Yoda

this thread is extremely disturbing!!!

jK, Thanks for the info!! You are a great resource!!! It's my understanding that you are absolutely right: the best Chinese to learn for most students is the standardized one, but my Taoism teacher recommended Cantonese for my purposes. Your pal, Yoda

jK, Thanks for the politics lesson too! Extremely cool about the local elections!!! I like how each stage elects the next! Per the wiki, it's still top down on a national level: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_t...public_of_China Your pal, Yoda ~~~ Questions to whomever: How free is internet access in China? I don't know anything about it but I've heard that US corporations like google cooperate to filter out stuff but I have no idea what that means in practice. Is one able to see the above wiki link? Correct me if I'm wrong, but in my very limited experience it seems that the Chinese, especially youthful Chinese, are very happy with their government verses in the USA everyone seems fairly critical of our own system. Could that mean that the Chinese system is simply better? Chinese gov't doesn't allow much dissent in the airwaves? Different cultural personalities? Glass half full vs half empty? China's past underdog international status creates more national pride? What is health care like in China? I've heard it said that Chinese hospitals require cash up front but that it's affordable.

Lino, I'm sorry none of us were able to help!!! Your pal, Yoda

jK, Thanks for the TV info! I'm interested in learning Cantonese, so I'll look for a channel or two in that format. Your pal, Yoda

just curious. I'd love to hear the reasoning too, thanks! I'm just studying Chinese history for the first time and still have a long ways to go and maybe will change my mind as I learn more, but I like the Han best. The "Han Synthesis" that my teacher talks about seems to blend social order philosophy, law, ethics and Taoism in a very cool way. Also I like that the founder was originally a prison warden who had a few prisoners escape and, due to that, he was to be executed so he had no choice but turn his prisoners into bandit warriors and take over the empire! Plus, as a Taoist, I like it that Buddhism hasn't bumped us off the road at this point. Also Han clothing is way cool!!! Yoda

thanks for yet more books!

Eric, Welcome to Taobums! Your pal, Yoda

The middle part of J2W is best, chapter 9 on. The journey chapters after awhile get a bit repetitive but there are notable exceptions: The kingdom where the emperor ate children for immortality, the MK training the three princes in martial arts was old school Taoism in action, the changing the weather showdown, and anytime an emperor goes dark is a crowd pleaser. There are Taoism gems throughout but the strictly entertainment value is 9-70 or so.

William, It's an honor to have another author on the site! I hope you enjoy! Your pal, Yoda

that sounds so final... at least find the brewing gear a nice home... sigh... can you have a cheat day? Decaf? Your pal, Yoda

jK, I could tell you were from SC by your accent! Thanks for yet more reading material! I heard that The Good Earth is a good read but not exactly a feminist triumph or anything. It's great that there are way more along these lines. Just curious, are there any kid friendly ones in that they stay light hearted throughout? Your pal, Yoda

I haven't gotten to the colonial period... sounds like a doozy. From what it looks like in another 100 years or so is going to be payback. When the current economic downturn is over China will be another notch up. A couple more economic cycles, comrade...

I just learned that China has always dominated international trade from the Ming on and possibly before that too. In the beginning of the 18th century, 25% of all international trade transactions worldwide involved "Made in China".

SereneBlue, Asian corporate voodoo... who knows? I'm studying Chinese history for the first time right now and check this out... as long as there has been international trade, China has been the single biggest player. Just one example: in the beginning of the 18th century 25% of all international trading transactions involved products from China!!! I'm convinced that China isn't going to stay second fiddle in the new economy for too much longer. Your pal, Yoda

VCraigP, Thanks for asking! I think that these sorts of things may have utility especially for a naturally excessive yang person. But for a very yin person moving into what's the phrase... super yang/compensation yang... imo they are very toxic and will enhance visions and other worldliness which will further throw people off balance even though subjectively they still give off some soothing qualities. The whole thing becomes very addictive and there's a spiraling downhill process by those who are unlucky enough to graduate to super yang... they'll get more organite or whatever and then they start to get chased by black ops even in daylight and will develop potentially serious health problems. Also rocks can be treated energetically to enhance its positives and eliminate/minimize the negatives by a qualified teacher too, so that's something to keep in mind. Playing around with power crystals isn't probably a big deal but wearing them all the time or sleeping on them might could lead to long term issues. Another issue is that the rock may have had a spell put on it especially if it was crafted in Asia for export to the west with the purpose of stealing yang energy. A story along those lines was that I took photos of lots of little energetic doodads and emailed them to Mak Tin Si. He said that all of them were normal power crystal type things... not hugely problematic but he suggested I toss them for the above reasons but this one statue thingy he gave me specific instructions how to get rid of it as it had a curse on it. It was made in Asia, but I forget where. While I wasn't overly attached to it, my heart started racing seconds before I got rid of it and when I let it go I could feel my heart jerk free of its grasp! Very weird saying goodbye to a frienemy I didn't know I had!!! Your pal, Yoda

