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Oh what the hey....

I was thinking about one of my favorite Bums who has been missing for some time and learned that she transitioned back in January. I gained a lot from her posts over the years. https://www.oshonews.com/2023/01/21/adeha/

What is it about this forum that keeps attracting people like this?

So Yin Happy Solstice & Best Wishes this Solstice !

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In my experience with some of the top traditional medicine practitioners in China, as well as my own humble but persistent studies on the subject, no method exists whereby a diagnosis of liver stagnation or anything else is based on one symptom -- an outburst of such and such emotions under such and such circumstances. One would have to have full context -- emotional manifestations may be a pointer, but one would carefully read the pulses, examine the tongue, the overall physique, posture, gait, sound of voice, even smell -- before arriving at conclusions. It's true that classical Chinese medicine has a strong tendency to somatize rather than psychologize (due to the whole set-up of the traditional society disallowing discussions of, e.g., psychological trauma inflicted by parents upon children or, by extension, any and all social superiors upon all inferiors), but even in this context things are not taken so far as to dispense diagnoses without a much more comprehensive examination.

Wishes to all for a great 2024. What practices, hobbies and routines will you be carrying on in 2024, that make your life better? I think I'll keep up the cold showers. For meditation try out more open eye, or rather half eye meditation til they close naturally while keeping a very quiet breath. I want to focus on a few base things. To do list- Keep up the kayaking, at least weekly and join an active group. See more concerts. Exercise and lose some weight, pick a program and be consistent. Learn to program.

It appears that Steve Gray, aka Starjumper, has passed on. Steve was a frequent participant here over the years. He was brash, outspoken, and entertaining. He was a practitioner and teacher of Chinese martial arts and neigong and author of A Lineage of Dragons and Zhan Zhuang Power Secrets. I did not always see eye to eye with Steve but I am sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences go out to his loved ones. Rest in Peace @Starjumper

Hello Bums,

Repulsing monkeys in Wales

For me, it's a bit about a belief many tribal people used to share -- every photo takes away some of one's soul. An indirect confirmation that there's something to it I see in the tragic or at least controversial predicament of many (oh so many) celebrities for whom having their images on public display is part of their job description -- actors/actresses, rock stars, politicians, etc.. Many of those who had "everything" an "ordinary person" might dream of -- fame and fortune and even love of millions -- wound up dying young, screwing up their lives with all kinds of toxic excesses, getting publicly eviscerated over this or that, or becoming grotesque caricatures of their own earlier selves. Does it have something to do with their incessant picture-posing? I don't know, but I definitely feel a certain truth to that. Would you believe that I only took one selfie in my entire life so far? And even that, by accident -- I was aiming for something else and snapped a pic of my reflection in the mirror instead, in a winery. I liked the accidental composition -- it looked sort of like a painting on the wall, so I kept it.

Disciple, why do you challenge the authority of the Master 😂

Hello I thought I would make a thread like this primarily because I don't think there has ever been one like this on TDB since its beginning. So yes I am a transgendered woman (assigned male at birth, now female). You may have known me on here previously as dmattwads. Understandably there is some confusion on here when people see old posts of mine talking about male cultivation practices. I realize that the topic of transgenderism is very poorly understood by the general public and so I decided to make a Q&A post. I will NOT however answer super personal questions about my body so its not an AMA (ask me anything). I will though be happy to answer well intentioned questions about what it means to be transgendered because there may be those out there that are questioning for themselves, know someone that is transgendered, or just want to understand this topic better. Maddie :-)

I think there's only one way and that is close observation over a long period of time (12 years is quoted in texts). Do they speak the truth? Are their actions consistent with their words? How do they conduct themselves? How do people around them, their close followers behave towards them and each other? This kind of thing. I have never known a good teacher who made any claims about their own enlightenment - usually they downplay their own abilities compared to their own teachers.

nice to see some of you here, time to show you I am not a snake after all.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the wisest DaoBum of them all? Apech, Apech you little shit, Whoever it is, you're not it. Mirror, mirror, in the trash, With a brick I did thee smash, What's the point of your reply, You could've at least try to lie.

