Mal

The Dao Bums
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    6,406

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

Posts posted by Mal

  1. Posted

    I'd like to think that (while it may not always appear that way) you are also a valued member of TTB Aaron.

     

     

    These days I find that I'm not really drawn to debates and discussions. But I do value keeping in touch with the 'bums I've met along the way and hearing how they are traveling.

    • Like 2

  3. Posted

    I use to look to specific systems. This “ism” or that “ism” But I’ve found that over time the systems I’ve liked most and that have helped me the most were the ones that had people and teachers that I could communicate with and whose beliefs and ideals resonate with mine.

     

    So for me the Kundalini Awakening Process had been the most beneficial because of Santiago, Susan, and Tao’s guidance and the great group of students from all over the world involved in KAP.

    • Like 3

  4. Posted

    Try the The Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud. Four books in all - The Amulet Of Samarkand , The Golem's Eye, Ptolemy's Gate and The Ring of Solomon.

     

    Thanks Chang. I really enjoyed the trilogy (the description of "The other place" was quite interesting) Bartimaeus is clever and funny ... but I've not been able to start the ring of Solomon yet as while the ending was excellent and really couldn't have gone any other way ... but .... well .... :(

     

    it's definitly worth reading though :)

  5. Posted

    Hi TzuJanLi,

    Interesting comments, especially as seen from the perspective of a professional judge!

     

    Meredith has quoted part of your post and responds (somewhat) on his blog:

    http://cattanga.typepad.com/tabby_cat_gamespace/2013/08/index.html

     

     

    A useful response, thanks for the link.

     

    Personally I like the acronyms/abbreviations as they are a bit more meaningful/descriptive to what I feel. But that's probably because I don't really have a traditional taiji syntax. My teacher taught in English and described with his English translations. I always struggle to "label" what I'm feeling with the correct terminology :)

  7. Posted

    The clairvoyant may see forms which are elsewhere, but he cannot see the formless. The telepathic may communicate directly with the mind of another, but he cannot communicate with one who has achieved no-mind. The telekinetic may move an object without touching it, but he cannot move the intangible. Such abilities have meaning only in the realm of duality. Therefore, they are meaningless. Within the Great Oneness, though there is no such thing as clairvoyance, telepathy, or telekinesis, all things are seen, all things understood, all things forever in their proper places.

     

    Walker's HHC 20

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

     

     

    "Kind prince, what do you think?" asked the master. "Does the Universal One have physical eyes?"

    "Yes, Venerable Teacher, the Universal One has physical eyes."

    "What do you think, kind prince? Does the Universal One have spiritual eyes?'

    "Indeed, Venerable Teacher, the Universal One has spiritual eyes which can see through all things."

    "Kind prince, what do you think? Has the Universal One special eyes of wisdom?

    "Yes, Venerable teacher, the Universal One has eyes of wisdom."

    "Kind prince, what do you think? Does the Universal One have unusual eyes which discern all kinds of spiritual paths?"

    "Yes, Venerable teacher, the Universal One has outstanding eyes which can perceive all things and all spiritual paths."

    "Kind prince, does the Universal One have integral eyes?"

    "Yes, Venerable Teacher, the Universal One has integral eyes that are incomparable to all other eyes."

    "Kind prince, people with clairvoyance may see things that are not within site, but the cannot see the formless. People with clairaudience may hear special sounds, but they cannot hear the soundless. People with telepathy may communicate directly with another being's mind, but they cannot communicate with people who have achieved no mind. People with telekinetic ability may move things without physically touching them, but they cannot move the intangible.

    "Kind prince, all of these abilities exists only in the realm of duality. They loose their meaning before the Universal One, for to the Universal One there is nothing that can be called clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy or telekinesis. These are things that are merely labeled so."

