thelerner

I'm just impressed he was human being. I dislike when wise men are made into gods. The tendency to need miracles to prop up holy men.

It's an old Michael Winn/ Healing Tao practice from his Basics CD (https://healingtaousa.com/product/qigong-chi-kung-fundamentals-1-2-home-study-course-audio-cd-dvd-ebook-2/), specifically the Ocean breathing and 5 movements. I learned it 25 or 30 years ago, from him live and got his CD. Probably a bit cheaper then, hell it was probably on video cassette. Couldn't find a youtube video of it. As a consolation here is his version of Pangu form, nice simple energetic qigong form. When the mood strikes me, I'll do Pangu then do some of the 5 movements he taught. One of the 5 is a Crossing the Ocean move, that is imo, very good for the back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lZVdt8t2WQ&list=PLgzzYwaoLacF7M0TCq7cSppZAM6t37ADd&index=2

Cool.. Where are the dice? How do you play?

A couple countries, China, India have gone into intense tree planting. So much so that its visible by satellite. One of my favorite stories is The Man who Planted Trees, about a man who disillusioned by war, went off, and every day planted 100 trees for his entire long life. Leaving a legacy of a forest that grew out of near waste land. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvYh8ar3tc In Holland there's the man who planted Tulips, on a large hill, he covered it in Tulips. So quietly that people assumed it was some natural phenomena. I wonder what we could plant, guerilla style, that would enhance our neighborhoods. Maybe wild flowers or sunflowers. Sunflowers are certainly bold, beloved by birds. I'm not sure how well they come back by themselves though. Still I wonder if I could buy a pack or 2 or 3. Find a spot in a forest preserve. Plant, grab water from a stream, water each day. Plant more. See if I could start my own flower forest? Kind of late in the year.. still.. it'd be something interesting to do. and in my old age I could be itinerant. crisscrossing the country, planting sun flowers where I ever go. damn fool.

The problem is a selfish person could justify a whole lot of evil actions under 'Do what thou wilt'. Course an evil person won't necessarily be checked by society's code of conduct anyway. On the other hand DWTW is also an antidote to societies repressive mores. A bit of wisdom from Robert Heinlein, ie 'Don't hurt people unnecessarily'. <googles> he wrote '“Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other "sins" are invented nonsense.” It modifies it a bit. The law draws it's lines, society others, we draw our own. How many do we step over?

I got a PM from James22. He was able to PM me but from what I understand not able to post messages on the board. Here's what he wrote " James22 Replied: 13 hours ago Thanks for your response, Yes I have been to site since Feb 22 and make welcome posts as from requirement but it almost 8 days but no update. Any insight? Thanks.

Just saw a movie with a strong emphasis on VR and role playing. Popular Japanese film called Belle. Nice, especially for the music and Miyazaki-like beautiful world. On Netflix I finished SAO, Sword Art Online- 4 seasons about a future world where VR is advanced and hugely popular. The first season was especially good, about a massive VR game where players were trapped and could die. I assume VR, like the Oculus or should I say Meta(?) is still in its infancy. It'll get lighter and more powerful and be a real boon for home bound and hospitalized individuals. There's alot of potential in it. It brings games to life but could go way beyond gaming. In the Belle movie they side stepped the whole 'wearing mask' aspect and it was simply headphones you put on and they were enough to interface directly w/ the brain to give and get lifelike imagery vs Ready Player One where you needed the helmet, suit and hanging cable system. The SAO series touches on the use of VR for those who can't move. Such uses are being improved now, and I assume will be widespread, even used for mundanities like shopping and chatting in a more 3D form.

A gave it away years ago, but the book, The Web that has no Weaver had nice depth on viewing the world and life strategies in terms of the 5 seasons.

