searcher7977

In the past, zhineng qigong was highly regarded among posters here. I just found out both level 1 and level 2 are on sale on udemy for $10 (each): https://www.udemy.com/course/zhineng-qigong-body-mind-form/ Just thought I'd let you all know c:

I chant rotate and chant a variety of mantras and japas: Aum, heart sutra, ten line life prolonging kannon sutra, various of the smaller zen okyo and lay chants, nembutsu, ganesha short japa (om gam ganapataye namaha), panchakshara mantra (aum namah shivayah), metta in english, hong-sau (SRF's version of soham), and spring forest qigong pronounciation of avalokiteshvara's six syllable mantra (ong mali beme hong), and last pavamana mantra (asatoma sadgamaya...), various of Isha Foundation's Vairagya mantras. As for any effects, only chanting the heart sutra and nembtsu seem to give a subtle help in energy and clarity. Pachakshara brought immense fear at one point. I think the hindu mantras need a lot of effort to really perceive the effects, at least for me. Which is...confusing to me lol since its at least classically an older and more defined school/system.

I am not an expert nor am I really even intermediate. I am at best an advanced beginner, and I didn't do very much zhineng qigong when I discovered it some years ago. With that out of the way, I would say continue on to the next level when you want to. If you are feeling nothing from level one, you can still continue on to level two. Sometimes there are different pathways or often times in the lineages such things were more lateral techniques than vertical or hierarchical. If you are feeling something from level one, level two might help refine it. If you find yourself going deeper and deeper into the first level of practice, you might want to stay there for some weeks or months. If you are short on time, I imagine it would be best to do the foundation or cornerstone, which are usually (but not always!) the first level techniques. My preference is to always advance when able. Some people are hindered for a very long time unnecessarily by never moving forward, for whatever reason.

I know what it means, yes. I'll be honest, I'd rather not point out. I do like reading posts by the other posters here, even if I disagree with them sometimes, and I really don't want to offend or stir up things. And also, as someone who has gone back and read past 10 year old threads that were full of sometimes helpful sometimes not helpful things, I don't want to potentially derail this thread for future readers. I do appreciate your response though, and I'm sure future readers will too when deciding for themselves.

Personally I would say no, no mocking. But that is from my buddhist background, since it tells us to refrain from harsh speech. In yoga, mocking is not encouraged as part of ahimsa depending on the school, but can fall under other yamas and niyamas as well. I do not know about Taoist perspectives. I have posted asking about it on this forum but it went unanswered some time ago. Its one thing to call it out as rubbish or to say its wrong. Its another to mock or be sarcastic. But, perhaps you see it differently. I don't think I have quite as much experience as you, at most I am a serious beginner.

Of all the esoteric experiences you have read and apparently experienced through FPCK, I would imagine it wouldn't be a stretch to believe it possible to be intoxicated (in a sense) through meditation. If FPCK does channel compassionate energy, and is in any way connected to Guan Yin, its not shown in your post mocking and disrespecting another spiritual teacher, Sadhguru.

I think there are plenty other teachers and old Buddhist and Hindu texts that describe bliss, pleasant sensations, and various meditative states as intoxicating. Stoned maybe a stretch lol, but Sadhguru does seem to imply he is able to make his own cannabinoids. So, in that respect, yes he frequently talks about altering one's own body chemistry through various sadhana and of course diet. And no, his English is fairly good. You bring up valid arguments. To that, I would say this one article does not sum up the entirety of his teachings about the anandamayakosha. I would classify it as another one of his lectures on altering body chemistry. In this article, he says "I am only against limited pleasures. The human need for intoxication is understandable." He has said similar things before. Something like "The problem with humans is not that they are greedy, its that they are not greedy enough." Both quotes lead into a lecture about how the only way to satisfy such immense desires is to seek (and touch) the infinite, the source of creation, the divine, etc. He describes a form of being stoned tied directly to the peace and stillness arising from meditation. He has many lectures of this sort. Again, perhaps a literal interpretation in a Western context might turn people away from him. But I would argue that he defines what he means as stoned in the rest of the article: "a phenomenally productive state" where "nothing feels burdensome anymore." "Stillness, exuberance, and intoxication...[experiencing] the full depth and dimensions of what it means to be human...the nameless ecstasies of the source of creation itself."

