Sol

Ran into a specific lineage about 12 years back. Wont mention names. One of three internal branches, specific school. Pretty darn traditional. A couple of their "Masters" exhibited the exact opposite of compassion, awakening, and unity. Their focus seemed to be on domination and demeaning all other forms of practice. Their way was the only way, and if you weren't in the group, you were the enemy. While I understand the traditional vibe that was present thousands of years before, between dojos, I never understood their negativity. I was asked to be a direct apprentice because of my intensity of focus. I actually denied, even though they are internationally known, because of this energetic tendencies of their "Masters". What is your take oh Bums of Dao...?

I know there tends to be a wall of text with Everything's responses, so here is the critical part from this answer. If you reached the height of heights and absolute understanding, and turned around to look back, this is generally what you see. It may be hard for the intense cerebral peeps to grasp, but its all right there...

There is destruction and creation in all things. It exists in the spiritual world as well. The challenge of humans is to see the greater connection to the macro entities and their effect on the individual. Balance with the biosphere. Balance within the population. Balance with the village. Balance within self. Most people are good. The common man will go in the direction of the leaders. The leaders are still using scarcity, separatism, and self accumulation as the guiding principles for their lineages. When they shift to more unification, the common man will follow. Then humans will learn to not steal life in excess from the greater biosphere and act with balance, rather than as a sickness.

The 3 dantiens have their own minds. The lower seeks supplement and survival. The middle seeks experience and purpose. The above seeks conceptual understanding. I see my mind as a "systems analyst". It outlays the various logical occurrences and potentialities. Some are positive, some are negative. But they are merely potentials of course changes, not finality of experience.

I do not know all systems. I have studied many over the years, but that is not one of them. I am superficially aware of the main concepts as they are similar to kundalini yoga and I have friends that I can refer to if needed. But my path was one of combined Japanese, Taoist, and modern medical science.

This story was related to me through a very traditional teacher. I have classical training as well as medical training. There are various definitions of shen. It is most classically known as spirit. In the Western understanding they often associate it with love and harmony. In the classical Eastern understanding its more along the lines of assertion and confidence. In the immortal body practices it is the culmination of sublime transformation of earthly qi into refined essence. Essentially eat really well for your body type, practice daily collection of qi, and with time it will alter your genetics. Its more intense than that, and more intense than can be relayed shortly in a forum. Have I? The reason most individuals who practice self cultivation eventually turn to a more hermetic lifestyle is the differential in spirit vs the common man. They just cant relate to the normal desires and focus of the general population. Things that seem important to earthly people often are ridiculous to those who cultivate. I still exist in the world, mainly due to dependents. But I sure do look forward to the days of solitude that are in my future.

What can be done with Shen? Wow. That's such a huge question, you can't possibly imagine. The most widely discussed, researched, modern interpretation of the easiest skill that Shen can provide is Remote Viewing. Search that, and it will send you down some interesting rabbit holes. The old story goes: A master once warned his student that he would be meditating for a really long time, and not to disturb him. No matter what happened, DO NOT DISTURB my body, he said. A couple days go by. A week. Two weeks. The Master didn't stir. Didn't eat. Didn't seem like he was breathing. The student, despite what the master had warned him, decided he had died. Called the town doctor. The doctor and the townsfolk thought he was deceased as well. They had a funeral. Buried his body. 3 weeks later a huge storm rolls around. Lighting and thunder. A loud knock on the dojo door. The student runs to see who is making such a fuss. There stood the town drunk, dripping wet with rain, with one eye barely open. He hit the student hard upon the head. " I told you NOT to move my body. That's what can be done with proper Shen.

You have not heard of the corrective gaze of the master? Simply noting the improper position in a student with a gaze is often enough to get them to move into the proper stance. But you have to have enough qi accumulated. The qi is stored, turned into shen. It is the shen that can alter things both internally and externally with the eyes. Strong enough, and it can influence the qi of another quite easily.

