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How it unfolded, and will continue to unfold is unique to the individual. It is what it is - the fruits of realisation have so many flavours, which is what makes it so profoundly delicious. As observers, all we can hope for is to learn of others' experiences, ideally with an open mind and heart. We love making comparisons, and in comparing, there is an immediate appeal to return to the intellect. The intellect, being limited in its scope, naturally, can only comprehend the enlightening experience to a certain point, never beyond, before it seeks some sort of validation as to its own supremacy, albeit in vain, much like a dog chasing its own tail. First everything appears real, then it all seems dream-like, then finally, with the utmost clarity, one simultaneously sees both in all and nothing.

Fine, lets hijack it. What night time/Sleep Qi gong things do you do? Me. Not too much lately, doing dream work tends to make my insomnia flare up. Sometimes I'll 'feel' energy running up my pinkie to my shoulder then down to my little toe, then circulate up the next finger to the next toe, until its up my thumb and circulates down to my big toe. Don't where I got that from other then the thought sending energy 'down' helps one fall asleep. I keep a dream journal by my bed, and on waking I'll stay in a twilight state and do healthful affirmations sending thoughts of healing and rejuvenation to different parts of my body.

Thank you... reciprocated! Well, the only thing I could do is say what it is that I, personally, am doing -- I don't have a universal recipe. Here's how I go about it: 1. Try to stay informed, and take the time and patience to contemplate and analyze the information -- don't buy everything, don't reject everything, just let it accumulate into a hypersaturated solution and crystallize into some clear understanding eventually. Things you hear, things you notice, indirect evidence, direct experience, the 'feel' of things... how does it feel to be lined up and shot... no wait, not shot, I mean, searched... at the airport, e.g.? how does it feel to be handled impersonally, like an object, by an impersonal, objectified machine -- by people who are paid to not behave as people, by systems that don't behave any other way than automatically -- how does if feel to be reduced to an object of handling which the machine is set up to crush the second this object tries to exhibit human feelings, human behavior?.. 2. Invest in metaphysical solutions, but don't place all your eggs in this particular basket. Learn to be strong inside, try to be strong externally to the extent possible. Work on that because the machine crushes weakness first, doesn't mean it can't crush strength if it's a big enough mean enough machine... but still... Don't set yourself up to go quietly into the night. This is spiritual death with or without physical one, far as I'm concerned. 3. Play it by ear, be alert, try to visualize what it is that you, personally, would be able to do for yourself and your loved ones in the worst case scenario. E.g., I had a dream. I call it The Dream of the Red Suitcase. In that dream, the worst case scenario started unfolding and I wasn't ready, which was symbolized by a Red Suitcase that I should have packed long ago for just such a possibility, and when I rushed to grab it, with the last-escape route about to close within minutes, turned out my Red Suitcase was lying there in the middle of my bedroom, open, only half packed, with stuff that was supposed to go in it strewn about, with no chance I could possibly have enough time to pack it now. So... if you get a lesson like that from whatever source -- say your higher self -- pay attention and do something about it... What exactly, I don't know. I don't even know yet what it is exactly that goes into my own Red Suitcase... Try to figure out what it is that must go into yours, and take it from there?..

Hi Marblehead, In and out of bikinis? Very revealing and suggestive. Now my lucid and fertile imagination is on high octane; and my mind and body have gone into high gear. Nothing is near or far anymore. Everything is into the moment. Which is which? In bikinis - yin and out of bikinis - yang? Or vice versa? Will not post for a while. Why? Going straight into the MOMENT (hot!). You are barred from my moment; but you can keep on banning. Wow what e c s t a s i e s ... Dream on, brother! - LimA (please do not disturb)

Yeah, and what next? Fly to America in a dream to receive transmission? It seems to be that UK is the third world. No any high level seminars, NOTHING serious in this part of the world. Only mumbo yumbo chikungs. Everything in the States. I was interested in GOT but I wont go to the States. Only if in a dream...

I was doing an exercise where I write every thought down and look at it seeing how it could be innaccurate, It was quite a profound experience. Got me to the point where even what I think I see and feel could just be a dream. So when I was dreaming, I started doing this too, and lucid dreamt for the first time. I have several books about lucid dreaming/astral projection but consider it quite outside my abilities to even bother with yet, Im pretty sure Ive experienced another dimension under peyote and telepathy and OBE. Can anyone astral project/lucid dream, how do you do it, do you think its worth doing or easy?

