escott

Yet another article that alludes to everything in the Bible as being an amalgamation of different cultures and religions. https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-jewish-god-yahweh-originated-in-canaanite-vulcan-says-new-theory-1.5992072 What is the purpose of studying these texts? Are we looking for some truth that we think was lost? Do we think that by going back in time we are closer to creation, closer to the source when mankind and God were of the same mind (i.e. Adam and Eve)? I wonder what the religion of neanderthals or cro-magnons was?

Something you might find interesting for interpreting/translating the Bible is the Ugaritic Texts that were discovered in the 1920's. Here is a short article that gives some example of their importance. https://www.logos.com/ugaritic

I've been reading regularly 'I Am That' for almost 20 years. I always have a PDF on my computer or phone. Last year I decided to get more serious with my efforts. I researched which system I thought would serve me best. I tried Kundalini yoga, I thought Kriya was going to be my thing and experimented be with that, then I found Qigong and I'm loving it.

Can anyone point me to some resources that can explain to me what energies, meridians, etc. are being worked when I see a Qigong movement? I'm an engineer so you'll have to excuse me. When I watch someone doing Spring Forest Qigong or Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi I want to know how it is working. There must be some science that the developers of these movements used.

I was experimenting with the stance while taking a standing break at the office. I noticed that while wearing dress shoes with an elevated heel that it was easier. So, I've started doing calf stretching. I mainly do a stretch where I stand straight up and hang my heel from a step or a board. There are actual calf stretcher devices made for this kind of stretch. I used one when I got PT for a back injury years ago. Evidently it stretches the fascia all the way up to the back doing it this way. The typical calf stretch with the legs split and leg extended behind does not do this. Can you point to resources that provide details for getting the stance correct so that I don't wreck my knees?

Since I'm new here I like to do a search before I just post a question. I've made similar observations. What I do is use Google and put the site into the search terms like this: site:www.thedaobums.com

I'll just give my 2 cents, because I've done a lot of Bible study and I don't do it anymore. I still attend a Methodist Church with my family, but if the preacher knew what I truly believe he'd probably never let me play guitar in the worship band again. Basically, there's no reason to get pedantic about every word in the Bible. What we have is a collection of stories that were orally passed and written down after the fact with tidbits from other mythologies mixed in to make it sound like an even better story. The Bible that we have today is a translation of a translation of a translation that should not be interpreted literally. In relation to the article, this is why Pentacost is so significant, because people heard the disciples speaking the gospel in their own language, even a minor dialect like Syriac. Anyway, my take is to stick to the teachings of Jesus - mainly concepts like being one with the Father, being in Union with his followers, and obtaining eternal life. Christians focus too much on Heaven and Hell and forget about the here and now. Jesus was trying to tell people the same thing that other Enlightened teachers did - Recognize your eternal nature in the here and now and experience bliss today!

Try this. https://biblehub.com/interlinear/

That's why I didn't think my answer would be very insightful. There's still much work to be done to place myself in a state to where I can be receptive to this.

I think you may be onto something with this. In 'Lift Qi Up, Pour Qi Down' the purpose is to gather chi from a distance in all directions and bring it into yourself to all 3 dan tiens. So, in '3 Centers Merge' the concept may be similar - visualize chi entering through the head, hands, and feet and retain it in the lower dan tien. So with the toes pointing inward you keep the chi from escaping.

Only with my mind from an intellectual/scientific standpoint. I have yet to become Realized and enter into a state of bliss. It seems like there is a fine line between everything is wonderful and nothing really matters at all.

That's what I want. Like Jesus said, "to be as a little child." I can remember a time when I was a child, laying in the grass looking up at the clouds in the sky, just watching them go by and feeling the breeze and the sun on my body. There was no judgement, no fear, no worry. It seems as those who become 'Realized' are in that state all the time.

I am that I am (but not Popeye the sailor man). I'm something that has been billions of years in the making, perhaps even eternity. I am not just this body. Everything in existence was required to make this thing that thinks thoughts. It's all connected.

