shontonga

Hi rism! How are you? Lots of similarities between all the systems, hmm? Fun to compare the studies. i don't know Kriya yoga yet, i don't think? Will have to look that up Maybe try posting your question in one of the discussion forums? Things tend to get missed easy here in the lobby sometimes. Lots on here talk about Mantak Chia though and some may have good info for you! Stay well and have fun with the bums! Shon

hi Growant! What kind of martial arts to you enjoy these days? Nice to meet you! Shon

Hi John! Welcome! Studying to be a physical therapist Cool. You should find a lot of interesting stuff on here, i think? Lots of martial artists and all. Now then , if you every grasp everything you will need some mighty huge hands! No, seriously, if you ever do, hope you can share some with this kid, who can't seem to grasp much of anything these days! Enjoy and have fun! Stay well! Shon

Hey Will! Sounds like you should find a lot of good conversation here! Hope you have fun! Shon

Hi! Welcome Doc! Hope you have fun here! Are you also practicing in Beirut? Stay well! Shon

trust

Hi Pranaman! So much to learn! Acupuncture school is intense! check out some classes in physiology whatever can give you a foot in the door! Lot's of times you still need to take prerequisite classes If you can take them ahead of time all the better. Some schools may want you to take them through their schools, both because it's good for their school and it introduces you to the "language and the thinking of the school" Most tcm/acupuncture schools are glad to have you come in and either interview or for an open house so you can check it out. Would be VERY worth talking with someone from whatever school your looking at like a guidance type person? and finding out what classes they would suggest. Prince mentioned Pacific School, I know they have open houses continually! You can send for info through e~mail. Check out the schools first!!! First, before even one!!! Make sure your school is accredited a good thing to do. 1. There are many kinds of acupuncture!!! Not just one!!! find one that suits you! maybe try out different styles. the "Worsly method"(sp?), 5 element, Chinese, Japanese, all the family styles, etc. 2. Some schools will have you sitting in classes for 2 years before you start working with folks, other schools have you in clinic right away. There are benefits and drawbacks with both. Find out what they are for you. 3. If you go t some schools you can practice anyplace(California) if you go to others and decide to move you'll need to take a bunch more classes to keep your license and keep practicing. Also PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE Take some business classes. Most schools have one or two VERY limited business classes and when folks get out of school and try to start their own office, most end up in a closet of their house poking folks with needles. School is very intense. and starting any business is also. Most don't make 5 years, sorry to say. If your giving acupuncture you will also have to teach your patients (inform) psychology classes, public speaking, any thing that teaches you how to interact with folks couldn't hurt! Ok, sorry this is just a very quick post! Hope it makes sense! Stay well! Shon

I remember when i was young there was a lot of older adults always around me and the concept of being "Love sick" was pretty normal. ... and real. for both boys or girls. If one was "disturbed" in any way, not eating, not sleeping, eating to much, sleeping to much, any extremes of mood or emotions depressed, excited, listless, shining eyes, not hearing what folks are saying around you and daydreaming, wasting away ... you've heard of pining away from love? Has it happened personally to this child? Probably But i sadly don't remember the beginnings of love??? Know I've been sick at the other ends! Just starting to fall for someone, then having them sit me down to tell me they got someone pregnant! (I seem to move much slower than my peers! that's happened twice!!!???) and telling me before they told their mom! LOL, that was funny but hurt. or when someone that's loved moved away. At those time was a sorrow heavy that did leave me sick for months. Wish I could remember the feelings of the beginnings to share! Anyone remember or going through "it"? ... Think I'm gonna' have to go out and fall in love today! HA! Peace kids! Hey! What a great way to lose weight! Keep working out or strength can melt away also? Hope you feel better soon ... or enjoy the ickyness if all that loveliness! Shon

OHhhh,you poor thing! You need some o' the chicken soup of love,kiddo? Food of the Gods to soothe the soul! ... and the belly! i send you some soothing psychic soup! to warm and calm! ... Love is freaky! Enjoy! Shon

WOOOHOOOO!!! YES!YES!!! TAI CHI WALKING IS AWESOME!!! And easy? There are certain styles that can be done but with out training it's easy to just start with ... FEELING! See how far that can bring you. It's amazing all the depth and texture you'll discover Stuff that's always there if one just pays attention! To start just stand. Sounds So simple!!! Then the HARD part ... Da Da Da DAAA! FEEL. Before you start feel where your at. What ever sensation come to you, be it weight in your feet a soft breeze caressing your cheek that piece of (?) celery stuck in your teeth from lunch! LOL, sorry, couldn't resist. This is about feeling not judging It is what it is and that's all. Then just shift your weight(FEEL) Slowly lift your foot (FEEL) Put your heel down (FEEL) Let your foot flatten (FEEL) Slowly put some weight into that foot and shift (FEEL) on and on. And continue on like that U can lift your foot and take a step or change your mind and go someplace else. You need No room to practice this and no time limit! can do it fast or slow though you may fine you feel more/deeper the slower you go Don't just feel your feet though that's great too! Move you toes. No,NOOoo. REALLY,KID. Right now. Move your toes. You KNOW HOW MANY things take place when you do that??? Check it out! DUDE!!! You don't even need Toes to practice things like this! No matter how much mobility one has you can still work with deepening your experience of feelings. There are "systems" of Tai chi walking but this is a great place to start. Oh also, anything can be Qi Gong ... if your breathing. (Know some might disagree but ...) Have fun pranaman ! Every time you step you can feel deeper and find so much magic (ie. unknown reality?) hiding deep within! Peace!!! Shon

