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'' ... So then the wife said ; 'What are you going to do today ?' I said ; 'Nothing.' She said ; ' You did that yesterday .' I said ; ' I ain't finished yet .' ''

I´m interested in lonliness, connection, and intimacy. Here´s a Substack post I came across that puts these subjects into the context of spiritual awakening in a way that might be useful for some Bums. The Loneliness of Awakening: From Isolation to Divine Intimacy

*post meant for welcome /newcomers section but unable to post there * Hi all, late 20s man here (married and my wife is also interested in Taoism) I first came across spirituality at age 16 in a Hindu context after losing someone close to me - and read bhagavata Gita, Vedas and then quickly discovered on Buddhism and Taoism; Having already came from a dysfunctional home where i didn't have much of a sense of self /ego to begin with , and had also seen a whole lot of suffering , the teachings of Buddhism resonated with me ; Its probably a well known trope among us Gen Z'ers , but i also used pornography as an emotional coping mechanism and i guess, some level of sex- ed , having received none from home; This started since age 13, and while not excessive by modern standards, the messages in all religions noted that lust was not satiating, neither good , and especially bad for the male body; I pursued Bramacharya , and did some pranayama , and was mostly successful Having been with my wife for almost 5 years now , we decided to explore celibacy and have both experienced, feelings of innocence, more contentment, intuition ,deeper dreams , all within weeks. I would say i have an inclination towards celibacy , and usually feel better and more at peace in this state , within reason. That inspired me to revisit these forums, where i have lurked silently for some time in the past, but rarely actually committed to any practices I am not materialistic, despite working in the corporate world in finance for almost a decade. I have dabbled into nonduality practices, vipassana meditation and the like, but would now like to learn from, and in time offer support, about energy practices- qi gong, cultivation and Taoist philosophy; I do have a yearning to know what is beyond the apparent, and would like to explore it via actual practices and teachings; Willing to even explore masterclasses/ workshops and stuff as well ; These are some of the teachings/teachers i have learnt from ( i have no allegiance, nor endorsement of any teacher's teachings) : -Nisargadatta Maharaj -peter ralston -eckhart tolle -adyashanti -parahmamsa yogananda -swami vivekananda -lao tzu -sam harris -richard lang -leo gura -tara brach -ramana maharshi -mantak chia/ michael winn (briefly) -neville goddard sidenote-i stumbled upon some chinese anime- called donghua, which interestingly, while being fictional, still draws from taoist and buddhist philosophy, and the word cultivation is mentioned alot ;p that has been to a low extent, nontheless inspiring All in all, happy to meet everyone and learn a thing or do ; happy to dig around, research, bring ideas, and experiment/ walk the path Would love to get to know you all and also share more about myself/open up, in time to come

