Rara

Are you content knowing that work of yours is not a job, but that it is "just what you do?" Are you working towards mastery in your daily activities. If so, then according to Chuang Tzu, you could be on to something. My path is inevitably kicking things out of my life and there is nothing I can do about it. If I resist, I get sick so I'm just leaving myself to become (I feel like the hard searching is done and now the flower is popping its head out of the ground) I do not categorise anymore...work, training, martial arts, playing musical instruments, play, socialising, meditation, taking a shower, cooking...it's all a part of the same thing now. So it sounds to me that your questions are leading you to the right places

And no, to the question too. I'm not proud of it, but one time I sprayed a load of ants infesting my house. As several died, I witnessed survivors running back to try and wake their dead friends up. Failing, they picked them up on their backs and took them away. If that's not personality, then what is? Disclaimer: That moment changed me forever and I have not (consciously) hurt a living thing since.

Ah, this post reminds me of my favourite film - The Crow

Seems that the natural priority is in place. It is easier to feel happy for something that you genuinely have an emotional attachment to. In your case, you kids! Which is great btw Seems that you have outgrown the interests of old. I struggle endlessly with this sort of thing, professionally. Smile and nod politely. "Very good for you!". If they ask why you are lifeless, just be honest "well, it's just not really my interest any more". We change when we get older. Not by choice...and if we resist the change, we just end up unhappy.

I climbed to the top of the moors a few miles away with my girlfriend today at 8am and sat mindfully for over an hour while the eclipse did its thing. It was lovely to take time out before starting a job...just to remember what it is to just be! I have felt grounded since...but I would say this is more down to the nature of how I decided to treat the morning. I took a few photos...hopefully I can upload them on this thread if I get behind a PC?

This sentence would not sit well if spoken to someone of another religion haha.

I met Tao in my early 20s and certainly have learnt how my head and uncontrolled sex drive were responsible for a lot of my "problems".

Love this! It's how I prefer to talk about things such as qi...always relating back to a practical example

I practiced zazen for a while a few years back. While the method was good for concentration and awareness, I did find myself becoming very sad a lot of the time. Some people said it wasgood for me. The problem was, it wouldn't subside!

Wow...I must read the OP in more detail when I get a chance

Funny, I've been pondering this about all sorts of things. Religion is one, Wing Chun also...two big examples that I have had a lot of experience with. Of course, the examples are endless. A teacher will pass things down directly to everyone BUT the keenest of students put enough work in to fully understand what is being taught. How many in any classroom come over as "keen"? A very small percentage. Someone that doesn't put the correct amount of time into their study or practice will never be able to learn everything there is to know...it's mathematically impossible! These people build on their own half-baked understanding. Of course, these are also wanting to teach so end up selling a lot of misunderstood teachings. Who's gonna stop em eh?

Lol

I'm starting to recognise...maybe it is my career that is messing me up. Evidently, what we choose to do daily, is the practice that shapes us into what we are. I've been in entertainment, full time, for nearly 5 years, but my anxieties have really been present for almost 10. It was easy when I was young...I was sheltered and had little responsibility. I was still in the same field (about to leave school so still developing) when I started losing sleep and I guess that was because I realised, but would never admit to myself, that I was setting myself up for lack of stability and a lot of stress. All for the purpose of "doing something fun with my life". I think the fun has been over ridden. Last year was the best, but this year, things have quietened down and I feel like I'm back to stage one. I now inevitably practice mindlessness every day, because I am desparate for clients. Phone calls here and there, one half-sent email, there goes my twitter, then more calls, finish that email etc etc. It's all "business related", but scrappy as hell. I'm on a TV set tomorrow and I don't even know what time I start and finish until late afternoon today. How can one ground oneself with a lifestyle like this?? Nothing is focused, there is too much juggling and I don't think I'm alone in the world here. At the same time, I could carry on with all those in the same boat and we could all be mindless wrecks together, or I could exit stage right and take a new path. If anybody else has been in my shoes, I would love to hear from you. Bless.

You mean, for example, it is disrespectul to actual first world problems i.e homelessness etc?