That's funny, and gross! Sure the reasons are different? There are "yogic" techniques of swallowing cloth and then bringing it back up. They swallow yards and yards of the stuff! You put the cloth in lukewarm water with a bit of honey, i think, and then just keep gulpping it down! A way to clean the insides out! More to it than that but ... Don't remember the sanskrit name for it? I agree with the yuck factor but i am one who would rather die than throw up!!! As for Pentagrams and stuff ... ya find that all over the world, throughout time, tweaked a bit in different ways for different lessons taught. Find them everyplace in eastern teachings too. Think of all the 5 elements stuff, etc. but then again vamps, witches, and were-creatures of all kinds are also found in every culture. Hmm, just like dragons? any way. do agree that you may need to take everything with a grain of salt! at least till one knows what is true for them, and even then have to question always! Have fun! Shon (Again, spelling sucks, Sorry! No spell check at the moment! )

HI! Enjoy!

LOL, LOVE IT! inexorable? (inexorable='s impossible to stop or prevent!) Your avatar is whip~tastic! fantastically frozen in time ! Imagined time,HaHah! Yup. Grew up calling it "indian time"(no offense to any!) for the work done in it. could also be called artists time, meditators time, it's like being in the "zone" and the way time can slow or speed as needed. Time is a concept we imagined to try to measure but as of yet our ways of measuring still don't work so reliably, I'm thinking! Nice to meet you Jacksquat! Stay well! Shon

Have been told that "Retail Is The Ninth Level Of Hell" Not sure what the other levels are but there are days I'm sure it may be true? Scary!!!! Think "H" may be a dimension with levels and layers? It's all a study of comparisons, kids! depends on where your standing! R U A single point lookin' around or r u ALL points looking? Ok. I'm done Peace!!! Shon

YES!!! Jon? Anderson? COOL! A Favorite of this kid Not always so into newageish music but these two do compliment each other well! That was fun, thanks. Love YES. For the real little kids out there YES is a band Jon is a singer of a band. THE BAND!!! I'm so old. Roger Deen (sp?) is THE album cover artist! ... missed seeing them in the round. One regret in life, not so bad, would have liked to have seen that. Aww, nostalgia. Thanks P! Shon

Ohh, Pa trick! You got BANNED!?! DUDE!!! Personally I have always enjoyed your attitude! a bit heyoka! ... and admit openly to have found value in your words. Sometimes upon further consideration, albeit! and is being in the "white field" supposed to be a strange thing??? LOL, sometime things just get to tame! U spice things up a bit and have great pictures! ... Some that I know the boys love! Welcome back you prodigal son of a gun, LOL! Also apologies to You Lama but couldn't pass this up, ya know? I enjoy the kid Nice to meet you Lama T! Stay well & have fun with all the mischief you may run into, for the most part good hearts here and many who read but don't speak, am sure they also value the information that's shared! and would be interested in learning more. Stay well! Shon

very cool link YM, thanks for putting it up! Hadn't seen them linked like that, that's grate. Very clear.(to my limited understanding!) One part where he has a great stretch going on through san jiao Like that! (Of course other meridians also but that stood out for me) Very cool. Stay well! Shon

Hey Steve! Nice to meet ya! hope you have fun here! Shon What kind of martial arts do you enjoy now a days?

Some of us live presently and we know death as life some of us live presently and we know death as life and chose to continue on Have been gifted to know many who have chose to live, many in their 90's & quite a few over a century, when they left they were ready. And have known some very young ones far wiser than this child will ever be when they said farewell. It is a very personal decision/point to come to. One we make with every breath. What of U Z3N? Is it a matter of want? For this skin bag it is, when "I" am ready it will be time. Though there is a lose goal now of four more years or so! What of you Z3N? What do you think of immortality or enlightenment? Stay well! Shon

Intimately knowing the seasons.

Is it Lin's quiet wisdom? ... to let other's do the talking ? A chance to play ? * Edited form my foolishness

We have questions?

