gendao

I'm not a doctor, but one thing I figured out for this was stretching my lower back out by bending over in front and placing my hands as high up on the front of my femurs as I can (right under the hip) and pushing back. You can wiggle your hips some while you're at it too. Basically, this helps to elongate and loosen up your spine, especially near the base. I push pretty hard, because I don't think I'm strong enough to dislocate my femurs or anything...but I'm not saying that's not possible either...so use due caution, of course. Can you elaborate on all this? How exactly do you do a pelvic lift...and you can O from that alone? With or without "squirting?"

Very interesting. In some recent chats, I was told about reaching these stages of energy absorption - first breathing through your pores instead of nostrils...and then basically just energy from the "zero-point" vacuum.

If resisting ling kong jing is like resisting qinna, then maybe I should limit my resistance to just enough to feel the force, but not too much...to avoid hurting myself? Or should I not resist at all to get the full therapeutic effect (but then not prove to myself how involuntary the effect is)? BTW, thanks for the vid, OR! I have actually experienced something similar before with an Aikido/Wing Chun master in KS. I saw him toppling over his students by moving his hands around them (without touching them) - who all appeared to be resisting (like the last guy bending over backwards) to no avail. So, I had him try it on me. He moved his hand towards my head and either I did the limbo to naturally avoid it or I was pushed back by his empty force. I still have no idea to this day because I purposely didn't resist at all, and just went with the flow. Which is why next time I'd like to give some resistance just to let myself know which it is. I also know that once I inadvertantly blocked a qigong doctor from injecting qi into me by breathing up into my chest instead of deeply down towards my diaphragm. So, it may not be hard to stop energy transfer if you want to. However, as has been said - when pressure builds up from being blocked - you will probably be the one to suffer any damage from it.

I was using hypnosis as an analogy - not a direct comparison. Point being, both don't work to the same effect on everyone. But just the fact that they can legitimately work on some proves to me that there's still something to them. And as far as his titles in different traditions - that issue has already been raised and addressed here. So, it's not like no one else has wondered the same thing. I would agree that MW is a master at subtly slighting others, but everyone has their own style and I simply take that into account now whenever reading his reviews. In fact, if he ever met me, I'd be interested to hear his jaded opinion just for the free drive-by psychoanalysis, lol...

Actually, that sounds like a pretty honest impression and not really a "diss." I also found this reply there interesting: I was also told by a Taoist practitioner in China that the very first "level" in Taoist meditation is being able to meditate to the point where you stop breathing...and breath through your skin pores, etc instead. Basic, although very few people ever even reach this stage. I also suspect a lot of the ling kong jing displays are like hypnosis. They can work, but not on everybody. Some people are just far more suggestible than others. Maybe even a lot of masters would admit this. And I think they would actually gain more believability if they included some clips of people it didn't work on just to acknowledge that. But, I guess stage hypnotists don't like showing those either, lol - so who can blame them? And it doesn't mean I still don't believe in either. Just know that they exist within limits. I'll watch Lama's vid tonight and if I go to his workshop, I will try to resist if he demos empty force on me just to convince myself for my own sake.

Ah, muchos gracias! 16 miles isn't too far. I wonder how much that cab ride would cost? I'm guessing still less than renting a car for a day or 2. But is Lama Dorje going to do any more seminars elsewhere, like TX? If so, maybe I should just wait?

^ Too bad, I didn't get to see it. Did anyone save a copy they could send me, please? What all did it show? I'm intrigued enough to consider flying in for this. But, I'm wondering about the logistics? I have no idea where all this stuff is...especially in relation to LAX? Perhaps I could stay at the Ramada Plaza Hotel LAX for the seminar (or maybe it's too pricey)? And I wonder how far Bodhi Tree Bookstore is from LAX and this hotel? I honestly have no mental orientation of LA, just know it's quite huge. I do have a friend I could stay with in LA, but I have no idea how far he lives from all this. And, I don't think he'd be interested in chauffeuring me around for a weekend (although maybe I'll ask). And, I'd rather not have to rent a car and try driving myself on LA's crazy roads. I don't mind doing it in other cities, but LAs multi-lane jams rather intimidate me. Is anybody else flying in? And if so, maybe we can coordinate logistics or even split a room somewhere?

I will be in Beijing for a whole month soon... I've already been there before and have seen the major tourist sites. So this time, I'd like to check out some of the "lesser-known" sites, but with particular relevance to Taoism or martial arts. In particular, I'd like to maybe meet or watch some masters, find areas where intermediate or higher level students train and visit various historical sites... I believe Wang Liping lives in Beijing...but is probably way out of my league. Not to mention, he went underground after the Falun Gong crackdown (it's rumored Li Hongzhi had studied with him), so is probably not too accessible. Although, I sure wouldn't mind running into him somehow! One site that does look cool to visit would be Dong Haichuan's tomb: Supposedly, this grave is only a mile away from the East Gate of Beijing. I'm pretty sure I'm going to check out Pan Jia Yuan (潘家园) Folk Culture (Antiques/Flea/"Dirt") Market at least once too and browse all the goods. So, does anyone have any other suggestions or info? Of people to see, things to do, etc? I know Beijing is a martial arts mecca and probably also has a good number of Taoist spiritual alchemists, as well.

