Goldleaf

I just realised, it isn't the air quality!!! I don't think the air is never really that big a deal, unless there is mold in the house (which you would be able to test for). Since I realised this, I don't have the painful bowel movements or so much mucus!! (But, still my sleep is not the best). I downloaded an app called Sleep Cycle, which tracks your sleep patterns and quality sleep. Looks like I am getting sufficient amount of short wave sleep (deep sleep), which is both good and bad. I will upload my most recent sleeps here shortly, perhaps someone famililar with sleep will notice something I can't, and it will also keep me accountable to having a good sleep every night. Cheers GL

The Hero Falters My lease ran out and I had to move house again. I have begun experiencing some not-nice symptoms. Its been really frustrating after I made so much progress I thought. So, I just want to canvas some more views,l after I have collected the common "symptoms" I experience and see if it resonates with anyone. I'm going for a sleep study soon but thats another month away *sigh* 1.Eye dryness. When I use computer or phone, in most other places, its fine. When I use it in my room, I immediately feel dryness of eyes / sore kidneys. And then I look in the mirror and my eyes are blood shot. 2. Painfull runny baby diarrhea, sometimes twice a day. Strong odor and color. 3. Once outside the house, a tonne of mucus to clear. I realise some of these symptoms I might have mentioned before, besides the eye dryness. But I'm just hoping that the colleciton of them might trigger something with those who know TCM, or other building-related conditions. Your help is much appreciated both for me and future readers. Cheers GL

There are enlightened individuals such as Buddha and his followers , Jesus and his disciples, who demonstrate that a life lived in peace is also a life lived in prosperity, respectful to the others and the environment. (I mean Buddha himself spawned Shaolin Kung Fu and Chi Kung, and Jesus performed regular healing miracles...human potential is amazing). I feel a big problem nowadays is that we all emphasise prosperity at the expense of peace. Maybe we have it backwards?? Wars can come and go, but it is the war within a human being that can rage for a whole lifetime and be unresolved, that causes the most damage. When human being is unhappy within, he will be willing to exploit and cheat another human. Conversely, if we all sought what Buddha and Jesus found, even just a fraction, imagine what our combined efforts could create at healing and improving the planet. One can dream.

Thanks Cheya that is great, I like!!

Re -telekinesis, I think even if grandmasters had enough chi to do it, i'm sure their chi is needed to help heal people first rather than move objects!!

Telekinesis is also an ability in the game, Card Hunter!! I know its totally off-topic and un-daoist to promote computer games here, but at least from an ethical standpoint, I've been playing this game in free time for last three years and it is the only game I have never got bored of, and i'd like to mention as a way of giving back to the Developers. Warning: do not play this game if you do not have self-control. It can be addictive. Its a game only for those who are patient. In fact in some ways I have learnt a lot about myself from this game, more than any other game. I have learnt -self control (game is addictive) -persistence (i have won games when I lost all but one character and opponent had all theirs still left) -power of neutrality (every round you have the option to pass or make a move. sometimes, it is better to simply pass, than rush in and get surronded - Sun Tzu of course emphasize this too) -patience -resourcefullness (some single player missions require you to win with the barest minimum resources. You need appropriate spacing and timing to maximise the power of your attacks / abilities, otherwise you lose!). Yes I am a nerd but its such a great game I had to mention, apologies for the off-topic rant.

Thanks Gerard, I've never associated the hard-working dog with a Libra though, to be honest! (And to be honest most Libran's I know aren't afraid of taking short-cuts / using others to reach their goals!). Also, I like to focus on what that year's sign can give to me, energetically. Earth dog instantly makes me think of hard work, family, and willingness to sacrifice myself energetically to do what is right and just! Its like I am being supplied with Earthen Dog energy! I'll be honest I ignore the idea of healing corresponding organ energies as then I will try to do the same regularly for my Western sign too.

Sounds like you're up to your usual, ant-ics...

Thanks for the book also.

