Songtsan

I always thought that there is a valid answer for 'what is the sound of one hand clapping' and that that was simply that it is 'whatever sound that one hand clapping makes' Its important to know the definitions of the words used in koans...in this case 'clap' can be defined as "to strike with the flat of the hand in a friendly way clapped his friend on the shoulder" in which case one can clap one hand onto anything, including the air itself....

Yeah I am still in the mode of trying to change people who don't want to change...but I see myself doing it all the time...sometimes I absorb the potential, sometimes not - but I aim to transcend...so I should soon hopefully. Even a flexible rod trying to break open a large, dense rock can snap - so flexible rods should stick with meddling with other flexible things. This is all really awesome advice you are giving. I am taking it to heart.

choose the path of greatest benefit, for time is a-wasting....or also: Don't wrestle with the bears, because they are big and heavy, work on the small ones.

Also, if you ever hear voices repeating in your head - usually they are describing your own subtle projections coming from the subconscious mind....Realize this and watch that mind creating those things.

Visualize your work in progress as Golden!

I haven't seen an "I love Lucy" in over 20 years.... brings back a bunch of other shows like "Laverne and Shirley", "Three's Company", etc.

Mind-stopper! Zen koan - puzzle to produce mind fatigue...the contemplation of something that is that hard to create a connection within the mind will either break the mind through to a new you and mind stoppage, or tire the brain out.

Below are some threads I posted on Kundalini - should be some interesting stuff in there... My take is that one should allow the kriyas, but not necessarily act on them - meaning, don't trust them, but surrender to them! Sounds a little contradictory I know, but basically, since most of the stuff is subconscious energy being pushed to the surface, are you going to listen to your sleepy dreamy self? I wouldn't! You might get in trouble....On occasions though, the Kundalini will do something that is NOT you - to remind you that it is real and not just you. Kundalini will tear your ego to shreds - following it like a blind man can get you in trouble as I said. The Tantrikas view Kundalini as Maya, leading people forward with her hand covering your eyes. The Tantrikas allow Kundalini to lead them, but they try to remove her hand from their eyes. Do not be a blind follower - but be a follower still! The reason why a lot of the stuff coming up seems so mechanical is because it is a technique she uses to constantly reveal your self to you...she will say the same things over and over, because the things she says are you. She will keep up the redundancy until you finally realize that the things coming up are you - which is why some of it repeats. It is simply that you haven't yet brought those parts into the true awareness of your fully open wisdom eye. Until you do, you will be faced with them over and over. Hell is repetition. It is very common to hear words that you did not know also - there is a reason behind this, but i do not want to give too much away. I wouldn't want to handicap her work. http://thetaobums.com/topic/30131-shakti-is-definitely-me-but-definitely-not-me/ http://thetaobums.com/topic/29788-on-kundalini-and-thought-constructs/ http://thetaobums.com/topic/30150-what-to-do-when-the-dark-night-of-the-soul-hits/ http://thetaobums.com/topic/30824-kundalini/

Remember that although it is intelligent and active, it is still simply driving your subconscious desires to the surface...so they are of necessity things of an unawake nature, given that they are of things that are 'asleep' in you. This is why they seem mechanical - it is because they are of your own subconscious. I will have more to say on this later, but I must leave the house right now.

The orange is going to become eaten no matter what. Either way, the orange dies!

we are what we are, and are we not all one, yet at the same time, not? How about this. If I gave you an orange and you were me, would you eat the orange, or give it back to your self?

awesome! As Deci Belle says: people are always trying to defend their shitty scenes...my goal is to drop shitty scene after shitty scene until the best and most awesome everchanging scene arises..

Here is another cool idea: instead of having a 'what are you listening to thread' etc. there should be some kind of music collective spot where everyone puts their favorite music for cultivation, stimulation of energy, etc. divided into genres so that people could easily locate and find their type of stuff. Mainly youtube video based, but other places that have music too could be there - not necesarily the full URL, just the link - so it doesn't take up too much space - this way, everyone could place their music in the proper category, and we could all surf it and find our own best stuff. I could help organize this as I am a music-o-phile...

The energy involved in all of those things though is miraculous and should be cultivated and never feared - use it! Put it to work! Great stuff...wise minds do great magic with it, lesser minds make a big (vain)glorious mess!

me neither - as I said, if someone is willing to be ego-bashed, I will take up the bashing stick - we can each have one and have at it! I have learned recently though that bashing those that do not want to be bashed will simply make them hate you - they will run away and be confused, and then the co-learning will not occur for some time.

I would gladly GIVE my ego away! any takers? I will sell my ego to the devil - he can have it and everyone else's...we can keep our souls and have a big party till the death of dawn!

lol it is! A fight of illusionary selves trying to prove their illusionary stances. Nothing wrong with a fight at all IMO. Who wants to duel?

hmm...could be communication misunderstanding thingy...i was referring to ending up in a fight with those who feel confident in their ignorance. If you keep trying to educate them and they keep trying to educate you thinking that they are right (let's assume that you are the one that is really right, for sake of conversation), you will simply end up butting heads and making them angry at you....in that case sometimes it is better to stand in emptiness and wait for the opportune moment to arise to strike them where it will actually make a difference. Forgive me if I am still misconstruing your meaning - I am not very grounded at this time.

That is the way of the flower and the leaf. The way of the sword and the thorn is more gregarious and playful, and involves much debate and self-effacement. The master recognizes his students true potential and uses any means necessary to prove it to them(selves).

Kundalini itself is the final authority on Kundalini...until the Kundalini becomes you, then you are the final authority.

Not so much calm as focus the energy. It isn't about reducing, it is about channeling. Move the energy to where it makes sense to move it. Letting it bounce around the head will lead to anxiety and tricky mind states. Finding an outlet for it will make it pure and good.

They can be! In a tiger family, little tiger cubs certainly will be humble before the bigger tigers!

I think that way sometimes...but if someone is not ready to learn, are you going to force the learning on them? Maybe if they are your children, or your students. First, however, there must be an agreement to become your student, before you can become the mean overseer. Otherwise, you are just being a tyrant. I have been making this mistake all of my life and very recently. It is not in accord with the Tao.

makes good sense. You have humbled me! (seriously)

yes - I agree wholeheartedly - in fact, I am going to a little Zen retreat this weekend - can't wait! I don't think they use the stick though..