     

    Ni's HHC 20

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

  9. Posted

    Hi Guys,

    Sweet looking site and mod set up these days. As a past mod I'm really impressed with the changes - good ideas followed through and realised _/\_

     

     

    Would it be possible to pin a thread in the HHC study

     

    [HHC Study] Background and Criticisms http://thetaobums.com/topic/26208-hhc-study-background-and-criticisms/?p=390232

     

    and then merge the posts from the thread

     

    [HHC Study] Does The Hua Hu Ching Promote Intolerance? Cultural Imperialism? http://thetaobums.com/topic/30438-does-the-hua-hu-ching-promote-intolerance-cultural-imperialism/?p=452638

     

     

    Obviously I feel there is merrit in the study of the HHC. While it will never get a "lot" of comments, many people know only of he controversy so even though I don't like pins it's perhaps worthwile pinning some "Background and Criticisms" info.

     

    Cheers - Mal

    • Like 2

  10. Posted

    To the ordinary person, the body of humanity seems vast. In truth, it is neither bigger nor smaller than anything else. To the ordinary person, there are others whose awareness needs raising. In truth, there is no self, and no other. To the ordinary person, the temple is sacred and the field is not. This, too, is a dualism which runs counter to the truth. Those who are highly evolved maintain an undiscriminating perception. Seeing everything, labeling nothing, they maintain their awareness of the Great Oneness. Thus they are supported by it.

     

    Walker's HHC 19

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

     

     

     

    "Kind prince," asked the master, "how do we recognise the size of the body which humankind possesses?"

    The prince replied, "Venerable Teacher, according to the Universal Way, the big body possessed by humankind is not big, but is merely called so. It is not bigger or smaller than any other kind of life."

    "Kind prince, this understanding is the foundation of correct awareness. If a person says that he should help all people by sharing his correct awareness with them., he shows that he does not truly have correct awareness. Why is this? An integral universal being has no perception of self and others, life and death, longevity and brevity. If there is no self, there are no others to help through sharing one's awareness.

    "Kind prince, if one of correct awareness states that the temple is holy and sublime, he does not truly have correct awareness because a universal being labels nothing. People may labels a temple as holy and sublime by creating the dualistic concepts of places which are holy and sublime in contrast to places which are not. Only when one has dissolved all discriminations, however, can he be recognised as having attained correct awareness of integralness. Kind prince, ignore all appearances of duality and embrace only the integral, one universal life."

     

    Ni's HHC 19

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

  15. Posted

    Thought this might be an interesting addition to the good old tooth regeneration thread.

     

    Gerard F. Judd's book is mentioned on page 13, 14 and the older TTB thread http://thetaobums.com/topic/2138-rebuilding-tooth-enamel-and-other-miracles-question-on/

     

     

    From http://www.life-enthusiast.com/dental-health-letter-to-government-a-2260.html

     

     

    Letter from Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D., Chemist,
    Researcher for 18 years and Professor of Chemistry for 33 years

    April 2002

    Dear Government Executive and Employee:

    We can all stop spending billions for American dental work and research. Let me tell you why: I have learned the real causes of dental cavities and gum infection. People, including you, will now be able to take care of their own dentistry with insignificant cost, and end with perfect teeth. Cavities and gum infections are ended!

    A great amount of reputable dental research proves the following:

    1. Tooth cavities will be ended simply by rinsing acids off the teeth. Acids alone eat the enamel. There would be no cavities in the world if all people rinsed acids from their teeth promptly. Just rinse with water or other liquid after eating. Water reacts with acids (dilutes).
    (We found Miracle II Neutralizer in water to be extremely effective)

    2. Foods and drinks, other than those containing acids, have no action on tooth enamel. Sugars have no action on the enamel.

    3. Bacteria cannot damage the enamel (calcium hydroxy phosphate). There is no such thing as decay of the enamel since bacteria require carbon and hydrogen to live. Billions of human and animal remains show teeth and bones are resistant to earthbound organisms.

