hyok

I'm not sure what the self is, but I do think I am the Do-er, and my spirit works best within the material because it is all I have known. My connection to the Celestial seems to be what I need to discover, and I have a feeling that is as much as the Self as I know to be the ego-conscious Do-er. I just have not realized it yet.

LOL! who are you? Thanks, Vajrahidaya.

The last time I attempted a fast was in preparation for Ayahuasca (which didn't happen), but one thing that did happen was when I was walking into K-Mart to purchase a big steel pot, the sun was scorching down on me, and for a brief moment i stopped cuz I felt as if the sunlight was being absorbed into my skin, like i was EATING sunlight. It was a strange feeling because the sense of nourishment was real. I haven't fasted since then, but i'd be curious to see if other practitioners have felt this sensation.

One thing I've noticed, even in myself, is that we can't lie in our words. The expression holds too much to thoroughly deceive anyone, and especially those with strong insight. Whatever event triggered the call for moderation seems to have been handled. How the community arrived at its perceptions is sound and makes sense, so whatever those perceptions may be, it is what it should be and I for one trust the sensibilities of the community as a whole, as opposed to the handful that can't seem to handle the negative with the positive. I am against moderation.

I'm up to two - once in the morning and once at night, but it really depends on the quantity and quality of the foods i've eaten, as well as the activity for the day. I've noticed though that the more raw foods I eat, the more frequent the bowel movements.

What i'm coming to realize, no pun intended, is that the genital region is different for everyone and reacts differently to different activities. Don't trust anyone's advice too quickly, trust your gut instead (pun intended).

Don't know where you are, but Darin Hamel is a good teacher.

I just spit my morning tea all over the monitor. Thanks Mal.

That's awesome. Reminds me to maintain my anger before reacting cuz we never know what's going to happen. This also reminds me of a documentary I saw on Mark Twain. One bit was on his house being built, and on one particular day a million things were going wrong during construction, but after the work day was over, Mr. Twain was glowing over the fact that he did not lose his temper even once!

you'll be back!

Blasto, I'm not going anywhere with this. Just blathering and also attempting to present the possibility that the oil industry, being largely governed by governmental business (human beings), may not be what we think it is. I mean, heck, the debate on whether oil is biotic or a-biotic still goes on! One should open themselves up to the role duration of time plays - How long has petroleum been the main source of energy against modern technology against The World Wars, security pacts and multinational business arrangements. The possibility that those who control the West are very much aware of this "hidden" oil is a very real one. If it does exist, surely the thought of a military strike to uncover and claim these vast fields of oil have been pondered upon. Unless of course the Arabs have an ace under their sleeve which prevents military action, or deems it "unprofitable" for the Western Oil Barons and their kin. Should this be the case, what threat does the US, its allies and its army of fossil-fueled weapons of war pose against nations in the middle of a desert who are full of oil they can only trade for? None. They become business partners in the exchange, conversion and pricing of ultimate material value, oil and gold.

We're in agreement that the US is finished as the Land of Opportunity. Climate change, converging cycles, earth ships, all these things sure look like they're approaching... But peak oil... hmm... peak oil... what do I really know about peak oil? I know that geologists do not receive their paychecks from Geologists Without Borders. I know the scientific community seems to be more concerned with their individual image/credibility than truth. I know that for some strange reason, the Royal Arab families have been able to retain their power unilaterally to this day. It's strange to me that a bloc of nations who have control over the most precious resource in the world, while seemingly buried in the stone age, remains autonomous. How does this happen?

Peak Oil is tricky. Similar to the observance of money manipulation in that maintenance of control is at the Highest Level - meaning national, international and moral law does not seem to apply, only control through whatever means seems to matter. There are those who believe that the Arabs aren't as stupid as we think. There are those who believe the Arabs began hiding oil a long time ago, siphoning billions and billions of barrels to unknown locations in the desert. Who can know of this than those who are hiding their own natural resource? What measuring instruments can read the minds of men? If I were the Arabs, that's exactly what I would have done in light of the odds against me.

^Nice! He's definitely more right than wrong. I like this guy! Thanks for the hook-up. While on the subject of, whatever this is.... http://www.gardeninacan.com/ How can you go wrong with a garden in a can? Might be the best $79.95 you've ever spent!

