actually a reminder of that essential shape. thanks for your response to the thread Franklin, that was interesting.

ha, buddy, I dont know how old you are of course, and that doesnt actually make any difference to wether you have studied shamanism or not, and know what is documented to be likely or not. Scepticism is common enough, I think we are an intelligent bunch here, and not without experience, and most of us are old enough to be weary of the nay saying ignorance that many many many Taoist points of view encounter in most everyday life. So speaking for myself, when I dont know something I tend to ask and research and try to find out, and after that process, I know if I'm sceptical or not. Prior to that process, I'm in a state of no - knowledge.

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This kind of thinking simply doesnt work. You take something you have no knowledge of whatsoever and compare it to your own fantasy of it. What about a virgin talking about sex? How useful would that be?

The funny thing is, there is no scientific agreement as to how aeroplanes etc actually stay in the air. they theorise, but just dont really know.

This is really beautiful, thankyou. What amazing faces. I feel transported - looking at them - to the longer view. This is good to know, too : Perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of long-lived people is a tendency to not react to stress with excessive worry. These people tend to like living, many are deeply spiritual, and most have a well-developed sense of humor.

it is impossible to say precisely what is going on. My sense is that he's in a trance state and has invoked some spirit energy which is lifting him. It isnt the same kettle of fish as tibetan style levitation. anyone who has drummed and danced around a fire at night in a rural location, knows that all kinds of stuff can happen! interesting to se, thankyou.

what it has to do with Taoism is that it is beautiful and interesting and riven with symbolism and meaning that accrues over time in the imagination and enriches the soul. tao isnt actually an ism, you see.

Thankfully the answer comes with instiinct and experience. Many of us have an instinct not to take the lid off the pot when things are cooking. Many of us at some time or another experience the loss of numinosity/energy when it drains away from exposure too soon or inapropriately. For those that are chiefly extrovert, and very active verbalisers, they may need to 'be told' to contain their experience, in order for their boundaries to strengthen.

Very groovy, Trunk. You are a gem. thankyou.

Freeform you are always so generous with your explanations, and so acurate with your articulations. I do appreciate it. When you hold the lamp up against the face of Eros, he flies away. There are many mythical parallels, counselling caution and respect with regard to those areas of life which happen outside the mundane. Funnily enough, I was thinking about the possibility of closed threads on this board, so that there might be discussion by invitation only of certain experiences.

I really appreciate Sean's reminder. I really really do. really. Thanks Sean.

One of the exercises I loved from Eric Yudelove's book Taoist Yoga was one in which you withdraw the surplus energy of the body, from where it is stored in the hair. Hair Breathing. head hair stores surplus energies of the heart.