Best Of
Re: The Most Powerful Chinese Medicine "Chi/Qi"
On a serious note, I have known and used Chi/Qi for nigh on 20 years, if not more, so am very familiar with its beneficial and positive effects.
Convincing those with a "western" brain, is sometimes difficult. Because our knowledge of the body is based entirely on our own PoV of anatomy physiology, biology and pathology, anything coming from the East is classified as some truth interspersed with an awful lot of mumbo-jumbo.
I can understand the scepticism, but when you consider that Western medicine - as we know it - has been developed and taught for only the past 200 years or so - and TCM, acupressure and acupuncture were documented as far back as 4000 years ago - and are still practised today - it begs the question, "Which form of medicine is REALLY 'the Alternative'...?"
federica
Re: Good news
@Bunks said:
@Shoshin1 said:
Well just as I arrived back from my morning jolk I saw my landlord who told me his ex who also lives on the property has just tested positive for Covid, he and my immediate neighbour have been testing themselves daily and so far have not tested positive...I let my landlord know that if they need any help with getting food etc, I can get them help through work...
Since the beginning of the pandemic we have been social distancing when interacting and we don't go into each others homes...So there's minimal chance of me catching it from them, mind you. I have more chance of catching it at work where we interact with both vaxxed and unvaxxed clients face to face, however we do all wear masks and social distance...
I’m trying to find the good news in this post ? Perhaps the fact you don’t have Covid?
Oops sorry @Bunks, I was wondering where my post disappeared to...I thought I had posted it in the Covid threat...I have just looked at the Covid thread and couldn't see my post, so posted another one...
I guess you're right the good news is no Covid symptoms... 
Shoshin1
Re: Beginners Question
Meditation? Shikantaza facing the wall every morning. No excuses.
You have a wall? In my day we were lucky to have a floor … Cue the 4 Yorkshiremen
shikantaza is hardcore … 
Chanting? I still find it so foreign... I'm trying to find something, but maybe I should just cease to find. I always found the Heart Sutra the only "chanting" I would feel comfortable with. Maybe the Metta Sutta too...
No need to do it. It may be just a way of beginning and ending, such as bowing. Which is a great health practice in its own right …
lobster
Re: Beginners Question
A very good set of questions @lobster — my answers are a little different from yours, but I will try to formulate something that makes sense.
@lobster said:
Does Buddhism work?
Buddhism is about seeking the end of dhukkha — dissatisfaction, stress and suffering. The Four Noble Truths state the core of this problem, and they give us a pointer: dhukkha is caused by clinging.
How does Buddhism work?
The main difficulty lies in identifying where we cling, and then letting go. We don’t let go of everything we hold, but only of those areas where clinging causes dhukkha. So the first step is to be aware of dhukkha, and this is helped by the development of mindfulness. Once we feel our dhukkha and can localise it, we can find our clinging.
It is a process of continual internal development, of being aware of when dhukkha arises, of tracing the places where we cling, of letting go of things that we may once have seen as important. Of supporting this with virtue and meditation. Of developing the spirit that lets go easily.
Examples?
Focusing mindfulness on the emotions and the thoughts that lead to emotions.
Noticing that formulating a correct insight often brings release.
Shikantaza for meditation irregularly (i still forget this too often).
Precepts I keep for as long as they feel natural and not too forced.
Jeroen
Re: Beginners Question
I find that some destructive tasks are layered with constructions like "pleasurable" "cool" "socially engaging" which in the long run I recognise as unproductive and "require to be ceased for the sake of being genuine to the path".
Adopted? Precepts, discipline.
Avoiding? Over-intellectualisation.... bad habits (smoking, lying, measuring benefits).
Meditation? Shikantaza facing the wall every morning. No excuses.
Chanting? I still find it so foreign... I'm trying to find something, but maybe I should just cease to find. I always found the Heart Sutra the only "chanting" I would feel comfortable with. Maybe the Metta Sutta too...
Edit: 
Kotishka
Beginners Question
Back to basics … again.
As a perpetual beginner, I am always trying to refine a few basic questions and answers. What are your basic questions and work in progress answers?
Does Buddhism work?
The Buddhist model is based primarily upon overcoming dissatisfaction and ignorance and developing skills to improve our life experience.
How does Buddhism work?
By encouraging skilful and virtuous behaviour, awareness of ones activity and responses to stimuli and constantly changing for improved potential.
Examples?
Adopted precepts/disciplines refine our understanding and future direction.
Avoiding distracting, destructive and unskilful traits, empowers and increases a helpful basis.
Meditation helps us become aware of interior patterns, focus and chaos and develop resolve to find beneficial processes.
Chanting improves our attention, focus, breathing and health.
Prostrations
lobster
Re: No Buddhist Quotes
Between stimulus and response there is a space.
In that space lies your freedom and power to choose your response.
In those responses lie your growth and your happiness.
Attributed to Viktor Frankl but maybe not.
Buddhist Quakers?
I recently came across the term "Buddhist Quakers" and am rather intrigued. Does anybody know anything about this?
rocala