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I don´t know. It looked to me like it was melted under a broiler in an oven but I suppose there´s more than one way to melt one´s cheese. Never mind me, today I´m operating with half a cauliflower.

cats would eat the cheese but probably not the cauliflower...unless straving.

And with a full brain you could make Cauliflower Polonaise. In my kitchen it's known as "The Right Way" rather than "Polonaise," as I inherited the recipe long before the attribution. ( "The Left Way" is just steaming it. "The Right Way" may or may not add cheese, it doesn't matter much since you can't improve much on perfection.)

Looks delicious. I´m of the opinion that anything topped with broiled cheese is delicious -- but that´s not an unpopular opinion.

If you had half a brain you could make cauliflower cheese:

Maybe the beauty of having all these "brains" is that we can change what we think without staying strictly in our head. There´s a gut-brain axis? Good! Let me change my thoughts by eating differently. Movement works too as well as various cultivation practices. Getting the right kind of sunshine can have a profound effect on the kind of thoughts associated with a bad mood. It´s often easier to change thoughts indirectly -- by working with the systems that effect the various brains -- than trying to strongarm thoughts on a cognitive level.

Intelligence is found everywhere. Intelligence is not restricted to minds. Minds are not restricted to brains

"Minds are what brains do." -- Marvin Minsky, father of neural networks This statement may seem overly materialistic and "non-spiritual," but the thing is, the very notions of "brain" and "mind" are rather arbitrary. They keep discovering "brains" in places other than the skull -- e.g. there's the "gut-brain" axis, with the enteric nervous system in continuous complex communication with the CNS via complex two-way signaling pathways (e.g. the vagus nerve that equally "belongs" to the gut and the head). The immune system has a mind of its own, and the mind in the head has only indirect and limited impact on what it thinks. It's hard to draw a demarcation line. Or rather, it's somewhat counterproductive. In the organ-system-function cognitive tradition of taoist sciences, you don't separate what they "are" from what they "do." It's all one, and it splits into "matter" and "spirit," "body" and "mind" that don't constitute a whole only when unhealthy. When it's healthy it's unified.

And the Lord said : pick up your zafu and walk. And she did walk and the people were amazed.

Thoughts are your friends. They help you recognise, organise and understand both your internal world and the external world. Without them you would be lost. Thoughts are your ally, your companion, your way to wisdom. If your thoughts are conflicted, chaotic, relentless, annoying, repetitive, banal, seemingly pointless. Then it you that is imbalanced, conflicted, stupid or mixed up. Find stillness and balance and your thoughts will be healed. But do not criticise them or disown them because they are your friends. Oh but, you say, reality is non-conceptual. True. Absolute reality is non-conceptual in that it cannot be grasped through concepts. But then again is there anything that is not the Absolute? If there is then it is not the real Absolute. The Absolute is the ultimate subject of your thoughts, if those thoughts are taken to their ultimate conclusion. To define the subject we use the often misunderstood formula: S = S + P(n) where S is the subject and P is the predicate of the subject (to the nth term). Or in other words the Absolute = the Absolute plus everything. Chew on that!

Hello there! I have come across this forum repeatedly in my own searches and queries regarding energy cultivation, alchemical practices, and neigong over the last few years. I am frequently delighted by the depth of knowledge, insight, and curiosity displayed by many of the posters and postings I’ve come across. I’m not sure why I’m only now joining the forum. For myself I often feel a touch isolated in my own path and journey and don’t always have an outlet to share or even compare notes with others. I don’t believe it has been neglect as much as a realization that internal arts, cultivation, and meditative practices are solo endeavors in practice and I feel I often forget that others can have just as profound a connection to dao/source/god as I do myself. As practice: I engage with and practice neigong and alchemical practices alongside qigong and recently a tiny bit of taiji and bagua. I have lived “half in-half out” my entire life. Spirit and energy is simply as real to me as breathing and always has been. Much of my life I have often engaged with many energy practices as they come to me not knowing the same ones have been handed down from mystics and sages to others for centuries. I just knew what they felt like. As I 5 year old I didn’t know I was opening my third eye but simply enjoyed the feeling and sensation of directing my attention to it or making ‘sword fingers’ and feeling the pressure at my forehead - as a minor example. Later in life I have found energy healing and faith healing as practical applications. Simply moving along with my intuition has yielded many uncomfortable but fantastic encounters and situations. Prior to any knowledge of daoist alchemical methods I had had my own kundalini awakening and had regularly practiced what I later found out are shengong in nature. Without divulging loads of personal things the drive to learn energy cultivation practices came out of necessity. The lives we lead will often leave us in need of healing and wisdom whether we like it or not. Step back, do the basics, work on foundations, start over. Chop wood and carry water. The yield has been worth the effort but I still have questions! I feel like a novice when I see so many doing the same work. Its great. Cheers, adam

What's Benebell Wen got to do with this? She's not mentioned in the opening post or any of the replies. Why put her in the title then? Edit: never mind. It's referring to another thread.

we call it grilled in the UK - broiled sounds like boiled!

