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Thank you Virtue, however I would just like to mention that I started this thread rather than contribute to this thread: in which they seem to be taking much the same direction as it appears you would like this topic to follow. I do very specifically want to discuss what I wrote as a header to the topic, namely 'Breath Sequencing in Neigong systems'. Regarding which pranayama exercises I was alluding to, they were part of the Kriya Yoga teachings, and I would prefer not to discuss these exercises. I only mentioned them as a reference, because they involve a breath control method, which is basically what pranayama is, in one sense. I really don't want to get into the Kundaliniyoga aspects of such practices, even though this may be a part of the FPCK system. I just feel that this particular topic has been done to death in so many threads, that it is pointless allowing this thread to veer off in that direction. I believe that what sets the FPCK system apart, even from Sunn Yee Gong and other components of GM Doo Wai's family arts, is the fact that it was ostensibly received from a goddess by a form of direct transmission, and was specifically for healing. Historically it was not originally part of the family system, so it may well be that other elements of the style require a different mindset, involving different forms of contemplation and mindfulness. I don't know, because I only practice FPCK for the time being. Most of us are also aware that there are also what Sifu Dunn refers to as 'supplementary exercises' which GM Doo Wai uploaded to Youtube some time ago, and these also employ the same breath sequencing. But from even the short time I have been practicing (a year or so), I can certainly echo Sifu Dunn's comments regarding the Samahdic states which this practice enables or induces, seemingly spontaneously. I would like to know how much of this 'blissful' state is directly attributable to the breath sequencing, and what the effects of and purposes for breath sequencing are in other styles - if they exist. If I am not mistaken, Sunn Yee Gong also makes use of breath sequencing? Bear in mind that the terminology you and several others on the FPCK thread are using is Buddhist, whereas the system is definitively Daoist in origin. I don't deny that there may be cross-overs and parallels to be drawn between the two systems, but the attitude toward self-realization/awakening is not one of these in my opinion. To summarize, the Buddhist goal of awakening is the Daoist point of departure. Sifu Dunn has stated on several occasions that the correct practice of the FPCK system can lead to full awakening, so if this is correct, then it can be considered a stand-alone enlightenment practice - and I certainly hope that this is true!

At least the movements are fairly consonant with the written instructions for Level 1, but performed very poorly in my humble opinion. The practitioner obviously has no idea where the LDT is (she circulates around the Middle Dantien), nor the Laugong points, which are supposed to be aligned throughout the movements. The movements are also quite a bit too fast and too rigid. Also, the eyes should be closed in the meditation in prayer mudra. The Daoyin Fa at the end of the video is definitely not correct.

OK, having heard what ridingtheox has kindly shared with me in his reply on the subject, I would now like to open the question up to anyone else who would care to answer: Have any of those currently learning/practicing the Volume 4 long form meditation reached a point at which they find it impossible to maintain the same very slow pace in specific parts of the form? If so, what strategies are you using to surmount these temporary difficulties? Sifu Terry: Do you advocate speeding up the rest of the form until the difficult parts can be performed at the same slow pace when the entire form is slowed down, or is it preferable to practice the part which presents difficulties in isolation from the rest of the form at whatever pace one can achieve, and would you advise doing so with the eyes open until sufficient strength, stamina, equilibrium and confidence are acquired? Given that the section of the form with which I am experiencing the most difficulty seems to be caused by trying to maintain balance while standing on one leg (Crane stance, snake hands) at such a slow pace, keeping the eyes shut, what strategy do you recommend to enable one to overcome this difficulty and move smoothly through the entire form? In the previous movement, is it perhaps a better idea to narrow the stance further in the previous movement, in order to make it easier to come up into the cat stance? My present strategy consists of practicing the difficult parts both within the form and in isolation, and at times practicing the entire form at whatever pace I can maintain the more problematic sections. At times I practice the section in isolation as slowly as possible with my eyes open, then close my eyes and try and continue at the same pace. When I practice the entire form at a very slow pace, apart from the sections which I find difficult, it feels wrong - the flow is interrupted and everything feels out of kilter... A further more technical question regarding the Neidan alchemical process: In the penultimate movement of the form: Currently , I believe that the now refined Qi is condensed between the two hands, then as the left-hand crosses over the right and forms the Earth mudra over the LDT the process is completed. However I am unclear whether one needs to swallow the saliva in three gulps beforehand, as in other Neigong systems, and if so, precisely at which point in that series of movements? Or am I mistaken, and the saliva should only be swallowed at the very end of the form, before the third and final exhalation? Thank you to those who take the time and trouble to answer.

