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Do you remember the mantra? PM me if you're not comfortable sharing here. Don't reveal the mantra in public. Did you know that Mantra before (heard it anywhere)? Or is it something that came at you completely out of the left field? I've had mantras come to me in a dream state from unknown teachers -- but they were most profound, timely and helpful -- and revealed things about my own past (previous lives) that got validated by a teacher many years after receiving the mantras.

Greetings all. I would like some advice and insight on something which happened to me last night/this morning. I was dreaming that I was repeatedly reciting a Sanskrit mantra. There were no visuals accompanying the sounds, only the mantra, entering my mind, and then me reciting it. As I started to wake from the dream, I was actually reciting the mantra out loud and kept repeating it. When I was fully awake I felt incredible. Is there a reason for this ? Am I being subconsciously prompted to follow a certain path ? A sign from God ? It's still so fresh in my mind which is also unusual as dreams tend to dissipate as time passes.

Preface This is a basic post meant as a simple (yet also deep) guide and reminder to living with particular emphasis from the perspective of (jing) conservation. This piece does not talk about methods of jing tonification or replenishment1 which are different though inter-related issues. Rather, this provides foundational philosophy and perspectives with a few guiding lifestyle suggestions to consider in practicing conservation. I will note that many of the suggestions appear basic and they are. Yet most people fail to take care of the roots and the foundations: if you don't take care of the foundation at its roots, any accomplishment you come to at a more advanced level will be built on unstable ground and therefore eventually and likely come to some kind of fail. This includes people who experience aspects of the Void and become fearful of the existential, people who witness Tao and walk away in carelessness or disappointment, people who see some aspect of metaphysical light but cannot access them again or more profoundly, people who find bliss but become drunken, or people who have years and decades of cultivation that just one day simply get up and walk away in disillusionment, disheartened even given all their progress and effort. So, practitioners who come to resolve and completion on this path are people who care for and attend to the most basic until each succession of what is basic becomes what is fantastical to the novice. This is what makes the understanding deep, rich and profound; this is what allows it to become complete and enduring; this how existence transcends itself to become immortal. So, it is encouraged that after you read this, you take the time to assess what additional and specific changes you could make in your life to commit to improving your vitality- not only physiologically but also psychologically (which has more implication upon shen- the spiritual aspect of consciousness that resides with each yin organ (including zhi shen). Then as you regularly apply and assimilate these commitments into your life, consciously reflect upon how you can both broaden and deepen your understanding so as to refine your methods over time. Do this for the rest of your life. Every one who goes deep starts from a beginning over and over again, but what is the beginning becomes something completely anew with each successive cleansing and resolve, and what is basic in time becomes deep and profound if you are astute, diligent and sincere. As per usual and with few exceptions, I rarely post to a thread more than once. For those who continue this thread, please be mindful- post with generosity and take care that you words and ideas are posted with intention for benevolence. Share thoughtfully what you feel you know in yourself to be of value and benefit. Be as truthful as you understand while being kind. When we cultivate in ourselves strong yi (yi- spirit of the spleen organ whose virtue is intention), we can create greater shen for all beings (shen- spirit of the heart whose virtue is awareness and consciousness). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reference Notes for the following reading: Jing- is the primordial essence of existential potential and the root of vital energy. It also is one of the Three Treasues integral to the transmutation processes of internal alchemy. [Note that jing itself is not a tangible substance- though it becomes most notably the substance of semen and ovum; but as iterated above, it is an essence first and foremost before it transmutes into additional forms of (post-natal) qi.] Jing's associations are as follows, primarily because it manifests through the Water phase of the Kidneys: (thus these are direct notes about the Water element and Kidney organ as they relate to jing, but not necessarily directly about jing itself. Understanding the elemental phase from which jing arises and/or is associated is helpful to guiding health and living principles) Wu Xing Phase is: Water Housed in the Yin organ: Kidney Spiritual Axis and Stage: Heart (shao yin) Mother of: Wood Child of: Metal Seasonal phase: Winter Associated Gland: Adrenals Tissue governance: Bone Orifice opening: Ears Flavor quality: Salty Color of light: Blue Emotion: Fear Virtue: Faith Shen Spirit: Zhi Other terms Chong mai- the central channel deep within the core of the body running from perineum to crown that passes through the Triple Burners where primary subtle transmutations occur Shen- spirit, and for the purposes of this post refers to any one of five spirits that govern the yin organs of the body Principles of Conservation in Action and Non-Action The principle of conservation is a simple one, yet can be exceptionally sophisticated and deep. Pertaining to Jing, it is to prevent leakage and loss in each moment on a daily basis so that one can: -have vital essence from which to live a healthy, vibrant life -manifest the infinite potential in the ming of xing from jing (must be done in concert with Yuan Shen in wei wu wei from the Unnamable) -prolong existence so as to continue cultivation towards greater Consciousness (also known as part of the transmutation process of the The Three Treasures) [Notice that if you read these three points about why we conserve jing it is not so we can have egoic power to live forever, have more fun and attain more magical states- this isn't a celebrity contest to be novel and have a forever good time. Which isn't to say it isn't mystical and unimaginably beautiful- but it is also a sacred process and I encourage that those who have these kinds of feelings continue to work on their minds and hearts, to deepen their 'spiritual maturity'. It takes a combination of great fortitude, humility and wisdom to come to recognize this path for all that it is, let alone fulfill it through yourself. This in turn requires a depth of essence inherent to what manifests as the virtues of diligence, integrity and heartfelt courage. So every time you feel these stirrings of superiority, grandiosity, passionate zeal and desire, or conversely feel deep doubt, have reservation or fear your capacity- let it all go and just keep moving inherently, deeply, sincerely and unceasingly from the most essential place you know in yourself.] Just