No need to apologize - Chinese street cred is based upon your skills. Plain & simple. That's why I am trying to improve both my Han ur fluency and cultivation. Anyhow, thought I'd just drop a quick note here. I went to the Baiyun (White Cloud) Taoist temple yesterday. Very similar to Buddhist temples, except all the statues of revered "gods" and "monks" on the premises had long beards, instead of just being clean-shaven. So overall, it had a slighty "darker" feel. Well, I'm sure there's more differences than that...but that was just the most obvious one. I don't know if any of them were even actual Taoists or monks...but I'm guessing the real Taoists in Beijing are private citizens who don't bother dressing up like they still live in the Ming Dynasty. Anyhow, it is HOT AS HELL here and I don't know how much more sightseeing I'll be doing - especially if it is not within close walking distance from a subway station. So, I think Dong Haichuan's tomb is out now. I'd still like to check out some masters in the parks, but I'd have to get up real early to catch the subway over to them (none of which is close by to me). Not sure that is going to happen, either...lol.

Hmm, I dunno about all the spiritual or energetic drawbacks...but the main physical downside to eating meat IMO is that it turns your blood acidic. Which leeches minerals out of your bones in order to balance it back to a "normal" pH of 7.4 (slightly basic). It's just like when you get cavities from plaque or drink some OJ or soda and your teeth feel a bit chalky right afterwards. This is all due to acid eating away at your teeth. Meanwhile, if you eat a bunch of raw spinach or other leafy greens - you'll notice that your teeth feel much smoother and "sealed" after. This is because leafy greens alkalize your blood and, I suppose, saliva. Not to mention they are high in minerals. So, this all helps to "rebuild" your teeth instead of break it down. The same thing would theoretically happen to your bones. Which is why the US has a higher rate of osteoporosis than Asia - even though they hardly consume calcium-rich dairy but we drink it in loads. The difference is that they also eat more veggies and less animal protein - while we do the opposite. So, the net effect is that they are less acidic than we are. Bottomline: Eat less meat and more leafy greens. Because it's a battle between acidic and alkaline - and ideally we want to be slightly alkaline and not acidic.

So, essentially the point there is raising the sexual qi up to the heart instead of out your tip...by making the heart sound? Here's more on the 5 sounds, btw:

Interesting synchronicity, However, Lao Zi did not found Taoism.

Interesting, what exactly do you mean by pinching of the gua? And yes, Fong Ha says to never lean... Also, so you rest on the balls of your feet, eh? Like in Aikido? I guess cuz that gives you more room to absorb force (as opposed to backed up on your heels)? I agree that tensing up anywhere creates a "handle" or fulcrum that can be used to move you. Whereas relaxing would make you more like a water balloon - and harder to move. In theory at least...as I still can't do this in practice. When I relax, I just end up getting pushed back as well... Spectrum - agreed that my underlying assumptions here may be wrong. Again, I don't know and am trying to figure it out still! But, let's say you are in a static standing posture and some guy is pushing on your shoulders. Many rooted people can still resist that push, even without obviously "moving" (unless it's micromovements inside). Again, this is probably best explainned in person via feeling, and next with video...and only lastly through text. Which is why I am looking for actual video demos of this. It's easy to talk about, but far harder to DO.

Hmm, interesting. But, saved...from what? And what is the ultimate goal of LSD anyways, then? To return to the wuwei source? To be "saved" by "God?" Or are these the same things?

Yes, see this would seem to not be biomechanical. I mean, how much biomechanical leverage can you have standing on just one leg without moving around much? Joel "Chihand" (known in JKD circles) told me it's mostly about using your hip structure by tilting your tailbone forward and mental focus. Fong Ha (Yiquan) said it's about maintaining your equilibrium. Yet still, I can't get it... Yes, I don't want to see someone "redirecting" the force in a push-hands demo. While that is a great skill in its own right - I want to see pure rooting skill here - not sensitivity and redirection. I'm talking about assuming a posture with as little biomechanical advantage as possible (like wuji) and having someone push on you using as much biomechanical advantage as they can muster (deep bow & arrow stance or whatever). And preferably being pushed directly on the body instead of through extended arms. Then taking that full force head-on - without moving. Let's take a step away from all the over-intellectualism and get down to brass tacks, people! Maybe this should be some type of challenge for us. Sort of like the Tsung Hwa Memorial DANTIAN CHALLENGE (btw, can anyone do this?).

