Jeramiah Zeitigeist

You really don't ? Lao Tzu probably didn't exist. Maybe he is a compilation of characters. Maybe not. Does it make the Tao Te Ching any less relevant to my life, or your life ? Jesus probably didn't exist. Does it make his message any less relevant ? Sects of the early Gnostic Christians probably didn't believe in the physical existence of Jesus. They believed in him as the embodiment of perfection, or the perfect man. They didn't need him to exist for his message to be worth following. Ultimately, energy moves when we believe it will, and intention and Intent, two different things, make all the difference. A belief in Christ and the Christ message, if held with sincerity, is as good as anything else. I'm not Christian, but the message still makes sense.

I was a historian and archaeologist. I see little or no real evidence for Jesus existing. Primary sources are pretty much non existence. And we cannot trust any secondary sources. Objectively, they are completely unreliable. But thats not the point. Jesus as a concept, the 'Christ' energy, is perfectly relevant, if you choose to believe in it/him. I don't need to believe in the historical accuracy/existence of Lao Tzu to believe in the relevance of The Way. But I am extremely doubtful that Jesus ever existed.

I've used them on and off, for years. As I see it, sound is vibration, vibration is energy, connects with every mantra ever chanted and becomes an extremely powerful group mantra. They have always worked for me, and to people I know, too. Coincidentally, I started using a Mantra three days ago, and its already produced a very real and definite result, on the third day. I expected it to work, but it was still impressive. Like any energy work, it comes down to Intention and Intent. Get that right, and you'll get the results you want.

Agreed. The whole B12 is often just used to scare vegans, I think. Its amazing how being vegan upsets people, and brings out hostility and anger. Its weird. I have never supplemented B12, and I am not defficient in it, either. So its hard to know the truth. Perhaps its due to the amount of greens I eat......insects are high in B12, and I'm sure I must ingest them within vegetables and salads, without meaning to. So maybe thats keeping me topped up. But as you say, its stored for years, anyway. I believe there are tiny amounts of B12 passed through kissing and other activities involving bodily fluids too. Just saying.

Not helping......but quite funny ! :D

Sounds great ! I know eating out can be an issue, but you soon work out where is good, and where is bad. Here in England, it can swing from impossible, to spoilt for choice. There are amazing vegan restaurants in the USA, Green in Scottsdale AZ springs to mind. Always packed because the food is so good, even to non vegans. But I know of great vegan restaurants in London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin.........its always worth the search. I love food. But if I ever went back to eating meat, I'd feel I was missing out on something so good ! That won't happen though, as my primary motivation was compassion, rather than health. That was just a bonus. "I eat to nurture my compassion, not my greed"

I always thought being vegan would be too difficult. I found being vegetarian very easy. All you have to do is avoid eating meat. Simple. But with veganism, you have to watch out for the milk and egg hidden away in foodstuffs. Having said that, it only takes a few weeks to get used to it, and I quickly realised it was the best thing I had ever done. I was kicking myself for not doing it sooner. Its something I'll always feel regret about, that I wasted so much time. Its not actually drastic at all. Its really simple. Just requires more thought, but that illuminated to me that we should all be conscious of what we put into our body. We should be AWARE of what we eat. And I am, because I think about it, to ensure its vegan. We should do everything with awareness, but eating is something people just do......without conscious awareness, and I think that shift makes a difference. Also, that mindset of 'replacing' milk and eggs will change very quickly. Thats the old mind thinking. You'll realise you don't need to replace them. The only place I would have milk is in tea. But I drink green tea, or yerba matte, or various other teas, none of which require milk. Eggs ? Well, why replace them ? Just don't have them. There is a world of food out there, but in a month, you probably only eat thirty different foodstuffs, yet there are thousands available. You'll stop looking for the substitutes, and realise vegan food stands on its own. Its tastier and healthier, and doesn't need propping up. You'll find your tastebuds change too. There is a world of flavour out there, but its masked but saturated fats and animal proteins. Food will become far more interesting and involving. And athletically, it made a massive difference to me. And all the other vegan athletes I know say the same thing. I haven't even had a cold for five years. Maybe veganism suits me especially well ? I have no idea. But I know I'll never go back to eating meat or dairy. I like how I feel. Light, energised and healthy. Again, if you need comprehensive advice, the place to look is; www.veganfitness.net.

