Ya Mu

I know or have met several of these guys. Thoughts as I read your list: study with Ken if you want the Scholarly side of things; Ken is an excellent Scholar and a nice guy, study with Kumar if you want the MA side of things, Kumar is an excellent Martial Artist, some folks don't like his attitude but I like him, study with Bill if you want to learn a very powerful Tui Na form, Bill is a nice guy, he used to offer (hope he still does) a 2 week tui-na training. Chia is a scholar as well, don't know him but don't like the fact he originally released material from his scholarly studies as fact. M. Rinaldini have met but don't know much about him except that one of my students went through his program before going through mine and said he was a really good guy. Winn is a nice guy, I like him but he is really "out there" (the same could be said for me); I agree with a lot as well as disagree with a lot of his stuff. Jeffery, I believe I met him at a conference, don't know him but he has a good reputation. Chunyi Lin, attended a seminar he did, he seems very knowledgeable and has a real reputation. T.K. Shih has a reputation, I personally didn't agree with his form of teaching; I don't know if he still does this, but he used to have one of those make-you-into-a-master-in-a-couple-of-weeks things. He was very stoic, his daughter Melanie (I think is her name) was much nicer and knows tons of stuff. Solala is a really nice guy, fun to be around, knows lots about sounds. Don't know the others in your list. Also, don't think that list has all the qualified teachers, it doesn't.

Addressing this post and not the Kunlun. You hit on a very good point here. Most people think they want to get to the 'astral levels". But what resides here is disembodied liars, created thought forms, and just pure nonsense. In the system I practice we shoot past this level and enter an entirely different vibrational level. My suggestion is to ALWAYS strive to shoot past this level of nonsense. That said I do believe most seekers have to arrive at this point. Many get trapped/caught up in this astral level, thinking it is the higher level reality. But it is not. One thing I teach my students is this; at night before falling asleep say a simple (simple but powerful) prayer and ask for help shooting past this layer of non-sense, command your real you to go past this layer ignoring the non-sense.

Keep in mind that it is quite possible you will have to rent a car to get from Springfield to West Plains. I do have a couple of students in Springfield but they don't come to every class. So a ride is not something to count on. I try to help coordinate this as much as possible but it is always up to the person attending. 2 1/2 hrs from Springfield to West Plains. The good news is that the motel is still only $40 per night. Workshop is 9 to 5 all 3 days; probably let out early Monday. We still need to talk about the Monday. Thanks for your interest.

Finally got around to watching this. Proof that only 16% of society is sane.

Prostate problems, qi imbalances and worse. It was originally developed as a birth control method. Every other week someone posts in here about problems from using this method. Do what you want, but my advice is to give it up or you could be like the many practitioners of this method I have seen in clinic, looking for help with your problems. I published a true Taoist cultivation sex method in 1999. It is listed in the book A Light Warrior's Guide to High Level Energy Healing. A person needs to be practicing a good neigong system in order to get maximum benefit from this method. I can only say for sure that it works with the Stillness-Movement system as it is part of that system.

Yep! Then when everyone in the band meets in the Tao an overwhelming change occurs and we play far, far beyond ourselves.

Re: Teaching qigong - great idea - just make sure you are actually experienced enough to teach it. If I had a dollar for everyone, regardless of experience level, that has told me they were starting to teach qigong I would have more money than I actually make from teaching qigong. I had one guy who took just one workshop from me and started "teaching". This is how nonsense gets started. If you have the comfort level of energy manipulation, understand its implications, and really want to teach I say go for it, more people need to be exposed to qigong. Re: Non-profit - A non-profit means just that. You mention taking in things to sell as ebay thrift to support yourself so you do know (?) that would be separate from the "temple" or whatever you call it. Beware of ego pitfalls in being THE guy that heads this organization. Someone mentioned in the thread for you to start smaller as a teacher. I agree. Follow the path of heart at each given moment with no plans and you will arrive at where you wish to be. Further thoughts: Have you considered the path of the healer? I know you said you don't like people but this path could allow you to work your own hours as well as help develop compassion for others.

I am a big fan of Chinese vegetarian meals, just had one - mouth watering good. Favorite cookbook is Chinese Vegetarian Cookery by Jack Santa Maria. Just awesome! If you have never eaten this type of cooking I highly recommend you check it out! (had this book awhile - don't know if it is still in print) Anyone else got some favorite Chinese cookbooks (in English)?

