What Have You Learned

[CedarTree]

What are some teachings, perspectives, experiences, or whatever that you have learned a long your walk on the path that have made a lasting and very profound impact in your life?

Recently I was posting on The Dao Bums forum and someone addressed my "Sky Gazing" post and included a beautiful Chinese Taoist painting with diverse life and water falls and dimensions and what looks like the seeker within his own painting.

He said this was sky gazing in his tradition and it was a good and powerful message to remember the relative is the absolute.

It made me think, what have you all experienced and maybe this can really help each of us grow by cutting through the usual questions and answers and getting to the guts of our own lives

[Marblehead]

Well, I have learned to not judge so often and just work with or around negative conditions.

 

 

[Teddy]

Look after your body. Listen to your body. Be kind to your body. Be kind to yourself. Be kind; it's not hard. Let it go. Love stuff. Go with the flow. Forgive. Work hard when you need to.

[Kar3n]

Lately, letting go of expectation has been at the forefront of my daily existence. It has been profound in that I am not limiting my experiences by some picture I have painted of how practices, daily interactions and people are supposed to be, at least in my own mind. It has allowed for insight beyond the parameters I had previously boxed myself into.

 

In short, I guess I am learning to not take myself and thoughts so seriously and to not allow preconceived notions to rule my existence.

 

 

[Stosh]

I learned that , while I expected profound changes from what I consciously learned ,  such stuff had relatively little impact on what I have done or become .

Of more impact , was The 'just getting older and gathering experiences' ,it has changed my opinions , 'behind the scenes' .

Looking back to my youth as far as I remember it , I was probably a better,, but more confused,, person. 

[lifeforce]

Be yourself. Follow your interests but don't overdo it.

[Lost in Translation]

Follow your fear. It is the most honest emotion.

[cold]

5 hours ago, Stosh said:

I learned that , while I expected profound changes from what I consciously learned ,  such stuff had relatively little impact on what I have done or become .

Of more impact , was The 'just getting older and gathering experiences' ,it has changed my opinions , 'behind the scenes' .

Looking back to my youth as far as I remember it , I was probably a better,, but more confused,, person. 

 

"probably a better, " in what way?

I suppose I understand less confusion with age, for me age has shown me I don't know as much as I thought I did

 

3 minutes ago, Lost in Translation said:

Follow your fear. It is the most honest emotion.

 

 I don't know about following ones fear, rather agree with getting to know ones fear(s) getting to know all about ones fears.

[Lost in Translation]

12 minutes ago, cold said:

 I don't know about following ones fear, rather agree with getting to know ones fear(s) getting to know all about ones fears.

 

Then we agree. By 'follow' I don't mean 'give in to'. I mean simply be aware when you experience it, be aware of what it feels like, be aware of what causes it, and be aware of whether the fear is appropriate to the cause and in proportion to the cause. I find that most of our actions are a reaction to fear. Knowing your fear is a major step in the direction towards freedom.

[cold]

9 minutes ago, Lost in Translation said:

 

Then we agree. By 'follow' I don't mean 'give in to'. I mean simply be aware when you experience it, be aware of what it feels like, be aware of what causes it, and be aware of whether the fear is appropriate to the cause and in proportion to the cause. I find that most of our actions are a reaction to fear. Knowing your fear is a major step in the direction towards freedom.

 

After many heated discussions with Alfie over the years, you know, "What's it all about Alfie?"

I have to wholeheartedly agree with

"Knowing your fear is a major step in the direction towards freedom."

And peace with oneself and the world at large...

[Stosh]

48 minutes ago, cold said:

 

"probably a better, " in what way?

I suppose I understand less confusion with age, for me age has shown me I don't know as much as I thought I did

 

 

 I don't know about following ones fear, rather agree with getting to know ones fear(s) getting to know all about ones fears.

I think I was more idealistic , I was rather quiet , and well behaved , and instead of putting the negative where it belonged, I think I blamed myself firstly. 

Getting older and wiser , putting blame where it belongs , isn't really all that noble in comparison. I guess its the virtue called innocence. 

Edited November 9, 2017 by Stosh

[cold]

8 minutes ago, Stosh said:

I think I was more idealistic , I was rather quiet , and well behaved , and instead of putting the negative where it belonged, I think I blamed myself firstly. 

Getting older and wiser , putting blame where it belongs , isn't really all that noble in comparison. I guess its the virtue called innocence. 

 

thanks

[cold]

I think one loses their innocence in small and large ways along the path to wisdom.

It, innocence is replaced with awareness, if we are lucky.

[Stosh]

3 minutes ago, cold said:

I think one loses their innocence in small and large ways along the path to wisdom.

