i am

So... In my opinion you tell the woman, just to be sure, that the capsules have animal products in them. No reason not to, other than insulting her intelligence, but that's the least of anyone's worries. Though I haven't examined the deeper reasons, so I can't say for sure, I'd have to assume that many people who buck the traditions of their parents and grandparents etc. are not "rebelling", but simply have come to their own conclusion, for their own reason, about things. My Mom gave me pretty much nothing to rebel against. The choices I make which don't agree with her ideas and culture have absolutely no amount of spite, rebellion, hard feelings. But I come from a culture that encourages finding your own way and coming to your own conclusions. Totally normal to drop your family's religion, sexual norms, career and education path. But I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing or not... A Language Older Than Words is the one and only book I've read by Derrick Jensen, recommended to me by my brother. At the time I really enjoyed it, but was a little turned off by how sensitive and emotional he was. I think maybe I've become more open to some of the stuff that turned me off at the time, and I've actually thought quite a few times over the last month that I should read it again, and have thought a few times over the last few days that "I need a book to read". Something that isn't meditation instructions or something else that takes reading a chapter, and possibly not being able to read any more for days or weeks or months while I get that chapter down...something I can just sit down a read. So thanks for that

Having grown up in modern-day America, it's hard for me to understand not being able to go against your culture. Do you find, with some other countries, that it's not an option? I mean I know it would be offensive to ask someone to do it. But since most people I know threw off one or another major aspect of their parent's culture, it's not a given for me that someone wouldn't choose to abandon their culture. But like I mentioned, born & raised in the US, I may have a skewed view!

Oh goody. I don't have to hold back from posting then. It seems to me that this thread has unfortunately turned into one where the main players aren't understanding each other correctly. All I can say, based on a quick reading of the last couple days, is that Taomeow is attacking, if you can call it that, an attitude, a feeling of superiority, and false reasoning. Not a group of people. But a belief many in that group hold to. Not that it's bad to be vegetarian. That the reasoning behind a lot of those peoples choice is a flawed one. And clearly she feels strongly about it because even though I haven't been here long, I've never seen such heat from her If some here can't avoid taking that personally, misinterpreting who is being addressed in certain responses and all that, it's more their issue. For me...I'm working on doing what feels ok to MY sense of right and wrong. Whether my senses are flawed is a whole other discussion...but my choices are not made without a lot of thought and data. Well...at least not the choices I've put a lot of thought and reading/experiencing into anyway

Yeah thanks for the clarification. I don't proof read enough. Which is especially dangerous on an ipad that likes to anticipate what I'm writing and change words on me...

I completely agree with your point, but we've already been through this. There's a thread on it. Pretty much all these points have been discusses already. I'm fine with time limits on editing. But clearly the majority of the bums are not. And I understand their argument, and agree, to a point. So here we are.

There was a chance I was going to have my bass with me if I make it down there...but it doesn't really fit in my vehicle. I mean it fits, but then nothing else does. I could have a hand drum or two. I'd definitely have a banjo or two. I have maracas that I guess I'd have to bring... I wouldn't have too much to offer in the way of teaching people stuff, but I'd sure enjoy spending some time with this kind of group.

Well, unless either one of us ever gets eaten by a predator, I guess we'll never be sure. Prey gets chased. All the time. Even if it somehow gets caught in a set of jaws before knowing it's being hunted, it doesn't die on contact. It has time to struggle. And I've watched animals still looking around and breathing as a pack of wolves starts eating them. But we're talking about vegetarians here, not hunting...

So by your first point you mean justifying eating something you love? I don't know. It's a slippery thing. It gets back to the whole "something must die so that you can live" argument. It's up to you to decide where to draw the line. I read something once about the predator/prey interaction. The prey evades and runs and fights...but once it's clear that it's caught, it gives up, and basically gives itself over to the predator. And that between the eater and eaten (mind you the eating is happening often while the prey is STILL ALIVE), there actually forms some kind of bond, almost love between them. Can you visualize it? It's the way of nature. At least with carnivores, which we may or may not be. But the perversion of this is farmed animals, treated like a "product" rather than a life form, killed inhumanely (whether killing can be humane is a conclusion you need to come to on your own), and put through an assembly line slaughter process. I know that I for one don't agree with that process, and definitely don't want to put something in my body which has been through that process. I still sometimes do...I'm trying to figure out where to take my stand on this whole thing. But I'm fine with hunted meat.

Cholesterol is something I stopped worrying about years ago, so I don't pay too much attention to the newest research. If I believe what's written on my health screenings, I have great cholesterol levels, with my good cholesterol level putting me in some small fraction of the US with such a high level. But I'll stop bragging... Good genetics save me from the worst of it. I don't know what to tell someone who has taken all the advice of doctors, and still has levels above 300... I have good levels, regardless of what I eat, so I don't stress it. I do go out of my way to get plenty of nuts, avocado, eggs, fish and olive oil, though, to keep those healthy cholesterol levels up.

I'm lucky enough to have cholesterol levels which can easily handle a 10-point increase. But I don't drink enough coffee for it to matter.

I did not find myself among them... What type is an ex-coffee drinker who enjoys the occasional cup of coffee when the situation is right? Or when someone makes a certain method sound so good he goes and buys a new grinder and special pot? I mean really... If someone came over and I offered them a cup of coffee, they would immediately feel bad at how much work Im doing and stop me...hand grind the grounds...slow cook on the stove...let sit so the grounds drop out...one 10oz cup coming....uh...right up! Ridiculous.

