ケンジ

Let us see, I am a part time vegan (always vegetarian as sometimes my vegan tendencies get adulterated with dairy in the form of cheese and ice cream) fitness fanatic who is utterly passionate about Chinese herbs. So glad to see this thread be created as I just joined recently. It's just I love these topics as much as I love daily horse stance and meditation. Edit: Firstly I do not own a PC anymore due to personal issues, so I am editing alot due to my phone and tablet. Secondly I removed the videos because they appeal to me, perhaps not so much to everyone else. I am a high octane type of guy, fire tiger born in 1986. Here is a much more widely acceptable video, btw much love everyone this thread is going to get downright magical in the future,

May I please be granted the rights to a training log? I would like to keep track of my practice to instill the habit of training daily, so it becomes deeply engrained in me. A training log is just the tool to aid me in my quest!

Shall we start with the Quintessence of tonic herbalism? What is the quintessential tonic herb you ask, if you don't already know? Why it is my 2nd favorite berry in the whole world, well maybe 3rd as it is a toss up between sea buckthorn berry (used sea buckthorn oil topically after an inguinal hernia surgery and I swear there is barely a scar, anyways it is schisanda, my favorite berry ever is of course goji. Let us see what the tonic herb Master Ron Teeguarden has to say about this wonderfruit (I get my schisandra in bulk from www.mountainroseherbs.com & it's organic!): The Quintessence of Tonic Herbs Schizandra fruit, from the plant Schisandra chinensis, is “the herb that does it all.” It develops and protects the primary energies of life. Schizandra, known as the "quintessence of Chinese tonic herbs,” supports vitality and beauty when used regularly for some time. It is said to promote beautiful skin. Schizandra is said to help purify the blood, support the mind, help maintain a strong memory, and help maintain sexual energy and sexual functions in both men and women. The Quintessential Full Spectrum Tonic Herb The very name of Schizandra in Chinese, Wu Wei Zi, tells us a great deal about the qualities of this herb. Wu Wei Zi means “Five Flavors Fruit.” Due to the fact that Schizandra possesses all five of the classical “tastes” (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty) and thus possesses the essence of all five of the elemental energies (wood, fire, earth, metal and water), Schizandra is respected as a health-providing tonic in the same class with Ginseng, Reishi and Goji. Schizandra has been used since the dawn of Chinese civilization as a tonic herb. From the beginning it has been revered, and remains one of the elite herbs of the Chinese system of herbalism. It was first written about in Shen Nong’s Pharmacopoeia (written between 1st and 2nd century A.D.) where it was listed as a Superior herb. The Taoists especially have revered Schizandra. Schizandra was Ron Teeguarden’s teacher’s, Taoist Grandmaster Sung Jin Park’s, favorite herb. This is because Schizandra tonifies all 3 treasures**, enters all 12 meridians and nurtures all 5 elements. Master Park considered it to be the quintessential herbal substance. Though Schizandra is believed to benefit all the functions of the body, it has traditionally been considered to have the most influence on the Kidney, Lung, Brain and Liver functions. Schizandra chinensis (Wu Wei Zi) 1. Tonifies all 3 treasures. 2. Enters all 12 meridians 3. Nurtures all 5 elements. The 3 Treasures are the 3 fundamental energies that make up life, the 13 meridians are the energy channels that flow throughout the body, the 5 elements are the five energy states of nature (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal). In short, Schizandra is a rare herb that can actually benefit all the bodily functions and organs of the body, according to the traditional Chinese and Taoist health system. Schizandra supports the skin and its functions. Schizandra is widely used to beautify the skin and to protect the skin from the damaging effects wind. Due to the astringent quality of Schizandra, the skin tends to hold its moisture and becomes full and beautiful. It has always been very popular with the wealthy men and women of China, especially the women of the imperial court, because of its youth preserving and rejuvenating effects. It is said that those who use Schizandra consistently will remain youthful in both appearance and physiology. Their skin virtually glows and becomes clear and fine after several months. This herb is considered to be one of the premium mind tonics of herbalism. It is used to support concentration, memory and alertness. It has been demonstrated that human intellectual activity can be supported and work efficiency increased by consuming Schizandra. Various tests have shown that moderate doses of Schizandra can support various activities requiring concentration, fine coordination, sensitivity and endurance. The tests in humans confirming Schizandra’s efficacy in these areas range from threading needles to running marathons. Yet, unlike caffeine-like stimulants, Schizandra does not produce nervousness. Paradoxically, Schizandra is also mildly sedative (“Shen stabilizing”). Schizandra does not make people sleepy. In fact, Schizandra is mildly “calming” while producing wakefulness and focus. Many studies now indicate that Schizandra actually has a balancing, or regulating, action on the central nervous system. It can result in accurate and optimal balancing between the excitatory and inhibitory control functions of the cerebral cortex. It is considered to be a “bidirectional” herb. Schizandra has been shown to strengthen and protect the liver. Schizandra is one of the primary liver cleansing agents used in tonic programs. Schizandra does not have the side effects that are associated with many of the “inferior” liver cleansing herbs. Schizandra is widely believed to protect the liver from damage due to the kinds of toxins humans consume or absorb on a daily basis, the byproducts of living. Schizandra appears to be very effective in boosting both detoxification and clearance of activated toxins (including xenobiotics). Schizandra is said to increase the “Water Qi in the Kidney.” In particular, it is said to support the “water of the genital organs,” referring to the sexual fluids. Schizandra is said to support the production of semen. It is famous for its ability to relieve sexual fatigue and for increasing the sexual staying-power in men. It is thus an ingredient in the vast majority of men’s sexual tonics in Asian herbalism. Women benefit from the same capacity to increase Water Qi of the Kidney. Schizandra is said to increase circulation and sensitivity in the female genitals. Many women claim increased genital warmth and sensation after using Schizandra for a period of time. The Chinese sexual classics claim that continuous use by a woman will increase the amount of “female elixir,” a euphemism for vaginal secretions, during intercourse. Schizandra is indeed the quintessence of tonic herbs. It belongs in everyone’s home elixir bar. Am I crazy? I suppose I am unique, and passionate to the utmost, so yes you could call me crazy. And of course for the spiritually dull science buffs here is what the supplement authority has to say about schisandra: http://examine.com/supplements/Schisandra+chinensis/