It's not so much any of that... The phrase is used to belittle the "problems" of the "priveliged". A teenager in the first world might cry if they don't get their pony...whereas a starving child of the third world seems to not kick up such a fuss despite being more disadvantaged. Sorry for the stereotype...just easier to explain this way.

"She" was perhaps the girl you dated. Or she was a different girl. Or a metaphor...it doesn't really matter. What does matter is, even just take it as an analogy...I guarantee that this is a universal truth for all your relationships. A lot of the time, we are incompatible with each others' expectations...note, not incompatable with each other. So, your reaction from anything that "bad"...well..why not explore what happened before said split. What turned sour? Why so? Could you have been more accepting? Even if she was a major bitch, at least you could say "hey, at least I'm away from that and I know what I'm looking for in future". This stuff takes time though...it's all a part of the cultivation process. Even I was still arguing with my mum at Christmas and had to put a post out on here...but I do know is that in the last 4 years, I've come a long way. Ok, so Tao Te Ching went down well As you like reading and need some immediate practical advice rather than flowery texts, I recommend "Teach yourself to meditate"...I forgot the author though so when I look it up, I will let you know. The content covered in there is for beginners and it helped me a lot when I first began serious practice. What I encourage you to do is to carry your meditation out in every day life. If your focus is weak first thing in the morning (makes sense...sleep is funky on the brain) don't let that stop you. But try five mins before bed. Try being in the moment when you pour milk on your cereal. Avoid TV when eating dinner. Engage fully in conversations when you have them (no looking at your phone if a Facebook update pops up) You get the idea EDIT: Teach Yourself to Meditate by Eric Harrison Also, don't be afraid to put out another post on here about the meditation techniques...I'm just one dude

On the subject of meditation, this is what I have been doing all day. Job 1 went by very well and I made it back in good time to do reports/emails. I managed lunch and then took a bus into town ready for teaching. Interchange time and bus 2 to get me to class is 10 mins late. So now I am 10 mins late for my own class. Situation out of my control, today I am choosing not to stress and just breathe. Come whatever may. This doesn't change the fact that my current career is too much for me and impractical.

Ignoring the link...let me guess... This is to do with that Mak dude, right?

Great post! In fact, an element of my own opinion in here which clearly I forgot about. I must remember that the Tao is "my Tao"...my journey, my path, my way. Not giving a shit and letting go...the true universal Way. But we all go about this differently anyway.

I like this a lot! If anything, I am addicted to overloading myself...it's my business after all. This is what I see is the destructive element. Not giving myself recovery time and space. This needs to change regardless. I don't think I will ever reduce the high level of activity, I just need a change of scenery.

Spot on! However, I many people that I have to work with are generally superficial...materialistically and competitively. I care for neither these days so I suppose I might have "outgrown" the environment. I guess I've been playing the same game for so long now that I'm a vit bored. It doesn't seem to be going anywhere else now...last year was its peak, I feel.

Oh absolutely. Now doubt, this is what got me in to practicing in the first place...it keeps me on the path. So many other debauched lives out there, it's so easy to fall in! I'm open about my meditation and martial arts practice. I do lots of marketing and clients know first thing that I'm not a materialistic guy. They just need to know that I like the game and play it well ... as long as the job gets done to a decent quality, it doesn't bother them how I am. The thing that needs tweaking is ensuring that I cultivate 24/7, rather than at intervals. Nice to hear your thoughts Malikshreds! I am very contemplative now

And now you can charge said phone with "Qi"! XD

Lol, did you see my "what does Qi Cultivation mean to you" thread? That answer right there was so appropriate.

Well, yes! It's all well and good me talking about breathing and dan tien etc but admittedly, I'm still a bit "manic panic"...as I say, it comes with the industry. It's quite intense. And I get that! The moment I am practicing, people say "what's wrong?". Either I'm doing something wrong that makes me look miserable...or perhaps it's just them. Either way, I can't be bothered to keep smiling and jumping up and down every day anymore. If the industry needs that from me then they will have to be a bit disappointed in future.