I avoid sites like that for the very reason I often think I should avoid this site...Expectation, and "measuring up". Too often when I'm "trying" to meditate, I'm thinking of what I've read on this site about what other people have experienced. I don't want to hear a story of someone's awakening and constantly be comparing myself to them. Better to experience these things first, then compare notes with others. This was brought up in some other thread here recently. Good teachers won't tell you much. You've got to experience it first, then they'll help guide you. But nothing is learned without direct experience, and hearing too much about other people's experiences colors your view of how things should happen, when in truth they happen differently for different people. This is just my personal feeling, for me. I'm sure when you've got the right kind of practice down and have accomplished certain things, then checking in to this site for feedback and other ideas is probably a good thing. I've noticed, in a limited number of interviews with Taoist and Buddhist practicioners, that anytime an interviewer asks them what they experience when they meditate, they avoid the question, in one way or another. I don't know if this has anything to do with what I'm feeling, but it's something I noticed early on when I started watching documentaries about this kind of stuff. They never explain what they experience in meditation.

Well it's not important. I categorize based on the combination of metal and the growling vocals. That's what makes it death metal to me. But I don't have enough of a grasp of what makes music fit into what category to debate it, really. In the end, good music is good music.

I like this sort of music. But it's metal, with irish/celtic fiddle tune influence. I guess I don't know the definition of "folk music", but this and the other band are heavy metal, which is not folk.

That stretches my definition of folk music...Sounds like death metal to me, with celtic melody influence. Much harder than Flogging Molly, which is more in the hard rock/metal/alternative genre. The singing is a dead giveaway...death metal. Nothing wrong with it, though.

Actually I've been wondering lately about something along the lines of your mention of keeping my awareness where I can feel an energy center. At least I think it's along the same lines. One thing I picked up along the way is to take a "witness" viewpoint of myself. Basically to view everything I'm doing as though I'm an impartial witness to it. I'm not doing it; I'm watching it get done, with no judgement. When I do this, I kind of put my awareness back over my shoulder, or what usually ends up being way at the back of my head. Almost always, as soon as I put my awareness way at the back and top of my head, I can feel my entire body as a whole, and can feel a pleasant energy through all of it. This is mostly on hikes when I have a little blood flowing, but I can do it when I'm sitting around, too. But I don't know that this is something to do all the time. (?) Or if feeling, actually trying to feel energy throughout my entire body is a good thing. Like if my constant focus on feeling my entire body is sending energy all throughout my body and taking it out of storage, possibly depleting it. Should I be focused on a dantien and storing the energy, or is it fine to be constantly wanting to feel my entire body all a-buzz with it all at once? I don't want to be scattering my energy all the time, just because it feels cool to feel my whole body alive with it.

Yes I agree. Lots of people have better skin that me...and I'd call myself healthier than a lot of them. Vitality, though, however we define that, I'm not sure about. I don't know what my level of vitality is... I'd be interested to see how my eyes change, or not, with better health and more cultivation. My last health screening had my doctor saying words like "better than perfect" and "great health" to explain my results. But she also always points out my eyes, which she guesses are puffy either because of allergies or genetics. I've been thinking for a few years now that I should get some kind of food allergy test. No, I don't procrastinate at all... Sorry this is a bit off topic! I should be finding photos of people with good & bad eyes and seeing how this theory holds up...

Ah, so I can't claim "cat lover" on my spiritual resume? Oh well

A good illustration of why you've got to go with what feels right to you... Do your research, and do what feels right. Everyone has their own way of how they justify what they think is ok and not ok to themselves. What they rationalize in their mind may not make much sense to you.

Btw, what does cat lovin' have to do with anything? I'm genuinely curious...

I've had puffy eyes since I was little. Im a goner! Seriously though I've always wondered about it. My guess is that it has something to do with a low level allergy I'm not aware of. It also runs in my family.

Keep us updated. I may happen to be in the area, and if so, I'd definitely stop in.

Interesting how someone needs to be "up to your standards" to have a point worth listening to. I do my best to live a respectful, honest life, but I'd hate for someone to scour over all my life failures and mistakes and use their conclusion on that to decide if I have anything worthy to say about society. None of us would be able to worry about this kind of stuff if we weren't ALL living in the most privileged time in history. I grew up lower-middle class. Maybe middle class. And looking back, I have always led a very privileged life. Doesn't mean I lose the right to stand up against oppression on any level I find it at. I would think that on a forum like this, we wouldn't be so dismissive of an idea based simply on our insignificant judgement of the character presenting it.

Don't remember the exact line, but something about "walking around with a halo on a stick poking your patience"...comes to mind

I'm pretty loose... If previously boiled water is sitting in the kettle, I put fresh (filtered) water in before boiling it for new tea. If I'm using a teapot, each infusion is slightly longer than the last. I mostly drink my tea in a pint glass or coffee mug. Tea thrown in the bottom, boiling (or almost boiling, if it's green tea) water poured on top. Usually the tea sinks by the time it's cooled down enough for me to drink. Refill with water when it gets down to about 1/4. Keep doing this until the leaves start tasting "spent", or you only taste water. With green that's usually 3-4 times. Oolong a few more times. With puer, I'm in the habit of pouring out the first infusion (down the drain), and drinking the rest of the infusions.