Treating everything you perceive as a dream is an absolute bodhicitta lojong that helps uncover the barriers built against revealing ignorance. Keep in mind,...the 6 senses (seeing, hearing, taste, smell, touch or thought) cannot observe the real Present,...but can only witness the past. Everything seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled, or thought, is in the past,...thus of the dream which those senses perceive. Unfortunately, most Buddhist religious folks reject the above,...not because it isn't found in the sutras, especially the Prajnaparimita one's,...but apparently because the Lineage Holders since the 13th Century have adopted Long Path values,..that is, belief and faith. Sakyamuni claimed to be in the Present through the term "Tathagata"...that which neither comes or goes. The term Tathagata is synonymous with Tao. As Lao-zu said, "the Tao doesn't come and go." What doesn't Come or Go is synonymous with Light,...not the light of the electrodynamic spectrum,....but from the fulcrum upon which the electrodynamic spectrum effects its motion,...that is, the Still Light realized at 186k mps. Remember,...from the point of view Light at 186K mps,...it travels no distance, in no time, and has no need of speed. From a physics point of view, although E= mc² is readily agreed upon; nearly no one recognizes light's point of view that mc² < c. All energy is less than the Stillness of Undivided Light. 　 The Buddhists have a story about Shakyamuni Buddha and Angulimala, the wearer of a garland of fingers. Angulimala was a notorious bandit who cut off a finger from each of his victims and wore them all around his neck. Although there are several variations of the story, the punch line is nearly the same. One day, Buddha, the Light of Asia, was walking calmly along a road in the Kingdom of Kosala, where Angulimala was seeking his next victim. Seeing Buddha, Angulimala ran up to bash him from behind, yet he could not get close enough, and the faster he went, the Awakened One seemed to go that much faster. Infuriated and bewildered at not being able to catch him, Angulimala shouted for Buddha to stop. The Light of Asia replied,"But I’m standing still. If you desire to catch me, you too must be still." This is where oral traditions, especially Theravada ones, go off into different invented morals. The true pearl in the tale is that no matter how fast you move to catch light, light will always be 299,792 kilometers per second faster. Undivided light can only be caught through stillness. Did the Light of Asia understand Light? Certainly! And if physics was more commonplace in those days, he most likely would have use such a topic.

apples are carbs as well as being fruit. so are carrots constituting carb as well as being a vegable. to avoid carbs is unpossible. IT JUST ISNT POSSIBLE>> Dream the impossible dream even sprouts are carby and just dont even think about denying it, it's USELESS

ppl please. is there a garden variety or is it more like fishing you haven't got one until it is in the boat maybe it was just a dream of having one now anxiety it was not that big if you have run out then can I order one in rules what rules thankyou

I got the Kunlun book last night. I read a few pages. It was very good so far. I also had a weird dream about Max last night. It happened in a university campus. I was buying dinner(fish) in the cafeteria. A bold stocky man in tradition Chinese suit showed up and started teaching. I knew it was Max. I introduced myself after his teaching. We walked down a flight of stairs. I told him that I might have two kundalini awakening episodes. He turned around, clawed my skull with his single hand. It was painful. He told me that my head bone structure was good, whatever that meant. We kept walking. Max turned into a Chinese guy with full head of hair and told me that he needed a bath. It tuned out he went to a barber shop to get a hair cut. Some other members also mentioned he dreamed of Max after receiving his book. Could be my dream a result of auto sugguestion? Anyway, It may be a sign that I should walk with Max for a while.

I have been mulling this over. Could be an advantage as I know I feast on my dream images and visualizations like a glutton at table full of pork.

so many types of prisons so many types of slavery I dearly appreciate the scenes between Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Hamlet. This little exchange is so densely packed with layered meanings for me... incredible stuff. time to reread it again. Guildenstern: Prison my Lord? Hamlet: Denmark is a prison. Rosencrantz: Why then your ambition makes it one. 'Tis too narrow for your mind. Hamlet: O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space—were it not that I have bad dreams. Guildenstern: Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.

