dwai

I feel it like a drop (like I've just free-fallen several thousand feet) as the consciousness settles at a newer, less noisy level in meditation. Sometimes if feels as if I'm rolling into a ditch...not so much spinning (but I guess different people experience it in different ways). It used to bother me a lot (and sometimes break my meditation initially)...doesn't do so much these days.

It is a good idea to cover one upanishad at a time and cover the first ten...indeed the ishavasya upanishad is simple in structure but rich in content. Perhaps as a auxiliary objective, we could start mapping sections from Dao de Ching and the 10 Upanishads and see where the commonalities are, etc. I have found that a lot of topics in both these traditions can be complemented/better understood by considering the perspective of the "other"...

Ishavasya Upanishad -- http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/upanishad/upan_04.html

Lets start with the list of the 10 most important upanishads. 2 Major Upanishads 2.1 Ishavasya Upanishad 2.2 Kena Upanishad 2.3 Kathopanishad 2.4 Aitareya Upanishad 2.5 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.6 Prashna Upanishad 2.7 Mandukya Upanishad 2.8 Taittireeya Upanishad 2.9 Chandogya Upanishad 2.10 Mundakopanishad

Consciousness is the transmutation agent, imho (Tao and Te)...without this (i.e. individual finding their te) true balance cannot be achieved...imho. Besides the Holy Spirit of the Christian Trinity is not exactly the same as how the term would be used in Eastern traditions (if at all). Christian Holy Spirit is a unique and separate entity from humans...and is part of the triumvirate of Holy Father, Holy Son and Holy Ghost or Spirit...iinm.

Nadi shodhana

Why do you think that is? Isn't a church a place of worship? If so, the energy should be strong and vibrationally higher in quality than other places, right?

"No pain no gain" is antithetical to Qi cultivation. Self-mutilation, self-flagellation etc are bad for your Qi... Qi cultivation should be effortless and pain-free. Pain prevents and impairs ability to feel Qi flow...Qi cultivation can only take off once Pain is reduced greatly/eliminated and Qi sensitivity is developed.

BK Frantzis' "Standing and Releasing" seems like a good fit for what you want to do. http://music.yahoo.com/b-k-frantzis/albums/chi-gung-standing-dissolving-energy-gates--209516554

calcium enrichment project?

Ive been viewing his videos on and off for while. Are you his disciple?

Repulse monkey is a split form and it can be performed in any way. We (in my class) practice it moving, standing stationary, changing doors, etc etc. The main thing is to get the energy flow and the split, imho. But for beginners, it's probably best to do it as prescribed in the routine. You do four wave hands like clouds and then return with 4 repulse monkeys to recover the distance moved with the cloud hands and return to the vicinity of the original position. Another option with limited space is to do two cloud hands and two repulse monkeys instead...

What style are you learning? How many forms in the long form?

The great thing about Master Liao's DVDs is that he is thorough about explaining postures and alignments. Most other DVDs I've seen (except perhaps Paul Lam's Yang style DVDs) just go through the long form without breaking down the posture, alignment etc. I think Master Liao's DVDs are great for beginners as well as advanced practitioners because there is great beginner-level material but for folks who have been practicing his style for a long time too, there are alignment details etc that have been forgotten or ignored that get highlighted... But you are absolutely right, there is no substitute for learning from a good, experienced teacher. I remember how I learn the Yang 24-forms from DVD and then when I went to learn from my teacher, it was obvious within a few classes that I was not doing a lot of stuff correctly. The other big thing is to find a teacher who will break down tai chi into the basics. What is preparation form? What is suspending from crown point, what good alignments are, what the 8 energies are, what the 5 directions are, etc. Not that one could not learn the long-form and then read these things, but to learn these things as one is learning the forms is invaluable, imho.

Don't be so hard on yourself. If you are just starting out with tai chi, it will take time for the physical form to feel comfortable. You could try doing just bow and arrow and change stance with the change door stepping first. Don't try and rush into doing the full form without getting the footwork correct. Once you got the footwork down properly, then you can focus on the hands and then tie the form transitions together. You could try "hands attaching" with change door stepping (in bow and arrow)... And as MythMaker suggested, best would be to find a teacher who can observe and correct your forms, alignment etc. In the style of tai chi I learn, the focus is mainly on single-form practice (i.e. repetitions of upward downward, inward outward, raised hands, tai chi stance, brush knee twist step, repulse monkey, wardoff, rollback, press, push, split, single whip etc) and we always use change door to switch sides (i.e. right to left and vice versa). So, when we piece the long form together, we can do both left and right sides smoothly and not have to think about transitions too much. I'd recommend getting a few of these DVDs if you want to learn how to do this (next best to finding a teacher of the system) -- https://taichitaocen...uct_detail&p=49 This one covers 5 style steps, attaching steps, etc -- https://taichitaocenter.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=59 I know it's a bit pricey, but each DVD is well worth it's price. Especially for beginners who haven't had much background in structured tai chi training. DISCLAIMER -- Although I am a student of the system, I don't have any ulterior motivation to promote these DVDs. I am recommending these based on personal experience (of having purchased several of the DVDs myself) and with the best intentions in mind. I haven't found material like this readily available anywhere besides through Master Liao's school...

