Aetherous

CowTao, Your post is quite deep and I'll have to let it sink in... Vajra, I just don't see the difference between truly "identifying" with everything, and having insight into the empty nature of everything. Aren't they the same experience? If a person is identifying with everything, how can they think "I am liberated"? What became liberated? That would still be a separate viewpoint, just the same as if they were confined to a body. Calling it "identifying" with everything might make things confusing. It's not like projecting their ego onto phenomenon. It's just seeing things as they are...liberated from notions of a separate self. Anyway, too much thinking for me, back to trying to finish this damn 10 page paper (for a class)...

The ears are related to the kidneys.

Tibetan Buddhism refers to qi as "rlung", or wind.

Wow, powerful lesson.

What is liberation exactly, Vajra? It would make sense if it were having very expanded consciousness which identified itself with all things...I think it's called "the one taste". Because then you are liberated from the body and individual mind, unless there are any lingering tendencies.

Oh, that's all I have to do here? This will be easier than I thought!

Like others, I would prefer to live very close to nature (it'd be nice to have a cabin in the woods), yet be a part of society. My ideal environment would be a forest that's a couple of miles outside of a decent sized city. I would take a break from real life to go look at the wildlife...in the city! People are nuts. It's fun there. I don't think living in a cave is living in harmony with nature. As humans we require comfort, and we have brains to use mother nature to suit us. Well, I think we have brains...however we've strayed from our mother and live prepackaged lives these days. Being indoors all of the time is actually a big problem for our health, I believe.

Yes for the most part, although I think Spring Forest Qigong's version called "Small Universe" would be okay.

I think walking helps a lot. It's important to get into the body, and not use your mind so much for grounding. Plus, with walking, you get to be outside in nature. Ankle rolling, like markern suggested, is also good. Very important: watch funny videos and laugh...this helps release the diaphragm so that the emotions can be released. A stuck diaphragm means that the rest of the body is stuck. The breath is related to the mind, and so the mind and its emotions will be stuck in repeating patterns (fight or flight syndrome/anxiety). Release the diaphragm and everything comes into balance. If you're going to do breathing practice (which is tricky when you have chest blockages), start out breathing full and deep breaths to calm down...then gradually go into minimizing the sound of the breath while maintaining relaxation. You should never feel anxious when practicing breathing. If you do, go back to the deep and full breaths. Feel the drawing in and releasing of air come from within the lower dantien...if you feel it in other areas of the body, just forget about those places, and imagine that the dantien is like a vacuum, sucking all the air in and then releasing it out. Also, focus more on your exhales and let the inhale occur naturally, when the body is asking for more air. Keep your eyes at a 45 degree angle downwards, and this will also help the energy to descend. Keep your palms down on your knees. However, if you're ever not getting good results from any practice, just discontinue it. Don't keep going at it! Find out what needs to be addressed in your body first. Of course, you know this now... Good luck.

TM, You're getting me way too interested in your walking qigong method.

Oh god. I suggest you don't send your full body photo to anyone here. Especially someone who isn't actually a healer. Edit: This was in response to Gerard asking her for full body photos so he could see what he can do.

In my opinion, we're not even sure if qigong is healthy! Many masters die young... Yet, there is published scientific evidence that drinking a little wine is good for you. So I say go for it. Another sure bet is moderate exercise...many studies showing how that's good for you.

Yes, I know.

Is there a difference between the two? looks like the reputation system is working vs I think it's interesting to see the reputation system at work here. You two were having a somewhat heated discussion at the time. So I call BS.

Hahahaha! Yeah next year we should celebrate!

To make things clearer for you... This kind of attitude is judgmental and uncaring.