I don't think I've done it enough to have a very insightful answer. The process, though, seems similar to something known as "The 5 Whys" except in this case we are asking "what" instead of "why". Nisargadatta always says to remember 'I Am', but repeatedly telling myself that has not produced a result for me. Intellectually I can identify with what he says, but I have yet to FEEL it. It just seems like there is something missing from just saying "I Am". Perhaps "Who Am I" is a better way to phrase it to produce realization...

So does this really work!? I was always skeptical because the document that this technique was published in said it was written down by an interpreter during a time when Ramana was not speaking, only giving non-verbal gestures.

@middle_path I find myself in a similar situation, so I can fully identify what you're going through. You said you were doing some magic without the results you were looking for. Can I ask: What is your goal? Different methods produce different results. I've tried a little bit of everything over the past 30 years (I even play guitar). I could make some recommendations if I understood what you are trying to accomplish.

Also, Swami Satyananda Saraswati published 'A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya' in 1981. If yoga was my primary practice I think this would be my Bible. I was able to download a free PDF and was working through it for a while.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Santatagamana. https://realyoga.info/ His books are available on Amazon, of course. I haven't read them, but I was working with Ennio Nimis' writings for a while. This was before I decided to take up Qigong as my personal practice. Also, Ryan Kurczak has written some books and has several videos on YouTube on the practice of Kriya Yoga.

Can anyone recommend some programs, resources, or practices that can take a person from a qigong beginner to being someone who can heal others? I understand the process likely takes many years, but I can't meditate in a cave for 20 years. So, is there a realistic, practical way for a working family man to do it?

At this time I have chosen Zhineng as my path. I have started with this course. https://www.udemy.com/lift-qi-up-pour-qi-down/ This site has a complete outline of the practices in the "Methods" section. I use this to know what I need to do then look for videos or courses that teach these methods. http://www.zhinengqigong.org/index.html Dr. Pang, the creator of Zhineng, has helped thousands of people to heal. If you have the money you can learn from Mingtong Gu, he was a student of Dr. Pang. He has online classes with a healing path. https://www.chicenter.com Zhineng is also known as 'Wisdom Healing" or "Chilel" Qigong. I read great things about Michael Lomax, but his courses just aren't accessible for me right now. Also, I like the idea of a system that is not tied to just one master.

My current view is that the best diet for a modern human who doesn't want to obsess about everything they put into their body and just get on with their lives is FLEXITARIAN. It's a stupid name, but it's plant-based yet allows for small portions of everything else. I want to stress, though, that a plant-based diet that relies too heavily on grains (even whole grains) is bad. Fleshy, soft fruits and vegetables are best. Make sure you are getting soluble fiber, don't overdo the insoluble fiber. One of the things most lacking in the S.A.D. is fiber. I've come to believe that probiotic supplements are a waste of money and that fiber is the key component to a healthy gut. The best probiotics come from the environment eating fresh produce.

This is an absolutely fantastic article that goes into the comparitive biology to confirm that we are omnivores. https://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/2016/03/youre-not-cow-gorilla-dont-eat-like-one-either/#gs.tzxoBVpB I think the biggest problem in the modern human diet is lack of variety - too much meat, too much grains. Lately I'm even disappointed in the selection of vegetables we have in the grocery store.

It seems like the whole purpose of 'Lift Qi Up, Pour Qi Down' is to connect with the Qi Field and gather Qi into the Dan Tiens. So, the standing posture itself is simply supposed to be the most relaxed, but also it seems like the intent is to make the entire body the Central Column. It's the same posture that is used in The Middle Pillar meditation in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn system. They seem like slightly different methods to accomplish the same thing. It's a familiar theme, like from the Spring Forest password - I am in the universe and the universe is in me.

Just watched lesson 7, Reviewing The Standing Posture. They explain why the feet are close together: You want one connection going up, and one connection going down. Also, they say that a narrow stance is better for relaxed breathing.

It seems like that is how the form is done. I was watching this video by Gina Lim before I purchased the course.