There was a question about Water Tigers and it made me think about astrology. Not that I'm a great believer in it, but I do like the signs I was born under. I'd probably choose them if given a choice. Born in late Oct 1964, under the Western astrology I'm a Libra on the cusp of Scorpio. I like it, a Libra seeking balance. As I've gotten older I realize balance can't be static, it must be dynamic otherwise the events of the world create minute (or large) variations, so true balance must mean shifting appropriately, preferably subtly at times. Course a scale isn't alive, but a scorpion is. That aliveness, brings spice to life, the instincts, the drive, exploration, struggles make life worth living. Under Eastern astrology I'm a Wooden Dragon. Dragons are pretty cool. Wooden being a bit more subdued then other types. There's the obvious self destruction problem of a creature that blows fire. That doesn't mean fearing fire as much as keeping it to short defined bursts. Wood regenerates and grows, self creates. All good. The wood dragon lives in the freedom of the open skies and living comfort of the woods. While I don't exactly believe in astrology, there are lessons to learn from it. It's been awhile, think I'll hit Burning Man this year, at least a regional. What about you guys, What's your sign, how does it influence you, does it align with your life?

I miss the laid back New Age book stores of my youth. They've all closed. My favorite was Transitions, near downtown Chicago. Had books, newage chochkies and a great bakery w/ mile high taffy apple pie. Great place to while away an hour or two drinking coffee, eating and reading something interesting. Not necessarily true but.. helpful and as I said interesting. They also had authors come in. I heard Mantak Chia's talk/pitch when he visited. Many of them hosted fortune tellers; astrology, tarot or palmistry. I like having a reading every year or so. Like astrology I'm not a true believer but I'd something of value out of a reading. Things to consider, things to agree with, or disagree with. It helped me focus on aspects of my future that would otherwise go semi-ignored. I assume my agreeing with my astrology signs, East & West is akin to self-fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps the point of it is becoming the best aspects of your Zodiac sign. There is power in reflecting and aligning with archetypes.. Warrior, King, Lover, Magician, Sage.. Sure beats Salesman, accountant, clerk etc., and may give us a chance to incorporate both.

From- https://www.wikihow.com/Read-Your-Chinese-Horoscope In 2022 and 2023 we (mostly) in Water. Know your element. Almost done! Now we're getting to your element. On the outside, it's quite simple. Just take the last number in the year of your birth![2] 0 or 1: Metal 2 or 3: Water 4 or 5: Wood 6 or 7: Fire 8 or 9: Earth What does this mean? Again, it's a cycle, this part emphasizing movement and change. Whatever element you are will naturally be emphasized, but how does it mix with the element of the current year? It is believed that the element of the year is the dominant one -- some years will work with your element, while others will work against, creating harmony and disharmony. There are believed to be two cycles: the creative cycle and the destructive cycle. For example, water destroys fire but produces wood and so forth. Each element affects others in different ways, ideally creating a perfect balance. It is believed that the elements line up with the 4 seasons. Wood is the strongest in spring, fire in summer, Earth during the season transitions, and so on. Each element is dominant for 2 years in a row. The cycle repeats every 10 years (there being 5 elements and all). <addon being born in Oct 1964 makes me a Wood Dragon. A dangerous combination, mostly to myself

To me, discipline is a better word than order. Discipline is freedom. Health, wealth, relationships, all take a measure of discipline. At least until the discipline/habit becomes ingrained. I've always liked the saying The wise man likes what is good for him. To a great extent we can 'program' ourselves and not be stuck in child-mode or cultural defaults.

I can see a programmer who's worried about over-use to have a timer built into the program. It could be pre-set by the user to give a warning or a couple levels of warning, including a suggestion on a better use of time, after a set amount of play. It's a real worry, excellent games are addictive by design.

To me being mystic means changing the basic paradigm in which we see the world; instead of 'I see the tree', it's 'i see i' . Thoughts are way way quieter; ego and comparisons likewise lessened. You are nothing special and a little bit of everything. In the world but no longer as much of it. in writing you use more semi-colons;

Yowza, I'm surprised he doesn't have some kid put a saddle on top and ride it.

I thought in some oriental traditions that imagination was considered another sense. Some people have an orientation sense, ie turn them around and they always know the direction they're in. Which reminds me, animals, particularly birds have a magnetic sense and I believe some people have it too. Literally traced to a small iron deposit in the front of the head. Blind people can learn echo location, not that it turns them into Daredevil. Looking up 'magnet sense' I found an interesting article on it and other senses- https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/evidence-human-geomagnetic-sense

