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Does anyone practice calligraphy as cultivation or have more information about it? I came across the following book description which some of you might find interesting:

In everyday life I generally find people who are not bothered and unconcerned have little reason to insult the intelligence of the person they are interacting with - except maybe in a jovial manner which this doesn’t appear to be. The time frame you set forth has elapsed, and your prediction did not come to pass. Obfuscation. :leans in and whispers: He isn’t the individual looking self righteous in this exchange. I mean, did you actually consider what you just typed here before you hit send? Claims one has become what another could not (hope to) understand or be is rather the definition of self righteous (aggrandizement more than aggravation, although I suppose an aggrandizing party may find being called out on error aggravating). And while I’m taking the time to type here, let me just add negating another’s shared experience of connection with Christ, after posting of your own conversations with the same, comes across as a bit hypocritical to me.

I'm an idiot! Na-na-na-na-na-na! Maybe you have some sanctified (holy) office or position, but declaring yourself as a "holy person" is just pompous self-aggrandizement and reads pretty much as if you were denying your own humanity. You can present yourself as special person as you ever want and put yourself on a pedestal, but I am not any holier or unholier than anyone else. That especially includes you. Are you claiming that you have an exceptional insight into human heart and into the minds of others that you can accurately judge my (or Musashi's) entire character based on one message I kindly wrote to address your mistake? I summon a renown witness to testify for my innocence. From The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn:

I've heard somewhere, that calligraphy is the highest form of cultivation. Heard it from multiple sources.

A few from my last visit to the Dali in St Pete, Florida:

The Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon

Yes! Mushrooms are in abundance here (psychoactive ones , if thats what you mean ) Gold Tops and Blue Meanies. So much so that a local farmer slashes them in his paddock to discourage trespassers . I have seen a field looking more grey/white than green due to the number of them . I could say so much about this , but briefly; Its very hard to access dosage , sometimes a small nibble can be v.powerful or you might need 3 or 4 . They can send some people nuts , I know I seen it ! Some areas of high growth around this area ( central north coast NSW) have many spun out mushroomers. Always have a period of straightness, clearing out and accessing after a sroom trip , dont keep taking them . You need a good relationship with the 'spirit' . All mushrooms are at east slightly toxic , they can effect your liver.

It is highly possible that the source of stoicism was buddhism. By the time stoicism came into being the greeks had already been in contact with buddhists through the conquests of Alexander. Some stories about Alexander meeting ascetics in India exist in his biography by Plutarch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnosophists https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalanos There were also considerable conversions of Greeks in the IndoGreek and Grecobactrian states during the Successors' wars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Greek_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Bactrian_Kingdom Alexandria was the gateway of the East to the Roman empire and the Mediterranean. A well known Buddhist emissary passed through that port during the reign of emperor Octavian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarmanochegas Zarmanus or Zarmanochegas could possibly derive from the word Sramanas=>Sramanus=>Zarmanus

As the great Mahasiddha Saraha said, "Everyone is excited by copulation, but very few can transform that bliss into the spiritual path".

The quote shared was from February of 2013, and you said “less than seven years.” If I were hoping to be completely and utterly wrong I may just take the passing of the time frame (as given at the time of sharing) as wrong, instead of adding more time for Armageddon to play out. This extra 8 months, to me, seems to indicate a wish to still somehow be right.

Can't tell if these are your personal feelings or a quote from someone else. Like many things, it has positives and negatives for me. The comments about a trickster or evil spirit which take the form of the soul can be a good description of its psychological and emotional effects on some. It can really take over one's life and desires, like the mythical lotus eaters. For me, not only does it not mimic meditation but it interferes with meditation significantly if used more than occasionally. It also changes my sleep and dream life profoundly. It can be an effective sleeping aid but has a negative effective on REM sleep and dream and does not provide as restful an experience as natural sleep. While I have always been an advocate for its decriminalization and normalization, I also feel it important to acknowledge the negative impact it can have on many, especially the very young.

