BaguaKicksAss

For some odd reason I haven't experienced this since I started asking Buddhist questions? I've found y'all to be extremely patient with my questionings, even the ones where I was probably pushing it, to try to understand better. I'm actually quite surprised at the level of patience around here . However, I remember when I was on staff, and I seem to remember things quite differently in the Buddhist sections then lololol. I think the difference is now I just avoid threads past a few pages in in the Buddhist sections... well most sections actually . Contemplating it for a moment, I realize it is probably the same as me and in person. There are people who I cannot stand to be around in spiritual discussion because they have been ranting on about the same thing for the past 10 years. I have been in discussion groups with them for this long. However, all the new folks, who have only known said person for 3-4 discussions at most, think he's awesome, a little annoying, but awesome. Anyways, the kindness of a few here fortunately outweighs the regular back and forth over debating, for me .

Now the internet... that is another universe entirely ROFL.

ZOOM, thank you for the interesting questions, and thank you very much asunthatneversets and others for being so patient with him and replying to each one . Good info all around. It is also helping my understanding a little. Also, I realize how fortunate I am. Here we have MANY dharma centers. All of differing quality of course, but some with some decent lineages even. We also have some teachers, who just teach one on one, who specialize in certain aspects/training. I guess I would have to agree that reading about the practices and information about the path in books is not even close to having it explained in person, or the practices taught in person. Though I like reading the books, they are interesting and lead to some insights; I like the sutras better though, more direct. Still... something definitely quite different about the in person teaching, and I haven't even taken refuge (there is a lot they will share with folks who haven't (I am still deciding whether I wish to or not).

I personally feel that ALL energetic and spiritual practices need this to A. get the real deal and B. to get the energetic part of it C. so they can let if you know if/when you have your head up your... assumptions . So at a guess, Buddhist stuff would need this too. However, books are big business, so no one beleives it .

Modern Hermetic Kabbalah is quite a bit different than any of the older Kabbalah actually . Now taking a guess, that inverted tree stuff is newfangled too?

Seth you are reminding me of the very first time I walked into an occult store. The second sentence from the shop keep was that he is a reincarnation of Merlin... Also Seeker of the Tao, as I understand it from looking at that site, you do get a bit of feedback from the teachers.. so I'm sure after you have been working with the exercises for a bit, if you are still not quite sure, you can always ask. Definitely a good thing to have guidance along the path. Of course many of the newagers mentioned by Seth also had teachers, but weekend workshops mostly .

This thread has been going 10 days now, anyone vanished?

Pine needles, sap and nuts are all on many lists of eat regularly . It's difficult to find resin without loads of gunk in it, and it can catch fire very easily when you heat it! Working on a way to get around this... Pine needles, perhaps in a salad? Mycology know how is handy too!

It's obvious.... You are going through menopause. Sorry. Will go back to work now....

Those come about a loooong time before enlightenment . I've met a few folks I figure are enlightened, or at least a good deal of the way there. The one guy can't even learn English faster than the average person! The other one had to go to school to learn his mundane trade like the rest of us. That super memory superpower though, I'd be sooo on board for that one .

Hmmm, what the governments would do with it is not something I personally would want to see. I wonder if due to all the striving, less people would actually end up enlightened? What we chase after often is what eludes us the most .

But can ferrets become enlightened? (I just like to ask fun questions, no really don't spend time/effort replying to them all, especially this one lol)

Just now a local fb friend posted this: http://www.iflscience.com/physics/%E2%80%9Cquantum-cheshire-cat%E2%80%9D-phenomenon-observed-first-time and http://www.tuhh.de/rzt/rzt/it/QM/cat.html#sect5 Interesting stuff. I guess the universe heard me thinking again .

http://vimeo.com/101882592

Awesome link, thank you! Makes perfect sense with how I've seen things work (within my practice) to me . Some fun analogies which seemed obvious to me with a quick read... 1. The whole alternate versions of "us" and "here" all existing at once, unlimited numbers of such. 2. Hmmm some sort of like attracts like regarding energies sort of thing. Also the lining up of the energies during a working. 3. Link objects . How a piece of someone's hair can be used for a spell, thousands of miles away from them (more affectively if no piece of hair). 4. Hmm, portals? Slight shiftings within the temple?

