gendao

^^ Uh, to recap - genome research showed that ADHD is not a genetic condition. Not surprising for a Big Pharma-branded "disease." But proving that bogus Big Pharma "diseases" are not genetic does NOT prove...that genes have no influence on behavior, lol. Yet another example of why all these idiot journalists with nothing but English degrees should stop trying to "educate" the rest of us about stuff they always failed out of in school (like science). Seriously, I don't try to lecture them on Shakespeare - so maybe they should stop lecturing us on anything that involves numbers, logic & a 3-digit IQ??? Lol, well I feel my logic has remained consistent...however you may be perceptive enough to have noticed an underlying shift in my psyche. I felt like I recently made a turning point after this past Sunday. In short, I had constructed a protective suit of negativity early on in life. And over time, I had even come to adopt this post-postnatal shell as my new self. Entirely forgetting my old self as naive and outdated. But lately, I've reached the point where this black armor is no longer protective...but strangling and weighing me down. So, I've made a concerted effort to release this sarcophagus of negativity and reawaken my more original self buried inside.

Basically, if you press your eyes when first waking, you may see a bright golden ring in your mind.* (Later on, you may also see it spontaneously arise when reversing your awareness backwards down your optic nerves down into your dantian.) Observe this ring. Is it a complete circle or does it have breaks in it? Is it just a ring, and not filled-in in the center? I believe this is basically a "fuel gauge" for your jing - and when your jing is full - your ring will be a complete, unbroken circle with the center filled-in as well. Of course, this is all rather interpretational and imaginative on my part - so take with a grain of salt. Personally, I started out with a broken donut ring (late 2007). That has now become fully circular and filled in the center. * This is apparently also some ancient Tibetan technique.

Actually, the genetic research shows that this is simply a phony "disease" cooked up by Big Pharma to sell drugs to "cure" it. It's a clever Bernaysian psy-op known as "disease branding." Overall, the whole original article was just another example of very poor liberal science/confirmation bias. Multiple studies have now consistently shown time and again that our development is a combination of biology & environment, not wholly one or the other. The whole liberal idea that everything is merely "social construct" has in fact been thoroughly debunked by ongoing genome research. Clearly, many medical conditions do have a strong genetic basis. Even homosexuality appears to have some biological factors involved. Liberals don't seem to reject that notion, though...

Right, so far I have not felt any "Drew effect" from my meditation yet.. However, if there is one, I also suspect that the critical mass tipping point is filling your qi (converted at middle dantian) up. When this happens, your appetite should decrease...and your heart chakra should probably also develop well. Effilang may have reached this point now. Whereas I think that I have filled my jing up, but not my qi yet. My sex drive is now well under control and I can "see" a golden jing ring filled in the center (signifying my jing is "full")...but I feel my heart chakra is still closed and I still have a normal appetite (signifying my qi is not). Anyhow, it would be interested to see if I also experience the "Drew effect" once my qi fills up - and verify the hypothesis here..

Absolutely! See how even women are sick of feminized men now??? Even though that's how men have gotten brainwashed to believe it's what women want? Goonis38 should be commended for her brutal honesty here..

Well, the more BAD ASS (PARTICULARLY in bed!) a guy is...the more badness women will put up with to F*** him! Another straight confession from one of the horses' mouths themselves...

I think men may "overestimate" women as angelic "goddesses" these days. When they are now much more like wannabe frat boys who are looking for the same in men. Like, here is a recent example of the traits that a young co-ed today rates men by: As you can see, the ideal man today is essentially a genetically-gifted, high-testosterone, alpha male model/jock/p0rn star with a frat boy persona very fluent in pop culture. Things that really impress now are model looks, huge schlongs and memorizing rap songs.. Now, ask yourself how you stack up in these categories? If you rank high in them, then your problems are likely mostly mental and easily fixed. But if you fare poorly, you shouldn't feel too bad either...because they say little about your actual value as a human being. Your sexual worth is only a part of that. Women may rate the Dalai Lama or John Chang as 0's, but that doesn't mean they haven't made the most of their lives here on Earth.

I believe he was able to "magnetize" the coral and thus move them much more easily against gravity...

Interesting, do you have a source for that?

Yes, sorry for my vague and probably anatomically-incorrect descriptions. In fact, the pelvis cannot really "slide" off the backs of the femur heads - as those heads go into hip sockets in the pelvis. But, I was just trying to describe the "imagined sensation" I felt (without knowing the actual anatomy at the time). As you say, a feeling of shear "sliding" between the pelvis and femurs and perhaps a suspensatory "hammocking" there. I think as you open, relax and loosen ingrained tension up down there - you may start to feel more of these various relationships - as opposed to just one big, solid, locked, immobilized mass.

Interesting. I was just trying that this morning (or something like it). Basically feeling all my weight concentrated down between my root and dantian - which then allowed my upper body to relax and "float" upright. In zhan zhuang, I also imagined my pelvis "sliding" and hanging down on the backs of my femur heads. There seems to be a connection between where you "feel your weight" and the focus of your awareness.