    4. Teeth re-enamelize when clean. To make teeth clean one brushes with any soap. Soap washes off in just 2 rinses. What about toothpastes? Glycerine in all tooth pastes is so sticky that it takes 27 washes to get it off. Teeth brushed with any toothpaste are coated with a film and cannot properly re-enamelize.
    (We found Miracle II Liquid Soap to be just perfect for this job)

    5. Taking calcium and phosphate in the diet results in re-enamelization of the teeth, but only when they are clean. Soap does a perfect job of cleaning the surface. The enamel thickens and becomes less sensitive. Adenosine diphosphatase furnishes phosphate to teeth.

    6. Gums are disinfected by brushing with any soap. Not only bacteria and viruses are destroyed promptly by small amounts of soap in water, but also white flies and aphids. Gardeners: Spray 1 tsp of dishwashing soap in 1 gallon of water to kill white flies and aphids.
    (Miracle II Soap is very effective ...)

    7. Plaque, a poorly formed crystal stuck to the bottom of the enamel, is prevented and eventually removed by brushing with soap. Dental procedures (scaling, planing) to get the badly formed crystals off dig holes through the enamel. These cavities catch food and cause gum infection.

    8. Prevention of plaque retards gum pockets. Gum pockets are formed as the plaque pushes the gums away from the teeth. Gum pockets, from 1 to 8 mm deep, are also formed by fluoride, which severs the protein molecules adhering the gums to the teeth. Soap prevents gingivitis caused by bacteria lodged in the gum pockets.

    9. Vitamin C and phosphate help knit the gums back to the teeth. Pressing against the gums with fingers forces adhesive materials from the gums onto the teeth, which helps the process. Abscesses can be offset by holding Cepacol (14% alcohol) in the mouth for 5 minutes.
    (We found Magnesium Oil to work well on both inflammations and abscesses)

    10. Receding gum surgery will end when the gum pockets cease. The very mention of the procedure, which involves transferring flesh from the roof of the mouth to the excised area of the gums, is a heinous and useless procedure which ought to pass into oblivion.

    11. Removal of fluoride from drinking water, pastes or gels saves the enzyme adenosine diphosphatase so it can deliver phosphate to calcium at the tooth surface, resulting in a beautiful, semi-flexible enamel.
    (Precious Prills help a lot even if your water has been fluoridated)

    12. As stated above, the gums can be reconnected to the teeth by taking vitamin C (ascorbic acid) (1 tsp) with Arm and Hammer baking soda (1/2 tsp) in 1 inch of water, letting it fizz and then diluting to 1/2 to 1 cup with water, then drinking. The resulting sodium ascorbate is nonacid, very pure and a thousand times more soluble than vitamin C. Sodium ascorbate is more reactive than ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in building connective tissue and antibody structures and more effective in killing some viruses and bacteria.

    13. Receding gums and plaque are ended when soap is used for brushing and vitamin C is taken daily as described in #12.

    14. 30% of American youths ages 8-10 have no cavities. 100% of Ugandan youths ages 6-10 have no cavities. What does this tell us?

    15. The reason Ugandan youths have 3 times better teeth than American youths is because they do not consume as many acid foods. They have no fluoride in their drinking water. They have regular meals with more calcium and phosphate in their diet, and have fewer dentists to work on their teeth. They certainly do not sip acid drinks all day, either.

    16. Dental literature says 42% of Americans over 65 have no natural teeth while 25% of those over 43 have none.

    17. Dental literature says Americans age 43 average 32 cavities, those age 17 have 13 cavities, blacks and poverty stricken (without calcium and phosphate) have twice this and the Native Americans have four times this amount. The Native American plight can be blamed on their poor nutrition, excessive fluoridation and free, but improper, dental care.

    18. If fluoridation were effective in preventing cavities, native Americans would have the least cavities? They have had forced fluoridation for approximately 62 years.

    20. Fluoride in water at 1 part per million increased tooth cavities in four large reliable studies 7%, 22%, 45% and 10% (average 21 %). The reason for these increases has to do with the fact that adenosine diphosphatase is destroyed by fluoride and calcium fluoride which slips into the enamel, is alien to the tooth composite and makes the enamel weak, brittle and discolored.