Qi Baishi, "Aliens," sometime before 1957

Neat topic. My normal handwriting is horrible so the prospect of doing calligraphy fills me with dread, but I would like to learn. It is of course considered a supreme art form in Sinosphere countries. In Vietnam in recent times calligraphers have been working with Latin letters with results that, to my untrained eye at least, are beautiful.

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Christ's teachings were, hijacked and perverted, by a succession of opportunistic, power mad, bureacracies.

in a word, chiaroscuro. Defined as the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. Caravaggio's Judith beheading Holofernes compare to what is said to possibly be his second edition and then by Gentileschi

Stoicism for me is very precious. I would recommend the book Enchiridion to everybody. It is a short book written by Epictetus. In it he explains the difference between the vulgar and the sage: the first seeks outside his happiness or his misfortunes, while the sage knows very well it is all within. It is a great philosophy for the endurance of all kind of hardships, always with serenitude and tranquility.

I am not qualified to go in depth on Buddhism. Stoicism and Taoism however: Daoism avoids giving clear instruction, Stoicism is firm in the rules it’s followers must follow to achieve their goals. They both have similar messages, and stem from the same roots, though influenced by two different cultures. They combine well. In managing stressful situations, both disciplines choose to detach from guilt, anger,or sadness. The general world is materialistically oriented and externally focused. If you don’t have fruits to show for you labor —the houses, the cars, the titles, the awards—you do not have enough value. Daoism and Stoicism sees past this fallacy: they know that all we can really focus on is our own action. They also know that true learning and development happen under the surface. No matter the oucome, we can always take away the lessons of experience from every endeavor. We have the Stoic concept of the Logos. Logos represents divine reason, in which all things in the world exist and change. It is where the world came into being from and the reason behind continual changing. This is an impersonal type of higher existence, unknowable, yet it is perfect in its reason and harmony. Complimentary to this Stoic concept, is the Dao. Dao is different than the Logos in the way that Dao does not necessarily represent divine reason, I would rather say that it is more of a divine instinct in the way things are ordered. Daoism teaches that ones' life should be lived in a state of flow, without forcing anything. Effortless living, where effortlessness gets all the necessary things accomplished without straining. It is the belief that when you allow yourself to be yourself, when you reach enough relaxation, your inner nature shows the WAY, your life becomes easier and more effortless, yet fulfilled and accomplished. Once we get in accord with our inner nature, our actions become the extension of ourselves, and thus must not be forced. Lao Tzu, like the Stoics, believed that fear came from ego. When we focus on our own individual gain or loss or the perception of others, or when we ascribe an identity or outcome to ourselves that we “should” be living up to, then fear naturally results. However, when we approach situations with relaxed, non-attached humility, we realize that fear is simply created in and by the mind. “There is nothing so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness it is in your expecting evil before it arrives!” — Seneca (a great Stoic) Moderation in one’s action, emotions and words is a key principle of both Daoism and Stoicism. These two seemingly different philosophical views carry the same message. Both are potent and they complement each other extremely well. Don’t learn and practice for show, do so to be better. Be forgiving of others, but don’t demand forgiveness for yourself. Try to hold as few opinions as possible. Keep in touch with poverty, while not being impoverished. If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.

I’m open to an open thread. Don’t know your feelings about plant spirits and the like, but I would cultivate respect and a deep sense of asking for guidance and healing in addition to the mushroom itself. It will reveal far more if we’re in the right relationship, IME.

boy I can relate to that. I effortlessly experience compassion for humanity at large, with ample flowing love, nurturing impulses and appreciation. But compassion, and love for many individual humans? Well that is still quite elusive and seemingly downright beyond possibility for me, in many situations. Cultivation continues...

