thelerner

Just had a pint at Tommy Nevins in Evanston, a beautiful pour with a thick head. On top of the foam was the indentation of a four leaf clover. Nice.. Great drink, good conversation with an old buddy, life is good.

Did I mention the hot tub?

Commune is a big commitment. As long as we're fantasizing how would you create a Tao Bums coffee shop? Lots of couches. Big center room with a couple of small specialty rooms. Quiet Zen room w/ zafu's. Loud Music room for shared music, Quiet music room w/ pods and earphones. Vid room running movies or How to DVD's. Hanging section w/ regular and seated hammocks. Serve coffee and teas ofcourse. Think big, giant batches of ice tea and iced coffee, large 5 gallon jugs hanging from ceilings. Nice to have a juice bar too. It'd be as self service as possible. Keep payment on the honor system. Encourage people to bring there own cups and/or wash them there. People could bring in food, even to the point of bring in something and if you wanted have a recommended donation amount and jar, pick it up at the end of the day. No throw aways or take outs. Encourage people to bring in cheap cups and plates. Have an easy convenient clean up section. Bean bag section, couch section. Big social board with planned events, another for art and graphiti. Game section, computer section filled with old machines. Small music stage. Michael

I vote for the false awakening possibility. You were still asleep. Michael

Nice.

The board probably chews on this topic every year. I'm looking for people to put in not just what Enlightenment means to them, but what tradition it comes from and what role models they have. Typical practice would be nice too. I tend to split the concept into two pieces, physical and mental, people can have one or both. Glenn Morris wrote about enlightenment from a physical point of view with unmistakable effects. A powerful MCO and full blown Kundalini which increased physical strength, mental clarity and some psychic centers. This wasn't the end game, but a powerful step up in human evolution. Dr. Morris was eclectic, but IMO most widely influenced by the Chinese schools, he mentions Mantak Chia's work, as well as many other Taoist ChiGung sources. As an American he wanted to find what works, and knock out cultural trimmings. So you can find many cultural schools that have some of the same techniques but have longer slower, more devotional and more holistic views of the practice. I also think there is a separate mental enlightenment phenomena. Echkhardt Tolle's 'Now' series is a modern creation of a very old philosophy. I think he and others have achieved a state of enlightenment. You can find examples of this across the religious spectrum. Still I've heard descriptions of him as being frail, other I'd classify in the same mental enlightenment are also less robust. This may well be a conscious decision of the body and vanity being less important. Zen is a Japanese construct (sort of unless you dig down to its roots). It may be one of the most successful schools at producing mental enlightenment. I have heard at higher levels there is chi gunglike energy arts introduced, but not at a beginner or intermediate level. Maybe this viewpoint of enlightenment is too limited. What I like about it is I can go to places and see people, even train with them who are there. So, what are your ideas? Michael

If a belief leads to results, preferably the ones looked for, then it probably has more reality then beliefs that result in nothing. IMO some beliefs are smarter and more reality based then others. It may be judgemental but I think the wise have more reality based beliefs (even if they're esoteric) and fools have um foolish beliefs. It may be hard to tell the difference at times, but ultimately the wise do well, the foolish, not so much. The principle of hypothesize, test, evaluate still holds sway over me. Michael

Looking at the tittle of this 'the weak yin male cannot find balance' I'm reminded we start gaining balance when we accept ourselves the way we are. Nothing wrong with being a little more yin or yang, too balanced is boring. Still, from comfort we can move slowly towards a goal. But accept yourself with compassion, and be willing to move slowly. Non, maybe its not woman that you need, but a good heart practice, like Metta's. We gain peace when we walk away from the battle. Michael

A common denominator in fights I've gotten into here is when I've taken an intellectual approach where someone else is passionate. I've coldly dismissed or argued against someone dreams. The result is ill feelings and no ones changed there positions or truly heard the other person, its just antagonism. These days, if I see someone is passionate and I disagree with them, I'll ask questions, instead of dismissing it. Work harder at understanding first, not immediately countering. Course old habits die hard. But I've made apologies to some of the people I've had fights with. And I welcome getting into heated intellectual arguments as long as both sides are on the same semi-dispassionate page. Michael

I don't think that would be the same as Kunlun. The outer effects might look similar, but I think Kunlun sets up different resonances. In Kunlun you start out relaxed with no expectations and what happens happens. I don't think you're programming yourself as in #6, " Assume an active attitude toward becoming excitable. Encourage yourself to tremble, shake, and quake."