as jing can be conserved with awareness, diligence and care, it can also be lost through unconsciousness, wastefulness and careless expenditure, especially those that go above and beyond our most basic and foundational energy. In modern life, the propensity towards excess in living automatically leads to imbalance that can cause deficiency at a deeper physical and energetic level in the body, leading to disease manifested as aging and ultimately death. Three most basic, daily and common ways you can immediately begin working to conserve jing from the perspectives of: LIFESTYLE WELLNESS AND BALANCE: Be balanced and moderate in actions; do not over exert. For instance, do not work long hours, over-think, over exercise, stay up late, allow your emotions to be become stressed or upset. Do not consume caffeinated or high sugar drinks or foods to push your body to function beyond their basic healthful limit- this pulls energy from your reserves and taxes the adrenal system- the adrenals which are the glands of the kidneys and thus this will cause jing to be extracted. Do not indulge regularly in addictive substances- in most cases, the condition of 'getting high' draws from the jing and pushes out our reserves so that people can experience sensational phenomena through uncontrolled (and therefore not fully conscious) altered states (if you want to know bliss, god, and unceasing beauty, learn to find it from within naturally through your own heart and Consciousness. Through transcendent wisdom in meditation one comes to understand this beyond all measure and through all moments in ways that no drug, medicine or supplement can compare). Eat on time, and eat moderately so that you do not have to draw from the reserves from your body and so that the process of qi creation through the chong mai are not depleted progressively as it transmutes through each of the three burners. Drink a plentiful amount of clean fresh, vibrant water through out the day.2 Note: -as said in Taoism, "the highest good is like water" (implications which are both literal but also progressively energetically subtle, nuanced and deep) -the body is made almost entirely of water -all the jin ye (heavy and light) fluids of the body require fresh water to function -the kidney itself is the water organ in the wu xing phase To the degree that you think your life is 'too busy' or that 'you must' do certain things or that you feel your situation demands your extra energy to succeed, achieve or survive re-assess your perspective, remember that everything you do in life is a choice- even if some choices are difficult to make. Consider more deeply or profoundly what is essential- essence being not of the body or ideation of the mind, but of the yuan (original) in the universe. If you are a woman, until you learn the secrets to healthily cease menstruation (this is NOT the same as going into menopause- contrary) take care of your health so that your hormones are balanced during the moon phase and that your bleeding is fresh, bright and minimal. Menstruation and blood are in many ways for women analogous to the treasure of what jing is in men, so you must learn to conserve blood loss and smooth emotions/ hormones while purifying the menstrual blood. Menstrual blood that is dark, thick, heavy or excessive are signs of serious health issues in Chinese medicine and need to be addressed through lifestyle and dietary changes as well as with a trained practitioner. If you are perimenopausal, know there are ways- however rare but entirely possible, to restart your period. If you are late into menopause, then all the same lifestyle suggestions here apply but in particular you will be benefited by healthful methods of tonification because as noted later below, within most degrees generally and practically, it takes energy to make energy- so more tonification in this case will help with conservation, particularly if you can nourish the blood and focus on qi gong for the liver and breasts. SEXUAL INTIMACY AND HEALTH: When sexually engaging do so consciously, from a place of generosity and in mutual reciprocity where there is a foundation of clear, healthy trust and intimacy. Abstain from sexual behavior that is objectified, sexualized in action, thought and/or emotion whether it is with another person, a projection or image of another. The act of sexualization and/or objectification leads to perpetuation of leakage out the kidneys, eyes and penis- not only during masturbation or ejaculation, but upon mental and emotional provocation as well. Do not engage in random, casual or ungenerous and selfish sexual behaviors alone, with a partner or through 'fantasy' this reduces the opportunity for natural dual-circulation that can help heal and replenish the body, heart and subtle energy systems at the least and at the worse can increase the potential for deep hurt and harm to yourself and others, individually, inter-personally and collectively. To the degree that you suffer from forms of sexual addiction or unconscious habituation (ie. wanting sex out loneliness or emptiness; for vanity, control or power; viscerally unconscious base desires, etc), remove all forms of sexual stimulus from your life until you come to understand what is actually 'sexuality' free from socialized or unconscious base impulse. Instead, focus your attention on healthful life things. When you feel a strong urge or have a strong reaction to something- stop and bring great awareness to yourself. If you are in a healthy and secure relationship, make sure sharing intimacy is done in conscious presence with a mutually open heart and in generosity to each other. This alone if done with enough genuine care, will allow for a certain potential or opportunity for dual-circulation and/or at least mutual health even if neither persons entirely can recognize, sense or understand its technical processes. If you are abstaining from sexual engagement all together make sure that you are resolved. Without true resolve around the matter, conditions of stagnation and turbidity are likely to accumulate whether this is through suppression, repression, or other unconscious desire and fear. For health, flow, and to prevent negative accumulation, continue some measure of circulation until the system is fully purified; meaning in most cases that ejaculating (or some other more subtle clarified form if you are more advanced in your practice) on a rare occasion- will prevent imbalances to various layers of the system, including negative build-up and injury from excess, or conversely depression and increasing weakness in the body. Until the layers of the system are replete with shen to naturally circulate and refine the jing unaided, some measure of continued physical flow through the genital from a sacred inner place can be beneficial. The point in any case is to not simply abstain or not abstain from unconsciousness- be this a mindless procedure of discipline, fear or desire, listlessness or lust. MENTAL-EMOTIONAL and SPIRITUAL WISDOM: Find peace and faith; learn to release fear and do not engage doubt. (Note that not engaging doubt does not mean to relinquish discernment nor does it mean to have either blind faith nor harbor distrust) Fear is the emotion of the kidney that drains the organ's energy and source of jing. Doubt or the lack of faith (not meant from so much from a Western perspective but from the Taoist perspective