Yoda

dao zhen, It was an honor to have you here!! If/when you decide to return to society do look us up!! I'd imagine we'll all keep sharing insight and compassion at some level regardless. Your pal, Yoda

Finding real traction in one's cultivation life is a huge issue regardless of the tradition. Many Taoists, Hindus, and Buddhists are stuck in the proverbial "parent's basement" level of attainment as well. I recently read an article on the failings of the law of attraction that caught my eye: The LOA "ask and you shall receive" theory is to wish for something and then relax. Since desires arise automatically and relaxation is the natural state of consciousness, the whole thing pretty much runs fine on autopilot. Sounds nice and works for getting a glass of water and your next inhalation, but he problem quickly becomes that nobody knows how to relax. The article suggested practicing a system of magic that originated in the cultural mindset that one is born into. These traditions have learned to use the mindset of a culture to help goose the LOA process by involving images, smells, rituals, to confer a deeper sense of focus and relaxation to help achieve the desired outcome. I've recently been reading an excellent magical author geared for beginners, Chris Penczak. He said that learning about the 5 elements, spell casting, angels, etc was good right at the beginning of his practice but he hit a wall in his progress. To get past that, he had to turn to shamanic trance induction techniques. I like to think that the trance induction provided a deeper level of relaxation for him. Yoda ~~~ Also, there's an excellent thread about Reiki around here that may apply towards this debate: Reiki and western spiritual and magical cultivation traditions can undervalue internal cultivation in a similar way.

Broken and Taomeow, thanks for stirring the pot... this thread rocks!!! I get a kick learning about things that have been going on right under my nose! I'm assuming the same effect applies for governments too, yes? I think everyone has a vague sense of this sort of thing happening as maybe a vibratory byproduct but it's great to learn that a corporation is a properly ritualized magical construction. Witch, thanks for the Eris lesson!!! Seth, let me know about "sigilize". I wiki-d it and it sounds like you take a statement of intent and use the letters to create a rune symbol for your statement. Do you glue that to a monsanto ad and it bleeds them or something? I'm very interested in learning western magic these days, so thanks to everyone for helping me unpack all this! Your pal, Yoda

Taomeow, Amazing thought!!!! Thanks! Yoda

dao zhen, Great post!! I've been shifting to the 3am thing recently... it really is a great time to practice! Your pal, Yoda

great insights Per!!!!! Nicely worded too. Shaking Medicine has a chapter on what I think of as "Japanese Kunlun" but doesn't get into the details of the practice. Another Kunlun-like system per Max is the Christian one: kneeling reduces the connection to earth energy, looking up at an image of JC increases one's connection to heaven energy and the prayer mudra does the same... Shaker city!! Common point: downward flow of energy, essentially shamanism in a nutshell as Vajrasattva pointed out. And to add to the things to do list for the budding shaman: Trance induction through sound, plant ingestion and/or rhythmic motion Through this trance you travel to other realms and meet interesting new friends who are glad to help out with healing energy and handy practice suggestions, etc. -Y

Emily, mmmm... not to brag, but I just ate a meal almost 100% from our backyard. The colors and energies are unlike anything you can buy. Priceless. *But* it's a lot of work and it's really Randi's thing. Left on my own, I'd just eat frozen burritos. Too bad we can't live like this all year round!!! Have 4 chickens too! Like Scott said, Randi would say that starting with growing your own herbs is probably the way to start. Be sure to grow lots of basil for pesto power. There's a lot of taoist, celtic, etc magic you can whip up in an herb garden too. Maybe raise some cultivation oriented herbs too? I've got some ceremonial grade tobacco growing. Hopefully, they'll grow up big and strong. I've heard that the book "A modern herbal" is very good along these lines. Also, focus on things that have powerful flavors as they can really infuse you with good vibes. Randi's next project is to grow onions and garlic. Your pal, Yoda

TI, Cool thoughts esp re: etheric body. Thanks! Yoda

Witch, If we can add global fascism and Yoda's tummy to the list, I'm in!! Seriously though, I'll happily participate just remind me. Personally, I'm ok with temperature change... Did you know that there were dinosaurs and lush forests on Antarctica at one point? Having said that, I can't deal with the possibility of rainfall drying up... the whole earth has been a blasted desert on several occasions in the past... that won't happen on Yoda's watch!! So I'll add "decreased aridness" to my list! I have a preference for new age magic where I wish for increases of positive qualities to better work with the law of attraction, but no biggie. I'll do it your way... you are the official taobum witch after all! I'm new to all this and eager to learn. Your pal, Yoda

Let me know if there's an online or email way to keep track of his workshops. I really enjoyed being around him. It's my inkling that Lama Oscar is a key player who will keep these teachings available both inside and outside the Tibetan tradition.

Per, You got your transmission from Lama Oscar? Cool! I had wondered about kechari and kunlun, thanks for that! It sounds like he teaches regularly in NYC yes? It would be interesting to hear what Lama Oscar would have to say about the Kunlun vs Kundalini thing. He might be able to provide a fresh new angle. I very much enjoyed hearing him talk about Kunlun in NJ... he definitely brought a Tibetan flavoring to it which I enjoyed as I used to study Tibetan Buddhism. Did he teach any straight up Tibetan practices during your workshop? Yours, Yoda

Does your kunlun mco have a preferred direction? Your pal, Yoda

Per, I think the main thing is that, per Max, Kunlun is a downward flow and Kundalini is an upward flow and they can crash into each other. When I asked Max about Sanskrit mantras, I wasn't asking re: kundalini activating mantras and he said that practicing them during different times of the day should be fine but he implied that it's best to work within the context of just one system at a time. Vajrasattva has said that it's not wrong to mix upwards and downwards systems and has seemed to downplay Max's warning about this sort of thing. But there is mention of bad experiences on the Kunlun thread on the ayp forum under "other systems of practice" re: mixing the two. Then again, the sexual practice discussion in the Kunlun book seems just like tantra 101: just slurp it up. I've given away my last copy of the book, so double check me on that. I don't remember if he said take it up the middle, the front, or the back. Anyone? There's got to be a safe way in all of this. I know that advanced K practitioners say that an upward flow just kicks in naturally too. Maybe best wait for that to kick in at the right time if you opt for the Kunlun path? Your pal, Yoda

welcome to taobums!