Are you really that upset? No. I want to focus on the fact that a person can (and already did) get a very large negative "reputation" here, and then a moderator will snarkily announce "looks like the reputation system is working" and add some sarcastic emoticons, to further drive the point home that the person sucks... We shouldn't have that happening, and we can come up with many what-ifs about what that person could do. But that's not the point. The point is we as a Taoist forum shouldn't have a system in place which can make people feel like crap about themselves. What they do with their feelings is partly our responsibility! For example, kids that are picked on in school shouldn't be told to just suck it up, or work on their feelings...the bullies play a major role in it. The picked on kids shouldn't be thought of as crazy if they engage in self destructive behavior, or fight back against their oppressors...those reactions are understandable. The bullying should simply stop happening, and that would solve many problems. People post here with their best efforts. They put their life into their practice and beliefs. I don't think we should be so quick to shoot that down, even if we disagree. However, a superior and judgmental attitude, I have no problem with shooting down. Consider how you've acted judgmental and uncaring in this topic. Also, consider how your last post served no purpose except to let off steam.

What if, despite his apparent happy life, Vajrahridaya was actually a depressed dude...what if everything was going wrong at this time for him? Then, he comes here and everyone hates on him... Your perspective may be that this forum stuff is just a tiny thing in your life, but maybe not everyone shares that detached healthy view. So it's important to consider that if people are making this into a big deal, it's because it's a big deal to them. It's not a big deal to me in the sense that I care what people think about me here, but it becomes a big deal to me when I consider how big of a deal it could be to someone else. I like watching the Bee Taoist on youtube. He says that the purpose of a Taoist temple is like a gas station...to fill people up when they visit, so that if they were feeling depressed before they came, they leave uplifted. Whether we realize it or not, we are the bearers of these traditions on the internet...this place is like a temple, to learn and disseminate the arts. It'd be a pretty crappy temple if anyone visited and all of the priests and monks wanted to kick him/her out, and make them feel like the most worthless person around. What if Vajrahridaya finally had enough, and the -33 reputation was enough to cause him to commit suicide? You never know! That one potential event is enough for me to make this into a big deal. It can be the worst feeling in the world to be completely outcast by a society. Even if we're all bickering, and being egotistical assholes to one another...the very last thing we should do here is ostracize an individual. Another thing: if you don't care about anything, simply don't comment. Why spend time ridiculing others for taking action and having a purpose in their lives? Is your day that boring, that you feel the need to pass judgment on people who are trying to change their world (this forum included) into a better place?

Craig, You said: Perhaps if you tried the first level of WG, and compared it to the exercises in BF's book, you would see for yourself. With your background in other Taoist arts, you could notice the qualities of each method and make an informed opinion simply by trying the introductory methods. Then you could share that opinion when people are asking for help in starting out... Then I could come here and say your opinion lacks experience, completely ignoring your background. I could say that, having even less experience than you in the methods being discussed, just because I'm a friendly guy! To put it in simpler terms: go do something useful with your attitude.

You're right...we need people who have practiced every wild goose form there is, in addition to having mastered BF's entire "system" of qigong. Only they have an informed opinion. Those who have practiced the introductory methods of both "systems" shouldn't speak, because BF is saving the good stuff for the advanced levels! Also we should read BF's advanced qigong books to actually be informed (which don't exist).

Owning "Opening the Energy Gates of the Body". I'm not a fan of it at all. I think Wild Goose would give better results for health. For one thing, in WG you're moving and bending the body in all sorts of different ways. Whereas from what I know of BF's "qigong", you're just shifting weight side to side. WG also incorporates key Taoist methods for healing, whereas BF's stuff doesn't, as far as I know. I could say more, because I'm opinionated on BF...but no one cares to hear that stuff.

I played around with the first level form. I think it's a healthy thing to do. Better than BF, in my opinion.

Yeah, but fuck that shit.

What it really comes down to for me is: yesterday we as a forum gave Vajrahridaya a -33 reputation. How does it feel (for anyone) to be ostracized from a community, like that? This is a Taoist forum...specifically one which we call ourselves "bums"! Our actions are completely inappropriate for the title of this place. Instead, we should be making people feel welcome, and encouraging differences of opinion. Then we can grow in our own views. If we just make people want to leave, then all that we have left is our own stupidity, with no one to challenge it.

Yeah, bad idea.