TwoTrees

I had a conversation with a Cincinnati instructor/enthusiast a few days ago that involved the scenario of overcoming distraction and destructive intention (most often taking the form of criticism and negative interaction) He made a very good point in the midst: That experienced masters and ignorant meandering fellow man are equally important and they both have something to teach us. Masters take the position of improving on honed skill and knowledge whilst the other take the duty of reflecting what you've already earned. When face to face with them, you are challenged in dealing with them in a refined way-hopefully after you are not "thrown off track" and keep your balance, like our friend Harry has so done himself recently, am I right? and if you have done well, perhaps this part of you will be desired in the one that tried to break it down in the first place?? Interesting thought there...just thought I would throw it out... The more you practice ethics, meditation, and wisdom, the more difficult it will become for you to act in a way that is contrary to an ethical, compassionate attitude. But you must take heed in that when effort is too strenuous it leads to strain and when too slack to laziness. I found it best to make a firm determination to adopt the middle path, not allowing yourself to struggle or to slacken, but recognizing a thousands things that are the fruits of a calm and equable way. That magnificent escape from anguish and ignorance never happens by accident. It results from the brave and sometimes lonely battle of one person against their own weaknesses. And here's a small exerpt from the Dalai (sorry, couldn't help myself it just fits) Just as a monkey roaming through the forest grabs hold of one branch, lets that go and grabs another, then lets go and grabs still another, so too that which is called "mind" and "mentality" and "consciousness" arises as one thing and ceases as another by day and by night, -M

Werd UP!!!!

Hmm.... Not all may agree but I believe these kinds of things only feed the desperation of ego It's nice to recognize those you admire, but to say best ever is showing a bit of "less wide" nature... I'll just rename this little ditty "Ode to cyber taoist dedicates" in my head, and count to three.

I drink a warm glass of green tea with fresh ginger chunks and juice from 1/2 an orange or lemon with raw honey (you have to add this after the tea cools a bit to get maximum benefit from it) daily during cold season Also mineral water with citrus and raw honey is a good tonic. When you have headaches (even migraines) or just overall head congestion or pain it zaps them usually in 5-10 minutes. just two copper pieces...

Arnica Montana! In the strongest concentrated gel you could find!

I guess I am just aiming for the fruition of my life's work... hopefully I will not have to keep working on it to my late 80's and realize a much simpler route only later... or get to results and be dissapointed... or encounter a big arsehowl that will stop at nothing to make it difficult and painstakingly slow... Just a good coupla decades of hard work and learning and then maybe a nice surprise of enjoying life, getting by, being helpful, and most of all Promoting healing and happiness at every chance!! May you all find your paths, -Michelle.

psst...birthday is in the profile, silly. Glad you like my stuff...some peeps on IPS think my words are "empty" and "cheap". But my guess is that they just don't like my style. Like I care. *big silly grin*

Rediscover an appreciation for the big and small things in life There are many branches to the tree of knowledge Several ways to arrive at this place- keep your composure after every mischance... Time means everything. The idea that something is just around the corner gives radiance to everything Maintain self-respect in the face of a devastating experience Believe in unlimited potential As you walk, look for learning along the way A glorious moment can live in your head a lifetime Whilst much of life's information becomes irrelevant after a week in the face of desolation... Watch, listen, understand A true smile occurs when the mouth and heart are coordinated The ultimate measure of a spirit is where it stands at times of challenge and controversy... Snowflakes are some of nature's most fragile things-but look at what they can do when they stick together -M

When you can always recognize it, when you can see that it never leaves you or me or him or her...(because the conception of that force keeps changing shapes and faces) and are aware of this force for unity in life, you can never forget it. It becomes a part of everything you do and say. Whether we have thought or not, it is there. Still, moving, talking, sleeping, conscious, with a group or alone...there will be not one absence of such. I've messed with the thinking on myriads, a reflection of every single lifetime connected in a solitary journey - what kind of learning could ensue from this?? Would we actually be able to retain any memories or experience in some form through the ages?? If what you give of the life that you live and all that you are, means nothing in the cosmic universe then why be given this kind of perception at all while living in a solitary being of flesh? I had gotten rid of the thoughts about "what happens after I die?" the "heaven and hell" and "merit of deed being relevant after death" because I am supercharged and focused on the answers of what the intention was for the gift of this short lifespan interacting on nature and humanitary condition. Just like Yoda, I'm constantly searching out gems from analogistic piles of all kinds. Not everything is beautiful and perfect and positive, but the worthwhile things will have something that will last in you and make an impact for all of time. A great wind is blowing. This will give you either imagination, or a headache. Alas, you are still you. And the world is as it is. -M

check out the song "Endless Dream" by YES. The lyrics are very in sync to this topic and I guarantee it will move you. PM me if any of you want a disc to get the listen on this one!!! The song itself is set in 3 parts (a, b, c) and is about 11 minutes long. But it is totally rockin good stuff. -M

