Vajra Fist

Cool guy, interesting questions. I'm British, but lived in the Middle East for about seven years. I'm more sensitive than most to causing offence to people's beliefs. But I still can't support censorship to protect one special social group from what amounts to no more than hurt feelings. I suppose the question in the video is, where do you draw the line?

Just wondering if anyone still practices this system? I had the book some time ago but didn't stick with the practice. What sort of effects do you see long term?

I think the only person who has ever claimed full enlightenment here on daobums is dawg. His thread is absolutely brilliant by the way, and well worth a read from the beginning. He says: "No matter what anyone "claims"... you can never reach enlightenment by reciting a mantra... all it will do is make good karma for you... to reach enlightenment you must destroy the delusion in your subconscious mind... otherwise you are still creating karma, and if you are still creating karma, you will continue to be born and die" http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/30012-a-path-to-enlightenment/page-5 This is specifically in regards to a question on the zhunti mantra. My understanding is that in Pure Land, enlightenment within this lifetime is not necessarily the goal of reciting the name of Amitabha. Instead, it is to sow the seeds for rebirth in Sukhavati, where one will attain non-retrogression, be free from samsara and will eventually achieve full realisation. Aside from that, yes chanting Amitabha's name is peaceful, joyful and can lead to samadhi. Achieving awakening in one lifetime might not necessarily happen, but achieving enlightenment in the next life is absolutely assured by Amitabha's grace.

Hi awaken, I practiced it superficially some time ago but at the time I found it not quite as refined as other internal arts. However I'd love to hear from anyone else with greater experience in the style

I think that's quite a broad statement and as a practicing Pure Land Buddhist I would respectfully disagree. But thank you for sharing your experiences and also for letting those of us who hadnt heard of the mantra know about it in the first place.

Yes, if you read any book by Bill Bodri he will recommend mantra (and the cundi mantra in particular) as a valid dharma door to samadi. In reply to seeker of healing, I'm grateful of the recommendation of the Usnisa Dharani. I did a lot of reading about it last night and found it fascinating. Has anyone had any experience chanting it long term?

Does it have any palm changes on it?

I keep the Mani mantra and, when I can, the Vasudhara and Green Tara mantras. I consider them to be prayers and offerings for all beings, and not for my own development. The exception is the recitation of the name of Amitabha - which is for the goal of rebirth outside of samsara in Sukhavati and, eventually, one's final liberation. In that way I don't regard it the same way as the other mantras. I try to recite or listen to the Amitabha sutra daily, and I also listen to a beautiful Tibetan recitation of the heart sutra after my meditation.

The advice above is excellent. However a worthwhile point is not to mix practices straight off the bat. Pick one qigong system that strikes a chord with you, and practice it for a year. That way you'll have enough experience of the energy that you'll know, if you pick up another qigong down the road, whether there is any energetic conflict.

Interesting, thanks. In your opinion what sort of practice is it? Does the energy feel balancing and harmonising, like Flying Phoenix, or is it more like a bit rush of healing energy, like Spring Forest? Do you find it purifying or energising/strengthening? Thanks!

Very cool, thanks. Seems to come from a southern mantis lineage and seems totally different from the Shaolin form. If you don't mind me asking, how long does it take you to complete the form and what sort of benefits have you seen?

Cool, thanks for the description. How long does it take to do a session?

I don't think it's the best place to get into a discussion about oneness. I've never been attracted to that path, but for the record those few people I know who practice it have been spiritually mature and kind people. Back to Flying Phoenix, I've started a near enough daily practice of moonbeam, the long form and the 60 70 40 5 meditation from vol 7 - which tao stillness was kind enough to recommend. I don't feel much after my sessions, in terms of health or peace. But during my sessions I feel a great amount of bliss and feel that the chi is soaking into my cells. It feels that once my cells are fully saturated with the FP energy, the energy will spill over and create more noticeable quality of life improvements. What a great system! I'm so glad to have picked it up again.

Thanks Fu_doggy, hope you're well. Is the YJJ you practice from the Shaolin Do curriculum? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0991435508/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8 A video of Gary Grooms demonstrating a portion.

After reading up what happened to people who took Source Naturals L-Tryptophan, I would never buy anything from that company again.

Good question. The simple answer is that I don't know. My sense of it is that it can be used as a prayer for the poor and destitute in a similar way that the Medicine Buddha mantra can be recited for the benefit of the dying and departed.

So Bruce Frantzis is going to start selling his Bagua Mastery Program again. Did anyone get it the first time around? Do you learn a martial form or is a series of mudras you employ while walking the circle?

Just a powerful rushing sensation, connectedness with others and a feeling of my own place in the world. I sometimes see a luminescent figure and have waves of peace when I recite the nembutsu, but nothing so direct. I suppose the fact that I needed such a vivid lesson to correct wrong thinking is a pretty poor reflection of the state of my cultivation. I'd be interested to hear of anyone else who has had similar experiences.

Thanks for your reply. I decided to try one mala of the mantra this evening out of curiosity. While we're not in debt, it's always a bit tight for my family at the end of the month. I had just finished my Flying Phoenix qigong session when I sat down to recite, so I may have been a bit opened up already. But about half way through the mala I started receiving visions of the homeless, the destitute, people in third world countries struggling to make ends meet. And I felt an overwhelming power of compassion. It was like the power of the tide. My sense is that Vasudhara is a genuine Boddhisatva, dedicated to offering help to those suffering from the demon of financial dire straits. About half way through the mantra I felt a voice asking me: 'when faced with these images of others suffering far worse than you, why do you continue to recite my name?' The only answer I could find was that I was reciting for their sake, so that they might be free from their suffering. At that point the mantra started to work again and I was filled with the urge to help others. Afterwards I prostrated and asked for forgiveness for my selfishness. I will strive to recite the mantra every evening for the sake of others in suffering. It was quite a powerful experience. My medical clairvoyant tested it recently and said it would open my crown chakra. In hindsight I believe that's what may have happened this evening.

I asked my medical clairvoyant and ayurvedic doctor about pine pollen and he said: "Pine Pollen is one of nature’s most complete products and is a complete protein. It has many benefits for everybody. For you I am seeing increased energy and a stimulation of the root or first chakra." Q: Is it better when taken with a nettle root tincture? "——Just different. The nettle root would add a cleansing influence especially to the prostate and liver. Good either way with Nettle or alone."

Stop all energetic practices. Basically treat any sensation you may feel of qi as delusion and ignore it. Chant 'Namu Amida Butsu' 108 times every morning on a mala, and read up on Pure Land buddhism. Apart from that, do nothing. Have absolute faith that through the Buddha's infinite grace and compassion your problems will be resolved. Place your reliance on the Buddha's power and not your own power. Go about your life normally and don't fret about a solution. Do normal things, go shopping, meet friends, watch daytime TV. Over time, and with patience, your problems will be resolved. I wish you the greatest luck on your path. Namu Amida Butsu

I'm looking forward to the first one this evening (UK time). Thanks for sharing

Great information, thanks. Why do you recommend cycling off pine pollen?

Back in my 20s, I used to practice a sequence of kum nye from the bon tradition, taught by Stephanie Wright. I remember it having a lot of juice.

This guy sells dvds like 'bagua fitness', or 'male enhancement' qigong dvds. There's even one called 'vagina mastery'. I just feel sad when I see stuff like this.