Fa Xin

I wouldn't quite say Taoism is the opposite of Confucianism, but I think they are two sides of the same coin, and totally compliment each other. Since reality is both form and formless

Thanks for sharing

Hello! in my experience the mind will not stop nor will it ever stop. Ive tried many years to take away the keys because when she drives she swerves all Over the road and sometimes runs the red lights. But she just wants to go out. Weve come to an arrangement, I bring her with me but she sits in the passenger seat. Cuz I told her, it's too scary when it's her behind the wheel. She seems to be ok with this, sometimes she gets upset that she's not driving and sometimes she'll try to steal the keys. I found out that the car is actually registered in my name not hers!

it is neutral but nature is neutral isn't it? in my experience, seeing infinite possibilities in the present moment is the freedom that many people desperately seek outside of themselves, when it's right here all along. This concept is not the same as "create your own destiny" found in the motivational racket. At least it's not marketed that way. If we take a moment and slow down, get out of our own heads and stories, we see that life is just a series of moments, a never ending "now" that is a choice. it's about taking responsibility but it's also about being present for the choices. Instead of being on autopilot letting life whip us around, or instead of being a calculating, logical thinker trying to see 5 years ahead. we are totally free by seeing what is really there, which is just "this" which just is. Trying to make the world better is only living in fantasy, this includes our own world imo. But it's late and I should be sleeping, pay no attention to me.

Very well spoken, great post

I enjoyed your dirt bike video post

Hey Drew! Hope all is well. I really enjoy your posts, I find the stories about chunyi and Jim very interesting. My question to you is, if you were to show this thread to chunyi, how do you think he would react? you know chunyi is a powerful healer, and has helped you immensely. What benefit is it to make this thread? About a comment that was said in passing on a private forum? Let people have their opinions, emptiness doesn't care. Om mani padme hum.

I picked up his book "Tibetan book of living and dying" on a whim many years ago at a used book store for $2. It was one of the most comprehensive guides to "life in general" and Tibetan Buddhism i have found. Ive also found many of his videos to be quite clear. I share one in hopes you will Enjoy it as I did.

Some of the song guys in Shanxi

I have trained with Dr Painter and can attest his (these) skills are legit, and he prides himself on deconstructing the "woowoo" part and identifying the scientific principles behind the method. In this case, "intention" would include relaxation, and subtle movements to control the "ridgepole" of the opponent. I wouldn't consider it "chee power" though and he must be touching you to make it work.

Hi taoguy, I'll post as a "devils advocate", to maybe offer a different perspective for you. I know you have these goals in mind, and I applaud your determination and focus. Isn't it true that Buddhism (and maybe even Taoism) - one of the foundations of the practice is to drop such goals? What your looking for appears to be "outside of self" (expectation), and in the future (thoughts). What you seem to be doing is taking these Master's teachings...many of which I don't understand... and using them as some sort of road map to what you *should* achieve before XYZ happens. The 8 extraordinary vessels, do you know what they feel like? Have you experienced them on an energetic level? All of the advice and teachings from enlightened masters have absolutely ZERO value unless we can apply them to our situation now. Instead of trying to achieve things, try to drop things. Try to shed your beliefs about awakening, let them drop away. Let expectations drop away, let your seeking drop away. Just try it, like an experiment. See how you feel. Many people want to be free, yet they pick up many practices and beliefs. How can you be free when your carrying around such ideas and thoughts? There's many people on this thread who gave great advice. A few of them have actually awakened fully, or are in the process of awakening. There are pointers all throughout this thread. No one is going to tell you exactly what to do or how to do it - because it is different for everyone.

I will improvise and combine elements of taijiquan, xingyiquan and baguazhang into sort of a freestyle shadow boxing thing. I usually do this at the end of my training session, after I've practiced properly for more than an hour. At this point I'm really "feeling it". My teachers have always taught me to take the forms and make them my own. Get so comfortable with them that you can do them backwards and in your sleep. How else would you utilize them in a tense situation? this is from a martial perspective only. I don't improvise with qigong personally.

Actually I met a martial arts teacher recently who taught a children's "Jedi class", where he teaches them how to sword fight with foam light sabers. A great idea for something like a day camp!

Ehh. I'm having trouble following the conversation at this point. Thanks for the input though!

There's a ton of great qigong styles out there! some are more well known than others, but it doesn't mean they are any better or worse. my advice is it's better to try it and not like it then to pass up what might be a great practice for you. Qigong can have very positive benefits for people. Your mileage may vary Also so you can try searching the forums, someone may have posted about it in the past

I always assumed it was our previous universe collapsing. Ive heard it said that our universe is ever expanding but at some point it will reverse and begin to collapse. And the whole process happens again. I think at this point it's all theories. I don't follow the science close enough. Edit: loving called the "Big Crunch" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Crunch

This is actually a strange and interesting phenomena I've encountered also. When i I was a teen/early 20s I encountered many angry people & fights. Some was of my own doing; where I hung out and with who. Yet some was completely random, strangers on the street. Now it seems I only run into kind souls. I'll encounter the random belligerent person every now and then but it seems everyone I come into contact with are happy friendlies. I have often thought why this is. It is strange. "Change the world start with yourself"

I have also heard it said, that we are all people at one point so I've been Sharon Tate, the Mayan priest and the sacrifice victim. I don't believe or disbelieve this But it's interesting to think about. a sage was asked, "how Long have we been on this journey?" He replied, "imagine a mountain 3 miles high, 3 miles wide, 3 miles long. A bird flies over the mountain every 100 years holding a silk scarf in its beak that brushes against the surface. As long as it takes to wear down the mountain have you been on this journey" this image sticks with me

It's a lot different than living in your head! emotions will come up, it may be that your letting go of old things. Just know that emotions will come and go, just like everything else. It's all impermanent. Focus on relaxing, knowing that whatever your experiencing is okay to experience.

zazen or vipassana? i would say those are "tried and true" methods that produced masters over the years.

Nope. I simply try to stay in the here and now, I don't have any other skills or techniques or experiences.

it seems like your looking for "something else" good luck on your search friend!

Why would you like to obtain this? Feel free not to answer, just a question to ponder on your own. What's the motivation?

hi qi cat, you took one piece of the practice, not knowing any of the details or in what context it's used, and judged it according to your practices which are probably much different. while I do agree with you that sending energy to the head is not good (learned this in the first week many years ago), that's not what happens in this form.