dwai

I found that we have to let go of these slights and insults. If I had a penny for every time someone said or did something to "diss" me, I'd be a millionaire (at least) by now. More we poke at them, the more septic these kinds of issues get (in my experience). To pull an internet/meme-tastic "buddha-quote" on you, "Holding on to anger is like grabbing on to burning coal...it only hurts you". (but you already know that...) Can't you find it within your generous and magnanimous nature to forgive and forget? After all, us spiritual practitioners, Daoists, etc are supposed to be unattached, unaffected by life's ups and downs.

While it might not be my place to share this, am I the only one who’s finding the tone and tenor of interactions here on TDB continuing down the same toxic spiral it was on before the trunk-spanking given to some individuals? For all those who’re hating on spotless, He and his family have been struggling with Covid-19 for a while now. I find it absolutely disgusting how utterly petty and petulant things have become here! These are very ‘interesting times’ as that old curse goes — and we ARE living in them. Why can’t we show each other some compassion and kindness? Several of our long term bums might have caught the disease and might be under duress and distress right now. Instead of coming together as a community we are now bickering amongst the survivors for some silly “forum dominance”?!? i don’t know what else to say...many of you who have been bickering here I hold in high regard — are serious practitioners and knowledgeable in your own traditions/areas of expertise. Why then such pettiness? I used to tell my daughter this when she was a toddler — if someone’s mean to you, play with someone else. If no one wants to hang out with you, entertain yourself — play a game by yourself. I think that applies to us, whatever age we might be.

For folks interested in Temple Style Tai Chi, Master Liao is offering free online lessons during the CoVID19 issue. https://bit.ly/2Y8sXgG

Didn't notice this before. I think Temple Style Taiji is different enough from the other family styles that it warrants its own topic Grandmaster - Waysun Liao There are several advanced teachers trained by Master Liao primarily in the US Some key features of temple style taiji include - single form practiceThis in turn involves following stages -Beginner - physical form and breath work. Long form first section is put together. intermediate - energetic awareness and movements initiated via the mind (yi) - feel the qi, flow the qi and five-styles stepping and condensing breathing. Long form second and third section..put it all together. Advanced - flow the qi and follow the qi. At this stage the movements happen via sensing the energy flow and following it, as opposed to making the movements happen with mind intent. Condensing breathing standing meditationThese are various standing forms. They are often based on the single forms, but with different focus. For instance, stand in upward and downward form (freeze the physical) and move only the energy (neigong and daogong) Two-person practiceThis involves standard taijiquan two person drills such as single hands push, hands attaching, four forms, moving four forms, Ta Lu etc Free-flowing rolling hands - fixed and moving step Neutralization Methods of practices "methods of inward and outward, separate and diffuse, swallow and spit" Making chance to applying the 8 energies Fajin practice Free-style fighting (san shou) Seated meditationsspecific sequence of seated meditations - neigong sets that different approach to condensing breathing to develop Jin and connecting with Dao (Dao gong) AuxiliaryWeapons forms - Long sword, Broadsword,Staff and Spear

Taijiquan

When you release tension, the body takes time to recover and might feel sluggish. If you feel tired upon waking up, try and get some more sleep. Another reason for feeling sluggish after sleep can be due to food. Try changing your normal diet, maybe the 16:8 intermittent fasting regimen for a couple of weeks, and see if that helps. Get this book -- https://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Your-Life-Energy-Well-Being/dp/1590309960 It is very good and the routines outlined are not complicated at all. IMHO, don't get caught up in all the jing/qi/shen nonsense for now. Learn a good form of qigong (which is outlined in this book) and practice for a few months diligently and see if you get results.

Yes it is possible.

It can be alarming initially It's hard to articulate as it happens. What I can describe vis-a-vis the vortices is that they reminded me of a funnel of energy/darkness/swirling flashes of light opening up "above" me...and my energy getting pulled out -- being churned like in a cosmic blender With the "visitors", they were in dreams where I'd be lucid and communicate with these beings, or sometimes they'd give me "stuff" (like energetic gifts, etc). Sometimes I'd get a visitor who'd challenge me -- and natural processes would kick in to deal with the threats/issues. Eventually, I realized that there really is no threat...just the mind/ego getting in the way. Slowly, the reaction becomes an outpouring of love/compassion which defuses the situation.

This is Temple Style Tai Chi as taught by Master Waysun Liao. My teacher is one of his first-generation students from the early 1970s. AFAIK, Master Liao is very secretive about his lineage, so what we know is that it comes from a Southern Chinese Daoist lineage (he's from Taiwan and trained under a wandering Daoist monk there...I know many people dislike/diss him for this reason). I've read Wang Li Ping's 'Opening the Dragon Gate' - his experiences seemed like mine x1000 That being said, I would like this to be more a sharing of experiences rather than comparing 'appendage lengths'

Stretching is vital to Qi flow, but not extreme stretching. Rather, it is stretching for the purpose of releasing tensions that impair the natural elasticity of the body. When a body is in homeostasis, Qi flows unimpeded. So stretching is good and required to "unclench" the tissues and muscles of the body that (may) have become chronically clenched due to stress. More the tissues release, the more aware we become of qi flow. WRT Yoga and stretching -- real yoga is not forcing the body into awkward postures. Real yoga also isn't about asana practice (those postures). Asanas are meant as a means to an end -- bring the body into equanimity, thereby allowing the breath to become equanimous, at which point meditation can be performed. Just as qigong can vary based on what is needed (is it for medical purposes or for martial arts or for spiritual practices), similarity yoga can also vary. What is prescribed by an ayurvedic physician for treatment of diseases is not necessarily the same for all ailments. Different asanas help with different organs/nadis etc.

