Keith108

No worries...kind of surprised this has been allowed to carry on this far. Our friend is quite obviously trying to get banned. I am new here, but not new when it comes to discussion forums in general. It's too bad you have been personally attacked this way. I will say, because I have run into in this in Buddhist fora in the past, that there are people who do believe in things we can't readily verify by our own experience or through science. I think it's pretty unskillful to belittle those beliefs. Some wise person is purported to have said: Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Round and round... _/|\_

The crappy hateful comment deserved to be called out, but after a while, maybe a little noble silence is better. A useful parable

Hi Dao Bums, My name is Keith. I am a Zen Buddhist, with an interest in Neigong. Looking forward to learning here from you all. _/|\_ Keith

Hi folks, Struggling to upload a pic. When I paste the link from tinypic, the box turns red. I have also read during my searches of the forum about managing attachments, but I don't see a place to do that. Maybe because it's I am new here. I am also curious about adding a signature. Anyway, just wondering if there is general help button on the site. Thanks! Keith

I was very much in the same boat, regarding retreat length. My son is older now, and practices with me, so I have the life situation to be able to do it. And yes, it was the back. We start the day off at 4:30 am with 108 bows (prostrations), and I overdid it on the first day, so it was life on the struggle bus from then on. Some grist for the mill, I suppose. The book looks interesting. Might drop it in the kindle.

Thanks again, Jonathon! In the last two weeks, I was on retreat, then attending a conference in Phoenix, so I think my family would kill me if took off somewhere else again. It says on his website and facebook page that he is located in CA. Is it just not updated, or is there another Terry Dunn teaching qigong? _/|\_

Ah, interesting! New Paltz is an interesting area. I live in CT, and that's too far to go regularly. But, maybe for some beginning instruction and an occasional check up.

Wow, thanks for that! One thing I found very interesting is the idea that the breath is harder to master than the mind. I have found it to be very much the opposite! I only belly breath though (through the nose, expanding the huiyin on the inhale, gently lifting on the exhale), so maybe the Daoist style reverse breathing is harder.

Thanks SM...yes, it's really helping my sitting in general. Just finished a seven day retreat, and it was a big challenge physically. I can go 2 or 3 days no problem, but this one really hurt. It was a good wakeup call. I have seen the Plum village monk. I learned the basic hand massages from his video's. For Ba Daun Jin, there is a guy named Peter Chen, from Australia. I found his the best and clearest, as far as youtube goes: Ba Duan Jin Playlist And, before anyone @'s me, I do recognize being taught these things in the physical presence of a good teacher is best. My body is responding as it should, so I am definitely on the right track, but maybe down the road, I will seek out a teacher.

Appreciate the input, Cobie! While they have certainly influenced each other culturally, they have very different directions. Apples and oranges really. I hope don't come across too arrogantly. I don't mean any offense to anyone. I have looked through the Buddhist threads, but to put it kindly, there's a lot of chaff. And Zen just doesn't lend itself well to online discussion forums anyway. It's an experiential practice, not a philosophical one. Finally, just for the record, I am no dabbler in Zen. It is the central pole in my life, around which everything else revolves. I find qigong fits in very nicely with my practice. And so far, this forum looks to have a lot of good people, and is well moderated. _/|\_

Thanks for the detailed welcome! For the time being, I am just reading and doing some easy to learn body/breath work (Ba Duan Jin). It complements my meditation and prostration practice very well. It’s pretty clear that this isn’t a place to discuss Buddhism and Zen. I dipped my toe into a thread, but it’s very clear that even a basic understanding of Buddhist practice isn’t there. And, that’s not the direction of this forum anyway. As I said above, i hope to be able to pick up some helpful qigong information while i am here. _/|\_

Thanks! My direction is spiritual, so that's what I am looking for.

My go to is rolled oats when I am home. I like to eat as late in the day as I can, usually 11 am or so. So, it's usually lunch food by then. To make oats less sticky, I toast a half cup in a pan (I use a small, non-stick omelette pan), and then add a cup of boiled water. It will foam a bit, so I add the water in batches. I eat them with a sliced banana, some peanut butter (I use Teddy brand, super chunky, unsalted), and a little soy sauce. The last one sounds odd, but I like it. I don't add sweetener. That's it. Ideally though, my day starts with 108 bows, sitting with my zoom group, and then I am out the door for work. Qigong in the evening. Life is rarely ideal, though!

Correct! There is no way to "prevent" suffering (Dukkha). That's like holding up a waterfall. But these words clearly reveal a profound lack of understanding of Buddhist practice. Consider (emphasis mine): _/|\_

White snow has melted Moss and lichens revealed Round and round, just now _/|\_