Sloppy Zhang

Delusions?

Waaaaay too many.

Sometimes I think that I am on this "journey" for all the wrong reasons, that deep down inside it's just ego driven, or that I'm searching for some "power" so everyone will look at me and think I'm cool... maybe I've deluded myself about this whole thing... but I continue on with my practice, help who I can when I can where I can and... keep going.

I'm almost 19, who knows where I'll end up. I really just started this "path" a couple years ago, so looking back where I have traveled so far, I can still see where I started, while the rest of the path still remains far, FAR off in the distance... then I keep walking.

Interesting vid...

For those who aren't up to date on the "latest" UFO stories, someone predicted that they would arrive on October 14. And coincidentally enough, there have been quite a few UFO sighting lately... or maybe I'm just paying more attention to them

I liked it

Through my experience... I wouldn't necessarily agree with the original post.

As others have pointed out: I too have experienced situations in which someone knew exactly how I was feeling. There are situations in which I myself can tell something about someone or a situation.

Now what explains this? Is it just experience? The time honored tales that every youth goes through, and that every elder person remembers? Is it an intuitive understanding of something bigger that you can see its appearance in the world around you?

The answers and explanations may range from the very simple, to the very complex, from the very worldly, to the very spiritual. Some answers I have found for the time being, for others I am still searching. This specific topic is... well a large part of it falls into the "still seeking" category

However, how do you define insanity?

I mean really?

Just for fun, haven't you seen those movies in which one character goes back in time, to try and stop a major disaster, but everybody else locks him up because he is insane? He knows what will happen, yet HE is the one that "can't discern reality from his delusional fantasies". (the movie I'm thinking about is the 12 Monkeys)

Take it to real life: how can any one of us judge someone else as insane? How can we deem what someone else does as insane?

Another line from the 12 Monkeys, someone said something to the effect of: "In the middle ages scientists would ridicule you if you went around saying you 'believed' in germs. They called you crazy. Now if you tell someone that you don't believe in germs, you're called crazy!"

Barring obvious scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, there's a very scary truth to that: the definition of what constitutes "insanity" is, by its very definition, very, very feeble anyway

I definitely "spread the message" when the opportunity for spreading the message comes up in a normal conversation, not in the way that many uh... many other people spread their messages

For example, I'm a member of some other forums, and every once in a while someone comes in asking how to deal with anxiety, or stress in their life. They mention that their friends, family, doctors, teachers, etc, have recommended that they get on drugs and stuff.

Now, I'm not anti-modern medicine. I like modern medicine and all the good it has done for the world. But you shouldn't be taking more pills than you absolutely need in my opinion. Why should you be taking three or four medications for anxiety, ADHD, headaches, or whatever else you have when you may be able to benefit from meditation? Or just relaxing?

So I always tell them to try meditation. Try looking at their lives and finding a way to change things for the better without drugs. It's more natural. They'll be happier. And they won't be spending as much money on drugs

(though certainly if there is serious medical issues, you should follow the advice of the doctor... but if all you need is to learn how to get over stress and stress related illness, meditation and learning to calm yourself beats meds any day)

It's funny that when most people hear the word "lazy", there are lots of connotations for what you are doing... like perhaps you are sitting and watching tv, or playing video games, or staring at the wall, or not being productive in general.

At first thought, I'd say I'm lazy all the time. In fact, right at this moment I'm being "lazy", the thing is... I'm doing stuff! Usually it's reading something that is of interest to me, or working on a person project, and since I'm a new member of this forum, I'm searching through old posts, finding new links, and I'm actually reading and learning a LOT of new and interesting things.

xuesheng kind of hinted at it: we're conditioned to get certain things done by society.

I am getting lots of things done, yet I am lazy... because I'm not getting the right things done...

So just some thoughts.

So initially through my study of Tai Chi I learned about the dan tien, and that some consider there to be three dan tiens. From what I know, there's the lower dan tien, middle dan tien, and upper dan tien.

Now more recently I've come across learning about the chakras. Some sources have attempted to compare the chakras to the dan tiens but... well there's been some confusion.

The sixth chakra/third eye is almost always compared with the upper dan tien. This one seems to be most consistent.

The middle dan tien, I had always thought to be in the solar plexus area, however some places have the middle dan tien listed as in the heart region, thus corresponding with the heart chakra.

The lower dan tien I have seen compared to the third chakra, except the third chakra is most commonly referred to as the solar plexus chakra and that... isn't where the lower dan tien is. The third chakra also moves around in its listing, some sources list the third chakra as in the solar plexus, while others list it in the navel area, which may put it closer to the lower dan tien... Other places have listed the lower dan tien as corresponding with the second chakra, except the second chakra is also sometimes listed higher or lower so depending on where it's read it may be either more or less comparable... it's quite confusing

So, I guess the first question would be: do the dan tiens and the chakras correspond with each other at all, or are they pretty much their own separate thing? Is there some overlap, especially considering areas such as the third eye/upper dan tien, there is quite a lot of overlap in terms of location within the body, and things that happen when you learn to stimulate those areas.

Now if connections can be made between the two areas... what are the proper connections?

My background is Catholic too and you'd be suprised at the similarities between Catholic mystical theology and Taoist mysticism. Welcome to da Bums.

Definitely. The more I learn, the more surprised I am about how similar lots of things can be. At first I felt some hesitation about "moving away" from certain beliefs, but the further I "moved away", the more I realized that I wasn't really moving away from anything at all

Welcome Sloppy Zhang, find a seat, how do you like your tea?

Simple green tea is great for me

Hey everybody, I just registered to the forums and.... well it looks really great, that's why I registered

I was raised Catholic, and went to Catholic school for a while, so I know a bit about where they are coming from, but I can't really say that I agree with all of their stances... as a kid though, I did lots of martial arts, and growing up I started to learn about martial art philosophy, the roots of that philosophy. I started in Karate, moved around, and recently found Tai Chi, which of course has daoist connections (not to mention legends involving, well, Zhang San Feng )

So now I don't really classify as this or that, I just do lots of reading, lots of discussion, lots of contemplative thought. I'm not in the game of judging something, really, and in fact there are still lots of Catholic ideals that I return to after reading something from another religion/philosophy, to see what insights I can get from new knowledge.

And, well, I'll see you guys around