looschmaster

On 6/16/2022 at 7:42 PM, Eduardo said:

Enemies and misfortunes are the best teachers...

That reminds me of a very wise saying: "Out of suffering comes wisdom."

On 6/25/2022 at 9:26 PM, alphone said:

It makes no sense to initiate a fight between Cantonese and Minnan, because Mandarin is killing both of them. Even if Minnan defeats Cantonese completely, it can hardly survive the government-enforced Mandarin.

I'm not trying to initiate a fight between Cantonese and Minnan, I'm just saying that Cantonese doesn't represent the most archaic dialect of Chinese. And also that if there is a dialect which preserves the "most archaic" Chinese, it doesn't make those people the "true inheritors" of ancient China or Chinese culture.

8 hours ago, Master Logray said:

 

There is not too much sense in this statement if the definition of a master is unknown.   Let say does it include advertisement?   

I'm pretty sure the implication is that the master is a "spiritual master," and the student is a "spiritual seeker." Though of course that is hard to define as well. 

7 hours ago, Taoist Texts said:

As you see this is totally backwards. First the student finds a teacher to submit to, to inquire from, to serve him and then the teacher teaches the student (or does not).  This does not say anything at all about the student's readiness vs. a teacher appearing.

Mmm, the way I interpreted it, was that first the student performs enquiry and service "on your own part," and then the teacher is "led to teach you knowledge." But it seems that other sources support what you are saying. 

1 hour ago, Trunk said:

 

In this kind of (mild) breath retention, I feel lower energies that are maybe a bit dense (adamant, maybe a little stuck) become more pliable, more 'kind', cooler.

Those feelings happen spontaneously, as a result of the method.  Feelings are not imagined nor asserted.  Only being present and doing the breathing.

Oh ok, I see. Could you elaborate more on "dense" energies becoming "softer?" What does that feel like? Is it heat, or vibration, or just a kind of pressure loosening?

1 hour ago, Trunk said:

I'm typed out.  Kinda got on a groove, not sure if that's all relevant to what you asked.

I'll go back and review your questions again later, remind myself what I've missed.

Lol no worries, thanks very much for the response. I appreciate any help or knowledge I can get! There were two questions you didn't answer, though, and feel free not to answer, but they were: what sensations do you feel during your meditation, and do they come naturally, or do you attempt to force/manipulate them?

This seems to be a common concept shared by a lot of spiritual doctrines. I've read that the Buddha or Lao Zi once said something along those lines. I also feel that verse 34, chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita describes something similar, though I am no Gita expert:

"Know this! Through humble submission, Through enquiry, through service (on your own part), The knowing ones, the perceivers of truth, will be led to teach you knowledge." - Winthrop Sargeant's Translation

In your experience, is this true? Should we seek out a teacher, or wait for a teacher to seek us out? That's something I've been wondering.

On 5/20/2022 at 5:31 AM, Trunk said:

 

I hold the breath as low as possible.  Anywhere below the belly button; hui yin is a popular destination.

I don't do much pushing, pulling, clamping down etc.  Not much overt muscular work, mild that way.  It's not muscling things around.

Considerably more 'work' on opening and relaxing, over all, not clenching etc.

 

> If I keep it retained around my chest, my heart will become very active (sometimes uncomfortably) >

 

That's the danger for that space.

Thanks for the info. Could you describe the kind of sensations you feel when performing this breathwork? If you focus on opening/relaxing, do the sensations just come spontaneously? And what kind of dangers are there with this?

On 5/5/2022 at 9:40 AM, awaken said:

這本書我三十年前讀過

 

會誤導你

 

I read this book thirty years ago

it will mislead you to the wrong direction

Don't let the haters get to you awaken, I appreciate the posts. Perhaps some of them are wrong, I'm not sure, but it's good to see differences of opinion.

I have a friend who was homeless in Hawaii for a bit. He was robbed by the other homeless guys there. The homeless there would do pretty much whatever they wanted without much repercussions. Of course the police didn't do anything. So if you're gonna be homeless, be careful for your safety out there. All the best.

If I recall correctly the variety of Chinese which preserves the most archaic Chinese is Minnan (centered on Fujian), not Cantonese. And it's not because the Fujianese represent the "purest" Chinese people, it's because its geographic isolation preserves the old language (the area is heavily mountainous). In the same way, there are people living on an isolated island in North Carolina who still speak Elizabethan English (see https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190623-the-us-island-that-speaks-elizabethan-english), and the Dungan people of Central Asia speak an archaic variant of Central Plains Mandarin. 

Canton was also a big trading port and influenced by Europeans in the past two hundred years. Also, a lot of the north-to-south migrations in Chinese history were towards the Jiangnan area, not Canton. For example, see the Eastern Jin dynasty, all the Southern Dynasties, and the Southern Song dynasty. Except for a few years, they all had their capitals in the Yangtze delta. The Yangtze delta was the go-to place for Chinese emperors (and their courts) when the north fell. So I disagree with you here. You wouldn't call coastal North Carolinians the "true inheritors" of English culture, would you?

