gendao

Just based upon the forum descriptions: General Discussion Eclectic discussion across a wide range of spiritual thought and practice. As long as you are up for a good time and remain respectful, you're welcome to discuss your path. Off Topic Found something that interests you? The 'bums are a loose knit group with varied but similar interests, so feel free to discuss it here. I would say that his ID threads actually belong in General Discussion, if anything (since they could be considered a form of "non-Taoist" yet somewhat "spiritual" thought). Whereas threads on pre-history or PUA might belong more in Off Topic. Of course, under that same criteria, a LOT of threads in General Discussion "should" be moved to Off Topic - like all the political, scientific and various other "non-spiritual" threads, etc. For example: "Collapse" the movie, now available on Netflix Instantwatch Jung Personality Test Is tolerance a modern invention? Global Revolution Solving the world's overpopulation problems? I'm thinking of getting my MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology! To the spirit of Steve Jobs Denisovans Mated With Humans, Study Says. The Future of Nano-Electric Power Generation Etc, etc I also don't see why it would even matter if he WAS a Christian Creationist Fundy? General Discussion seems basically for any eclectic, "non-Taoist, spiritual" thought that doesn't belong in "Taoist Discussion," no?

Well yes, there were numerous races that inhabited the land of Egypt through the millenia, which is why you can't discuss "Egyptians" without specifying the era & class. But, they certainly weren't all simply Black. For example, the Egyptians had colonized Nubia for several centuries - but then slowly weakened and got taken over by Nubia around 800 BC as the tides turned. Thus, Egyptians and Nubians were actually fierce "master/slave"-type rivals. Anyhow, probably what most people are interested in is who actually built the Great Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx? Of course, this is highly-debatable, as estimates of its construction time range from 10,500 years ago to around 2560 BC. That's about an 8500 year span! Which to me, leaves a LOT of room for discussion! Anyhow, just to clear any media-induced assumptions or bias on "Black Christians" out there - here are the actual stats.

Great question. I have an expansion on that, if it does not exceed the limit? Could Kostas also explain how the different basic types of meditation actually work - as in, what exactly do they each specifically accomplish? Like static vs moving and standing vs sitting or seated? And full-lotus vs half-lotus vs cross-legged? With or without mudras? I've heard some explanations before, but was just interested in his own understanding? /\

Here's an interesting perspective from Shane Mosley on Manny Pacquiao: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8LKu5v_nso He seems to believe that Pacman might have some "weird" internal power that transcends his mere physical strength and thus bestows him with deceptively-powerful, soft, "cotton fist" and short punches. This is the first time I've heard this description from one of his opponents, so maybe it's BS? I also haven't heard of him training in any internal style, either...so don't know how he would have attained such power? But, interesting rumor for IMA fans, nonetheless!

Egyptians =/= Nubians. There was probably more and more mixing with Nubians that gradually "Africanized" their features over time...but even as late as the post-Dynastic periods, Egyptians still looked more like northern Indians than Nubians (although this is admittedly still subject to open debate). Obviously, White Americans exerted far greater influence than vice-versa if Africans converted to their religion, rather than vice-versa. The irony is that White liberals hate Christianity, yet strongly endorse Blacks...who also tend to be some of the most fervent Christians (slavishly replacing one master with another). Hilarity ensues! Anyhow, I would agree that liberals measure progressiveness by increasing tolerance. Thus, since the 60s counterculture, we've seen progress in vastly increased tolerance for: Youthful promiscuity Babies with no daddies No-fault divorces Slacking on the dole Deficit spending Drug usage Preemptive wars Big Bro legislation Etc. That's great, but we still have a long way to go! Hopefully, in the future, we can also liberate enslaved children from their parental masters and grant them the fully equal rights of any human: sex, voting, marriage, etc. too! Why should anyone be a 2nd-class citizen merely because of age?

Lol, fast & flexibility don't mix. From my own personal experience, here's my advice: In reality, you should be slowly melting deeper into your stretch, allowing gravity & time to do most of the work for you. I find it takes me about 5 minutes to slowly drop down to my daily limit in my stretch. As opposed to bouncing or flowing through a sequence of poses. That's actually pointless. The point is to slowly deepen in ONE pose at a time, slowwllyy... Although sometimes, you may also need to tighten the opposing muscle in a particular direction to protect a vulnerable joint (like knees). And often, make sure to do at least a quick opposing stretch afterwards just to balance yourself out (particularly with forward or back bends).

