thelerner

Good decision. As more and more names, addresses, numbers and suspicions were being revealed, the possibility of defaming a wrong person increased. The Thread serves as an important cautionary tale.

Good stuff. The best minds weren't given access to Chernobyl, certainly not in the pivotal early period, nor was the best equipment at there disposal. The early story was secrecy and denial. In Japan, they're out there working. The final story isn't written about the Gulf Coast, but the darkest scenarios haven't come to pass. Nature seems to have a genius for restoring itself. Undoubtedly there are tipping lines, but they tend to be further out then we imagine. Again and again, incredible devastation is repaired in years. Life tends to find a way. People find solutions. I'm optimistic. Though if you want to listen to a bad case scenario, here is one a friend sent me: http://news.yahoo.com/video/tech-15749651/24532243 So the bad news is out there.

with all due respect, I think you're being melodramatic. Unless there's some development I'm not aware of (quite possible), I don't think we're looking at any kind of world changer. In my life time there have dozens of atomic and hydrogen bombs exploded(googled it got the figure from 1945 - 1998 is estimated to be 2,053). Every decade has brought 2 or 3 things that have been called game changers. Heck the last 3 years have brought 2 supposed world changes that have had fewer long lasting implications then most sooth sayers thought. the worlds top minds are on the problem and Japan has many resources. Even in a worst case scenario I think there are plans A to Z getting in place to deal with it. My prediction is we're looking at 6 months to a year for resolution, maybe a few years at most. That doesn't mean it won't be a big radiactive site, but one covered with enough shielding so life will go on a few miles away. i don't mean to belittle the tragedy; rather human ingenuity and flexibility can rival mother nature, because it was mother nature that made us what we are. Michael

The book wasn't about imaginary friends. They did research, got names, investigated the past. There were no Napoleons or Cleopatra's, quite the opposite. Neither they, the parents or the kids were from a society that accepts reincarnation (not in the first half anyway). The writer seemed like he'd be happy to debunk it, but the cases had researchable depth to them. The book clearly wasn't written to become a best seller, it was dry and academic. Personally I'm on the sidelines about reincarnation and to whether it really matters. I don't know what it means, but the book proved to me that there is something going on some phenomena whereby young children remembered and identified with events from a deceased persons life. And that its not a rare occurrence. Michael

I'm a pretty skeptical guy, but for some reason I picked up one of the books Gauss mentioned at the library and took it home. It was written by a professor who was also skeptical but had money to burn from grant on the subject. The hard evidence is amazing. There are a huge number of kids younger then 7 who remember past lives, even in America where its not on our radar. There are too many stories to dismiss. Some of the evidence goes as deep as birthmarks that look like the death wound that killed the former person. Its not in the Western paradigm so we overlook it. But in India its considered such common knowledge that the researchers were over whelmed, they didn't have to travel to find cases, they were everwhere. On the other hand, from the book I read there was no clear cut relationship between young childrens memories and karma. No clear trail of good or bad. Even to link the memories with reincarnation might be tenuous. The new lives were mostly disconnected from their old and at about 6 or7 the memories faded. Its fascinating though. In this world there is very little hard knowledge of what happens after we die (& what our true nature is), but this subject offers some tantalizing evidence and may open the door for more questions then answers. Michael

Thank you Rainbow, I just registered. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll probably spend Friday night at the Hilton. Any other bums going should PM me, it'd be great to have dinner and/or get together between seminars. Michael

Great job, good editing. Haven't gone through all 23 pages yet, but I did see my question was the last . Thank you for producing something that encapsulates Bruce Frantzis methods and philosophies so well. Michael

Like Marble said, overly harsh. IMO religions are started by mystics. Their language is symbolic, their teachings in metaphor. They can be hard to understand because of the gulf between enlightened and not, but there presence is an unmistakable light. I don't know if they are out to 'save' mankind, more likely they want to get across the truth they've experienced. Those who are personally touched by the founder are greatly inspired and empowered. But trying to codify mysticism is all but impossible, from person to person, generation to generation its reduced to dogma. Some of the evil done by religion is done by bad greedy people. But much of the evil, maybe the worst, is done by those who to 'save' mankind. Sad, but true. Michael

What are the hours of the Indiana Seminar? Thanks Michael

Weird wonderful things are out there. I met a guy Wild Bill at a Burning Man event. He's south of Chicago in a group that has a wild bonfire party each full moon. I've never been there, but once it warms up I've got to search it out and join in.