of lacking trust in the mundane and existential mysterious) are opposing forces to the virtue of zhi- the spirit of the kidneys. People who live in perpetual fear and (particularly existential) distrust have a propensity to exert there will inappropriately (either forcing situations or giving up. As a side note, I also often observe greater levels of procrastination in those who have a constitutional predisposition to water) and cause harm to jing and more importantly, the zhi shen itself. Symptoms of these imbalances include feeling 'frozen' by fears, lacking faith about the course of things in your or other people's lives, doubting the potential of the existential, in yourself and in others; these are highly dangerous and harmful perspectives that come from a lack of clarity in the (organ) spirits. In fact, for so many the unfulfilled life, the unfilled dream, the doubt in whether this (spiritual) path is possible or true, is so integral to these emotions and perspectives. So when we look at jing from a more essential perspective of essence and spirit rather than purely as (post-natal) qi, we come to recognize that how we orient our mind, heart and spirit- and thus our perspective to existence can deeply impact our essence, and thus our actions and the outcomes of our life- including existence and non-existence, life and death. Among other practices, two of the most powerful to target the nature of the kidney and zhi is to dutifully practice 1) deep self-reflection in all moments- particularly when you experience fear or feel deep doubts and 2) to learn meditation that develops the capacity to listen into the silence of Nothing. Remember that the ears are the orifice of the kidneys and that deep self-reflection is the movement between the spiritual poles of kidney and heart. In time, once you have arrived at a certain successive mastery of these very basic life actions, go back to the foundation of the applied philosophy and move deeper. That is: Be still internally (in the spiritual and at the utmost, true stillness requires internal silence, the state of sung, and arrives through wisdom found through meditation), while in vibrant circulation (circulation which was once discrete circuits of the mundane body of qi as well as physical actions and behaviors in living; now becomes the movement of essences and treasures- including jing, and then eventually what is beyond essence and is radiant). When you can make living the same as conservation, the issue of either conditions will resolve and be no longer. Thus, refine your understanding of what it means to not-strive, be moderate, and to be free of desire and fear until your recognition is no longer mundane, until the energetic system and its spirits (the shens) do not move from unconscious impulse and until you are free of all notions that lead to such impulses- not only now in this life time and this moment, but across all planes and dimensions that are the field of time, space and dimension that become the thing you experience to be body and spirit. This is how we cleanse the 'karmic' to prepare the 'body' for the utmost forms of profundity. ------------- Footnotes and Miscellaneous Note: Note to cultivators who are middle-aged or later in life and/or those who are sincere and exceptionally serious in progressing along this path: If you are starting this process now, I suggest that in addition to the above, spend as much leisure time focusing on cleansing and/or purification as the means to actually conserve. Without a properly pure and bright system at all levels, jing can only be cultivated so far- so in order to go deep, you must make sure the system is very clear. The later one starts this process and/or the more accumulation a person has to work through (whether this is mental, emotional, physical or karmic) the more complex it is to minimize the loss of jing over time and thus hinder decline. This is because, if nothing else, as people age they have a phsyiological propensity toward less and less resources within themselves to achieve daily functions and balance, therefore all living increasingly must draw on the foundation of vital jing (rather than post-natal stomach and spleen) qi to act and survive, and eventually even down to the Sea of Marrow (these are bone and blood systems in Taoist medicine). Because the deeper process of systemic purification requires an intense energy of focus and application- particularly if it involves the density of physicality, in order to cultivate a more ascendant form and to refine and transmute more subtle energies, it actually requires a lot of energy. So it takes energy to make energy- energy which you may have less of depending on your constitution and/or level of health if you are deficient or burdened. (Note that once the system reaches are certain level of purity, the system will circulate in a more optimal manner and then this principal changes in certain deep and nuanced regards) Therefore, it is best to spend all time devoting energy to caring for your energy: spend your jing wisely! 1 True jing replenishment and tonification- that is what is deep and substantial enough to make an impact that is profound and lasting enough for transmutation, exceptional longevity or immortality; only truly begins after one has sufficient mastery of conservation in their living and adequately purified the system to the degree where shen and aspects of shen can begin to guide the process. Notice here that people who talk of subtle orbital circulation as a mental-physiological procedural process of qi have not realized True Nature (xing) and that spiritual maturity, greater depth and more profound realization is required to fulfill this process clearly and truly. 2 Regarding Water: those who have cultivated to a very advanced level will note that the start and end phases of all existential processes in the system begin and end with water, breath, and light- so water, like breath and shen, are core to cultivation. Students of mine who in early phases are dismissive when asked to take inventory of how much water they drink through out a day, trivialize a core aspect of the foundational root and thus foolishly jeopardize their potential towards more profound cultivation- not so much exactly because of this one thing, but because of the totality of their perspective in depth and breadth that leads to continually misguided perception born from unconsciously entrenched notions. There is a lot of Western conception that objectifies water into a mere mundane scientifically discrete particle and so much emptily spoken rhetoric around 'drink X ounces of water a day' that others hear the mere suggestion and automatically dismiss it as trite at some level while superficially nodding in agreement at its importance to one another at another level. Deep listening means the potential for deep recognition. Deep recognition leads eventually to profound understanding. And in time, that leads to wisdom; if you can do this in all moments, through all things, your understanding of what is existence and its manifestations will change beyond all conception. Take that to heart. And recognize that what is wise, is often simple. Be so humble so as to be sincere when being basic. Strive less to achieve all Taoist advancements yet be utterly profound in your sincerity and inherent in your diligence and you will surpass any need for stages and levels.