Agreed - hence my post on rooting. Without objective tests like that...how do you KNOW FOR SURE that you are actually accomplishing anything in the real world? The proof is in the pudding! So, who says that a true belief in God makes the training unnecessary? David? LSD? And what IS their view on "God" and are they saying that all the same powers and goals could be obtained simply with a true belief in God?

Ching Fung Dao Shr/Lama Nakpha Dorje (Max Christensen) sounds intriguing... Has anyone ever met this guy? Or tried his methods? His spontaneous Kunlun standing sounds an awful lot like basic wuji posture or zhan zhuang? However, those postures don't quickly lead to prancing around in a bliss state and enlightenment (at least not in any such short order)...

Waysun Liao? Well, that's just IT. Being able to root in a wheely chair would seem to rule out biomechanical factors...which would then strongly imply that something else (like qi) is the main force at play there. And THAT is exactly the pudding I am after... Some real-world feedback and SOLID PROOF. To me, this would be a concrete measure to myself that I have achieved something - and it's not just all in my head. Which I think is a very easy trap to fall into in the metaphysical arts. Just ask DarinHamel... So, less talk, and more action please. Many of us here can talk about it, but how many of us can actually DO IT?

Mind shooting and posting a demo vid? I'd like to see this.. Wayfarer64 - yes, it is a foundational skill. However, that doesn't mean that most martial artists possess it. In fact, most don't. And I'm talking about being able to hold a strong stance without having to hunker down. The ones I met could do it standing straight up or in a slight bow & arrow stance.

Holding your arm straight out in front is really just a physics trick that changes the applied force from an overturning force into more of a horizontal shear force (which is easier to resist). And sticking one foot in front actually helps by shifting your CG forward, adding to this effect. So, I don't consider this a good test for rooting. A real test for rooting would be if you could stand with your feet together (or maybe one slightly back) and resist getting pushed from the front at your shoulders. I've felt this before and it is really weird - and does not seem to make much sense physics-wise. Sounds like Eley had some real rooting. "IT..." And IT is what I'm desperately trying to get!

Agreed with thelerner... You won't find Taoists or Buddhists warmongering or abusing others...but most such abusers in China are not Taoist or Buddhist. The government is officially Marxist and atheist. Who actually cracked down on a lot of spiritual systems in the Cultural Revolution. So, the overblown abuses you are seeing now are due more to Marxism than Taoism or Buddhism. And plain realpolitikal Machiavellian powermongering (just like in many other countries).

Well there were tens of millions of Native Americans...that eventually got dominated by far fewer colonists. South Africa had a huge Black majority...ruled by a tiny White minority. So no, you don't necessarily need high numbers to become a powerful minority. It's more about how much socioeconomic and military power you have. And Machiavellian ethics and double-crossing don't hurt, either.

I think imperialistic Whites earned a bad rep and enmity for themselves during their "Manifest Destiny" era of eminent domain. In the 1800s, the Sassoon family and the British dumped opium into the country and started the Opium Wars. And then took over Hong Kong. Then the native Ming Dynasty was replaced by the "foreign" Manchu Qing Dynasty...which weakened China enough to allow increasing encroachment by Whites and Japanese. Everybody wanted to take over China at the time! Hence the grassroots Boxer Rebellion...which proved pretty useless without firearms. And all the while, Christian missionaries were trying to indoctrinate and convert the masses. Of course, this was then followed by the Japanese invasion. Point being, the native Chinese have been put on the defensive against aggressive foreign invaders for the last 2 centuries or more. And they don't want to end up oppressed minorities in their own land like the Native Americans or Australian aborigines. So Chinese elders from the older generations are naturally going to have a higher level of suspicion and distrust for Whites (and even moreso - Japanese). I think John Chang had been extremely open to ALL students, though. Not to mention, he didn't charge a red cent for any of his generous teachings.

Well, I believe Stephane was raised by a bunch of feminist women...who trained him to be a hardcore AFC doormat with women. Obviously, this backfired immensely in his youth and he got his full share of abuse from women taking full advantage of his nice guy AFCism. Finally, he found the SC and his nuts dropped... So, I believe he's simply become as hard as he NEEDS to be to deal with today's spoiled granddaughters of 2nd-wave feminism out in the REAL WORLD. Although, I wouldn't doubt if he also overcompensates some as a revolt from his AFC youth - and sometimes misdirects this towards harmless men. I also would find it somewhat questionable businesswise if he is simply remarketing Steve Piccus's material...unless it's with Steve's consent.

Hmm, sounds interesting...mind copying me on that method too? And have you tried it yourself and experienced some of those symptomatic results?