Buddy

"Sounds like a load of total HORSE SHIT to me. Virtually every point you made can also be applied to Judaism/Israel and Christianity/West" Although I shouldn't comment, as I haven't watched it, I would tend to agree... EXCEPT There's no Jew or Christians in the public view (like bombing large American buildings or small Arab market places) trying to impose their religion on others.

BTW here's a small vid of Maestro Sonny, one of my friends is in it.

Ah...yeah. This one's pretty amusing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXZcp9jS_Nw&feature=user Then Mr. Smith says this: Mr. Smith has been given title of Guru with permission to teach the system of Visayan Eskrima Corto Kadena by Maha Guru Sonny Umpad. It's not what I've heard. There is an actual document about people who Sonny gave lineage to.

It's not just that, Max. Just like all roads won't lead to Boston (some of them are dead ends) not all roads are complete, or even have as their goal the same as Buddhism, Vedanta, or Taoism (if we must use -isms). I like your optimism, I just don't share it. I don't even think the foundations are the same. I have a huge distrust about evangelical religion. I think their goal is conversion, not transcendence.

No, you clearly have misconstrued the word "enlightenment". There are no -isms, that's just another trap. The Rig Veda says: "There is a single Truth but the wise call it by different names." The purpose of the path called Daoism is what is called in Sanskrit- Sanatana Dharma. From the SwamiJ site: Sanatana Dharma means: Eternal Path Never Beginning nor Ending Way Perennial Philosophy Universal Tradition All-Pervading Truth Natural Flow Sanatana is: Eternal Perennial Never Beginning nor Ending Abiding Universal Ever-present Unceasing Natural Enduring Dharma is: Harmony The Way Righteousness Compassion Natural Law Morality Truth Teachings Tradition Philosophy Order Flow Spirituality Religion Wisdom Purest Insight Divine Conformity Cosmic Norm Blueprint Inherent Nature Law of Being Duty The universal flow of Dharma, regardless of what name you call it, whether Dharma or some other name, has eternally existed. It has been before any of the great teachers were born. It is not better than, or alternative to, but is inclusive of all. Dharma is that out of which our earth and humanity itself emerged. Dharma not only is, but always was, and always will be. To live in alignment with, and to know the true nature of that Sanatana Dharma is one of the ways of describing the higher goal of life.

"Buddy- I have been to both NYC and Boston. One does not preclude the other. Open yr mind to other possibilities, then what were once narrow views will broaden and yr arguements disappear.. Getting there is not being there, and never will be - until the mind makes each the other... desolving the problems with the distinctions being made... It is the distinctions that you create in your mind that manifests as plausible and factual and unrealistic... These distinctions may not always be shared by people with minds that function on levels you do not accept or recognize as real in your experience... Address your own limitations as challanges, rather than imposing them on others. Your world view may grow beyond what you now see as its limits... which just exist in yr own mind and not all others' minds..." Wayf, You missed my point entirely. But thanks for the sage fortune cookie cutter pedantics.

http://swamij.com/Sounds/mahavakyas-swami-j.mp3

I liked that site a lot.

Max, "To me personally, any practice has a great potential, if practiced diligently and with pure heart." We'll have to agree to disagree. This is not about your practice, but if I take a road and want to get to Boston and it leads me to NYC, no matter how much I practice with a pure heart, I ain't gonna get to Boston. Cheers, Buddy

Yo, I went to that yoga site, looks good. Who is the Yogani? Is there a bio of him on there? I like this fellow here: http://swamij.com/swamijnaneshvara.htm

Because baguazhang is an actual thing with particular requirements. Dong had years of training in martial arts and Daoist study before coming up with his ideas. While your own self expression of baguazhang can be spontaneous, spontaneous movement is not baguazhang.

"Sometimes you teeter on personal put downs " You're right and for that I apologize.

I agree.