I've studied his practices and attended multiple of his foundation's classes and satsangs for about a year, and have been doing his ancillary practices for several subsequent years. I believe his methods work very well, and they match what other reputable Guru's have said, such as Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Sivananda. He is also doing very good public service and community work. So, speaking from both personal experience and from objective measures of how much literal food he has given to people in need, I'd say he is a reputable source with a good head on his shoulders and a good heart. In the specific context of drugs, I've never been addicted to them so I wouldn't know how effective his measures are. But I see similarities between what he says about an intrinsic sense of happiness and the famous rat park study. So, I would have to disagree with all the above posts.

Sifu Terry's official instructions seem different from Efreethought's suggestion, in that it does not limit your breath to 10 seconds. Maybe your normal exhalation is only 6 seconds long. Here are Sifu Terry's official words: "Try first mentally calibrating your normal breath (which you take each time with the 3 priming breathes at the start) into 10 parts. Mentally count from 1 to 10 with each normal breath you take--no matter how fast you have to count in the beginning. Once you establish those 10 counts, then use those counts to exhale whatever %'s the particular FP exercise calls for. All the breath controls are based on your normal breath cycle. It is RELATIVE--but it is not arbitrary." https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/12639-flying-phoenix-chi-kung/?do=findComment&comment=177700 "This is how I get my beginning students qigong comfortable with the FP breathing sequences: "Calibrate" each inhalation and exhalation of the deepest breath you can take into ten equal parts: First concentrate on taking very deep breaths, quietly and smoothly, (through the nose and with tongue touching the roof of the mouth, of course). Once you do this for a few minutes, and feel that you are breathing your deepest, fullest breathes, you then count "fit" ten even counts into each exhalation cycle--e.g., by mentally counting to yourself "one potato, two potato, three potato...ten potatoes" through each exhalation (and also inhalation)." https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/12639-flying-phoenix-chi-kung/?page=3&tab=comments#comment-167161 You can also search this thread specifically for "breath counting" or "breathing sequence" or something similar.

Generally chunyi lin says his system is compatible with any other system so long as you let enough time lapse between them. However, you would also have to check with the Pangu system. I did Pangu for around a month. I also did SFQ for about 2 years on and off, and while I agree the active exercises aren't that physically strenuous or pronounced, I don't recommend combining them. Keep progressing on Pangu, or stick with SFQ. What would be more compatible with SFQ would be taijiquan, bagua, kung fu, or even hatha yoga. Treat the active exercises as meditations instead of viewing them as physical movements. Of course, there is the obligatory note that you should first and foremost consult a teacher.

I have not read enough of the sutras to know firsthand, but I have read in articles that there were some disparaging and outright sexist remarks. Similarly, I've read of male monks looking down on female monks in similar ways you have described. Other users have already given some good information, so really I can only add some of my first hand experience: In these modern times I can say that teachers have shown no distinction between what females can achieve and what males can achieve. The head assistant to the abbot of Korinji Monastery where I went on retreat was a female nun. She ran the monastery whenever the abbot was away. She has been there for more than 5 years now. Other Rinzai Zen branch groups I attended spoke indiscriminately of students entering samadhi. Of course, mindfulness/vipassana groups I have attended were also filled with women and treated indiscriminately with regards to any progress or attainments. The only time there were any differences were when I attended (authentic) yoga classes (mainly kriya and hatha), and there were differences in which legs should cross, which nostrils to breathe through first, or some other esoteric adjustments. Obviously there are some separate practices, but the general main techniques are usually similar. Still, it is sad to see buddhism marred by any sexism whatsoever.

I think one very good definition of science is simply the scientific method, which includes the results of said method. Scientists would be anyone who applies the scientific method. Of course, it is important to recognize the limitations or common problems of the scientific method, namely restriction to what can be observed and measured, and isolated reductionism. But, that does not negate the immense usefulness of it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

Thank you for this I'm going to use this too lol.

I am most certainly not lying. I myself purchased level one and two online for the amounts I posted. I do concede that those seminars are expensive af. I don't know why they are offered at such a high price, but I think that is different than the original trainings. I don't know, I haven't made it past level 2. I agree with you. There are a lot of affirmations done, and it is one my few sticking points with this qigong practice. It would be one thing if it were hoping or wishing, or even visualizing healing energy, but to flat out believe we are being healed is certainly problematic, at least at first glance. Maybe it works differently on an energetic level, I don't know. I want to say, I do value your evaluations on these things. I have read all of the articles on your site. I am certainly not at the level to judge these things with anything other than my limited experience, which is not enough, unfortunately.

