Mal

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Posts posted by Mal

  1. Posted

    If so, why going through all the troubles trying to see the aura when you can just "know" what it is, such as one's personality and etc. :)

    I feel "just knowing" is the correct path, rather than the "troubles of trying"

     

    I'm not a teacher and I'm still learning. it's not something I "try" to do and my explanations could well be misleading rather than helpful

  3. Posted

    is there anyway to train ones' self to actually see Chi? (or aura's or whatever you'd like to call it)

    Yes, Kap does and I would expect any complete system would too.

    It's a shall we say side effect (like a sidi) more than an ability to search for.

    • Like 3

  4. Posted · Edited by Mal Stainkey

    !!!! I never believed this conspiracy stuff about media manipulation ... but that's proof now ... he had no blood on his hands. But he/they did kill an innocent man ... so why did anyone think they needed to change the image?

     

    Sad to say that I do expect this from print media, and American TV (sorry US friends)

     

    But for someone to decide that "this" story needs digital manipulation .... seriously wow.

    I know journalist ethics have been dead for a long time, but the lows people will sink too ... :(

     

    Edit to add : well honestly I don't know which one is correct. Snopes or somewhere like that can probably verify there is a difference in the color saturation in the street sign too... While I'm just betting on who has the bigger "agenda" to "panic people" ... it seems you can't believe anything anymore. Even if you were there memories of stressful events are often (even usually) different for different people.

    • Like 1

  5. Posted

    Playing music is my cultivation in action.

     

    I use to study music theory, try to understand it technically. Took music classes and gradings listening while I played wasn't really even "part" of it. I was reading music using my mind to analysise it and work out what was the best note. Eventually I stopped playing because just I wasn't "good enough" It was too hard and too much practice needed to improve. Took up Tai Chi instead to help with my health.

     

    Now when I play, I play. I stand up and jam. My goal is not to think at all, not to perform for those listening, not to be Mal playing the sax or harp. I listen I breath ... and "it" happens and when "it" happens it is total bliss.

     

    I have to add that I'm still not any good by any stretch of the imagination ... but when I can achieve the above people say they enjoy it too.

     

    Time to go practice!

    • Like 5

  8. Posted · Edited by Mal Stainkey

    While I wasn't looking for empty force when I saw 0:47 it's what I though of.

     

    I hope your practice is going well lifeforce

     

    ... lots of continious practice required ~3hrs everyday for 3 years IIRC. Paul Dongs "Empty Force"

     

     

    and I think that was for the force effective on 60% of people he outlined 3 practices that gave increasing % results, yes ?

     

    Regardless like you said

     

     

    But even if you don't develop this power, you'll have a pretty good zhan zhuang and meditation practice.

     

    Exactly and personal experience is everything while time is relative ... if I'd started practicing this from the date in the 1st quote :ph34r:

    • Like 1

  9. Posted · Edited by Mal Stainkey

    Recently read this on holidays

     

    The Martian

    41KHk4WD-eL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-stic

    by Andy Weir

     

    REALLY enjoyable, it starts like this

     

     

     

    Chapter 1

     

    Log entry: Sol 6

    I'm pretty much fucked.

    That's my considered opinion.

    Fucked.

    Six days into what should be the greatest two months of my life, and it's turned into a nightmare. I don't even know who'll read this. I guess someone will find it eventually. Maybe 100 years from now. For the record... I didn't die on Sol 6. Certainly the rest of the crew thought I did, and I can't blame them. Maybe there'll be a day of national mourning for me, and my Wikipedia page will say "Mark Watney is the only human being to have died on Mars." And it'll be right, probably. Cause I'll surely die here. Just not on Sol 6 when everyone thinks I did. Let's see...where do I begin?

     

    and IMO it just kept on getting better and better :) It's the story of an astronaut as he tries to survive after being left alone on Mars. Great twists, realistic science.

     

    Unfortunately I just read that "The Martian will no longer be available for digital purchase after April 30, 2013 A print edition will be coming out in February 2014." :( The kindle was only $.99 and I felt really bad that it wasn't at least $19.95. Totally enjoyable, if you happen to come across a print copy I recommend it, currently only available as an audio book

  10. Posted · Edited by Mal Stainkey

    The tiny particles which form the vast universe are not tiny at all. Neither is the vast universe vast. These are notions of the mind, which is like a knife, always chipping away at the Tao, trying to render it graspable and manageable. But that which is beyond form is ungraspable, and that which is beyond knowing is unmanageable. There is, however, this consolation: She who lets go of the knife will find the Tao at her fingertips.

     

    Walker's HHC 13

    http://brianbrownewalker.com/hua-hu-ching/

     

     

     

    "Kind prince, asked the master, "what do you think? Are all the

    small particles that make up the universe numerous?"

    "Yes, very numerous, Venerable Teacher."

    "And, kind prince, do you think the universe is very vast?"

    "It is vast indeed, Venerable Teacher."

    "But, kind prince, the Universal Truth is that the particles are

    not small, nor is the universe vast. It is merely the relative mind that

    labels them so.