i believe i have accomplished it once or twice. my only proof being that i went to a grocery store and read ingredients on a label and got them correct when i verified the next day. Basically what happens to me when i did it, is that i catch myself in the half awake half asleep state. i was completely aware of my body and its sensations, but i was in an extremely vivid lucid dream. Other times i was just asleep. the part of me that is traveling doesn't have a body but is just a point, and i can see more around me than in my body i did it by pulling energy/blood to my brain before going to sleep, and i got results in 1-2 months with lucidity constantly increasing as long as i never missed a day. i learned how to do this here: http://www.jamesclai...occult.html Honestly i think just doing the first one alone is good for the first half a year to a year, the other ones can be a little too much to handle. Also don't do this if you can't lower energy out of the head PERFECTLY on command. It will work. You will lucid dream and astral project, but during the day you will be constantly tripping and cause yourself a lot of grief. If you aren't prepared for this YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF. You will feel like crap and you wont get restful sleep. But i believe in letting people make their own mistakes so if you are going to do it anyways, PM me and i'll give you all i know about damage prevention in this practice, but i haven't mastered it and that's why i don't do it anymore. Edit - for some reason TTB doesn't like that link, and you have to click another link on the page it takes you to. Or just google "james clair lewis, mental yoga, occult exercises" Edit again - okay now it is working? wth...

Thanks for your clarification morning dew: It's not that I missed this, or you disdain for the video, but that I did not think that it was strong enough: it should be obvious that we would all (Roosh included) be shooting ourselves in the foot: Yes, I agree it should be obvious, but it isn't, otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion at all would we? And the fact that it is not obvious is why we should condemn this type of attitude in the strongest possible way, which is what I set out to do, though since most people have no idea of the influence of Plato on whatever was and is best about Western Culture, it could not be as strong as it should have been, or should be, but that ignorance is not my fault and much as I would like to rectify it, and tried to do so in Plato and Platonism 101, and other posts on Dao Bums, it is simply an uphill job when people confuse Philosophy as Plato and the Platonist envisioned it with the pale, insipid nonsense of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century "intellectualism". What Plato is talking about is the equality of "Souls", and not the "gender roles" which which the "secondary causes" created through evolution in the process of evolving bodies for those "Souls" to achieve "self-realization" by conscious action in the world. It is this opportunity to waken from the "bardo dream state", to use Buddhist terminology, which is offered by incarnation, and it is the struggle to awaken which is the great struggle and challenge of human life, and one which regrettably, most people fail, and fail for a variety of reasons, but they are certainly not being helped by the sexist nonsense of "SeekerofHealing", who in his opening post on the welcome page said this: before his own emotional blocks and problems reasserted themselves, and he became "GiverofBadAdvice", a person who seems to have learned nothing from two suspensions and stands on the precipice of being banned, for reasons which I am sure he will not be able to comprehend. I am going to take advantage of this opportunity to repeat my link to: Why are women being educated? and urge people who haven't already, to read the whole series, its not as easy as watching a Video, but it is worth the time and effort.

This is an interesting little section and discussion on it. I'm not really familiar with this part of the book; I was a little surprised to see ZZ getting theological. Perhaps this part (and others) are specifically designed to work either way, i.e. religious or materialist/philosophical interpretations, reflecting the uncertainty/scepticism of the butterfly dream from earlier chapters? Perhaps, ZZ didn't even have an opinion either way and left it open to people to decide? I'm not sure, just speculating.

Honestly, the exercise I described above has been working pretty consistently now... It helps me "get out of my head" (literally), but it's also kind of a curious experience that requires my attention. It's kind of trippy and dream like in itself... I used to do Yoga Nidra but it only worked a few times. What does work, ironically is imaging myself actually doing yoga poses.! Again, it distracts me from my thoughts, and also induces a feeling of relaxation. But shooting energy out of the top of my head and then merging my aura with everything is working better than that. I guess there's no equivalent orbit in Daoism

