liminal_luke

This isn´t really my area, but I´m guessing traumatized self-hating people with autistic tendencies create metta the same way everybody else does. It´s easy to imagine our challenges are uniquely difficult, and perhaps they are, but everybody has their own hurdles. If you want to do a formal metta practice I´d suggest simply doing the practice -- don´t worry if you´re getting results or not. The seeds will eventually take root so trust in that. Sharon Salzburg has some good books on metta practice you might check out.

Karl, I think I at least understand your position. By the way, I don´t believe churches ought to be forced to support gay marriage. As far as I´m aware, they aren´t. I´m sure some of the more liberal adherents of various faiths are pushing for their leaders to recognize gay marriage but I don´t believe the government is trying to legislate acceptance within religious groups. Is this not the case in Europe? But marriage isn´t solely a religious concept these days. It´s also a civil contract with myriad ramifications in everything from taxes to inheritance to whether or not someone can visit a sick loved one in the hospital. As such, I think governments ought not to stand in the way of gay people who want to marry. There ought to be a way that gay people can get married civilly, through the state. If the Pope doesn´t want to perform the ceremony, well, that is his business. Liminal

Exactly. Individuals as individuals ought to be free to act as they please with the bare minimum of government interference for public safety, etc. Nobody can legislate away racism, homophobia, sexism etc. If I had my druthers everybody would love gay people. Of course that´s not the case, and I wouldn´t support a law to make people (as individuals) act or believe the way I´d like. But if you´re a business owner or a federal judge or a clerk in charge of marriage licenses -- well then, that´s different.

Of course. Nobody has to be friends with anybody they don´t care to be friends with. But suppose you own a restaurant and you don´t like blacks. I believe Karl thinks (and correct me if I´m wrong here Karl) that a person ought not be "forced" to serve black people. That being forced to serve black people is actually a form of discrimination against him. This is where we differ. I think that everybody should be free to think whatever they want about whoever they want, to choose their friendships and so on as they like. But here´s the kicker -- you should not be free to discriminate against people as a business owner or government entity in a way that interferes with the essential freedoms of that other person. Black people should be free to eat at whatever restaurants they like. Gay people should be free to marry. Women should be free to pursue employment, at wages commensurate with their abilities, anywhere they choose. Nobody is forcing anyone to like blacks or gays or women. Feel free to hate as much as you like. But you can´t make anybody sit at the back of the bus when offering a public service, etc. Liminal

get a free OS let go of all hindrances so much laughter now

That´s great Karl. Extend the live-and-let-live principles you seem to be OK with here on Taobums to the level of government and what do we get? Ummm...Europe. People are not "forced" to accept anyone else, but aren´t allowed to interfere with the freedom of others to carry on with their own lives. That, in my opinion, is how it should be.

Karl, You say you´re against openness, tolerance, and diversity (if I understand correctly), and yet here you are on Daobums -- a fairly open, tolerant, and diverse place. You seem willing to engage in a discussion with me, although we´ve disagreed on several occasions, which surely requires some minimal exercise of the values you claim to disavow. Don´t worry. I won´t be nominating you for the "Most Open Daobum of the Year Award", but until your goons come to throw me off a building (as they might in Saudi Arabia --I¨m gay) I´ll continue to imagine that you are somewhat open to and tolerant of the diversity of opinion here on Daobums. And that´s a good thing. Liminal

Compared to say Saudi Arabia, Europe is a place where people value openness, tolerance, diversity. It is these values that make Europe such a great part of the world to live. It´s also these values that have led some European countries to welcome refugees -- for better or for worse.

I´m not sure if increasing yang is synonymous with increasing testosterone, but if you´d like to increase your testosterone naturally here´s some info. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-increase-testosterone-naturally/#axzz3xGyWAhHJ

If I´m remembering correctly, Michael Winn once remarked that he thought the original MCO went up both the front and back channels, and then down the central channel where it split again into two to return up. I mention this because I was reminded of this flow from Nungali´s video.

I tried tonglen last night for the first time in years following the instructions of Pema Chodren. It helped me feel better about something that had been bothering me, and I was able to take constructive action today. Think I will add this to the things I do.

Reminds me of my friend Greg who always encourages me to eat glazed donuts. "Seventy five years from now nobody will care whether or not you ate that dunut."

swimming in what may be the deepest pool ever cenote blessings

bum bum dao... bum bum dao... bumdao bumdao... daobum

I´m no expert on German politics but let me say this: feeling guilty is not usually a precursor to good behavior. Quite the contrary. I believe it´s important that the holocaust be remembered, it´s lessons integrated into the culture. But until the German people can stand tall, acknowledging the darkness in their history but not crippled by it, they are more likely to repeat the mistakes of the past than gaurd against them. Nobody benefits from a Germany cloaked in shame and guilt. Liminal

Then Bob´s your uncle Past lives deleted email Never really gone...

I´m not sure if there are systems that develop people on some spiritual level without also helping to heal the body. Probably there are, but generally it´s hard to accomplish much in an unhealthy body. So it makes sense that bodily healing would come first. I thought the following quote from Sifu Jenny Lamb´s website about Yi Gung interesting. "Self-healing or the appearance of supernatural powers are side-effects along with the body's and mind's awakening. They are not the ultimate goal for Yi Gung."

If you want to become more yang Rocco, then so-called masculine activities -- weight lifting and whatnot-- will probably get you there: yang is as yang does. But first I´d ask how you know your too yin? Are you yin in a way that´s uncomfortable for you personally, or you just believe you shouldn´t be that way because you´re a guy? Is there anything you like about your yin qualities? Others may disagree, but I say yin is beautiful -- even for a dude. Liminal

I don´t know.

from the stench of old cod livers, fermented oil. old-school omegas

lets get married

I got A´s in math in high school, but when I first started to drive I couldn´t remember the way to the grocery store, a store our family had been going to for years. So am I an intelligent guy? Depends, I suppose, who you ask. Spiritual development, like intelligence, is a multi-faceted thing. It´s possible to be very advanced in some ways and still be a jerk. Much to the chagrin of seekers everywhere who´d prefer a more uniform perfection. Liminal

No questions for now, but wanted to send my best wishes for a productive retreat. I think it takes good karma (or destiny, not sure the right word) to arrange something like that. Hope you´ll report back about your experiences if appropriate. Liminal

I too have lots of yawning with healing sounds, as well as other forms of chi gung. I agree with Soaring Crane that it´s best to just go with it. Read in a Zapchen book that yawning is the bodies attempt to open up the diaphragm and that makes sense with my experience.

This year my mom and I are suggesting New Years resolutions for each other. My mother´s resolution for me is to write down three things at the end of each day that I´m proud of. Works for me.