Aetherous

How can the six healing sounds be practiced incorrectly, and how can it cause irreversible damage?

You could try herbs and diet for "vata dosha". Any kind of root (grows in the earth, which is the opposite of the qualities of air and space/vata) that has sweet, sour, or salty qualities could possibly be good. Like acorn squash or yam cooked up with some salted butter, is a good example I think. Also, massaging the body with warmed sesame oil before bathing will help pacify vata dosha. Another consideration is that the soul has trouble connecting with the body and mind when there are liver problems (I recall you saying liver qi stagnation has been an ongoing issue), so it subtly rises out of the head and causes lack of concentration, lack of control of the senses, emotional disturbance, etc. This liver issue may actually be related to any of the other organs not functioning in harmony, and not just the liver qi or meridian...for instance, if the kidney yin and yang aren't balanced, the liver will have problems. Or the spleen can be not working properly and throwing the liver out of whack as well. When the liver has problems, then the shen of the heart becomes disturbed (lack of concentration), etc. Basically, I would keep working with the Chinese medicine path and trying to achieve balance. If one practitioner isn't achieving results, try another for a while. Just taking an herb that's designated for improved concentration may throw you even more out of balance (especially if you were to take 5 hour energy or something). It's important to get properly diagnosed according to traditional medicine. Tonics probably aren't a good idea unless it's needed for what your signs and symptoms reveal. If you do concentration meditation practices, it'd be good to do ones that focus on scents and tastes. Those are water and earth element, which will bring balance to the overactive air and space elements. Just slow down when having your meals, and pay attention to how it tastes and smells...meditation while eating. Stillness-movement is also a great practice for this issue.

May only people who are destined and permitted to understand the following be able to, because I share this info without knowing the repercussions or fully understanding it myself... In the rainbow body paintings, you see that the heart and head are both open and radiating the "5 pure lights". You also see that the heart and head are connected by a channel of light, which is the "kati" channel in the Tibetan tradition. Something that opens this is gazing at a slight angle downward without focus, or basically looking at nothing in particular, into empty space (which is actually a Taoist method as well)...if you do that while meditating for a while, without blinking, you will see colored lights, which reveal that the mind and heart are more connected. I think it's similar to when meditators report seeing the blue sphere of light, or the nimitta (in Theravada). Being free of a guilty conscience or any concerns also opens it. This book discusses it a little bit, and in particular says that in the Tibetan tradition, closed eye meditation shuts the kati channel down. Here we see a Buddha representation showing the right kind of gaze... These photos from Kunlun Nei Gung might be some evidence of achieving a type of rainbow body during life (one could argue that they're just photoshopped...I don't). Here is the 16th Karmapa in a photo that's said to be showing rainbow body: Oh and also, you might want to check out the Bon Dzogchen teachings on the "Six Lamps".

I'm with soaring crane. If someone is sitting back and silently watching their enemies destroy themselves, this is a tactic of cunning. It's literally the opposite of Tao, because it requires a complete disconnection from one's integrity. If our leaders were following the Tao (or if more Americans were), the country would be functioning well without much effort. It starts within you and I. Instead, we're seeing this government shutdown charade, constant talk of war with other nations (like N Korea, Syria, etc). Many many citizens are revolting against the obvious government corruption, which is a healthy balancing effect, but it actually reveals a state of imbalance. More practice is necessary to harmonize this stuff.

+1 I haven't been to a class yet, but I think stillness-movement is a great way to do that.

Thanks cat, this is really great to watch!

No problem! _/\_ I'm not trained in TCM, but just shared some stuff like the importance of diagnosis, the theory of using the mother/child points and yuan source points, focusing on treating yin organ deficiencies first based on diagnostic findings...and checking out the books: "Ling Shu" (which is actually the second book of the Yellow Emperor's Classic and reveals a lot of rare info), "A Manual of Acupuncture" (less expensive when bought as an app), and "Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis Study Guide". I'd also love to hear what trained acupuncturists have to say for people who are learning on their own! edit: the only issue I've found with the Diagnosis Study Guide which could be confusing and which is incomplete, is that the meridian positions in the radial pulse are not at all typical. The authors state that this is just one opinion of what the pulses represent, but don't give any other examples. So if anyone gets that book, be aware that there are other versions of the positions that probably work better with acupuncture. For instance, a version that seems good to me... Left (deep/superficial, distal position first then proceeding to proximal): heart/small intestine liver/gall bladder kidney/bladder Right: lung/large intestine spleen/stomach pericardium or mingmen/triple burner edit: I also recommend "Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine" for a book to get. That's where you'll get really clear ideas of how and why to choose different points! It's pretty comprehensive.