Lino, Meat World!!! One way or another, you'll make it to Meatville!!! You're focused!!! Your pal, Yoda

jK, I was thinking of learning basic travel speaking first and then do some basic writing. Thanks for the book recommendations! Your pal, Yoda

Eric, It's an honor to hear from you! Between Witch and you we got author power on this thread! Hopefully we'll see you around more often. Hopefully Mal isn't possessed but I'll keep an eye on him: "Dude put down the knife... I'm not kidding around man ahhhhhhh!!!!" Thank god for skype!!! Witch, Great caffeine link, thanks! Lino, The ionizer and or ozone machine might could help... I'm not sure about that... they might do the same thing as the ammonia/moth balls. Just curious, in the 6 months after you bought your organite HHG pyramid did you feel better or worse? As with all this stuff, ignore the upfront bliss and focus on the long term happiness and luck levels. Jmo, but the desire to lie on metal on the floor plugged into the ground wire and scouring astraldynamics for solutions tells me that you are facing the wrong direction. Imo, you have to get away from over-connecting to the yin beings and the yin dimension and learning how to fight with things and defend against things, feed things, make alliances, cast spells, etc in the yin dimension and use yin power like they do on astraldynamics and organite, etc... all of that just connects you even more to the yin dimension and makes it much harder to gain reincarnation. Have you noticed in the internet accounts that the more people use organite the more black helicopters start following them??? It's funny on the one hand, but sad on the other... hard core organite users are very haunted. Your pal always, Yoda

Lino, What practices, life situations, etc were going on when you picked them up or when they notched up their game... maybe there are clues there and do the opposite. Little things like boosting your serotonin like Witch said might help... I'd add getting sunshine to the list especially 11-1, taking walks/exercising, and waking up early. Then keeping bathroom doors closed, squirting some ammonia in all the drains before going to bed each night, having a few mothballs in each corner of your bedroom or a bowl of ammonia or vinegar in the bedroom, keeping a light on, getting rid of crystals, jade, organite, meteorites, etc. Don't spend lots of time in front of a mirror in bed, at work, etc. Keep the house as clean as possible and have flowers and plants inside if possible. Eat hot, slow cooked food and drinks. If there's a scent issue with the house use orange peel oil as corrective. Once bad entities start moving in, they inspire lifestyle changes which enhance their aspirations so rethink lifestyle decisions, artwork choices, relationships, etc made in the last few years. These won't solve the underlying problem but might could give you more breathing room. Your pal, Yoda

jK, I look forward to experiencing the enlightenment of the language! Your pal, Yoda

Lino, I agree that there's worse stuff on the other side but you have time to fix this situation and I'm very sure that you can... you have a lot of heart left. Just by sharing your experience, you have added a note of precaution to those considering entity frolicking which is very good karma and will give you momentum. Imo, your entity friends don't think that you can get away and that's why they are abusing you aggressively but they are wrong. Imo, you can do this by generating merit: Swear an oath that you will help three people out of the same mess in the future and visualize your self doing just that and dedicate that merit to all others in this situation, etc, etc. Hopefully that will lead to some good brainwaves and impulses! One of those impulses might be to take some time off taobums! Best wishes and let us know what you find that works!!! Your pal always, Yoda

Lino, I'm sorry to hear that you've been having problems like that! If you can make it through to the other side and help a few more people do the same maybe then it will have been partially worth it. There are huge problems facing cultivators out there, definitely. I'm sure you will figure something out. I don't know if old school Taoism has any appeal to you but Mak Tin Si was able to help me out with entity issues. Good luck and please let me know what works for you! Your pal, Yoda

Zhuo Ming-Dao, Thanks for the lesson!!! What a wild empress... great story! Your pal, Yoda

Way cool!!! Thanks everyone!!! I'll definitely check out Records of the Grand Historian: Han I by Sima Qian. Any other must reads out there? Who is the evil Empress Wu? Yoda