Trunk

@steve Love and light to you, your father and family.

My current view is that the primal motif for core nourishment is the umbilicus, in the prenatal ('pre-heaven') phase when the extraordinary vessels were more predominant. There are remnants of that dynamic currently: 1. a resonant + - polarity can be felt between the front point and corresponding back point ... if done *gently*. You can look at this in terms of ch. medicine, & re: the nerve plexuses that go all the way through front ~ back. 2. this engaged polar resonance effortlessly initiates a pulsing front ~ back which: - nourishes core - engages du, ren, dai, chong etc all in one swoop 3. This is a motif that is repeated, not only at the belly button, but at major acupoints (nerve plexuses) all up & down the center-line. This more n' more efficiently and integrally drives the whole extraordinary vessel foundational nourishment layer. I talk about this line of exploration (last yr 1/2 +) in this public thread and this in my PPD. cheers, Keith

Some resources re: extraordinary vessels https://johndaoproductions.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/renintro.pdf https://johndaoproductions.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/duintro.pdf https://johndaoproductions.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8-extraordinary-vessels-maciocia-online.pdf https://johndaoproductions.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the_8-extra_vessels-yuen.pdf Resources to plumb, above. My 'current view' is that I've had a very surface popularized dysfunctional view of du & ren for a very long time. My current view is that the extraordinary vessels flow together, are integral in their dynamic. That there are energetic and consciousness change in dynamics (as energetics shift to the extraordinary vessels) that have very much to do with pre-heaven / post-heaven (prenatal, postnatal).

I think that the there are levels of working with the MCO, and the extraordinary vessels as an integral dynamic. My impression is that we have a surface understanding of “dan tian” and “extraordinary vessels”, that there are layers and we should continue to excavate.

The complimentary context of - other moving practices that circulate, open channels & tissues, develop alchemy - standing positions .. using your own radar to sus out what works. Also related: if you've kinesthetically trained for strength via typical exercise & weights ... the Daoist path of developing power is the opposite of it, in some ways, the *feel* of it. Opening the joints, developing the fascia. Makes me review Sifu Matsuo's standing postures "3 dragons of kunlun". There's joint opening and flowing movement built into it, along w/ the heaven ~ earth integration Fragments of thoughts.. - Keith

a contrary perspective worth considering ... I've not fully absorbed it, gonna take some time. I don't feel that I can comment confidently on my perspective, not fully baked, and I respect Damo Mitchell's perspective a lot. Taking time to take this in. (and I've hidden my recent zz essay) Certainly is in the (perhaps oversimplified) territory of the problematic balance of: stagnation <//> developing power. .. material for discussion.

29Gathering, Welcome! to TDBs. regards, Trunk

Hey there, Waylander, Welcome to TDBs! Take a look around, jump in. If you have questions re: getting acquainted w/ TDBs layout, give me a shout. I’m not much of a conversationalist these days, but happy to be a getting-started tour guide (if needed). - Trunk

Zen emphasizes simplicity, stillness. (and sometimes goes to excess in that way) Daoism emphasizes energetic work. (and sometimes goes to excess in that way) Some people say, ”To strengthen your qigong (Daoism), practice Zen. To strengthen your Zen, practice qigong.” cheers, and welcome.

I do find that w/ hands' qi sphere, if practiced w/ the right tips, gets to palpable qi quickly. Qi Sphere: Beginning

I wrote a little free essay, Zhan Zhuang: Getting Started It's a primer, assumes no knowledge, gets you started, familiarizes w/ common terms and includes some key tips that I've picked up over ... several decades. cheers, Trunk

My attempt at a 'free: getting started' site, https://johndaoproductions.wordpress.com/ especially https://johndaoproductions.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/three-generic-fundamentals/ best of luck, Trunk The deepening of simple fundamentals, consistently over time, is what brings development. Fireworks are misdirection, imho.

yeah, I dug it too. .. made a few minor adjustments, because I'm just that anal.

I went to google, searched “zhan zhuang”, and the AI overview was astonishingly good (scary good, actually). I suggest you check that out, as well as the linked article https://balancehealth.com.hk/zhan-zhuang-tai-chi-exercise/

I've been thinking about you. Some ideas: 1. Look up "zhan zhuang" ("standing post", "still standing", "standing meditation" on youtube. 2. Similarly, "meditation following the breath" Watch a few free videos, then (if you like) perhaps start a thread here on TDBs asking others about it. Others who have some experience will likely dialog and share. That's free fundamental material, and good conversation. best of luck, Trunk

p.s. I'd say, additionally, that ... the long haul ... the people that enjoy and stick with this, and what provides and leads to development over time ... is that you simply enjoy the process of conscious integration.

A number of essential foundational practices you can find for free: 0. “Following the Breath” - unifying comfortably deep breathing and attention - this gets applied to *every*thing, *all* internal arts practices - foundational: sitting meditation, and still standing (see next) 1. zhan zhuang, aka “standing post”, aka “still standing” - look it up. it sound like nothing (just standing), but it is foundational in every Daoist system. Super simple. Essential. There are foundational essentials around that are absolutely free .. that any more sophisticated system would assume that you have experience with anyway. best of luck, Trunk

Soaring, Welcome! I wasn't familiar w/ those terms, looked 'em up. This short essay, internal arts: common fundamentals, gives a brief introduction to bedrock principles common to (nearly) any system. Then follow your own sensitivities, to whichever system/methods resonate for you. You're all set up here at TDBs. Again, welcome. - Trunk