Cameron

[in Falun Gong alcohol is disadvised as little energy beings are meant to be born with practice that are driven away by the smell of alcohol. In other traditions it is just said that it interferes with ones energy. What do you think? I like beer. Alot of my friends drink hard stuff and mized drinks but I prefer a pint of Guiness over Vodka any day. I'll have a few beers at a bar or get a 6 pack like once a week though..it's not a daily indulgence.

[by the way, I was wonder what all of you Tao Bums do for a living??? I am thinking about dropping out of college and starting a career in Qi Gong, with certification from the HT. My family is one of the largest importers of rugs from China and India in this country. actually, Europe too. If you plug my last name into any search engine you will probably see a bunch of ads for Rugs. I run a chain of stores here in sunny Arizona . Most of my family is on the East coast, NY and Atlanta. My Unlcles do a ton of traveling to China. When I finally get my MBA I wouldn't mind taking off for a few months and seeing all these beautiful spots. So basically..I am in business.

Thanks for the great tips Cameron! No problem. Also, I don't know if Sonnon talks about it, but be sure to get some concrete goals you want to accomplish. I don't think you have to obsess over your goals but it gives you a good structure of what your aims are. For example, I am trying to get up to an hour of standing meditation(embrace the tree) I can go 30 minutes or so ok now but want to build it up more. Sonnon's stuff looks cool but I am still working on getting up to 500 hindu squats a day. I usually just do sets of a 100 but want to be able to do 500 in one set and get back into some BJJ in shape so I don't get schooled by some 14 year old kid!

Gentle Strength Co op..LOL LOZEN! I go there all the time especially when I went to ASU last semester. The Gym I did Brazillian Jui Jitsu at was across the street and there is an Aikido school there too. I have hiked Camelback a couple times and it's nice to watch sunsets there. Tuscon is nice and I told you I would like to check it out when I have time...

Cool! Thanks! I have heard of Squaw Peak from a bunch of people and will do that first!

Furey talks alot about that. You first need to get the FEELING of what your trying to accomplish. Not just want it but really get the vibe of what it feels like and see yourself having already accomplished it. He says that is what he used to Win during his wrestling days and also to Win that Title in China.

Hey Yodster! Where did you hang out when you lived in Phx? I usually just go to Scottsdale or Mill ave but was wondering what else is around from someone who has spent alot of time out here . How about weekend or day trips? I love Sedona and the vibes but would like to check out some other spots when I have time. anywhere you receomend?

Yodmeister, I got it years ago. Just wanted to see what others experiences and stuff were .if you have Gama it's basically an expanded version of chapter 1 Begin With The End In Mind and the importance of specific goals for success.

Looks good Sean . Inner Smile, Primordial Qigong, Kan and Li are all gret shen practices I like standing meditation to biuld qi, I don't do anything ala Yiquan just stand and be patient as the qi fills up the dan tien. Jing sort of takes care of itself when you don't ejaculate for awhile and meditate. Or do sexual practices. The most solo sexual practices I have found where in Yudeloves book Taoist Yoga and sexual energy which I think you read. But the dual culitivation would obviously be preferred:)

RJ Complement.. You have the same name as a porn star You curse very loud You stick up for a teacher other's bash(Chia) Somehow, you have gotten someone, or claim to have gotten someone, to marry you... All I can think of right now.

Even more radical is spend time saying nice things about OTHERS. I had a clas a year or so ago and my teacher instructed us to, as our homework, spend the week complementing everyone you know .That is, don't focus on others faults or negative stuff, just complement people .Everyone has something good about them. Some talent or skill or gift. And it is hard to start doing this, but after awhile you may start to get some nice nice results from it. Maybe all the positive energy you send out will start coming back to you. You know, I have a tendency in my business to mouth off on people I don't like but when I start noticing how good they are at a job, it's like now that person is my friend. It seems so simple but really we all influence eahcother alot.