It, innocence is replaced with awareness, if we are lucky.

I dunno bout that being lucky , it is the trade-off we tend to make though , and while that happens we think we get better,, I just really don't know that its true. Its like the thing where a society trades it's primitive origins for modern societies I phones, and plumbing,, there's that which is lost . So we live our high stress lifestyle , grind through our 8 hour workday , and don't know the folks up the block. 

[cold]

I know the folks up the block but rarely engage beyond the cursory wave now and again.

I return their calls for assistance promptly and help when I can.

Manners, proper manners seem lost amongst the youth of today.

(I'm sure that's been stated for eons)

 

I work with my hands, frowned upon mostly, unless ones a surgeon now a days.

Some days a few hours other days none my needs are small and mostly met.

I rely very little on indoor plumbing

Most of my stress is from operating a truck on congested roads.

 

I have been known to say what the world needs now is greater respect, 

I don't have to like you or love you either but I will do my best to offer you respect.

[Stosh]

Yeah , that illustrates nicely , In order to be in this big society , one has to generalize sentiments about respect and concern , to people we not only might not care for, but don't really know. We have to tolerate intrusions all day long by virtual strangers , whose interests are unaligned with our own. Rely upon folks who we never see , avoid threat from any quarter. 

Life is different than what we evolved to live like. 

[cold]

1 minute ago, Stosh said:

Yeah , that illustrates nicely , In order to be in this big society , one has to generalize sentiments about respect and concern , to people we not only might not care for, but don't really know. We have to tolerate intrusions all day long by virtual strangers , whose interests are unaligned with our own. Rely upon folks who we never see , avoid threat from any quarter. 

Life is different than what we evolved to live like. 

 

Amen!

[oak]

22 hours ago, CedarTree said:

What are some teachings, perspectives, experiences, or whatever that you have learned a long your walk on the path that have made a lasting and very profound impact in your life?

Recently I was posting on The Dao Bums forum and someone addressed my "Sky Gazing" post and included a beautiful Chinese Taoist painting with diverse life and water falls and dimensions and what looks like the seeker within his own painting.

He said this was sky gazing in his tradition and it was a good and powerful message to remember the relative is the absolute.

It made me think, what have you all experienced and maybe this can really help each of us grow by cutting through the usual questions and answers and getting to the guts of our own lives

 

I learned that trying to communicate what we think are the most deep and rich experiences is something very frustrating in most cases. Frequently question myself about this forum. Well, I guess we are trying and that keeps me coming back. Mystical poetry and symbology were the only means found by many to communicate their experiences.

An anecdote to ilustrate my point (and this isnt for me deep stuff)

A few years ago, with my dan tien boiling in full activity (not anymore) I tried to convince a friend of mine (someone with long years of mystical study) about the veracity of John Changs capabilities showing her the famous dinamo jack youtube video. After watching it do you know what she replied ? "Did you notice that he dyes his hair ?" Oh John man, why did you do that ??? 

[Marblehead]

2 hours ago, Lost in Translation said:

Follow your fear. It is the most honest emotion.

And those with no fear need not follow anyone, anything.  They make good candidates for becoming an Anarchist.

 

[silent thunder]

na, changed my mind

Edited November 10, 2017 by silent thunder

[thelerner]

For Middle age me, learn from others but walk your own path.

 

 

addon>  specific stuff. 

Adding a little bobbing movement (ala StillnessMovement Meditation) while sitting adds greatly to my meditation.  

That there's a world of internal focus's possible within the body during meditation.

    lately I'm counting my breaths 1-10 repeat, then starting breath focused on third eye(deeper then the screen), going down through tip of nose, throat, heart (w/ mental Ahhh), dantien, breath out focused in dantien- repeat.  After a while letting that go and just sitting, hands rest of dantien.

 

I've learned the Wim Hof method, a very physical practice of breathing and cold conditioning.  Anti-inflammatory and body conditioning for the cold and general resilience. 

 

Rawn Clarks YHVH canticle.  It's my shower chant and over the years I've enoyed it.  Makes my showers a bit more sacred, nice after Wim Hof makes them a little  torturous uncomfortable at times. 

 

There's great energy possible in group meditation, chanting and singing. 

 

People are more important then places.

 

I like gadgets.

 

What we focus on and record, we improve. 

Edited November 10, 2017 by thelerner

[Aetherous]

99% of the time any person is speaking ill of anyone else, what they're saying applies more so to themselves than the person being spoken of. "When you point your finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you." Just apply this rule unfailingly to get a glimpse behind the facade of social interactions.