    "Kind prince, what do you think? Can one imagine the Universal One

    as having any kind of wonderful form?"

    "No, Venerable Teacher, one cannot imagine the Universal One as

    having any kind of wonderful form, because the Universal One is not

    real; it is merely labeled as such."

    "Now, kind prince, if there are good men and women who offer their

    lives in service to others, their blessings will certainly be bountiful.

    But if someone practices the truth contained in the lines and chapters

    of this scripture, and expounds it to others, his blessings will be

    immeasurably and inconceivably abundant."

     

     

    Ni's HHC 13

    http://www.bookdepository.com/Complete-Works-Lao-Tzu-Hua-Ching-Ni/9780937064009

  11. Posted · Edited by Mal Stainkey

    It's probably more beneficial than surfing ttb at 12:50am :-(

    I also went to bed at 11pm and ok I've been on Facebook too.

    At least I know my partner is sleeping well... from the snoring

     

    Anyhow currently I usually get to sleep between 10 and 11 and I will usually wake up around 4 (and go back to sleep) While I have practiced then (KAP classes) and it's a good time for practice but then I'm left with a few hours to try to sleep or do something with before work. So I feel better practicing at or around dawn (currently 6am here) or before going to bed( that can be midnight, and wicca sorts of rituals are always fun at midnight, but I prefer to "Play" at night having "practiced" earlier)

     

    I also find when I'm up at 1 am I won't want to sleep till around 2

  13. Posted

    I've been, shall we say "reduced", to practising zz again (my back has decided to be more painful than it has in the last 2 years. Some days the pain is all I can think about)

    I've been following the 10 day videos and built up to 20 min of my own practice.

    While I'VE done a lot of practices in my life it really is quite amazing how much I enjoy standing like a tree, the only downside is that time can pass so quickly :-)

    I'm close to starting to practice tai chi form again and even though I used it to heal my back 2 years ago I'm seriously considering just sticking with zz

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    Agree with the "sidestepping" There may be a historical cultural context for quantifying blessings as they were mentioned in lo fan's (sp?) 4 lessons.

     

    IIRC something like "language of the time" was mentioned earlier. While Ni reads more like a transcription of a conversation. To me I feel Walker has made the "goal" more accessible / obvious

  18. Posted

    Do you wish to inhabit sacred space? To have the respect and companionship of the highest spiritual beings? To be protected by the guardians of the eight powerful energy rays? Then cherish the Integral Way: Regard these teachings with reverence, practice their truths, illuminate them to others. You will receive as many blessings from the universe as there are grains of sand in the River of Timelessness.

     

    Walker's HHC 12

    http://brianbrownewalker.com/hua-hu-ching/

     

     

    The master continued his instruction. "Kind prince, if there were as

    many rivers in the world as there are grains of sand in the River of

    Timelessness, and if each river contained as much sand as the River of

    Timelessness, do you think that would be a vast amount of sand?"

    "Yes, indeed, Venerable Teacher; it would be very vast."

    "Kind prince, if a person amassed a huge fortune and gave it all

    away to as many people as there are grains of sand in the River of

    Timelessness, would the blessing that he gained be as great as what he

    gave?"

    "It would be very great indeed, Venerable Teacher, because

    returning an equivalent response is the nature of a subtle law of the

    universe."

    "That is true, kind prince, but if one practiced the truth

    contained in these teachings and expounded it to others, the benevolent

    grace and blessings he would evoke from the universe would be even

    greater. When someone elucidates this sacred scripture to others, the

    place in which he does so becomes sacred and is respected by all

    spiritual beings, those with form as well as those without. Wherever

    these teachings are, the Sacred Alter is. All the virtuous beings of the

    universe pay homage to it, and the divine guardians of the eight

    powerful energy rays protect it. All people should reverently offer

    salutations and incense to it and surround it with fragrant flowers.

    "Furthermore, if someone embraces the integral truth contained in

    this scripture, and studies and practices it, then he must attain the

    highest blessings of all beings. All of the great masters of the

    Universal Way respond to those who cherish it. Is this thinkable? Why

    should people live within the smallness of the mind?"

     

    Ni's HHC 12

    http://www.bookdepository.com/Complete-Works-Lao-Tzu-Hua-Ching-Ni/9780937064009

     

    (While "The master continued his instruction" Mal is going on holidays tomorow for ~2 weeks :D)

  20. Posted

    IIRC for Ashtanga yoga as taught by Joise, a foundation of yama niyama asana pranayama will lead one to the other limbs (as dwai mentioned)

     

    The is it spiritual question, well what I see with the local teachers and their students are people who are happy, calm, loving people; who burn/glow with "health"

     

    As my current practice has been reduced to standing meditation (I've some back issues that have flared up again) I'm very attracted to the goal of good health.

     

    There was something I read about a family that only did sun salutes (in their entirety not just as an "exercise") who reported good spiritual and health benefits.

     

    Sitting, standing still, moving. There are just so many ways to use all or any of these to achieve ones goals :)