dwai

Yeah he is also my master’s student and a friend.

This trilogy contains a good set of internal practices, with a strong focus on Yiquan as the engine that is used to generate power -- https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Stillness-Trilogy-Meditative-Traditions/dp/0964997622

.

Looks like an ok rendition of the long form, which is essentially the Chen man Ching long form with a few variations. I don't feel this person was well “connected” in terms of flow. Temple style long form is a way to test if we can take the flow and connectedness of the single forms into a single “long form”, with no interruptions. Like a river flowing, no stops, no interruption of flow. Condensing breathing is internal, it is hard to detect from a video. However the flow is easier to detect. It could very well be that this person was trying to do condensing breathing as part of the practice.

You should start with Master liao’s single form series. The Online course is not very expensive. The dvds were more expensive iinm. Yang style and temple style are similar. But if you learn the single form series you don’t need to do the dance. And after you go beyond the physical level it becomes Neigong with advanced teachings based on the exact same forms.

It’s more advanced. I don’t watch clyman stuff and if you follow him you’ll become sick. He’s a fraud.

😂

Depends on which pill you choose

The flesh suit is only a temporary illusion. It’s a virtual flesh suit. 😇 yeah yeah, I know....I’m a party pooper

Here's an excellent resource for learning Condensing breathing in the Temple style tai chi tradition -- https://www.taichitao.tv/programs/course-how-condensing-breathing-creates-jing-power-advanced

In Damo Mitchell's new book titled "A comprehensive guide to Daoist Nei gong", I found him distinguishing between the cultivation/working with the Central Channel from that of working with the Heart field. According to the book, most Daoist lineages deal with the former and seldom refer to the latter. In my own experience, I found that the Central Channel development does seem to be the main focus of the daoist traditions I've studied. However, when I went to my master, it seems he was working on both, albeit the heart field cultivation is something that he added to the traditional teachings he was handed down from his master. He often tells us that the most powerful force in the universe is love and the heart field energy is that of love primarily (albeit he doesn't specifically discuss the heart field). Would love to hear more thoughts on this.

Since I'm a long time taijiquan practitioner, a lot of what he describes in the book is already how my body has become (a taiji body). So I just followed the instructions of the video, and I can feel the effects. I think having a background in one of the internal martial arts is important, and that will help you understand the yijinjing type practice, and validate that you are indeed feeling what you should be feeling. I'm not sure that I could even understand what he wrote about without already having experienced the phenomena first hand. It is for that reason that I find his books illuminating, as they provide some theory behind the direct experience based understanding that I already have. I'm not sure someone with no background and hands on experience with qigong/neigong will be able to do more than get an academic understanding of the subject(s) from his books (if at all). There is also the risk of them misunderstanding (assuming/imagining) things too, if they try to follow along purely from an academic perspective.

Yes he’s Puerto Rican, so speaks Spanish

This is a recording of an informal conversation with my master from last evening.

I've read the book. It's good. He does cover the Yi Jin Jing in the book, but not the practice of the set of 12 "forms" per se. He treats Yi Jin Jing as a principle. So while it is illuminating, it still leaves an opening for a teacher to explain and correlate the practice with the "principle of Yi Jin Jing" as outlined in his book.

for those who might be interested, my master talks about love, emptiness and true nature here --

I'm sorry you had to go through what you did. My "laughing reaction" wasn't at you, but at the folks you mentioned. Glad you were able to extricate yourself from the situation.

This is good. If the breath slows down or stops naturally, you're okay, imho. I found that having the internal organs properly hanging down, helps with the breath becoming elongated and slowing down.

This is the correct and natural breath retention cessation. My Master talked about it last weekend during our workshop. He said that when our breath becomes relaxed and naturally elongated (mind slows down and stills), the breath will naturally stop. I experienced this during yoga nidra after doing the long version of sudarshan kriya (as taught by Sri Sri Ravishankar) many years ago. The breath just stopped. I spent minutes like that, lying in the dark with no thoughts and no need to breath. Thank you for sharing

There are lot of preparatory steps before one can do kumbhaka (breath retention) in Pranayama. I had to spend 6 months just working on my spinal column before my teacher advanced me to other asana practices. I had to spend 1+ year doing basic asanas before he introduced pranayama to me. Preparatory to pranayama was developing glottis control. And then another 6 months before he introduced breath retention (inner retention). Another few months before added a short outer retention. Without the preparatory work, if someone actually manages to activate the energies, they will most likely "blow a gasket" (usually in their head, causing psychological/psychotic issues).

Before you get to breath retention, work your way up from 1:2 and 1:4 inhale:exhale ratio. When end you get to 1:4, you must have long smooth breaths, with no sobbing, gasping, or sound. Breath through nostrils only. Start wih a 4 second inhale and work your way up to 8 second inhale. lmk if you want more details after you can comfortably do 8:32 second inhale and exhale.

“On the path” is for seekers. “Being the path” is for the knowers...

Daoism is a nondual wisdom tradition. It's objective is to realize one's Nondual nature and give up trying to control one's life and environment, while operating within the constraints of one's mortal limitations (body and mind). Imho, there is no real difference between Hindu non dual traditions and Daoist non dual traditions. But like everything, there are different levels created by people based on different levels of limitations. So we have different sects and sub-sects within each broader tradition.

I'll be in the bay area between 7/20 and 8/2. Let me see if I can find some time to stop by your class too NVM, I missed the part about you being gone the second half of july

I’m a software guy too. As I’m aging I find my ability to elicit interest in these “fields” to be very very hard. No need to go to the forest. I find that just becoming less attached (start with material stuff, then emotions, ideas, concepts and eventually relationships) helps. Also, enlightenment doesn’t happen to the person. So you’re okay, imho Let it not be a race. I find it useful to inquire, “how much is enough for me?” I find that if we live with total surrender, then something always works out. Its been that that way for me since as long as I can remember. Even in the darkest hours, when I sincerely pray for help, for direction and guidance, it appears. I think it’s the same for all us. We just need the conviction that whatever happens does so for the it’s the way it is meant to be.