Well, I have never experienced it, or heard of it before. But I guess its possible. Doesn't make sense though, as being vegetarian is very easy. Effectively, you are just cutting out three or four foodstuffs, for the average eater. Beef, chicken pork and lamb. Thats more or less it. And much of the meat most people eat is processed rubbish, with very little nutritional value. So effectively, most people who go vegetarian should actually be getting more, not less nutritional value. But obviously, if someone has a terrible diet, eating processed meats and general rubbish, and then cuts out the meat, but makes no effort to eat well, they will encounter problems. But thats true whether they eat the meat, or don't eat the meat. The China Study, is a very interesting and authoritative read for anyone interested in the effects animal proteins have on the body. And would probably send most people vegan straightaway. Its quite frightening. But personally, I'd have thought the compassionate viewpoint in turning vegetarian/vegan was more important than any health benefits ?

Total nonsense ! I don't think thats related to diet. Its mostly metabolism and hormones. I rarely feel the cold, before I gave up flesh, after I went vegetarian, or after I went vegan. I eat three meals a day, and snack if I am hungry.

Congratulations on your choice ! I was vegetarian for 20 years, and then went vegan. It was the best thing I ever did. Its been almost thirty years since I ate meat, and I can't imagine how it must feel to eat flesh. As long as you eat a wide and varied diet of quality food, you'll be healthier than any meat eater. I was a full time athlete, training over five hours a day, and I had far more energy and 'good health' with virtually no illness, not even colds. My recovery from intense training improved significantly. If you want diet advice, look on; www.veganfitness.org. I never needed to supplement protein, even when in full training. A varied diet will answer all your requirements. www.greatveganathletes.com will give you a good idea of what is achievable on a vegan diet. A vegetarian diet is easy !

Interesting article on ZZ from the I-Chuan perspective; http://imos-journal.net/?p=1138

:D :D :lol: :lol:

Which is what I was trying to say. ZZ is not about muscles or strength. Its about many other things....clearing energy blockages in the system, relaxing the muscles, mind and intention......but not about strength.

I'm sure thats wrong ! But I can't work out why !

I seem to remember GM Wong Kiew Kit saying that as soon as ZZ becomes painful, its no longer ZZ. Its just an endurance exercise, and as such, is exactly the opposite to ZZ. Other masters have also said the same thing. Yes, there should be a little discomfort. But not pain. After almost two decades of ZZ, I honesty don't think standing in ZZ stances has anything to do with physical strength or fitness. I found the key is to relax. If it starts to hurt, relax more, the more it hurts, the more you relax and UN-TENSE the muscles. Example; I would do the full horse riding stance with thighs parallel to the ground. We all know how bad that can be. At five minutes plus, all my efforts would be on releasing the tension and dissolving any pain/blockages. With enough focus, the legs suddenly become pain free and stop trembling. They feel as though they are empty pipes, with energy flowing within them. Then things get weird, as you can stand in that stance for twenty or thirty minutes. I have legs like an Olympic track cyclist. I can lift 350lbs plus on a leg extension, 1500lbs on a leg press. I raced as a professional for several years. I do not believe this has any bearing on whether I can stand in ZZ for thirty seconds or thirty minutes. If you can stand up and walk, you have all the muscle needed to do ZZ. ZZ is mainly in the mind. The pain in your feet is obviously an existing medical condition, or energy blockage disrupting your connection to the ground. If you can stand up serving all day, I think you are right. You have enough physical fitness. Just my opinion of course. I could be talking nonsense !

:lol: :lol: :lol: I like to see them more as starting points for discussion and action !