When my cat was only a few weeks old, for some reason she was very interested in vegetables. Every time I come across that ubiquitous meme where a cat is being yelled at for not eating her broccoli, I find it heartbreaking. (Yes, I know it's not the cat in the original photo. Still, I can't help thinking my poor kitty may have been starving in her early kittenhood and would eat whatever... I got her when she was way too small for adoption age -- the woman selling her in the parking lot didn't seem like a reliable cat person, so, who knows. Incidentally, yesterday she brought home her first wild mouse... I mean the cat did, not that woman.)

Other people read these also!

like trained or acquired muscle memory for certain physical actions/reactions without the slower process of only thinking through a task...also our instinctive type actions or reactions. Btw, some folks have trained and acquired a lot verbal muscle memory in their mouths, lol sometimes.

Venus symbolizes Lucifer. Are you Luciferian? What brings you to this forum?

Note to self: never respond to newcomers' questions until you know more about them.

being somewhat of a gear head your post also translates to me in the sense of a V-8 engine that is designed, built and tuned up very well, and for that to happen all of its parts must work together resulting in good power at the crankshaft which is then hooked to a transmission and the rest of the drive train and finally to the tires where the rubber meets the road...wa-la. (alas, most internal combustion engines lose a lot of energy in various forms like heat, friction and moving their inherent weight around thus the never ending and creative engineering efforts to greatly reduce such losses!)

We are all so deeply habituated to thinking that it is very difficult to find our way to silence. Thinking is a deep addiction within human existence. Because it is such an addiction, it requires a strong commitment and intention to be present if you are to free yourself from the habit of thinking. ~ Leonard Jacobson Whenever you feel worried, nervous, pressured, you are living from imagination, not from awareness. These negativities do not control a conscious man." ~ Vernon Howard Thoughts come to our mind quite unconsciously and most of them are emotional. We are easily carried away by these emotional thoughts. However, once we become conscious of them, their emotional control lessens, and we can work with them skillfully. ~ Bhante Sujatha Simply notice that you're aware. At any given moment, you can choose to follow the chain of thoughts, emotions, and sensations that reinforce a perception of yourself as vulnerable and limited, or to remember that your true nature is pure, unconditioned, and incapable of being harmed. ~ Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

元 (Yuán): That is a great idea. 亨 (Hēng): Everything will go well. 利 (Lì): Doing this will bring good results. 贞 (Zhēn): Everything will finish strong, and end well. In the I Ching. It's the universe telling you that all conditions are aligned for a complete and total success, as long as you stay on track

Youtube fed a CIA guy into my feed (yum!) who studied assorted psychology disciplines toward, well, manipulation, interrogation, infiltration and whatever else they want psychology for at the agency. So he said, based on what he asserts he learned from studies, that we have an average of 65,000 thoughts on a daily basis, of which 48,000 are negative and self-defeating, and not only that but 90 to 95% of them are repetitive, thoughts we already had before, many times before, and in all likelihood will have them again tomorrow. This I think (sic) is what cultivation systems that seem to advise fighting one's thoughts by various methods are up against, and I think (sic again) it may be a worthy albeit difficult pursuit. Not to eradicate "all" thoughts but to get rid of that useless overload that consumes a ton of brainpower. "When you eat a banana 60% of the calories go toward feeding your negativity." What a thought! I'm never eating bananas again! I know three ways of turning off that loop of thoughts going nowhere. Meditation, sleep, good audiobooks read by voices I like. All three have elements of wuwei in them, though in different proportions. (For me personally, audiobooks are more wuwei in my native tongue even though non-native poses no conscious difficulty -- but my unconscious is aware of an extra effort, and my consciousness is aware of that. I can literally feel my brain using more calories from that banana.) I think periodic non-thinking times are beneficial...