I'll answer this as it is likely going to be useful for many reading. Qi is generated in our bodies from the food we eat via the practices we do. If we are working on a lot of patients and start running low, or running out, eating a big meal replenishes a great deal of qi. This is at the later stages of development, doesn't work like this in the beginning. Only once the dantian is fully established and strong with the channels being well developed and open too. So it does requires years of doing the correct practices slowly enhancing how the body both produces and stores energy and how it easily it can move around in the body. We do treat serious conditions successfully all the time, don't compare us to other systems you know about without having met us and seen what we do.. Qi is used as a tool in combination with tcm based healing methods like acupuncture, bone setting, tuina and herbal prescriptions. Depends if the patient changed the problem which caused the conditions for the problem to arise in the first place. If they did, the healing effect can be permanent and continue to improve with time. A doctor can stop the bleeding and put stiches, but if the patient goes home and continues to cut themselves they will keep bleeding. The same thing happens internally with bad diet, lack of exercise, stress and not enough sleep. Qi is energy, it gives you more, and you can give more to patients. It doesn't make you immune to viruses, or bacteria or poison, it does not stop aging and I don't see why it would or should . It just allows your body to function at it's optimum capacity which doesn't mean it's invulnerable or won't age. It will definitely age better than someone who doesn't have the qi if you don't overspend your qi constantly. Using qi every day to treat patients is draining not to mention getting exposed to sick qi all day every day. The monks who do the same training as us but aren't actively working as doctors look years younger and live much longer than the average person. Hope this helps others who thought the questions were interesting instead of just being a set up for you to come with snarky rhetorical questions later for whatever reason you like to ask them.

Sunrise at Rainbow Point in Bryce Canyon with my son. He'd never seen anything of it prior. Conditions were absolute perfection. North Campground still open year round. As we were driving up into the snowline in the sleet he turned and said... "well now I know where the other half of my heart has been waiting for me this life..."

Its always here and effortless, So let things go their own way. Nothing needs to be understood, As everything has already been accomplished. The mind cannot bring you there, As it can't be improved upon. Relaxing through not doing anything, Nothing needs to be done. Unchanging stillness that contains the changing movement, If effort is needed to maintain it, it's not it. It is dependant on no thing, Yet is in itself every thing. Awareness of the totality of the NOW, it 'just is', The 'just is', always is, effortlessly is, right now. Recognising the unchanging nature of mind, That has always been and always will be, You just sit.

I replaced the flowers in my shrine

No, “they” don’t all love their guns. I hate guns. Guns are a cancer of society. Before anyone @‘s me, I am a former US Army Infantry Sergeant, and an expert marksmen, and have used all kinds of weapons.

Covid wars, 2022

I bow before thee sovereign lord , but ask what apart from labeling the chakras yin and Yang what is Daoist about this?

He's big enough to carry me now.

With my familiar, Sophie:

Firstly thank you all for the helpful and warm replies. It's very nice to see and feel how supportive this place can be at times - perhaps we are really building a community here which is what I always hoped for (especially when I was moderating). Second, slight apologies for the melodramatic nature of the the topic title. I did write it from the heart - I have had many varying and strong emotional reactions like this over the years and at certain times they were quite common. I remember one time I received a vajrayana initiation (Amitabha) and when I got home I just sat and wept for hours. On that occasion it wasn't so much rage as regret - that somehow I had to tell my self how hard I had been trying - but failing again and again. My rage when it surfaces is mainly about what others have done to me. I am by nature quite ingenuous and have to learn slowly over years that the intent of others is often disingenuous - so I have in my younger years blundered into situations where others took advantage. What happens I think, is that when this kind of thing is not assimilated or understood it sort of 'pickles' inside where deep down you have the awareness to see but somehow cannot express it to your self. Then when it breaks out it can be hot and angry or bitter and resentful ... etc. etc. @Bindi has often spoken of something called 'spiritual bypassing' where all this inner content is kind of ignored or buried by supposed 'higher thoughts' and wot not (I think I've got that right) - this is a great danger to the likes of us, especially if we form the idea that we are somehow advanced enough to be beyond ordinary human concerns and so on. The other problem is that meditation is currently 'sold' (literally or figuratively) as a way to relaxation and calm. Actually, in my experience meditation (or any spiritual process) is the opposite - it is a great work full of challenge and needing great effort - and particularly the courage to face into those things you would most like to avoid. But again this does not mean indulgence in one's emotions in a way which just feeds self importance - i.e. 'how I feel is the most important thing in the world'. @Taoist Texts stagnation of qi in the liver is interesting - but is this not just a technical description of the bodily store of certain emotion? If the qi moves and causes a feeling like rage - how is that different to rage? Isn't the subtle body qi movement simply the correlate to the human emotions anyway??? Last point perhaps is that I take the view that emotional responses are a positive sign. They are there all the time un-noticed and bringing them into awareness is what is needed even if it is painful.

