hajii

I find myself wanting to study a martial art, but as my immediate goal is to open the MO, I should begin with chi kung, right? Should I limit myself to that for now? I was browsing thru the yellow pages, only one listing includes chi kung, but there are lots of ads for the other types. Tai chi interests me as well, but I admit to being attracted to a hard style for the self-defense benefits. Tae kwon do is out (too much show), and probably karate. I have heard good things about the Filipino martial art, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. Aikido has always interested me too. As I have already admitted, I am somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of choices available. I do have a pretty solid base for cultivation, weight-lifting, calisthenics, decent diet (boy that's subjective!) running, zazen, some of the cool AYP exercises, stretching, yoga, etc. I would like to find an MA that would complement these. I hope this is not too many questions at once, but do any of you have suggestions as to what might be a good MA to start with? I am also wondering how hard it will be to find a teacher that is "awake". I guess I have an idea that a lot of these places are basically set up to teach the masses self defense, etc. It would be really great to find a teacher to really help me grow. Any ideas?

Interesting. When I got my chi roller, it was the sorest place on my back. As all you CR afficionados know, one gets less sore with more rolling, now it's about the same as the rest of my back.

Very interesting, the PUA stuff was good too. In my anthropology classes we talked about sociobiology, ie humans spent much more time as hunter-gatherers than as we are now, and so many of the behaviors we exhibit were developed to insure proliferation of the species in that kind of society. I think there's a lot of truth to that, and it explains a lot of stuff we do. I don't think there's any harm in seeking to understand mating behavior, and using that knowledge to one's advantage. I have a friend who's a really SNAG, and he can't understand why he doesn't have a girl.

I have an undercounter KDF/GAC cartridge filter that I installed myself (not hard). This type seems like the best bang for the buck as far as removal goes, and it doesn't remove all the minerals like RO. I prefer how spring water tastes, but this is lots cheaper, and great for cooking etc. I got mine here: http://www.pure-earth.com/index.html

I have learned this lesson the hard way and have found it to be SO true. Skipping ahead did not work at all!

That pretty much sums it up for me

I use the crystal as well, works just fine unless it's real hot or I'm very active. I live in the desert too and in the summer I get the wet patches. As long as I don't smell it's cool, but if I'm in a social situation, or "dressed up" I do use antiperspirant. Not really happy about that, but I do sweat a fair amount when I'm hot.

I love mine! I got this one: http://www.ebodylogic.com/maroller.html pretty good price, I like how the ends are more rounded than the trad. shape, more comfortable (I would think) when they are under one's shoulder blades. OTOH the wood, although nice, is in 2 pieces glued together then "turned". The original is still available, although pricey, the site talks about the different versions: http://www.momentum98.com/footsie.html saw this vintage one on ebay, had a bid in, but it went too high: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 These look nice, and good prices too: http://www.earthlite.com/massageTools.htm This site has a better price: http://www.e-mcity.com/roller.htm

My understanding was all the courses are under the heading of RMAX. I thought CST was only clubbells. Great service from Scott's team, they use FEDEX, with home delivery, which means I'll get 'em tomorrow, instead of next week sometime, if they used UPS.

I think we're in a very intersting time now. I look at my small collection of books on spirituality, and I have a collection of esoteric knowledge, and teaching, that would be unheard of for a common person to have in the past. This has lead to others being able to distill some of these works, and traditions, and condense them, or put them in a format that is easier for beginners to understand. Others have added their own study to elements of traditional practice. I think these new methods allow us to move ahead more quickly. Whether this is truly beneficial or not, remains to be seen. Perhaps the old way of a lifetime of study was better. I find that noticeable progress encourages me, especially thru the difficult times. I think we are all trying to return to our true nature, so Taoism is not a goal, just a way to get there. As Sean said, I think we are "syncretic Taoists" anyway

I couldn't wait, broke down and bought intu-flow. It just sounds so cool! Started reading the RMAX forum, and that's what they recommend too, intu first, then flow. Kinda cool that they are both new products, so they have the latest version of Scott's goodness. Hope the mini-clubs are usefull, would have rather just got the video, but we'll see Similar to Chia and Winn's stuff, one kinda has to dig a bit to figure out what to get. Neimad: I'm gonna hold off on the CST, and do the program in the recommended order (tough for an Aries!)

They were showing "The Passion of the Christ" the other night, so I thought I'd take a look. Man, that is DEFINITELY the most violent film I have ever seen. I only watched for a while, when Pilate sentenced him, to where he was carring the cross. The scourging was VERY detailed and realistic. I am not Christian- oriented, but believe the events probably happened much like that. I found myself repulsed by the images, I knew the story of course, but to see a divine being treated that way was so awful, i felt nauseous. I felt so guilty, to be a member of humanity. The images stuck with me, and I realized I really didn't understand why it happened like that. I was talking to a Catholic today, and she explained it was about sacrifice, that Christ suffered so we wouldn't have to. I mean, I know the story, but WHY? It still doesn't make sense. From an eastern perspective, even less so. His humility, gentleness and understanding, in the midst of such an experience were an awesome example, but I am still unclear.

