dwai

He claims to be an indoor student to the old yang style. Any evidence that he is making this stuff up? Agreed I found the candle flame stuff questionable myself...but he seems to be saying some interesting things in terms of concepts (admittedly stuff id not heard before)...

He goes into details on cultivation and how to train the hun to coexist with Po. He is descriptive of certain experiences he had wrt hua jing which seems to confirm the yogic lotus analogy of the chakras. He also seems to emphasize candle flame practice to train fajin.

I read and write sanskrit but not interested in teaching it because I don't have the time to teach it.

He talks about how hua jing is essentially the effortless power of taiji and how Po is the ancient mind that we need to switch to, in order to "ride" the hua Jing. But if we are fully in po state, it is outside volition. So the Hun mind is needed to be trained so it can co-exist with Po mind, thereby allowing us to tap into hua jing. Yi and Xin fall in the realm of Hun.

Yeah that problem...I had it too for while. One way is to drop into the ground. Other way is to circulate the energy on the surface of the ground, between your feet. He energy will move in a figure eight pattern from heel of one foot to the toe of the other. Flow clockwise from toe to heel and then go to the other foot. It will go to left heel when weight is on right foot ball and vice verse. After a while it should constantly flow in a figure eight pattern

In my perspective it is a matter of attachment still. If I feel compelled to feel a certain way about something (thereby triggering deep pathos or deep unrest), I am attached to something (values perhaps) that still have a hold on me. If I feel the absence of (or look for the experience of) another state, I have not really let go of things that are empty in nature (phenomena). But mainly, in my experience, it is a case of attachments. And guilt associated with those attachments. Being Empty doesn't imply we become psychopaths. Being Empty just means we develop a innate sense of humor about everything and everyone, if I may put it that way. When duality and modifications don't "bother" us any more. The ecstatic feelings go away. Because ecstasy is in contrast to something else. And that too is a feeling experienced by a "self". It is a paradox because the ecstasy helps us in the process of becoming empty. But it too is a phenomenon.

Hi GreyToWhite, Master Liao has himself stated that Cheng Man Ching was his personal and close friend. He was there when Prof. Cheng passed away. He was given Prof Cheng's personal notes at that time (none of his students got that). No, I understand totally that the techniques "tu" and "Tun" are southern chinese. That doesn't mean there is no "swallow and spit" or "separate and diffuse" or "methods of inward and outward" in Taijiquan. Like I said, these are strategies that we use in two-person and combat situations. And of course we train in the 13 (8 energies and 5 directions). Sink and float are also present in Taijiquan - they are jins and can be applied practically. Concepts like Hwa, Bii Jin, etc are also in Taiji. However, they are also present in Wing Chun. I think we should not get caught up on terminology too much. I can only say that I don't find any White crane elements in Temple Style. I have also trained Goju Ryu (which was the first martial art I learnt). There are elements of White Crane in Goju Ryu however.

Only one source I know of who claims Master Liao taught White Crane is in a blog by Marnix Wells. There were rumors about Bruce Frantzis alluding to Master Liao as a energy-crazy taiwanese white crane guy but Bruce himself on his blog has commended Master Liao's book T'ai Ch'i Classics and suggested that he uses it as a reference material. I'm not saying White Crane is bad. I'm saying, being an insider to Temple Style Tai Chi for almost 15 years now, I have often asked my Teachers whether Master Liao did White Crane and they always say "No". So it is a matter of Master Liao's words (and those of his direct students) against those who don't have any direct relation with him. It becomes insulting to continue to claim that way. Usually people who claimed this tend to do it to discredit Temple Style and Master Liao. While I don't want to participate in such exercises in stupidity (of arguing with such people), I do find it reasonable to point out what I have done here. Go to my personal page and see how we do Temple Style - both single form practice as well as long form (which is very similar to CMC long form). I have videos of single form practice, long form practice and push hands. I've seen white crane being practiced and what we do is nothing like White Crane "Swallow and Spit", "Separate and diffuse" etc are traditional taiji concepts. They are not "forms or techniques" but strategies in application.

Isn't that a violation of the TDB code of conduct? Oh Moderators...this is a self-confessed case of trolling here...what is the punishment?

No there is no element of white crane in temple style although there are vested interests who spread rumors like this. Temple style is authentic Taijiquan. It's focus is beyond martial arts, it is about cultivation and practical daoist internal alchemy. And "Swallow and spit" is a advanced-intermediate part of taijiquan.

No master Liao did not study under Cheng man Ching. He and Prof Cheng were friends and played chess together.

My friend and practice partner for more than a decade has moved to the area. He teaches temple style tai chi. PM me if you want to get his contact info

Btw these panelists were not from any Hindu nationalist party. It seems your tendency to overreact has not diminished over time