Have you given similar consideration to thoughts? Why do they come up? Why a particular thought or memory at a given time? Sometimes one can trace patterns and connections, often there is no explanation. They just pop up, hang around, and vanish. Emotions are like that for me as well and I treat them similarly. In the Tibetan paradigm it is a matter of the various winds (movements of subtle energy) interacting with our external circumstances or our internal milieu (the chakras). This is also the explanation for dreams. When the wind of our awareness encounters the energetic content of a particular chakra, a particular thought, emotion, or dream will be stirred and come into our awareness. That’s one explanation.

Its not a dumb question as most people can not answer it . Usually you get a list of them when asking what they are - That is , they answer the question 'what are the emotions', not 'what are emotions ' . Emotions are states of feelings triggered by chemicals released in response to stimulus . Mostly they drive behaviour ( which can also result in physical sensation , eg. fear - cold , anger - heat .) but can also be not manifested physically and only effect states of consciousness . They work like a chemical nervous system , relaying input, reaction and response . Managing their output is important , eg. Various types of stimulus (danger , excitement ... ) the body may need to function faster or overcome fatigue so it produces adrenaline ( which has side effects as well ) , if the adrenalin isn't 'burnt off' in output it 'stagnates' and transforms into other substances that cause stress ( mentally and on parts of the physical system ). Emotions are also the 'Second Regulator' - 1st is the self having an idea, inspiration, insight , 2nd is the emotional body , where we run things through to see how we feel about them ( also in this realm is dreaming - we may choose 'to sleep on it' when making a decision ) , it is also a gateway into the unconscious ( so we get messages via it without having to 'think them through' ) . This can also make emotions 'confusing' as they can message responses in the physical body triggered by the unconscious without the ' conscious mind ' realising it or being able to identify source or reason . 3rd is 'mind' or the intellect where we reason assess practicality and method, etc . 4th is Body and physical where we put all the above together into output . Without 1 we are uninspired and unoriginal, without 2 our 'heart will not be in it' , we will not feel an affinity with the thing or have a deep understanding of it. Without 3 we might be doing something crazy, impossible or harmful and without 4 all the above might be good but its just a pipe dream. Unfortunately, like mind and intellect, many have confused and unbalanced emotions . Actually, probably more people have their mind more together than their emotions . Emotional conditioning is more subtle and insidious than mental conditioning. We have seen how smart intelligent people can get sucked into cults, bad relationships etc. I have cited this a few times : L. Ron Hubbard's son being interviewed and asked why all these smart and intelligent people where in something like Scientology with its crazy beliefs ? He said "They where intellectually smart , but they where not emotionally smart . " And we have also seen that many practitioners or even 'masters' of various paths can 'loose it' or 'revert' when their emotions are subtly pushed . I have found I can communicate excellently with very young children and 'special others' (like my niece who has severe autism ) by communicating emotionally ; using facial expressions, gestures and ESP . Especially if I exaggerate it , they seem to love that . They will even get a joke communicated this way . Another version of this communication is with the indigenous , who seem to have made an art of using it in a toned down , near invisible manner ... just the slightest hint of a trace of the expressions . The more subtle you are at it the better. Usually sitting down around the fire at night or relaxing in a group talking .... there is an element of unspoken communication between some . It carries over to other activities and is evident in sign language as well ; hunting sign language (where silence is essential) , casual sign language ( just because they sometimes don't like to make a lot of 'chatter' , or someone might not have language ) and secret sign language ( between brothers of an inner clan , secret initiatory society , etc . )

I wouldn't be surprised if everyone at some point stumbled onto this, but never made it into a habit. Course how many questions can we come up with? <as always with dream/sleep practices comes sleepless nights, or less sleep. It tends to set up a bad mental feedback for me. But I'll keep trying>

I think that human beings are born with a particle in their body that connects them to some Divine machinery that we can interact with through meditation and chanting and prayer. I believe I have accessed some point, be it in a body, or an atom, or a box- and that this point is connected to a world in my head, and in all our heads, and can infinitely be cloned and duplicated so that we can all have our own personal Universe that is reflected of the Universe at large, but wont interfere with the Universe itself- that is how we dream of other people- its not them, it is a clone of them. I believe this point is in a world where the ascended Gods reside, and that when we call on them, they attend to us. Their intellect is infinitely more aware and advanced than ours, and their thoughts immediately affect the device that is within us.

1. and 2. are always appropriate -- I can't imagine starting any day any other way. As for 3. That's interesting. Here's the account. I heeded all the warnings and took a very low dose -- which wound up feeling like it did nothing. So I went to bed planning to repeat the experiment with a higher dose the next day. And then all night long I dreamt of mushrooms. Not funny mushrooms in the psychedelic sense (I've never tried those) but definitely extraordinary. It was a blissful dream because I was foraging for wild mushrooms (this used to be one of my favorite pastimes on all of god's green earth) and finding humongous boletuses -- the king of mushrooms with no peers -- but in the dream they grew on trees rather than under them as they should, some very high, so I had to climb up to get them. So that small dose didn't entirely do "nothing," looks like. Detailed vivid dreams are unusual for me to begin with, and I don't remember ever dreaming of mushrooms before. Was that edible extending a gateway invitation?.. Please stay tuned.

In regards to my own personal thoughts and experiences. There a few types of measures i use. One is how the supernatural becomes involved in your experience along with physical reality. For example, 2 days after Notre Dame burned down, I feel asleep for 10 seconds. During those 10 seconds, i dreamt that the crown of thorns was in smoke (not in flames), and melting away. At the time, i was completely, aware that the crown of thorns existed or was even kept at the Notre Dame Church. Only after the dream did i look it up and find that out. Another way is being guided to find physical evidence in something let's say 500 years ago and you find it on yourself and as a result find other specific relations to it. These are only a couple, there are many more that just need to remain private, just as anyone should keep them private as they don't matter for others to know. What's interesting is that supernatural or Godly intervention is always created, but in the most subtle of ways. When ones gets to a specific point, and requires physical proof for our physical monkey brains, God/supernatural provides it when necessary. And much less, will the supernatural reveal itself to the masses. When one gets to a certain level of understanding, experience, and maturity, i believe one is not only allowed but allow themselves to prove and show to a few. It comes full circle. God guided and showed you in a specific way. Then one experiences, learns, and understands why one too would teach and show in the same way to others. More proof that it is not for everyone to experience these things is that this duty/purpose exists even prior to or during your birth. So it's also hard for a person on a physical earthly ego level to take credit for any of it. care, love, duty, purpose. Maybe God will show up if we try.

