Jeff

I would agree that desires are the natural "inclination" of the local body-mind. One tends to form attachments with all energy. There are many ways to learn to let stuff go, but I believe that the easiest and most consistent way is to first realize/notice the underlying energy of all such emotional attachments. As the Tao Te Ching states... CHAPTER 6 The root of Heaven and Earth, can be found in its spirit. Search and feel this spirit, for it is ever present; the gateway to all mysteries. The spirit is the primordial mother of the ten thousand things. It is ever present and eternal. Also, here... CHAPTER 20 Give up learning, put an end to your troubles. Remain and dwell in simplicity. I am contented, for I dwell in the infinite; the Dao is full when it is present in the heart. Others enjoy the feast, but I am alone and wandering, drifting with the wind. Open and yielding like a new born babe. Innocent and simple, for I am nourished by the Great Mother of all thing,, Others have more than what they need, but I alone have nothing. I seem foolish and confused, but I alone am aware and alert. Other Men seem sharp and clever, For my simplicity and innocence appears dull and stupid to such Men. I drift like the waves of the sea and follow the flow. Everyone seems busy, but I alone am without desire and uncluttered. I am different, for I am nourished by the great Dao. The "mother of 10,000 things" the path that never fails.

All desires are ultimately let go of, but the ones you hang onto affect your (residing) state. If one lets go of all desires, there is only cessation. This is why Buddha taught the bodhisattva path.

Your issue is that you have reached the point where you are starting to energetically connect to your environment and people around you. The water imagery is probably your subconscious mind trying to translate that (outside) energy feeling into something you can consciously conceptualize. Also, the blather issue relates to the energy hitting (and maybe freaking you out) your sense of self based at the 3rd chakra. It is all really good stuff, just need to accept it and get past some of the deeper fears you probably have around it. If you are up for it, as a quick experiment... try imagining me in front of you right now, and then stick your finger in my heart. Don't worry about complicated visualizations, just "feel" yourself doing it. See what you get... Best, Jeff

Spirital bypassing can definitely be a real thing, and actually very common. But, that is sort of the opposite of practices that focus on increasing overall clarity (and cleaning out the crap). Just as there is a huge difference between suppressing some tendency/desire and actually letting it go.

Steve raises an excellent point. Practices lead to underlying clarity, allowing the natural purity to shine through. Like surfing the perfect wave, everything becomes increasingly smooth as silk, and you can't help but smile...

In describing opening and closing the gates of Heaven, it is also talking about teaching. Or opening and giving access to "students". Playing the part of the female is being the energetic support and balance. Some would call it the "space" for it.

Welcome!

Ok if I remotely check on you so I can be more specific to your situation? Also, respond here or privately?

Your middle dantien is open and flowing. Hence, you have reached the point where energy will follow your attention (or flow to it). But, any single location can create an energy buildup that could cause some of the headache stuff that you mention. I would suggest that consider some sort of full body energy movement technique. Something like a micro cosmic orbit, or possibly full body sensing. As you start to open a little more from your current state, you are going to start feeling energy more from other people and your environment. At that level, energy buildups can be a little more challenging.

I think what you are looking for is found in the last part of chapter 16... Knowing constancy, the mind is open. With an open mind, you will be openhearted. Being openhearted, you will act royally. Being royal, you will attain the divine. Being divine, you will be at one with the Tao. Being at one with the Tao is eternal. And though the body dies, the Tao will never pass away. Everything but the Tao, ultimately passes away...

Light and darkness can be talking about the same thing, depending on your perspective. Darkness as allinone is describing could be the "absence" of stuff, and light can flow through that absence.

Yes, there are many, many like you. Not trying to change you at all, this has just been a discussion of attempted understanding (at least on my part). On the evolution point, I will have to disagree. Rather, I have found that it is more like the (pure) love of a child grows until it includes all beings. It is more that the differentiated (or attached) versions of love concepts drop. That is the "threading of the needle" of the middle path. The other view is nihilism.

You mentioned it above, an so thought it was your new topic of discussion. One of my biggest opening I ever experienced was from simply opening up to and accepting the love of my little daughter. Such love can crush through any wall or energy barrier...

Also, sorry to hear that you do not have any friends or someone you love.

Was that post directed to me or someone else? I have not talked about (or elevated) personal relationships. Only really Spirit and Dao.

Look above at your post. I was simply responding to your asskissing comment to me.

I did not say the heart and I did not say open to me. In the context, I was talking about feeling Marblehead's state.

Not asskissing at all. Just direct experience. Open and feel...

Ok. Thanks for the discussion. Enjoy.

Thank you very much for the kind words. But, your wisdom (and open heart) shines through. Any who pay attention can easily notice.

Not offended at all. I am totally good with where I am (or where I am not). Nothing to eradicate, it is more just about "being". When one resides, all of the crap just spontaneously perfects...

Doing bad? Getting caught? These are all emotional states driven by subconscious fears. Also, if you are worried/notice that something was taken from you, then by definition you are not "empty". But, thank you for defining your "darkness", as I now know what you are describing.

Got it. So for you darkness is when you close your eyes. Sorry, I had thought you may have meant something more of the term. Also, if you are using something as an object of contemplation, you are obviously not "non-attached" to it.

Heaven is definitely not sun.

No ego theory, just conscious and subconscious aspects of mind. Ego would relate to local body mind autopilot like responses. What is "darkness" to you?