This is the PGA statement, which I have saved and used a few times over the years, as a basis for good anarchist discussion. I like it, as starting point.... PGA Hallmark HALLMARKS: A very clear rejection of capitalism, imperialism and feudalism; all trade agreements, institutions and governments that promote destructive globalisation; We reject all forms and systems of domination and discrimination including, but not limited to, patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of all creeds. We embrace the full dignity of all human beings. A confrontational attitude, since we do not think that lobbying can have a major impact in such biased and undemocratic organisations, in which transnational capital is the only real policy-maker; A call to direct action and civil disobedience, support for social movements' struggles, advocating forms of resistance which maximize respect for life and oppressed peoples' rights, as well as the construction of local alternatives to global capitalism; An organisational philosophy based on decentralisation and autonomy. I'd add, of course, that for me, anarchist thought doesn't include violence against the person, which is clearly oppression, so the confrontational attitude and civil disobedience is either passive, or directed at the property and tolls of the state. Not people.

Aha ! Somehow I must have missed that ! Maybe FP will improve my thread reading skills too. I'll look forward to reading it, whenever its published. Many thanks for your time !

The very nature and existence of this thread, and the incredibly valuable information its imparting raises one very important question; Is there any chance of a book being written on FP ? I know the thread is very dynamic and able to respond to our questions, but I find I am referring back to it frequently. Could it form the basis of a book ? I realise a book is a lot of work, (I've just finished my own) and perhaps Master Dunn is too busy, in which case the thread is fine. But I think FP is too incredible to not warrant being enshrined in print !

Very good advice !

Thank you. I have just finished my book. 85000 words. Hopefully it'll be published this year. Many healers have a similar experience, although mine seems to have been extreme, even by those standards. Its hard to know how to describe it. Emotional, perhaps ? I am absolutely peaceful now. I'm very happy. I credit Chi Gong and meditaion, to a large part, in getting me to where I am now. Her previous victims all attempted suicide after just a few months. I made it through four years. I wish I had ridden the Tour. But I was never good enough. Track and TT were more my thing. I look damn good in my lycra though ! I look the part, even if I am not so fast anymore.

Thank you. I appreciate that ! It was an interesting time. But I learnt so much. I am very wise now ! It was obviously something I needed to learn.

I had a psychopath run a four year campaign of terror against me, my friends and my family. Her partner was a police officer and she had a number of influential friends, so it was four years before it was exposed and stopped. She planned and then tried to murder me by driving a car at me, twice. She announced it to many people in the days leading up to it. She knew nobody would speak up, as everyone is/was terrified of her. She missed me by a tyres width. It was quite an interesting time ! And yes, great to meet another compassionate cyclist. Funnily enough, there are a lot of us out there ! I'm not a professional now. Just a poser ! But damn, I look good on the bike !

Good post. Makes sense. I wonder if, that instant where a car driver does something crazy and scares us, is actually just our 'animal' survival instinct, which is programmed deep within us. It creates adrenaline and other stress hormones, because its functioning at a very primal level. In effect, its the same as a choking mechanism, or a drowning panic. Its about helping us survive. Its not even ego. So its not really connected with our deeper sense of dying, fear of dying and being ready to die. Its just a reflex. I'll do everything I can to stay alive. I really like being alive. Its a great adventure and I'm loving it. I have just about finished the first draft of my book. The first of many I hope, so I want to see it published. At the same time, I am glad its done, so that if I die tomorrow, at least I got the words down first. But you know, it doesn't really matter. I am not riding the bike at the moment. I get fit really fast, from 25 years of racing, so I don't worry too much these days. I'll soon be fit again. I know my pro days are over. So I no longer have that crazy thing of being out on the bike, having a near miss, and wondering if today is my last day. But I still hear of cyclists I knew getting killed, and I'm glad its not me. For me, the reality of death has been very close. And I know I have to live with that forever. It probably won't come in the night, but then again, it might. It could come at any time. People are surprised when I say I am not scared. But then again, how could I live like that ? Looking over my shoulder all the time ? Checking under my car all the time ? Checking to see if I am being followed ? Living like I have a price on my head. As time goes on, I think the risk to my life is receding. But honestly, I am very relaxed about it Also, if it happens, I'll not go down without a fight. Being ready to die doesn't mean I won't go down fighting. One man with a gun will do it, but if she sends three men with sticks, I'll fancy my chances. So I am ready to die, and I am peaceful about it. There will be no fear, when it comes. I'll give my soul up gently. No attachment to here. I just hope its in fifty years. Not tomorrow.