Actually, we don't even have to go that far for starters. All we have to do to start with is stop ENABLING overbreeding with TANF and other welfare incentives. And simply make people responsible for raising their own kids. I mean, what if every woman was like Octomom and was supposedly azz broke, yet still chose to have 14 kids? Well, if every woman was just an Octomom on average...then you get a 3rd World slum like Africa. It's just kind of unavoidable with plain common sense. Fact is, this has been a significant factor in their "economic miracle" revival out of decades of Communist misery - along with more free-market capitalism. It's an extreme policy for sure - but really just a temporary reactionary measure to Mao's previous edict to breed like rabbits to "build up the labor force" (EPIC FAIL) - that is already being relaxed now and will probably eventually no longer be needed. Had a Taoist been in charge to begin with, though - he would never have encouraged people to overbreed and then needed to correct the population bubble formed by this later with a population contraction. People would have had a more sustainable # of kids, which would have also naturally decreased with time too.. So, the less intervention, the better - just let Nature take her course!

Here's an interesting view of Chinese pyramids from Google Earth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFoz47v6Xwk I've seen some older photos before, but they were all the same handful of questionable origin from decades ago.. But, this current satellite imaging seems to verify that they are actually still there..

The findings show some measurable Denisovan ancestry amongst some isolated Pacific Islanders, but little to none in mainland Asia: Hmm, so what exactly is this 5% of "archaic admixture" in non-Africans of an older and different origin than out of Africa 50,000 years ago??? 5% is a very significant amount, comparable to what separates a chimp from a human!

Ha, what a fun idea! 308

YEP, a big shift AWAY from the MAINSTREAM Baby Boomers is definitely underway! The Tea Party was largely a splinter off the Right and OWS off the Left - and both actually some shared common ground. And both were sick of Right/Left mainstream puppets. Despite all mass media attempts to pimp Perry & Romney as the Establishment frontrunners - Cain & Ron are actually still leading the pack in Iowa! And despite all his substantial press coverage, Bilderberg Perry is trailing back in 5th now!

Random input time: I saw a Sun arcing up into the sky and then turning into a moon on the way down. I saw a purple glow over the land. And a red-hot coil, similar to an electric stove. And a view looking at Jupiter past Saturn (which was much smaller) in the lower foreground. Possible interpretation: You have a "Saturn complex" where the son cyclically kills his overbearing father. Saturn killed his brutal father, Caelus. And then, he was killed in the same manner by his own son, Jupiter...creating a vicious cycle over time. Hence, the symbols for Jupiter & Saturn are actually the same, just inverted: Ergo, you are like your twin/father figures/probably lovers/rivals/Encephalon, etc, just "inverted." They may represent a discarded, solar/Jupiter domineering aspect and you a lunar/Saturn aspect of yourself that are so at odds and unreconciled - you even incarnated separately as twins. Heck, you might even be gay partially because you subconsciously fear ever having a son who might then rise up against you. Your challenge now then would be in accepting your own bright Jupiter nature back, resolving your internal father/son power struggle and seeing how they're just all temporal roles/phases of you. As you naturally cyclically change from one to the other over time (son into moon, son into father, Saturn from a son who kills his dad to vice-versa). So, both aspects already reside within you (Jupiter perhaps symbolized by the red-hot Kundaliniesque coil), which is why "Jupiter" dudes resonate with you to begin with.. It's just a matter of acknowledging and accepting it (first inside, then outside).