there are several other similar videos here -- http://www.youtube.com/user/baguamaweiqi <div><br></div><div>Here's another amazing video --</div><div><br></div><div> <br></div>

Hi ChiDragon, Dropping the shoulders and elbows are as I've been taught, essential to relaxing the frame. The shoulders and elbows dropped, the ankles relaxed...with the tailbone tucked...crown point lifted...kua relaxed...birds nest open...essential for tai chi and chi gong... Holding tension in the shoulders will block chi flow as the frame itself will not be able to relax...the muscles in the shoulder and neck will be tensed...following which the hips will be tensed...following which the knee will be tensed...the ankle will be tensed.

Hi ChiDragon, The person doing the form seems to hold tension in the left shoulder. I could be be mistaken of course (could be mistaken if the shirt is making it seem that way)...the shoulders don't seem "Dropped"...and if they aren't, the whole frame will start to tighten. Then of course, I could be completely wrong.

The difference between what I've been taught and what's in this video is in the spacing (width) between the two feet. Our forms (Temple Style Tai chi) have at least a shoulder's width width in the stance (i.e. horizontally between two feet) and through all the movements (as this gentleman shows in the yang style stepping). Although I think he's just breaking the stepping down by bringing his insubstantial foot closer to the substantial foot before stepping forward or backward (we on the other hand slide the entire sole of the insubstantial foot along the ground in an arc as we step, not lifting it off the ground at all). But pay attention to where he mentions change door...that is the kind of side-stepping I was referring to. I do not have permission to teach so I cannot post videos etc (besides I don't really know the details of editing videos, etc anyway)...

Well changing directions too...but change door is different. I tried to find some decent video online to demonstrate visually but they were no good...besides not many videos on this topic. Its very easy one learnt...but i struggled a bit to try and articulate what it entails... Imagine you are stepping back in repulse monkey. Now instead of stepping back from your left foot forward to left foot behind, instead step back parallel to right foot and then step forward to your right foot. Basically it would mean you havent moved in distance but your stance reversed. Do same thing again for the next one so you change from right stance again to left stance. Then for each rep of your repulse monkey you do the same. You have now completed your four step back in repulse monkey with really moving back 4 times, though your stance has alternated. Note that when tepping back parallel to the back foo, you would be widening your normal stance a bit so when you are back in bow and arrow, the width of your stance remains consistent... Hope that made sense... Its best to practice the stepping first for a while before you include your hands... Also good to practice would be the five steps ( of 13 postures ie 8 energies and 5 steps fame ). My teacher taught how we can turn in the long form in a short space by reversing direction...basically reversing the placement of the foot and pivoting around, 180degrees...but thats harder to describe. Think of turn around and kick with sole in the yang long form... ( eg the cmc 37 form) May be one of bums has a good video demonstrating these stepping techniques....

I think its important to understand difference between taiji quan and the taiji state. We do things like taiji quan to et into taiji state (dynamic equillibrium of yin and yang). I think astralc's eplanation is very apt. In this state there is complete awareness of the opposites. For condensation of the dt, there is also and expansion, imho. The yin in the center and yang outside....as we sink....the yang inside expanding and yin outside contracting simultaneously. Like a balloon expanding or contracting with contracting or expanding at the same time... Dunno if that made sense... As far as space is concerned...you can do your practice in as little as 4sq feet of area. Key is to lern each form individually...then you can peice them together. My teacher says its like learning the notes of the musical scale and then putting them together into various scales... Two things my teacher taught to "make space with limited space" is to retain flow between form transitions and change door stepping. Eg you can do two golden rooster stands by changing door instead of stepping back...same with repulse monkey or other forms that move backward or forward in a north south direction...

I have had similar experiences under duress. Usually when I feel threatened I can feel the LDT contracting...a immediate sign for me to start relaxing and breathing deep... But I have also felt the other effect (of the dan tian connecting with another person giving the sensation of being pulled out)...happened at a conference I was attending...it was very interesting...the other person felt it too...

I would echo others' advice in seeing an MD or going to the ER.its bet to not try and guess / match symptom to disease. Hope you recover quickly. Why would want to rely on mst likely anonymous internet entities to tell you what is wrong with you without even having interacted with on a personal level? Dont waste time...go see a dotor!

Sure...Sri Sri Ravishankar (http://en.wikipedia....iritual_leader) )

I heard luke-warm beer is quite a hit as well...