Can't quite feel it yet, but I'm trying. <back to shoveling snow>

Just had my first Oculus VR injury. Not the Zombie games like In Death Unchained or Arizona Sunshine or the boxing game, Thrill of the Fight, rather the seemingly benign Eleven, ping pong. The computer lobbed it high and shallow, just past the net. I reached and reached, instinctively put my hand on the virtual table to stabilize and fell forward. A small scream as my hand went through the table and louder one when I hit the floor. Next time, I'll step through the table, taking advantage of being a material man in a material world. I assume my practice in virtual ping pong is making me a better player in real life. It's a little more dubious but I think my marksmanship is improved by all the gun and bow & arrow play. Though in the zombie games without a laser pointed gun, shooting at multiple advancing targets is difficult. Letting me realize how much goes into accurate marksmanship under distance and (imaginary) stress. Death Unchained often has me balanced precariously on rooftops and rails quite often, so maybe my comfort with heights is getting better.. maybe. i won't know til the zombie apocalypse starts.

I can understand that reaction. I certainly have dozens of easier, more pleasant meditations. Yet, the Tibetan's have some interesting practices and perspectives. I consider this an extreme 'metta' ie loving meditation. It's easy to love what's nice, harder to love.. the unpleasant. I recommend it as something interesting to try. I use this one and created an mp3 where it began at the start of the guided meditation.

There's a Vispassana pre-amble to meditation I used to do regularly. I am not my thoughts.. they are like clouds passing through. I am not my body.. I am that which inhabits it I am not my past.. those old memories and pattern I can choose not to follow I am not my future.. I am not my emotions, I am not possessions, I am not my family, I am breath and awareness.. reciting that daily helped reconcile me with death. a bit. I had an heart stent put in and heard the doctor say 'This isn't going well' and I was able to stay relaxed and see what comes next. Maybe the drugs helped. Likewise I've had some dreams where I'm dying and was able to surrender into it. So such things are valuable opportunities. Another interesting meditation is the Tibetan Chod meditation. Where you sacrifice yourself to a monster. Kind of the ultimate Metta meditation. I have a guided version of it and it's powerful in its own way. Though just a shadow of the full Chod ceremony I expect. Safety is an illusion, but an important one. It's nice to be in situations every now and then where your life is in your hands.

just now, Gold- Your “level of advancement” is known by your ability to stay centered and balanced. By how much joy and love you genuinely feel/share. from Dwai

Thing w/ Harry Patch's quote is, if the advice was taken literally the 'righteous' countries that defended w/ their politicians would be quickly wiped out, invaded and at the mercy of the less righteous country who used 100,000 soldiers instead. Or if 100% followed it, then 'Might would make Right' and the government with the stronger tougher meaner leaders could take over other countries if they so wished. hmnn, the original sentiment does have some wisdom in it.. maybe simply putting politicians on or close to the front lines would be good enough. To the OP, I agree with his sentiment. In the normal course of life, we can over personalize things and mix up good and bad.. cause we don't know everything or how things will turn out. Still, there are egregious acts that are bad and evil. Ones that people should guard and fight against.

Please be around, we need you. Course so does your art. I'm back from a month or so hiatus. Don't know if it was an intended plan, some laziness or maybe feeling without inspiration. It was good to take time off, and it's good to be back. There's a self reflection in writing on the board and a reflection reflection seeing how people react. In these strange, uh Covid days its good to have companionship. If you feel it's right, take time off, but don't stay away.

Just received my Cannabonsai kit from cannabonsai.org (good youtubes). Was just $48 (US). Pretty complete, including 2 seeds and importantly droppers for raising and lowering PH levels of water. I've killed off 3 seedling recently and while I think I learned from each tragic death, the last lesson is balance the damn PH . The kit also comes w/ Ph strips. The tiny growing area and stringent trimming means very little product. I half expect if smoking with a friend, they ask how much harvest from the 3 month effort, I'll say, 'Not horrible, but uh you're smoking it all now'. If I don't kill it, and get 3.5 to 10 grams dry, I'll be a happy man. edit.. and killed it. 5 seedlings down, 3 seeds to go.

To me, gaining 'power' and/or stretching the mind without a steady wisdom tradition including cautionary tales is like losing a couple spokes on a wheel. You can move forward but you're going to wobble, increasingly badly. A quiet mind is a wonderful thing but it can be vulnerable to paranoia, tribal conditioning and craziness. Worse, the bad stuff- mental and/or physical can be mistaken for progress. As practice deepens- be careful, be moral, be humble and keep a sense of humor.