It's not the what ifs who get to me (fortunately I don't know many of them) it is those who state things as fact. "such and such WILL happen if you do such and such", "you can't do such and such".

This guy is pretty good at it

Anyone remember the physics experiments where what the researchers assumed the outcome would be, actually changed what the molecules were up to? It actually changed the end results. Unfortunately I don't remember enough about it to find the study. Also I don't know enough about physics to even think of what to search for. This was brought up in one of my university biology classes back in about 94'....

Ken, here is a thread you may find interesting . Discussion of science relating to alchemy, and how scientific thought has changed over time: http://thetaobums.com/topic/35597-historical-connection-between-eastern-and-western-alchemy/page-4 (I mean to read, not to tell them they are all imagining things ).

OK don't post on TTBs until fully awake, got it .

Hmmm Ask the tree what its leaves and bark are good for in magic. Then take some home and try it out to see if you perceived correctly. It just takes practice over time to figure out which is you and which is not you. If the tree is speaking in your usual manner of speaking it could be suspect. Also no thoughts at all during the exercise helps .

Interesting article, thank you . Though I feel he's talking about the smaller abyss here, the one just before Tiphereth (if using a ceremonial magick version tree of life map). The 10 years minimum part also confirms this, as 12-15 years seems a common time for that particular experience, from what I have seen from several magicians. (though some who practice less or are in no hurry it may take longer). I would be curious to see what he thinks of his experiences in say 10 years after the fact. (It's entirely possible he did write this 10 years after the fact, but I don't think so). On a different topic, I'm not sure what he means by returning. I feel you don't ever "return" from such things. Though it is very likely it is just the wording I'm at odds with, not the actual concept. I figure he just means "afterwards". If we return, we are sort of going backwards, due to the experience being a bit much or whatever. Also, what he describes happens all the time throughout the magician's practice, just of varying degrees . If this sort of thing does not happen at least a few times along the path, you are likely not doing the work, imo. I mean to lesser degrees than crossing any abysses, but still quite profound. If one has not going through a complete transformation at least a few times, some more inner work is needed, IMO. While no formal ritual is needed for the KCHGA, to fully get rid of "self" fully and for long enough to fully unite with one's HGA something more than self directed is required, again from my experience and all I've seen. I've known a lot of magicians.... Crossing the abyss, hmmm, after reading ZYD's thoughts on the matter, I think perhaps taking a boat over instead of hiking down into the vast ravine, then back up, might be a better approach .

Actually I feel it is the scientific community who is ignorant.

About 10 years ago I was taught about the whole bigu thing (please lets not turn the thread into my supposed improper use of the term this time, thanks). I was told that beans were fine. However on the otherhand, I was also told that it was all about foods which one could naturally obtain as an immortal in the mountains (long term goals I guess ). This came about when I asked about other grains such as quinoa, beans and also about beef jerky. There is also that whole furnace god thing, about cooked grains.... But on the otherhand, each of those Chinese folks who live to be over 100 are asked what they eat, and most include rice in their diet.... I pretty much live on nuts, fresh fruit, and meat. Perhaps that should be fish, but no one is perfect right? I still cheat and have 2 meals per week with grains, corn tortillas or rice. I love gorbanzo beans, so often I will eat those instead of meat. I don't feel nearly as good when I eat rice or rice base noodles, and since rice if the main food they put you on for the elimination diet (starting eating only rice, chicken and peas) to see which foods work well with you and which don't, I doubt it's an allergy thing. Sooo notice that whole brain fog that you used to get once in awhile doesn't happen anymore? I think I'm going to get more beans.

Again, confirmation that I'm truly enlightened.... especially when I'm out hiking .