Watch this three-part series on an indian tv channel (includes some internal indian political commentary as well -- but the key guy to watch is Tarek Fatah) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHdjXaVxHfA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoAe7lOJff4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVvZLD8E9JM

my native country India has been at the forefront of bearing the islamist onslaught in modern history since it's independence in 1947. There were several wars waged against Pakistan. There has been a steadfast onslaught of terrorism since the 1970s. The main objective is guised as reactions to many an affront (mostly imagined) - Such as Kashmir being muslim majority was ceded to India (leading to one of the world's most volatile flash points). When the Punjabi, urdu speaking Muslims of West Pakistan were perpetrating a genocide of epic proportions in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), india had to intervene (in order to prevent massive influx of refugees from East Pakistan into India). As a result, Bangladesh was created. Pakistan took this an an affront to their existence and resumed a massive campaign to indoctrinate and infiltrate various bordering regions (with overt and covert support from the Communists of china). Fight for the "freedom" of the Sikhs as the Khalistan movement. Fight for the "freedom" of the Kashmiris, etc. However, the main objective that was disguised under these "causes". The main objective is to establish a world wide "Ummah" - a pan-islamic Caliphate. I read about the designs to do this before ISIS was even existent, in an article in an Indian magazine in the early 90s. It would span from West Asia to East Asia. And from there, the rest of the world. Only hindrance is India, which is a secular, pluralist and majority Hindu (blasphemers of the highest order according to the islamists) nation. If the people in the West are becoming aware of this monstrosity (islamic chauvinism and terrorism) now, Modern Indians have known this (like the Israelites have) for a good part of 70 years. Here's a report on the "Ummah" -- http://www.clarionproject.org/sites/default/files/Muslim-Brotherhood-Special-Report.pdf

If you want to see what the future of ISIS is, take a look at Pakistan. Only thing is Pakistan was created out of a generally progressive, secular society exclusively based on religious identity. It is THE most prolific breeding ground of Islamic terrorism and ignorance today.

It has to be. I don't think people can understand the mechanics of taiji and applications without spending time on single form work, understanding the energetics (not just biomechanics) and becoming empty. Here's a good article that somewhat discusses this too -- https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/answering-questions-about-taiji-taiji-da-wen/

Yeah the zombie movies, MMA fights (what's the difference right?) etc are all pretty debilitating energetically speaking.

I do still enjoy a drink or two occasionally. I don't find alcohol in moderation to be debilitating (I mean a couple of drinks a month). In fact I just enjoy the drink... I found other things far more negative - for example meat. Certain types of spices (or combinations thereof) can make things pretty interesting (in a bad way). Onions, garlic are pretty potent and to be avoided. Haha that doesn't mean I haves third eye...fact is my first two eyes are pretty weak (have been wearing glasses since the 4th grade ;-)) I don't understand the intensity in your posts TI. I've noticed it earlier too...there is a sense of immaturity. An indignant righteousness, sometimes bordering on the petulant seems to creep into them. Why can't you just let people to their own devises? Karma is a bery powerful thing..what people sow, so they shall reap...we should focus on our own practice. Cheers *hic!*

My friend has been practicing atma vichara per advaita tradition for a while now. He doesn't have any energy sensitivity and therefore doesn't understand what I say about increase the energy frequency, refining the qi, Shen etc. yet he seems to be having similar results in terms of understanding etc. Jnana yoga (way of inquiry) and raja yoga (mind body energetic practices) converge at one point. Only thing is for beginners or even intermediate level practitioners it is not evident. I notice lots of folks gravitate towards technical terminology, definitions, more labeling and categorization. However the process IMHO, should be able simplifying, dissolving the labels, definitions etc. yet most of us already know that the dao which can be named is not the real dao, and absolute knowledge is silence...yet somehow we tend to fall into the trap of this definition and that technique. Why not pick one and stick with it? These systems require faith and dedication.

There are several "lost" generations in India. They were led to believe that being spiritual is bad, that Hindu dharma is retrogressive and in order to be successful in life, one has to adopt "liberal western" postures and mentalities.

Connecting the tongue splits the energy into yin and yang. Disconnecting the tongue allows the energies to mix all over the body. Both are good. So both should be done. After cultivating, it makes sense to let the charged up energy mix and flow all over the body to balance things out.

I am with you on this Bindi. I don't understand the need to extrapolate everything to Non-dualism. Some traditions are dualistic and it's okay, because that's their view. In Vedanta too, there is a popular and bona fide school called Dvaita Vedanta (dualistic interpretation of Vedanta). In this, there is no final realization that the Self/Atman is Brahman. There is the self and there is Brahman/God. The role of the self is to devote itself to the works of the Brahman and follow a righteous path (i'm boiling it down for sake of lucidity here). When I was learning Siddhar Yoga, a young jewish lady came to learn it from my teacher. She said she taught "jewish yoga" to kids. And she would freeze and become angry everytime we talked about the Self being non-different from Brahman (here it was Shiva). It would create great conflict and cognitive dissonance in her. So much so that she seemed to have a psychological problem from it, where she would start pulling on her hair (literally) (my extrapolation here). Why try to force a view onto others? It's okay if people want to be dualistic. If they feel comfort and solace in devotion and practice, under the premise that God is separate from the individual soul. I used to raise the hackles of many dualists (Gaudiya Vaishnavites such as the ISKCON folks) whenever we discussed Atman/Brahman. Problem is, most people discuss at the level of intellect. Not at the level of direct experience. And hence, conflict and arguments.

I find the very notion that Hindu and Fundamentalism are used together ridiculous. Being a Hindu born and bred, I've always seen our tradition being very open, inclusive and non-dogmatic. Those who are trying to insinuate that there is something like Hindu fundamentalism are people with vested interests -- Evangelical christian missionaries, islamic orthodoxies and a massive population of marxist/socialist dogmatists.

Yes it did. At the time when I had this experience, I was going through severe difficulty...struggling to finish school, my father passed away a few years earlier, my girlfriend (now wife) having surgery for cancer. After this event, I somehow knew, that everything was going to be alright. And things did change for the better... Since then, I've had several experiences that have not only re-ignited my devotion and passion for practice but also shown me the power of mantras, of belief and spiritual power.