I would agree that those realms may exist as mental projections of their inhabitants. Some kind of dream worlds as it were. Then again, even physical experience is our own creation, at least from a certain perspective. However, there must be certain universal principles behind it all. For instance, whether I am subject to reincarnation cannot depend on me being a Buddhist or a Hindu. I have heard that individuals tend not to stay too long in the more hellish realms, whereas indulgence in heavenly worlds might last quite a bit longer... Being 'foolish' is not necessarily a bad thing... The innocent and child-like nature of a fool is essential to many spiritual paths, from Daoism and Zen Buddhism to esoteric Christianity and Tarot.

Oh, don´t get me wrong. I´m not in favor of mandatory vitamin D testing or supplementation. I might dream about a world in which people have to prove they eat grass-fed beef and get two hours of sun exposure daily in order to board a plane, but far be it from me to impose my views on vegetarian shut-ins. No, what I´d like to see is education. Yes, it does take time and effort to turn around obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. I don´t blame anybody who has trouble with it including yours truly. But it´s doable in most cases and eminently worth doing. I´m on board with your "just the facts" approach. It´s just that sometimes things are presented as facts for purposes that have more to do with profit than public health. Can I have my wingnut certificate now?

That’s very interesting. I haven’t heard of that method. Just to clarify, when I say the light was turned around, I don’t refer to light appearing inside visually, but rather the light refers to awareness itself, and the turning around refers to instead of awareness being constantly directed outwardly, it becomes looped back on itself, through paying attention to things like the breath, thoughts, etc. after a while, it has a sense of itself, then, this sense of self seems to detach from the sense of normal identity with the body and thoughts, so that they become more as objects without any real meaning, the world seems to be dream like. A spacious detached awareness seems to unfold, and a constant sense of presence of awareness, like a shadow hanging there always, which seems to be awareness feeding back onto itself. This is is how I understand turning the light around, though it is my interpretation. I have seen other interpretations leaning more towards the microcosmic orbit, of flowing energies, etc. I have no experience with these kind of sensations or practice, my interpretation is purely awareness based. The further methods describing golden elixirs and practices to achieve immortality seem very esoteric and likely unless one learns directly from someone initiated in the practice you are bound to go down the wrong path. What the aim actually is, I am not sure, the extension of life, and longevity, improved health etc. I’m currently reading a book called “Opening the Dragon Gate: The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard” by Kaiguo, Chen, which goes into the Taoist teachings of the dragon’s gate school of complete reality, which the golden flower was supposedly based on. Some of the practices and claims of attainment are pretty extraordinary, likely much of it embellished, but it’s a fun read. I just want to get to the bottom of this internal alchemy thing, what exactly is possible, what’s fantasy, and what one should be aiming for.

Hi ilumairen, An irresponsible press is into the business of "printing" money as sellable news? We as responsible individuals should be in a capacity/position to express a different "stop press"...? A halt to... ] We must be careful not to store up STOP PRESS! . We must be careful not to store up the teachings as only conceptual understanding lest that conceptual understanding becomes a block to wisdom. The teachings are not ideas to be collected, but a path to be followed. - TWR The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep - Anand

I believe we interpret energy differently depending on our mental baggage. For instance someone may interpret the energy as a chakra cracking open where as you have seen wires. This is a possibility. It's possible that all this mental imagery coming from your mind is a delusion. That is not to say its not happening and its untrue, however what I mean is it is like a dream, a mirage. The key to all of this is, if we start believing the dream is real, it becomes real and it starts having power over you. To compound matters further, if you believe this mental imagery is coming from, and created by an external force it also gains power over you. Thirdly, if you fear it and try to fight it, it gains power over you. How do we work to free ourselves. We make a decision that the mental imagery is created by us and is arising from our unconscious mind. We make a decision that when the mental imagery presents itself, it is automatically dismissed as just the imagination at play and like a dream, it has no substantial substance. We make a decision to stop fighting this mental imagery, as it is self created, knowing that if we do fight against it, we are only fighting against ourselves.

Something dangerous? I would say no. Distracting and annoying is a more accurate depiction of the scene. If the network were one of meditators and each meditator had some sort of valid input then I would probably not be posting about it. It’s nice to dream that we are connected but I am striving to prove it real. It used to be real. When we were younger we would converse about a series of topics in a discussion ranging from science to drugs. That discussion could range over 5 different topics for a whole hour and never have a dull moment. We would then meet up later and the conversation was still running in our subconscious. We would pick up not where we left off but literally where we were, somehow all still discussing a new topic together. Unfortunately the distance between face-time has grown and left this enlightened discussion behind. It was an invigorating experience when it was happening but I just can’t seem to get an honest dialogue of this level going in my life again. Anything that lofty would pull me out of the doubt.