These guys are awesome! Thanks.

Brahma Nandam, cover by Deva Premal. Seductive, alluring, serene yet dazzling. Beautiful song.

What's going to happen in Fall 2009? It's good to have mountain land and reserves of essentials, but date predictions tend to be incorrect. I'm sure things will happen in the fall of 2009, but it's a slow car wreck in my book. I think 2011 will be when it really hits the ground level (my date prediction. lol)

Why did it have to be "swine"? Why can't it ever be something like, "Rainbow" flu? Remember "mad cow disease"? Its medical name is "Bovine spongiform encephalopathy" which sounds worse than mad cow disease. I dunno, I keep picturing membranes and tubes. As far as the OP, I think there's so many demoralized groups with delusions of grandeur who are so filthy rich from the ballooning economy over the past century, that anything is possible. Anything.

I'm thinking you're right.. - if a person desires a personified relationship with the Tao, so it will be. - if a person does not, thus it will be. Makes perfect sense to me and this is probably the way it is.

It is interesting to me that there is an on-going debate on the nature of Tao - whether its essence is influenced by a Great Consciousness - i.e. Creator or whether this is in fact the aggregate of mixing energy/matter within the laws of physics. It seems in Taoist teachings it is never directly stated that it is one way or another, but traces of a greater mind seem to litter its words. Like the words "pre-heavenly qi" or "post-heavenly qi". These words seem to insinuate that there is order in the heavens, and that the regulation of this order is beyond the abilities of the conscious ego and mind. From the Tao Te Ching... 21. It lies in the nature of Grand Virtue To follow the Tao and the Tao alone Now what is the Tao? It is something elusive and evasive. Evasive and elusive! And yet it contains within Itself a Form. Elusive and Evasive! And yet it contains within itself a Substance. Shadowy and dim! And yet it contains within Itself a Core of Vitality. The Core of Vitality is very real, It contains within itself an unfailing Sincerity. Throughout the ages Its Name has been preserved In order to recall the Beginning of all things. How do I know the ways of all things at the Beginning? By what is within me.

I'm getting odd vibes from this thread.

Quick addition... 87. Buddhist priests don't keep the commandments, Taoists don't take their immortality pills. Lots of wise men have lived since ancient times, and there they lie, under the green hill. A running theme in his poems is a harsh criticism of Buddhists and Taoists. Not necessarily the teachings of either, but more so the BS of the so-called Holy men and their egos. One more example... 84. With mind as lofty as the mountain peak, And self-righteous look ("Me bow to others?"), He announces he will lecture on the Vedic canon, Having mastered all the writings of the Three Religions. In his heart there is no trace of shame, though he breaks the commandments and ignores the holy laws. "My sermons are for men of superior understanding. Few are the priests who can compare with me!" Fools all shower him with praise, While wise men clap their hands in mirth. This hoax! This phantom flower of the air! How could he escape from birth and death? Better to understand nothing at all, to sit still and quiet the ills of the mind.

Bought this book a while ago. Considering i'm not a fan of poetry, I find him to be an interesting poet in the blunt and truthful vein of Charles Bukowski, where poetry is just a format to express short and simple observations and thoughts.

Today was a super-horny day. It was tough. I began backward-flow meditation but the whole time I was rock-hard and kept thinking about the Chinese masseuse who gives happy endings. It was one of the most sexually frustrating days i've had in a while. Then I began to jerk it, but I wasn't thinking about sex or girls, basically just not thinking of anything other than orchestrating the flow of sexual energy from my cock to the root chakra to the waterwheels of the dan tien. In my mind I could see the sexual energy mixing with psychic energy and then saw/felt it flowing up the spine and becoming spiritual energy. After 15 minutes of doing this, I wasn't frustrated anymore. It was like a moderate sense of relief - not entirely pleasurable but better than sober reality. I feel energized. This event could just be the manifestation of time passing, but it seems different. There was some sort of sublimation that happened. I don't know. Will keep you guys updated as I continue the practice.

Taoism tends to offer confirmatory signs for attainments. Perhaps attaining pre-heavenly Shen is not an attainment, or is self-evident once it is attained. Just throwing possibilities out there.