Best Of
Re: Life events triggering a spiritual search
Hi I started meditating and reading about Buddhism with a faith component maybe 24 years ago? I was in graduate school studying chemistry and I started having a psychotic episode. I remember seeing thumb tacks on the bulletin board of the chemistry building. To me the thumb tacks were sending me messages by their formation. They would change and then I would reinterpret them. Quite a lot of variety to my mental changes but the thumb tacks were one occurrence that I still recall.
After I got my diagnosis my brain kind of shut down relatively and it was hard to even read a paragraph of my mail. As I got stronger again I sought out ways to cope with he shut down or depression. Meditation was one and I started buying spiritual or Buddhist books.
Jeffrey
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Wishing your father a speedy recovery!!!
Kotishka
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
@Jeroen said:
Good morning my friends… I’ve been away for a few days because my father had a stroke, and is in the intensive care of a hospital near where he lived. I really miss our morning talks, he was a rock for me. I’m now back at my home taking care of my mother but it has been really intense… my father was always very health focussed and a sporty guy, I never considered seeing him suffering a delirium.
That sucks @Jeroen. Take care. I hope your father recovers quickly and well. 
marcitko
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Good morning my friends… I’ve been away for a few days because my father had a stroke, and is in the intensive care of a hospital near where he lived. I really miss our morning talks, he was a rock for me. I’m now back at my home taking care of my mother but it has been really intense… my father was always very health focussed and a sporty guy, I never considered seeing him suffering a delirium.
Jeroen
Re: New Pope on her way...
@marcitko said:
My first reaction was shock: personally, I'd stay away from that pile of embers (an American Pope at the time of Trump). EDIT: But I must stay open-minded and not judge a man by his country of origin, even at this time.
I've had a bad feeling about this post ever since I posted it. It goes against my values and the truth as I perceive it - that people should not be judged by any social group they supposedly come from.
So, I wash my mouth with soap and take back this post.
At this time, I don't have a better formulation/view and I'm still concerned about Trump thinking he has "his" Pope.
marcitko
Re: What documentary are you watching?
It makes me consider. What are the differences between Ch'an and Zen?
Kotishka
Re: Martial Arts and Buddhism - Is it acceptable?
She likes it still but as she has a learning disability, the other kids "get" things easier than she does and she wants to wait for a couple of years and try again.
All that will matter is which of them is still practicing in a year, in 5 years, in 10 years.
My teacher has severe dyslexia and can barely read a word. He has cerebral palsy and used crutches when he started martial arts. Today he’s one of the beat martial artists in the world and holds black belts in multiple arts.
There are 5 ways to become a great martial artist, as he says. You have to do all of them. There are no shortcuts. First is patience. Second is perseverance. Third is to practice hard. Fourth is to practice exactly what you want to perform. Fifth, meditation.
“Learn fast” is conspicuously absent.
Linc
Re: Kindness is Contagious
@Jeroen said:
What would it take to make a long-lasting difference to this man’s life?
Applying pressure on the government by whatever non-violent means possible, to invest more in lifting people out of poverty and supporting mental health services, is crucial. Real change often comes from persistent public pressure.
Yes, giving to worthy charities is important, but that alone is just a band-aid on a festering wound. Our taxes should be used to support the many, not to enrich a privileged few at the expense of those struggling to get by.
Shoshin1