freeform

oh I see - I misunderstood. The DDJ is all about humility… what I’d call divine humility. It’s a Yin quality. The Yin of the Xin invites heaven to earth.

Laozi is speaking about Humility not the Po. Humility is the central theme of the DDJ. The Po is one of the ‘people’ mentioned in various parts of the DDJ.

It’s probably cheaper than world travel to find teachers though 😅 If you get really good with the videos available for free, you can get pretty far… there’s at least 2yrs worth of practice in those free videos alone. No need to spend what you can’t afford.

I didn’t know that - is that like a standalone program or part of his academy?

The videos above will do that. What’s most interesting to me is when people discover that this stuff really ‘works’. It can be surprising at first. It works and it’s strong - and it’s not all hyperbole. But what’s important is that since it works, it means it can also work in a way that you really don’t want it to. Its very easy to make mistakes with stuff that works. Ive made this error too - trying to improvise and ‘improve’ things and trying to find my own way through. It slowed me down and created problems that took months and years of hard work to reverse. I guess this might be a necessary learning experience for some (myself included). But I have seen people damage themselves to the point where it becomes impossible to proceed on the path. If you’re drawn to experiment, then by all means do so - but I suggest to be super cautious and realise that you’ll probably have to undo all of it at some point to progress.

That may be so if you’re exploring this in a mental-instinctual way - where you plumb the depths of your unconscious and interpret imagery that comes up. But if you have a deep experience of Qi (which is how alchemy is normally taught) - yin and yang have very definite, tangible form. This connection doesn’t make sense if you rely on thoughts, ideas or archetypal images only. When you have an experience of the particular mixture of Yin and Yang that form ‘metal’ energy, then it’s clear - like really obviously clear. On the bare Qi movement level - metal contracts. On the Xin level metal Qi differentiates and attaches. It’s this power of differentiating that creates the yang aspect of Po’s function. You-me, pleasant-unpleasant, clean-dirty. This is what helps discernment and logical clarity. On a more archetypal imagery level think of metal qi as a sharp sword - separating this from that, right from wrong. This ability to differentiate extends to social areas. Us-them. My country-immigrants. My skin colour-others. When out of balance, it can certainly inform the dark logic behind genocide. It also informs a sense of aesthetic taste and fashion… which is a case of differentiating between fashionable -unfashionable… good looking and ugly… When you have access to the Qi this action is palpable in the body… when you gain access to the Xin, it becomes palpable in how the mind works. These designations happen at an earlier stage than psychology… They are not random. They might seem random if you don’t experience them directly in action at the level of Qi. Reactive emotion is considered the antithesis to spiritual growth. Particularly if you identify your self with your emotional reactions. Emotions themselves are neither good nor bad. Just like the seasons are neither good nor bad. At the highest expressions emotions become the 5 De - the 5 virtues. Qualities like bravery, wisdom, compassion etc. They’re continuous states rather than reactions… Is that patriarchal? I don’t know. I guess if you simplify it down to ‘emotions are bad’ then maybe. But it’s not that simple in my experience. I don’t believe I said it was negative. Po-aspect of the soul is said to be preoccupied with physicality. It is tempered by the ability to let go (which is the psychological function of the large intestine - also part of the metal element system) Emotionally, it’s sadness, grief and sense of loss that are the Po’s domain. Is that negative? Depends. Sometimes it’s appropriate. Exactly. And the denial of that is a mischaracterisation of the Daoist tradition. They’re seen as negative if they’re reactive. They’re seen as close-to-divine if they’re fully harmonised at a deep level (and thus become De). It is at the level of Original Spirit that emotions cease to be - because they become integrated completely. (Or rather the Original Spirit is ‘before’ they ever differentiated out into the emotions… hence the constant image of the return in alchemy) I can’t comment on this. I don’t know where it’s from or what specifically it’s talking about… And context is one of the crucial ingredients to understanding anything within this tradition.

A form of ‘inner vision’ - when it develops properly you should be able to see inside all your body - particularly your torso. My guess is that you’re seeing the tongue area because you have a lot of Qi in the head and it’s a little stuck and unable to sink. Haven’t read about it in a book - so don’t have any recommendations there.

I would guess that you’re focusing on a point known as Qi Hai which is at the level of the Dantien but on the surface of the body. This point will mobilise Qi - and if you normally have cold extremities, it’ll balance that and make them warm. It will likely create a feeling of vitality for a short period. However this isn’t the Dantien - it’s like an acupuncture point. Over time focusing there, you will create stagnation and an imbalance in your system. I’d strongly suggest following a structured system with proper methods (like the ones I posted). Doing your own thing won’t get you very far to be honest - and potentially cause issues over time.

Looks like a form of qigong to me

It is said that women get through the Jing consolidation stage near the beginning much easier and quicker. Men either falter and take a long time or fail and stop progressing. Its said that women have an easier time of letting go of the habitual tendencies around the base desires. But they have issues that men don’t further down the line. I don’t think it’s a hard and fast rule to be honest. From what I’ve been told by women in my school, the biggest obstacle is usually the expectations placed on them by society and their families.