Wow, so sorry to hear that, Santi. Sincerest condolences, bro. (And definitely a good idea to spread awareness on this game. I would never have guessed. I guess this might even include choking practice in MA training too. Be very careful with any choking...)

^^ Good point. I think the people who originally became xian were probably mostly mountain hermits. Well, there are traditionally several levels of Taoist xian (loosely described here): Ghost xian: Yin shen (astral) Human xian: Human (yin & yang) with a long physical lifespan Earth xian: Immortal human (yang & yin) Spiritual xian: Pure yang shen jalus Celestial xian: Spiritual xian merging with wuji

Wang Shujin asked him that (p 44). Wow, anyone got video of that? This episode was probably between 1993-1995 to publicize his Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body book with Deepak Chopra..?

Well, if you can "warm-up" with some of these moves...they'll probably ask you out! Or...in? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY07rj9oKRQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFF0YZ6BOdg I would just tone it down and not get too aggressive - seeing as how you will keep seeing the same faces every week, like it or not..

Interesting...thanks! Are the 7 houses (glands) it refers to the chakras?

This is what I've heard in most actual pragmatic practice too. A (female) qigong doctor even says that yang qi is what's used to expel all the "yin" toxins. The goal of neidan is to become pure yang. This is for both male & female adepts. I think both men & women cultivate yang qi for healing, health & neidan. So what is yin qi used for? I believe IMA may use it for rooting. And MoPai appears to use it as a "carrier" for yang qi (which otherwise cannot extend beyond the body on its own). As you say, gender is just one context for yin & yang qi. But in other respects, associating gender with them is far less relevant or meaningful. Anyhow, my understanding of this is still all vague and non-theoretical. But, at the functional level it does basically correspond with yours.

Here is another fascinating post by Ken on the gender differences in neidan: In short, it appears that female cultivators tend to excel 3X faster than men in opening their SHO, due primarily to the fact that their uterus basically functions as their lower dantian. Whereas men have to create one first. I also noticed this was true in Kunlun, as well. Women opened much easier and faster than men. However, men then gain the advantage in the latter stages AFTER the SHO has been opened (Ken does not elaborate on why here).. Thanks for your fantastic blog, btw, Ken!

Well, it could also be that my progress is blocked right now. But others could enjoy much faster progress... I consulted the Yijing a month ago on this and it eerily said: Hexagram 6, Arguing What are you arguing for? If you cant win this one, what else can you do? You argue for what you need for sustenance, or to be believed, or simply for justice for you know in your bones that things are not as they should be. Yet no matter how deep and true your convictions, you find yourself frustrated, and your sense of being in resonance and connected with the world is choked off. Hexagram 12, Blocked What work can you do when nothing is working? Who are you when no-one is noticing? Blocking it, non-people. Noble ones constancy bears no fruit. Great goes, small comes. Nothing moves or grows, communication doesnt happen, everything is negated and blocked and this is because of non-people. That may mean that some people are a consistently, exclusively and pathologically negative influence and sabotage all attempts at progress. there is a complete failure of empathy. This means that your very best and strongest efforts come to nothing. You can have a soaring imaginative concept of the creative possibilities here; you can have the will to be true to that concept and carry it through. Youre not doing anything wrong; the problem is that these creative possibilities are just not available when things are Blocked. And I also agree that stretching your kua out definitely helps improve your zhan zhuang posture dramatically! Training for full-lotus is GREAT cross-training for zhan zhuang!

Hmm, would that be like a yin version of zhan zhuang...laying down & "embracing the tree" with your legs, instead of arms? Vajrahridaya - Are you saying that you literally physically levitated when you were 14??? Dammit, why doesn't anyone ever video this stuff?????!!

Well, no single poster here is a spokesperson for Taobums. It's your choice if you want to let a single poster affect you that much. And every group will have its Doubting Thomases. To drop names, I'd say goldisheavy & -O- both fall into this role. They can serve a functional purpose - except simply criticizing existing answers without offering any better solutions - ultimately doesn't get anyone any further. Because people are always going to simply take the best option available, "perfect" or not. Real (imperfect or not) will always beat hypothetical ideal out in the real world.

I'm surprised Thomas Cleary hasn't tackled it yet... However, translations, particularly of ancient esoterica, is no easy task... People well-versed in English, Chinese & neidan are generally rare by nature. Because those really into deep Chinese culture - are far less likely to be Westernized and fluent in English. And those who are very Westernized - are also very unlikely to be deep into Chinese culture. It's kinda a Catch-22. I definitely wish there was a cheap service or open forum for this type of task, though.

Well, the point of most of these stretches is to increase the rotational range of the hips...not bend the back. So, if you're not bending from the hips, then you're missing the point. Most likely, your hamstrings are too tight, which is making your hips too tight, which is forcing you to bend up from the back instead... I've had the same problem - so adding standing toe-touching has really helped stretch my hamstrings out.. As far as full-lotus, it is loosely said that: (I've also heard the efficiency factor quoted as 2, instead of 3, so I think this is just a rough figure.)