It may sound like nit-picking, but I'd just like to point out that the 'The Star of David' is a misnomer. This example of Sacred Geometry is actually the Seal of Solomon, which, as a student of the occult I am sure you knew, however I feel it is important to use the correct terminology for the benefit of those who are here to learn....:)

Smiling Penance. I doubt you will find anyone here willing or able to accede to your requests, as Master Tian has disappeared off the map. Apparently, his children still teach the system in China. For what it's worth, I discovered the Flying Phoenix Qigong system as taught by GM Doo Wai, and have now been practicing it for the past year with far better results than those I achieved through practicing the Fragrant Qigong system for significantly longer, and it is an incomplete system, as the third part of the system can only be transmitted directly in person and there are no videos published of that part of the system whatsoever. If you are interested in hearing more about Flying Phoenix Qigong I recommend doing a search on these forums. If you want to practice in order to heal yourself or others, I know of no comparable system to that of the Flying Phoenix Qigong system. I was skeptical at first until I began to practice the meditations. Now there's no looking back. I hope you find this useful.

OK, having heard what ridingtheox has kindly shared with me in his reply on the subject, I would now like to open the question up to anyone else who would care to answer: Have any of those currently learning/practicing the Volume 4 long form meditation reached a point at which they find it impossible to maintain the same very slow pace in specific parts of the form? If so, what strategies are you using to surmount these temporary difficulties? Sifu Terry: Do you advocate speeding up the rest of the form until the difficult parts can be performed at the same pace when the entire form is slowed down, or is it preferable to practice the part which presents difficulties in isolation from the rest of the form, and would you advise doing so with the eyes open until sufficient strength, stamina, equilibrium and confidence are acquired? Given that the section of the form with which I am experiencing the most difficulty seems to be caused by trying to maintain balance while standing on one leg (Crane stance) at such a slow pace, keeping the eyes shut, what strategy do you recommend to enable one to overcome this difficulty and move smoothly through the entire form? Is it perhaps a better idea to narrow the stance further in the previous movement, in order to make it easier to come up into the cat stance? A further more technical question: In the penultimate movement of the form: Currently I believe that the now refined Qi is condensed between the two hands, then as the left-hand crosses over the right and forms the Earth mudra over the LDT the process is completed. However I am unclear whether one needs to swallow the saliva in three gulps beforehand, as in other Neigong systems, and if so, precisely at which point in that series of movements? Or am I mistaken, and the saliva should only be swallowed at the very end of the form, before the third and final exhalation? Hi ridingtheox. I confess I am hesitant to ask anything further on this thread, given that my questions from months ago addressed to Sifu Dunn still remain unanswered, and I was therefore made to feel and look like a complete charlatan (not to mention loss of face in MA terms) for my claims regarding the pace at which I perform the moving meditations...hence my absence from the thread over the past few months. BTW, those who take the time and trouble to get to know me know that I do not intentionally lie, although I have on occasion been given to exaggeration, and for what it's worth, I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt, rather than simply ignoring and alienating them as members of this forum have done with me... However, that aside, I have reached a plateau in my training, and seeing as you say you have reached the stage of being able to perform the Volume 4 long form at the pace of shifting sand dunes (kudos to you for that!) I would like to specifically address some questions to you personally if I may, although I would also welcome advice from anyone else whose practice approaches that level. I learned the long form from the videos posted to Youtube, but I am having difficulty with some of the movements, specifically when attempting to perform them at the same pace as the rest of the form, which is to say at the speed of a shifting sand dune. The most difficult movement for me is the series of movements which begin in cat stance, raising the left leg in crane stance with snake hands then blocking downward with the left hand and striking forward with a palm strike, presumably to the chest. So my questions are: 1. How did you go about practicing this series of movements in order to achieve the same pace as the rest of the movements of the form? 2. Is it better to perform the entire form at the pace at which you are able to manage the movements with which you are experiencing difficulty, or just persevere until the pace of those movements can keep up with the pace of the rest of the form? I feel sure that my difficulties arise from maintaining balance while the eyes are shut at this point in the form, as I have no difficulty achieving the required pace with my eyes open. So how do you suggest overcoming this particular hurdle? 3. Another movement I find difficult to perform at that pace is the section in which you bend down and grasp the earth Qi and raise it to chest level. I find that I simply do not have the physical strength to perform this movement at the same pace as the rest of the form without shaking, despite the fact that this does not occur in performing Bending the bows, however slowly I do the form. I imagine that eventually practicing Bending the bows will provide the necessary strength and stamina? Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the trouble to read this and reply.