As of right now, level one cost $99, level two costs $119, level three costs $129, and anything further requires in person training. Master Chunyi Lin has said multiple times level one is all that is needed to bring about deep healing. As someone who has attended an in-person seminar by one of his instructors, Misa Tsuyoshi, who learned directly from Master Chunyi Lin, I do not think she looks unwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-osXIelARI . She was remarkably nice and fit enough to stand and teach us for the 4+ hours we were there. Similarly, the rest of these people do not strike me as particularly unwell both physically or mentally: https://www.facebook.com/watch/SpringForestQigong/ I will let readers draw their own conclusions. If you think this is a scam, then you would have to bring up other reasons than charging money (which is not the definition of a pyramid scheme) and the instructors looking unwell.

SFQ doesn't have too much info on their 5 element practices or the new "Qi Activation" program for that matter. Your best bet would be asking that facebook group Vajra Fist posted, and even emailing the closest teacher directly. During the daily practices that are posted on the fb page, they incorporate some movements that are not part of level one or two, so I assume its from the five elements. One in particular seem to be bowing with gratitude, the other like in the video posted above.

I don't know the answers to your questions, and Drew claimed to be fairly advanced which I find plausible (IMO) if he did indeed go on retreats with Master Chunyi Lin. He did reference the Taoist Yoga book written by Charles Luk a lot, specifically about the role of celibacy in cultivation. He claimed something like it was the entirety of the path at some point (according to his interpretation of the book). You might be able to it find online, it could have some answers for you.

How is it you can represent such a legit system as Flying Phoenix Chi Kung, and yet so ruthlessly mock people, particularly newbies posting on here looking for help? I've seen your reddit posts too. You make your lineage look bad.

This is the closest I have heard: https://www.goldenshieldqigong.info/

Yes, successful meditation in this context overcomes the experience of dualism, due to an experience of nondualism. However, this includes the dualism (and illusion) of a separate entity or point of reference we refer to as "the self." Additionally, it is indeed an objective in Buddhist praxis, one of 3 marks of existence in Theravada, a concrete stage within the four stages from stream entry to arahant, and the main focus in Zen. Anatta, not self. The other two doors are dukkha (stress/suffering) and anicca (impermanence).

The closest I've found is Ping Shui Gong: There is just simple body shaking from Spring Forest Qigong, but I'm not sure that counts as qigong.

Could you speak more about your experiences with the Isha's Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya? I also used to do this kriya and several other of Isha's sadhanas, but I had to travel several hours to take the classes, so I was never able to join the Satsangs nearby. Shoonya is also a very interesting meditation I wish I could have done. Sadhguru references it as similar to what Shakyamuni Buddha taught students privately (as opposed to publicly given Vipassana). Unfortunately I had to stop for health reasons, and also because I could no longer do any form of Nadi Shuddhi even with nasal sprays. Isha's main practices still require a certain level of vitality that I have been struggling to regain...

Sifu Terry answered this himself earlier in this thread, here you go c: Click on the top part where it says "zen-bear replied to a topic" He also explains it in a slightly different way here: https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/12639-flying-phoenix-chi-kung/?do=findComment&comment=352361

I don't know. It depends on the individual's disposition and needs. For me, I need active exercises that worked on an energetic level. They are the foundation. Chunyi Lin speaks about how the ratio of standing to sitting exercises should be 3:1 (or maybe 4:1 I forgot). To that end, I almost never did the small universe meditation. However, the small universe meditation is the cornerstone of the practice. If you do it consistently, I would guess you would gain benefit from it. Please be warned, I am not a teacher, nor do I know your level so I can't really say for certain what benefits (or consequences) you would gain from anything. If cost is an issue, there is also Flowing Zen qigong, which is very cost effective and legitimate. He has some free intro qigong. Sifu Anthony learned from Wong View Kit. If you are looking for free content, there is a thread somewhere here with free qigong. You can also learn Zhuan Zang here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5AC656794EE191C1 or maybe the 8 brocades. I haven't seen very many other legitimate free qigong. I don't think anyone would get very far with free qigong either for a variety of reasons. I'd say a year of progress if you are lucky.

I have done Spring Forest Qigong, Flying Phoenix Chi Kung, and some of YMAA's work. I would prioritize the first two over YMAA. Damo Mitchell's is great too but I have no personal experience. Spring Forest Qigong is excellent for healing and spiritual development, but I would try both. One month Spring Forest, one month Flying Phoenix. See which one you like better. Sidenote: you only really need level one of Spring Forest at first. However, don't neglect your physical activity. If you can't walk several miles at a time, are physically weak, and eat poorly, the qigong might not make too much of a difference speaking from experience. As for building jing, it seems to be a very controversial subject, but the most common answer (that has worked for me) seems to be celibacy.