I wasn't given the gift of giving life, but I sure am a great nurturer. I have my two nieces and nephew QUITE the often...my sibling and his wife have their own factory going on, and they really have no desire of being parents at all, kind of sad. The kids are left suffering most of their days with them, being ignored, mistreated mostly in the sense of boredom...etc. When my mother and I get the little monkeys, they are starving for fun and get so excited its really a difficult test of patience...but my mother and I are also ROCKS when it comes to that. After the first day, they kind of settle down and thats when we break out puzzles, thinking games, and interactive activities-mostly outdoors, to get them really cultivating some useful tastes for healthy good clean interests. They are so bright, and are getting better at understanding that their parents are total idiots, but they still have to respect them for aiding in the life that they are currently gifted. Mom says I am amazing with them, especially with my youngest niece, who is still trying to figure out her own take on everything. She is always in my lap, asking questions for hours. I don't exactly answer her,...I just give her ideas and offer questions to her back to get her thinking and letting her come up with her own opinion. But, honestly, at age 7 she's got alot under the hood and has an extensive vocabulary. Last week at my house she was playing yetisports online (the games where you torture penguins using a mountain yeti and trying to outdo the world of players on simple applets) with a late twenties person and she was carrying a conversation, and when he started talking junk (winning and rubbing it in, his words were NASTY!) she typed in - "I don't appreciate your ignorant attempts to make you feel better about yourself" and she exited the game and asked other players ... I just looked at her and decided that she was OK at playing the game for maybe 20 more minutes. When I called her then she closed it up and helped me make dinner. Isn't that just delightful??? Oh yea...BTW: her parents would never believe she politely helped me make dinner, sang songs, and helped clean dishes afterward. That would be totally unheard of. Reason being: their mother cannot cook and they order take out alot and she hardly eats the stuff...plus that kind of diet doesn't leave much to clean up, but the kids can see that they can play the "I don't know how to do all these things, we never do it to begin with" route. Funny stuff, really! Those little boogers will outdo us all in time. Just give em the knowledge and time to hone their own little powers into fruition... -M

Yep, your another example of the powerful tao gazer. Looks like your friend is very interesting!!! Here's another shot, where you can see more of the gothic fairy's costume: I guess not that many are fond of the whole costume thing, huh!!! Pleasant journeys, -M

I have to say, that doggie pic is one of the cutest I've seen. Was it hard to capture that moment, or did it come easy? Hello, Ian, and welcome to the Bums!! I've attached a pic of my ruppy- his name is HUCK.

How about washing away all the dirty, filthy energy first, with the cold shower, and then bathing in hot clean lifeforce (H20) so that you are not soaking with the filth? I remember when starting on healing sounds and MCO the instructor told me NOT to do any practices while in water because you could suffer from all the negative/dirty energy that a person contains and you open yourself to a opposite, detrimental force. Then what I had decided for myself was to prove this statement wrong, of course. Gotta love that hardheaded, high strung student that thinks they know all!!! Just some random thoughts popping up, have you played around with this idea at all?? May all curiosities be satisfied, -M

I am so utterly surprised that the SheepishLord has not commented on this. Area of expertise, amoung others??? -M

Campsuds is awesome, Yoda. I've had bad psoriasis outbreaks in my younger years. Over time I've finely tuned what substances I can administer inside and out my body. This is one of the soaps I've revered as non-allergenic!! Great stuff... One of the things that keeps me from lookin' like a cherry with legs... -Michelle

Come on, Tina!! Eat it, Tina!!! LOL

Yeah, and his avatar is really flippin' SWEET. Enjoy your path, Namaste

Well, it turned out that after a thorough required pre-approval process...I was not given permission to wear the costume I've been perfecting for two years now TO WORK>...but it won't keep me from Long Entertainment club tomorrow night!!! We'll get the snapshots then Anyway this pic is our departments contestants from right to left: Jen, Me, Susan

I have the same kinds of intuitions at times, GT. Of course, this would be in vice-versa. I have such reservations and prerequisites for sex it seems at various points and although I am far from frigid and closed minded to sex type play. I am from the mind of being less sexually active if I am with a person who blatantly releases without cares or has no real core energy. I cannot pinpoint what would cause this loss of being "on the level", but it is obvious that these different levels exist in all walks of life containing the faces of many different aspects. Honestly, though...if you are a seeker of "love" and dedicated relationships, if you find a person who you think would fit the bill perfectly then you can just use communication to convey how you feel and you can indeed educate to your cause. If they reject or accept, both will benefit from a modification in character. Learning and growing, learning and growing. My last relationship ended because the gentleman could not accept some of my reservations. He was definitely into sex every night and ejac'in, and dropping into sleep and not putting too much thought into anything else after the few seconds of mindless joy overloaded his pea brain and then sent him into his deep lucid state... I let my feelings known, and also the fact that I was not flexible on it known, and now he's states away lookin for the next victim... ha ha ha

For our costume contest at work, I am going to be sporting Dominatrix gear ALSO accompanied by my faithful pet on a leash (a poor unfortunate but willing young man from the first shift who will have a leather mask w/zipper to cover his face...) A sure winner!!! They haven't seen this kind of costume yet!! -M

So...uhh...did they actually play anything you could get down to for the 80s theme?? I'm not convinced that I could endure that kind of torture.

That's a pretty awesome idea there, buddy.

yeah...gotta admit you were talkin' like the ol' legendary RJ in a PG13 version.