Best Of
Re: What we are doing right?
I seem to have mastered my craving for sweets. There is a small holdout remaining first thing in the morning, when I want to have some chocolate with my first coffee, but after that i can go the whole day without sweets and I don’t miss them either.
Jeroen
Re: What we are doing right?
@person said:
I stopped putting sugar in my tea. I usually have 4 cups on workdays and 2 on days off. For many years I had used Truvia sweetener, but a couple studies now have shown that it increases the clotting effect of blood in higher doses and I have a stent from an old accident. I tried allulose with monk fruit for a bit, but it was pretty expensive and would make me slightly nauseous sometimes if I had tea on an empty stomach. So I switched to sugar, which wasn't as sweet. I was away from home but brought some tea with, I couldn't locate any sweetener when I made it in the morning so I went ahead without it and it was fine. I never really drank it for the taste anyway.It hasn't been that long, but I seem to have noticed a decreased desire for sweets and I think craving in general has been down. I think this move is likely related in some way to my recent stomach virus/food poisoning incident.
I was also persuaded by this Kurgesazt video to start buying more ethical meat (non torture meat). However, unlike the price claims in the video I'm finding all except beef to be about twice as expensive. I don't make meat a center piece of my meals and I'm not living paycheck to paycheck. But the extra cost isn't minor and is felt, so there is an internal struggle related to continuing.
I've continued with purchasing ethical meat. Now that I've been without sweetener in my tea I'm noticing that I'm more sensitive towards sweet and aware how sugar affects me. It increases my craving for more and makes me feel rundown.
person
Re: “502” error on this site
Noticed the “502 Bad Gateway” error seems to be back, and with disturbing frequency.
Hope you can work your magic @Linc…
Jeroen
Has anyone else..?
Hello! Recently, something happened that either was “intended” by some higher intelligence, or was a very lucky fluke. There is no one of my acquaintance that would be willing to repeat what I did, and which might give me reasons for thinking that by chance, I have discovered a powerful method of meditation. Several months ago, I posted in this forum about a practice of rotating the head, which was (and still is) done by me as a physical exercise, for the benefit of the neck. In my posting, I explained that it had powerful effects on the spiritual side of one’s being also, which was a gratuitous (and very welcome) spin-off in addition to the physically beneficial effects. It surprised me, very much, when a reader of my post remarked that the practice I described was enjoined on participants in a Zen meditation class that he had attended! Remembering that remark has emboldened me to post about a different exercise, prescribed by my GP as a possible cure for my recent spells of dizziness and vertigo.
The exercise is called the “Brandt/Daroff Exercise. Directions for doing it are easily found on the Web, but rather than sitting on my bed to do this (as is advised), I sit on the floor of the lounge, and lower my head onto cushions placed on either side, using my elbows to prevent falling over suddenly. It’s much easier and more convenient, than using a bed. Now, although one is advised to lie on one’s side, with neck twisted as advised, for about twelve seconds or so, I find that the relaxation that ensues makes it very easy to stay on that side for well over a minute and more. On several occasions, I have fallen asleep! In fact, the peace, relaxation (and occasionally, bliss) that has been experienced is such that it takes lots of determination to sit up and rock over onto the other side. The effects are all felt in the region of the abdomen.
I have tried to find comments on the Web (from others that do this exercise) about the extraordinary effects that I have experienced, without success so far. One factor that might make this exercise different in its effects for me, is that I regularly practice meditation. I am happy to remark that nowadays, many times, meditation occurs spontaneously (sometimes, even if I am watching the news, on the television).Yet, I certainly don’t see “myself” as being spiritually developed. In fact, one of my concerns is that when meditation occurs, I am unsure what to do, so I just observe. In short, I bumble along and hope for the best. Yet, despite my many faults and failings, I cannot deny to myself that these states do happen, bringing blessings that cannot be described in words. The word, “peace” is only a noise, and has no relation to the state that I know as “great peace”, and which sometimes is found in meditation. And love — this man is not capable, on his own resources and in his usual nature, of knowing such love as arises on many occasions. Oh that those states would remain when I stand up, and start the day’s chores! It just goes to show that, whoever you are and whatever your all-too-human nature, you do not know what you really are.
