Aetherous

Dear Ching Sung, Will you please speak more about these ancient training practices, and the skills that result in the creation of forms? Thank you!

Exactly...lots of people who arrive here are brand new. They don't realize that many things which pass for spiritual practices can mess up the nervous system, create psychiatric problems, etc.

If this is the case, there should probably be a very visible warning on the forum for new members that not every practice they read about here is safe and that these practices may be invented by amateurs, or even used for nefarious purposes (not saying any of this about SonOfTheGods). Sometimes newbies assume that what's being commonly talked about, and what's not questioned by anyone, is what's most legitimate (think: perineum grounding wires, and full lotus OataDs)...when in fact, most members are too polite to create adversity and say that their fellow bums are just plain wrong. The safety of members and practitioners is a high priority at least for myself, knowing how easy it is to damage oneself with these things.

The methods and philosophies of whatever you aim to accomplish.

Don't do binaural beats anymore! Go see a healer, like someone who can take your pulse and bring it back into balance. If you don't have that, then just breathe fresh air for a practice and go for walks. Or keep asking questions to the forum about what legitimate practices you're looking into, and see if people think they'll be good for you. Don't do illegitimate practices, like binaural beats!

The thin line between Buddhist philosophy of no self, and depersonalization disorders! In my view, Buddhist philosophy should only be an adjunct to Buddhist practice, and not be taken as truths for all meditators. So things like prostrations, developing bodhicitta, exhaling stale winds and correct sitting, dedication of merit, dealing with a bodhisattva yidam, and more legitimate practices of Buddhism...all of these help cultivate the right state of being, which is open and relaxed, free from concepts (grasping or clinging mind). Not depersonalized. That's incredibly important. Practice that leads to relaxation and openness and more loving-kindess and clarity...rather than meditating and thinking we need to dis-identify, or identify with consciousness itself. Obviously, we can see that path leads to increased suffering rather than increased bliss. The point of Buddhism is to reduce suffering, not necessarily to force identification with pure consciousness or forcefully see that we have no identity at all. No...it is to relax open, and be free from negative feelings. Whatever brings that is legitimate practice and philosophy, and whatever takes that away is the opposite. In my view as a newbie.

Practicing this will help you with that.

What does the acronym UMB stand for?

That's not what other people are saying, but that's what I'm saying. The benefits of walking are well known.

Currently the most active unit of the NHS.

The first rule of the ninja hit squad is: you do not talk about the ninja hit squad.

It's hard to be like that. To be correct.

Looking at the "walking chi kung" book cover...it looks ridiculous. Is that how people practice it? I personally just go for a walk like a normal person, hands swinging by the sides. Just that isn't a bad form of qigong at all!

Those are the ones we students try to avoid...the ones who, for instance, lack understanding of people. Or who basically can't "keep it real" on the level playing field. Not to say that disturbing insults should be acceptable here. It's a good sign that you've lasted so long, Ya Mu. The lotus blooms in the swamp.

I'm working incredibly hard on it (because my teachers say that it's necessary to support yourself by your own honest work, and not live off of others' work, like your parents...while also having more than enough money to be able to help others and provide for the ones you're supposed to).

In all honesty, the Space Panda Qigong banner ad is one of the best I've seen. If I was new here and thought it was a legitimate form of qigong, I would definitely click on it and check it out.

www.myboxingcoach.com I'm a fan of this site. In my view, it's a fair deal for the quality and amount of information you get. It's very systematically broken down, so you can get an idea of why they call boxing "the sweet science". You will need to buy equipment such as a bag and gloves in order to do this...so it'll end up costing a few hundred bucks to begin. He recommends you get a coach if you're planning on becoming a competitive fighter, and I think a coach would be easier all around for actually getting off the couch and doing it...but if you don't have a boxing gym near you, if you're motivated and disciplined, and just want to train and improve, you can get a really good foundation in boxing from this course. As it's said, "95% of what the champs do are the basics, they just do them very well." The more you train correctly with a heavy bag, the better fighter you will be!

The correct way to think about this is that celibacy is basically like providing oil for your car (nervous system). You will literally feel like the body is subtly lubricated or nourished. On the other hand, imagine a car without any oil...it will be clunking around and getting fried up. In Ayurveda this oil is called ojas, which basically helps the immune system function to 100%, and which is created from the sexual tissue or substance. It's also created from positive feelings and certain types of food, etc. It's a good subject to look into. So, if this sexual tissue is used up too much too quickly (lets say by masturbating three times in a day), then ojas or health production diminishes...and you get bad symptoms that people call kundalini overload...which is really just like an overactive sympathetic nervous system. You basically just need to chill out. A primary symptom of having ejaculated too much is that your eyes turn dull and grey, kind of lifeless. The eyes display the spirit, and the ojas is what binds the spirit to the body or in other words, feeds the soul, which directly benefits one's health and spirituality. So, lose too much semen at once, and you are directly affecting your health and spirituality in the negative. Keep the eyes bright. Don't worry so much about micro-managing every little symptom, such as twitches. It can be possible that if there's already a dysfunctioning nervous system, that when you retain the semen, it makes things seem worse for a while. I experienced this, too. But the real problem is not having semen that you haven't ejaculated...the problem is the nervous system and mind and lifestyle. Getting a lot of sleep will help. Doing relaxing things. Softening the mind. Being natural. And of course, look into "ojas" and find things to do to improve that.

The good ones tend to stick around for a few years, I think.

My training is now complete!

I don't think it's on us...it's just something that happens every now and then.

You've taught me everything I needed to know, Prisoner.

Definitely know what you mean about being on/off with it. I've personally moved on, but still feel the call to practice from time to time. And if I practice for a while, I'll probably feel the call to stop. Even if I don't practice it ever again, at least I have fond memories of everything experienced in regard to it.

I voted for decreased, although it's close to "same". Why? Because in the past there was a lot of new information being shared here, and a lot of charismatic teachers were available. These days, what's new? Who are the teachers that change your life and are truly interesting? Some people might say Ya Mu, and that's a close one...I half agree...but can anyone say that he is as charismatic and inspiring/life changing as Max (who was represented by Chris/Mantra68)? I certainly don't think so. There's definitely not the controversy surrounding that...so what does that say? Lets be honest...the Kunlun days took the Tao bum world by storm, and it was a blast, and an educational experience. There was also Vajrasattva/Santi, who shared a lot of interesting things here. Where is this kind of material anymore? But even before that, things were more interesting. For instance, I found RMAX from this forum, and learned and practiced a bunch of that even back in like 2005. Instead of learners and practicers, do we just have a lot of talkers? Maybe it was just because I was new to the forum back then that everything seemed new. So I hope to see new information popping up here, instead of the same old stuff; also some brilliant teachers showing up. The forum used to be more interesting...and I'm not sure there's anything we can do about it. Maybe the Tao will make things right once again.

Unpopular opinion: if you just go for a walk it'll do more.