Stumbled on this program today...learning Japanese style diagnosis and acupuncture online for $197 AUD: http://www.worldacupuncture.com/LearningProgram.html I don't know how it is aside from the videos that are on the site and youtube (which seem to be good quality), but I thought I'd share it here in case anyone is interested.

I joined (20 bucks a month)...the website barely contains any information, and in the member's forum they say that you need this textbook. I will be canceling the subscription to the website! So if you're interested in Japanese meridian style acupuncture, I suggest you just get that book. It seems quite clear and complete! There is also this really inexpensive book on Kindle, which gives a basic understanding of Japanese meridian style (I got more from this 3 dollar book than the website lol). The author says that you can use a teishin instead of needles, which I plan on trying for self-work. I've been using this transdermal roll on, which also works (the pulse definitely changes in response). edit: So I got the textbook. It wasn't as clear as I thought, and I'm returning it...I can't recommend it, personally, except to people who already practice Japanese style as something to reflect upon or consider. Also, about teishin, this guy makes some good quality ones. I went back and read the Chinese classics...in the Ling Shu they call it "spoon needle". Here's a passage on it: "The spoon needle has a point which is as sharp as a grain of millet. It controls the channels by touch, not by penetration, so as to bring about the qi." - from Chapter 1

I think these terms are speaking of two different stages in Taoism. Merge yin and yang is one, then having a pure yang body is another. "Yang" in each of these stages is describing something different. If I had time to devote to this, I'd study this book.

I took a class on nuclear radiation once. Apparently if you have a 4 foot thick concrete structure, even the highest form of radiation (gamma) can't enter. So a person could create EMF free zones, in which to sleep or meditate...or survive a nuclear apocalypse. Wouldn't be that fun to hang out in there, though, without sunlight and fresh air. An Ayurvedic teacher I've been reading says that he thinks EMF has an effect of creating more "marut" and "agni" in people, and depleting the soma. There are three components that make up prana which we take in from the universe: soma (nourishing cooling), agni (fire and transforming), marut (creates flow between the two). So people today tend to have excess internal or even emotional heat (agni) as well as vibrating energy (marut) they experience...things that create insomnia and chronic sympathetic nervous system arousal...especially people who are doing breathing practices or who are more sensitive and connected with nature. The EMF is combined with the natural prana of nature now. In addition to limiting EMF exposure (by not using the computer for long periods of time), he recommends getting good sleep (being asleep by 10 pm), and some dietary ways of increasing soma (for instance, boiled milk contains a lot of soma...notice that you become tired after drinking it. Soma permits one to sleep, and sleep increases soma). This teacher also says that you can pH test yourself to see if your soma and agni are balanced. There are a bunch of other ideas he has as well.

I think she is getting it from the people (who look up to her as a saint or avatar, and thus give away their energy), from the practice of hugging, smiling, and radiating unconditional love. The latter things do give access to greater energy.

False. edit: I won't go back and forth any more than I have. My attempts have been to differentiate real paths from the false and harmful, which is in line with the topic.

MPG did allude to that. Or maybe I'm mistaken. I have no desire to misunderstand anyone.

Judgments of others aren't helpful to oneself. It's literally cultivating negativity within, and not doing anything to change the people. In fact, I think as long as we judge them, we keep them as they are...whereas if we let go of who we think they are, they are capable of changing. So judging = bad. Self-consciousness is painful in social situations...so distract the mind from being self focused. Observe details about people instead. Talk about interesting things in the world, like current events. Find out about the other person...people like to talk about themselves, and paying attention to their stories distracts attention away from the sense of self. Getting absorbed in self-consciousness is really the cause of "introversion". Especially when you've dealt with some hard situations where people treated you bad...it can be something we ruminate over, making those negative feelings associated with the self stronger and stronger. It's important to remember that it's a false sense of self...who you were is not who you are. So...focus on the world, and not the sense of self. Emanate compassion, acceptance, love, and forgiveness to people (CALF). Feel these things for people as you look at them. Especially acceptance.

