silent thunder

Releasing identity bound aspects of self is often a focus and goal in spiritual pursuit. But when it becomes a tool of punishment for demonizing anyone still diplaying identity, it's worthy of push back and consequences. And there's been the scent of that demonizing implied in some posts here. Clever hiding behind 'all perspectives are equal' is bullshit in some cases... understandable in others. Ice cream? Sure. Pedophelia? Not so much grey area. Transgrnder? Guess we're exploring that here and now in thus topic. As always context and inferred intention are pivotal. Always free to share your opinion. Never free from potential consequences however...

The JKD was widely varied and focused. On practical street applications of fundamentals. The Shao Lin 5 Animal (with Wing Chun)side was the foundation. Training has been Paramount to my quality of life now. Particularly in the rehab from several years of being semi crippled/walking with a cane. Peace friend.

Best day to start training is just like the best day to plant a tree... twenty years ago. Second best day is today. Don't let the past keep you from the present I say. That said... I started a bit late in life according to some @15 in a Korean style, Chung Moo Quan, but the foundation has served me well. When my wife and I graduated University and moved to NYC from the Midwest, I met and studied with one of Bruce Lee's first generation students/inner door and trained in a combination of Jeet Kun Do and Shao Lin Five Animal. When I left NYC for Los Angeles in 2000, I transitioned from hard martial arts to internal, due to a severe physical issue (nearly had my left foot amputated) that prevented hard style training and when recovered, returned to play my former forms as able to this day, though my emphasis is internal as I move on toward my 60's. Jump in the pool I say and enjoy the process wherever you are. It's an age like no other with many avenues to many styles available no matter where you are. Welcome to the Bums mate! st

and for blue eyes... the boy and his wolf.

woman: as within so without

For Maddie. woman waking

Because they're comfortable with a certain level of transphobia and probably aren't aware of it, or are clever enough to cover it with well chosen speech? Asking for a friend.

Live in the mystery.

Wow. Just wow.

Your fear filled bigotry is showing... Reported

The tonal quality of these strings under his fingers... it's like liquid audible light!

Maam this is the Arby's drive thru...

Now I know what Nissa does on Summer vacation...

Have shared before, but this one bears revisiting regularly...

We have a pair who nest and brood in the eaves above our bedroom window. We wake to them every morning during the season. It's bliss.

For me, it's nigh on every conversation I've ever participated in. And the process of discerning context in any book, particularly those of an esoteric or philosophic focus. Semantics, personal and socially conditioned meanings of phrases and terms... is a constant dance of trying to gauge intended meanings of the speaker/author or translator. Context is always so crucial... particularly where only text is involved. Body language and vocal cues lend so much subtlety that text struggles to convey for me.

Stunningly beautiful moment...

No one implied not dealing with the world of the shared dream. Again you infer meaning that is not shared or implied. Pondering the dream like nature of reality is not rejecting or ignoring.

I hear you and understood your intent not as an invalidation, but comparison. My intent was tangential and personal about how your comment reminds me of my challenge relating to any of the old great traditional texts in general and the caveat of working with them due to the nature of shift over time and what may have originally been shared versus what we encounter now in various versions over time.

That whole 'according to the suttas' bit is the caveat for me. With any of these traditions, it's always some human's interpretation and also often a translation on top of the interpretation in these areas. It's why I've always deeply appreciated the main tenet of buddhism about never accepting anything said by anyone, including the buddha. To always run any teaching/offering through your own system and discover for ourself its potential veracity/application. Scientitic method really, at work centuries before it was codified in the West.