Fa Xin

I'll start it off ... I drink a lot of Ginger tea, mainly for the digestive benefits. This would be a yang tea. I find I only "crave" it in the winter time or the cold season. I'm a big fan of teas (herbal and otherwise)... Any suggestions for Yin tea blend?

I think you've come to the right place Many things you said resonated with me, and I appreciate the indepth introduction. I'm drawn to Buddhism and Mystical Christian stuff myself, but choose not to follow any one tradition (don't want to limit myself) I think you'll enjoy the discussions we have here... we have a little bit of everything - Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism ... even a little Christianity thrown in here and there. Truly a great place to discover the richness of spirituality the world has to offer... Two you may enjoy, as you mentioned Christian stuff (and thats up my alley... ) This is a thread we've had going for 5+ years, 'decoding' the Gospel of Thomas https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/31789-gospel-of-thomas/ and a shameless plug for my own thread, where i post some 15th century Christian monk letters: https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/46090-let-go/ Enjoy!! Looking forward to reading more of your posts. Cheers FX

I would just do whatever feels comfortable. We all have a bit of both (male/female) in us

Just post in this thread: to request one. I’m sure the moderators would be happy to make one for you. FX

Hello, blackfence, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Hello blackfence, Welcome to the TDB. I’m also intrigued by Taoist texts and ideas. I’m sure there will be lots of discussion and posts you will enjoy. 😊 You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

Hello, !nverse, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Hello !nverse, Nice to have you join the fun. Since you have lurked a bit, I don’t have to warn you about all of the cantankerous old coots here... You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

I like that.

And yet, within the hard oak, there is a tiny bit of give and sway, too.

Hello, wandelaar, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Hello wandelaar, Welcome to the TDB. You raise an interesting question. Is it possible to live a natural way of life, in something like a materialistic city? My answer is a resounding YES, it is definitely possible - but it all depends on what you consider a "Taoist" way of life...? You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

Hello, M. Musashi, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Hello M. Musashi, Welcome to TDB... Looking forward to reading what you have to share. I appreciate you being willing to participate and share your knowledge with us. Regarding your end goal - they say it's more about the journey than the destination, so you'll have time to decide, anyway. You are welcome to jump right in to the ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

73) Jesus said, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Beseech the Lord, therefore, to send out laborers to the harvest."

Yes - I've always defined the "dark night of the soul" as this, too. I guess people can have different definitions of the term, or experience things in different ways. I'm guessing there's many seekers on the path who are in this stage for an indeterminate long period of time.

It seems like you think a lot about the past, and worry about the future. What about this moment? Maybe try to remain present... and make a plan about what you can do. What can you change right now, at this moment, that will alleviate some worries? At the same time, what are you worrying about that you can't really change? I think if you get a job (any job, even if it's temporary and doesn't pay well...) you will get out of your own head, and be around other people. This will be healthy, and help the healing process. Your crisis happened in the past, but not happening right now, correct? Therefor, why dwell on it? Let it be in the past... Also, start surrounding yourself with positive things... music that is upbeat and positive can be extremely beneficial. Working out, which will release endorphins. Being in nature. Good that you eat well, and walk daily. The feeling of "unreality" and "disengagement" you talk about - may be just what your body needs to experience before it gets back on track. I know it's scary, you feel like it will be this way forever... but it won't. Things change, all of the time. Don't pressure yourself to fix things... just let them be. They will fix themselves over time. Just make baby steps right now. Starting tomorrow, what can you change? Even if it's little ... do something everyday...

Thanks. How about exercise, and nutrition? Do you eat well, and do you move around enough? One thing I recommend to almost everyone is Magnesium - most diets are lacking in it, and it promotes a healthy sleep and lowers stress levels... along with many other positive benefits. Also, what changes have you made from the time of that posting? Sounds like exercise and things that ground/relax you would help right now.

Do you do any sort of meditation practices?

this picture actually makes me go "ahhh" inside my mind. Powerful stuff !

Reminds me of one of my favorite verses, 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25

Hello, Sleepy Panda, and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Hi Sleepy Panda, ( Great name, by the way... ) Welcome to the forum... Seems like you have a good foundation and are on the right track. I'm sure there will be a large amount of information you will find informative and beneficial for your training. I have read the BK Frantzis book you mentioned- I've always enjoyed his material. The only tip/trick I have found is to listen to my own body and my own intuition - I've found we ourselves can be the best teachers sometimes. You are welcome to jump right in ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forum to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. Enjoy your time here, Fa Xin

I think going into the practice with a knowledge that “This May happen” would help immensely. Seems like it’s a lot worse when it’s unexpected. The flipside to that is ... you’ll be waiting for the axe to drop. Unwarranted fear. Not everyone has these dark, astral type experience. Good call about knowing when to slow down, or stop altogether. The idea of “pushing thru it” Doesn’t apply here. Resistance and force is not beneficial to meditation or the meditator.

I think you did a great job explaining it

Mantras were a big part of my training for a few years... I definitely found them useful in dealing with various issues and emotional pain I was experiencing. I agree with how you said - we create it by ourselves. Absolutely! If you feel mantras will defend you against evil - that will be the case. We create our own reality, whether we realize it or not.

This tends to be my own personal outlook as of lately... that is, What is there to protect?

Hello, Alextang and welcome. Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go. Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules. This covers all you need to know when getting started. For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day. Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you, Fa Xin and the TDB team Hi Alextang, Welcome to TDB. Looking forward to hearing your input on Taoism and the various texts... seems you'll fit right in here You are welcome to jump right in ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forms to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started. May you enjoy your time here. Fa Xin

Completely agree. Many times what we see in others are aspects of ourselves. I believe people are the best way for us to observe our blemishes. How we treat others, and how we respond to the way they treat us.

This is a good thread. But I’m not entirely sure I would agree with the OP. Essentially we are judging by looks. And if we are judging by looks, then yes... the girl looks to be more happy and peaceful than the boy. But what dont we know about the boy? Has he had a hard upbringing? Has he been shunned and cast aside unfairly his whole life? my younger brother has asbergers and has a countenance that appears as this boy, as he has been put down and shunned his whole life. Yet he would give the shirt off his back for anyone without a second thought. Are the eyes the windows to the soul, or mirrors of our own stuff?