Sri Matre Namaha and Namo Amitabha Buddhaya, Hello everyone, Just passing through. I was informed of a few deaths and saw that I was mentioned a number of times since my departure for a couple years. I was reminded of my mortality many times in my pilgrimage the last year, and immediately after while repairing relationships since then after some shifts. Here I am sharing a few insights I wanted to share that re-contextualizes past conflicts here and has vastly improved my life. 1. I was diagnosed last year shortly after turning 41 that I have Autism and ADHD--otherwise known as AuDHD. This means I am tone deaf and sound a lot angrier or more argumentative than I need to be without realizing how it would be perceived by others. My info dumping is a feature of neurodivergence, and this can be seen as being disingenuous by others, even if I and many people like me believe that clarity will help free people from wrongful assumptions and mischaracterizing my intentions. My hyperreactivity also comes from rejection sensitivity dysphoria, or RSD, a feature of ADHD. Many times I would perceive some remarks from people as a personal attack and overreact. It is better to assume good intentions and take the loss before getting into an argument since nobody wins. 2. Cultivation absolutely affects my condition for better or for worse. The right cultivation with qi, diet, and spiritual balance (separate from energy work) can moderate the physiological and neurological differences in my body. The wrong cultivation can make them worse, especially when bringing excess energy to my head. It is not my business if people want to do practices that can harm them, as they are not my students and I am not an expert, I am just a specialist at best. I don't get paid to argue and I don't teach for free. 3. Anyone and everyone can eventually be better when we yield that responsibility back to them and God/Dao/the Universe I lost many friends, including TDB member Nature Beeing or Beeing Nature, also known as Natursein on YouTube, who passed several months ago of Liver Cirrhosis around April or May as his partner informed me via WhatsApp. Some of those relationships were healed just before these people died, and some never got that resolution. As I can't wait for others to come around, it is on me to work on myself and be better instead of waiting for them to come around as a prerequisite to improving myself or reconciling. 4. Neurodivergence does make me more sensitive to energy and spirits Before my diagnosis, I noticed things in nature that I didn’t realize others couldn’t perceive. After my diagnosis, my therapist told me it’s common for us to see things and because I see better when relaxed and peaceful while when stressed I don’t perceive anything easily, I realized neurodivergence is a unique operating system, As such, I read oracles better, can notice energy quickly, and as there are several levels of third eye opening, I can sense the other side a bit better, but still need more refinement since it could be a lot more given the new responsibilities given to me by new teachers whom I have met. Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. I will stay around for a week or so to answer any questions if people had any related to my practices or me. Otherwise, you can visit my new site at innerexpeditions.squarespace.com. Thank you everyone. Sri Matre Namaha and Namo Amitabha Buddhaya.

16. To obtain Magical Power, learn to control thought; admit only those ideas that are in harmony with the end desired, and not every stray and contradictory Idea that presents itself. 17. Fixed thought is a means to an end. Therefore pay attention to the power of silent thought and meditation. The material act is but the outward expression of thy thought, and therefore hath it been said that “the thought of foolishness is sin.” Thought is the commencement of action, and if a chance thought can produce much effect, what cannot fixed thought do?

'' And, forasmuch as meat and drink are transmuted in us daily into spiritual substance, I believe in the Miracle of the Mass. '' https://sacred-texts.com/oto/lib15.htm

In her youth, Zazen sometimes gets up and walks around. By the time Zazen is in her 80s she still walks just fine, thank you; but, especially after prolonged sitting, she can be a bit wobbly for a few steps until she gets going.

It turns out my email is faulty and every thing I responded to did not get sent ( apparently due to me not setting my phone up properly on purchase ... I didnt 'allow' all sorts of things relating to 'spying' , following , my 'location' etc . Hopefully I fixed that with a new emali address working through my lap top ??? Anyway, I'll give it a go ( I'll send it in a PM )

and some people seem to think someone said what they didnt say A text followed by a picture with no link to them in the post ( although it was later explained why it was put there by the poster ) Until Cobie mutilated , cut and chopped and censored a post by someone else in a 'quote ' box , to try and make it look like what was said , she could 'validly' criticize .... again ! You might want to look at that proclivity at some stage ?