Most people do not have the extra will power. After decades of dealing with patients and their attempt to heal or change their life situation, there are only a few that will actually do it. I was just having this discussion yesterday. The desire for I'd say, 90% of the world is to be comfortable and experience the things that cause them bliss. They don't want to be saved. They don't want the truth. They don't want change. They just want a little box to sleep in, be distracted, and bliss out over one of the major biochemicals of happiness. Which is why a place like this(Forum) is to be treasured, for there are a few individuals who actually have the will power or intent to REALLY alter their spiritual health, mental acuity, or physical prowess. Those people are often outcasts as they are not simply contented by the simple things. They are pushing boundaries and normal people will not understand. Kudos to all who are seeking more. You are making changes in family karma, local communities, and global energy patterns. Don't forget how important your vibration is, even if you can't detect it. It is broadcasting and making change...

I don't agree with a lot of the traditional schools about detachment from self. This formulation was promoted not as a spiritual endeavor to be achieved, but rather a desired psychological condition to promote in the masses to ease the ability for them to be governed. I believe many people over thousands of years have been duped. Keep yourself. Enjoy yourself. But know thyself.

Like I said, I have no opinion. I have met another "Master" who does a trick with water and foil. I was actually asked to not attend because I was witnessing a chemical reaction that was passed off as legitimate qi magic. I am a skeptic as well. And I have sought out most of these people to feel their "powers". Still never met a superhuman yet. I've met some people with advanced abilities, that's for sure. But there is a long history of fraud in the qi gong community in order to prove ones mastery. Im still open to the possibility, just haven't been wowed yet in these 30 years.

A student in one of my classes years ago, actually went looking for the guy. He flew to Indo and spent a good amount of time attempting to contact the group. Most of the time when he asked about the guy, the locals referred to him as a fraud. They said he has some kind of battery trick in his shoe to make people twitch. That's about the closest I got to that system, or that person.

In Eastern medicine, both of those terms are relegated to the spiritual aspect of particular organ structures. Will power is linked to your kidneys and adrenals. Intent is linked to your muscle systems. Certain qi gong and nei gong that focuses on banking qi for kidney health, can increase will power. Any general strength training regimen will eventually assist intention. As Yi is a result of muscle health.

Qi Gong There are so many schools, so many variations that it is a very difficult topic. My third book deals with qi gong, and it is under construction at the moment. Basically I'm going to say it like this: All schools have to follow this path. 1) Learn simple breathing techniques. 2)Learn simple movements. 3) Learn some mild control over autonomic processes. 4) Repeat until you have some good physical awareness of self and coordination between breath and limbs. 5) Repeat the above process until you have refreshed every single type of physical structure in your body. No weakness. 6) Then you can start talking about empty force, external wai qi, nervous system emissions, fa jing etc... So whatever movement school you choose, you have to get strong. Not just relaxed. That's for health only qi gong. If you want all the goods from consistent practice, you have to get strong. Period. After strength comes the weird stuff that everyone wants to talk about. Earth qi will eventually effect Pre Heaven qi. But you have to work for it.

Huge topic. But I get asked this all the time from patients, students, etc. What system should I study for personal growth? Here is my two cents from 30 plus years of professional practice and personal study. This will be a thread that I attend to in between patient load at work. Pardon if my reply is slow at times. Sol

Krav is about the most well rounded system in modern times. If a system doesn't have level one being physical fitness and strength, then turn away. If your practitioner looks like they ate one too many cheeseburgers and couldn't run more than 100 yards, look elsewhere. Strength is the number one, first step, IN ANY REAL SYSTEM. Including internal martial arts. If you can't resist gravity, you are worthless.

Totally. Krav Maga is amazing and THE best self defense art out there currently. Most well rounded in terms of individual defense, defense against a couple attackers, blunt object defense, firearm applications and more. I love Krav. And I actually think there should be some type of short term mandatory military exposure in our country, like Israel and Switzerland. You don't have to go to theater, but you should at least learn to be an effective deterrent for violence. What schools of Bagua and Xingyi? Do I know you? LOL