I wonder if by embodying the energetic frequency of Jesus' name, I ponder if one's capable of projecting astral bolts of Zeus' fame? "Do you know how to write? Do you know how to read?
 Do you know how to tint? Do you know how to try? 
Do you know how to ask? Do you know how to offer?
 Do you know how to send? Do you know how to slaughter? A tenth as well; if malicious little witches I see At play up in the air, I work it so their way they lose, Their hamas they lose, their homes can’t find. (I know a tenth: If troublesome ghosts Ride the rafters aloft, I can work it so they wander astray, Unable to find their forms, Unable to find their homes.) " Listen to this radio show about the Tchoa-Tchoa (spelling) considered to be Asian pygmies and malevolent fae for a compass bearing on the amplification of the 'alien' and 'negative spirit' psy-op phenomena... information on them is quite hard to come by.. The topic is discussed at 1hour 25minutes through to the end of the broadcast. He talks about them in more detail on other transmissions and interviews. Happy hunting. https://youtu.be/nHFBuqZiLxA Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.... And the world is a small place.... "“There are two classes of fairies, the Dundonians, that are like ourselves, and another race, more wicked and more spiteful.” So says the west Irish peasant. The Maori has their counterparts, the fairy woodsman and the fierce malevolent Maero." Believe it or don't, it is up to you - my source is one you will not find anywhere on the internet. Some of the stories hold truth, though most are full of fallacies and outright imaginative dramatisation. Patupaiarehe are not extinct, but there are few left. They avoid humans through distrust. They are a peaceful race, and they were attacked with no provocation. Humans have only gotten more warlike in their eyes and they want little to nothing to do with us. Although some rare few may still be able to approach and communicate, I wouldn't advise it. If you see one and it doesn't flee, do not approach. Wait until they either approach or leave. Avoid aggression at all cost. They have learned to protect themselves in manners we could not fathom. Although they do not originate from New Zealand, they were the first settlers that could be classed as even somewhat human, though they are not human, they are one of the many Fae races - one of the oldest (YouTube 'New Zealand skeletons in the closet' for a segment where an archaeologist had 4ft 'human' remains dnanalyzed- same genetics as people in Wales 3,500 b.c... Hmmmm. The whole operation was closed and all findings locked away until 2063) and they still have their power. Those who arrived in New Zealand, the ones now known as Maori, were not so originally. They were Polynesian; when Patupaiarehe and the Polynesian humans mated, they created Maori. Maori can be considered half human, half Fae. I an told that not all Maori as we know them now are Maori to Patupaiarehe. Patupaiarehe only consider those who share their bloodline (no matter how little of that blood is there) to be true Maori. The rest, to them are still considered Polynesian. This is all I Have been told, as it is all I am allowed to share. I hope this may help some of you in further understanding, and in the case you chance a physical encounter or become lucid to your subconscious dream intrusions.

While this is true, we can attain a state such that we no longer dream. Chuang Tzu spoke to this.

