liminal_luke

Hi Robin, Just some thoughts. What a major life transition, to go from spending 15 years of committed study with someone and then just letting it go, seeing what else comes your way. The word that comes to me is "divorce." Certainly, there´s a need to grieve this life passage. It might seem like a total break, but I´d encourage you to see your new direction as simply a continuation of the spiritual path you´ve been on, in a sense, since birth. You were learning spiritually before you ever met BK Franztis. (If not, you would never have been attracted to his teaching in the first place.) You learned a lot with him, and now you will continue this journey with someone else or on your own. As traumatic as this break from a long-time teacher may feel, it´s actually just a crucial next step in a continuing process, a necessary -- if difficult -- part of your evolution. Liminal

I second gendao´s idea of a healer review sub-section. In the states, I don´t eat a slice of pizza without consulting Yelp. Surely deciding who I trust my body and spirit to deserves similar forethought. Liminal

Thanks! That was fun. I think if I was reading for information (like a student) this would be really useful, but mostly I read for enjoyment. I don´t want to read fast because then it would be over too quick.

I see Kunlun and KYMQ as very different also. The movement in Kunlun is spontaneous, and during Max´s seminars people often gyrated quite wildly. In the KYMQ video practitioners are specifically advised to avoid such movements.

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If only spending a lot of time on Taobums made the list of chief traits...

I don´t know whether to laugh or cry. Think I´ll go with cry for now.

Arya, Far be it from me to be skeptical of your abilities, but about that condom. When you do find a girl who wants to have sex with you and a suitable place to do so (and I believe you will if this is what you truly want) I hope you won´t rely exclusively on your energetic control to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, not to mention possible disease. You might be truly accomplished in this area, but better safe than sorry. Liminal

Not having a place to have sex -- not a huge problem. Not having a condom -- (potentially) a huge problem. Liminal (Of course, Arya didn´t mention concerns about birth control or STDs so I think it´s safe to assume he´s got those areas covered. I just wanted to say...)

If there´s a "huge problem" here it´s that somehow what seems on it´s face to be a simple logistical issue has become a huge problem in your mind. I agree with Miffymog that perhaps there´s more going on here than is apparent in your OP. Here in Mexico, where I live, people commonly live with their parents until they are married -- even into their 40s --and I can assure you that young people are still finding ways to have sex. Liminal

Yes, but everyone wants to sell short.

Years ago, I taught a weekly class in Hebrew pronunciation to adults who wanted to participate more fully in Shabbat services. I wanted them to be interested in the meaning of the words, but they quickly set me straight: no learning beyond the sound of the words was wanted or needed. Talk about your instant noodles. Naturally, once you´ve had the good anything it´s hard to go back. And why should you? I don´t blame anyone for pointing out the difference. I´m just saying that some people arrive at the authentic by virtue of a bastardized, circuitous path. A few stumble on spiritual caviar from the get-go through extraordinary karma, luck, or destiny; most of us do not.

Some years ago I attended a "mountain retreat" led by Hyunmoon Kim, and I can assure you there was nothing watered-down about the experience. We can debate about the exact definition of "Taoist," but one thing is for sure: long-term practitioners of SunDo get results, and they should -- they´ve worked hard for them. Liminal

Some people like their liquor neat, other´s prefer it watered down. But both groups will get drunk eventually if they drink enough. Where there´s more watered down yoga, you´ll also find more pure yoga. And no one culture has a monopoly on the divine. Liminal

Practitioners of Sun Do consider their system Taoist, and I see no reason not to take them at their word. Why define Taoism so narrowly?

What´s Mopai?...Oh never mind...

Oh, the idea of idea of retaining jing -- there´s something so tantalizing about it. I can´t say I´m free of the idea myself, but I do have a cautionary observation. In my experience, the mindset that leads a person to be promiscuous or masturbate to excess (whatever that may be), is the same mindset that leads a person to want to retain. They seem like opposite attitudes but are really two sides of the same coin. It´s like someone who binges and purges with food. Sometimes your stomach is full, sometimes empty, but the mental pattern underlying all this is singular. If you want to do something really and truly different, moderation is the ticket. Of course, people who come from a binge and purge mindset aren´t going to find moderation appealing. And maybe that´s where the work is: getting to a place where it feels OK to be moderate. Liminal

Enlightenment is what happens when you turn on your flashlight. Whether or not you like what you see is another matter.

Just an idea-- Coach Sonnon´s Warrior Wellness. It´s not Chi Gong, per se, but it does mobilize and warm up every part of the body.

Who needs Facebook when we have Taobums?

I like what Steve said about change. Feelings, especially, change. Even the feeling that nothing will ever change changes. Feelings provide valuable information about our experience but they are not to be taken as incontrovertible truth. In winter everything looks dead but spring comes and life springs forth anew. Liminal

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I´m one month away from my 50th birthday.

Hi SeekingBuddha, I think I understand what your saying, it´s just that that hasn´t been my experience. I agree that seeing "the play of the energies/subtleties of body+mind" is an important aspect of spirituality. For me, when my energy is strong I´m more able to do this. When my energy decreases I´m less perceptive, aware.

As far as the age to start practice, I say it´s never too late and the earlier the better. Some practices might be more suitable for certain seasons of life than others, but if someone wants to practice then why not? There´s a good practice out there whether you´re 9 or 99. The OP put forward this theory that after 50 is actually better for practice because of decreasing vitality. I disagree. I think it takes energy to sense energy and the more vitality the better. Vitality doesn´t necessarily mean raging hormones and the turbulence of youth; vitality can be calm and collected, elegant and refined. Liminal