Hello. [Thank you for reviewing my story.] I am hear to share. I want to be liked and accepted, but a 'gift' has alienated my approach to anyone for its content. My broken child has grown old with me, and me are a mad scientist now. Consider in my natural talkative self the following is not healthy to bottle up. Help me understand, and please try to understand. The events unrestrained curiosity has brought home this lifetime have passed sane, only because the bar is so low on sanity --compared to the heights human mind is designed to soar. Now sixty six years old, a device partially described as a mind-mirror was told to me, during ten days of disclosure following a recovery from stroke and coma. It is a random pulse field generator. The electromagnetic echo chamber is designed as an artificial orb of light. Stunning synchronicities in my life have convinced me that I do not want to die without attempting to duplicate this star mind technology apparent. The orbs are a local expression of star mind --in perfect form at huge energy levels. Humanity, Earth, reality is their project --and they are but a nexus of Universal Sentience alive in the sub-quantum plenum of eternity. Please allow my diction. My friend of more than a decade struggled through a damaged brain to unload a secret held his lifetime. Over ten days I received the story began above. During this disclosure I realized in a reflective moment that I was receiving the designs from a remote viewer that assisted the orbs of light to interpret for humans the design of star mind technology. In that moment of astonishment, a long time ago but not forgotten recollection brought to mind again a memory that explained to me why this disclosure technology seemed to be so transparent and vividly received and understood. I recollected an orb I had built. It was built only in a waking dream, while I was meditating as a young man years earlier. It was wonderful. A glass orb of scintillating plasma patterns moved in captivating dynamics. A recognition of the patterns as being those of the sentient desire and intent of the holder of the orb brought a rushing aura of loving acceptance in a harmony with everything. Seeing and knowing ones deep celestial mind brought the same aura and compliance to harmony of knowing to all those in the room in this waking dream. This recollection moved me to tears and sobs of release and awe. Awe. The remote viewer was teaching me how to build a device of a vision I always could revisit and understand. My pause now is not about how to build it, not after last September --seven years of skull-scraping to understand-- brought a full comprehension of the design principles; the why, and importantly --the how. What my yearn to know form this community is not a confirmation that I'm not singularly crazy. Way past that. I'm concerned and wondering about what I don't know. I wonder if I am wrong to seek help. Or should I proselyte some alien reasoning. I wonder if I am missing clues. I wonder if I am suppose to somehow say enough somewhere that some unique individual will be a puzzle piece to a plan and a compliance of initiatives will at least begin a private collective of adopters of an electronic coupling with our celestial soul --residing deep within. --- Q: However could one fabricate a lensing amplifier of our eternal soul signature ? A: By randomly timed magnetic pulses that are modulating a tension on the matter lattice of copper resonator elements. Q: How is such simplicity regulated and controlled to transparently interface with a living mind? A: The pulse-timing is regulated on the other side by a sentient nexus of this living reality --living at a level of reality that creates this reality. This is a star mind project, not mine. I just live here. --- There was only one charge of responsibility given to me as a direct message from the orbs, "Build five and distribute them around the world. Sooner is better, as more people are helped before help is no more." A revelation was given. "Times ahead will grow dangerous to survival, and the danger is our fellow man. A bifurcation of amplified behaviors around the planet will reach endangering proportions." Suggestion was given: "To survive coming days, surround yourself with diverse friends in compliance." For friends in this mission I'll happily settle for mixed nuts, like me. --- There is one sobering issue... humans build reasoning based on limits negative to society, and our negative reasoning matrix turns reality black at amplified levels --not unlike the blackness of mind when our eyes are closed. Another issue: a deep-mind excursion re-balances ones life, perhaps akin to a DMT wash of mind during a near-death experience. However, balancing universal harmony in Earth realm may be fraught with things never anticipated by our respective animals --regardless the humility of our intent --excepting ones mind is already without negative intent. --- My concerns may be unfounded, or shallow and presumptuous. I yield for advise --not advise about feasibility of technology, or whether the universe is sentient and "not all stars are alive" --but about distribution of the device of my charge and in what fashion to portend myself. --- From my experience with star mind, I'll share that if you are part of something about this then you already know it, or can really feel it, but the grammar to express the urgency doesn't compile. Please, follow your urgency.

I’m certainly not planning to develop a rainbow body why should I end something which is going to end on its own anyway (sooner or later)? Is that how little you value life? Truth be told, I’d been in a withdrawal mode for a few years, but that’s beside the point. How would you or anyone else on an Internet forum know anything about anyone else if you don’t interact with them on a regular basis? As far as merit is concerned — Why just me? Everyone is immeasurably meritorious already. Just need to drop the pretense of being separate beings in samsara. I’m not a Buddhist, so don’t buy into their mythology. Most of this stuff is basically just mythology. How many Arhants have you or anyone else on this forum met? I’ve met a few good and compassionate teachers, who’ve given me the directions to step out of delusion. For me, they are more valuable than unknown arhants and bodhisattvas. Wake up! Stop perpetrating the dream. If you don’t, “thank you, come again!”

Shi Shen runs the daytime, Yuan Shen runs the dream time. Every night the Yuan Shen tells the body what needs to be done. - Master Chen

I wrote earlier about my (mostly positive) as a gay guy exploring eastern traditions of meditation and movement. Thinking about things further, I´d like to add that my experience with organized religion hasn´t been nearly so positive. It´s tough to say anything definitive about gay life within Christian and Jewish circles. Lord knows there are a lot of us. I believe that there´s a genuine spiritual path available in all the Abrahamic religions, but it´s not one freely available for all. I spent my junior year of college studying Torah in Israel. It was a wonderful experience but my dream of moving there after college and joining some socially insular but spiritually enraptured Hasidic community was not to be. There´s just not much room in that world for guys like me, in spite of my predilection for predawn dips in the mikvah. I might have had more luck in a Reform community in the US, but, like Woody Allen, I´m not much interested in being part of a club who will have me. While hurdles of homophobia and discrimination still exist in society, my greatest challenge has not come from the outside. My greatest challenge has been, and continues to be, self acceptance. Embracing my whole self is, for me, a large part of what it means to be a spiritual person. In this regard, my task as a man-loving-dude isn´t so different from that of any other person. Incredibly, heterosexuals also have insecurities and difficulties relating to others. Or so I hear.

