Old Man Contradiction

I think that is one of the wisest sentences I've seen on this forum in a long time.

This video conveys your perspective a lot better. I think it's possible. Like I said before, the people I know who've had far out spiritual experiences on hallucinogens live their lives as dualistic as any average american. But I believe the truth of the matter is that these hallucinogens just need to be accompanied with a practice of mindfulness. To have a healthy relationship with these plants requires your subtlety, attention, and respect. PS. by "mindfulness", I don't necessarily mean mindfulness meditation.

ah, is that what was meant by types of fats? trans fats, unsaturated fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, etc? have you ever seen the documentary "Fat Head"?

agreed. I don't know anything about specific fats, but my body tells me that fat is more naturally digested than what I get from grains.

If both fats and carbohydrates make a person insulin resistant, than what is an energy source that doesn't induce insulin resistance?

If you don't have an "ab wheel" you can do the same exercise by having your hands planted onto a towel sliding it away from you across a hardwood floor.

I was wondering what kind of restrictions and lifestyle choices an ayahuascero or any other entheogenic using Shaman undergoes. no salt, no sex. Anything other choices?

Taomeow, can you post a link to the information regarding grain/gluten's effect on the CNS. I'd be interested in reading something about that.

I train for 3 hours, all conditioning on some days. And I'm just a beginner... 4 hours is very realistic. Big bodybuilder muscles require a lot of oxygen and energy to function. This is why they are not best for explosive force. Bodyweight exercises maximize strength in the best way. Of course, if you don't care for health, longevity, and mastering the issuing of force, than big muscles will give you more mass and therefore give you more force due to the basic physics equation M X A = F (mass x acceleration = force). I believe the best idea in the long run is to train your ability to accelerate. Which has infinite potential when you consider all 650 muscles in the body, their interconnections, and the conditioning of the nervous system.

I second the importance of focus. Since I started practicing the internal martial arts, I've essentially quit writing music. But when I do pick up my instrument, I'm a better writer than I was when I was playing all of the time. I think two main factors play into this. My improved focus gives me the ability to pay attention and be careful with the sound I'm playing. This greatly enhances the quality of music. The other factor is that the exercise calms my mind and stimulates my brain to grow, opening up internal space for musicianship.

Than you have forgotten about how the relative and the absolute relate to eachother.

I have to try and humbly disagree. I've seen extended periods of weed and LSD or shroom use aid in people developing awareness and control of their intention. Obviously not to the degree that I've seen in a good internal martial artist, but better than the average person.

Don't forget, not all people in the west use drugs in the same way. There are people who retreat into the forest and take mind-blowing doses of LSD and there are also people that will take 3 hits and watch "Dude Where's My Car?". You must look at the people that take massive doses, like a vial(100 hits) of acid or ounces of mushrooms. That is where the question should be asked," Is there an inherent quality in hallucinogens that is intelligent, wise, or spiritual?" If there is, any average person should be able to take a massive dose in isolation, and have some kind of truth revealed to them. If this is not the case, than these drugs are probably not the primary factor of the shaman's growth.

yeah your comments on indigenous people isn't very intelligent, that is true. Also, you seem kind of ignorant of the entire shamanic tradition besides the fact that a substance is used. About your Taiji, try to connect your arms to your body, they are very light and don't have much in them.

Is there anything that I can do for you?

My friends, including myself, that have had spiritual experiences on drugs live life just as divided and separated from others as any average American. It all comes down to the individual's willpower, effort, and choice.

haha this is awesome. It is just like every other master out there, asking you to give up your common sense and intelligence in order to abide by his "wisdom".

Fong has been teaching since 1970 in Portland, OR, but continues to travel to China each year in search of teachers to broaden his understanding of the Chinese healing and martial arts. He recently returned from a month-long stay in China where, deep in the mountains of Shaanxi Province, he met and learned from the Daoist master and Abbot of Wu Shan Temple, Xiao Zhixin. Here he practiced Bagua, Qigong for health and martial arts, herbal medicine for opening up the qi, and did research into the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). Fong's lifetime mastery of Chinese martial and healing arts provides his students an unequaled opportunity to achieve their personal goals for health and well being-based on the fundamentals of how the body and mind work together, and focused on improving each individual's physical and mental fitness according to their age and level of conditioning. Come see the free demonstration with the class of Sifu Gregory Fong! Sifu Fong's Website: www.i-chuan.net

Why is that in a place where people are trying to grow beyond the suffering of mankind, there is so much arguing and defensive attitudes? It seems almost even more so than everywhere else. What do you think is going on? I'm about to stop visiting the TaoBums, not because I want to avoid other people acting like they know it all, but because I don't want to get caught up in me acting like I know it all. As a whole, we are kind of funny.

I was the same way, so I had my brother go in with me for the first class since it's free. There'll be a bunch of people at the demo, so it won't be awkward or anything like walking into a class. I hope you decide to stop by, I'm happy I did.

Honestly, from what I've seen from others (even the famous yichuan guys), his yichuan goes unsurpassed. I really suggest visiting for the demonstration, you will see his I-chuan. ps. Do you live in the PDX area?

Chen Tai Chi Form by Sifu Gregory Fong

Will Smith is awesome.

Over the last year I've dropped many activities, this includes drawing, dancing, dating, playing and listening to music, and generally "hanging out", but the one constant has been my training. Even if I don't want to, the force of knowing I'll leave my training ground as high as a kite and feeling great and tired/rekaxed is what motivates me to do it. It is fun once I get there too.