thaddeus

Hi Lozen, It's very cool that your gym offers so many yoga classes. I'll tell you some of my relevant yoga experiences. First, you can look at this two ways, one is by style and the other by teacher. You might find that you resonate with a certain teacher because they emphasize exactly what you want and use words and images that you can respond to. This you'll find by trial and error. Try out the different teachers and see which teacher provides what you need. It would be interesting to hear about your experiences here. I find it harder and harder to find a yoga instructor that teaches a pure style. I think Anusara emphasizes the heart center, so when you hear an instructor talking about the heart, like 'push your heart forward' etc., they are probaby Anusara influenced (i may be wrong here, going from memory, so take it with a grain of salt). Iyengar is very cool in that the classes are extremely detail focused, right down to how you fold your blanket. You have to be aware of every detail and follow instructions carefully. A class feels like a yoga lesson rather than a work out. You stay in poses longer and the poses don't seem connected together. This has been my experience in nyc with iyengar. Iyengar has interesting use of props like ropes on wall and chairs. I learned alot from the classes. Vinyasas will be a good work out. You won't get alot of explaining from the teacher like Iyengar, they may come around with occasional hands on correcting, but the thrust is the teacher calls out the poses and you run through them. These classes are self selecting in that the challenged people tend to drop out. If you are looking to release the spine and get those types of insights, the vinyasa classes might move too fast. Surprised they don't offer ashtanga, that's very popular at least here in ny. That's the regimented style that appeals to all the stars like gwyneth paltrow. They seldom vary from a sequence called a 'series'. Anyway, just some thoughts.. T

Not nonsensical ramblings at all, I think the observation was very astute of you. I feel your observation is the basis of the idea that we can know everything by simply observing. I think that's a basic taoist tenet isn't it? Something about seeing the whole world in a grain of sand. If you want to know anything just observe your surroundings and you will know it. So what you see in society, you can see in the whole earth, the galaxy and universe..maybe even, dare i say it...god.. T

I'm not sure if I can explain this properly or not, but I've been slowly coming to a realization regarding this topic. First off, none of this stuff should be called 'work'. Now, I'm not saying we don't need to make an effort, i'm saying the connotations of the word 'work' and the consistency of 100 days is probably not natural. I'm learning that '100 days' and 'always' are really not meant so strict as we tend to be in the west. For example, for the martial artists here, when we say the spine needs to be straight or we need to move from the waist, people in the west take it sooo literally that it becomes almost silly to watch them do a form, for example. It looks contrived and stiff. Something like 'moving the waist' makes people over do a lot of things. Overdoing is a big problem for us here. My teacher, who is chinese, said they have a story about someone trying to draw a dog and they keep trying to improve it so much it starts to look like anything but a dog in the end. Anyway, my jumbled thoughts.. T

I've been calling 'them' muggles.. T

Dude, this is one of those times Don Juan would laugh hysterically for 5 minutes because carlos was taking himself too seriously! If I can speak for others, I don't think any of us are offering any advice. What you said is true, if you put something out there, you will draw comments..they are comments--not advice--just reactions. So (ok so maybe this is advice) just listen to the reactions and use it to hone your understanding. I really like people who can give any comment on stuff I say cause it forces me to explain things better and to think deeper and also to consider other people's reactions. This is also an interesting idea. For me, I'm not sure that's something I strive for or idealize. I still think I have to live with other people and other people get hurt--and that still concerns me. I think one reason I'm successfull at my job is that I fear and worry. I got alot of comfort in reading something krishnamurti said once about freedom..he said if you don't feel free, start to find times in your life you are free--like for me that was choosing a place to eat for lunch..i was free to do that..i'm free to take as much time as I want, I'm free to do anything i want after work, go to gym, go to aikido, go for drinks, so in essence I really am free. One could replace free with 'spontaneous' in that context. Hope that makes sense.. Anyway Mr. Neimad, writing on the internet really sucks. I think you're an awesome guy, it's just hard to write out every nuance so it doesn't come off condescending or some other way. So I hope you understand me. T

Don't want to veer too much off topic, but this is an interesting idea that I've been thinking about lately. I'm also learning to appreciate the spaces between things. For example, in relationships, it's certainly about each person you meet along the way, but another fascinating time to appreciate is the spaces between relationships. We do alot of growing during that too...same with conversations with people, not so much what is being said, but what happens between the sayings..anyway, what you said brought that out.. T

I think it's an interesting process you're going through..my humble input would be to find your own words...don't mouth other people's words...for example, the castaneda references. Do you really understand stalking and recapitulation? If so great, use your own words to describe your path so people can get you. Which incidentaly (suddenly i can't spell) is the feeling i got from reading the cohen website..what the f* is he really trying to say and is it authentic..sound bites suck...authentic words are inspiring.. Another point is you seem to be rationalizing using people as a form of ruthlessness. Again Castaneda spoke of cunning (and i'm not a castaneda guy by any means, i'm just familiar with his stuff). To be so brash and uncaring is to bring on an early demise. Those type of people have a way of getting wiped out by other people who feel slighted or just annoyed. You need to be able to survive as well. Not sure if that makes sense. We may rail against the matrix as you call it, but we do need to live in it for now. T

How is training with Luo Dexiu? I missed a workshop opportunity with him..

