adept

Interesting book on Yoga. Yoga has lost it's original purpose and meaning. Yoga = union with the Divine. Asanas are a miniscule part of Yoga. In fact, one does not have to do ANY asanas to be a yogi. This article is right on the money: http://www.swamij.com/traditional-yoga.htm

Let me just say, I'm not Hindu or even Indian for that matter. I'm just an ordinary English guy with a family, a menial boring day job, a mortgage etc etc. I've been on a spiritual quest for as long as I remember and I've read, studied and practiced a multitude of systems from all different traditions. People wise, I've met the wonderful, the humble, the mad, the egotistical, and the downright strange They've all been helpful and have gotten me to where I am now. But when I discovered the teachings of Shaivism everything fell into place. It's not that I've discovered something new to me, it feels as if this is what I've known all along, deep down in the core of my being. It is what I am. I have no teacher or guru, nor do I want one. I prefer the solitude of my sadhana. It's my spiritual practice, tailored by me for me. For the first time ever, I feel at one with my practice. There's no separation. It's not something I do anymore, it's something I am. It feels wonderful.

No, that is hunyuan li. There is no mention of qi in Yiquan.

Om Namah Shivaya There is no real separation between God and the world. Siva is the only reality of the universe. Siva is infinite consciousness. He is independent, eternal, formless, secondless, omnipresent. Siva is the subject and the object, the experiencer and the experienced. The world exists within consciousness. He who does Japa of this Panchakshara is freed from births and deaths and attains eternal bliss. Sit in Padmasana or Sukhasana, facing East or North, in a quiet place or room. Repeat silently the Panchakshara and meditate on the form of Lord Siva. Keep the image in the heart or space between the eyebrows. If you practise meditation regularly, your heart will be purified. All Samskaras and sins will be burnt in toto. You will attain Siva-Yoga-Nishtha or Nirvikalpa Samadhi. You will attain the glorious Siva-Pada or Siva-Gati and become one with Lord Siva. You will enjoy the eternal bliss of Sivanandam and become immortal.

http://saivatantra.com/2012/10/24/overview-of-the-pratyabhijnahrdayam/ I have found this awesome article which resonates deeply with me. Enjoy

All you need to know is here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel186.html of course this needs to be backed up with daily meditation.

You could start here: http://www.abhidharma.ru/A/Simvol/Indyizm/Shiva-sutra/0004.pdf http://www.universalshaivafellowship.org/

Om Namah Shivaya http://cyberyoga.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/om-namah-shivaya-meaning-significance-of-shiva-mantra/ http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articledt.php?art_id=279

Good luck with that ! If you've never done it before 20 seconds in the correct posture will be excruciating. Take your time. Get your posture correct, work up in small increments. I'm still not at 5 minutes and have been at it for months. It's a killer.

I've been interested in PL Buddhism for quite a while and have read some fascinating accounts of PL cultivators actually knowing the date and time of their death, well in advance. Reports of rainbows at the death site and the calm and peaceful passing of the person involved. It seems to me to be the easiest way of stepping off the wheel of birth and death once and for all. I say easiest because enlightenment is not sought after in this existence but is something which is done in ideal circumstances (the Pure Land), after physical death. I also believe you don't need the presence of a teacher to practice. Just an understanding of a few sutras and the methods prescribed within them. A Buddhist teaching for busy lay people (like myself). All these folks chasing immortality with potentially harmful forceful energetic practices when maybe mindful recitation of Amitabha Buddha could be all that's required ? I must admit I remain skeptical and it does seem a lot like the Christian reliance on a heaven for repentant sinners. However, I may have it all wrong. Does anyone here have any actual practical experience with these methods ? Maybe I should ask elsewhere such as a purely Buddhist forum, but I thought I would ask here first. Thanks

Well said. BUT, there are some wonderful, helpful people here, who have no interest in selling you their system. These are the people whose posts I like to read. Separate the wheat from the chaff, and you have a good bunch of folks. It ain't all bad.

Agreed. We've had about 5 years worth of snow this year up here in rural Co Durham. There's nothing like a brisk walk on a frosty Winter's morning though.

Great list deci belle, thanks for posting it. These two books, to me, are the most accessible and understandable for anyone starting out. I would also add 'Bankei Zen' by Peter Haskel. I like it better than the Waddell version. More poetic.

Gong Fu

http://longwhitecloudkungfu.com/2010/07/horsestance-training-–-10-reasons-why-you-should-do-it/ http://www.shaolin.org/general-2/horse-stance.html

I think this is a good idea and I'm all for it.

Welcome back tulku/sunlover/bodyoflight etc etc

Forget the labels and just BE

Without wishing to derail this thread sinansencer, this might be useful to you. It conveys what deci belle posts. http://www.dharmanet.org/Bankei.htm

If you read any of deci belle's excellent posts, you'll find no talk of energy practices or neigong or channels etc etc. It's quite refreshing to read her articles in the midst of acquiring powers, my style is better than your style blah blah. I admit I sometimes get attracted to the energy stuff, but really, when it comes down to it, the Complete Reality teachings are what I need to study and put into practice. Thanks, deci belle for posting your articles and wisdom here. I hope you continue to do so.

The Five Tibetans are great. I do them daily as well as my qigong set. I've also started to learn Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations), and will be adding these to my routine. The next step is learning asanas. I've definitely noticed a switch in my cultivation lately. I seem to be more drawn toward yogic practices, including mantra and chakra meditation. I've taken quite an interest in the Gita and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. The path is ever winding but all good.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/five-tibetans-medicine-hunter-chris-kilham

Poetry. Sporadic ramblings on life and the natural world. I'm very private though and rarely show anyone (even my family). My Japanese style garden is a work constantly in progress but I take great satisfaction in it whatever the season.

I don't have any experience with Vajrayana so it would be unfair for me to comment on whether one method is superior to another.

I don't see any problem with combining the two. A Buddhist mindfulness meditation practice (anapana/vipassana), coupled with a physical qigong/IMA routine, makes for a pretty potent cultivation method IMHO.