You know what would be nice for this thread? In depth herb explanations and tips and sources for all the major herbs in Chinese tonic herbalism. Dragon Herbs has amazing descriptions so I may copy and paste and their quality is unparalleled however some formulas just are not that strong or effective, others on the other hand do wonders, however I prefer ordering their products from www.iherb.com as they offer free shipping. I will begin posting single herbs along with a description of each and various sources, as Dragon Herbs is not good for unprepared and bulk herbs.

I know, I know. Vegan can be a scary and off putting word. Plant based is a much more approachable term for not eating any animal products for whatever reason. And so I'd like to introduce Rich Roll who is passionate about plant power and is not just a vegan to save animals' lives, no this man doesn't ever use the term vegan in fact and mainly switched for health reasons, http://www.richroll.com Anyone ever read The China Study? Bought it for my parents as I was trying to encourage them to go veg so they could live long and prosper energetically speaking. They didn't like it of course it was too scholarly my Mom said, but going out to eat with my Dad I have managed to encourage him to eat way more vegetables. Like I went out to breakfast with him yesterday and he made a point to get a vegetarian dish and explain to me he has been eating healthier way more veggies and colorful stuff and less meat.

Wow, now I understand when I was told there is a serpentine energy involved in certain types of very traditional yoga. My elder kung fu bro thinks it is a demonic energy of sorts but I said it depends on the style of yoga (not new age fad stretching hug and sweat together stuff, hold a pose and get all yoga fit not to bash anyone who trains yoga that is not traditional and authentic) anyways where was I?

Muskrat changes his mind.

