Birch

I agree that even if you get told "reasons" it's unlikely this changes anything. Anyway, IMO/IME all the reasons have to do is resonate in the "right" way to work. They're also likely to be "multidimensional" and have hooks in you body/mind and through association into that thing called "the unconscious" which few people have been able to delimit as personal or collective or (likely IMO/IME) both. Reasons are things one's mind likes to pick out of reality to explain itself. Also often about internal conceptual coherence. Doesn't mean they're real (and in fact technically they're not anymore, which is IMO/IME why they hurt, but go tell that to someone who is hurting and they may fight you for them). ----- opinion alert----

A trailer for a book indeed! Anyway, as a spoiler, check out Sung breathing techniques (probably can be found online) and the schematics of "congential" vs "aquired" meridians. The book mentions that the 8 extraordinary were the first to form in the womb. Google books probably has enough pages for free.

Here's where I plug that Damo Mitchel Nei Gong book again:-) Seriously, it's one of the clearest books on this stuff I've read in ages.

I think it really depends. Stuff like forceful breathing methods can apparently injure internal organs. Blocks are constantly being created in interaction with existing personality structures. I think BK's stuff is "safer" and more easily integrated into lifestyles "in the world". As is "Daoism" in general -----opinion alert-----

Thanks Drew. What's this assassination by the state stuff?

Things that help with K: - context (seeing it as process to be embraced rather than feared). - study on it, know your experience - good food and exercise - backing off from "head" techniques for a while - get health concerns checked, it's not all "just K" I personally had to put meat back on the menu. I also find the study and use of 5E personally helpful with it I think it also helps to have a goal in mind with such transformation. I think it's just the start (the K rise) and I wouldn't chase it, but that's just me. -----opinion alert----- People on here that know what's going on in practical terms you can work with: (IMO and non-exhaustive list) - Susan and co at KAP - Seth Ananda - Hundun - Scotty

Or, if you prefer a 5E take, then would salt "count" as earth or metal? Would explain it's capacity to rein in jing?. And why is potassium so difficult to buy large amounts of?

Sorry to harp on about Damo Mitchell's Nei Gong book but he does mention that LDT work ought to be finished at some point otherwise risk stagnation. My personal opinion is that "stagnation" is fine if you have an objective for it (like iron shirt for a while for example) but in that case, it's not "stagnating", the exchange is just of a different type. Check out the biology of kundalini website for information on anaerobic respiration and the "ammonia" hypothesis.

I'll give you my rational/convoluted/personal opinion. IMO/IME much meditation works to foster awareness of circumstances and their changing/changes. My 2cts is that if you are participating in the changes, you can no longer be relied upon by others as a marker, no longer an anchor. I think that's why meditation can freak other people out around you, because they rely on their world and the people in it to make sense of their own experience. I think if you appreciate your father you can reassure him about your choice. Still, my other 2cts is that he's also correct and that many phenomenae that could pass (or get categorised) as nutso do seem to come with meditation but they seem pretty well documented to me. Maybe that wasn't the case before but I think strides have been made in understanding "progress" and risks in meditation. I'd like to thank the TTB's for their contribution to it:-)

I dunno. I don't think you enter Wuji though. It's more like the other way around and you don't enter. Sorry, I just mean you're part of it already. But that's my current personal bias and I might be wrong.

I'd also recommend the bum who goes by the handle Clarity. What he does is pretty outlandish and seems too simple but worth a try.

I've found that letting it all pass through without resistance takes the edge off. But it relies on mindfulness of when you get "triggered" and realising then and there what the reason is. Remembering it's not a real reason. So when I get stabbed by people in a direct attack, I have to not take it personally. Unless it's something important that I'm doing to them by being an idiot or something. I think "consciousness raising" means I don't feel the emotions of other people as much as I used to. I feel a bit cold sometimes due to this and I don't seem to engage the way I used to. But at the same time, I'm not being dragged all over the place by it. I dunno. I'm reading Damo Mitchell's Nei Gong and it talks a bit about this stuff. I suppose the more chi you have the better your defences are? Or do you need to be careful with that too? I suppose if you realise you're never not apart from the source of energy it means you don't need to store anything?

Yeah, I think Daoist practices discuss this stuff. Whereas some medical theories might depict "bi-polarity" in a particular way that requires certain applications, well, actually as far as I can tell, so does Daoist medecine. But neither the applications, nor the theories in Daoism seem to arrest the condition. In other words, there's always an issue, a resolution, it's a question of dynamic equilibrium. Arresting a state is the last thing one wants. The states will pass. On TTB's, there are lots of people specialized in helping regain balance through food, exercise, breathing etc. Bearing in mind environment also. If you're currently practicing qi-gong there are also quite well-known "effects" that go with the terrain. Seems like some of them could resemble "mental illness" but it could be "just" "detox" -which is the point of being ill, to rid oneself of whatever necessary for a healthy life. So IMO/IME before pronouncing anything, I'd look at all the stuff already mentioned. Diet and exercise seem a great place to start. ----not medical information, please see your doctor for context------ Edit: Just came across a mention of "excess water" (TCM) as being a possible cause of Bipolarity. So, would look at the kidney balancing thread too:-)

Fire will burn you out - with all of its attendant "effects" Water will lead you out and you won't notice it until afterwards. (effects are there, but maybe not quite so unusual for us modern people) Anway it goes, the point is Kan/Li. But IMO/IME it depends on who you have become, to know where to start. But damn, if you knew who you had become, practices would come easy. I personally reckon water might be safer per 5e theory, but I think I messed them both up (as a yang water gal is wont to do). My point is that it depends. Not very helpful, sorry! But really great topic as i reckon practices might often be handed out Willy-nilly.

Yeah, but if you think about before you ever tried any of this meditation thing. What was that like?

Hey Aaron, thanks:-) Hell, I was going to say something. Nope

Mal! Finally:-) Anyway. I was pondering this today. What I think might happen is people don't actually want you to go "oh yeah, I'm wrong, I made a mistake". I pondered telling people they're right, but that also doesn't always go down too well. I don't know what they want, the people. I think that sometimes they don't want me to say just "oh, you're right" but they also want me to say "I'm wrong" in way that means I thought they were right to begin with. But, well, I can't do that because it has to be in response to them telling me I'm wrong because otherwise we'd agree. Logic, or something. Whatever Nice to see you!

Yep. I happened upon him only recently. I read several of his articles. Quite saddened by his death. Not sure why.

I don't reckon it's that easy, given what people tend to be "made of". Not at base, not their true humanness (if that's a word). People believe things for lots of reasons. Sometimes without even thinking about it, until they have to. Sometimes IMO/IME when they don't even have to. i think that our current setup means we do have to think about our beliefs because they keep running into each other. Maybe that's the point. I think my entire upbringing was steeped (or mired) in very specific ideologies, most of which I'm trying to even understand what the hell they were about.

Awesome! Picture-o-gram rumble:-) You guys -----outro---- tinny theme music

Good point JB.

Hey PB. Sorry to hear you're not feeling so good. Almost didn't realise. I just happened to find your post in the non-duality thread.

Wow n00b, you've got a lot of threads running! Awesome.

No. It's actually the case that I'm wrong about a lot of things but it doesn't matter. You're wrong about what I'm doing:-) And it doesn't matter either. Still, I'll take your ideas into account for next time. Thanks.

It's funny (or not) Drew really did used to "bug" me with his lotus stuff but I have to say now I find it pretty interesting. It's weird that's for sure, but I think cultivation is weird too. Yeah, that sounded lame, not the intent.