Anything that can be accomplished by movement and forms can be accomplished without them. Meditation is not meditation. The only guru is you. Most western Buddhists and Daoists are Christian. All of those reading this are incomplete beings. There is nothing wrong with thinking. Everything presented as non-conceptual is essentially conceptual. Jhanas lead to more suffering. Compassion is sheep quietly eating grass waiting for the slaughterman's wagon. To love fully destroys you. Wisdom means to know less.

**** admin statement **** I banned "Sleepy Bluejay" because he's a ####ing ##### ## ####!!!! - Trunk ************************

Not really looking to be comfortable with everyone, thanks anyway. My mother's first husband was the author of "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People"--that's sort of a family perspective for me, I guess... from the Amazon review: Originally published in 1937, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" is a tongue-in-cheek primer by Irving Tressler on how to achieve more free time and peace by having few, if any, friends and acquaintances. "Some of us are born with ability to make others peeved, but most of us aren't."... I find it's only necessary to be straightforwardly honest to retain my reclusivity.

No, it's absolutely not true. "Someone" who "mentioned it" either made it up or mixed things up. There's a spot in the park nearby which has been used for many years by a bunch of taiji/qigong practitioners on an ongoing basis, year round, chiefly because it's a convenient even-ground spot in dappled shade. The park is large enough but no other spot feels as invigorating. One can feel a subtle influx of qi (if one can feel such things at all) in that spot. The grass gets routinely stepped, stomped, jumped upon, and after some practices (e.g. with the long pole) the ground looks as though a herd of wild horses has been practicing there... and yet the grass grows crazy green as soon as it gets a break, greener than the surrounding areas. In feng shui, it's one of the indicators of a good place that "donates" qi, and (e.g.) people shopping for a house are advised to pay close attention.

There is no conspiracy here. I go by the name Rudi because I don't want random strangers showing up at my house. Some privacy is nice, I do post quite a lot of pics of my time in china and include pictures of me working in hospitals for my degree during the initial seminar. Anyone who took it can confirm it and I am sure some will. I graduated from the Shanghai university of traditional chinese medicine, but I am not offering medical consultation on my website, I am teaching neigong so don't see why I should post my degree. While I was studying in shanghai I needed an income, so set up the company to sell ion generators back in 2016 I believe. I did that for as long as it was needed, then closed the company down in 2021 when I started teaching. I am not going to be paying for a domain or website hosting that I don't use so closed it down. Also, covid pushed up the cost of international shipping so much that the business just wasn't viable anymore. I studied with various teachers, the more well known ones are Master Jiang Feng, after his passing I studied with various other teachers who aren't known in the west so no point mentioning them and now I study with Master Zhou Gan Sheng. Anything else you wana know just ask.

I once had an insight into karma that I'll share FWIW. It has become something that continuously informs my life. It was a very abrupt and spontaneous experience. During meditation one evening I began to see the connections that thread through my life, through the lives of my ancestors and acquaintances, extending into the past, into the future and connecting everything to the present; like fine strands of a spider's web touching and sensing every action and consequence, every thing and every one without exception. I could see how my life is precisely what it is at this moment because of everything that has transpired and that not one piece of the puzzle is, or could possibly be, out of place. There was a deep sense of perfection and gratitude in how it has all come together to make me who and what I am. While I was aware that any one piece, or even the whole, could easily be judged as good or bad, harmful or helpful; in that moment judgement seemed irrelevant. The shear complexity and magnitude of the vast number of interactions and connections became so overwhelming to my mind that I felt as if it were going to explode or break down. Just as I felt I could take no more it spontaneously released, like a safety valve releasing pressure before a rupture, and as the vision passed I was left feeling shaken and vulnerable but also somehow whole and absolutely fine. Ever since then I have been more cognizant of my relationships, in particular my actions and how they affect other living things. The sheer complexity and scale of karma make it difficult for me to approach the subject intellectually and my current approach is similar to what Mark and stirling describe. Rather than trying to figure it out, I trust in the openness and clarity that are present when I am able to allow the discursive mind to rest and open to the immediacy of the present moment. This openness gives rise to actions that are sometimes unexpected or counter-intuitive but somehow appropriate for the situation.