I do apologize but I am drawn to these types of threads, it feels like some kind of creative outlet for me that seems to be missing from my life. I do hope to start my own youtube channel within a year or so to fulfill my hefty craving for creative self expression. I also don't mean to seem self focused in some of my recent posts, but alas I am trying to fulfill a deep yearning to express and connect. Also hope to get a training log up and running soon, but I digress severely in this thread... Random pics from the internet I lay no claim to them, My kung fu Master encouraged me to start training standing side stretch again, I think I will begin tomorrow morning. I have full splits and stretch them daily after horsestance training. Tried my first Van Damme split on 2 chairs yesterday at a dragon boat race event and was surprised it was easy without warming up. Never underestimate daily Ma bu training. No I do not train Wudang quan I just admire the style, ALOT. I will also tone it down and reel it in around these parts, sorry folks.

Is it ok to interject with a random tidbit somewhat related to butterflies? I think this is a nice thread, let me just say something about a butterfly experience I have had. It all started when I ate a quarter of mushrooms and went to see The Butterfly Effect. Basically the movie was utterly out of this world tripping, as most movies are (I don't use psychedelics anymore, and am trying to be totally free of intoxicants) but anyways there was something really messed up with this film in such a state of mind. It was a rush that was for sure. The next time I ate a significant quantity of mushrooms several months after (this was over 10 years ago) I was alone at a bowling alley and when the mushroom effects started peaking, something bewildering happened, I believed I became tuned into a Butterfly Effect, surely it was madness and delusion, but I basically ended up having the strongest and out of this world journey ever. I was taken to the hospital by police as I was losing my mind in the bowling alley albeit in the most friendly and benevolent ways one can lose their wits, and when I arrived at the hospital and received a shot of what I assume was ativan, I had the most real and zaniest out of body experience in my life. When the needle was plunged into my arm, I had a vision that I turned into liquid metal like out of The Matrix when Neo went 'down the rabbit hole', and when I 'rematerialized' or regained conscious awareness of sorts I had popped out and was soaring above some snow white mountain range, for some reason the French Alps come to mind although I can't be sure it wasn't utter delusion... When I came back to my body I was tripping harder than I ever had in my life, I looked over from my gurney and as clear as day I saw the ambulance drivers standing around down the hall with faces painted like jesters and were wearing jester hats and throwing the most bizzare and maddening grins towards me, Anyways I came to and realized what a mess I had gotten myself into but all was fine and I left in good health. The strange thing is the very next time I ate some mushrooms, as soon as they began to kick in, I gained a hyperawareness/utter delusion of the butterfly effect in action, and the last words I uttered to my friend who was tripping with me were....it's happening again, the butterfly effect, it all makes perfect sense now... Long story short I now meditate and study and practice Daoism and Buddhism to gain wisdom and improve my life as well as those around me. Psychedelics can be a tool in their own right, but I feel they are best left for shamans and neo shamans. I am no shaman that is for sure. Carry on!

Hmmm interesting and alluring thread we have here...I will be lurking in these waters for some time...

I'm trying my best to be vegan. Been vegetarian for a decade. My martial arts brother was vegan up until 6 months ago when he started eating some dairy again. He says it is following the Middle Way basically (we are Buddhists) and tells me I see things too black and white. Like I will be really good and pure for a few weeks then abandon what is proper and go on a binge with drugs, drinking, and some other negative activity. I am plagued by a weak mind and demons. At least I have hope that I can and will change, and have alot of support to do so. Moral of the story, I'm going to go totally vegan once I stop making poor choices and returning to negative addictions. He won't be able to sway me to eat cheese or ice cream then. My favorite vegan superstar and his magical blog, http://www.thediscerningbrute.com

Thanks will check this out, me and my elder kung fu bro love this kind of material. Just started watching Brian Johnson's videos ourselves, https://www.youtube.com/user/PhilosophersNotes And what I would like to share, a style that is as elusive as it is cunning,

Cool fact: I once saved a muskrat that was lying on its back in the middle of a busy street. I drove by it and it was shaking its little legs as cars drove over it, must have been in shock as it was nearly run over, luckily all the cars centered it in between their wheels directly under the car and didn't run it over. I stopped and ran out and scooped the poor creature up with my fleece then threw it in my trunk and found a wilfdlife rescue to take it to. They ended up rehabing it and released it back to the marshland he was from.

Jah bless and welcome One Beard! One Mind, One Freedom, One Beard?