Janus, Great topic, Thanks! Interesting to hear what others experiences are/had been. Others have shared some great advice, well worth rereading and seeing what resonates with you. Not sure my own crazy stories have much to offer but will share some if I can figure out how! I am a hermit by nature. Always have been. For the Way I go ... am not "allowed" to have A teacher (ie. all are teachers) . Have to follow spirit. For me my "retreat" into solitude was a matter of perfect timing Was also young, way back when ... but out of school at that point. Wouldn't have been able to do such a thing while in school. Would have liked to though! That is where a retreat would be a good way to go, maybe? In many ways for me it was a progressive action? Not all of a sudden. Had already removed myself from many circles of people, never cared to be around drinking or drugging, usin' and abusin' so was easy to back off for me ... class song was "Up in smoke". At the point had just left a job and was apprenticing sculpting in metal out at a farm/artist colony. We had goats. I miss them! Didn't have any "possessions" folks keep talking about! LOL! had a car but it was ready to be left on the road at any time. It was two years older than me! Back before they had radios, or air conditioning, or heat, or seat belts, or glove boxes for that matter! The Thing had a shelf. I kept a box on it that would slide back and forth when i went around corners! But so did I without the seat belts! I wasn't "holding" on to it. (unless i was going around a corner!!!) The farm always had empty places nobody really knew about or cared about. Was always an empty room and at that point about 87 acres of land : ) Folks got used to seeing me there and just figured I was a crazy artist and left me alone. I became a mascot of sorts, HaHaHa. Had worked it out so there was only three people in my life on a regular basis/in my days. Not counting my folks but didn't even see them much (regret that part, that was my loss.) Three crazy people, man! One friend who studied the same things as me, and I had tried to get rid of her but she just always stuck around anyways! The man I was aprentincing with and a Tall fellow who worked wood. I loved the smell of his studio. Most folks out there had spiritual practices of some sort or another. Their art shined with it! and they didn't care about what odd thing i was doing at the time! It was "normal" out there. For me, I knew I needed to be a hermit for awhile, felt like I wasn't long for this world otherwise. Also knew I live in this world so was important for me to stay in this world. Didn't do it because of awakening, enlightening, blissing my brains out or whatever. Did have "Risings", call it what you may, it doesn't matter. ( I still step in shit.) Life had already taught me that I may just not be here tomorrow. If I am it's an unexpected gift! Am not one that tends to have goals because of that and it doesn't work so well trying to plan things and following spirit! Try it! See what happens! Spirit may just have you spin in a circle, touch your toes, and go off in some totally other direction! My way of staying in this world was by apprenticing (IE. CHEAP labor!). For an hour or two during the day I would sit outside the studio texturing metal. Meant I had to talk to all the folks that walked by and by nature I also tend to have to teach So would hand folks a hammer show them how it was done, always end up in some FAR OUT conversations. Would do that two or three times a week. The guy I was doing the work for loved it. Was like free advertising for him. Then the rest of the time was spent in meditation or reflection or energy work, etc. Mostly in the fields or woods. Ended up pretty much living out there. Working for some of the artists here and there for a little(very little!) cash. Like I said didn't have more than three people in my life on a regular basis. Suited my nature well for about two years, like that. Then realized I would find myself getting depressed. Wasn't lonely, LOL. or missing people per say. The number one trigger for me, reason for me to get depressed is if I'm not learning enough! I needed to have the freedom to talk things over with folks. Share the experiences & stories, that make folks who they are. I Love books... any books! But the knowledge in a book is often dead(sorry.). It has often already happened. Creation/Life is a continuous sort of thing always evolving, growing! I was needing that exchange that allows knowledge to continue. The energy that spurs it on, and wasn't able to generate it for myself. At that point I got myself slowly back into being around more people. And most of my practices seemed to slow down again then. Which for me was a good thing at the time. I Loved it! Made some mistakes, had crazy experiences, Learned a lot. like others have said ... also had problems out there with ticks, misquotes, and I'll throw one more in, spiders. And the COLD, though i realize it more now than I did then. The buildings out there were renovated chicken coops. The wind blew through. I thought it was heaven! I was young. Of all the advice I see so far on here, the things I wish I had heard, is about saving up some cash so you can survive easier. I wasn't working at that point. Would get $25 bucks a week or so from the guy I apprenticed for. That went into car insurance, $5. gas, and forget about food. Was living mostly on apples from a orchard near by. Would get some bread, an ice tea that I would continually add ginger to and distilled water once a week. Was working with heavy metals that is the reason for the apples and distilled water. Found If I ate a full meal (veg./starch/meat or protein) once every three days I could function and feel fine. That's just crazy and probably the worst thing I've ever done for my body!!! take care of yourself. Eat well !!! ... I was young! foolish ... though i did know better? So Save up some cash before venturing off into the wilderness of your psyche! Also know your reasons and be honest with yourself always, if you can. That will keep you safer than anything anyone else could ever tell you. Listen to yourself. Don't judge yourself by what others have done or are doing. It's your life, Enjoy it! Sorry this got so freakin' long so fast! Stay well, have fun with what ever you find yourself doing! Shonton Ga Hey,Might be fun? Read Kahlil Gibrans' bit about the hermit. May be interesting? Think it is called the tempest. It's short. Maybe a dozen pages if that, and they are a fast read! Check it out ! Sorry this life's story is so long! Tried to make it short! Peace!

Hi Ben! Ya know? Dying (any level) is as easy or as hard as being born and taking that first breath. Hope you have fun! Shon

Nice to meet you Jing. Hope you or the bag of skin Thai is you has fun here! Enjoy! Shon