Perhaps not germane to this discussion but I’m reminded of my teacher talking about the dedicated practitioner who had cleared nearly all karmic baggage (except for some old unresolved mommy issues). Standing at the threshold of liberation, the door to enlightenment opens and who is standing there but mommy, wagging her finger and saying, “You? A Buddha? Not yet little one...” ... or something along those lines. It’s easy to feel compassion for “all sentient beings.” A little more challenging when narrowing that down to those closest to us in life.

I think Stoicism from a Buddhist POV would work with the sila (morality) aspect, but it ultimately lacks the liberating samadhi and prajna. I think Stoicism can be useful in adapting Buddhist types ideas into Western language. I think Pyrrhonism would be more on point given its overlap with Madhyamaka. As for Taoists, there is nothing in Stoicism comparable to aligning one's channels and working with the body-mind on a deep level. There is no qigong, neigong, or neidan in Stoicism. Unfortunately, the only remnants of Stoicism are written directions. We do not have any oral instructions or access to the exercises they used. Nor do we have living teachers of the tradition that can pass it along. Accordingly, I imagine one would largely be working with the shallower aspects of the mind. But it would be better than practicing nothing.

I once read, a Buddhist must traverse their own madness before buddhahood may be realized. This comes to mind owing largely to personal experience of recognizing and coming to understand where ideas and held beliefs originated - often in the most mundane of ways. This sometimes can play out in fantastical visions which may appear special or divine, when in actuality conditions simply arose such that a seed from the karmic storehouse sprouted and bore fruit. Attachment to this fruit then creates further karmic seeds.. which play out in ways much like we see in this thread. It is entirely possible the vision was pop-culturally induced, and attachment to this vision is the madness which must be traversed.

It's been a long time since I did any reading in this area, but my impression at the time I did was that Stoicism had a lot of common ground with Buddhism, especially the emphasis on personal morality and being a good member of society. I also remember thinking about parallels between Epicureanism and Daoism. Although the word "epicurean" is today defined as this sort of decadent, greedy, luxury seeker, the original ancient Greek Epicurus and his followers were very much into simplicity, nature, friendship, and moderation.

Yes, all the more reason to start. I guess that's why martial arts was my choice. I feared conflict, I was tense, had no flexibility, poor coordination and prone to anxiety and rage. Maybe in another life, I'll work on my handwriting 😂

This post delivers!!!! It is ironic that Christian sects can't get away for failing predictions on the rapture/the Apocalypse/the end of the world and all other faiths/sects can get away with failed disaster predictions using the same excuses. Do you know what they say? "God forgave us for the time being", "God gave us more time to repent", "thank God we were wrong because we interpreted this and that wrong" yadah yadah. Yep you are probably Christian and don't know it.

I seem to remember in one of his talks a discussion of his choice to follow Christ as a child, I may have misinterpreted. I never researched his past. Regarding enlightenment vs awakening, I am not the one to pronounce judgment on such matters. Such terms are too personal and too charged. I’ll revise that to simply say he’s got a lot to teach for those with a karmic connection and leave it at that.

He's talking about 'it's so bad it's good'.

The Chimera, by Gustave Moreau

I think I like Gentileschi’s best because she actually looks like she’s doing the tough work of sawing a man’s head off, whereas Caravaggio’s Judith is trying not to stain her dress.

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't there threads devoted to the dangers of overtraining on the Shaolin Wahnam site? And a standing recommendation not to practice more than 15 minutes?

It's Kali Mist, the Primordial seed

What I find fascinating is that Cannabis began it's evolution on the Tibetan Plateau approximately 28 million years ago.

Fun fact - Before he became pope, Joel Ratzinger banned all Demello’s writings as heresy while serving as the Official Censor for the Catholic church. This position is a renaming and reworking of the Office of High Inquisitor. As a Jesuit, Demello’s publications were owned by the church and withdrawn from circulation for a period of time. After he died, I believe somehow his brother managed to get them republished. This document is an interesting read - https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19980624_demello_en.html

No need, you already did that...