Hi everyone. I would like to know which forms of Cultivation lead to full enlightenment rather than earthbound immortality? What does the method consist of in these practices? David

OK... No, I am referring to the fact that I experienced this after taking a single psilocybin mushroom in a ritual setting (it was originally supposed to be ayuhuasca) . The point is that due to this, the majority of members here have written off my experience as being drug inspired, whereas you seem to believe that my experience was a real glimpse of an awakened state. Now, I have been advised that one of the dangers in the case of ingesting hallucinogens such as Psilocybin is the fact that there is no way to calculate the proportion of the active ingredient in any given mushroom, so potentially one single mushroom could contain the same percentage of the active principle as several, or even hundreds. I can attest to this, having literally taken hundreds at a time in my youth, and the strength of this single mushroom was no less powerful - hence my own doubts... However, that said, I still feel that the entire experience should be credited with more than a purely drug induced hallucination, because of several factors. One is the effect it produced, and another is the clarity of the memory several years later. To return to your point, I agree with what you are saying regarding the point at which the actual realizations come being after the experience during the phase of returning to normal waking consciousness. And I understand how the feeling might be mistaken for a realization... That is probably because he lacked the discernment to know which of these students was actually at the point of being able to reap any benefit from such a transmission. It would be a mistake I feel to simply write every aspirant off on the grounds of his past experience with students who were not yet at the required level to benefit from such transmissions. I would question that statement. After all, the objective of these practices is to go beyond the thinking mind, therefore mental bliss still arising from the dualistic ego could be seen to lead to further delusion. Even feeling as you call it is no more than a sensory expression of the dualistic mind and so not what we should be looking for in this practice.

My apologies Starjumper for my late reply, and thank you for corroborating my experience as possibly having been real rather than purely drug-induced. To answer your question, yes, indeed the entire experience was one of entirely dissolving into a blissful union with the source of life itself - so much so that it took me a considerable amount of time to adjust to returning to the 'normal' (unawakened) state. But that said, I'm not sure I would describe it as 'emotional' bliss, because it was more profound than an emotional experience, but I can only describe it as bliss, because I have no other words with which to describe it. But perhaps a 'blissful knowing' may be more accurate, because I was only aware of the existence of a generative force which I understood was Love. I understood that this was all that there is - nothing else existed outside of that, and all life was born from that force, and that is our true nature. This was my knowing. This was to severely impact my subsequent spiritual quest, as nothing could compare with the intensity of that experience, and naturally this had become an expectation of what I sought from any high spiritual practice. Obviously that was not a realistic expectation, and this also led to a depressive state as I now felt trapped in this experience of life, having had a taste (literally, the nectar I described) of the reality of existence beyond the dualistic framework. But the key point here is the fact that the experience was impermanent, which is why I started to believe it must have been delusional or at least a further illusion of the senses. Not that it really matters anyway, now I try and not allow myself to remain attached to the experience. But the memory remains... Incidentally, I remembered that I have had this experience of tasting the nectar on another occasion. It was during my personal initiation as a Premi by Guru Maharaji a few years before (around 1993 I believe). David