Umm, as a habitual lurker, the conversations on this forum are simply too quick for me to keep up with. I am not on the computer a lot. To post and be involved requires to have the full context of entire threads and the current subject, and I just don't think I can offer the respected amount of investment. I also have nothing much to say. But, I do like to occasionally briefly interact, because I like all of you. Is this odd?

I do not see any reason to keep out lurkers, whether before they become talking members or after, or when they never become a talking member. There is no difference. I would not chuck out silent types out of the pub either.

This was originally written in reply to a post within a thread that I cannot find, so I am posting this here as a stand alone piece because it addresses an important spiritual question that many seekers wonder about, namely the nature of challenges in life and its place in spirituality... why do they happen what can we do about it Often, the challenges we face in life- from small to great, can also become some of the most precious gifts in our personal growth and development. This insight with intention and rightful effort to learn, grow and transform is integral to the self-refinement of the spirit (shen)! As with and integral to the nature of karma, the challenges exist because of conditions yet unresolved within ourselves. When we can realize this with appreciation for the reflection and opportunity that it is to cultivate our person and spirit, then we can take responsibility for the way we shape the conditions of our path. When this resolve is strong, it effects the present and changes the future. When this resolve is deep, it transforms our past and thus becomes the erasure of karma through the reversal of cycles (a deep principle within the spiritual movement of the wu xing). With wisdom, this will become the way in which you become Conscious and thus capable of co-creating destiny (ming). It is not to say that challenge and struggle are not without pain- (sometimes tremendous and immense, if not terrifying) or that there is pleasure in such hardships itself, per se. But with insight and compassion about the nature of self-responsibility to refine and become, it blooms the wisdom of strength in humility and grace. The path to Consciousness is through self-realization and in this there is no blame toward others, situations or necessarily even ourselves. Rather, there is continuous recognition that no one can take responsibility for our own given body/form (the po), our own soul (hun shen), and thus our own path (tao) nor our own destiny (ming), but yourself. And as frightening, vulnerable and small as the unconsciousness that is our own karmic pain may sometimes feel, look for the strength in compassion and humility, for these qualities are what imbue us with the radiance and grace to carry forth- they are the radiance of Consciousness; so that the unconsciousness that is burden and previous ignorance will be diminished and through rightful perseverance, entirely overcome. And yes, it is possible to entirely overcome the things you thought would haunt you and hurt you forever... those things which seemed impossible to resolve. For they were once the creation of unconsciousness, but in the light of Consciousness there is only the unifying light of clarity that is True Nature (xing) and this is Peace. This is one of the great processes that everyone goes through as they tend to the elixir and cleanse themselves of all karmic ailments. Because challenging moments and conditions are a necessary aspect of valuable opportunity, it is beneficial not bring more unconsicousness to the unconsciousness that is already contained within these hardships by laying more waste (ie. blame, shame, guilt, hatred, anger); to do so only causes entrenchment and has potential to deepen the hole and prolong the reptitive cycle of experience. The more we resist the opportunity for responsible, integrious and compassionate action, then the more we will continue to experience more of the same hardships or worse. This is not punishment or even the judgement of blame necessarily, rather- and more importantly, it is the principle of unlearned opportunity that is karma, that is the puzzle you own in this lifetime to unravel. In a way, I suggest- especially for those prone to guilt and shame, to not feel so identified or personal about the pain - either as a mark of shame or badged mission to overcome- in short don't attach your pride positively or negatively to challenges or pain. Yet proceed with all the responsbility and devotion, with sincereity and inner strength to take care of what you have been given and presented, for this pain and these challenges are as much your own as they are part of collective. As the Buddha taught, a true teacher- a truly great one, is one who helps you to see yourself- this is not only true of a Great Teacher, but can also be true of the powerful reflections within your own life if you allow it to be. But too often people spend time hating the source that offers the reflection- not realizing that when they hate, blame and react to that source, when they treat their own life and the life of others carelessly and unconsciously; then they only bring more harm upon themselves and thus prolong their own hardships and the collective pain. I can tell you, it is not uncommon that many of the persons who come into Consciousness suffered horrendous traumas. But it is in part because of the depth of their sincerity and willingness to really know the truth within themselves and to care for this Truth with all the resolve that they knew possible that they were gifted with the Golden Seed*; these are the actions of a virtuous being and they integral to the direct process of developing the elixir- to reverse the cycle of experience that is karma and resolve back into pure Unity through refinement of profound insight. So often people deem this process mystical, but it is no more miraculous than practical; it is no more the movement of Tao as it is the stillness of the maturity you find within. Just as grasping and greed for pleasure becomes the bondage of unconsciousness, insight and grace in pain can become liberation in consciousness. Therefore, don't assume the nature of conditions based on the the quality of ease in self-ignorance. Unity contains all things, so learn how to be rightfully in relation to all things. Do not separate the pain from pleasure, but do learn to distinguish rightful stillness and action through the mirage of condition. So I urge you to remember, that challenges are reflections of what is still yet to be learned: unconsciousness waiting to be revealed and resolved through (your) Consciousness. When we blame, despise, resent or indulge the painfulness of these reflections, then we squander the opportunity to refine the spirit and this in turn prolongs the cycle. If instead we can use the energy (qi) we have to transform our consciousness (shen) then we can transmute the potential (jing) into what is true and pure (the yuan). This how you take care of The (three great) Treasures you've been given. Take responsibility for your own Liberation, for your soul is a worthy essence in need and benefit of all the beauty of effort that you can give it! ----- *The Golden Seed is comprised of many components or aspects of spirit in Unity (the 'little shens' and the Great shen). These are not the energies of some kind of post-natal qi (as many would mistakenly believe) but rather of refined shen qi- meaning they are the energies of a purified spirit, that in greater resolved Unity becomes part of the Yuan Shen. Just as Conscious Unity contains the harmony of darkness and light, so too must you discover how to be in harmony amidst the waves; every stroke of moonlight no different than the light of sun- let the weather of nature be your teacher, let yourself be a great student and observer to the life within yourself; to not fear to uncover, discover and adventure across your own ravines and mountains; for somewhere in its inner depths lies the Mysterious Passage- a dimension without place, an entry without lock, a recognition of the true self within the Great Tao Yin.

