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The things are not a subject of right or wrong while they are happening in a natural way. And so we are. If you do smth due to vital necessity then let me suppose it is natural. But as soon as you do smth with any intent, then your human essence is involved and it can contradict the nature of Tao. Rgrds, Ilya

Sorry to share this but it might be not a good guest in your dreams. It can be a ghost who needs your energy to feed up ad it can look like anyone just to take your energy using your emotions - doesn't matter whether they are positive or not. I don't say that it is for sure but if you fill tired in the morning or like need to sleep more then read this post again.

I think that the reason why most of practitioners focus on xing but not ming is that xin and xing practice is easier to understand - just free your mind, minimize thoughts and harmonize heart. But ming practice is a secret one and unclear because deals with preheaven qi. But yes, this does not mean that it is not important. Rgrds, Ilya

Tao is neutral, but each of us is not. This means for me that looking porno etc. can direct you to a degradation lineage, while Tao will still stay neutral.

I have seen right, left and central channels in kundalini yoga, but not in Taoism. Taoist concept is Du Mai and Zhen Mai channels and dan tians. Can you tell what is the source in Taoism that deals with right and left channels? Rgrds, Ilya

For me it means some conscious part of a person that is permanent to all his other essenses. This is to my understanding something that is a part of us and that can control all processes in a body and mind, in case it is freed from our mental consciousness (called shen). Unless we have strong mind it generates miriades of thoughts and it blocks yuan shen. As well as a body lackes energy and therefore is filled by thoughts. Rgrds, Ilya

Njt gives general explanation of a human body and some processes. The thing that you probably will not find in it is concrete methods. But for overall understanding of what we are it might be rather useful. Rgrds, Ilya

Not always. F.e. I don't agree with his approach of equalizing taoist patriarchs to gods. May be I am not so keen in Taoism as he is. Rgrds, Ilya

In this particular case Arkadiy's approach seems more agreeable to me. He gives arguments in a correct and polite manner and suggests a dialogue, getting rude and offending messages by his opponent in return. Rgrds, Ilya

Excuse me, isn't Bagua a traditional martial chineese art?

If you don mind, I have some questions to those who practice OBE - what is the goal of practicing it? Do you learn more somehow from this experience? Do you feel healthier after this practice? Does it help you somehow to understand the matter of life and death? Is there any stable method to do it or it comes spontaneously and uncontrolled? I ask these questions because I want to understand the rational for this practice. Rgrds, Ilya

Is it possible to? I think if you meditate so much time each day your body can become week so that you will harm your health. From the other side nowadays its almost impossible to have so many free time.

There is one simple question to understand what your OBE is. How do you understand that the experience you had was real but not your imagination? I think this is a cornerstone moment here. Another one can be discussed after we can have a reply on this.

As I read Taoist alchemy is targeted to unite spirit an energy and only after this it deals with out of body practice. The rational for this as I understand is that you should accumulate some energy first and only then its a right moment to make such experience. Rgrds, Ilya

My understanding is that taoism relates to such cases as a deviation from our own nature, so homosexuality is treated as a serious spirit illness. I dont want to say that such people have no chances in taoism or that they must change - it is their choise, I just wanted to figure out my understanding of taoist consept.

As I know these methods can recharge only postgraven qi, but not preheaven qi, this one can be regulated only with alchemy (so called ming methods), but it is kept in a secret. Methods for pastheaven qi can help you to feel better, healthier and less tired but they will not get you become younger. Rfrds, Ilya

If we abstract from personal discussions about proposed levels of each other (it is not productive) I would still propose that Taoist alchemy practice has more significant results (at least as they are mentioned) then shamanism. Becoming an immortal is more significant then establishing deep connections with nature and spirits. Rgrds, Ilya

Then what for is this comedy with public assignment to other participants 1-2 levels of some mystical scale? )) Do you have such a level that you can see the level of others or you just extrapolate it according with your understanding of the posts you read?

Maybe you could share with 1-2 level people with your understanding of shaman practice? I think it could help us to improve our understanding...

It is a mutual responsibility. A disciple is responsible to do practice according to exact guidelines of a teacher, and a teacher is responsible for giving the exact directions according with individual qualities and level of a student. Rgrds, Ilya

My current understanding is that Taoist alchemy is a scope of methods to develop energy and spirit (say ming and xing) to achieve long life, understanding of cosmic laws and immortality if possible. Shaman practices are the methods of achieving a deep connection with nature and external spirits, and one of results is getting some knowledge from these spirits or totems. May be I missed smth, then please share your understanding. Rgrds, Ilya

Looks a bit strange when a respected and known master is claimed as alcoholic. All taoist community in China respects him as a patriarch and then some western authors make so called translations of something and say that he is not a master, look for the details... Moreover, he even rejected neidan etc. I think - is it a serious translation from proven sources? In this case all Taoist history should be reviewed and changed due to these authors. Rgrds, Ilya

Do you want to say that shaman practice was a basis for Taoism and Buddism? For me they are different things. My understanding is that qi gong is a thread from Taoist alchemy while alchemy itself is a result of wisdom of the ancient ones, who did not deal with shaman practice.Where from we received shamanism is a question, my suggestion that it is a result of simple rituals came from peoples fantasies.

A good thread. I tried to do some meditations with channels visualization some about 10 years ago. Not sure it was a Taoist line, closer to Tibet Bon or like this. I can say that these methods did not give any significant results, this was the reason I stopped after about a year. In this case I think that methods that use our brains are useful more for brain with its fantasies, but not the body. What do you think? And from my opinion following such visualization can cause problems with mind. Rgrds, Ilya

This is like the teacher gives you some part of himself and you in respect give some valuable for you to the teacher. In this kind of exchange you become a part of a teacher and thus become able to receive his knowledge, spirit and energy. Rgrds, Ilya