Sifu Since you haven't had time to respond as you intended, would you please at least answer this, as I am in the air after your previous recommendation: I only have Volumes 1 to 3, I don't have Volume 7. Do I need to purchase this? You mentioned a Skype consultation - I'd like further information please. Thank you. David

Coincidentally, I too have been looking into this issue. There are apps for Android which are supposed to be able to flip a video or sections of a video, which would be a useful workaround not only for this series of videos but videos of any type of form which one might want to learn from whatever style. I admit that I haven't been successful with any of the Android apps I've tried so far - most of them just crash. So if any of you know of an app or program that performs this task well please share with the rest of us - I'm sure it would be a great help in learning the short and long FP Qigong forms. What complicates the issue somewhat is that it would be necessary to exclude the clips with the breath sequences, otherwise they too would be flipped horizontally and would be difficult to read... Aside from that I would also recommend a program called "Transcribe!" With this you can pick sections of video, mark them and loop them at whatever speed you want without affecting the pitch of the soundtrack (unless you want to). It was made mostly for musicians who need to slow down a video clip in order to see and hear the notes being played without changing the pitch, but it is no less useful in this type of application. It is not the only software able to do this, but perhaps one of the cheapest, and it works well and is cross platform (Windows and Mac OSX - not sure about Linux). You can also save pointers to the markers you have set up, and also re-save parts of the video as a new file at the speed which works best for you.

I would like to ask the following questions: 1. Can Mantra and Dharani Samadhi and Mantra/Dharani repetition/chanting lead to enlightenment? 2. Is this a recognized method? Is anyone here following this method, and would you be willing to discuss it? 3. Which branches of Buddhism practice Mantra and Dharani Samadhi as an enlightenment method? How does this work? 4. How does such practice transform or destroy akusala karma?

Thank you Sifu. Since I wrote that - sorry, rather extensive post I have been once again practising the sitting meditations from DVD #2. I have therefore edited my previous post in order to include the times I recorded for each part of the practice. I think it may be helpful. The new section is marked with an asterisk and in bold script. Regarding the DVD #3 standing warm-ups, I have only been practising them for a couple of weeks, since I began integrating the DVD #3 material into my daily practice. I don't want to neglect doing them because I find them very powerful in their own right - they remind me of Cloud Hands from Taijiquan, but seem to also have an element of Silk Reeling, energetically. I just need to establish a training routine that I am able to keep up every day, that is what most worries me, because I don't want to risk burning myself out, as I have tended to do with other exercises. For example, it is now 10 pm, and I still haven't practised my standing FP Qigong meditations. So it will take quite an effort to practise them now. Best regards, David Lesak Moderators, I don't know why, but when I edit a post it is repeated for each iteration?