Thanks Cheya! Maybe I am doing it wrong, but I particularly want a tool for "hard to reach" places as well. For instance, with massaging spleen 4 point (gongsun), I find it hard to apply pressure just because of the way my hands and feet reach other not so easily. I even tried using my pointy elbow, but am worried the width of it might damage blood vessels, etc. Appreciate any dadvice on this.

Necro'ing for the purpose of more info along this theme. Does anyone know the best self-acupressure devices? I've searched and just found "Dr Berg's" but not much else besides some patents for self-acupressure. I wonder if it might be possible to build one. I just want something as strong and nodule-y as my skinny elbow

Have you ever tried sleeping on the Spoonk mat, to have acupressure all night?? So far, I can say the following things about sleep with confidence: -firstly sleep is so individual so you must try and choose what suits you best, so take each of the articles below with a grain of salt -seems like latex and memory foam are the most popular mattresses (see also: http://www.sleeplikethedead.com/bed-mattress-review-home.html), -in addition to futon and floor-sleeping (https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19518135/health-benefits-sleeping-without-mattress-floor/) -hard mattresses can sometimes be better for you than softer https://www.savespendsplurge.com/10-reasons-why-sleeping-on-a-minimalist-futon-is-the-best-bed-you-will-ever-have/ -having a daily sleep routine before bed, free of gadgets, and relaxing the mind a little; -as well as a weekly sleep routine, of washing and airing bedding, sheets and pillows, can work wonders I will post a blog shortly which details my experiences with each of these, as well as everything else I have tried and haven't, and will post it below. note: I do not work for any of these websites. Anyone else care to share their secrets for a great night's sleep? I'm currently trying sleeping on the floor, its my second day now, honestly I feel a little better but my shoulder is a bit sore when I rolled onto my side, since i'm a skinny guy.

Thanks Nungali, I'll go out now and look for a bed made of tits and a$$!! (Extra soft model)

Your pillow loves you too

As someone who has had sleep problems before, I feel your pain. (Please see my previous threads for tonnes of info on sleep especially from the physical and environmental perspective). If you don't mind me saying, there's no need to take your life so seriously!! (Unless you are over 48 lol). So what if you can't think of a career that suits you? If you are really desperate to move forward, then just start with a short course in a field that you like a little. If you like artistic stuff, take an art course / cooking course / music course if you like creating stuff, take a writing course / programming course etc. Sometimes you can have these courses subsidised by the government if you are not working, depending where you live. If you are really keen, you can also apply for a job in a similar yet slightly different field, to narrow down what really suits you. Also, take up volunteering, period. It will help you feel better about yourself by giving to others and you sound like a considerate thoughtful person. So lets see, those things should help you with the physical, environmental, and emotional aspects of sleep. You sound like you're really on top of things with diet. Eating legumes or not eating legumes before bed shouldn't have a huge impact on sleep. Don't let it stress you, its no big deal. Mind you can I suggest cutting sugar completely. I cut sugar, caffeine, and gluten from my diet, and though it was hard to do (don't worry, you have gluten-free soy sauce at least!), I feel so much calmer, and my mind is less frantic. Whole-30 is also a food program that transformed my friend from healthy, to raging beast!! If you are really keen on diet. https://whole30.com/2012/04/the-whole30-forum/

Can I add from my experience, Its important like many things, not to obsess over each thing. In our chi kung school they say the most important thing is to relax. Relax your mind, body, and then relax your mind and body some more! So, just some advice to daobum readers who may not be aware don't stress if you can't / find it difficult to follow some of the more subtle advice here. For example from Hagar's post above. I hate cold shower, especially in winter. So although I will try this advice at times (assumign Hagar has some scientific evidence to back it up lol, i'm sure he does), in winter I will avoid it, and not worry that I am not doing it. If you don't know what will work with sleep, just do like with building a new kitchen, strip down everything but the basics, and work upwards, adding positive layers and habits, and healthy things like potplants, organic pillow, and regular washing and airing of your bedding.

Isn't life but a dream? Perhaps, the dreams are more real? Hahaha No but seriously, there are 3 stages of sleep as you probably know: with the SWS stage being where you basically dead to the world and the REM stage where dreams occur. I know taoists have said that sleep without dreams is "best" but personally I think in today's hyper-modern world, we need dreams, to help unravel so much input and stress that we choose to allow into our lives. I think dreams can also being a source of inspiration / self-reflection, that make the day and life a bit more meaningful.