18 years ago @ 6:54 my son drew his first breath, and looked in my eyes forever shifting my experience of reality. Such treasure that out of this spinning universe i should have the unimaginable fortune to be his Dad.

I am not always a goof ball lol.

My experience has for some two decades now been that what folks refer to as choice is actually conditioned response to stimulus that occurs beneath the threshhold of personality consciousness. After we process the conditioned response, if we analyze it, we then call this making a choice or a demonstration of free will. I do not experience free will or choice in local awareness.

Happy New Year friends! I can't recall a resolution I didn't fail to accomplish... consequently I gave up on making resolutions years ago. That said there are things I do want to challenge myself to focus on this year - deepening relationships with those I care most about, revitalizing my martial arts and fitness routine, playing more chess, and devoting more time to creative expression. I also hope to implement a program to bring meditation instruction to people living with chronic pain. Tonight I'll be spending some quality time with family and had a great time today watching the Ravens play football. Cheers to a prosperous and healthy 2024 to all of my DaoBum friends!

I’ll add my voice to the no camp. This forum already has a very broad focus and discussion of Abrahamic traditions in the way @NaturaNaturans suggests already occurs as the occasional General Discussion thread. That arrangement has catered sufficiently for interest in those traditions in the past and I see no reason to change it. More than this, I consider stretching the focus of this forum further by giving a dedicated space to Abrahamic traditions would be detrimental to its underlying identity as a place to explore Eastern Traditions, and detrimental to our loose sense of community as people who do not hold to those dominant monotheistic theologies of Christianity and Islam which more than half the world’s population identify as. Those traditions already have a strong voice, no need to elevate their status here.