I agree about heavy weight training being somewhat counter productive to chi development. I also practice internal martial arts and I feel excessive muscle development sort of "Gets in the way" of that. Advanced internal martial artists almost never do weight training and stress internal chi power and bone/tendon power. Fa Jing and other such abilities are all results of relaxing your muscles and letting the qi flow through the body like a tidal wave originating in the dan tien. I actually enjoy lifting wieghts and if I didn't enjoy internal power more would probably be a serious bodybuilder. but for me there is no comparision .You can either get an external pump in your muscles that makes you strong or an internal pump from qi cultivation and martial arts. I like the way Bruce frantzis explains it that external size and strength is like having a wallet full of hundred dollar bills and internal strength is like having 1 small credit card with a million dollar limit. It may not look as impressive, but it's better. However, I also feel CC is the missing link and ties together perfectly with internal arts. And from what I have seen from Sonnon's material is also. And like John ducane said, the bells develop whole body power which is also good. but I think CC iss till the optimum complement to internal arts. To me it is the perfect Yang to Qigong's Yin. Even Wang Zhaing Zhai and Ueshiba would probably approve.

I just joined furey's inner circle discussion they do quite a bit of talking about combining qigong with combat conditioning. I think CC is numero uno in terms of over all functional strength and cardio. When I do it I feel like I can do alot more physically. Kettlebells are great for cardio also. I took a kettlebell to work and through it around when I am not busy . 50 straight snatches with a Kettlebell is serious Cardio. I am really feeling like I need to do more physically though. I have a free membership to Gold's gym so will probably do some lifting and those epiliptical(sp?) machines. Although CC and just doing body weight stuff is probably the best if you can do it. Sonnon's stuff is neat to I bought a pair of clubbells. shameful as it is, I'll prpbably be back in the gym lifting though and doing hampster cardio(machines).

I think we are all dealing with this in one form or another. It can be very challenging at times and sometimes just not know what to do. What practice are you doing? I think certain practices are better suited to different personality types and that all has to do with you more than anything. It is pretty hard to make progress with an adnvanced teacher standing in front of you who knows you and knows exactly what your imbalances/issues are and has some idea of how to help you. Which would make it damn near impssble for a stranger on the internet to be any real help Of course, whith our years of discussion we talk about lots of different practices and our results with them in a general way. Kan an Li is the answer No Fusion is the answer No Empty Mind is the answer No sun gazing is the answer No the core channel is the answer The truth, for me, is some of my highest experiences have been totally spontanuoues and if I had a clue how to reproduce them I would be set. At best, all of the practices seem to be a genral orientation towards the goal .You know if I felt balanced and in harmony with life all the time I probably wouldnt' bother with any practices. So, maybe it's a good thing to feel messed up or off center because that motivates you to try to solve the problem. And then you learn all this different stuff. it's so funny and makes me wonder sometimes, bercause in the coarse of a day you can go from feeling totally blissful to feeling like shit. You can be sitting there in total grace, feeling the qi flowing all over your body, your chakras/tan tiens opened up and a high vibration, everything smiling and glowing. Then, maybe even a few hours later, be totally down and feel your energy is crap because of some garbage you ate or engative conversation or you just got fired or got a bad grade in school or your girl left you, etc.etc. etc. I mean, I don't know about the rest of you people, but this is like my everyday life. High as a kite, wonderful qi. And inevitably it comes crashing down. It's just like the way of the world. maybe it was not always like this but in our moder world with it's drama and wars and tension and negativity it is real effort and work to create balance and harmony in or lives. Maybe it would have been better if I just replied "I don't know".

Haha. I can't beleive you guys drink your piss. Do you drink your girls piss to or just your own? I know some people do thata s a sexual thing but that's something else.. I don't know, maybe I am being close minded, but I dont' see the enlightened sages of the past drinking their piss. But what do I know.

Definetly that is a solid thoery Peter .Most of the Empty Mind schools basically do that .You focus on the core channel, lower dan tien, et and the other channels get taken care of naturally. I actually prefer this approach over all and thing it is best for me but sometimes use the alchemy or nie dan methods to get things going. But I think if all you did was empty mind, still standing, etc. that would still get you a long way and should be part of anyones overall cultivation. It's all intertwined..