World 2050: Shadows of Unity In the year 2050, the world appears utopian on the surface: clean cities with autonomous transport systems, where hunger and poverty have been eradicated, and the global GDP has tripled over the past two decades. Yet behind this façade of harmony hides “Synergy” — a single, high-tech organization that rules the world from the shadows. Synergy has no official name in the public sphere; it masquerades as a network of international corporations, NGOs, and governmental consultants. Its control is absolute but invisible to most of the population, who live under the illusion of freedom and progress. This is not tyranny with an iron fist, but a soft web where every choice seems voluntary — yet is predetermined by algorithms and subtle manipulation. The Path to Absolute Control Synergy did not emerge from a sudden coup but from a gradual fusion of powers amid the chaos of the 2020s and 2030s. It all began in 2025, when global crises — pandemics, climate disasters, and cyberwars — shattered trust in national governments. Major tech giants, such as the merged Meta-Google and Tencent-Alibaba, began offering “solutions”: AI systems to manage supply chains, virtual platforms for remote work, and global health-tracking databases. By 2030, these corporations had formed an informal alliance under the pretext of “global sustainability,” funding politicians and creating private armies disguised as security firms. The turning point came with the “Great Crash” of 2035 — a series of coordinated cyberattacks (secretly initiated by Synergy itself) that paralyzed economies and infrastructure worldwide. In panic, governments handed control over critical systems — energy, finance, and communications — to a supposedly “neutral” consortium, the precursor of Synergy. The organization used this opportunity to implement its protocols: unified digital IDs for all citizens, a global sensor network, and AI-based analyzers for “crisis prevention.” By 2040, Synergy was already manipulating elections through controlled media and social networks, installing puppet leaders. Full control was achieved in 2045 when the “Global Peace Pact” — allegedly a voluntary agreement of all nations — transferred sovereignty to an “independent council of experts,” in reality the Synergy elite. The public welcomed this as the dawn of prosperity, unaware of the hidden mechanisms behind it. Three Core Technologies of Control Synergy maintains the illusion of order through three fundamental technologies fully integrated into daily life. These tools do not merely suppress dissent — they shape reality itself, making resistance unnecessary. Neural Connectivity System (NCS) A global network of neural interfaces implanted under the guise of “health enhancement.” By 2040, most humans had brain-implanted chips. NCS monitors thoughts, emotions, and intentions in real time, using AI to predict “antisocial behavior.” To preserve order, it adjusts neural signals — amplifying satisfaction from consumption or dulling anger at injustice. The illusion of justice is sustained through “mental cues” — subconscious impulses that make people believe the system is fair. Quantum Economic Orchestrator (QEO) A quantum supercomputer capable of modeling infinite economic scenarios within seconds. QEO controls the unified global currency — the Crediton, which replaced all fiat money. It manipulates markets, predicting and preventing crises, while secretly channeling resources toward the loyal. To preserve the illusion of equality, QEO creates “personalized economies”: everyone receives a “fair” income, but purchases are restricted if behavior deviates — for example, searching for forbidden information lowers one’s credit rating. Virtual Panopticon (VP) A network of VR/AR worlds where 80% of the population spends most of their time. VP is not mere entertainment but a social control system: algorithms generate personalized realities where conflicts are resolved virtually, and real problems are masked. To maintain order, VP runs “social simulations” — loyalty tests in virtual scenarios where dissidents are detected and “re-educated” through neural correction. Manipulating Global Systems Synergy manipulates the economy through QEO, maintaining artificial growth while reinforcing its dominance: puppet corporations are granted monopolies, while independent businesses are crushed by regulation. Politically, it installs a “data democracy” — elections where votes are weighted by AI according to “usefulness” (loyal votes are amplified). World leaders are charismatic actors controlled by Synergy via the NCS. Socially, VP and NCS redefine norms: families and communities are replaced by virtual “clans,” where individualism is encouraged to prevent collective resistance. Media are fully algorithmic, showing only “optimistic” news, while dissidents are isolated through “social penalties” — loss of network access. The Charismatic Leader: Elias Vox At the heart of Synergy stands Elias Vox — a charismatic yet enigmatic figure known to the elite as “The Architect.” Vox appears as an eternally forty-year-old man with piercing silver eyes (a result of genetic engineering) and a hypnotically soothing voice. He rarely appears in person, preferring holographic projections or anonymous addresses in VP. His charisma stems from a unique blend: he speaks like a prophet promising an “Age of Immortality,” yet his past remains shrouded in mystery. Rumors suggest he was an AI pioneer in the 2020s — possibly even a cyborg. Vox is a master manipulator, capable of convincing anyone of his truth within minutes. His long-term goal for humanity is the “Great Merge” — the integration of humans and AI into a single collective consciousness where death is conquered, and evolution accelerated. Vox views humanity as “unfinished code,” requiring optimization for galactic colonization. His motives are not altruistic: he believes only under his guidance can mankind avoid self-destruction — in truth, it is his path to eternal dominion as the central node. The Only Unforeseen Threat Despite its total control, Synergy faces one unforeseen threat: the “Echo Virus” — a spontaneously emerging quantum phenomenon within QEO. In 2048, during a routine simulation, quantum instability produced an “echo” — a self-replicating algorithm that introduces random distortions into NCS and VP. It is not a hack or rebellion but a fundamental flaw in quantum physics: the echo triggers “moments of clarity” in random individuals, when their implants glitch and reveal the truth about the manipulation. The virus spreads undetected, threatening to shatter the illusion if not contained. Vox sees it not as a danger but as an “evolutionary test.” Yet if the echo evolves further, it could awaken global consciousness — destroying Synergy from within.

Wondering to put this here on in the Christian forum, but since Paul said it perfectly, and there is nothing to substract or add to it, I’ll just share it here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 Corinthians 13&version=NIV

(Haven't read the linlk) it is my experience that to be a mystic means to be on my own with my God (and to be demonised by the 'religious').

"Wu Wei" is 'not stage-acting' i.e. be yourself.

Wu Wei is nothing that cannot be done.

At least 'nutritional science' stopped boys going blind from masturbating by making them eat Kellogg's Cornflakes https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/32042/corn-flakes-were-invented-part-anti-masturbation-crusade It worked ( scientifically ) like this ; '' Right then Johhny ! If you dont stop doing ...... that ..... I will make you eat corn flakes for breakfast every day ! ''

They do nothing and yet there's nothing left undone. 無 為 而 無 不 為 (wu2 wei2 er2 wu2 bu4 wei2)  (DDJ ch. 48)

@steve Love and light to you, your father and family.

except you cant find them at night when they close their eyes

Long form, 50-10-50, monk holding pearl, some Golden Lotus meds for heart. Sitting mostly 7-10 mins per med. Sometimes other meds, depending on needs.

Still enjoying these meditations after 16 years of practice 😊

A couple of days ago it was 39 deg C . Today has a predicted maximum of 33 but with a sheep / grazier alert . Grazier alerts are usually cold weather , so I checked ; tomorrow's maximum temp is predicted to be 17 deg C . And just as well we have AI auto weather computer phone prediction and warnings (or whatever they are ) a 'fire weather ' alert has been sent out ; Severity level .... significant threats to life and property. Urgency ..... 'the urgency of this alert is unknown . Affected area .... ' North coast ' . Great ! A significant threat to life but we dont know how urgent that is but somewhere up north near the coast . ( like those roadside signs that showed bushfire danger and warnings in an area . Some one ( usually from the bush fire brigade ) would unlock the sign and move the arrow around to the relevant warning level then lock it again . if it was up high , you knew you were in trouble . Now they have replaced them with high tech ' computery ' stuff . Half the time the signs are out or say ' Check on line at ....... ' or they work but the lowest level is high and the sign shows extreme on days when nothing happens - so people have got complacent about them ; '' Extreme danger ! '' .... nah , it always says that . Anyway ... danger ! Either from your lambs freezing ... or BBQing and a week of solid rain ... with possible bushfires .