Hi Sifu Terry, The best is for me to do a run down of how long each repetition of each repeating meditation takes me. So today I timed myself. You will see that I have included the warm-ups from DVD 3 as well as the Wind Through the Treetops meditation which I had already started to integrate into my daily practice before you answered: DVD 1 Standing warm-ups: Wuji standing posture 5 minutes T-Stance Wuji right and left 1 minute each Wuji lowering and rising up 1 minute DVD 3 Standing warm-ups: Warm-up 1x9 - 10 minutes Warm-up 2x9 - 10 minutes DVD 1 BTBx9 24.29 minutes WACx1 5.19 minutes DVD 3 WTTx1 - 12.33 minutes That said, I think it was MSW #1 or #2 that was taking me 5 - 10 minutes to complete, but as I said, I have stopped practising these due to the severe pain in my left knee after completing the 1 hour or so of sitting meditation. However, once my knee has recovered I will time myself and post back on this thread. I'm up for the challenge, and I thank you for such an honour, but I tried to use my smartphone to video myself practising BTB and just couldn't find a way to do it successfully. I need a video-cam to do it properly, but don't have one - neither does anyone else in this godforsaken part of the world . Now the weather is improving it may be easier to try again outside (you may have heard about the hurricanes and other climatic anomalies we have been experiencing over the past month or so in Spain). I think the slowness I have achieved may be the reason I tend to lose track of where I am in the repetitions, because I enter a very deep state of meditation. I should perhaps mention that I am not a newcomer to Qigong, and have spent several years practising Shaolin Pei Ho and Shuang Yang Pei Ho, Lam Style Taijigong, Zhan Zhuang Qigong, Yiquan/Dachengquan, Choy Li Fut, Bagua circle walking and Qigong/Neigong, Neigong Yiliquan, Hunyuan Qigong, Fragrant Qigong and various other forms of Qigong, so these may have contributed to my abilities once I encountered such a potent art as the Bak Fu Pai Flying Phoenix system - not to mention with a master willing to impart the real practice. . Thank you. I don't know whether I have reached that stage or not (effortless and muscle free), but what I can say is that I am able to get into a low horse stance now without straining and without my thigh muscles shaking, as used to be the case when I practised horse stance during Shaolin Gongfu training. That is in of itself remarkable to my mind, because I did not have to push myself in order to lower my stance - rather it is a case of sensing that as the Qi expands out from the LDT it also fills my legs and pushes my lower back backwards - whereas previously I needed to train with a partner standing on top of my thighs in order to get that low! In case anyone is interested in my technique for achieving such a slow pace, I basically begin expanding outward from the LDT, then right from the tips of my toes through to my fingertips, constantly adjusting the timing as the Qi sinks into my legs and feet along with the outward expansion to the hands and fingertips. Particularly when sinking down, for example from the point at which in BTB with the first opening movement, once I have sunk as low into the horse stance as my body wants to go I continue to open the arms outward, sensing where my fingers are in relation to one another, then bring my fingertips as close together as possible without actually touching. Then once the hands are drawn back toward the neck and the hands are facing palm downward in front of the upper chest - at that point I start to push very gently from the laogong points in the hands right down through my body until I feel my tendons stretching to the last joint of the toes when I reach the highest point of that part of the movement. This pushing also happens in reverse from the tips of the toes upward. This is similar in Wind Above the Clouds and Wind Through the Treetops. Throughout the entire meditation I endeavour to be aware of everything both within and around me. But of course my main focus is upon sensing where my hands, fingers and arms are in relation to one another, and whether my posture is correct or not - just as one does in any type of Qigong training. But given that the eyes remain closed, in this system it becomes far more difficult to be aware of the spatial positioning of one's limbs - especially the arms and hands. I found it took me some time to trust that my middle fingers were going to find one another . Of course, the slower one practises, the easier it is to be aware of these subtle spacial awarenesses and learn to correctly coordinate one's movements. I can go through the same description for the first two Monk Serves Wine meditations from DVD 2 if anyone is interested. I think this may be a helpful exercise for us to compare approaches to our practice - with Sifu's permission, of course. Thank you for this revised exercise schedule. As you can see, I opted for 9 repetitions because I figured that halving my original time of almost 40 minutes would round it out nicely to 20 minutes...it didn't quite turn out that way though. However, point (4) is where calculations go pear-shaped, because each repetition of Monk Serves Wine 1 or 2 takes me at least 5 minutes to complete. So at a minimum we have 7x5 minutes + 45 seconds per round = 38.15 minutes. This is also why I now feel so much resistance toward practising the seated meditations from DVD 2, since the pain started becoming unbearable in my left knee. And that was only a half lotus! Perhaps I will have to practise sitting upright on a chair until my knee recovers fully? * Edit, 26/04/2017 in order to include specific times recorded for DVD #2 Sitting meditation practices: I eventually found a more comfortable position - yesterday sitting upright with legs straight out toward front, and today with knees resting on neck pillows in a frog-like position. I needed to support my spine to keep my back as straight as possible. I found this allowed me to enter very deeply into the meditations. (The two times were taken from yesterday and today's practice sessions and include the breath sequence time) Sitting warm-ups: (1) MGM x30 8.39 mins, 11.23 mins (2) Raise and lower arms 10:20 mins (did not record today's time) Sitting meditations: MSW #1 x7 46.27 mins MSW#2 x7 56.43 mins 57.22 mins MSW#3 X7 29.28 mins So I am averaging between 6.5 and 8 minutes for MSW #1 and 2. I found that I was experiencing lapses in consciousness - not sleeping, but just no longer quite aware of what I was doing. At these junctures it took me a little while to recall precisely where I was in the movement. It was a really strange feeling of being 'there', but not there....I don't know how else to describe it, but I was not at all comfortable with this experience. I also totally lost my awareness of breathing. It seemed to simply stop, as though I had entered a space in which time and movement had ceased to exist for me. After this morning's sitting meditations (MSW 2 and 3), I needed to drive to a neighbouring city, and realised that I was having difficulty maintaining my focus on driving - not to the point of being dangerous, but I was certainly a little concerned. It was even more apparent after my chiropractic treatment, so I ended up sleeping for a couple of hours when I got home. I actually skipped the 3 warm-up meditations initially, but now realise my mistake, as they work on the neck and shoulders, which is where a considerable proportion of my health issues is focused. I only have Volumes 1 to 3, I don't have Volume 7. Do I need to purchase this? That's an astonishing amount of ground you got your students to cover! So at my rhythm, that would equate to around 4 repetitions of 1 MSW seated meditation, or 2 repetitions of 2 MSW meditations, or 4 repetitions for each of 2 MSW seated meditations? The work/family obligations are a moot point for me, as I don't have a family and am unable to work until my health is restored. I think the knee pain is arising from an old injury, (several actually) plus bad training practices in the past such as pushing knees, and quite possibly the FP energy is working on it - so this may be some sort of reaction. But I also find that practising the T-posture Wuji warm-ups is making the discomfort noticeably worse. My spinal issues won't allow much in the way of aerobic exercise. I can't even do push-ups any more, and I certainly can't run at all. However what I am practising is Taiji Ball Qigong, in order to strengthen my back. I also try to do this as slowly as the FP meditations, and I believe that this makes the exercise even more demanding and powerful in its overall effect, both internal and external. My chiropractor noticed the effect within a month or so (I had not yet begun the FP meditation practice). He said that I was noticeably stronger than before. OK... Thank you, I'll do less repetitions then, and I'll try and reduce the overall time I spend practising... Having seen the Volume 3 and 4 moving forms on Youtube, I can see why you say that - they are very similar to Taijigong forms. As I mentioned, I have already begun to integrate the first moving meditation from DVD 3 into my training (Wind Through the Treetops), and I feel that it is very beneficial to my spinal condition. It surprised me how I found I was able to adapt to the movement without much discomfort. Especially as I have very limited backward mobility of the spine and neck. www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html Indeed this has been very helpful and insightful, thank you Sifu for giving me so much of your time. David