\Oh I'll judge you. In as much as my self-realised, that we are all basically aliens on our own separate journeys, can (which is not much). Necro'ing the sh*t out of this thread, I want to canvas views and experiences on great sleep from great individuals who are health-conscious. Btw, I looked up that mattress you mentioned and couldn't find it on their website. I've always been interested in what mattress the chinese traditionally sleep on. I figure they must be getting some sleep, having a civilisation which has lasted and thrived this long. Can you remember the name of that mattress you slept on? And if you don't mind, do you know if that is the typical mattress that a chinese person would sleep on? I plan to compile all the info I get from these and other threads / PMs into a great sleep thread. Well-written info, can bring benefits which transcend space and time, a bit like sleep, really

OP = Original Poster , for those like myself who weren't born from the 90s onwards Yes thanks Gerard, I too have suspected I have a little of this and especially that I might have an overworked /undernourished spleen, so dampness and mucus ring true. I have never heard that it is hard to treat or takes a long time though? ? I know that yin and jing deficiency takes a long time. But I didn't think that clearing heat and resolving dampness should be too difficult? (Note: I am probably yin deficient as well!) I might be splitting hairs, but I want the readers out there to know that no problem is too difficult to treat in Chinese Medicine!! (Besides HIV which is at a genetic cellular level). Having a job is said to nourish the spleen in Chinese Medicine, and I have one but its only part-time. So ironically, it might be best to apply for full-time work (while studying), and do it all with my tired self, all so I can sleep better lol. The joy of a little sacrifice in life, of giving yourself when you think you have nothing left to give, but you still can, makes you marvel at life, and the human spirit!

If its not too much trouble , silent, would you mind taking a pic of this, along with the way you set up your pillows, just so I can understand? If you value privacy you can always PM me or we can use dropbox via email, etc.

Thanks , silent! I appreciate your efforts, truly. I will now necro the sh*t out of these threads :PP

Thanks for sharing, it was nice to read and I totally agree with all you have said. Sorry to be greedy, but any other takers?>? Is there anyone out there who has fantastic sleep every night, and would care to share, what bedding and mattress they use?? (I.e, worldly approaches). I know that sleep is individual, but at least having some unique perspective might give me additional options.

You sound, very insightful and self-aware. I think this means that whatever practice you undertake, you can really help yourself further. (But also be patient). Perhaps a better question, if you are asking about finding a guru (since finding a guru / master , is nnot the issue, once the student is determined enough), is how can one be a better student? Listen carefully when the master speaks. Practice how you are taught Be relaxed, not overly stressed And have three hearts. heart of confidence heart of patience heart of perserverance - Heart of confidence. You must have confidence in your master and the art he teaches. If not, why are you doing it? The master who teaches you should have radiant health and not hesitate to answer your questions. -heart of patience. Patience is more than just waiting some tmie. Trust the process. Don't expect immediate flowers to bloom -persevere. Nothing worthwhile is ever obtained without effort. Good luck!

Thanks Aetherous, Its one thing going on a journey, but its another to come back and share the wisdom of it with others.

Hi there, I have searched and found some info on this already, and feel free to let me know if another more direct thread already exists. But I have noticed when people talk about combatting the monkey mind, there seems to be an agreement that it will take quite a long time of dedicated work and meditation. Withoiut meaning to be rude bgut i find this unacceptable!! Why can we not use direct methods daily to limit thoughts, and within say, a few months, be able to stop thoughts at will?? If I can stop my mind chattering and just enjoy, then I know I will also get great benefit from my chi kung practice, from daily life, from eating, meeting girls, music... everything!! So I feel I have enough motivation to stop. I just wanted to start a discussion on those things others have used that have been the most effective, besides meditation / mindfullness. Are there more direct methods for destroying this age-old habit which is ultimately destroying me? Please feel free to contribute, in the hope that your contribution will benefit future readers!! Thanks for reading GL