Integrity is everything...be 100% honest with yourself, and just as honest with others unless you really need to withhold something (but still know the truth within). This is the first step on the true spiritual path...until then, not a single step has been taken, even (or especially) if it seems like you're advanced.

You're NOT advanced. Find out how true this is by trying to be perfect. Then forgive yourself when you fail. Being advanced would include never having a negative emotion, but always having love and seeing the most positive side of every person you encounter...use that as your yardstick for measuring progress.

If you love others, you don't just feel that emotion...you take real world action to help them.

Benefiting ourselves and others is a good life. Avoid the things that harm yourself or others. Benefits and harms apply to both short and long term effects...for instance, it benefits the taste buds to drink Coke, but it has long term harm, so ultimately it's harmful and not beneficial. Apply this to everything in life.

In terms of health and self healing, if something makes you feel better, keep doing it as long as it does. Avoid things that worsen how you feel. Be moderate in things, too...don't overwork, overeat, etc. Chew your food very thoroughly for your meals, and get movement each day.

Strength is misrepresented by society as something abusive and brutish...what it actually is, is essential for all that is good. Because it takes more courage and strength to do good in a world that punishes the good and rewards the bad. It takes strength to be responsible for the welfare of others, such as if you raise a family. All that is harmful in our world stems from weakness, cowardice, and lacking integrity. There are many misrepresentations taught to us by our backward society...try to see through them all.

 

Money is extremely important. This kind of goes without saying, except for people who tend to be spiritual...they are told that "money is evil" etc, or for whatever reason believe that to be true. Money is just a representation of value...to get more of it, be more valuable to society. Money is the modern day version of getting food, water, clothing, and shelter from nature...absolutely necessary.

Don't be mind controlled...think for yourself. Judge things based on your own reason, experience, and insight. An example of being mind controlled is getting caught up in semen retention practices, and worrying all the time about it. People who tell you to deny your natural drives aren't entirely trustworthy. The same thing also applies to dietary advice, etc...don't blindly believe all the crap people tell you. This brings me to my last point I'll say...

...with practices, your results should be positive. If there are bad results, then you can give the practice up. There are better methods out there. You might feel attached to this one, due to what it promises...but that's usually just hype, and it's probably going to look like a lame method in retrospect, when you finally get access to more genuine methods.

Just some ideas.

[CloudHands]

 

15 hours ago, Aetherous said:

Money is extremely important. This kind of goes without saying, except for people who tend to be spiritual...they are told that "money is evil" etc, or for whatever reason believe that to be true. Money is just a representation of value...to get more of it, be more valuable to society. Money is the modern day version of getting food, water, clothing, and shelter from nature...absolutely necessary.

 

 

You must be kidding

 

 

 

 

[thelerner]

20 hours ago, Aetherous said:

 

Money is extremely important. This kind of goes without saying, except for people who tend to be spiritual...they are told that "money is evil" etc, or for whatever reason believe that to be true. Money is just a representation of value...to get more of it, be more valuable to society. Money is the modern day version of getting food, water, clothing, and shelter from nature...absolutely necessary.
Just some ideas.

 

3 hours ago, CloudHands said:

 

You must be kidding

 

I agree with Aetherous, though maybe not extremely but in most of our societies, money, the ability to make a good living is important, a requisite for life's necessities, conveniences and freedom.  In a hunting society its important to be able to hunt or gather, in Capitalist and European style Socialism it's likewise important to be able to earn a living, all the better if its a good one.  To be obsessed with it, is bad, but to have enough is good, and that means training. 

 

That's not to denigrate living simply, but even that takes a modicum of income.  I've met hobos who live on the charity of others and that can be a very hard life. 

[CloudHands]

7 hours ago, thelerner said:

 

I agree with Aetherous, though maybe not extremely but in most of our societies, money, the ability to make a good living is important, a requisite for life's necessities, conveniences and freedom.  In a hunting society its important to be able to hunt or gather, in Capitalist and European style Socialism it's likewise important to be able to earn a living, all the better if its a good one.  To be obsessed with it, is bad, but to have enough is good, and that means training. 

 

That's not to denigrate living simply, but even that takes a modicum of income.  I've met hobos who live on the charity of others and that can be a very hard life. 

 

I agree with that. I know I focused on our disagreement and I agree that a relative comfortable living helps a lot.

Try cultivation or anything without sleep... going to be rough. That money can provide but ultimately there is no need of money to obtain that.

Primarily money a tool to collect power beyond needs and it certainly doesn't reflect one's value. It offers someone an opportunity to drain and gain power from/on society.

 

If the society has sick will, ill needs and crazy values what does your money reflects ? I constantly observe that people that cover our most important needs go without reward for it.

Edited November 11, 2017 by CloudHands