No problem Sifu, I appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions. However I am still not clear regarding my third point: But what if each repetition takes 5 -10 minutes? How is one supposed to devote 2 - 3 hours to a single meditation? I just timed a typical 18 repetitions of Bending the Bows. It took me just under 40 minutes, minus the time it took to complete the breath control sequence. Now my question is: if you recommend practising BTB plus two other meditations from the standing DVD 1 set plus the 3 warm-ups from the the DVD 2 sitting meditation set plus one of the MSW meditations each day, where is one supposed to find the time? Let's break it down: If I do the warm-ups plus BTB x18 plus two other standing meditations, that is already an hour and a half. Aside from the fact that that is a sizeable chunk of my day, I then need to also do a further hour at least in order to complete the 3 warm-ups and one MSW meditation from DVD 2. That is two and a half hours each day, and I never get to complete all the standing meditations. Try as I might, I just don't have the energy to do the sitting meditations in the evening, especially as they are becoming more and more painful - not during the practice, but after. Sometimes I cannot move my legs for 10 to 15 minutes following the meditations. I think that my age and physical condition need to be factored in. I don't think there are many 59 year olds in my condition who could sustain my rhythm of practice. I would appreciate some feedback from other more experienced practitioners who have maybe found themselves in a similar situation. David www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Sifu, I have a similar issue to that which Deltrus just described, except that in my case the deep jnana state of consciousness sometimes causes me to forget which repetition I am on (see below), That can either result in doing less or more than the proscribed number of repetitions of any given meditation. Second issue: I just learned that Bend the Bows should be performed 18 times (previously I had been only doing 7, as with the Volume 2 seated meditations), and I presume it is the same for Wind Above the Clouds? But what if each repetition takes 5 -10 minutes? How is one supposed to devote 2 - 3 hours to a single meditation?