Welcome to taobums and keep eating that garlic!

He won't get far on foot... My vibe is that he'll at least stop by to chat from time to time.

welcome to taobums!

Welcome to taobums!

welcome to taobums!

I think that there is something to be said for just focusing on one's own happiness even if that means ignoring the suffering of others... if one isn't happy than one doesn't have anything to offer others anyways plus one's happiness is naturally shared with others even without trying. And ultimately, one individual can't turn around the world's suffering anyways so it's important to be able to tune it out to some degree. Monday was my give blood and see my pal who lives in a mental illness ward day. I don't visit as often as he'd like and I try to keep a bit aloof from the scene but, even still, I often feel a bit flat for the next few days. That's my only good karma work aside from generally sharing happy practice vibes and trying to do a good job at work. I think Mother Theresa is a great example of really helping others and staying extremely happy at the same time. She told her sisters that if they couldn't laugh and smile and share that, they have no business trying to help and should go home.

V quote: There is a science to making good karma. I thinking sitting it out and letting the rest of the world not have a better place is enough for me to tell you better you leave cause you are just wasting air, prana, and existence an you miss the point. The universe nourishes so should you. One could argue that doing good or bad does not matter or exist. Tell that to a rape victim or someone who has just experienced a horrible crime or whatever. True on one level yes. On another level there are starving kids and abandoned children and people suffering that could use a helping hand. You want good karma......BE GOOD KARMA to people. Just be a person of good service generosity & devotion. If you can donate money with the intentions to help others not to seek anything in return. If you know how to do energy work send energy to people who need it & to the PLanet. If you have good healing skills, visit folks that could use it and offer it to them with no expectations of things in return. If you are hired as a healer do the job and then do that extra mile or 2 to make sure that person is always doing good. You may not be able to help ALL......but you can effect the lives of more than you think if you have the right energy & intentions in your heart. To sit and do nothing is exactly that nothing....Show me where the universe sits still? Peace Santiago "Take once give back twice" - Dr. Glenn Morris QUOTE(Patrick Brown @ Jul 16 2008, 10:11 AM) * Guru Santiago Dobles!!! *pisses self laughing* laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif Perhaps I'm being far to cynical? rolleyes.gif Its a title like "sifu" in Silat. not one of religious or spiritual status. it means teacher. I have earned that title. What exactly is your LOL & Cynical roll of eyes about? This post has been edited by Vajrasattva: Today, 10:23 AM -------------------- Om Benza Sato Hung Phey User is online!Profile Card PM Report PostGo to the top of the page Delete PostEdit Post+Quote Post Patrick Brown post Today, 10:32 AM IP: 86.2.126.129 | Post #13| Tao Bum! ***** Group: The Tao Bums Posts: 280 Joined: 7-May 08 From: Oxford, UK Member No.: 12,024 QUOTE(Vajrasattva @ Jul 16 2008, 03:21 PM) * What exactly is your LOL & Cynical roll of eyes about? I just figure even the play of thrusting a sword into another is kind of contradictory from a spiritual perspective if it's not please explain. Apparently the chap in the vid is Guru Santiago Dobles. -------------------- Getting closer to the one is divine madness, Getting closer to the self is divine bliss. User is online!Profile Card PM Report PostGo to the top of the page Delete PostEdit Post+Quote Post Vajrasattva post Today, 10:47 AM IP: 76.110.118.101 | Post #14| Tao Bum! ***** Group: The Tao Bums Posts: 324 Joined: 1-October 07 Member No.: 4,804 QUOTE(Patrick Brown @ Jul 16 2008, 10:32 AM) * I just figure even the play of thrusting a sword into another is kind of contradictory from a spiritual perspective if it's not please explain. Apparently the chap in the vid is Guru Santiago Dobles. True & True the chap is Guru Santiago....Guru being a teacher of the ways of PENCAK SILAT. An art created by spiritual masters to protect & preserve. But its much more than that. Hey did you know that Buddha was highly trained in the arts of combat & warfare? Did you know that Jesus & the 12 apostles carried knives & some swords? Did you know that the 9 saints "WALI SONGO" also carried weapons and where the best of the best in Silat? Its not a world of peace one must know how to defend them self if there is no last resort. You want to learn how to hurt, learn to heal, you want to learn how to heal, learn to hurt. Martial arts is one of the fastest ways to learn about generousity, compassion, healing, & inner & outer cultivation. The warrior way had to work or you where left dead on the battle field. Your healing skills also had to work or you could die.

Meg, Welcome to taobums! Your pal, Yoda

Being Bliss, I've been looking forward to your report from your retreat with Dr Sha... I won't be able to listen to his teleconference tonight, but I'll try next Tues night. Your pal, Yoda

welcome to taobums!

Welcome to taobums!