I really feel in most cases, only one party is really correct in that judgement though. Making any outreach can be legitimately dangerous for both in a lot of cases, it can enable self-destructive behavior and opens channels for abuse and attack. I think most people try very hard for a very long time before they decide to make a complete break, or otherwise have very good reason to think they would be in mortal danger for so much as announcing their presence, completely no fault of their own. It's an obvious problem really just imagining the dynamic of a domestic violence situation, and you would encounter it again and again if you spent time helping people in a community, no need to experience it yourself. It feels so... uninspired to not temper precepts of filial piety with the knowledge of this reality. Worse yet to encourage the abuse, "spare the rod, spoil the child" and what not... At least there is a strong framework in Buddhism and Daoism for anti-literalist and anti-puritanical interpretation, "finger pointing to the Moon" and "The Dao that can be named is not the Eternal Dao" and such, that helps soften my criticisms but it still feels... Farcical in a lot of ways for me to uncritically integrate it into my life at this point. Too many things that grate against me when I look more deeply into its texts and past. Feel less well versed in Hinduism but I'm not holding my breath that there won't be similar confusions there. And even wondering rather it would actually help me even. I've felt some benefit in accepting some of these modes of thinking and experiences back into my life, but I can easily see how this could flip the other direction and turn me into a strange kind of spiritual hypochondriac, another layer of anxiety on my life. So I feel like some guidance would be really helpful, but all I see outside of traditional environments are... Dudes trying to sell me DVD sets and books to groom me into opening an energy healing business or help them do seminars and shit... I'm not interested. I read Dream Trippers and I literally laughed out loud and said "Exactly!" when Chen Yuming said "How could a man claiming to do Daoist cultivation possibly say something like that?" after Michael Winn told him "I'm a businessman!" in defense of his excessive haggling.

I hold to the directive that the kingdom of heaven is within, and pursue only this, though the Ten Commandments are a good way to hold us in check externally before we find it. Why does Christianity say we are born with original sin, why does ‘Hinduism’ say we have three knots (granthis) to undo, why does Taoism say we have three worms that need to be removed? This is a more fundamental problem than why has the bible been interpreted to view homosexuality as a sin. Anyway, read Matthew Vine’s take on why homosexuality is not considered a sin here. I’m not a Christian, I have found I can’t squeeze my thinking down to fit any religion or philosophy, though I see value threaded through many of them, and I have a lot of faith in what I am doing so I’m prepared to run with it. When I was just out of school I seriously considered becoming a nun, I was educated in a Catholic school and my intense desire to know and embrace the ‘spiritual’ was at first projected into my cultural conditioning. But even before I had considered becoming a nun, I had made a decision to examine and understand and follow my dreams, and after thinking I would like to become a nun I had a dream that said ‘don’t do it’, ie., don’t become a nun, and this dream voice was the voice I followed. In retrospect I believe that being a Catholic nun would have limited me, I prefer my own independent path, it makes things harder and more confusing on the way, but it’s getting easier.

Good response. I'll start with the prophetic visions, then, as that was what got me started on my journey in the first place. Some background info is needed beforehand, though. Until the first vision I had, I had been an extremely militant athiest, and would openly insult and degrade those that believed in anything that I couldn't see. I saw anything that couldn't be written in a scientific journal as malicious scams targeted towards those who were not as smart as I. I had read the bible as a bedtime story since early childhood, however, and have close family in the bible belt of the USA. On to the vision itself, it wasn't anything spectacular. It happened while I was asleep, though, it wasn't a dream. I'm not sure how to describe the feeling well, but it felt much more real than reality does. The only times I get that feeling are from projections, and I remember everything that happens in these projections near perfectly, no matter how long the projection lasts. I came to in a pearly-white room; it was square shaped, with similar colored and textured ceiling, floor, and walls. The floorspace was around 10 meters by 10 meters. There were no visible entrances, exits, or windows. No visible light sources, but the whole room was glowing with golden-white light. As I looked around the room, I saw a massive humanoid figure. Around 274cm tall. He was dressed in flowing white robes, and leaned on a large double-edged sword, something similar to a claymore. His face was surrounded by a golden-white light, which felt brighter than the sun, but strangely, I could see his face clearly. If I had to describe his features, they were the epitome of beautiful. As soon as I saw this figure, I instantly "knew" who it was, despite never meeting him before, nor knowing what he was supposed to look like; "Archangel Michael". He simply told me "Tread carefully, a storm is coming. The waters will soon clear". After that, I woke up. For around a year and a half after the dream, I questioned its validity. I did not heed the warning, and did not exercise caution. In the period of around 3 months after the dream, I had problem after problem in my life. I wasn't careful with what I said, and it led to a fight with my girlfriend of four years, which led to a breakup. I wasn't careful with my actions, which led to a group I led being ripped apart from the inside. I wasn't careful with my emotions, which led me to alienate most of my then friend group. All of these things could have been avoided if I had acted with caution. During that time period, I became convinced that if nothing else, Michael was indeed real. I spent much time doubting my own sanity, and more time cursing Michael for not giving me more details on what was going to happen. This is the time period in which I became involved in the occult, as I felt the need to learn more about this unseen side of things. Another thing that happened during that time period was a second "dream", in which I recovered past life memories. Again, it was one that I can remember crystal clear, even now. That said, it also took me many years to fully accept that it was true, due to my ingrained skepticism. In the dream, I was a child; around six years old. I woke up sometime around sunrise, saw my father off to work, and played games in the living area. The rooms were floored with tatami mats, and the home itself had around six rooms. The walls were made of framed paper, and the doors were traditional Japanese sliding doors. I recall my bedroom, the kitchen-area, the living area, and the hallways. My mother dressed in a purple flowered kimono, while my father wore western-style clothing. In the dream, I wore plainly colored samue kurume, dark green and light brown. I spent most of the morning after breakfast at the table, playing with wooden toys, while my mother was working on food in the kitchen. Slightly before lunchtime, I felt the ground shake. I looked out a window, and saw a large fireball. I saw my mother look out the same window, utter an exclamation, and by that point, I felt hot. I saw light shining in from the windows and walls, and I felt my body heating up rapidly. I felt myself catch fire, and burn to death. At the end of the dream, I felt a deep sinking sensation that felt like I was being sucked out of my body into the depths of the earth. That, that was the second catalyst to what started me on my path. It was what got me interested in Japanese culture as a whole, as well as what helped convince me that there was more than meets the eye in life. It also traumatized me, and helped create a motive of malice towards a "god" that would create such a vile world, as well as an ambition to surpass whatever god may have created this world. Said trauma, ambition. and malice have already been worked through, and I am now thankful for the wakeup calls I received from these experiences, but they were by no means pleasant. While I don't expect people to believe me simply because I claim something, I would indeed be happy to share more if you would like to hear more. It does take some time in the right state of mind to type these up though, so do bear with my slow speed!