^ Which LungFu Shan? Not this one in Hong Kong?? Anyways, awwwesome, what a gracious surprise! Perhaps we could do something similar to the Bruce Frantzis interview. Where we compiled & consolidated a bunch of questions down into a clear, concise list to ask him? I have a number of questions myself: 1) Yin & Yang Theory? a. If immortality is achieved by cultivating your Yang shen and "taking all your Yang" with you (p 54)...does this also include your Yin energy too? Which got fused to your Yang qi in Level 4 (5)? In which case, how would you ever become "pure Yang" if your Yin got fused with your Yang? b. Do Yin & Yang qi attract or repel each other? Several statements in your book seemed to contradict each other on this? c. How exactly do Yin & Yang qi circulate through or get stored in the body? Does qi turn Yin or Yang as it flows through Yin or Yang meridians/channels? Or can Yin qi flow through a Yang meridian or vice-versa? IOW, how does Yin/Yang energy correlate with Yin/Yang meridians/channels/organs/etc in the body? 2) Health? There's been numerous rumors that since MoPai is more martial than health-oriented, it can carry some signficant health risks. Is this true? And if so - is this due more to malpractice or simply the "detoxing" side effects of working with a lot of power and clearing blockages (like "kundalini syndrome") - which may be hard to avoid even with very proper practice? Or, might even be a symptom of effective practice? 3) Neidan? a. One viewpoint states that there are basically 2 models of neidan (with MoPai clearly falling into the latter): Would you agree with this classification? b. The twin goals of "enlightenment" & "immortality" are often listed as the ultimate neidan endgames.. However, "enlightenment" is often described as the transcendence of all duality (including Self)...whereas "immortality" would be the eternal preservation of "Self," no? It seems almost contradictory, but I suppose this "immortal self" that does goes on would be a transcendence of life/death (belonging not quite wholly to either state) as Sambhogakāya? Or no? 4) Fact Vs Fiction? Are there any persistent or common rumors, misconceptions, misinterpretations, confusions, embellishments, inaccuracies, etc that you would like to clarify at this time? For example: a. Did you literally witness John levitate nearly a foot off the carpeted hotel floor, just like you wrote in The Magus of Java (p 158)? Because while Jim McMillan believes that John can lighten his weight (qing gong), he doesn't believe that he can fully levitate.. b. Jim also said that John once had a friendly encounter with Mike Tyson and demo'd some ability on him that Mike apparently had trouble resisting. If you know any more about this meeting, could you elaborate further on exactly what happened? 4) Energy? a. From your background in MoPai and other qigong, whenever expending energy (through sex, healing others, performing siddhis, etc) - how much is typically drawn from our own personal reserves vs "channeled" from "the universe" in real-time? And can this ratio be changed (ideally to 100% "the universe")? Or does it generally always need "processing" (like digestion for food or a transformer for electricity) first before it can be utilized by our bodies? In which case, "universal energy" may fuel our reserves, but we are still always running directly off our reserves (and only indirectly off "universal energy").. b. Is it possible to regenerate your xiantian (prenatal or "pre-Heaven") jing that you inherited from your parents? TCM says no...although neidan might be more open to extraordinary feats? 5) Advice? Based upon your long study in MoPai, qigong, martial arts and life in general - do you any key tips (like referred to on p 36), precautions or wisdom you'd like to impart to us? a. For example, if synthetic materials can impede Yin qi absorption from the Earth, does meditating on an upper floor also lessen such grounding absorption? Ok, that's all for now.. I realize that was way more than 2 questions - but I'm just throwing them into the pot.. Thank you & Mike very kindly for such a generous offer!!! /\

Well, I wasn't disputing his central premise - just noting the impact of a key factor that was omitted and debating some of the commentary. I've gradually come to the realization that many journalists and professors simply...aren't that smart. I would say his primary assertion still holds true, though. For, even if the average African woman wasn't an Octomom, the world as a whole has still seen a marked per capita decline in violence (according to his stats). Of course, the "downside" to this is overpopulation, over-pollution, poverty & resource depletion..

死门 来了

I'd love to get some basic instructions to try this myself.. But my hunch is that these shaking/trembling practices are good for releasing big, gross blockages and traumas. So, mileage will vary. Someone ready for that stage may experience large releases. But, those not yet ready for that stage, or already passed it from other practices, may not experience much. Either because they've already made their big releases...or are not ready to yet. I've now stopped my Kunlun practice for more half-lotus. The reason why is I feel I'm working on a more subtle, deeper level now...and I can go deeper in half-lotus. Like you, I also only have so many hours in a day to practice, so I have to choose only what I feel might be best for me at the time.

Lol, the US launching a preemptive strike under false pretenses and killing a million Iraqis is "keeping peace all over the world?" :lol: And this dude is worried about China? China has never waged war against distant lands in its entire history, only engaged in debatable border disputes. It doesn't have military bases spread all over the globe (like the US). And in fact for the most part, it's been on the defensive against foreign invasion (see Great Wall, Mongols, Manchus, Opium Wars, WWI & WWII, etc). Usually, only small countries limited by small landmasses (Rome, Mongolia, Spain, Britain, Germany, Japan, etc) felt the need to go out and conquer foreign lands. China does need more resources, but not landmass. They already have enough trouble securing their present borders! And culturally, China is just far more prone to waging internal wars, than wars against foreigners, lol.. Anyhow, a lot of the % decrease in violence is due to the population explosion in 3rd world countries. With 7 billion people now, even killing a million Iraqis doesn't amount to much, %-wise anymore... In fact, if 4 billion people suddenly got wiped off the face of the Earth tomorrow...our global population would simply return to what it was in about...1960. Just ONE generation ago!!!

Fascinating National Geographic special on how much testosterone dictates alpha/beta male status and behavior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BIcaPzuMl0 In short, the alpha males predictably assume pack dominance, take more ambitious risks (to impress chicks), mark their turf, have more sexual partners (while committing less) & bully beta males. While, the beta males basically just hang around getting bullied and hope to scrape up any leftovers...

How exactly does he differentiate between them and what school did he learn all this from?