To return to the subject of the exercise that I must do (until given permission to stop), it may be that the physical effect on the spinal cord (caused through twisting, and holding the position) may be augmenting the meditation practice. Or it may be (for aught that I know) that the exercise itself has effects that are unknown to the medical people. I doubt whether it would do any harm to try it. One last remark: the instructions say that this exercise can induce temporary dizziness. It has yet to happen in my case, and I have been at it for about five weeks.
Best regards,
Q.
Re: Has anyone else..?
You might find this sort of thing of interest
https://thunderhoneysnowstudio.ca/video/quick-treat-neck-release/
We have tons of posts on meditation methods
Treeleaf is an online Zen meditation service
https://www.treeleaf.org/
You will also find many similar beneficial exercises in Qi-Ong and Tai Chi, which is considered a form of meditation... 
lobster
Re: The Plant Medicine Path
Another form of Green Magick from a British artist
http://emcox.co.uk/
Plant power 
lobster
Re: What documentary are you watching?
Somebody sent me this video of the major three Buddhist vehicles. I'll be off for a walk, cycle or public next level vehicle. Maybe I will just not bother... 
lobster
Re: Buddhism and Traumatic Life History
Thank you for the perspective @Lionduck. I think that is exactly what she is trying to do, she is not immature or self pitying, but she does refer to it often, and she discusses it with people she trusts. For a while that was me, until I showed that I didn’t share her perspective.
I don’t want to dissuade her from her chosen path, I think she has a perfect right to live the way she wants, but I’d like her to be aware of the burdens and hurts she is choosing to carry, and how it shapes her life path into contact with others who carry these burdens.
Buddhism talks much of renunciation, of letting go and more letting go. There is a certain purity to it, a cleanliness which leads to peace, away from all the cruft of daily life.
Jeroen
Re: Buddhism and Traumatic Life History
To add to @Lionduck insightful post. From my perspective it highlights two important points, that the ways we've been hurt can open our hearts more fully to others suffering in similar ways once that hurt has been processed. The other related point is something I hear from teachers, that we should teach (or help) from our scars not our wounds.
person
Re: Buddhism and Traumatic Life History
@Jeroen
It is not so much about letting go as it is about attaining a different perspective.
I am a Viet Nam Veteran War veteran, I have had to endure the near death and subsequent paralysis of a son, the death of another son in a tragic accident, the death of my wife, and other not so pleasant issues. I did not "let go" of the various hardships and losses. The are all still with me.
However, I was able to change the way I relate to each and all of them. Instead of allowing the pain and the suffering to envelope me, to turn me into a victim, I used my Buddhism to turn these stumbles and losses into sources of positive actions. I was/am able to help others who have their losses, to encourage them, Buddhist and non-Buddhist , through my experiences and my overcoming the very real pain and suffering. To turn suffering into challenge, victory and joy.
No, I do not forget or let go, I rose above and let the each pain, each suffering pass through. I then filled each void with the spark of determination, of empathy, compassion, of hope. By overcoming the negative, by enduring the pain and allowing it to pass through instead "letting go", I have emerged wiser, stronger, better able to encourage, aid and lift others. I am able to nurture my gratitude, to find joy in both loss and gain.
Your friend is searching, seeking. it is her way of finding solace, of mourning, of healing. That is her chosen path to heal. Her experience will always be a part of her it will always be with her. But it can be a base from which she can grow positively.
In another view, in the Buddhist sense, we might say the "letting go" is really "letting flow". Allowing the pain and grief to pass through the discovering the path to grow and rise out of that loss and grief.
At least, that has been my path.
Peace to all
Lionduck