    21. The health of American teeth will improve to very nearly perfect if the regimen of water rinsing, soap brushing and taking calcium, phosphate and vitamin C in the diet is implemented.

    22. Fortunately, we now know the current teeth perfecting protocol of dentistry with fluoridation is flawed. If the early estimates of 80% tooth improvement in children's teeth by age 13 were true, each American would now have less than one cavity. That is far from true. The teeth in America are in a sorry state, and at the present time are getting worse.

    23. Numerous top scientists over the past 60 years have discarded the theory that fluoride helps teeth, or is a nutrient helpful to man.

    24. To avoid fluoride is to prevent more than 114 ailments listed with references in a book Good Teeth Birth to Death by Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D.. These 114 medical side effects extend all the way from cancer down to headaches caused by 1 ppm fluoride in the water. Thirteen of these side effects are proved by a double blind study on 60 patients by 12 physicians, 1 pharmacist and 1 attorney.

    25. The mechanism for destruction of enzymes by fluoride has been proven by x-ray studies. Hydrogen bonds are broken by fluoride.

    26. Fluoride is the smallest negative particle on the face of the earth. Since the fluoride particles are so small and so intensely negative, they connect with the hydrogen bonds holding the enzyme coils in place and ruin every enzyme molecule at very low concentration, around 1-3 PPM These enzymes are often 3,000 or more times the size of the fluoride. The effect is ruinous.

    27. To avoid fluoride is to prevent the destruction of 83 enzymes listed with references in Good Teeth, Birth to Death, by Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D. Fluoride is a severe biological poison. Being intensely negative, it unlatches positive hydrogen bonds in enzymes and proteins.

    28. It is fortunate we have learned fluoride is a nerve poison. Fluoride actually causes cavities. There is not the slightest doubt.

    29. Methylmercury formed from amalgams in the body is deadly. It causes brain disease. Fillings made of quartzite and epoxy are a safe substitute.

    30. Fluoride harms the economy by making people purchase other than city water to avoid it. It also harms the economy by making people dependent on undependable professions that promote ignorance about fluoride worldwide.

    31. Keep the teeth moist. Teeth that are dry crack. If you chew ice, teeth may crumble. Teeth do have a breaking strength.

    32. Look in your mouth. Tell the dentist(s) what you want done and get several bids for examination and work. Save your fortunes. We now know we can cancel the green light given by Harry Truman with the help of Congress to subsidize dentistry. billions of dollars being wasted in this regard (Public Law 755, June 24,1948) can now be returned to the taxpayers.

    I hope you will put this information in the hands of your Congress persons so they and we may alert the newspapers, radio and TV stations, magazines, and all other news media as well as their friends, families, and associates about this giant leap in dental technology.

    I ask for your feedback on this letter and I would also like you to ask for feedback from the ones you contact. This is very important!

    Respectfully yours,

    Gerard F. Judd, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Chemistry
    6615 W Lupine, Glendale AZ 85304, Phone 623-412-3955.

     


    • Like 1

  16. Posted

    Sean is a great guy, he wrote me and gave a heartfelt thanks for the donation when I subscribed.

    Me too, didn't look like a form letter either, but there seem to be <10 "The Tao Bums+" in members with >900 posts.

     

    I use to look at it like - subscribing is cheapier than buying a new age book and TTB is MUCH more usefull than any book :)

  19. Posted

    ^ but you can't go straight to Tai Chi... the circular path sounds like a warm up to me

     

    Subscribing does give that nice support-button.jpg badge and it is a shame the other groups overwrite that (although the donation of time is worth more than money) Engineer, Concierge, Steward plain old "the tao bums" is a minority in this thread :lol: (is there a retired/ veteran group :) )

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    :) I know that's how it's taught and that it's correct ... but I always thought on the guard just looked "weird" Perhaps that's just because I've rarely shot pistols. I shoot skeet where it's either broken or aiming.