I can resonate with this. I found that especially during the early/intermediate period of Taijiquan practice - there is a body high that can arise from it, and it induces a mental "high" as well. That can overwhelm the mind/senses into ecstatic feelings, but it lacks clarity. Yes...Clarity is clear. Nothing more is needed, nothing can be taken away from it Just be, as I am. Sometimes the mind is stirred up, so I might do some Taijiquan or standing to release and let the mind settle. And then just be, as I am.

It is not really held to be the enemy but is often mistaken to be that during early periods of seeking/meditation. In traditions such as Advaita Vedanta, there are initial periods when we're taught to separate our "Self" from the mind and the body. During that stage, one usually starts developing dispassion towards the mind, and the teachings at that stage can be misconstrued to be "disdainful" towards the mind. Later on, it will become a very helpful servant. There are different stages of meditation -- in one stage the cessation of the mind's activities is sought. It is famously called out in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as "Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodhah" (Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind). This is somehow mistranslated as "kill the mind" or "death of the mind". What it calls for is for the mental chatter to subside, so the underlying light of awareness becomes apparent. I think the problem is that many people don't invest the time and effort to learn one tradition properly and keep jumping around, like intrepid eaters at an all-you-can-eat buffet That's why, imho, a good teacher is needed (traditional or otherwise). Someone who has walked the path before and is willing to share is a treasure unto him/herself and should be cherished.

Not an abnormal problem if it just does it’s role. Unfortunately most people have no idea that the mind is just a tool and it’s job is to dissect. The mind comprises four functions — thought projector (called Manas in Sanskrit, generally this is what is thought of being 'The Mind', from whence the thoughts arise and dissipate). Think of it like a movie projector. identifier (called Ahamkara in Sanskrit, this is the Ego). memory and impression storage (This is called Chitta in Sanskrit, and is the storehouse of impressions (emotions and feelings) and memories) intellect (This is called Buddhi in Sanskrit, and is responsible for the intellectual faculties -- ability to analyze, conceptualize, etc etc). They work for You, ‘the boss’ who is the owner of said faculties. The one who is superimposed upon identities such as, “ I am so and so”, “I am a man” or “I am a person of x,y,z profession”. The “I am” is the closest we can get to pointing to our “real” identity. Usually, this is not understood or apparent — and people suffer their minds (out of control functioning of one or all of the four parts of the mind). That’s why it’s a problem.

That's hardly a valid comparison -- how about a living teacher?

Sure...

And you realized that just by reading a book? Aren't you going to tell us who is better?

Are you that german guy who swore by Clyman for many years?

Why? He's not a very nice person from what I hear... Thing is, every now and then, the topic about him comes up. If you're in the chicago area, you'd be far better off meeting Master Waysun Liao.

If I was you, I'd run faaaar away from this guy

What's wrong with "idolatry" btw? Swami Vivekananda once was challenged by a westernized courtier of a South Indian King. This worthy was a new convert to the scientific temperament, and so reflexively hated everything Hindu and traditional in the Indian context. He haughtily asked Swami Vivekananda, "Hey Swami...why do you hindus worship idols? Isn't it the height of ignorance to bow before and respect something made of clay or stone?" Swamiji turned to him and said, yeah of course...there's nothing to these idols. Lets do an experiment. Can you pull down the portrait of your King that is hanging on the wall of his study and bring it to me? The courtier was puzzled but humored the Swami, him being a honored guest of the King and all. When the portrait was brought in the Swami's presence, he asked the courtier, "Now please spit on the portrait!" The courtier went red in the face and shouted, "How I can I? It is the portrait of his Highness, the Maharaja himself!!" Swami replied with a smile, "You show so much respect to an image of a mere human. And yet you ask why we respect idols of God"?

and if the lineage is right and preparation is good, there will be no fireworks when kundalini rises. It will rise on its own when the conditions are right. A lot of “kundalini does this” and “kundalini does that” is just a bunch of nonsense put together in wake of Gopi Krishna’s book. Gopi Krishna was a self taught yogi and so his book should be a warning for those naughty kids who don’t listen to the statutory warning and ‘try this at home’ anyway...

Sometimes the most humble of experiences teach us the most important of all lessons

What do you mean by “peak experience”? Why should MCO and kundalini be similar in terms of experience? Different purposes, different experiences...

see the students...it is hard to find out for sure... why? Why should a teacher share something simply because the student can pay? it’s no racket at all...teachers have always taken payment — used to be called Guru Dakshina (payment could be in cash or kind). No good teacher would take on the karma of “free” or they’d not call themselves teacher. Only exception is when the teacher is liberated - then they are not bound by karma (but that seems beyond the scope of this discussion).... yup..but the question then is, how would you gauge said students? what would the signs of their “attainment” be?