Smile, not sure you realize it, but the form you are doing and the one Sean is learning have the same roots (Yang sau chung)...also, Sean, Fong Ha learned from Tung Ying-Chieh, who I'm pretty sure BP Chan mentioned as one of this teachers(he was very secretive and it slipped out in conversation)..so there's a link to Ken.. T

and then you die

I don't think there is anything 'complicated' in the sense that it can't be explained. I invariably find when I'm scratching my head trying to understand something someone is saying, it turns out they don't know what they are talking about. If I can't explain something simply, it just means I don't understand it. I think you are being too harsh. It's just a movie..and of course it can only talk about 1 or 2 things. When you give speeches in public, you have to speak simply and slowly and repeat yourself so that people can understand. If this movie were anymore complicated or intellectual it would just fail, it would be so boring and turn everyone off. I feel it will inspire a lot of people to look deeply into how their thoughts and feelings affect their circumstance. Jesus spoke in parables to reach people. He was also at ease apparantly talking shop with the top rabbis. If he tried to talk to the locals like they were seasoned rabbis they wouldn't listen to him. No one is going to claim his message was 'dangerous' because it's wasn't a complicated hard to decipher message or was just a 'half truth'. So, yeah, we can intellectualize, study, argue, and in the end, we'll say 'be happy' or 'just do good' or 'love' or whatever..I do know it won't be a diatribe. as to the synchronicities you experience..very cool..it's makes life continuously special and surprising! T

This isn't exactly manifestation the way I see it. Because this 'fat person' decides to lose weight and starts to actively exercise etc. he/she is actually 'doing' alot to force the new reality. They are essentially saying "I am a fat person who is going to go on this tried and true method to lose 60 pounds by diet, exercise and starving myself. I will probably fail, but I'm going to give it my best shot. If this doesn't work, I'll go on weight watchers, etc." Which is fine, but for the purpose of discussing the concept of manifestation I want to point something out. I believe that if the fat person begins to feel like a skinny person, very subtle chemical changes begin in their body to reflect the new thinking. They may be able to process sugar better, dopamine levels may increase, they may actually start to burn calories more efficiently. These subtle changes begin to seep into the day to day. I also believe that on some level our ideas about ourselves are broadcast to others around us on an unconscious level. Other people somehow start to treat the 'fat person' as if they were skinnier. While on this topic, I think a complete belief change is almost impossible. This is theortical. I think something that might be more acceptable instead of "I am skinny" is "I am getting thinner" etc. It's easy to self doubt "i am skinny" when you pass a mirror, but it's harder to doubt "I am getting thinner". Anyway, my two cent ramble.. T

http://www.ushpizin.com/home.html cool movie based on the results of prayer..

From his website: "Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming was born on August 11th, 1946, in Xinzhu Xian, Taiwan, Republic of China. He started his Kung Fu training at the age of fifteen under Master Cheng, Gin-Gsao. In thirteen years of study under Master Cheng, Dr. Yang became an expert in the White Crane Style of Chinese martial arts. At the age of sixteen, Dr. Yang began the study of Yang Style Taijiquan under Master Kao Tao. Dr. Yang has mastered the Taiji barehand sequence, pushing hands and Taiji Qigong. At age eighteen Dr. Yang entered Tamkang University in Taipei to study physics. Dr. Yang came to the United States in 1974 to study Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, where he earned his Ph.D." Seems like he studied only two years of Yang style, at best, while overlapping with his white crane studies..but who knows..I would seek Internal Chinese Martial art knowledge elsewhere.. Also, interesting observations/comments about the baldness. The latest research is showing a nitric oxide/inflammation role..which if true can probably benefit from our internal practices.. T

No, probably me just rushing and not thinking things or explaining things enough...crazy day..my point was you were bring up the dao but at the same time complaining that people "don't like complexity & want easy answers that appeal to the ego"..when you can argue the whole point of the dao is that it is simple. Something like that.. T also, why do you think accepting something like the 'law of attraction' is devoid of critical thinking skills?