Pre-requisites of Enlightenment: Given the various contributions in this thread, I had to ask for a clearer definition of what this ‘enlightenment’ was supposed to mean in the original post. The reply in #70 stated a slew of what enlightenment was meant by original contributor kaverni. I agreed with SeekerofHealing that there was no common ground as to what enlightenment is amongst those religions. From the old Oxford Dictionary, enlightenment means, “free from ignorance, prejudice, superstition, etc” and “the period (18th Century) when men believed that reason, and science (and not religion) would advance human progress”. In thread #1, what it said here hinged on Buddhist beliefs. And, I shall restrict my reply based on my Buddhist beliefs. #1: They say animals cannot get enlightened because they lack the necessary faculty. Only in human form it is possible. It has been said, even devas/angels have to take human birth to attain liberation. (Comment: There are within Buddhist belief, 6 realms of existence, and the animal realm is one of them. According to the birth stories of The Buddha, he was an animal for a few times in his previous births. Before his last birth, He was a deva in the Tusita Heaven.) Made me wonder, if I have to make a prerequisites list for liberation, what would it include. I am starting with the assumption, it has to be human. I welcome challenges against this also. What else is absolutely needed? #13 They = some sources I have read or heard, that makes some sense with what I observe outside. This is also the general belief. Science would confirm that Animals lack faculties that humans possess. Whether those faculties(#1, Does, health, functions of organs, energy, kundalini any of this are pre-requisites?) are enough to get enlightened, this is the question. #14 Is the transfer of Consciousness, enlightenment? Is the ‘bubble’ Consciousness? Every one does not get such transferred consciousness. So, what is the basic thing needed. For a bubble to burst, there should be a bubble in the first place. (Comment: Rebirth is not Enlightenment) #37 Is logical thinking and analysis required to understand enlightenment? Is enlightenment a mental process? Yes, we can only look at the example and illustrations outside, as long as we think and analyze with the mind. Assuming the thinking faculty is necessary in some way to inquire and figure this out. (Comment: weeding out defilements is not just a mental process,; effort, and wisdom are needed) Why did Buddha get enlightened under that Bodhi tree on that day? Why not, on the day when he saw the suffering and decided, I don't want to live such a life, I want to find an answer to this. Why did he not attain nirvana right then and there? If we were to give an answer to this question with mind, we have to agree it is a process. (Comment: You should read the sutras/suttas, or His Life Story/History. In short, after 7 years of searching and tried both extreme practices, he was close to death until a lady from a nearby village came with a bowl of milk-rice. She was instructed by a deva in a dream the previous night to make the offering to a tree-deva in the forest. The next day, she went into the forest to search for the tree-deva, but finding none, and instead found a man, rather unkempt, sitting underneath a tree. She offered the milk-rice to him instead. That person was Siddharta. He ate the milk-rice. His body was nourished, and he went to the nearby river to wash. He then thought that the day could be the day of his enlightenment. He then place his begging bowl into the river and said that if that was the day, let the bowl flow upstream. And so it did flow upstream. With that reassured faith, he made a resolve not rise from the seat (beneath the banyan tree) until he was enlightened. For 7 days and nights, he meditated beneath the banyan tree and on the 7th day, he was fully ‘enlightened’.) #38 Is enlightenment permanent? Does it occur at the body+mind level? Enlightenment has to be permanent at some level. May not be at body+mind level. If it is not permanent at any level, then as Om Swami writes on his book "Kundalini", it might be better to go smoke pot, rather than be on this pursuit. (Comment: Enlightenment is permanent). #49 No response as to what are the requirements to enlightenment? No one has responded (yet) as requirement, what many books & teachers advocate as the methods, or process that sets the path: 1) karma yoga (state of effortless action) 2) raja yoga/energy work. (opened up, cleansed the nervous system) 3) jnana yoga/ inquiry into his nature with discipline and dispassion 4) surrender, practise of devotion/ bhakti yoga diligently #55 I can wholeheartedly agree with this based on my experience (now). One path opened(ing) up ways to others naturally became(ing) all. I used to believe that it has to take a certain charted course or path. In particular, I was hung up on karma-yoga, and strongly believed it has to happen early on the game, before others. I went out of my way to find justifications for this on scriptures & talks, later blamed them entirely. After all, it can't be my fault (Comment: Nibbana is the destination, and once you choose to proceed towards it, you need to take the main road, Enlightenment. But there are many side-paths along the way which many had veered towards, but in time, they would be back on the main path). #70 What Buddhist say as 'Nirvana'. What Hindus call as 'Moksha'. What is generally described as 'Enlightenment', 'Liberation' or 'Freedom' by modern day teachers. Understanding that one is not just body+mind+ego,therefore transcending the suffering & agony caused by such false or narrow identification. Comment What is Enlightenment? The Pali word is Bodhi. And the factors of enlightenment, Bojjhanga. There are 7 factors, or as you like, pre-requisites to Enlightenment. “ (Through Bodhi) one awakens from the slumber or stupor (inflicted upon the mind) by the defilements (kilesa) and comprehends the four Noble Truths” – commentary to Majjhima Niyaka 10. What is Nibbana/Nirvana? The term is often translated to be ‘Extinction’; to cease blowing, to become extinguished, ‘freedom from desires’. It is explained as “Nibbana constitutes the highest and ultimate goal of all Buddhist aspirations, ie absolute extinction of that life-affirming Will manifested as Greed, Hate, and Delusion, and convulsively clinging to existence; and therewith also the ultimate and absolute deliverance from all future rebirth, old age, disease and death, from all suffering and misery.” – Buddhist Dictionary, Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, by Nyanatiloka. Thus, Enlightenment is not Nibbana. It is not 1, or 2 nor 3 pre-requisites, but 7 pre-requisites of Enlightenment. So, what are the 7 factors/pre-requisites of Enlightenment? The Bojjhanga. “The 7 factors of Enlightenment are; Mindfulness (sati-sambojjhanga), Investigation of the Law (dhamma-vicaya), Energy (viriya), Rapture (pitti), Tranquility (passaddhi), Concentration (samadhi), and Equanimity (uppekkha).” – Buddhist Dictionary, Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, by Nyanatiloka. Thank you for this thread, and it could not have come anytime better. On 10th May 2017, the Buddhist world celebrates the thrice-blessed day of Vesak. My reply to the OP may not be satisfactory or too brief, but you are urged to ‘investigate the Law’, that is, go and study Buddhism in a proper place if you are seriously in search of answers and wisdom. I shall end with a wish for all of you Bums, “Sabbe Satta Sukhita Hontu”, meaning, May you (and your loved ones) be well and happy always! Happy Vesak!