Jim probably knows as much about the eight extraordinary vessels as anyone. His style of qigong acupuncture is unique and awesome. On top of that he is a grand fellow to have a couple of beers with. I like and respect him. Even though he is one of those damn British.

Suggest you talk some about Taoist energy cultivation and Taoist medicine. Massage therapists could get huge benefit from these practices. Unfortunately many (most) of them think they ought to be able to be a 'master" after attending a weekend workshop - at least this is what I have experienced. Probably comes from reiki being so popularly abused in massage therapy schools.

Yeah, the Chinese restaurants here in USA really don't have the type of meals I am talking about either. They want to put freakin MSG in every recipe because the cook is too dumb to use proper spices.

Uh, no, where are you from? Carrots, bean sprouts, spinach, celery, shitake mushrooms, broccoli, ginger, substitute brown rice for white - actually very healthy. Nothing wrong with soy for protein, IMO. A little bit of the right kinds of oil are not so bad either IMO. But I posted from a taste viewpoint - follow the middle path in eating.

This is an important aspect of the Stillness-Movement. One mistake some students make is to ignore this part. Glad to see you are practicing the full system. For anyone from USA and other countries considering the Canada workshop remember to get your traveling/border requirements in order. The Canadian workshop registration is open until April 30th, but the motel rooms will probably go before then.

Talk about playing with fire in more ways than one. Since you asked for suggestions here is mine: Quit concentrating on dangerous phenomena and think on what good you could do with your qi. What possible good comes from you doing this? Want to amaze your friends at parties? Want it to go astray and set someone on fire? Are you absolutely sure you could control it if you figure out the secret? A little more maturity with your spirituality would go a long ways in helping you. Until you have reached a level of control with no wild qi happening you do NOT want to do this. Also, once you reach that level of control YOU will not want to do this. Have you considered putting that talent of yours to use helping people and following the path of a healer?

Anyone wishing to attend should be advised that, if you wish to travel by air, then the Canadian workshop will be the easiest to attend as it is easy shuttle to where the workshop is being held. The USA workshop is 2 1/2 hrs from the nearest airport.

ROTFL You have gotten many suggestions, criticisms, analysis, etc. but in the end, (for one more opinion)do what you want to do, just try to make decisions from the stillness and Light of your true self and not from your emotional, filter-added imprinted mind. Then each and every decision would be what you need at any given now.

Just need to talk a bit to find out where you have been and where you want to go. So just give me a call.

I have never felt that starting with the MCO is a good idea. Possible stuck qi problems can develop. IMO better to start with dan tian (lower) practice. Find a teacher. Here is a workshop in June for complete cultivation practice.

Probably need to talk about 3rd day via phone. My number is on the flyer and the website. Individual basis depending on experience. You thinking about Canada or USA?

http://www.thetaobums.com/Stillness-Moveme...1-22-t9510.html Registration for the Canada May workshop will be open until April 30th. Easy distance to Airport - take shuttle. 10 rooms are being held open at a discount until April 25th. Brampton, Ontario, Canada I don't have any idea what happened. I posted in the "events" thread and it ended up here. ??? Please use linked thread above for any discussion and ignore posting in this thread.

Of course. I was just kidding you. Far too many think becoming a Taoist/Master/Teacher/etc. will teach them fantastical things so that they will rise beyond having to chop wood carry water. If they ever get there then the realization is I get to chop wood carry water, WOW!

Well heck, you're no fun!

Nothing I say can even come close to describing Tao or Taoism; you will just have to find out for yourself. Perhaps I can assist you in finding out for yourself.

Yes, I did work as an engineer. My specialty was electromagnetic fields and acoustics. Did graduate school courses in optics / acoustics / quantum mechanics / solar thermal / etc but kept changing programs and never got graduate degree. Easy transition from wave/electromagnetic/quantum theory to wave/electromagnetic/quantum practical applications, which is what I consider medical qigong to be. I had already graduated before I saw a PDP-11 mini. The company I worked for bought me one - something like several million bucks at the time. Can you imagine? Now we have more computing horsepower in our phones.