"I didn't see your background, sorry, I didn't look for it, where is it? " Like you say, you didn't look for it. I'm real easy to find. "before you start claiming people are full of shit maybe you should read the book: Opening the Dragon Gate - the Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard." So you said a while ago. I read it about 5,6 years ago. When it first came out in hard back. I'm not impressed by fiction. So spare me your advice. I read the Kwan Saihung nonsense as well. It's bullshit, too. "You appear to be pissed off, people asked me to write about my practice" Not at all. I just don't suffer fools gladly. Maybe you're used to dealing with neophytes. I'm not one. "I'm not sure if I want to share the radar hands exercises with you now, you are so hostile. are you really curious or is this part of your agenda?" I don't care one way or another. You offered, I accepted. I'm not invested in your stuff. But here's what I'll do for you. Here's my senior Marus showing our sanshou. I have no idea what "radar" hand means. It's a little fanciful, video wise. Here's my bro doing Houtian: Here's my teacher doing some houtian:( Marc w/the pony tail) Your turn.

Steve, Because I'm already a bad guy here, let me say that you are completely full of shit. Anyone who makes the sort of fanciful claims that you do is obviously self obsessed. Send me your stuff like you said you would. But I know someone who knows Jesse and will he vouch for silly bullshit? You insinuated and insulted without any evidence beyond the typical mysterious assertions. Did you find my background here? I'm real, make no claims that I cannot back up in person. No silly magic, but real neigong that anyone can fell in my body quite readily. I don't need a forum to discuss it. Do I need post my address again? Otherwise it's time for you to shut the fuck up. Apologies to anyone sensitive to this sort of talk. It's me and I make no apologies for it. (Uh, I guess beyond that apology...

No. Send me the money, I'll go see this guy and see if he can: a. move me in ANY way, or b. cure my sciatica. I'll double the cost to send me there to anyone who takes me up on the offer. It won't happen because no one has the real faith that this sort of horseshit is real. But that's the whole deal here, isn't it?

Sean, You'll have to ban me outright. I won't be silenced otherwise, although many will decry me. I'm not running for a popularity contest and this sort of democracy is really anarchy. So, you might as well do it now. I'm here to stay as the voice of caveat emptor. I'm happy to add the positive (and I have) but when the voice of silly and stupid blindless cultism raises it's ugly head in the guise of whatever _isms (why doesn't everyone realize there are no -isms), I'm happy to be their Tom Joad (look it up if you don't read)

"Buddy, what wasnt constructive either. Following one arrogant assertion up with another doesnt help. You run around stating that half the crap on the board is apocryphal. It doesnt help, it only creates a negative vortex of energy on the thread and the forum as a whole. Its getting to the point of...so whatcha want, a cookie or something? We all know you question everything to the hilt and unless you get supreme undeniable evidence you're not going to believe one iota of it. Its becoming tiresome. Comments like these are like habanero - sometimes apropos and delicious, in an appropriate quantity and quality - but it quickly becomes too much and spoils the taste of the dish if you keep adding." Hi Joe, Sorry, it doesn't matter if you don't like it. I had my issues with those past subjects and now it's Steve. Prove your shit or STFU! I can prove my stuff and have no problem with anyone wanting to come see to to do so. "I swear, this forum needs one of those karma point systems so that the forum as a whole can collectively shut crap like this up and regulate itself." Karma points? I don't even know how to address this seriously. "There shouldnt be a burden of crap on Sean to police anything, this would let him leave the forum to free itself of endless bitchery." I don't see where Sean has even entered into any of this. I've always seen him as pretty much even handed a voice of reason. "Yue too but not so blatant - if you guys can provide some sort of technical rebuttal or ask for one from who related the story, great, but - can any of you give a good description for the reason to use one application over another doing this or that in the aforementioned context of the last 7 posts. These techniques are all cousins of one another, how can you tell the difference in application?" I have no idea of what your asking here. But I don't want anyone to rely on "stories." Anyone can claim anything on an internet forum. I'm not going to tell you what I can do because of that very thing. But I would be more than happy to show you. That's been my stance all along. "Is this post contributing to the forum?" should be a question everyone asks themselves before clicking that Add Reply button. Its only proper conduct toward the other members of the board." Sorry, I'm not going to let some internet guy decide what I should say until I've realized they know more than I do. You haven't added anything here but what you think people should say. Who cares? Add something (I have) then comment. Otherwise....

It's unfortunate that it shows....nonsense.

And does the $2500 get you the wallpaper or is that separate?

Interesting is certainly an appropriate word.

You lost me on that one.