OK! Sorry it took until Wednesday… First, a brief word about the whole Marxist angle -- I mentioned it because you had already mentioned it! And, of course, the fact that it is the defining characteristic of the site you linked... I think it is of value to be cognizant of the lens through which a religious devotee (of any creed) is looking in order to construct the appropriate filter through which to attempt to interpret the interaction. Marxist theory is so logically bankrupt and so manipulative in formulation that it should, in my evaluation, be viewed as the canon of a religious cult, and fair warning should be heeded when attempting to interact with or take meaning from a follower (whether professed or otherwise). But that’s a topic for a completely different thread! Popper's chapter was interesting and I agreed with much of it, but not all of it -- and my Marxist comb caught a few nits. No need for any nit-picking though, I think. I like the suggestion that knowledge has a cumulative aspect but would place a stronger caveat on the idea because change is often disruptive and because loops often seem superfluous in the rear-view (sort of like ox-bows along the periphery of a dry river bed). This generally diminishes the future value of current work and lessens the significance of the "value to the hive" analogy. As a specific case in point, Edison joked about having discovered 999 ways to not make a light bulb. Some of those failures may have contributed in some other fashion to science (or more likely, engineering) -- probably more in the short-term than the long-term -- but most collapse into a single final problem/resolution pair. Had the project taken ten times as long and taken 10,000 tries, it would likely not have been 10 times as rewarding to society. I also question the premise that man's "knowledge edifice" (my words, I think) will have the sort of impact in isolation of plant life or plate tectonics -- history suggests that the collapse of a civilization can happen in a generation or two. Imagine, for instance that all the TaoBums entered cryogenic suspension for a thousand years (heck! even a hundred) and then, on Day One, everyone else on Earth was abducted by aliens. When we awoke, what traces would remain? We'd have the knowledge in our heads but our glorious machines and libraries of "stuff" would largely be like smoke in the breeze. Would we, for instance, be able to make cloth or find food or find a suitable replacement for toilet paper? How long would it take before knowledge of gene-splicing became relevant again? Anyhow, about "science..." First, I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding (including within "the scientific community") about the nature of science itself. In part, this is an anticipated result of the institutionalization of “science” -- including bureaucratization, formalizing by rote, syndicalism, an odd form of irredentism, and an emphasis on accessibility rather than usability, among other influences. Science is not unique in being so impacted. The core of this particular effect on science is a shift in focus from philosophy to “fact.” Anyone with a set of water colors is an artist but some artists are better than others. Part of the difference stems from innate ability and part is the result of hard work. The mix is irrelevant for the purpose of this discussion and it should be noted that this concept doesn’t just apply to painting. For any quality I can think of, an individual has a potential range and kung fu is a prime determinant of the extent to which that potential is realized. In this same vein, let’s say a “good scientist” brings to the table a strong analytical capacity, a love of discovery, and a desire to understand. These characteristics (just to use them as examples) help to define the “envelope” of that scientist’s potential. Of them, the first is far easier to formalize and dogmatize so it is understandably the one the establishment (education establishment, regulatory establishment, funding establishment, policy-making establishment, etc.) focuses on despite the fact that the creativity and intuition of our historical “scientific giants” are crucial among the unifying characteristics for that group of individuals. That and lots of kung fu to learn the tools of the trade. But how do you “make” strong minds? Well, you force them into narrow chutes and feed them fully baked concepts and protein-rich facts. How do you assess their success? With standardized tests, of course!  As a consequence of the convergence of several of these influencing factors, however, we are transforming science into a technical field in support of society rather than a philosophical field in pursuit of “learning what there is to learn and then learning how to learn some more.” In the short-term, this sort of focusing may bring an intensification but it is my suspicion that the long-term result would be a burning-out – IF that approach were to continue in isolation. One approach says “we have to focus on the details because we only have a limited amount of time/energy/options and the urgency is mounting” while the other says “dream and you may dream new dreams.” There is a continuing drunkard’s walk between these two approaches, and both always exist (just as yin & yang coexist). Aside -- I am reminded suddenly of the transformation of the old saying “God is in the details” into “the devil is in the details” – I think this is philosophical in nature and I think perhaps it is reflective of the transformation we see in society’s view of science. So, we’ve got a culture in which “everyone knows about science” (a shallow understanding which is largely façade and that diminishes the accomplished scientist much like “I know Taoism because we covered it in a ‘religions of the world’ class in high school” no doubt causes sighs or groans among some TaoBums) and in which governmental-type agencies lead the charting-out of goals, objectives, metrics, motivations, cultivation, methodologies, documentation and economics of “science” (and of much of academia, for that matter). In my mind, this is a recipe for stagnation, but it isn’t the only negative happening. For most of mankind’s recorded history, intellectual exploration and spiritual development have been inexorably linked – two sides of the same coin. Often, this has had unfortunate religious flavoring (by which I suggest that “religion” is a man-made corruption of spirituality) but by & large the thinkers have not been too tightly constrained by dogma (and numerous examples to the contrary (think Galileo, for instance) highlight the constant struggle). Now, however, society as a whole tends to view spirituality in a negative light while simultaneously embracing superficial aspects of spiritual practices. Ask, for instance, a random member of a neighborhood yoga class and a random member of a Presbyterian congregation on some of the philosophical concepts surrounding their practice and they are likely to just look at you funny. Same goes for the scientist. This has been happening (again, more of a drunkard’s walk than a pendulum-swing) at an increasing rate during my lifetime. When I was in school, a scientist (both those I interacted with and those I learned about) seemed more likely than not to have an attitude open to “there seems to still be more out there” agnosticism and most seemed to have gently loosened the edges of the religious framework their culture had formed around them. Now, however, it seems that the prevailing attitude is decidedly “anti-“: antitheist, antideist, anticreationist, anti-“more things in heaven & earth.” The disturbing part is that this attitude is often unrecognized. In my experience, most people tend to over-emphasize their commitment to what they say they believe to be “correct” (“proper,”, “good,” something along those lines). So the “Christian” overstates his fidelity in trying to follow in those sandal-tracks, thereby diluting the “value” of his religion, and the “rationalist” overstates his impartiality, thereby masking what is often a well-developed belief system of his own. When science and religion mix, bad things tend to happen. This is still true when one of the religion’s tenets is a firm antireligious belief – doubly-bad, I think, because “I believe that I don’t believe” is a tough nut to crack (see also: Gregory Bateman’s framework for learning levels…) Add to all this an environment that increasingly punishes creative risk-taking and rewards letting someone else fence the yard, give it a shot of Tobasco, mix well, and you have an unappetizing recipe. All this may sound rather dire and gloomy but I don’t really think that it is – too much, anyhow. There is the possibility of complete societal collapse around the next bend, of course. And there is the much more realistic possibility of an Orwellian nightmare looming on the horizon. Thing about an Orwellian nightmare, as opposed to a Wellsian one, is that –while it may be unpleasant or devastating for those who suffer through it – the balance shifts back towards the middle in the fullness of time, perhaps over years, decades or centuries. (The Wellsian type, on the other hand, devolves into Eloi & Morlocks…) The result in its present state, though, is a situation in which many are left with a bad taste in their mouths. So, just two cents' worth of idle rambling... Ask me tomorrow and I’ll probably tell you something completely different!  As to the questions of the observer’s effect on reality or of quantum theory making it possible to walk through walls or whatever, most humans will live their entire lives without encountering a situation in which the infinitesimal possibility overwhelms statistical reality. As a sophomore, I realized that while it may be deep to pontificate over a beer on whether one’s barstool exists when one leaves to go to the restroom, it is wise to have sufficient faith in its reality to sit on it and have one more…