Whats your motivation to get Out of bed? Whats your higher aim? Do you belive its a universal answer to this? Why do good instead of bad? Ill kick of the discussion with two of my favorite qoutes: “I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” ― Joseph Campbell “No one imagines that a symphony is supposed to improve as it goes along, or that the whole object of playing is to reach the finale. The point of music is discovered in every moment of playing and listening to it. It is the same, I feel, with the greater part of our lives, and if we are unduly absorbed in improving them we may forget altogether to live them.” ― Alan Watts

@roamthevoid It's your path in this life. Only you can walk it. In my experience, there's one source from which all arises and to which, all returns. Due too this, I tend toward a fearlessness in exploration of consciousness and energetic exchange. The use of elixirs, pills and a wide variety of intense and sometimes deadly substances is well documented in myriad sects of classical and modern daoism and many other traditions. The list is nigh on endless. Entheogenic use is foundational in shamanic processes across all traditions among the origins of our kind for a reason. So I don't put much stock in the fundamentalist conservative bend of recent times and the over simplification in villifying all plants (or coffee, chocolate and rice). We have cannibanoid receptors in our brains, this is a fact. Myriad substances affect and have effect on our awareness. Nature does not waste anything. We are in constant relationship with our environment. Yet this does not imply all things are beneficial at all stages in our process. Only you'll be able to distinguish the effects on your mind and body, but you can benefit greatly from a teacher in an established lineage with a history of prior exploration. Stranger's opinions on the internet carry no value with me and rigid 'one way' thinking is always an enormous red flag. Folks who claim one way with absolute certainty are usually selling something, even if it's not monetary but in propping up their authority ego. Far more important to me than the effect of cannabis on my meditations would be access to a lineage and a teacher in whom I could trust. If it were me and I didn't have an in person teacher or much experience, I'd not put much stock in the opinions of folks who habituate online forums (yea this includes me)... I'd keep things very simple and direct my energy toward finding a teacher and then let the questions flow. In the absence of a teacher, explore as you can and reject whatever does not bring benefit. At the origin of every established lineage, was a human being, exploring his or her own consciousness. This is our primary birthright and no one can tell you with impunity what can work for you.

More stranger things. This rare and pretty little flower, Paris Japonica, is genetically 50 times more complex than us humans. Its genome is comprised of 149 billion base pairs, making it 50 times the size of the human genome (3 billion) and the largest ever found. It has difficulty tolerating pollution. Complex life forms are always at a greater risk of extinction. Two things I wonder about. How much wisdom embedded in nature might completely -- and forever -- escape our notice simply because we are too primitive to understand what it's about, what it's for, what's going on on the inside of a creature we can't possibly comprehend by taking it apart and studying each dead fragment separately, anymore than a 2-months-old can comprehend calculus in her dad's head or even imagine its existence. (Luckily, she also has no ability to crack her dad's head open and study its pieces under the microscope in order to classify what he is.) And how much of that wisdom was still available to us when we lived as part of nature and were as humble as we should have remained.

I started off doing a sort of semi retreat at a couple of Buddhist retreat centres in Europe. Semi means volunteering in some capacity with what positions were available at the time, in exchange for partial board. Got lots of free time to participate in group meditation, or not. Sometimes teachers would visit and the option to enrol for their teachings is offered, usually at a reduced rate. Durations of stay may vary from 2 weeks to even a year, depending. There have been instances where extensions of stay were offered, and accepted. This usually happens over the summer when activity is brisk. For the first semi-retreat, I'd initially only planned a 3-month sojourn, but ended up remaining for another 9 months. At one of the centres, i was assigned to assist with running the hostel under the guidance of the hostel warden. Mainly housekeeping work, plus managing bookings. Easy work. Was given a free bed, one free lunch per day, and free use of the meditation hall. It was very interesting, all in all. Naturally, all the volunteers would render additional assistance when & where necessary. Like many times I'd help out in the kitchen whenever big retreats took place. Always a good buzz though. Many retreat centres offer such exchange programs. Information usually found on their websites. This approach will be a good eye opener. Then you'll get a taste what retreats entail without having to burn any bridges... yet. After that, you can decide if you want to take it to the next level. Most of these centres are supervised by seasoned retreatants who'll likely be all too happy to share their own experiences once the connection has been made. All the best.