thelerner

I wonder if posting this in the Chinese language section of the Tao bums might get better replies. Try posting it there- let people know you only read english. Lin Aiwa doesn't post much anymore. He is a great source for Westerners looking at going to China. Post the question on the U.S. Healing Tao discussion site. Michael Winn leads a trip to 'Taoist' China each year so there's people there who have a clue. He might have his itinerary up from previous years on the HT website too. Michael

I find what separates the farmers from the fiddlers is the size of there compost pile. I think a source of good compost, actually creating your own is the secret to great soil and a productive garden. Here is a good site on compost: http://www.homecomposting.org.uk/content/view/12/26/ Its all about keeping it simple. A simple trash can w/ the bottom cut out (no need for air holes!), keep a balance of brown and green stuff a little water, most of all be patient. Even if it takes next season, you'll be rewarded w/ black gold. I've got some large empty trash cans. I'll cut off the bottom and start my gold mine this week. Michel

What !! Its supposed to be Warrior Body, Buddha mind???, I've had it all backwards. course chicks dig my long earlobes on a serious note. Sifu Garry, impressive movements on the clip, relaxed, strong, you could feel the whip.

Don't listen to him. Taking MacCleoud's head will undo your immortality. Though you will be THE ONE, and thats got to be worth something. Few, hopefully I've straightened that up and kept a few immortals from dying.

Energetic types of meditation aren't good to do when you're in an unbalanced mood. Circulating energy when you feel bad can make things worse. You may want to look at the AYP site. Many here have found it to be wonderful. It has a reputation for being well thought out, supportive and thorough. It lays out a path step by step, slow and steady. http://www.aypsite.org/ One good clearing chi gung exercise is the Secret Smile. You can do a Search for it here. Michael Winn has free booklet on a similar Inner Smile practice, that can be found by googling his name and inner smile. Yours Michael I don't use it, but I've got great respect for it.

Few sages have discussed this w/ the clear lucidity of those who write South Park. There is an episode called Starvin Marvin in Space. Young Ethiopian Starvin Marvin commandeers an alien spaceship and goes to an alien planet. Its called Marklar, he meets the people there who are Marklar, and learns there language which has only one word Marklar. Within the satire there is deep philosophy going on. Its definately one of there most thought provoking episodes, damn funny too. http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103587/?autoplay=false Sometimes the best way to still the mind is to tire it out from laughing. Within laughter there is a shared sympathy for the travails of life. Michael

I drizzled a $1.30 packet of Mesclun style lettuce seeds on the ground 30 days ago. Now I'm harvesting a salad every other day or I should say adding it into my avocado banana shakes. Because the Mesclun is leaf(not head), I cut it w/ scissors and low and behold through the graciousness of mother nature it grows back. In another 45 days I expect my cherry tomatoes, hot peppers and cucumbers to be ready, and I'll have garden fresh gazpacho through the end of October Michael

Its an interesting topic. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems there's an 'Orthodox' train of thought that says physical immortality is real. Others say no, but have levels of spiritual immortality, some having to do w/ creating an inner spiritual embryo. Again correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Michael Winn is in the latter school, believing that proper training & cultivation allows you control of your spirit souls when you die, instead of having them scattered. IMO Immortals are so few and legendary that I doubt there corporeal existence. But on a spiritual plane, who knows, they may well be around, staring at our computers and laughing. I don't think intellect can answer the question, only long practice and cultivation. Michael Michael

In the Movie Fearless, the hero Huo Yuan Jia played by Jet Li is having tea with one of his adversary, Japanese Kendo Master Tanaka. The following is a transcript of their conversation : * Mr Huo, according to what you say, you really don't know the nature of tea. * It's not that I don't know, I really don't want to know, because I don't care about evaluating teas. Tea is tea. But each tea has its own character and properties. What is the purpose of grading ? These many teas are grown in nature, all of them. Is there a discernable difference ? * Yes, once you learn this, you can tell the difference between the teas. * What you say may be right, but the way I see it, the tea does not judge itself. It's people that judge its grading. Different people chose different things. As for me, as far as I'm concerned, I just don't want to make any choice. * Is that so ? * Drinking tea is a mood, really. If you are in a good mood, the grade of tea doesn't matter. * What you just said makes me have more respect for you. Enjoy * You first

FWIW In the Itunes Podcast Infinite Smile (a favorite of mine) there's a lecture called 'David Deida - Exploring Sexual Stages with Buddhists', worth a listen to. Michael

When things get funky, cut back, way back. Its happened to many of us. If we slow down we're fine, if we don't we can get burned. IMHO Without a strong foundation (&live teacher to give feedback) 3-4 hours of energy type meditations is too much, way too much. Sloppy Zhang gave some good advice. Its not a race (if it is, its a marathon, think in terms of 20 year stretches ). Michael