Finding and committing to a spiritual practice has always been the biggest battle of my life. These are the subjects I'm preoccupied every minute of my life, yet very little progress is made in the practical sense. And it is no wonder if I'm still a bud hesitating to bloom. Long story short, the dark night of the soul was 8 years long. It was mainly due to having discovered the path among many. It was proving to be everything imaginable and unimaginable. It had a way of unveiling the true me; my potential, abilities, knowledge, experiences were emerging like meeting an old long-forgotten friend. But due to very valid reasons, I'd convinced myself against pursuing that path. It was the most painful thing ever, worse even than losing a loved one. In a way, I'm still stuck because it never happened. But what did also happen is a lesson that is worth a million lifetimes was accomplished through that. Something that was even more dear and profound than reaping the greatest benefits for oneself through a practice. I'm sorry for being obscure. Now that the lesson brought by nothing less than the Divine Grace itself is fulfilled, it's eternally mine to cherish, I have an option to go back and do what my heart's desire was. But I've also been entertaining a thought that a brand new beginning might be awaiting, and perhaps an even better practice can come in, if I'm open, as a reward for all the tears, longing and enduring the pain. Developing a relationship with my Spiritual Consultants (call it even God) was one of the outcomes of my torturous experience. For a while, I've been praying hard for an authentic qigong practice. I was led to TheDaoBums. Certain issues were cleared up that were still lingering. Next, a practice of Flying Phoenix was chosen for experimentation. Now, I don't do this, I'm normally very hesitant to try something new, and never just explore practices. As the DVD4 was on its way, I again prayed for assertion that this is right and also wondering how this system works. Following that were two miraculous dreams. (Well, before that... Not knowing anything about FP, out of nowhere I began listening to Om Mani Padme Hum mantra daily. Later on, I noticed mentioning of Guanyin being perhaps related to FP, and I thought "humm") So, the first dream was followed after an evening of several hours of uncontrollable sobbing listening to different Hindu mantras. That night I was taken and reunited with my spiritual family. I was home with my eternal relatives being comforted, nourished and tutored. Waking up that day, I was flying on wings, my heart ready to leap out of chest from joy. The next night I asked specifically to show me their thoughts on FP before I start doing it. Very vividly, I hear them explain to me without words and show in some other dimensional way how FP works. (I will use my terminology) So, God or Dao created everything perfect. The space represents the Will of God. Space in time, between objects, inside our bodies... And the energy of this highest will is in color blue. When we come to be in dis-accord with this will, illnesses (and other misfortunes) manifest in our bodies. We lose the purity and continuity of this blue energy inside and around us. And FP has a way of restoring it. Something like that... Further more, I was also praying for a practice that would do as much good for my family members as for myself. And I have been worried about the future of my little daughter having looked at her natal chart. So, again they confirmed that my daughter especially will get so much healing through this if I do it. What am I still doubting? Well, that's me...Or rather my stubborn mind. Or maybe I just needed to remind myself. To be honest these miraculous events are the only thing that keeps me hopeful giving this my best. And a phrase by Sifu Terry "practicing FP is being virtuous" constantly pulsates in my mind. Anyway, just felt like sharing. And, more than anything, if this brings something positive to any of you, it was worth the long post.