Yup, unfortunately I only make it to 3 or 4 a year. Nice mellow people and often there's only a handful or two there. You'd think it'd be packed, it ends pretty late and is in a so so part of town. The teachers are mellow Eckhardt Tolle types (including the accent). I should probably do a session or two to Gabriel Roths 'Sweat Your Prayer' (http://www.amazon.com/Ecstatic-Dance-Gabrielle-Video-Collection/dp/B0001610TI/ref=pd_sim_b_2) stuff so I remember how to move w/ some flow.

I've never heard the word kareeza before this but seems like I've fallen in some of its practices. Just being intimately connected and one person breaths in as the other breaths out is something I've done for years. I get the feeling kareeza is the Tai Chi of sex Michael

Cool, that reminds me, This Saturday the IMU (www.lifesurfing.org) in Chicago has there full moon meditation. 3 rounds of 45 minutes silent meditation followed by 15 minutes of free form dance. Its a great combination. The power of dance (like that of just standing) is often underestimated. Michael

good stuff

Interesting website. Karezza is something I might be interested in trying. I think persecuted minorities (historically the case w/ homosexuality) often end up creating works of genius. Society dismisses them so they don't need to follow societies rules and restraints, wallah you get works of genius.

If I may ask, how many days and how many hours was the NY seminar? What did you personally get out of it? How did it help your development. One thing I've read from people who've practiced with Master Wang is the high commitment; dedication and daily practice regimen he asks for. Does he require 3 to 5 hours a day? Thanks Michael

I like Kunlun but I don't consider it a full blown system. If you work on it I'm sure it can take you far, but lets face it, there's not a teacher you have access too and the practices are few and pretty simple. To me its a nice tool to have, but a full blown system..no. To me a full system means body, mind, spirit..breathing, sleeping, ethics etc. A world of practice and study. A capable teacher to keep you on track. Things that can take you far in 10 or 20 years of dedication are things like Bardon's Hermetics, which is a Western take on alchemy. Look into Rawn Clarks site, abardoncompanion.com . For a course with in energetic esoteric meditation, we have Santiago who teaches KAP, its taught through skype so you access to live classes online and some real feedback. Don't get too hung up on powers and enlightenment too early. I'm seriously thinking of taking Ya Mu's seminar this month. Looks like its on the power of stillness. Stillness, yin, sounds like just the ticket for Westerners, no powers, just an exploration of stillness. Sometimes we need the opposite of what we desire. Michael

This is more a niggling then a question. As a kid I was intimately aware that God could hear my thoughts. God was someone I proposed gambles too. If I do this then you do that. I'm sure I made several propositions a day of some sort to God. To what extent is that part of Our shared childhood? Or was I just a strange kid? At some point I lost that sensibility. I became rational and scientific. It might be a loss on my part.. in my mid 20's I went to a Yeshiva and I think wanted to rebirth that sense in me, but by that time it was too late. Instead of 'thinking' God hears my thoughts, I look for God in deep silence. strange.. Michael

My dirt is good. I've covered my garden area in a thick patch of half decomposed leaves. The soil this spring is dark and moist. My 2 gardens are relatively small and narrow so there's never been a foot on it to compress it. I tried simple composting just throwing greens and sticks into a old trash can and keeping it moist. I read that the simple way. It didn't really work, it ended up half decomposed, but it still made a nice mulch that's protected my soil through the winter. I have a neighbor who has an amazing giant compost pile. For some its an ugly brown eyesore, but to those in the know its brown gold. This year I'll have another 'gazpacho' garden (tomatoes cukes, peppers, lettuce) . I'd like to accent it with some sort of garden sculpture using metal tubing. I'm also going to build a trellis gazebo for my back yard, with hopefully grape vines covering the top.

Due to his 6 month absence, let me follow up with his questions Actually the questions aren't bad. I'd love to get the perspective on K. from someone with experience and who comes from an established lineage school. Sincerely Michael 2 cents. People ask why K.? I think its because its literally considered a step up in ones personal evolutionary ladder. (course what the heck does that mean.)

IMO at the moment Karma is irrelevant. So is playing the game of endless why's.. instead its time for how can I help?

Two questions about the upcoming seminar in Indiana. Are there still openings? For people who are unfamiliar with your teachings are there any practices that would help them prepare for your seminar? I'm thinking in terms of standing such as embracing the tree, or any particular seated postures. Respectfully Michael

Earlier this year I was trying for long daily meditations of 90 minutes and ended up blowing them off entirely. Now I'm doing 2 sessions of 20 minutes of emptiness meditation each day. Its easier to do consistently but I wonder if I'm losing benefits by keeping it so short. What are good lengths? Traditionally are there any minimums or 'daily requirements'for meditators to shoot for? Thanks Michael

This is what I've heard from a number of sources. That 20 or 30 minutes is missing a level, staying to close to the surface..not getting deep enough.