Just wondering if the Chat function is working. It'd be nice to have some live conversations. I get a try again later message when I try it on my Mac. Could be me, Mac's seem a little backward sometimes when using Java. Michael

Very cool, thank you Sean. It works for me writing in solo mode. Hopefully I'll be able to try it w/ real people soon. I've found the best way to use it is to create a new topic on the main discussion site with the day and time announcing you're heading to Chat and are looking for Chattees, another possibility is sending people a PM that you are heading to Chat. If you just go there without an announcement you'll tend to be waiting ad nauseum. Michael

Too bad, it was rarely used, but when it was it provided a way for people to get a little closer by communicating live. Michael

Mal turned me onto to Amazing-Green-tea.com. I've ordered Huangshan Maofeng (A) 50g: Longjing Tea (B Grade) 50g: Tieguanyin Wang (Aged AA) 49g: They're all good, I particularly liked the Longjing. Surprisingly after ordering $24 worth of tea from China, which while expensive, is about 30 or 40 cents a cup I figure (quality leaves can be used several times). While waiting I bought some Genmai Cha (Hime brand)green tea which was $4 for 7 ounces. I really enjoy the taste. The Chinese teas are whole leaf, they probably have more theanine, antioxidants, micronutrients that the Genmai, still the Genmai is cheap and tasty. I think the best is what tastes best to you. Try a sampler pack and invite a few friends over to do a tasting. I did and the cheap Genmai came out on top!! But the group was made up of coffee drinker who may have suffered a loss of appreciating delicacies. Michael

You explain it well. The kitchen metaphor is good. We Do the practice for years, incorporate it into our lives and thinking..build it up. When it becomes bigger then us, outweighing our ego, it whispers 'Change'. In time the whisper becomes louder. 'Change what?' we ask. 'Everything' it answers, and that is very scary. Michael

Sounds pretty cool. Don't be afraid to contact them though, maybe they can point you in right direction. There's nothing to lose but an email. I know there are a few groups that bring Aps to life for the Ipod touch and Iphone system, you could look into that. Once created they're easy to let loose and make some change off of or so I'm told. Michael

Seems to me you need both, reasoning and sacred emptiness. Reasoning is easy, especially when poor, its second nature to us, we live in our heads. Emptiness can be easy, turn on the TV, listen to music, space out.. but there is a sacred emptiness that's hard; thoughts and reasoning impede it. Within it the questions of God and Philosophy are answered because they don't exist. Emptiness, emptiness m t n e s whack whack whack my 2 cents Michael

We sat a lot of seiza for Aikido. In 13 years I never found a way to sit in for long periods comfortably. Still I was usually good for 15 to 20 minutes before the pain then numbness started. During long meditations I'd simply grin and bear it. If it wasn't a strict meditation period I'd shift up every few minutes to relieve the discomfort, though my Sensei's ideal was to accept it. Past the pain you're into the numb period which is easier to stand, though its pins and needles when you get up. I was told if I'd started it as a child my veins and whatnot would have adapted and I'd be able to sit longer. Things that help; sitting lightly, don't put your full weight down on your legs (it will ultimately happen but gently work against it). Sit as if there's a piece of rice paper between your butt and legs and you don't want to crinkle it. One way to get the feeling of that is lift your body up before sitting seiza, then lowering it half way down, then half that, and another etc, feeling like you're never all the way down, just continually slowly lowering while keeping some space. There are seiza benches that keep you in position. You can make them pretty cheaply. Sitting on a mat (or pillow) then having a second pillow(regular not zafu) between your legs and butt also increases comfort. Sitting Seiza is worthwhile because it keeps a straight spine and helps with focused attention. For Westerners (& larger people) it can be hard on the knees. For longer meditations I usually do half lotus. Michael

Look into the people who made the Wild Divine game. Wilddivine.com, they make and market at least one spiritual game. Michael

Let me throw this out. Taoist lore and literature is filled with advanced masters going into caves and meditating in a deathlike state for months, years or decades; leaving disciples to dust off and protect their bodies. Fact or fiction?? Its wide spread and believed by so many advanced teachers like Chia, Daniel Reid, etc., that I'm willing to believe its possible, rare, but possible. What do you think? Michael

I also bought Ralstons books in the early 90's. Good stuff. The writing is a bit wordy, but I like the depth he goes to on principles. The simple things, how do you walk, how do you express power. I liked watching him on the video, he's willing to move, willing to be pushed, while keeping control, balance and a sense of play. Very nice. Michael