I did a search before posting, but only found quite outdated information, the most recent being around 2008, so decided to post this new thread. I would like to know how Daoism approaches the subject of food, diet in modern society, as opposed to the life of a wandering sage living in the wilds. Our modern world is a very different place, and the quality of our foods is for the most part far removed from nature. So I would like to know how one should go about establishing a healthy diet from that point of view. Please don't bombard me with stuff relating to the typical western view of nutrition - I'm looking for something more specifically Daoist based. Personally I have never been able to digest meat very well, and have a natural disinclination towards eating it. But I also understand that Daoism is not about imposing restrictions and rules. The key point seems to be the importance of harmonizing with one's environment. But what does that mean in the society we actually live in? Where I live, it is pretty pointless to expect to gain all the essential nutrients from locally grown foods, because the soil itself is bereft of them. Not only that but everything is sprayed with powerful insecticides and other chemicals all year round. There are many local ecological farms starting to produce vegetables, but their prices are exorbitantly high, and I cannot afford them. In my opinion whether or not one agrees with eating meat, the slaughtered animals are so full of drugs, chemicals and other harmful toxins that I see no advantage in eating them, and plenty of risk to the health. Local people rear rabbits and chickens and live off them throughout the year. I buy eggs from them, because they are free range and at least the chickens are reared in more natural conditions than the atrocious conditions of the chickens that produce the variety sold in supermarkets. But everything else has to be purchased from shops or supermarkets. So let's start the discussion...

Phil 48 made a good point regarding what he said about the FPQ shengong energy (not what he actually said, but my interpretation of the meaning). I have another question related to that: In other traditions claiming to be Celestial cultivation schools, the energetic aura manifestation (blue in BFP/FPQ) is sometimes described as a spiritual seal or energetic signature (my description) which is recognized and honoured by spiritual entities, Immortals etc., who will then be more disposed toward teaching or otherwise helping the initiate. My first question is whether this is the actual case in FPQ, or is this blue aura manifestation simply a boosting of the 'etheric' field of a practitioner, or something similar? My second question is - if in fact it is a sort of spiritual seal, does this remain with the practitioner from one lifetime to the next, thereby allowing them to be recognized and easily renew their spiritual practices with one of the Celestial schools?

On the subject of distilled water, I would just reiterate not to drink any other distilled water than steam distilled water. When you purchase the type of distilled water found in a pharmacy (chemist) or hardware store, there is always a risk that the plastic from the container may have leached into the water and contaminated it, or the actual purity of the water is not sufficiently high enough to begin with. Typically a steam distiller is also equipped with a secondary carbon filter which is ostensibly to improve the taste, but in fact it also serves to filter any heavy metals or chemicals light enough to be carried in the steam. a steam distiller is basically just a kettle with a cooling system on top to catch the steam and cause it to drip into the container. In the USA you are lucky enough not to be limited to only electric steam distillers, but you also have other types which can be placed over a stove, requiring no electricity (for when TSHTF). These are not available in Europe, sadly. The only downside in fact to my purchase of an electric steam distiller is the limit to the amount of water it can hold, which is only 4 litres. It would be far more useful to have sufficient distilled water to also wash vegetables or whatever, as 4 litres per day is just about sufficient for drinking and cooking purposes, and the distillation process is fairly lengthy - several hours for 4 litres.