An easy way to think of it is Earlly Heaven is like the Mother and Later Heaven is the child. Early Heaven has given birth to Later heaven and it is connected to Later heaven. Through the practice of Taoist Internal Alchemy you reverse the elements and basically go backwards in order reunite with the primordial forces of Early Heaven. Some people's definition of a Tao Immortal is a being who is able to move freely between Early heaven and Later heaven. The manifest and un manifest realms. It's all theory until you do Kan and Li. Bascially all regular qigong practices are teaching you to harmonize and develop the qi of Later Heaven .It is teaching you to feel good and have alot of energy but it's mostlyLater heaven qi not early heaven qi. Supposedly, in Theory, Kan and Li is opnening a door inside yourself to connect with Early Heaven. Here is a description Winn uses in defining the process of Taoist Internal Alchemy: The Microcosmic Orbit practice is framing a window Fusion is cleaning the Window Kan an Li is opening the window The window in this case is the doorway insode yourself you develop to Early heaven through these practices.

I agree sean. While I love the intenral arts, sparring is usually kept to a minimum. I think it is the nature of the art though, You can't really spar with Tai chi or Aikido it would be to severe. then again maybe that is BS. While in BJJ I "sparred" my first night on the mat .It's pretty exhilerating to be able to use technique freely without any set coreographed form aas designed by "Sensei or Sifu". The only thinng I found frustrating with BJJ was you can find yourself on your back with your opponent on top of you for a long time. In some instances you can be laying there for 5 or 10 minutes while you and your opponent look to gain a position. But as soon as one of you gets some leverage, finds an opneing it's all over in seconds. One of my first experiences getting "tapped out" in BJJ I was messing around with a guy who was pretty good. I made the mistake of extending my arm out towards his face which is I think a pretty popular thing to do in Aikido and Hsing I. He immendietly grabbed my arm and dropped to his back, swung his legs over my head and neck and put a Triangle choke on me faster than I could realize what was happaning. I also really liked the work we did with takedowns. Sometimes jsut wrestling contunuously until one of us was able to take down the other. Learning take down defense and how to quickly take down an agressor so you can quickly throw a submission on them is very useful if your ever in a fight. But you need serious cardio in BJJ. My Internal arts class is pretty laid back and at no point do you feel you are "working out". BJJ is one of the emanest workouts. Trying to mauver around a 200 lb guy on top of you takes alot of eenrgy. Though my BJJ teacher who is a world champion makes it look effortless. Maybe I'll get back in there and start rolling again. I wish I had time to do them all but as Steve Maxwell told me pick one art and master it or many arts and be average.

I begun training Baguazhang and Shing Yi(Hsing I) this week. just a rank beginner in it. Though I did see some similarities between Bagua and Aikido . Both Baugua and Hsing I look very sophisticated. Hsing I is very different from what I have done in the past because it attacks. Very Yang and agressive internal art. Bagua moves in circles around an oppnonent and spirals in. My teacher is one of 7 disciples of the late Grand master of the art, Kenny Gong, who taught in NYC sor like 30 years. It looks like it will take me a long time, if ever, to get real good at it but I think it is what I have been looking for as far as martial arts go. But does that mean it is more effective than BJJ? No. I think if your goal is just to elarn to do some damage and self defence quickly go take a few months of BJJ. You'll learn how to snap peoples elbown, necks, slams, etc in the first few classes. The internal arts are a slow discipline, but after 10 years or something you can just take someone out by touching them..supposedly..

Well, for me, there is something very profound in buddhist philosophy and practice. And also something very profound in Taoist philosophy and practice. I do feel Empty Mind, Zazen, Sitting and forgetting etc. is IMPORTANT Is that what you should do and nothing else? Maybe. Taoist Alchemy has definite practical benifits. For example, even if you are adept at Empty mind and do it regularly inevitably someone is going to get your emotions stirred up through the course of your life. At some point, unless you have attianed buddhahood, your going to find yourself angry or worried, or scared. at this point using Fusion, inner smile, sounds, etc. is probably going to be more helpful than just Zazen. Then again maybe not, zazen helps you let go of things rather quickly. But Fusion teaches you how to transform energy. Connect with the eenrgy of your organs and develop compassion in your heart. Learning fusion is very practical. I think people who have no interest in spiritual practice, enlightenment should still learn fusion because it teaches you to master your emotions. Most people struggle with their emotions and they get so powerful they can ruin your life. learning Fusion then would be the major thing I would tell someone from the tao side. And Empty Mind. I wont' say names, but a senior Healin Tao teacher said something to me on the phone the other day. he said after 30 years, almost no one has mastered Fusion. From spending time on these boards and with different practiitoners I would have to agree with this. Just getting Fusion down and opneing up the 8 Extra meridians is very powerful. Then if someone wants to get more into Alchemy with Kan and Li or more into zen sitting or whatever fine, but atleast they will have a spiritual center and be able to transcend the emotional body, which is undearneath the spiritual body. in other words, if I had a converstaion with myself 10 years ago, I would say keep up your zen sitting and learn Fusion. After a couple years of that see what appeals to you. Interesting topic.