Thanks for the info . Now I can start an online 'how to enter Nirvana easily' course . Just come to my place on one of those 39 degree C days ... hand over the money and all your possessions ( as you will no longer need them ) and stay for lunch ;

I don't sit lotus, bad enough for me getting up from a sloppy half-lotus! Thanks for asking, about my point. The point is that it is possible to act without will, without willing action to take place. That is the action described as "wu wei", so far as I understand it. As Zen teacher Kobun Chino Otogawa said: It’s impossible to teach the meaning of sitting. You won’t believe it. Not because I say something wrong, but until you experience it and confirm it by yourself, you cannot believe it. (“Embracing Mind”, edited by Cosgrove & Hall, p 48) From Wikipedia: Wu wei (traditional Chinese: 無為; simplified Chinese: 无为; pinyin: wúwéi; Jyutping: mou4-wai4) is an ancient Chinese concept that literally means "actionlessness" or "motionlessness". The term is interpreted and translated in various ways as "actionlessness", "non-action", "inaction," "without action" or "effortless action", etc. Wu wei is effortless by virtue of it being reflex or automatic activity, even though the individual is fully conscious of it taking place.

Here's an interesting article below with a variety of interpretations depending on how you break it up. There are moral, philosophical, divinatory, etc. meanings. In the Taoist I Ching (a commentary by Liu Yiming, trans Cleary)), it is said to be a complete cycle of creation, like the four seasons or the four parts of internal cultivation. https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ijhsse/v9-i11/1.pdf

Earl, We haven't interacted much but it was always clear to me that you had experience that was valuable to share. I takes a special kind of bravery, and more than that, a surrender, to admit those aspects of our humanness that live in the dark corners of our psyche. Your first post in this thread is is definitely the way to burn off some karma! My deep congratulations on your insight into your own mind. How fortunate that the way through is all around you! Deep bows from me, sir. I look forward to seeing your avatar on the board again.

I share it on my site, primarily. Bits and pieces here and there, either of bodhisattvahs or celestial beings. Other times I make non-linear art that comes from feelings when connected to the Akashic or after long sessions of sadhana and neigong. In future posts I will share some spirits I have seen when mountaineering...in fact, this is a draft of what I am writing now for my next post on the site.

I noticed on your site you have a section titled divine art. Do you have any interest in sharing some images of your work on this site? I liked what you said on your site "From Buddhas to celestial beings or abstractions and personal messages, art communicates things beyond the boundaries of language, often bringing wisdom, healing, and connecting us both to our deepest psyche, offering guidance from beyond." The connection between art and spirituality/enlightenment, as well as self understanding, has also interested me greatly. Good thing is, you can never argue with art, as it is its own expression and experience : )

Thank you Steve, and condolences for your recent loss as well. Thank you for your vote of confidence. As I am a professional and have changed a bit the last couple years, I would rather not get into offering my opinion on forums as much as possible unless asked because it has led to too many arguments, misunderstandings, and if not my own prior volatility, other people reading it as hostility despite my intentions to be restrained due to my tone being too robotic or my attempts at sarcasm seeming rude. People who do want my opinion can ask me or just go to my page linked above. Such is a reminder that we are not unnoticed especially in our absence! Hello, old friend! I sent an email to you earlier this year and am glad I got to hear from you during this brief visit. Glad your health is better too.

Hi arion07. Wow, wonderful intro. Impressive range of experience you have already, being relatively young (I’m 70). Yes it’s been my experience too that celibacy has great rewards; and can be the true Way. We once had a younger person here who said they only encountered cultivation through manhuas and donghuas.* Great to have you on the forum. Enjoy. ~~~ * Both are art that focuses on characters who engage in cultivation. manhua 漫 畫 (man4 hua4) manga, comic 漫 unrestrained 畫 drawing donghua 動 畫 (dong4 hua4) animation 動 moving 畫 drawing

Welcome!

I have spent a lot of time dealing with heart energies including my own. Those that I deal with find their relationships improve radically when they project heart energy into situations It is natural that the heart energy expands. This usually occurs earlier in women. Regular attention in the heart accelerates the process. The heart anchors life force and, increasingly, spiritual purpose

Yes of course, most people need to start with a method. But many methods are not necessary, and a lot of folks I’ve seen tend to get caught up in acquiring methods. One good method/system is sufficient to understand, but most don’t have the patience to stick with one. It’s better to dig one deep well instead of a thousand shallow ones

Cant say Welcome to 666. Why not 999?

I think it's one of the least mysterious statements in the I Ching. A favorable beginning (yuan), penetrating progress (heng), beneficial appropriateness (li), and steadfast correctness (zhen) -- throughout the I Ching Yuanheng Lizhen stands for the "green light" in response to your divination. A "yes," rather than what the outcome of other inquiries may be -- "maybe," "possible but not likely," "don't go there," "a hard no."