Men and women have slightly different processes in ‘middle’ stage of alchemical practice. The early and late stages are the same for both sexes.

Someone mentioned to me in private (and happy for me to share) - that the very fact that there's a hierarchy and a strict formula with levels and attainments and so on - that can all be considered masculine and patriarchal. I suppose if that is what is meant by patriarchal, then it's certainly true there's a pretty big element of that. But it's worth considering what else there is - other than this structure... 'what else there is' actually makes up 99% of the tradition... Kind of like how we look up at the sky and there are all these bright stars - but 99% of the sky is the space between the stars. The 99%, in a tradition like mine, is practice - the space where everything unfolds. The forum, in its nature only allows for the communicating the 1%... This may make it seem like this 1% makes up the majority of a tradition - but of course that's not the case. The 99% is only visible if you follow me for a month. And I can tell you that it would probably be the most boring month of your life. You'd see me quietly lighting incense, sitting, standing, sweating, stretching, cooking, cleaning, working, writing notes, sharing a long walk with my partner... The structure gives a catalyst for the 'structure-less' to unfold in its own accord. 99% is this process of unfolding. It is true that the structure in our tradition is necessary... it is not a case of only freely exploring and being creative and experimental. I guess someone that might call a traditional system 'patriarchal' might also call this freestyle exploration matriarchal? or feminine in nature? There certainly is an element of spontaneous and free exploration - that's part of the 99% - but it happens only within the bounds set by the 1%. In this way the path (in my estimation) is both Yin and Yang. The Yang is highly visible, like the stars at night, the yin is hidden - because it happens inside. If that's what is considered patriarchal or hyper masculine, then I suppose I'd have to accept that label. It just never crossed my mind because there are far more (highly accomplished) women in my school than I've seen in any others. My teacher's teacher is female... one of the key historical transmitters of our particular branch is female... the senior students of my teacher are mostly female. One of the key deities supporting our school is female...

I just wanted to get clarity on what specifically she meant. I believe there's tons of very questionable patriarchal stuff in Daoism as well as all spiritual traditions - but it's not here. The major issue I have is that in the west we think of Yang=masculine, Yin=Feminine. I'm not sure that's what @Bindi meant (I doubt it, but it's possible - which is why I asked) But Yin is feminine and Yang is masculine is not right. It doesn't have the connotation in the traditions I've come across... It's more like "+" and "-", pretty sterile, almost mathematical terms. I think of them more as movement (which is how these qualities are experienced on the Qi level) - outward, expansive movement vs inward, receptive movement. When talking about genders as absolutes, yes at that level of mental abstraction, masculine and feminine would be categorised Yin and Yang respectively - but it's incorrect to continue that one labled categorisation and apply it to everything else. The right side of your body is masculine and the left feminine? Your back is masculine and your front is feminine? It doesn't track - that's why the terms used are 'Yin and Yang' not 'Masculine and Feminine'. Secondly, Yin and Yang, as Luke said, exist only in relation to each other. And they're holographic - like a fractal. Men are, in fact both Yin and Yang, and so are women. An eye is both Yin and Yang - the sclera (the ball shaped tissue holding everything together) is Yin... but the retina is Yang... but zoom in more and the retina is now Yin and the macula is Yang... and it doesn't stop... it applies to the cells that make up the eye, the various parts of the cells, the atomic particles... the subatomic particles... and so on. The male genitalia is both Yin and Yang - as a whole, in the mental category of various genitalia, yes they are Yang - but zoom in and certain parts are Yin and others are Yang... So is the case with female genitalia... Thinking of yin and yang as masculine and feminine, in my opinion, is really problematic. In regards to Po, it's not true that the Yang qualities are 'good' and the Yin are 'bad'... Logical clarity, Discernment and so on - these are the qualities behind racism for example... or the Nazi's 'solution' for the 'Jewish question'. Similarly attachment is not bad - attachment to the emotions you have for your loved ones - so you don't give away your child if someone asks... Attachment to pleasant sensation so that you don't kill yourself... If you zoom out, both the yin and yang qualities are seen as 'bad' for the purposes of inner transformation... both these qualities are a distortion of the original Virtue (De) of the Po... Similarly the Yang aspect of the soul, the Hun - is not 'good' - it just is... It carries with it all the wounds and karmic attachments across lifetimes and keeps us going in circles in samsara... The soul as a whole is not seen as some higher aspect of us. In fact the soul separates us from our Original Spirit. And now to the ultimate question - why do some traditions call the Original Spirit 'Yang Shen'? Is it coz Yin='material dross'=Woman=bad and Yang='spiritual immortality'=Man=Good? No, of course not. Even 'pure yin' and 'pure yang' are relative when observed at that level of abstraction. Original Spirit is an individuated spirit particle within an unindividuated Spirit realm (call it God or Dao or Heaven). Little piece of Dao = Yang, within the greater Dao = Yin. The reality is that this forms a kind of unfathomable whole that is beyond Yin and Yang... but from our perspective, from the necessary abstraction that we have to create to understand it, it is seen through Yin and Yang. In the west we tend to give things archetypal properties and try to understand things by anthropomorphising complex things into human shaped concepts... think greek gods... The thing I love about Daoism is that it made a deliberate effort to move away from that and use the almost mathematical principles of the Yi Jing (and yin and yang) to describe things - all in an attempt to separate our emotional investment and tendency to dramatise spiritual concepts. Look how dramatic that description is. As if the earth and matter are somehow apart from Dao. As incredibly brilliant as Cleary was, he never had access to the states of consciousness that bring about direct insight into how reality unfolds. I'm sure I exhibit a lot of yang qualities - but I can assure you there's plenty of yin to me as a person, as well as my cultivation practice... it's just that being yin, it remains hidden - especially on such a yang communication medium. I'm only communicating what I've been taught - I have my own questions, uncertainties disagreements and preferences - but I refuse to adapt what I learn to my preferences because I feel I should first understand and have a deep experience of what is presented to me - something I may never achieve. It's out of respect for my teachers and the generations of teachers behind them. It's also out of the recognition that I tend to be quite foolish, and my insight is narrow and prone to error. What I share is shared in the spirit of 'take it or leave it'. I don't have anything to gain by sharing - I'm not selling anything, I'm not a teacher, I don't try to gather followers, or convert people, my teacher doesn't take students and requests anonymity - so I'm not benefiting him in any way either. People that feel a strong affinity to what I'm trying to share will get in touch - I try to help as best I can. It's good practice to articulate my experiences and I enjoy sharing with like-minded people and reading different opinions - but in reality, it takes a lot from me - in time and energy (both are quite precious to me) - so for me it's a way of giving. My teacher told me to stop posting - unless I can do it in the spirit of service... which is what I try to do.