I don't want to do a disservice to you and cloud by not responding to all your points, I just can't right now. But I did want to say that your comments about pain leading to enlightenment are interesting. Can the 'gay guy in the movie' also use joy to be enlightened. You and the other teachers use pain as a guidance system, just as many other teachers use joy as a guidance system. What is joy and what is pain? Is someone inflicting pain on himself somehow different than one indulging in joy? I don't really see the difference. Why does embracing only the hurtful parts of life lead to awakening? There are just as many unhurtful stories of awakening, like when buddha purportedly held up the flower--noone was crying when that happened. This is all more of the tired all belief systems whereby poor=good, pain=true, etc. I choose joy..but it's the same as choosing pain. A joyous persons chances are just as good atawakening as one wallowing in misery..Another interesting idea is that somehow getting prayers answered is a bad 'disgusting' thing. I don't see the world that way. More later..T

And your point about the tao is.....? Anyway, what do you think is happening in a dream? Are there no parallels to your dream life and your waking life? T

btw, what does solipsism mean? anyway, I thought it was a great movie. Didn't LaoTzu say something about hearing the tao and laughing 'cause it can't be that simple? The 'law of attraction' or whatever one wants to call it is not something to argue about. Just simply look around you. Listen carefully to the movie. Most of us describe what we see about our circumstances, only creating more. If you are so focused on rape and assaults, that's what you see. You need to step outside yourself and see how this is working so clearly in your day to day. Everyone invariably brings up examples of children and the holocaust whenever these types of ideas come up. C'mon already. If you can't accept that you are creating your reality then you leave yourself up to the randomness of your own mind and the common experience. In that randomness, bad things can happen just as good things can happen. Just as there is yang within yin and vice versa, for all the horrible stories about the holocaust there are also stories of intense bravery, extreme heroism, there are stories of love and survival during those times. For every bad story in the holocaust there is also a good story. Victor Frankl himself wrote about what it took to survive in the concentration camps in 'Man's search for meaning'. Deepak Chopra pointed out that you shouldn't listen to statistics. For example, just because 30% die of something means nothing about you and your circumstance. It's up to you. You are not a statistic. It ain't all bad! Regarding children, that's why we need to protect them. You can argue how this ain't right all you want. Or you can just simply observe everything around you and see how things are. It's really very simple. Maybe it's true that we are not afraid of failure, but we are afraid of what we could be--afraid of our true potential. T No disrespect, but can't you see how silly this is? You're just stating YOUR belief and trying to convince others. You and the movie are the same, just opposite ends. I'm absolutely sure your experience of reality is exactly how you state--for you. My experience is different. Should we argue about it? T

Hi Lozen, I attended a few of Liz Koch's Psoas workshops here in NYC and she seems to know alot about this. There are always a few attendees who have questions about that. She seems to say people often hurt that because (at least one reason) is the psoas is 'tight' and they end up stretching ligaments and what not. Her website is www.coreawareness.com T

oops, I suggested reading Teeguarden but then re-read your comment about 'not' chinese particularly.. T

Yeah, I didn't have time to really write it out. I didn't mean it to exclude women, 'cause I think even though we are anatomically different once we are formed, the differences do correspond somewhat. So there should be something that corresponds to the prostate for the woman..perhaps the cervix area or Urethral Sponge (check it out just learned something) just guessing, don't have any good references handy..but i'm thinking along the lines of male/penis=female/clitoris, etc... But thinking of the prostate gland (from the male perspective) tied in alot of chigung type practices that involve either concentrating on the huiyin area or breathing/pulsing it or using pressure mechanisms with breath and bandhas..also the association with Jing and sperm/fluids..something worth thinking more about IMO. T

Isn't it interesting that you never see the students of these guys ever doing this stuff? Watching them struggling to the form in the second video was sad to me, they'll never get there. I could totally be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised the least bit if this teacher was focused more on membership dues and sleeping with his students than actually teaching anything. Call me jaded, but I've seen enough of these scams in my day T

Wow..I need to definately take some time to read this carefully...but I had some initial observations..first is the word 'kanda'..i think the sounds of the words that are chosen are significant..tanden, hara, kanda,tantien..like relatives.. Also, this reference to a fibrous egg..and the location..could they be describing the prostrate gland? T

I gotta be careful with this thread..i rarely see anything nastier than a 'my taichi is better than yours' and I hate to get into that..but anyway..the Wang Xian video is very cool. I just want to point out that it's not a good example of push hands because he's just teaching the pattern in an informal setting. The other clip is just the staged demo stuff. But Trunk mentioned that alot of learning takes place just be being around the teachers and getting that constant feedback. I liked watching Wang Xian like this, you can really get a sense for what is going on in his body and how relaxed and sensitive his arms are. Thanks for posting this! T