It absolutely is how reality works. We have to live with our conscience, and the consequences of our actions...to create more issues to deal with is not the way. No real immortal would suggest that killing women and children makes you into an immortal, or that it's fine to do.

Murdering innocent people creates more rebirth...there's literally more stuff you have to resolve. Not just internally (like you get over it emotionally and mentally), but in the larger universe as well. Ending rebirth requires virtue, and other ways of the various schools. If you live life well, then you go with a clear conscience and don't really have anything left to resolve. This is the actual path of immortality.

http://www.gancao.net/diagnosis/palpation-pulse/intro-1138 This free online resource really helps to make sense of TCM pulse diagnosis.

What sexual qigong are you practicing; what's the method; what's the goal? It's not useful to feel heavy and dense sensations in your pelvic area.

Sexual spirituality should be something you learn from a qualified teacher. There are many conflicting opinions about what's right. I would recommend just having normal sex (ejaculation) with a lot of foreplay. It's my understanding that once you're sexually stimulated, and you've actually been having sex, it's very unhealthy to stop and keep the semen. It's my experience that it's useless for spiritual and health purposes, in comparison to having longer time periods of pure celibacy where you don't even think about sex. But yeah...good to find a qualified teacher to get the best advice on the subject. About the 'ionization'...any spiritual practice does this. Breathing, empty mind meditation, inner smile and laughter, certain postures or mudras, contemplating virtues, etc. It just happens naturally, and eventually you are able to experience this happening within (feel the unaroused rising of the generative force). Just practice.

See an acupuncturist about the left lower abdomen/rib/lower back issue...it could be related to the large intestine/colon, and they would give you natural herbs and treatment to balance that out (if it's the case). For self care of the entire abdomen over the long term, you could get the book "unwinding the belly". It's a good practice based off of Chi Nei Tsang...it will slowly work at the root of all health issues (which is at the navel area). If I were you, I would have taken the anti-inflammatory...but it's always your choice and your reasoning is understandable. For your testicle issue, it might be related to the abdomen issue...but I would be seeing specialists and western doctors about that. If you want, go see a physical therapist who is skilled in muscle energy technique to ensure that your pelvis is all aligned. That might be contributing to the issue. Also look into "visceral manipulation" and see if anyone nearby you practices that. You might be eating too many eggs...pay attention to your symptoms. Try to look for other foods you could be eating instead. About the marijuana experience, I don't actually know and this is just an educated guess...but it could be that smoking it caused a drain on your kidneys and that's what you were feeling. Best not to smoke it. The best way to transform energy during celibacy is to meditate. Another good way is breathing. If you're doing retention such as masturbation without ejaculation, stop doing that...it's very unhealthy and isn't useful in any way.

I cracked up.

Buckwheat, Quinoa, and Amaranth aren't technically grains...so indulge in those if they work for you. I think acorn and cattail are also not grains, and can be used as types of flour...some places online have them for sale, otherwise you forage them from the wild. There's also almond meal and other types of non-grain flour. I'm sure you can make a lot of unleavened type of breads out of this stuff easily. Soups and stews with lentils. Shepherds pie! Bone broth chicken soup. Indian curry type dishes (you don't eat rice I'm guessing as well?). Cabbage sides...like kim chi or cole slaw. Salads. Soak various types of nuts and seeds overnight to have a satiating snack. Taro root can apparently be used as like a potato substitute, either mashed or made into french fries...if you ever want to switch up the potatoes. Consider sweet potatoes, squashes, etc. Right now I'm making fresh-ground organic whole wheat sourdough from a wild yeast starter...I realize this is a grain but I mention it because if you're going to eat grains at some point, this would be the way to go health-wise. Making sourdough the traditional way almost completely gets rid of phytic acid, makes the nutrients in the wheat readily available, takes down the gluten, etc.

Ya Mu, You are correct! Joeblast, An idea I had was making a deal with a local acupuncturist to supply needles for personal use. One might be willing if you demonstrate that you won't hurt yourself. Or maybe find a different vendor? I bought some a few years back from Lhasa OMS.