I don't blame him, for some reason I jumped to the assumption we were referring to the enlightenment one attains on the Buddhist path when I read the title of the thread and the first post, even though there was no mention of Buddhism. Btw great book if Jhana study catches your interest, http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Bliss-Beyond-Meditators-Handbook/dp/0861712757 So this is a thread discussing states of bliss on the path to realizing the Way, through any way? Escaping birth and death is escaping birth and death folks. That's not going to happen if one is still attaching to sexual desire and lust. (Nor any attachments for that matter really, I am still attached to many things and having a female in my life, but I realize sex desire is what keeps one coming into the womb not to speak of the nether realms) So specifying this is not limited to Buddhism, let me just add my own 2 cents limited to Buddhism as if any more 2 cents are needed in this thread with all that has been covered already, I am a Mahayana practicioner. Let me just say my Teacher has made it clear that seeking bliss for oneself is not the right way, in that if you are practicing just to 'bliss out'. Of course joy is a natural fruit of the path. Of course the Buddha's intention was to save beings from birth and death so they could attain the lasting bliss of Nirvana. Of course the Dharma and practice bring bliss to beings. Of course it is a natural fruit of practice but it should not be SOUGHT after nor should it be attached to. www.dharmabliss.org has some great quotes and Sutra excerpts on it if anyone is curious, 'The bliss of still extinction – the principle of emptiness – is tens of millions of times more intense than the bliss derived from external physical gratification. If you want that experience, though, you must first stop your involvement with external sensory experiences. Otherwise, the True Emptiness within you cannot manifest. (Sur.roll 9)'

Welcome my good sir!

This could save alot of ketamine during cat surgery, hmmmmm..perhaps I will train this special animal sleeper qi gong style and get a job in a veterinarian clinic as an anesthesiologist. Perhaps they can up my pay for the special sedation work. I would like to see him put a charging bear or hungry tiger to sleep as they are rushing at him...

For me this is life and death. That sounds very silly and extreme, but I am not exaggerating. I believe I open demonic pathways and invite entities into my space when I engage in masturbation and view erotica even one time. Not to mention I am also a drug addict (trying to put the benders behind me for good) so when I open these demonic doors through lust it activates my other addictions and it is 'all aboard the hell express' from there. Perhaps this thread can convery much much better what on Earth I am speaking of as if it doesn't sound like phooey already, http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread693255/pg1 Not to mention ejaculating alone for a man is basically energy suicide, so in a way I am shortening my lifespan and slowly killing myself everytime. It's been a couple weeks since the last 'edging' episode which was utterly demonic and I was drunk and on dangerous chemicals once it was underway. I know there are forces outside my own mind at play with these addictions, but I take full responsibility for the choices I made. I am an active user on NoFap in fact I promote this forum sometimes lol, my username is the same over there as here. My Master is aware of my problem and is very supportive and really cares about me so I do have hope I can overcome this problem, also my kung fu brothers are my main support and have made it clear I need to reach out before I go mess up again. This is not some temporary challenge, this must be a change for the rest of my life. Sublimation and transmutation, the only time I want to ejaculate ever again is if I am trying to get my future wife pregnant if I ever get married. Otherwise celibacy unless I find a loving partner and may have non-ejaculatory sex with. I do not view things from the perspective of a 'worldling', I am a very spiritual man. So please forgive this post.

I am here with 2 cents, and may your 2 cents knock some sense into my thick cranium. Well, Kenji has arrived. Here to enjoy and be enjoyed (hopefully).

Crystals and metaphysics, well now, I'm no wizard but those are fancies of mine. Welcome furry crystal metaphysic divine lover! GELFLING, BRING ME MY OATMEAL IT IS BREAKFAST TIME. Sorry, was speaking to my alter ego while reminiscing of The Dark Crystal.

I'm an all or nothing man. I choose martial arts and Daoism and Buddhism as my sole addiction. A positive addiction if you will. Until I transcend being an addict, this is my path, I know what happens when I stray from it. And don't worry, I am here for much, much more than help with discipline and sublimation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CGqmJ7Ki1o

Yes it was quite delightful, enjoiabull to the maxx. Any production company named Laser Unicorn has my approval.