I really like Dwai and Shadao's responses. Thanks.

Footprints in the snow

At least a third of the path

Is the slide back down

1 hour ago, dwai said:

Until your 3rd eye and crown open, there will be pressure. The only way to deal with it is to relax more. Or have someone open it up for you (if you have a good teacher).

 

If your meditation involves watching the breath, then simply stay with your breath -- keep taking your mind back to your breath every time it gets distracted. you cannot will your mind to become still -- it becomes still if you avoid distractions. That is why repetitive work is useful - a simple thing like observing your breath. Also, don't try to do too much -- if you are able to stay 10 minutes without any distractions (or minimal distract), slowly add more sitting time. 

I see, thank you. I will try to relax and avoid distractions in my future meditations, without getting carried away by the various sensations and pressures. I will also try to keep my point of focus on my lower abdomen as Pak_Satrio suggested I do. I understand that awaken seems to be against this kind of practice but I want to try it out to see what happens. I typically meditate for at least 10-15 minutes each day, though how much of it is "real meditation" I'm not sure.

41 minutes ago, awaken said:

 

那些壓力是你身上的氣，想要在頭上開一個洞，就像煙囪一樣。

但是你不能硬衝。

你只能透過恍惚放鬆，才能真正打開頭頂上的竅。

當你頭頂上的竅打開的時候，你會感受到你的頭頂好像被打開了一個大洞。

氣可以透過你的頭頂進出。

 

Those pressures are Qi in you, wanting to make a hole in your head, like a chimney.

But you can't punch hard.

You can only truly open the orifice above your head by relaxing in a trance.

When the orifice on the top of your head opens, you will feel as if a big hole has been opened on the top of your head.

Qi can flow in and out through the top of your head.

 

謝謝你的回复。你能推荐一些帶倆這種恍惚的練習嗎?

Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate any help.

2 hours ago, dwai said:

To the OP -

 

Don’t meditate to arouse kundalini. Meditate to settle/still your mind. Whatever sensations arise, acknowledge and let them go deeper into the meditation. 

You know, I was thinking that recently too. Before, when these energy sensations would be aroused, I found myself focusing on sensation and trying to manipulate it instead of focusing on stilling the mind. But recently I tried to ignore the sensations and focus on clearing my thoughts. I found that the sensations eventually went away and I became drowsy, almost like I was in a hypnagogic state.

Recently something else new has occurred in my meditations. Ever since I was very young, I have been able to feel a pressure in my forehead when I concentrate on the area or meditate. Recently I have also begun feeling a pressure in my nose. Sometimes the pressure in the nose and the pressure in the forehead occur at the same time, but other times it seems like the pressure in the forehead goes away and the pressure in the nose appears. Maybe these are all just superfluous physical distractions, but I find them interesting. Does anyone here know what these pressures are?

6 hours ago, Pak_Satrio said:

These diagrams might help explain what I'm talking about @looschmaster

 

 

Thanks for the diagram. As one does this breathing exercise, should they be mentally focusing on the lower abdomen the whole time?

I appreciate all your responses. It seems like awaken and Pak_Satrio have different perspectives on what to do. 

When I meditate, I get this hard-to-describe feeling in the back of my head/neck/spine. It is the same feeling I get when I listen to some really good music, I see a really beautiful sight, or I read a heart-moving story. It is a physical sensation, and it feels like a slow-moving energetic presence rolling through my body. Typically, it starts at the back of my head and moves gradually down my neck/back. It reminds me of electricity (though I'm not exactly sure why), and it feels good. Sometimes when the feeling is strong I am moved to tears. As it travels through my head it is often accompanied by a rushing sensation in my ears. I am somewhat able to control the feeling in that I can summon it with certain breathing patterns and visualization exercises, but my control of it is inconsistent and oftentimes the energy comes through spontaneously.

What is this feeling? Is it Kundalini or prana or something like that? What should I do from here in my meditation practice? I'm sorry if these questions are misguided or broad, but I appreciate any responses.

When I meditate, I get this hard-to-describe feeling in the back of my head/neck/spine. It is the same feeling I get when I listen to some really good music, I see a really beautiful sight, or I read a heart-moving story. It is a physical sensation, and it feels like a slow-moving energetic presence rolling through my body. Typically, it starts at the back of my head and moves gradually down my neck/back. It reminds me of electricity (though I'm not exactly sure why), and it feels good. Sometimes when the feeling is strong I am moved to tears. As it travels through my head it is often accompanied by a rushing sensation in my ears. I am somewhat able to control the feeling in that I can summon it with certain breathing patterns and visualization exercises, but my control of it is inconsistent and oftentimes the energy comes through spontaneously.

What is this feeling? Is it Kundalini or Tummo or something like that? How can I improve my understanding of it, and my skill at manipulating it?

Many thanks to any responses.

This is my first post on this forum. I joined this forum because I really liked some of the discussions that were going on here. I look forward to engaging more with this community!

All the luck to all of you on your paths