子泰

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  1. Posted · Edited by 子泰

    What Lao Tzu meant in that passage was that when the mind dictates any particular thing as good, then something that is bad will also arise; This is due to the dualistic tendency of the mind. Virtue is expressed when the mind is refined, via cultivation, to rise above dualistic tendencies, where both good and bad, up and down, are converged into One; That is, you realize that those characteristics create each other, and are all just a convoluted way of looking at the plain truth. However, what is important is not the outward demeanor of a virtuous person, but rather their vision. So you can't tell whether a person is virtuous or not by looking at their behavior. Even if you can confirm 100% that someone has attained the virtue that is mentioned in the TTC, you cannot imitate him and call that virtue, because his internal attainment cannot be reached so easily; It takes gradual progress and can't be rushed. You eventually have to find your personal expression of it, as everyone is unique. 

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  4. Posted

    You need to refine your energy first in order to be aware of the subtle energy. In order to refine it, you need the fuel in the first place to refine, which decreases with age. In that way, you can say that age can place a disadvantage. However, there are many methods for gaining more fuel, such as celibacy and sun practices. The mind also becomes more conditioned with age, if one does not do any cultivation. A younger mind might seem unrestrained and stupid, but they are less conditioned, which is beneficial for cultivation. However, many practices out there can decondition the mind. 

     

    Best wishes.

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  7. Posted

    it's just a word to describe anything mental and emotional, and has a very personal implication to it. In anatomy, the word xin is used for the heart, but Chinese words have very broad meanings, and can be used in different ways. Here are a few common ways of using the word xin. 

     

    1. 心静 - xin (heart/mind) jing (calm, still).

    this is used to refer to a person who is calm in a particular situation

     

    2. 心里想 - xin (heart/mind) li (in/inside) xiang (think). 

    this broadly means "what's on my mind"

     

    3. 心话 - xin (heart/mind) hua (speech)

    this term means: a type of speech is like personal talk, something you'd share with someone with an open heart to a close friend or family member.

     

    4. 开心 - kai (open) xin (heart/mind)

    this term means: happy. although the literal translation would mean: open heart, you can see that the way westerners use the term "open heart" and the way that Chinese people use it are somewhat different. either way, when someone is happy, their chi becomes very yang and ni hua ching says that the chi flows to the brain when you are happy. 

     

    In terms of cultivating it, you see plenty of public methods, such as meditation, qigong, yoga. although chi flowing to the head during happiness sounds like a good thing, i would say that to properly cultivate it, the result should be the first example that i used, which is 心静 (xin jing). the point is not to just raise chi up to the head as the end-all-be-all goal, but to have the freedom to do whatever with it. in order to achieve that, you need to reach a subtler vibration, which is broader and covers everything. a good analogy is like that of a rock, which is dense, heavy, and only stuck to the earth, in comparison to the sky, which is formless and encompasses everything, it is the true center. i can't cover everything, because 1 - there are many ways to express what i wrote, and 2 - i myself have a long way to go. but i hope what i shared gives some clear insight

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  10. Posted

    I only took one of the three trails, and didn't have time to goof around because I was rushed through the event (came with other people, big mistake). Didn't get to see many tourist sites. There are a bunch of trails that stray from the main path, you're bound to be able to find some and can explore them since you have so much time. I couldn't even visit the one Daoist monastery that I passed by on my way down :( it supposedly had a wall that someone walked through in the past. The temples should definitely have some quarters though, if you ask around. The only advice that I have for you that I've gathered from my short experience is to just enjoy the energy. And no adepts, just mosquitos. 

  15. Posted

    Yes. those who try to succeed in neidan are as numerous as hairs on a cowhide, those who have actually attained success are as unique as uncorn's horn. You still say that anyone can do neidan?

     

    Anyone can, as long as their teacher is achieved.