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Thanks! It was stupid from my part to ask such a thing in the first place, because every definition is contextual with the particular philosophy of the daoist school we are reffering to. Although many school have different meanings for the terms, in practice they function the way they are supposed to. IMO, we should state clearly to which of these schools and philosophies we make refference to, before starting a longwinded discussion that is bound to arrive to no intelligent conclusion.

I don't think so. At least, many of the scholarly sources indicate otherwise. Just wanted to understand it's connection with the 'Fire'.

Ha ha, I wouldn't. Just posted that because the bolded ideas are interesting. Especially the one about "Teaching the method, but not the Fire" I wonder if this Fire thing is the same as huohou 火喉.

I don't practice the method of mr. Liping, however i find some of his articles interesting. Just adding to the mix Bolded for emphasis. Teaching Experience (2) - Principle of Daoist Breathing In "Ling Bao Bi Fa" cultivation practice, one needs to know its various breathing methods. There is an underlying principle of how to breath during the practice. I believe that by practicing the breathing methods involved separately will be beneficial to the overall practice and hence I suggested this to Master Wang. He said, "That's fine, just do what you think will work." So during the seminar, I used my own version of daoyin to guide the participants to practice breathing. In the beginning, some old students who notice that my daoyin words were different from Master Wang's and so they objected. Master Wang explained to them, "Xiao Shen has his own ideas on the practice, try follow along and maybe you can understand it eventually." And no objected anymore. Practicing breathing methods separately can help the participants to improve quickly and getting a higher quality practice session. Breathing is the foundation of foundation. The ancient says that, "Teach the methods but not the Fire." The fire here means the combinations of intention and breathings. Later on, I assembled all the breathing methods that Master Wang has taught and wrote an article entitled, "Breathing methods During Meditation" and published it on a magazine. In 2001, I refined the instructions on the breathing methods again to help other to understand and do it better. In 2005, I merged all the breathing methods together and wrote another article called "Systematic Method of Breathing" and presented it in an international conference. The presentation was received very well. In 2007, being influenced by my new understanding of "Ling Bao Bi Fa" and Master Wang's instructions, I re-edited "Systematic Method of Breathing" and renamed it "Opening and Closing, Rising and Falling---Principle of breathing." I converted this into slides in help me present it to a wider audience. In general, beginners usually neglect the importance of breathing, they thought it's very easy and so don't usually take it seriously. This can has adverse effects on their practice since beginning dandao utilize "youwei" methods and breathing is the most important aspect of it. Without a good foundation in breathing, it's hard to get to advanced level. One needs to understand the different aspects of breathing practice, one should know and be able to follow the method correctly and understand the reasons and effect of each method. Without a teacher to explain and daoyin, it's really difficult to master the methods. In summary, breathing is an important topic in dandao that needs to be carefully addressed by every serious practitioner.

You have to be shitting me! Creative nonetheless...

Templetao, this is consistent with my experience also. I would call this Virtue by the name of 'innocence'. I think everyone has it, and needs to return to it constantly. Thanks for sharing, makes me feel like i'm not alone L1

What about 'awareness'? From an intellectual standpoint, the movements in the DVD are far from impressive. I recognized some movements as inspired by the magical passes, some of them from popular chi kung, I think they represent your personal development of the two arts, which is nice. Makes me wonder if we aren't supposed to do the same, regardless of the practice - that is, to 'adapt' it to your Self. At the Heart level, that was where most of the 'action' was felt. For my system of interpretation, this means that the Qi that they work with is houtian, post heavenly Qi. The movements 'polarize' the Qi from the environment, and gather it into different structures, according to the Intention. There is a sensation of 'permeability', the Qi of the body and the environmental Qi blending into one another. Physically, the movements are light and easy, flexible and almost playful. They don't have the seriousness of a karate kata, or a wushu daolu, they are wide and stretching, and extend beyond the physical. BTW, i didn't practiced (i don't intend to, until i figure out the compatibility with what i practice now), these are just some... 'observations'. PS: just when i wanted to post it, the internet connection failed. Could this 'mean' something? Then it quickly restored... so i guess this message is a go.

When i have periods of exhaustion due to prolongued work hours and accumulated sleeplessness, i usually sleep on the floor, i live close to the ground. It's always refreshing, in the summer i can't sleep in any bed but on the floor, covered by a very thin blankie.