Tai Chi Chuan. Okay. This is a near and dear system. I've spent the longest period of time practicing this style of traditional martial arts. Started with Yang family, of course. Spent some time in Sun and Chen style as well. I have traditionally accepted and dished out challenges to various dojos in the region. I always set up a consistent dojo time to push hands with other instructors in whatever region I may move into. Its respectful and important to the longevity and spirit of the tradition. Sadly, this system is dying. And the old families know it. There was a meeting a couple years back in Tennessee to figure out how best to sustain the systems in the modern age of short attention span. All the families attended, including my instructors. I hate the online videos of MMA vs Tai Chi. Whoever was the representation for Tai Chi sucked ass. If he knew is spit, he would know to defend in a certain manner, and he did not. So for me, that one particular video is non conclusive and sticks to that particular instructor. I have sparred over the years with various systems, and classical Tai Chi can hold its own. Not the foo foo crap peddled in most health and spiritual circles. I have solid gong and I am not afraid to fa jin you off my elbow. It DOES have inefficiencies though. And one of the biggest is nobody is really qualified to teach above the health level anymore. There are few MARTIAL instructors left in the world. Its sad really. For with good instruction, you can really use some of the tools in combat applications. Most law enforcement take downs are either simple judo or tai chi. They just don't know it. Please, comment away. I have much more to say in this realm.

Bowing. I hope to meet you on the mat then someday... Don't get me wrong. The elegance of this martial art cannot be matched. When done properly a dislocated shoulder, a fractured arm, or a full on concussion is in the future of a receiving entity. I've seen some weird shit happen on the mat as well. But it is not very common.

PM'd. I'm not here to promote any one person. If people are led to a particular teacher with clout, it is because their karma deems it so.

First in my youth I searched from fear. Then I searched for power. Then I sought enlightenment. After I left and came back, I searched for balance. Then in my older years I was looking for something nebulous. Now I am content with searching and keeping health. For without health, you have nothing else. But that knowledge came from losing health from aging. Now I seek contentment and serenity.

Gosh no. Just got busy. If you knew my life, you would understand. Work. Kids. Business. Writing. Promotions. Competition. I have plenty of energy through qi gong. Otherwise I couldn't sustain it. I'll go through the various qi gong schools eventually. I've tried most of the teachers you all know out there. My list of instructors with REAL gong is short. Gift of the Tao Qi gong. Don't know it. But you don't need to just develop the dantien to learn qi gong. The traditional path is through muscle tendon qi gong, long before actually learning to develop a center. That's the way of taking youth through forms in the temples, so not my opinion there. There is an individual in the US who teaches some awesome shit. And I'm sure he's been discussed. He is NOT asian. And his stuff is legit. Although some can't wade through his huge ego. But with a big ego, comes a big center. So I kinda like the dude. Other than that, it is the depth of qi gong that is important. Not the form. The form is the shell, the nei gong is the power.

Morning! New day. More patients and time in between to gab with you all! Aikido. Here's a famously torn down system, yet millions still practice. Why? The stand up grappling type martial art is excellent for learning combat flow. Getting the hell out of the way and then capitalizing on it. The joint locks are classic. Some more effective than others. I practiced a very long time and can jump in any dojo and people recognize I am no beginner, so count my opinion slightly higher than most. It stinks in direct, one on one combat. MMA usually crushes Aikido guys. Saved my ass when I was jumped by 6 gang members years ago however. The one practice of Randori is the only martial art I know that specifically trains for multiple attackers. Maybe I didn't get high enough in the system, yet I did practice for nearly 10 years. But the qi development execises and meditation is pretty thin. Simple mindful techniques and repeating extension based movements don't help store qi very well. And a lot of the older guys neglect their cardio, sadly. Still, an excellent traditional form for the less mentally aggressive individuals. Good modern application, and you get to wear a cool outfit. Lol

Mic Drop.

That's good! Too much or too little is determined by what your body composition can handle in terms of recharge/repair rate. Eventually you will need to move from the outer physical movements to Nei Gong. The better you are at internal movement/visualization, the more effective your training time will become. Yesterday I practiced marrow washing of my rib cage and spine while driving home in a hot car. I was able to charge up by the time I got home. Spent about 10 minutes and it was sufficient to fill up. Almost too much. As you improve in your self control, your training time might fall more into the quality over quantity zone.