On the subject of distilled water, I would just reiterate not to drink any other distilled water than steam distilled water. When you purchase the type of distilled water found in a pharmacy (chemist) or hardware store, there is always a risk that the plastic from the container may have leached into the water and contaminated it, or the actual purity of the water is not sufficiently high enough to begin with. Typically a steam distiller is also equipped with a secondary carbon filter which is ostensibly to improve the taste, but in fact it also serves to filter any heavy metals or chemicals light enough to be carried in the steam. A steam distiller is basically just a kettle with a cooling system on top to catch the steam and cause it to drip into the container. In the USA you are lucky enough not to be limited to only electric steam distillers, but you also have other types which can be placed over a stove, requiring no electricity (for when TSHTF). These are not available in Europe, sadly. The only downside in fact to my purchase of an electric steam distiller is the limit to the amount of water it can hold, which is only 4 litres. It would be far more useful to have sufficient distilled water to also wash vegetables or whatever, as 4 litres per day is just about sufficient for drinking and cooking purposes, and the distillation process is fairly lengthy - several hours for 4 litres. Moderators - I edited this and the post duplicated itself!!! ???

No, we did not learn Hung Gar, it was definitely Eng Chun Pei Ho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iklKt5mnwkE this is the Sam Chien form demonstrating Iron Shirt https://www.youtube.com/user/namyang1954/videos All these videos demonstrate the different forms taught at NYPA in Singapore. As you can see, lion dance is a very important part of the training, and indeed NYPA supports itself with Lion Dancing. NYPA also features the black fighting lion. I would say that perhaps this form best typifies this style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4IC52VjMTs

No, we did not learn Hung Gar, it was definitely Eng Chun Pei Ho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iklKt5mnwkE this is the Sam Chien form demonstrating Iron Shirt https://www.youtube.com/user/namyang1954/videos All these videos demonstrate the different forms taught at NYPA in Singapore. As you can see, lion dance is a very important part of the training, and indeed NYPA supports itself with Lion Dancing. NYPA also features the black fighting lion. I would say that perhaps this form best typifies this style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4IC52VjMTs

Is there anyone here who can stand in for Sifu Dunn to answer some questions related to FPQ practise? I PM'd him a few days ago, but no reply. I prefer not to post directly to this thread. Thank you. David

Pardon me for saying so, but you should make it mandatory! Let me explain why: The reason for using distilled water - and let me stress here that this has to be steam distilled, not the stuff you purchase for topping up battery cells - is that both tap water and bottled water is full of chemicals and heavy metals. In addition to that, tap water also contains many residues from drugs which cannot be broken down or successfully removed from the water supply. Also, distillation is one of the few effective ways to remove fluoride from water. Very few filters can do so. The lie that big pharma feeds the public about distilled water leaching the minerals out of the body directly supports the bottled mineral water industry (Why do you think Coca Cola got on board?). The truth is that although the days of being able to drink rainwater are sadly long gone, at one time it was the purest natural source of distilled water available! This is because rain water is (was) simply water that has evaporated (caused by being boiled by the heat of the sun until steam is produced) into the atmosphere, condensed, cooled and is then released as rain. Another name for that process is distillation! So those who try to con you into believing that bottled mineral water is purer and better for you are lying. We do not assimilate minerals from water, but rather from food. The bottled mineral water industry is conning the public out of their money. It is one of the biggest frauds this century, because it has grown into a mega industry. Spring water is actually full of impurities which can create many problems for one's health - including various types of calculus, such as kidney stones. It is usually full of natural heavy metals and chemicals which have filtered in from the earth as the water passes through. Now I will leave you to describe what remains in the bottom of your steam distiller to the naysayers....how you can drink tap water knowing what the distillation residue looks and smells like is really beyond my comprehension! And one other suggestion: let's try an experiment...any of you with a steam distiller. Try distilling a bottle of spring water or mineral water and see if the residue is much different from the residue produced from tap water. Then please post the results here. You can also carry out a test on the purity of water with a readily available digital tester, compare the readings of tap water, and bottled mineral and spring water with those of pure steam distilled water, which will give a zero reading!

If you wouldn't mind, I would like you to go into more detail about your smoothies, because that is more or less what I have been forced to live on since quite some time ago when the climatic conditions where I live (extreme heat in the summer months) which killed my appetite totally.