Shankaracharya couldn't have said there is one substance that changes its forms because there isn't really 'many forms', but rather only the appearance of forms (like forms that appear in a dream). I think "cause and substance changing its form" is a misunderstanding of Advaita. Shunyata is not the same as Brahman as Brahman is beyond duality (no empty, no full), though emptiness and fullness seem to appear in it. Many a high-level practitioner of Vajrachara and Advaita Vedanta (for some fortuitous reason I seem to know several of them) do state that Buddha nature (Buddha-dhatu or tathagata garbha) is nothing but Brahman. The way I understand it, Shunya refers to the lack of independent existence of phenomena that appear and disappear in awareness -- so shunya is really 'svabhāva shunya'. Indeed to try and prove that awareness is also dependently originated is a ludicrous exercise as without awareness the exercise itself is pointless. I think if someone claims (usually half-baked Buddhists do that) that awareness is dependently originated, it can be empirically proven as an incorrect statement, since it is perfectly possible to stay aware in absence of any object.

I already live on one . Well, that was sort of the original intention when the place was set up . It was supposed to be 'eclectic' , not specifically by definition but due to 'newageyness' which has eclectic sources. Then it got a bit 'culty' and that failed. Then it went through a period of being more eclectic. Its been through lots of periods and changes . There are many answers to your questions. Here it was originally set up by a group getting together from a discussion group that decided to make and live in such a 'center' . They outlined what they wanted and asked for it in a 'prayer of manifestation' , which was fulfilled . The legal set up was done a few times and was wrong and ill informed and a fantasy underlined by human failings and lack of knowledge , we have paid highly for that and it had repercussions into the future . All sorts o/f things happened, including a revolution and take over resulting in a handover to residents IF they could form a company with similar ideals and constitution. That was done, a company limited by grantee with the company holding land title and members of the company having the right to a house site to be able to build on. The land was originally bought by deposit ( donations of main part by a few people and smaller amounts by numerous ) and mortgage ( paid off by subsequent 'donations' / rental / fees of $30 a week - still the same amount and various fundraising, events and festivals ) the mortgage was paid off years back and funds accrued for various running costs and expenses (including tithing each week to the needy ) . The operation has changed over time; pre revolution it was by 'trustees' running a fake trust. Consisting of 'original idea people' that did not actually live there who wanted the people that did live there, and the place to work and operate like some fantasy of their imagination not grounded in the practically of living there . A lot of it was a screwed up dream and impracticable and unworkable . Hence the revolution. After that it operated by the company; the directors gave rights to vote to all the members and decisions where made at weekly community / company meetings , much of it was run on normal business model ; AGM, election of directors, etc . Since the land had been paid off, no shares where sold , we made an early strong decision NOT to be involved in land speculation ( but that does not stop the greedy human spirit that wants to 'own' - even from some of the people that supported the idea in the first place ) so house sites are not sold but given to members on approval. Membership is achieved by doing a trial period and getting a 90% vote of members for a prospective 1 year trial membership, then another 90% vote for full membership which allows one to have a house site there . The rules ? I will send a truck around with some documents Articles of association and by-laws of the company . Its not about the rules as such but how you either get people to keep them or enforce them . We get people coming here occasionally that want to start a ' intentional community ' or 'my own community' or ideas like you propose . 95% of the time, they are on their own trip and have no REAL interest in learning from our own experience ...but then again, most of the people that are here or have been through here have not got a clue about how to learn things like that . Its a nice fantasy .... but just wait until you try to implement it ! If you can get 1/20th through the initial stages , my hat would be off to you. All I see nowadays is ideas and talks and workshops and seminars about it ... no one actually DOING it .... getting in there and starting from scratch with a whole range of skills required and physical hard work .... you might get your hands dirty

No it isnt , it was a joke , but see below MY dreams of harems ? Thats an assumption . I used to have a rather nice little harem when I was younger .. no dream . And you are right , I didnt get to 'run' it . It was all by their choice ; " Not enough good men around ' I was told . They must have missed " Men who don't have their heads full of what don Juan called "violent dreams" . They chose me . I gave up 'choosing women' long ago, I leave the choice up to them , otherwise its too complicated : " You choose what happens ... you choose when you want to have sex and I will adapt to need or abstinence , you choose where to go out .. you choose what to eat ... OH ! so fewer arguments ! " Fewer " ? Yes , eventually : " I am sick of deciding everything YOU pick where we will go out to for dinner . " "Okay , Vietnamese place . " ..... " but I dont like that place ! " (and that was before I had a Latino GF ... which is even more fun ;