     

    While I don't get the best feeling about chi in nature personally, K does look happy (and younger) and finding a path that makes you happy is something special IMO But it would still be nice to hear from K occasionally (like Cam who pops in now and then) I understand the "sever ties with the past" approach but it's also a classic cult move ....

  22. Posted

    I thought he was saying correlation is not causation in the 2nd link

     

    This tracing of pathways also explains why we are not drawing causal conclusions from correlational data, as some people initially think.

     

     

    But all comments are cool (and bump the topic :) ) I wasn't really aiming for just nice and inspirational, I though

     

    it was those who — through an often-complex pattern of persistence, prudence, hard work, and close involvement with friends and communities — headed down meaningful, interesting life paths

     

    was quite a different perspective on longevity than other research I'm familuar with, which IMO usually seems to focus on nutrition eg Okinawa Centenarian Study

     

    I'm also a bit of a fan of longitudinal studies (like case studies they seem much more common in anthropology) While they are not robust predictors like experiments you can gather enormous amounts of data about what actually happens to people over time. I’m looking forward to reading this book as we learnt about the Terman study for psychology and it will be interesting to see what changes occurred over the last … almost 25 years :/

  24. Posted

    The Terman sample is the only lifelong, continuously detailed, large-scale study of initially healthy boys and girls. Because they had access to and understanding of medical care and education, but have a great range of personalities and social relations, it was a terrific sample for studying individual differences. Other studies document the health relevance of socioeconomic status, ethnicity and general intelligence, but The Longevity Project yields deep biopsychosocial insight into those macro-level associations. It's thrilling that our key findings are now indeed being confirmed by other researchers

    [Large snip]

    The beauty of The Longevity Project is that we don't have to speculate about explanations; we can go back into the lifelong data and see. This tracing of pathways also explains why we are not drawing causal conclusions from correlational data, as some people initially think.

     

    from American Psychological Association

  25. Posted

    An Excerpt from The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study by Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin, exploring factors contributing to a long and healthy life. Here is an excerpt on nurturing. (ripped from http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/excerpts.php?id=20895 )

     

     

    "The 1,528 Terman participants were all quite intelligent, with a good start in life. By age ten they were doing well in school, were noticed by their teachers, and were being investigated by a Stanford professor — Lewis Terman. Many went on to be successful, but quite a large number of their fellow participants faced regular disappointments — in love, in careers, and in length of life. Some who succeeded were lucky, but many others made their own luck.

     

    "Across the life span, many predictors emerged as to who would do better and who would do worse, who would live longer and who would die younger. It was not good cheer or being popular and outgoing that made the difference. It was also not those who took life easy, played it safe, or avoided stress who lived the longest. Rather, it was those who — through an often-complex pattern of persistence, prudence, hard work, and close involvement with friends and communities — headed down meaningful, interesting life paths and, as we have illustrated, found their way back to these healthy paths each time they were pushed off the road.

     

    "The qualities and lifestyles cultivated by people on these long-life paths reflect an active pursuit of goals, a deep satisfaction with life, and a strong sense of accomplishment. That's not to say that these people possessed a giddy sense of happiness — we described how cheerfulness doesn't necessarily lead to a long life. But having a large social network, engaging in physical activities that naturally draw you in, giving back to your community, enjoying and thriving in your career, and nurturing a healthy marriage or close friendships can do more than add many years to your life. Together, they represent the living with purpose that comes from working hard, reaching out to others, and bouncing back from difficult times.

     

    "How fascinating to understand that those individuals who became involved with others in a consequential life would be improving their health as an unanticipated bonus. Of course many consequential lives have been cut tragically short, and some long lives seem bereft of accomplishment. Still, because getting and staying on healthy life paths can be a lifelong challenge, it is heartening to know that embracing the lessons of the Terman participants and striving for a socially richer and more productive life will increase the odds of a long life as well."

     

    Bolds mine :) While there is some debate as (noted) due to the Terman participants being white middle class vs other longevity studies. The conclusion from 80 years of research seems to basically be - help others and you will help yourself.

    • Like 4