gabrielnb

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  1. Is faith an illusion of the mind?

    gabrielnb replied to gabrielnb's topic in Buddhist Discussion

    Maybe, instinct? And instinct can be also understood as something being drived by life force or by it's own nature. If we think that human being according with some internal arts possesses 3 tantien: hara (belly), related to "instinct" (meaning "the natural way". I don't have other word for that), heart (emotion) and head (mind, thoughts), to put instinct here, side by side with emoticon and reason, would make some sense. Maybe emptiness of mind could lead to understand the non-verbal aspect of faith.

  2. Is faith an illusion of the mind?

    gabrielnb replied to gabrielnb's topic in Buddhist Discussion

    Very interesting the discussions on the topic. I guess faith needs a belief, a convincement that something is true, either because of reason (logic, science, and here is our rational mind: someone "knows" something is true), or because of emotion (someone "feels" something is true). I think all this process exists because of the mind. Which faith should the trees, frogs and nature have? I guess hope sounds like the desire that something is true. A glance of life. A experience that someone desires to live (a dream that can be true, a movement in life, a changing in reality). While hope looks like desire, faith sounds as a kind of a way to understand what is true according with reason or emotion. Well, just thoughts on the topic.
  3. Is faith an illusion of the mind? Or I'm being pessimist (or realistic), considering that zen budism stands for the direct experience of reality and, therefore, faith is a product of mind? And hope? Kind of "game" that universe plays with oneself? Destiny, karma? Who knows for sure?
  4. Thank you, Liminal, for your answer. You made it clear.
  5. Hello, I would like to know, from an Kunlun practicer, if Kunlun is compatible with Vipassana, Zazen and Ji Ben Quigong. I got Max's book and I was wondering if I could to start to practice Kunlun, without drop my actual practices. The book says something about the water path (it shouldn't be mixed with the fire path, like kundaline stuff). But for me, zazen and vipassana are not focusing on kundaline. Neither Ji ben qi gong. How I'm not sure, I ask for the experts on Kunlun to give some advice. Thank you!

  6. Why Daoism over Buddhism

    gabrielnb replied to Kongming's topic in Daoist Discussion

    There is an interesting book on the topic Zen Buddhism and Taoism: “Zen is Taoism disguised as Buddhism. When twelve hundred years of Buddhist accretions are removed from Zen, it is revealed to be a direct evolution of the spirit and philosophy of Taoism. Indeed, the literature known as the Lao Tzu and the Chu Chuang Tzu begins a continuous tradition that can be followed through the Ch'an of China to the Zen of present-day Japan. The formative writings of early Taoism are essentially the teachings of Zen.” Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tao-Zen-Ray-Grigg/dp/0785811257

  7. Mudra for Sung Breathing - Damo Mitchel's book.

    gabrielnb replied to gabrielnb's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Thanks, YiYinYiYang. It is useful information. By the way, that meditation you post on the link is similar to Zen, although in Daoist focus are inside oneself.

  8. Mudra for Sung Breathing - Damo Mitchel's book.

    gabrielnb replied to gabrielnb's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Thanks, Silent Thunder. It seems to be this. But on the book there is two forms. One (Sung breathing), I guess, uses right hand holding left thumb (as you can see on the photo, if you find your copy, figure 3.5). The other (chapter 7, figure 7.4. - seated practice and figure 7.5. - Daoist shoujue), uses the opposite, I mean, left hand hold right thumb. I was wondering if there is some relevant difference on them and which should I use on Sung breathing (is there any difference about energy work, and so, for the results related to the practice?)
  9. For those who read "Daoist Nei Gong: The Phylosophicall Art of Change". In that book, in order to practice the Sung breathing, Damo shows a mudra on figure 3.5. (Sung practice position) which i didn't figure out what should be (is it the taichi mudra?) If someone knows, please, explain.

  10. Xin Zhai Fa meditation and Zen

    gabrielnb replied to gabrielnb's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Hi Woodcarver, Here you can find information in Xi Zhai Fa: http://www.amazon.com/Daoist-Meditation-Purification-Discourse-Forgetting/dp/1848192118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421878736&sr=8-1&keywords=Wu+jyh+cherng

  11. Nei gong and the 5 tibetan rites

    gabrielnb replied to gabrielnb's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Thanks for the advice!
  12. I started Nei Gong pratice (Sung Breathing and Ji Ben Qi Gong) and I felt great. Yesterday before Nei Gong practice I tried the 5 tibetan rites and felt very dizzy, tired and felt a kind of pressure on the crown chakra (feel like something is open above the top of the head, perhaps the crown chakra itself). My first reaction was to stop the 5 tibetan rites because I think it didn't match with Nei Gong. Furthermore I would like to understand: what might have gone wrong with the 5 tibetan rites? And how can I neutralize the effect on my crown chakra?
  13. Does anyone knows how to perform a meditation using the muda amida no Jo in? And the mantra amituofo? I copy the mudras photo in the link below: http://healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Mida-no-Jouin.htm What should be the difference between the amida meditation and the sakyamuni meditation?
  14. Hi, fellows, I have been alternating my meditation practices with heart purification meditation (Xin Zhai Fa) and Zen. Although similar, the first is taoism and the second is budism. As further as I know, the first method consists in closing your eyes, place your hand with the tao handsight (or sometimes a mudra similar to the cosmic mudra, but with the right hand resting on the left) on your underbelly, and forget everything while in this practice, except the awareness of breathing, in order to approach the natural way of Dao. And after the meditation finish there is some energy work to perform with hands (kind of a massage. The second (zen meditation), as it's known, consists in overcome the mind in order to attain the perception of the true reality, awakening for here and now. Although similar, in Zen eyes are lightly open and the cosmic mudra is done as follow: left hand resting on the right hand. But besides the similarities, results differ from each practice. From my point of view, Xin Zhai Fa makes me more relaxed, in a natural state, and lesser anxious, while Zen brings me a sense of joy, a conexion with the all. I would like to integrated both of them. Anyone has some experience to share about mixing meditation styles? Thanks, Gabriel.

  15. Hello

    gabrielnb posted a topic in Welcome

    Hi everybody, My name is Gabriel and I'm glad to join the forum in order to learn. I'm finishing reading Damo Mitchell's book Daoist Nei Gong: The Philosophical Art of Change and start to practice the Sung Breathing and the Ji Ben Qi Going, as taught in the book. Before that I was practicing zen meditation and lately taoist meditation (purification heart meditation by Si Ma Cheng Zheng). I'm interested in Nei Going and also about comparisons between some threads, like: understand the differences between taoist and zen meditation, because they are close in some aspects; the five tibetan rites and its relation (if any) with taoism; just for exemple. I hope to find here answers and to exchange experiences. Gratefully, Gabriel.