In my experience, if something’s coming up often it may be worth looking at a bit more closely. One valuable thing about this place for me is it can show me things about myself I otherwise may not, or may not want to, see. I have no idea if it is applicable to you, just sharing my perspective.

It’s clear you took my post personally which means you must at least loosely identify with one of those categories or with the dear departed, or maybe just the history here. I clarified in my response to luke if you are interested. It’s not that “a libertarian” couldn’t consider themselves a “Daoist” but I stand by my comments regarding personal cultivation and Trumpism.

I thoroughly enjoyed my lockdown time. Alas, I’m back to work full time which for me is more stressful.

Regarding the bolded - our friend Dawei seems to be doing a bit of that lately . Which detracts from the conversation and subject at hand . When its bought up, he just leaves the conversation . I'll put it down to 'lockdown stress' . (I dont really know , I dont have it at all, I am personally enjoying it ... but apparently its tuff on a lot of people that live differently to me . )

I never invalidated the alt-right or GOP experience, not did I insult it. Although, to be clear, I strongly disagree with their policies. I was simply pointing to the group that got shit-canned for lording their political views here with the support of moderators. I didn’t say anything derogatory, that was your perception. Your words, not mine. Wow, you’re out there with your assumptions and projections... My lack of empathy? I don’t think that’s very accurate. You’re saying I don’t empathize with imaginary people I label in a way they don’t label themselves? That’s quite a story you’ve created.

After only seeing one Monarch this last year, my wife bought some *milk weed seeds, kept them in the refrigerate for 3 weeks until they sprouted and just planted them today. *"asclepias fascicularis"

I've found real life conversation the best with women I think a lot of guys probably had a "PUA" phase going through puberty, hopefully they moved on and realised the futility in seeking satisfaction in shallow relationships and constant sexual reward. It seems OP here has embraced the A&A (agree-and-amplify or reductio ad absurdum) method from pick-up as his go-to method in conversations. I think he would probably call it something like "bemused mastery" or some other ridiculous notion. Anyway, long-term relationships have been the best for me. Stability over novelty. Even though the mind is intrinsically addicted to novel information - this is something that is trained in meditation for one to let go of. This is in some Daoist traditions also known as Heart-Mind fasting. Without this, there's no real development in the internal arts - there's no peace or stable platform to move forward. There's a perpetual searching for something outside of yourself to satisfy your craving, to remove boredom. Since we're on a Daoist forum, I think that's appropriate to mention. As for the conversation shared in the opening post, it was (1) rather plain and boring, (2) didn't show some magnificient artistry, (3) doesn't seem to serve any other purpose than plain-ol' "look at what I did" attention seeking. What exactly was the point with uploading those images? You say share experiences... so does that mean you want us to post our chats with women in our lives? And that we collectively somehow use that .. for what? Discuss strategies on how to bed women? This isn't a pickup artist forum. It's a Daoist forum. If you wanna discuss the importance of relationships on the spiritual path, now that's a different story...

A thread devoted to all things cannabis. Not everyone’s cup of tea, perhaps, but a rich and varied topic nonetheless.

Interesting video of Michael James laying down Ramana Maharshi via Sri Sadhu Om., with both the path of inquiry and the path of surrender. I always was skeptical of some of the claim (i.e. the slept well), but the way Michael presents it here is great. There is also a transcript because the audio is poor, but I prefer to hear it orally. https://happinessofbeing.blogspot.com/2020/05/self-investigation-as-way-to-love.html

Huh there’s quite a large list of them; though I’m unsure if I would use any, I find my interest piqued. It looks very similar to western spell casting, which I am also unfamiliar with. I have my Ideas as to why both these, and those work. are you familiar or proficient in practicing any specific mantras?

That is some fine looking weed! What strain is it?

Excellent. This is what I’m talking about. Look up prophet666 shabar mantras (and other mantras) tell me what u think

"your attitude and tactics of late - of which, I am not the only one here to notice and comment on ." You got that right!