Freeform, ok makes sense....I'll look for a DVD for WW (don't play VHS tapes any more) first. I finally found materials for intuflow, but it's not mentioned as much, did it become WW? So, I don't need to do be breathed first? Or, it's included in other stuff? Seems like breathing technique would be key. I do the furey body weight stuff, really like it. I could do a ( 1) one legged squat as long as I can remember, working on one armed pullups, haven't really tried one armed pushups yet

Ok, you RMAX gurus Where do I start? I've got some makeshift 'bells, (dumbells w/ the weights at one end, may make a better set, saw where some people are getting kid's hollow ball bats and filling 'em with sand, weigh about 10lbs each) and I do the swipe and mill. Should I get the clubbell training for circular strength video? I have heard, in general, videos work better for learning, true? I have been (very generously) offered the loan of bodyflow and intuflow videos, but till they arrive I want to cover my basics. Sean recommended warrior wellness to start, sounds good, I just want to shorten the learning curve by going in the right order. Thanks!

Cloud, your posts have been thought provoking, and while I was originally a bit put-off, I have come to see the truth in them. In fact, that info was just what I was looking for, only I didn't know it

Yoda, I've been reading your experiences with Sungazing, great stuff! Problem is there is SO much out there, I'm trying to find stuff that works, and keep it relatively simple. Ok, I figured out what CST is I have been trying out hindu squats/pushups and bridging, they kick ass! I guess I will read more about RMAX, great tip on those 4 lb sledges, got a Harbor Freight w/in a few miles!

Wow, those clubbells are pretty spendy!

Yo, P-dog, that's deep man, I be buggin'

This is getting interesting I have thought of this aspect myself, almost as though it is a DIFFERENT entity....

I was looking into the magnesium deficiency issue, and started reading about MSG, turns out is can be re-named about a hundred other things, some ingredients "may" contain MSG, and some, the "may contain" group, are in many, many foods, even the kefir I brought home! This kind of stuff is disgusting! But WORSE, there is an act to weaken current labeling standards. "Industry has launched a vicious attack on food labeling. A bill to decimate labeling has already been passed by the House of Representatives, and the Senate is now considering passing the same bill. The Grocery Manufacturers Association has orchestrated, and the U.S. House of Representative on March 8, 2006 has passed, H.R.4167, which will wipe out State food labeling laws that exceed Federal standards, and prohibit any new State or Municipal legislation that exceeds Federal standards. Thus, we will have less regulation and less labeling; eliminating critical State and Municipal laws that protect consumer health, and reducing all standards to the minimal standards promulgated by the Federal government" http://www.truthinlabeling.org/HR4167-A-websPage.html http://www.msgmyth.com/ http://www.nomsg.com/harmful.html http://www.holisticmed.com/msg/

Wow, I never thought of it that way. I admit I don't know enough of the history behind it to discuss it as you do. Yeah, lately I have been trying to reconcile the two schools of thought, and I'm not having much luck. The far eastern perspective FEELS much better, and has helped me progress. I always felt Christ was an enlightend teacher though. The mystical stuff in the Bible is buried, like the ancient Taoist texts, once you know how things work, it all makes sense

Lozen, welcome back! I'm sorry to hear about that proposal. The work you and other herbalists do is very valuable. Have you considered creating a petition people could sign?

Cloud, I like aussie slang, just don't know much. Limited to chuffed, bonzer, wingeing poms and mickey

I have been getting more serious about my practice recently, and have started to get results, ie I can circulate energy in the MCO. I have been using M. Chia's books, until I discovered alchemicaltaoism.com some good tips there, and Dr. Lin's sexual chikung and anal breathing work well. Since my MCO started to open, I have been working with it for 1/2 to 1 hour a day. It seems that whenever I do meditation now, it's either in the back of my mind, or I start conciously running it. It feels good, REALLY good when my energy is high. I'm not sure wether it is "open" or not. I do need to focus my awareness to cycle it, but I can feel the channels moving sometimes. I had a cool experience this morning, as I was waking up I was aware of energy in the functional channel, between heart and navel moving. Very gently and slowly, moving back and forth, it felt really good, I didn't want to get up! Currently I do standing and sitting meditation, and MCO, haven't done much testicle or spinal breathing, since the orbit seeems to include these. I also do some yoga, stretching, and run. I think I will phase out weight training, in favor of body weight excercises, pullups, hindu squats, and hindu pushups. Experimenting with bridging, (currently with yoga ball). I guess I tend to be a mental type, aries/fire personality. Any suggestions on what I should look at next? I really thought the MCO would take a long time to open up, guess my unwinding helped with that. I will say the functional channel feels weaker, energy seems to flow gently there, unlike the governor, where I can "push". I wish I had a teacher now, but I do not. So, any suggestions on what to study next? Michael Winn's series? I am kind of daunted by all the books/tapes. Seems like I would need to do all the chi kung fundamentals, lots of stuff to read/watch. I really want to know what to do next with this energy

Funny, beacuse as a teenager, writers like Alan Watts and psychedelics were the things that got me started! I think it's been summed up well, they may open a door, but it takes spiritual practice to really attain that level. Also, they burn up one's energy, so that it takes LONGER to actually attain the state one glimpsed. Still, they showed me non-ordinary states WERE attainable, It just took me a long time to learn how to get there I think Watts and the other pioneers deserve credit, flawed or no, they were journeying into the unkown, and inspired a lot of us!