Aetherous

OH! Something one of my drill sergeants taught me: "I can always do 2% more than my limit." When you think you can't do anymore...recognize that as the moment that you have 2% more. In the next moment that it comes to mind, you still have 2% more. You ALWAYS have 2% more to spare...keep going. Basically, from a structural standpoint, a person could stand for a LONG time. Definitely more than 24 hours. Gruesome. Another one of my drill sergeants one day said "lets see which one of you has Heart!" and we had to hold up our rifles in front of us for over an hour. I actually started crying at the end.

Actually I find that overcoming yourself through willpower directly penetrates the root. Anyway, enough from me. This challenge that Gerard offered up is not a matter of intellectual bantering...if you think you're smart, I suggest you take this challenge and see if you can break through completely. If you can, then I will consider your words. No offense.

That's the point...but your willpower can discipline your body to make it past the point that "you" don't. At least that's my view.

If I could be smart enough to rake in the cash like he did I would totally take it.

Breaking the ego is just a step away...just one second past completely surrendering...however, the more flexible it is the longer it seems to take, and many will probably quit before the ego is fully broken. This is a horrific challenge for those who will go through with it. I am not going to!

Nice, Stig. I like to learn from your stupidity and ignorance, too! TOTALLY KIDDING!!!!

That one is good.

I think the movie Aladdin at least contradicts pretty much everything she was ranting about. Coincidentally it's my favorite!

Actually I think that for a long time Disney was into the practice of 'brainwashing' children into valuing the right things in life, so that they could grow up to be better people. Teaching morality in a hidden in plain sight kind of way. Interesting about impulsiveness...never thought of that before.

What do they want people to believe? What does Lion King cause people to believe?

Aha....it does say later on in the book "your yin comes from the earth and you need to be connected to it".

Actually I think it's the reverse. When you're good with the vertical, the horizontal is easier to love...because then you have love, and other good feelings. If you experience the negative emotions that plague the horizontal, you can transmute them through the vertical.

"Yin qi" could be referring to "true water within the vapor" or 'li'. Or could be referring to earth energy. Or like you said, the saliva mixed with oxygen swallowed to the lower dan. I guess the only people that can tell what exactly "yin qi" is in the Mo Pai system are the Mo Pai dudes.

Thanks Drew. At least according to this book, those aren't the most accurate instructions. For instance, apparently in level one there is a specific way to collect yin qi which isn't disclosed.

I'm disappointed that the actual methods haven't been shared in full. I know it's a lot to expect, but if the training of Mo Pai is actually unique (different from other schools of alchemy), then there is the possibility that it can disappear from history.

Sweet, thanks for letting us know about this.

How hard is it to be seen as perfect? I think not too hard at all. You don't actually have to be perfect...you just have to not ever reveal yourself as imperfect. It is actually the teacher's job to make this happen. Part of their work can include reminding the student that they are just human and can make mistakes...but at no time should they use that as an excuse for behaving inappropriately. They must hold themselves to a very high standard...this is part of the path of the teacher (their learning experience is NOT over). There's no excuse for: speaking about things which you don't know...lying...sleeping with your students...etc etc etc. Real teachers exist.

Other people have had great advice, some of which was: stop practicing, get a real energy work teacher, and also see a professional about preventing suicide. I just wanted to say... Zhan zhuang and tummo are powerful and dangerous when you've opened up the forehead area...it just perpetuates any issues that you have. This is because lower dantian meditations are "fire path" in that they create steam which rises from the dantian through the spine to energize the brain...and directly to the open forehead. Energizing the forehead area opens everything, like pandora's box. Instead of cultivating sensation at the front of the head, you should feel the back of your head, with your intent. Close your eyes, so the energy that's normally forwards can go backwards to the back of your head. Block out the sensations at the front of your head from your consciousness, if you can, gently...if you can do this, awesome. Then feel as if you don't have a head, and as if your head is sitting on top of the spine at the middle dantian in your chest. Lose awareness of the real head. Pretend that the sensations which are taking place above in your real head are dropping down to your imaginary head, until you can't even pay attention to them anymore. It's just training your awareness to be selective in what it's aware of. Be gentle with it, without forcing your focus. Practice for 10 minutes at a time, no more than that. Afterward, place your palms on your belly below the navel, left on the inside right on the outside, for another 10 minutes. I think this will help bring some balance. If it doesn't, then don't keep trying this...drop it completely and don't practice it...maybe it's not the right advice for you! Craniosacral therapy may also really help. Best of luck to you, Josama.

Interesting...

If you don't mind, maybe you could share your personal experiences? That would help start some discussion! If not, it's all good...I understand completely.

Good question. I guess practice (and those who have truly attained this) can only tell...but maybe it's also helpful to study alchemical texts. Eva Wong has a few good ones. Please take what I say with a grain of salt, since I don't want to mislead you. I can only guess about what it is.

Welcome, Sky Magi!

Horace?

words to me are like alphabet soup, stir it up and savour the broth

Well, I meant so that he won't freeze to death on the streets like he would in most of America this time of year.