thanks mate... appreciate your clarifying... I was still rather theta'd out even now, from intense dream winteractions and early morning breath work. The data here reinforces my experience while living in NYC. It was very surprising to this naive white boy from Minnesota that there were (and I assume still are) vast areas where police will simply not go in the boroughs, which are left to govern and police themselves. It was described that the reason for this is that it is not possible to safely deal with issues on the street, when there are 40 stories of windows above you on either side, from which death and problems can rain down upon you while you are otherwise engaged. The reality for me was driven home when my wife and I were chased on sight for several blocks by a mob of half a dozen thugs, when we strayed into one of these areas ignorantly... We quickly learned to consult locals when venturing into new areas of the city before heading there as it could just mean death. This data also supports my observations about the issue in that... the vast majority of the issues and problems are created by a very small minority of the people and in this case, that seems to be consentrated into very small areas. Very enlightening info... thanks for sharing.

gendao are you on the autistic spectrum or something? ADMIN PLEASE GIVE ME A LIFETIME BAN THANK YOU I mean really just read through all the comments in this thread and try and tell me with a straight face that I'm actually the one with problems rather than the other way around. And it's not like it's just this thread either, in other threads people are calling me names saying I'm psychotic saying I'm unenlightened etc etc. I wouldn't dream of acting that way toward other people and yet when these things are directed at me all is right with the world. Well you know what I'm not buying it. I think you're all fucking retarded and I don't want anything to do with any of you. So I'll very happily take a lifetime ban. Thanks!

While I agree with some of what he says, some other parts are contradictory or delusional wishful thinking. He preaches unplugging from media and consumerism...yet gives examples of worthy dreams as creating better social media and becoming a multi-millionaire. And then dreams on about how merely modest conspicuous consumption, even in middle age, could then magically attract young women like bees to nectar? But, if this is all it takes to pull a hot 24-yo trio from a club...then shouldn't MOST guys already be able to do it? You don't really need to dream that big to afford a ~$20Kish car, lol.

Yea it can be damned hard to swallow that your own mind would kill you or sabotage your happiness. For example, one time I had a dream where I was in a fire and I died from asphyxiation in the dream (in that case, instead of switching to another dream, which is what sometimes happens when I die in dreams, I woke up). I've had countless dreams where I was either attacked or exposed to damage of some kind. While dreaming, it sure as heck seemed that the damage was coming from outside of me, but when I woke up, I realized it was all the same one/whole/unbroken mind all along. To say that "it was just my mind" is a way to signify an unbrokenness or the endless continuity of mind. It doesn't have to imply ownership or possession. It's just practically impossible for people to understand what it means for the mind to be whole. It's much more intimate and immediate to refer to "my mind is the whole mind", to use words like "my" or "yours" to make it immediate, intimate, familiar and to demystify it to some extent.