Kara_mia

Hi there! I believe, that is a misleading perception that is widespread in the West. This is related to denial of yin. Sex and relationship are physical, and also a foundation for spiritual. Spiritual is to be built on physical. Physical is the source for spiritual.

I partly agree with you. it is biological but not only biological. The spiritual part also exists, although not every relationship has a spiritual aspect. Many relationships nowadays are purely based on sexual attraction only. However, my argument above was more about a female behaviour which does not contradict your point of view about biological aspect. Moreover, I even argued that a reason behind women's constant "habit" of testing their men is purely biological. Women test men often subconsciously to be sure he is an alpha man and not a pushover, which energetically can be translated that he has a high level of energy and sexual potency, i.e. 1) can provide healthy semen for her to conceive healthy babies, 2) can take care of her and their children. However, I beg to disagree with you - of course we are animals, but not purely and solely. And although that second part is weaker than the animal part in us, nonetheless it exists.

Wow, thanks a lot! I will try to get that book from the Amazon. I believe, understanding Yin-Yang interaction is the key to understanding gender roles - a correct order and balance of these forces is a keystone in having harmonious relationship and being happy. Unfortunately, a well and truly great and happy marriage has gone very rare nowadays. Even meaningful relationships are becoming more and rarer. There is a power dynamics that exist between men and women similar to Yin –Yang dynamics. Woman’s part of relationship role lies in testing her man. What is testing? For example, a woman says something outlandish just to get a reaction from a man and tries to put him on the defensive. Many men do not understand female psyche and the drives behind such behavior. And it’s actually pretty simple and straightforward. A female behavior is driven by a Quest to get the matching Potency. Why matching - because woman senses it naturally, feels it in her bone if a man is a good/appropriate match for her or not. And Potency - because therein lies her function as a female to provide for future potency and strong generation/offspring. This means that a woman will test the same guy throughout the whole relationship in order to proof his potency or if we look from the energy point of view how strong/vigorous/ fool-blooded he is. A woman needs to feel safe knowing that her beau in fact is a man with a backbone, and when needed, can support her. That’s what a woman really wants – to feel safe knowing her man can take care of her. This is true for all women, no matter their background and class. Hence, it is set in our genes/bones that we test our men every now and then to check how potent they are. Thus, man should behave like alpha-man, strong and potent, i.e. like a boss. A man should be the Boss, not a woman. This is the Law of Universe, i.e. the Natural Law of Yin and Yang - the feminine and masculine principle of Life.

I am of the same opinion. Controlling and moving energy without achieving quietness could damage yourself.

To be honest, I'm much perplexed at her words in all threads - my husband and I have been looking for a true teacher of ming practices over 20 years cumulatively to no avail; and all that we have been told by people, who devoted their lives to Daoist research and practice is often at odds with Awaken's points.

Interesting thread, thank you!

Dear Awaken, From the above I am making a conclusion. You say that Ming gong teachers are everywhere. So perhaps you know quite a few of them. Could you please acquaint me or give me their (or at least his) contacts, so I can contact them directly. My husband and I have been looking to find a true Ming gong teacher for over 20 years to no avail. Genuine or not, all teachers we've met only knew how to work with Xing by means of meditation.

Dear Pavel, Many thanks for opening such an interesting and valuable thread! It was a pleasure to read.

Thank you all for your valuable insights and views. Obviously, it is important to understand gender roles back in ancient time and how they changed eventually. However, I believe it would be much more useful to understand gender roles and family patterns through basic concepts of Taoism and vice versa. The easiest example would here be to say that men are yang and women are yin. And if i may refer to I-Ching: "One Yin and one yang, this is the Dao". In this regard it is no wonder that pair cultivation is considered as the most superior method of cultivation and the shortest one to achieve Dao. However, nowadays, male and female interaction is somewhat distorted. For example, many men do not even understand the basics behind women behavior that is quite easy to relate to the behavior patterns.

I am truly sorry to hear of the loss of your mother... Is it appropriate to say that the soul is dreading the death? And this is another point to support the argument re doing something in this life? If I may, I would like to post again a short poem written by another Taoist practitioner about importance of practicing Tao in this life and not living a life of layman - a plea to awaken Hie Skeleton / Tan Changzhen Skeleton, oh skeleton, your face is so ugly, Only because in life you loved beauty and alcohol. Cunningly smiling you became fattened on ideas and pleasures So your blood and flesh gradually wasted away. Gradually wasting away—But you still continued to lust. Through greed and avarice, you dissipated your vitality with no completion, Your desires were without limit but your body had its term And now today you have become a skeleton! Becoming a skeleton—Listen to me: It is not easy to acquire a human body with Seven Treasures! Realize that innate nature and life-destiny are like pulling-strings, So do not blindly follow your emotions! That's why I have painted this form to show to you And see whether or not you will today become awakened!

