Given that there is obviously huge strenght in simply breathing consciously - how come so few people know about it?

First tantra course experience

So, I attended my first tantra course.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I met a lot of very friendly, gentle, very nice people, and a few who didn't particularly spark my interest.

A few things stand out:

First off, I will never forget the moment when that gentle, therapeutic tantra teacher, seated behind his stereo mixing the music, suddenly burst out "shit! fuck! stupid cursed stereo!" and so on, because the stereo had suddenly stopped working.

Yes, the moving the pelvis and breathing deeply helps a great deal.

Next, I never knew what a great dancer I am. And what a great lover. And what an excellent priest.

And also, once you realize that you're dealing with gods and goddesses, or queens and kings, you can play any role you like - romancer, firy lover, macho man, priest... it doesn't matter, as long as it's grounded in mutual respect.

It is so necessary to learn how to say "no"! You cannot ever really say "yes" before you've learned how to say "no".

And of course, the most important part: Getting a "no" from someone else doesn't kill me. It's a no to that one touch, it's a challenge to find another way perhaps - but it has nothing to do with me as a person.

And "chakras" still don't exist in reality. They're just a somewhat useful metaphor to help you focus on specific aspects.

Weird dream

Tihihi.

Very weird, very funny dream tonight... and actually, the first erotic dream in years (literally), and I find that awesome because I've always liked those.

So, I was in an office that seemed to be mine, in a bunk bed on the upper bed. I was Captain Kirk. And at the same time I was William Shatner. I was ... ahem... with... a crew member who was female, but not quite - some kind of alien in a way. We were both naked and fully clothed at the same time. And then I noticed that the rest of the crew was watching us through the windows, so after a little panic attack, I used the remote control to pull down the blinds.

And that's it. I mean, hurraaaay I was Da Shatner! And I... WAAAAAS... thefriggincaptainoftheenterprisethebeststarshipintheuniverseatanystardatewhatsoever!

Let me now solemnly declare:

Should I ever become a "spiritual teacher" (which is, ironically kind of likely), then my first sentences in every lecture or seminar will invariably be the following:

There is no such thing as a spiritual teacher, as nobody can ever be more advanced in spirituality than any other person. There is no such thing as "spiritual levels" or "spiritual achievements". One can have more experience with a certain method or technique; one can be more compassionate, or more wise, or more intelligent, or better at delivering roundhouse kicks. But one can never be the spiritual guide, or teacher, of  another person.

"How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body"

This New York Times article seems to have created quite an uproar among yogis worldwide.

I think a little story about a Qi Gong master and his new student explains it best.

The student approached the master, asking him, "How long will it take me to master Qi Gong?"
"10 years," said the master.
"Ohh", said the student. "That's a rather long time! I will practice as much as I can, as often as I can, as hard as I can - how long will it take me then?"
The master smiled that somewhat sinister zen smile those masters always have, took his time to stroke his long white beard, and then replied: "Then, my friend, it will take you 20 years."

A Disclaimer

I'm obviously into meditation. I dig it. In fact, I dig it quite a lot. I like the feel of it, and I like the calm that  it gives me. I feel that it has improved my life, helped me focus better, and so on and so forth.

However.

No, meditation is not the answer to everything. We will not achieve world peace by meditating. You will not learn how to fly. It will probably not give you magical powers, the ability to melt snow or become invisible.

My personal mantra is to never trust one single method completely in every regard. Do stuff, try stuff out, and don't get hooked, that seems like a much more reasonable approach to me.

What's wrong is wrong

It is a distinct misunderstanding of tolerance to believe that everyone is right in some way, so one can never criticize other cultures or times. (And I will never remember the correct spelling of "criticize").

If someone claims that the rabbit is a ruminant, then this person does not have "another kind of knowledge" or "another cultural background" - that person simply holds a wrong belief about a positive, provable, objective fact. What is wrong, is wrong, plain and simple.

And pointing this out does not mean any disrespect to said person. To the contrary - letting people believe bullshit just to be polite or not touch on any sensibilities means not accepting the other person as a grown up, self-responsible being. Whenever I do so, I'm not really protecting the other person - I'm just protecting myself from her anticipated reactions.

It is necessary that we let go of our attachments to belief systems. And for that, we need other people's criticism. Otherwise, how will I ever realize how attached I am to a belief? And how will I ever find out when I'm wrong?