Pero

Well if you put it that way. Actually this thread could be an example of transformation. Going from joking, to insulting, to loving...

Where`s this party at? Is bed and food all taken care of? And, will you buy me a plain ticket? If at least my last question is answered with yes, I`m there.

It is a surprise, I seem to remember seeing some pictures of her. I think she wasn`t totaly nude on any though. But in any case, there are better celebs out there. While it`s been kind of funny, I also think it`s bad for the forum. I mean, what will the people who come here for discussion about qigong and such things think when they see such things... I doubt it will attract more of them.

I think what you`re saying is not true. Being nothing and being everything are two extremes. Nihilism and Eternalism are to be avoided in Buddhism. This is still dualistic vision. In Buddhism you are exactly what one is. The question is what that is. I don`t think I really understand what you`re talking about next... But, let me ask you this, when you are in a state of emptiness where are you? Where are all those concepts about yourself? The mind has a concept of self. But when there is no mind, where is the self? If you identify with the "self", does it mean the self has disappeared, died or something, when you are in a state of emptiness? When you die, and are reborn, you leave one self for another. I doubt you`d think you are the same person like in a previous life. And fails to satisfy? Desires are satisfied. Desire (attachment) is cause of suffering... What is denied on a case by case basis? You wish. Anyhow, I`m just happy that I managed to write a short poem (2 fourliners) after a long time hahaha.

Very interesting, thank you.

Can you say more about healing Chod? I think I vaguely remember reading once that it can be used for healing too, but other than that I know nothing about the healing use of Chod.

LMAO Are you guys for real??? I can`t tell anymore what are jokes and what is serious. I wonder if Wayfarer is actually SeanD (or vice versa) hahahahah. Multiple personalities, alter egos maybe?? hahaha Maybe just one big joke? Hmmm.. I`ve got it!!! In a previous life SeanD and Wayfarer were married, so it˙s no wonder each finds so many faults in the other. On another note, the past few days of my life have been a bit confusing. I wonder if this shows on the forum as well haha. (I`m not drunk)

I don`t think anyone is saying that. Just that powers can (do) appear with practice. They are just signs of practice, called nyams (if I remember right) in Tibetan. Which are a positive sign, as it means that practice is working. Of course, one should get attached to them, since they can then become an obstacle on the path. In any case, attachment is a bitch, people seem to be focusing on attachments to superpowers, while at the same time they have hundreds of their own attachments to other things. Attachment is attachment, whether it be to superpowers, to women, to hamburgers, or to something else. No difference. And I would say that what real practice is for someone, depends on each person. Yes, I guess if you claim something you should be able to demonstrate it. But, one could argue that these things were demonstrated... Just not under the conditions others would like. In the end, usually the true non-believers won`t ever believe it, and the faitful don`t really care.

...sigh... BTW Sean, interesting to translate Dzogchen as Great Inclusion. While this is true (Dzogchen teachings can include basically anything from sutra to tantra), as far as I know, Dzogchen means Total Perfection. It has been translated as Great Perfection as well, but I read that this is not right since great implies that there is something small (not great lol, don`t know right word) as well, while Dzogchen is beyond that. In any case, words....

I can`t believe I was actually able to write a post yesterday (I mean today) hehehe. Anyway, emptiness is the nature of all minds, not just Buddha mind (actually emptiness is the nature of all things I think). The difference is, Buddha is realized, has "awakened mind", we (I assume) do not. If nature of mind would be changing, what would there be to realize? Your own (regular) mind, which is constantly changing, different thoughts, emotions?? What kind of a realization is that? Of course I`m not saying that changing (movement) isn`t a part of us, emptiness isn`t all there is. Hmmm, "So meditation, tai chi changes the nature of our everyday mind.". Well, I agree with that (with what I assume it means, or should mean), but that`s different than saying "change the nature of mind". And, we are all Buddhas (so have Buddha mind).

Hmmm, emptiness = nature of mind.... You`re changing emptiness??? Mind is what can be changed, and actually changes all the time... Nature of mind doesn`t change...

Hmmm, sorry, but I don`t think this is right. You may change your mind with Buddhist practice, but not NATURE of mind... And Buddhists have practices for long life, wealth etc.. as well. But they are not the goal, they are used if needed. Goal is total realization.

Yup, that`s similar to how I understand it. And actually, I read that according to Tibetan medicine, retention can be bad for your health. It`s only supposed to be practiced under guidance and with specific practices. Also, I read that during winter it`s good to ejaculate more, and during summer less, which is interesting. I think you should basically listen to your body... Not ejaculate too much, and not use retention too much. And BTW, Buddha and those that came after, taught MANY things, as there are MANY different people and many different circumstances and conditions...

Hmmm, I see, interesting, thanks.

SeanD, why do you think achievement of rainbow body is not full enlightenment? If that would be the case, then Padmasambhava would not be fully enlightened, since that is what he achieved. If we are thinking of the same thing though, as apparently there is a difference between rainbow body and body of light (which is what padmasabhava achieved), and despite reading around 20 pages about it on another forum, I`m still not quite sure of the difference. But since I`m quite far from achieving anything like that I don`t really worry much about it. What is full enlightenment for you? (as much as it can be put into words)

Can someone please tell me what`s on the video? I`m connected through my phone, so it would probably take me a long time to download, not to mention how much I`d have to pay...

Happy birthday.

Taoist dream practice sounds interesting to me, too bad I can`t afford it right now. What is taoist dream practice like Ian? Did you practice any of it?

Thanks Sean and Hagar. I`ll put it on hold for now, as I have other interests as well. Though usually I do like to experiment.

How good are Luk`s books? Do you guys reccomend them? I`ve been thinking of buying Taoist yoga. Is the description of the techniques good? Does anyone have his "The Secrets of Chinese Meditation: Self-Cultivation by Mind Control As Taught in the Ch'An, Mahayana and Taoist Schools in China" book? If so, does it describe any actual techniques or is like more philosphical? EDIT: Forgot: Which meditation? As the MO is also a meditation. Though I think I know what you meant, just couldn`t resist.

mYTHmAKER Interesting. What I meant was, that you can`t just stop eating meat. That is not enough. You have to change your diet. I think it`s no good if you stop eating meat all of a sudden and don`t change the rest of your diet at all. Smile Lol, yes, I guess that is true enough (maybe in more ways than one).

A friend of mine bought it, and I glanced through it a bit. It looked pretty good. Nothing complex. It looks like it`s worth buying. When I get through other stuff (if that`s possible lol) I`ll borrow it to read it.

Cool, very interesting. But I think the "fantasy 7 elements theory" is just basically more or less, well, a fantasy.

I have the book, and I didn`t find it very complicated. The yi jin jing exercises are easy enought to learn, but doing them is not so easy (at least for me). Not that I`m practicing it at the moment as I have many other things that I (should be) am doing. I think the book in general is good. I`m not sure if I like his writing style though. Don`t think the book is for a total beginner though. It also says in the title it`s an "Advanced qigong regimen for the serious practicioner". That`s part of the preface. I think that`s where he got a lot of his stuff from (documents). I think I saw some one say that he hasn`t practiced qigong long. What I find weird is that he says the water path is through the spine and the wind path is down the front (conception), while it is in fact reversed. Maybe just semantics of course. I just noticed that YMAA is planing to publish books on Buddhist and Tibetan Qigong. That might be quite interesting.