What do you mean? Im not sure I understand?

That's the Yang aspect of the Po's action, yes Like a metal sword cutting through wooliness... The Yin action is attachment - attachment to physical things, attachment to pleasant sensations, attachment to emotional reactions and so on. On the emotional spectrum, it's sadness, grief and loss - (particularly the sadness that comes up as a result of the loss of one of the attachments above)

Of course. Clarity, order, discernment, reason... an aspect of groundedness - even a fashion sense and a sense of aesthetic taste Our connection with the manifest world comes through the Po. And so on the flip side, it can become overly attached to the manifest and the physical.

You could have a monthly paid Q&A session instead of a membership.

Po is the earthly, Yin aspect of the soul. Hun is the heavenly, Yang aspect of the soul. The Po returns to earth upon death - the Hun returns to heaven upon death. But the soul is different to the spirit.

The sort of device I'm talking about.

Yeah similar to what you said. Additionally, at least from my teacher, it feels like a continuous current that moves down a specific line through the body… My teacher will direct where it goes by intention - so he’ll touch or hover over the same spot but the current will go through the other side of my body for instance. Short sharp shocks do happen, but they’re usually accidental… The electrics of the device, as far as I’ve seen, only ever produces shocks. Also by hovering the hand say over a leg - and the sensation and muscle spasms will continue in the leg following the hand.

In my experience Jiang certainly had genuine high level Fa Qi skills. I’ve also seen a lot of fake Fa Qi in China (using a device strapped to one’s leg). Maybe you could explain how to tell the difference between the fake ‘electric Qi’ and the genuine Fa Qi.

you misread. I wrote ‘emit’ not ‘omit’ I’m saying that to Fa Qi is a technique that not everyone learns necessarily. But to generate enough Qi that you’d be able to Fa is indeed part of every genuine system. For instance my teacher doesn’t teach the majority of his students how to Fa - only the ones that get into healing or medicine - but building the Dantien, generating Qi and filling the Dantien is the foundation for everyone.

of course not - I’m just asking whether it’s a system that you’re passing on, or teaching methods - both are fine but very different.

Yeah exactly. In reality the majority of people are not in the group that would be negatively affected by any training. However when you have built a lot of Qi and have a Qi generating practice, you become sensitive in some ways. Things can affect you strongly at certain stages… herbs for instance have a far stronger effect, so you have to be careful… psychedelics and drugs too. When you have a lot more Qi than others, they will naturally absorb some of your Qi - so getting treatments usually charges up the one doing the treatment - and you’re left with some pathogens to deal with. Similarly certain esoteric practices may well have quite different effects. It’s important to be cautious when you’re in the middle of a long term process of development. DIY is not a good thing at that stage.

I can confirm this. Though the bit where you ‘emit’ is a technique - the actual building up of the Qi in the Dantien is an important step in most Neigong systems that then lead to Neidan.