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coincidentally I'm reading a one page article about a researchers efforts to study preventing aging negative outcomes.

By studying c elegans, or roundworms, they noticed that specimens that had an oxidative stress were resistant to some aging . And then further tests confirmed this by exposing an entire population of worms to oxidative stress. Worms are studied for one thing because you get answers in months instead of years with humans. And c elegans have biological similarity to humans apparently.

Humans can get moderate oxidative stress via exercise. It can damage us at the wrong dose, but help us at the correct level and is called hormesis. And this lab is studying the molecular and cellular level of changes from hormesis (in humans). Professor Ursula Jakob.

So longer time to live is good and more time to practice.

Reflecting on this a bit more. I question whether inner work alone is enough. One could be driven by kindness but be ignorant of local or current customs. What is considered kind varies by time and location. In the not so distant past the average man probably thought it was a kindness to inform their women coworkers that they should put on a nice smile.

@David said:
My Dad passed away less than a month later leaving me with my first koan.

What a story. Classic Dad joke leads to deeper meaning.

Questioning whether inner work alone is enough, is good.

The only thing separating a practice into inner & outer states of work is our own habituated responses to phenomena. Is this not a dream to be awakened from?

The degree that one's practice is being limited to inner work alone, is the degree that a hardening of the ego, a solidification of one's identity, a separation between self & others, and a state of Prechecca Buddhahood, is being beckoned to.

In a Buddhist practice, it's what marks the difference between what's appropriate and inappropriate in the development of concentration in the 8 fold path.

Yeah I believe due to evolution we are wired to notice potential mates. But good to not creep out any people. also good going getting exercise which is the best preventative and treatment for many diseases and just generally feels good after awhile.

@person said:
When you know the negative aspects of junk food in a visceral way, as opposed to just intellectually. Your subconscious processes will help your conscious mind avoid those unhealthy choices. Not because you have some idea of what your supposed to do, but because your body feels and understands the consequences.

Great point, and I'm guessing you can't force these things; it's an understanding that arises over time through mindful experience.

This winter is looking like a slower work season, so I got a membership at a gym to help keep active. I like going and its easy when I don't have much going on. What is interesting is noticing all the things being there activates in my mind. Or rather all the things in my mind that haven't been let go of going to the gym activates.

I think all these things are fairly subtle movements of mind, but they're things that are usually buried. Like trying not to creep on the young attractive women, or judge the overweight people. There's also a seeming obsession with imagining romantic relationships, or who I'd have a shot with, etc.

On one level its kind of misery making. On another it shows me relatively unexplored areas that need to be resolved and let go of, or worked on in some way.

Pragmatically I allow myself a cheat day where I eat the junky foods that I "shouldn't" eat. It makes it easier to abstain and eat healthy the rest of the week. But I have a tendency to indulge a bit too much on my cheat day.

That aside being mindful of what your eating in the moment and how it impacts you subsequently gives your mind information that helps it make healthier choices. For example, I notice that the first bite of something sweet is by far the best bite and there are diminishing returns as you go. At some point the pleasure will turn into suffering. And I generally don't feel that good the day following my cheat day. So maybe just try having one or two bites?

When you know the negative aspects of junk food in a visceral way, as opposed to just intellectually. Your subconscious processes will help your conscious mind avoid those unhealthy choices. Not because you have some idea of what your supposed to do, but because your body feels and understands the consequences.

I think what I'm saying about mindful eating follows somewhat in line with the idea of intuitive eating. An idea I've been hearing more about recently.