Lucky7Strikes

Tao "Te" Ching. Te.

Any good books on Daoist/Buddhist altars? Such as rituals, the set up, tradition etc. Thank you! .

Hmm, yea that was what I was worried about. Thanks everyone!

To habit non-habit...

Qi gong practitioners utilize the alcohol differently than regular people. They detox the negative aspects. That's why you hear of some masters drinking, smoking, eating junk, and doing perfectly well. I don't doubt Daoist masters experimented with various drugs (at least the external alchemy sect). So my question is... How do they do it? Is it a technique or does the body start to react differently at a certain stage of practice?

Dear Awake, You are in an incredible position to carry yourself beyond what society has given you. Let all the misery be your motivation to search out answers to why it is that you suffer. Believe it or not, you are extremely lucky to feel the sense of dissatisfaction and unfounded fear so strongly at a young age. Use it! Approach everything with that sense of urgency and intensity! Misery and isolation is an amazing gift to the young. . Please do not fall into a state of self pity. Do not lean on others' shoulders too much. As everseeking has said only you can carry yourself. You have listed countless judgments about yourself. You are only bound by these judgments as long as you believe it to be the basis for your happiness. Learn to be on your own and find joy that is ungrounded. Also, it seems you have problems with interacting with others, esp. girls. It is a vicious cycle you are digging yourself into. Seeking worth from interaction with others can be futile when you are constantly in a negative state. In fact, you will really have nothing to truly give them except share misery. Learn to generate positivity on your own and people will naturally flock to you. As SoDE has said, a way of cultivating this is to learn how to give. And if not, you'll be just as happy on your own. . P.S. Do not look into hypnosis, new age, NLP too much. Look into tradition and the words of the wise.

Drew vs. Vaj... ...

The "rush" which comes from a feeling of instant relaxation (kind of like holding in your bladder and releasing it) is very very different from the feeling I am talking about. The bliss is felt instantaneously and increases throughout the entire body as if someone is electrically charging your system. The "melting" feeling is unmistakable and it really doesn't feel as though you are holding "in" the breath. Side note: Tummo is a bit different from Kunlun practices from my observation.

I've been wondering what different sleep cycles people have. Qi Gong practitioners are known to sleep less as they utilize energy more efficiently. Naps anyone?

My 2cents with this, Kunlun 2, and tumo is this. If you just do it, hold the breath, gulp for air, experience acute pain then release...STOP! The key part of the method is feeling the sensation of the heat melting, melting, then have it turn into blissful heat. If you don't feel this, the body is not ready or opened enough. You will know when to release when the blissful energy starts turning into physical exertion.

It's different from sleep deprivation. You actually feel more energized throughout the day. There is also this transition period the body goes through where you will only be able to sleep for 2-4 hours a night. Then you gradually revert to normal sleep cycles but notice a significant difference in the quality and quantity of sleep. Well, at least that's my experience.

You must've meditated while night auditing?

The body takes care of itself better than you ever could. Lol, you sure you want to do this dance again? Maybe you won't be so lucky next time around. .

Actually, There is no original problem. Problems give rise to more problems. What is the original problem? So when you look for solutions, you should try to find a solution that solves all problems. .

Nature has its own intent and spirit. It acts according to its own laws. Merging of intents...here's how I understand it. Two people are in a car and discuss what route they should take. It would be wrong to say that either one had complete control over the final decision. It would also be wrong to say that both had no input in the outcome. Now imagine this with infinite variables! Same applies to the notion of "I." Yes, I am the sum of my memories and future projections that create a sense of will. This further creates more memories and projections through interactions with other consciousness intents. In turn your own actions affect the existence of other mind-intent-personas. All dependent on one another! Thus impermanence gives potential for permanence, and Samsara gives potential for Nirvana.

The word does get tossed around here and there, but its basic meaning connotes a state one "should" be in as if all other states are delusions. "Naturalness" is just what simply happens whether it is Nirvana or Samsara.

But I totally agree with you. "You" can't get rid of "you." Whether it is because of D.O. or a Self, to deny an "I" is to deny existence. Both Buddhism and Hinduism point to transforming this "I" into a different state so that one may escape suffering. All interactions and events happen according to the merging of intents of all sentient beings, so to say "I" am not part of this picture is ridiculous. You're both the creator and the created. .

I agree. The acceptance of social conditioning, which is based on the concepts of "I" and "mine" leads to cycles of suffering. Until an event or a master breaks that cycle, one keeps going in circles. But I don't think words such as "natural/true state," is relevant to discussing liberation. There is no such thing as a true or a natural state for a human being. Potential goes both ways as the ever changing Way of phenomena. Careful, you just might be picking a fight there with someone someone! .

= desire = intent = identity = ignorance = suffering!

Day 38 with 2 hours of sleep? Or day 38 with 2 hours of meditation and plenty of food?... 40 days without food... !

From what Sifu Hata has written so far, Mao Shan and "Spirit Fighting" seems to have a different focus than what Max has taught to the public.

Yes, This thread is no longer limited to the Tao Bums. It is one of the main results that come up when searching for Andrew Lum or Patrick Moon. Since Mao Shan is becoming "public," I find it disheartening that it be introduced by a thread where it is more about conflicts than the art itself. .

I agree with freeform. Max did mention not harassing his teachers when there was a lot of suspicion about his authenticity. He has also stated several times that he isn't a master or a teacher. To see him as such is a mistake on the part of the practitioner. Kunlun has always been about the guiding the individual. Seems much misinformation is going around.