Now calm down, love. Harmony and balance are the cornerstones of successful practice, remember? Also I feel quite lost when reading your lengthy posts. I personally always try to follow George Orwell's 5 rules for effective writing, i.e. Never use a long word where a short one will do, etc likewise. Let's go back to our sheep - so you state that Awaken has already posted so much and why to ask? Don't be daft! Firstly, I could not find much needed information from her posts. Possibly there are a lot, but I don't speak Chinese. Secondly, why asking a simple question regarding a system and lineage caused such a reaction from you? This is quite odd. Thirdly, why not to share with us this information? - I believe this to be an elementary question, and an avoidance to answer it makes me very suspicious. Dear Awaken, I am a sincere person, and I do have a sincere interest to learn about your school and system of practice. I would very much appreciate if you could share with us the basic concepts of your teaching, e.g. what is important, how to start, is it possible to start online, overview of stages of cultivation, etc. I just feel that apart from criticizing another school you are not writing much about your system and this is really quite bizarre.

Dear Awaken, I am interested in knowing more about your school and methods. Could you please share with us the basic concepts of teaching, and also name your teacher's name and his lineage?

Thanks for the prompt response! Clicked on the link and just started reading

I would like to post here a piece of poetry from Taoist teachers and sages that emphasize the importance of working during this life, and not finding comfort in the hope for a possible afterlife To the Tune "Groping for Fish" / Wang Chongyang I lament the skeleton Lying in the open fields. Your lonely white bones are scattered, A vagrant from some unknown place. There's no way to tell whether you're male or female; You've been cast aside and completely abandoned. This is because you did not practice cultivation in former lives, But rather played around like a foolish monkey And in this life you have now fallen down. Wind-blown, rain-drenched, and sun-bleached, You are beaten by the senseless herding boys. I wish to inquire about how you came to such an end, But I still have compassion for your suffering. How could we converse about this anyway? Your mouth is filled with mud and sand fills your eyes— This is the way you will decay. Forever, day and night, You count the yearly change of autumn, winter, Of spring and summer too— Through all four seasons lonely and alone. Come to your senses, people old and young And do not flaunt your smartness, flash your charms.

Thank you for sharing your insights! If I understand correctly, we have xing and ming. And ming is the vitality that is the source of life itself and also stands for destiny. How do you understand the famous expression "My destiny is within me, not in Heaven!" How it correlates with another famous saying that “if you are destined to meet [a teacher] you will end up meeting even though you were a thousand miles apart. If you’re not destined r, you can be standing face to face and not even notice their existence”? Don't they contradict each other?

Exactly! An excellent question, indeed! May be that is the reason why Taoism does not have an elaborated concept of afterlife unlike Buddhism or Christianity? Taoists consider life as a priceless gift and an opportunity to break the endless circle of life and death.

I can only tell for myself - I feel it right in the middle - especially when it hurts - if I am sad, or did something wrong.

Dear Awaken, I am very interested in knowing more about the system you are teaching. Could it be possible to know name of your teacher and school? I hope, this does not sound rude - I have a genuine interest in learning more about your school and system of practice.

Welcome aboard! Apparently, a fellow member of ours, namely Taoist texts, just simply deletes all posts that makes him feel uneasy, because they reveal his ignorance and fallacious reasoning.

Well, I am not a Teacher or a pro in Taoist alchemy, but I can't see any significant mistakes apart from the last conclusion - I just simply can not comment on that because I don't know. But as for the rest, I agree - since Wu-wei cannot be achieved by ordinary people, it means that ordinary people cannot get outside of the level of existence ruled by Yin and Yang forces, or in other words, ruled by taiji law.

Great. I am glad we are on the same wavelength. What I meant about Zhang Boduan - I referred to his Wuzhen pian work, where he wrote: " IF YOU DO NOT SEEK THE GREAT WAY TO LEAVE THE PATH OF DELUSION, EVEN IF YOU ARE INTELLIGENT AND TALENTED, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY. A HUNDRED YEARS IS LIKE A SPARK, A LIFETIME IS LIKE A BUBBLE. IF YOU ONLY CRAVE MATERIAL GAIN AND PROMINENCE, WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE DETERIORATION OF YOUR BODY, I ASK YOU, EVEN IF YOU ACCUMULATE A MOUNTAIN OF GOLD CAN YOU BUY OFF IMPERMANENCE?"

A personal insult from the Taoist Texts now - a worrying sign of a misogyny (let alone lack of respect and questionable upbringing)?

My guess is that may be Awaken did not understand that you didn't mean to be rude? -You simply asked a direct question, however may be it sounded a bit off-handish and impolite for her due to different mentalities - western and Chinese? I am just guessing here, no offense intended.

I beg to disagree. I agree in that there won't be much that can be said in conventional terms but simply because Wu Wei can neither be understood nor achieved by us, ordinary people. In accordance with doctrine of internal alchemy which lies at the core of the heart of Taoist teaching, Wu Wei refers to a final stage of alchemist transformation - so called " sitting facing the wall for nine years" - and actually is quite understandable why. Wu Wei - is non-action, non-doing. And during the final stage the person himself is sitting without moving for 9 years, thus "performing' non-action and non-doing, while his Yuan Shen or Yang spirit is doing all work.

I believe it could be said that taoists do not think too much about afterlife because it's a nonproductive approach. They consider this life as a great opportunity, as the most treasured thing - and they try to accomplish their goal within the course of one's life. Remember what Zhang Boduan wrote in Wuzhen pian?