Reality has many layers, many of them illusiory, easily manipulable by the shishen, 'the mundane mind'. If one does it believing in it truely as being 'qigong', does this make one 'charlatan'? There are many aware deceivers, as there are many unaware ones. You can't afford not being too careful.

I agree. This is why i kinda 'started' the subject of yanshi. It seems we know next to nothing about it in the West, and forces conspire so that the situation remains this way

Of course it has it's risks (even crossing the street has it's risks), however, you may understand, I find it all the way more riskier to trust anyone who pretend they Know, and this is even more so in the case of Western masters... you shared some interesting thoughts nonetheless, thanks!

I'd love to hear your experience, i may have alot to learn from it.

Hey surfingbuddha, nice name btw! Happy to see you're doing allright, same goes for @wtm, sorry i forgot to reply. I've been envolved in a couple of other practices, and in time learned to ask myself key questions before going into any new one, and usually i have the (obnoxious) tendency to challenge/provoke the teacher (You do not truly know someone until you fight them - Seraph said). In China it seems this is a skill that's part of the survival kit of proficient seeker, and it's always legit to use it, nobody minds - it's called yanshi 验师'verifying the teacher' - by whatever adequate means you find suitable. Sometimes you do it right, sometimes you don't, sometimes you find gold, sometimes not. One other thing i learned (the hard way) to wonder about is if the sensations that occur really have the significance they are associated with. Usually, if what i 'find' is not adequate to my 'constitution',(or myself adequate to it), or if i can't combine it with my main practice, i pass it on to my fellow friends and practitioners... and they pass it on, and so on. So the dvd won't go to waste one way or another. I try not to see things in black and white, i'm dissociating the teaching from the teacher usually, see outside the charisma, and see beyond the principles; i try to learn from anybody i meet, anyone can be a medium through which life itself could convey a message. This is why i try not to pass good or bad judgements, and think more in terms of adequate or not to what i need. I'll let you know how it went about, ok?

From early childhood i could relate to my body more that to my psyche, as a Self. This is how i perceive it now too.. the psyche is too evanescent, and it's features too prone to spontaneous changes. Nowadays even the notion of a Self associated with the body is slowly fading away, as i remember myself as a child, then as a teenager. We are the substance of change, i still didn't find any feature that i could point out as being 'my Self'. these images of flocks of birds, and fish, are the my usual perception of self, sometimes the 'features' are more evident, some other times the space between them. to me it feels like an important realisation and it feels like i've been born with it. the 'flock' of tendencies and features never grouped into a solid intrinsic unity; more like gathered a bit, then dispersed a bit... i think my quest for discovering what exactly is the spiritual embryo is, and how is it formed/gathered/packed, is related to that, and deeply embedded into me, because of this... L1

I don't know exactly why, I feel a 'special' conection with you very familiar.

You can't really know a person until you meet face to face, and it goes both ways. What you call a hostile attitude is a common thing on 'male dominated' forum discussions, it's that testosteron thingy, it has its reasons - it's also part of what makes us warriors. Your posts are not milk and honey everytime either @RV, thanks, what you said is common sense for most of the paths out there, however I think you can, if you have a minimum of training, sense if something is compatible with the core of your being. I'm happy that things go well with you, this is all that matters in the end, isn't it?

Read your book, it's so-so, IMO. There are some nice ideas in it, good vibes too, however enough material for a critical review also. I'm not sure I would try your system, I'm waiting for the DVD to make up a decision. Although, I have to admit, it should be very good to topple my first impression: apparently not my cup of tea. Our perspective seems too wide apart. I will let you know what i think about the DVD. Take these as 'opinions of a costumer'. L1

i hope this is a joke, lest i would change the good impression i have about you

Run away, just run away...

OP: pausing for a couple of days (depending on your age?) is a good idea. where/who did you learn it from? you already have a good share of views on it, so take your pick

Nevermind that...do they or do they not have hamburgers?? Pizzas? Pie? Please tell me they do have pie!! OP: everyone knows, angels don't have sex!!

I also enjoy the quotes in your signature

it is indeed

Sheesh!! stop the killing already, enough blood has been spilled, first the Buddha, now self importance... i wonder who's next?? the Easter Bunny?? Point is, things need transformation, not destruction. Ego (which is root of self importance) really dies in one of two instances: either when sanity or the body itself dissolves. Roumor has it it stays with the Buddha also..

you'd better! or he'll bring all our forum to ruin