I have done Aikido for several years. In many ways I think Aikido is one of the best martial arts to use on the street because at a high level you can simply avoid an agressors strike without messing with your own karma by doing damage to them. This is where I think Ueshiba had a spiritual realization what good is it to defend yourself if you cripple and destroy another human being? That being said I think shows like pride fighting and UFC have showed that their is effective street fighting and effective sport fighting. A high rank BJJ or top wrestler would probably school someone doing Aikido in a sport combat situationb because they train for that reapetedly. Also, one thing I noticed different between sport fighting types and Aikido is intent. Alot of these boxing/BJJ types basically walk around with the intent to fight. If you at all interestes in spiritual development this is sort of taking a big step backwards. As they say in sociology if you habg with idiots you become an idiot if you hang with intelligent people you tend to get smarter. I also am interested in Bagua Zhang and Shing Yi Quan and have recently found a teacher. I will let you know if it is better than my experience with Aikido and BJJ.

I run my own business and go to school full time until the end of enxt year. An Australia trip is not going to happen anytime soon. I feel you on the healing Tao though .Your not the first person to lament on a bad trip to Chia land. If I remember correctly Kieth-the virtuous one-Franzen had a bad experience there. It's all good to me..if you don't like someones vibe or there teaching style don't waste your time. I am a busy guy and don't have the time or desire to waste with people that don't respect my time. Basically what I have heard quite a few people say about Chia. I have never met chia or done any of his classes just basing this off of what others have said. Anyways..good luck on your path.

Your in Sydney? My Mom's hometown! I was just talking about coming out for a visit when I have time. I have cousins in Australia I havent seen in like 15 years. G'day!

I have done it several times already . I had all of Winn's material up to Lesser KL and threw it all out because I just wanted to do zen type practice and felt it was useless. I also threw out dozens of books on Daoism and qigong with the same attitude. Probably a little severe .I just rebought alot of his stuff and kind of giving it a second chance. You may see me chuck it all after ana fter zazen anti-coneptual spirituality rage but I don't recommend this and consider it a personality fault! Seriously though..your right..I have studied and elarned so many practices it gets to the point where you say fuck it. Just throw my Kettlebell around and have a beer..that's my practice. I am debating hitting my local zendo tomorrow morning for a rededication to zazen and listening to Winn's tapes at the same time .I do primordial qigong regularly .I also do Aikido regulaly and have been thinking about getting back into Braziallian Jui Jitsu. I also do Yiquan prestty regulaly and just found a teacher of Hsing Yi Quan. Will check him out next week. he has been doing internal practices for like 20 years and lives like 5 minutes from me .It's funny when you are looking for teachers over the internet and in other states when you may have what you need right under your nose. Another part of me wants to hit the gym and get monster huge and bulk up but then I think how it will just fuck up my aikido and Hsing Yi which is supposedly similar. I also bougght a pair of Sonnen's clubbells and playing with that occasionally. Damn..and I have to write papers,,I wanted to go out this weekend but am sitting at home on saturday night like a lsoer when Downtown Scottsdale and the beauties that hang there are so close. But atleast I started taking a good mulit vitamin! I feel another long break from intenret web sites coming..

Five animal frolics is a movement version of the healing sounds . I havent seen Ducane's stuff but my guess is it's based on the traditionaly animal frolics which are totally different movements. Interesting you ask this question I was just watching the 5 animal frolics DVD right now. I just got the updated versions of alot of Winn's stuff and going over Internal qi breathing, bone breathing and rooting right now. I almost did my thing where I take hundreds of dollars of tapes/CD's or books and throw it all in the garbage like the Zen masters of old tore up certificates of Enlightenment but thought twice about it. Balance!