I agree with this. Its nice to have a style that has research to back it up. Plus Max's site tended to light up most people's B.S detector with its extravagant claims, like 1 hour = years of other system (paraphrase). Based on his site I wouldn't have gone. But 10 or 12 TB'ers had gone before me and reported (mostly) very positive results. They were people with experience who probably aren't easily cowed, had no particular incentive to plus it plus the relatively low cost $300 means you can be honest without feeling like a ripped off fool if you say it was poor. If people I trust say a person is a teacher or healer of rare ability, it may make sense to roll the dice. Particularly if the roll doesn't cost too much. Michael

I've read eye witness reports on Max's ability from reputable experienced people, from Sean, Sean Denty(which impressed me because he seemed to hate everyone), TaoMeow etc. I can't report any invisibility or DNA charts, but the man IMO has substantial juice. Beyond throwing Kan around (which I agree is dubious because he is a follower), Max's presence sent some into spasms , others trances. That's without really doing stuff to them. I've seen Dirk Oileibrandt (sp) have a similar effect on people in demos. I'm not very energy sensitive, but even with eyes closed I could sense something from where he was. The seminar we did was in a martial art studio. During breaks he'd do a little bit of martial arts, nothing flashy just simple, minimal arm blocks. He had confidence, pose and seemed to have some real power even in small motion. I did a little a little cross handed defense with him and was impressed. Is he a bull shitter? Don't know, its certainly possible, or he plays mind games or talks in metaphors. The important thing to me is, did he have juice, was he a good teacher, did I leave with some solid techniques? Definitely.

IMO Max's stories are best taken with several grains of salt, But his seminars are worth it. I've found 'spontaneous' Gi Gong he (& Jenny Lamb) teach is a unique and powerful third way to practice the energy arts. In a weekend for $300 (old price?) you get a access to a fascinating branch and some pretty fantastic stories. Plus the basic technique is about as simple as Zhan Zhang. Michael

Systems..we got them. Consider putting the search aside for 3 months and start a system. If you find wisdom in Ya Mu's words (I do) go to his site, order the materials and start the work. There is Kap which is nice because it has 'live' skype classes or Spring Forrest Chi Gung. This thread and others have a dozen or so reputable routes, or find for teacher close to you. Stop the search and get on a path. Even if its a poor one you'll be working up some momentum. Michael

Hmnn, maybe find a book, a form, and a teacher. Some of us here started out with the Healing Tao, google Michael Winn or Mantak Chia and look at their sites. (I like Michael Winn's work). We have some excellent teachers here, I've heard great things about Ya Mu and Santiago's KAP classes (I've taken KAP and recommend it), there are many other good teachers and proponents of tested systems here. In the book section I think there is post of recommended books, there were probably a few here too, that you can find with the Search function. Spend some time looking around, then commit. Having a live teacher is a big plus. Still people here have gotten results from diligent steady practice. There is a Western trait to look in exotic places for strange practices. In doing so we miss paths that are already under our feet. If you have particular religion, you can take some time looking into its mystical practices. There is wealth in every tradition. Michael

I've heard the 2 being used relatively interchangeably. YaMu are you saying Neigong has little or no movement? Or is it movements have to be driven by chi and not just physical motions. Also if there's little physical movement how do you get away from exercises becoming overly mental/visualization? Thanks Michael

Marry one, flirt with others.

I'm unfamiliar with that book. Could you describe the practice?

My God, if I ever go into a monastery or philosophy group that I really don't like, this thread has shown me what to do. Whisper the words 'Dependent Origination' then run out before the fur starts flying.

Still standing, and probably practicing during the cyclone . Always good to hear from you.

Great insights on these posts. Tightening up the subject to the mind. Some people objected to my view of 2 different enlightenments, some have mind, body, or both. But I call it how I see it out my window. Starting with the mind, there is a split in traditions between self inquiry and just quieting the damn thing. I think both end in the same place. Are both required? And what is the next step after the mind is quiet? Michael

I collect guided meditation, but I'm also poor at visualization. While I can't 'see' things, I can feel them. A company like Bliss Trips has an audio CD Gifts of the Earth, I don't exactly see myself in the natural heated pool, but I feel the sensation. In the gem cave its not like looking at a screen, but when I collect healing rocks I know the patterns I'm placing them and how they effect my body. So even without good inner vision I get effects. One of the best guided meditation series for developing better visualization in Anne Wise's High Performance Mind, particularly the Kickstart Alpha segment. Its all about the sensuality of images, texture and smells included. Sometimes we're simply more attuned to other senses. For some interesting free stuff, I like the Healing Forest Hypnotic at the EnerSanctum Podcast downloadable for free from the Itunes store. Other very good guided podcasts are at Meditation Oasis. Rawn Clark has a fascinating take on sealing the senses. He has a free meditation called the Center of Stillness Meditation. If it works for you its fascinating, his site is abardoncompanion.com . Some say visualization can be trained. For me not so much, but I think as long as there is a strong association, losing yourself to the meditation it may not matter. Michael

Ulises, what did you think about Sifu Lamb's DVD? Is Self Adjusted QiGong, her version of 'Kunlun', seated QiGong practice? Is it worthwhile? Michael Her ad is on top while I write this, I'll check it out.