thelerner

Imo standing meditation, zhan zhuang develops more power then sitting. I've found martial arts, particularly weapon practices develop will and intention. As far as will, 'just sitting', counting to 100 or 200 breaths is tough. Its challenges concentration, and its you against the powerful emotion of boredom. Meditating outside I often find my depth is only a fly deep. Which is why it's so worthwhile, plus good to connect with the earth. I've done the Wim Hof method, 10 week class (course it took me 14 to finish the first one). That generated some power. Learning breath control, watching the mind and body grapple with self strangulation.. watching the mind and body react and ultimately adapt to extreme cold. It's a kick, with lessons. Some of which can save your life you're stranded in the cold, or forced unexpectedly underwater. As well as feeling more comfortable when its cool out.

Thanks Lightseeker, that's an interesting book. l collect guided hypnotic scripts and its fascinating to get insights from the original concepts of Mesmerism, its original fluid and magnetic paradigms. How trance was done in the 1800's and it's uses and cures. You clearly see what's old is what's new. How modern researchers are hooking meditators up to EKG machines and having them stare at the 'third eye' and finding science that backs up the practices that go way back. The longer back you look, you find similar practices are there.

I thought shikantaza was a Zen Buddhist term for 'just sitting'. Course the 'just' may take many years of daily practice to achieve. As I recall in the beginning stages you generate some heat. I remember a book recommending watching cats. Some are masters of it. What's the power of this?? idk.. I guess you become an expert in waiting, a master of patience. Perhaps its not so much about gaining power as conserving it. Just sit in perfect awareness.. not dullness.

I'll derail my thread for you , along the same lines, we already think ourselves as Gods. That the disembodied voice in our head is spouting great wisdom and sees reality accurately. Probably is not the case. Beating ourselves up, yeah, despite the godhoodishness, we do that quite a bit too.

Don't know if there's a plot, but I dig the choreography, you can really see a deep love of martial arts infused in it. Old man kicking ass and taking names in a surreal world. Turn on higher quality to read the subtitles. Jet Li was Executive Producer, or so it says.

She was quite the vocal power house. Her passing makes me Think.

Similarly I think one could do worse then getting a book like- Ajahn Brahms Mindfullness, Bliss, and Beyond; A Meditators Handbook. A book that keeps it simple, traditional yet relatable. I find his dharma speeches, widely available on the net, wisdom the way I like it; insight served with a side of humor. -LiT One need not pray to Kuan Yin per-se. One could pray to Jesus, or Krishna, or whomever. The important element is to realize that one cannot do it alone. Any attempt to do it alone is doomed to failure. Heaven provides much help to those who genuinely seek. Take advantage of it, that's why it's there! I like the prayer aspect, that its heart based. Yet I think there are systems where where the practitioner goes it alone. Though perhaps the best of them, also have pieces that go through the heart. Perhaps purity of spirit or intent brings its own grace without calling for an intermediary.

My goal was to have people converse about cultivation systems that were simple and well structured. Lost in Translation had a good answer, imo. Pray to Kuan Yin. I've heard it echoed by a couple advanced people here. Not my cup of tea, but such ways of the heart could be a perfect match or compliment for many. I'd agree that Taoist Yoga Alchemy is a powerful system, but not a particularly simple or clear (imo).

We, Learners can do it . In my 13 years of Aikido much time was spent on learning to breathe, sit and walk correctly. Basics basics basics. We learned technique, inorder to forget it. During the highest level classes the sensei would say, 'No technique, I don't want to see any technique here'.

Seems to me there are 11 important steps in choosing a martial art. Step one, is it taught in your area, or at a place you can get to (or take frequent seminars) If not, do not go to step 2, repeat step one with another art.

Yeah, the classical texts can feel poetic and cryptic. Modern ones aren't necessarily better. I wish it were closer to computer science, with clear instructions, some systems are closer to that. Maybe that's the question that should be asked. Not what's the most powerful or fastest system, rather which one is the most clear, ie step by step, saying which signs you need before getting to the next level. (heck, I'll make that into a post). I'm from a martial arts background. So, see then do, with very little instruction isn't too foreign for me. I tend to do better with little bites and goals. ie can getting to a 30/30 breath cycle, getting to 10in/40hold/20out cycle. Counting breaths to 200.. kind of thing. Such physical mile stones seem easier to check off, then the mental and spiritual ones.

First of all Welcome and gasundheit. You've picked out some good solid books. Instead of more, I suggest less. In the beginning this is a game of practice not knowledge. Less theory, more doing. Find a few good instructions of leveled practice, follow faithfully. Preferably getting some feedback and instruction from live teachers, if possible. Perhaps in midpractice one should strive for the scholarly learnings of history and philosophy of Taoism, yet for the beginner, why get head heavy? Keep it simple, practice.

i thought only the good die young.

I usually sit in half lotus & use a zafu. From Stillness/Movement system I picked up the habit of keeping my hands together, with light thumb interlock, and having them against my dantien. In the past they'd be in a similar position but a few inches in front of my body. When they're against me, it feels warmer, like a little energy is being stored. When outside I use a different arm and hand position. I'm no expert but you might want to give it a try. See how it feels to you. Also from Stillness/Movment I picked up doing a slight continuous bobbing when I meditate. I find it keeps my legs awake and allows me to sit longer with less effort.

For detachment you may want to read oldies but goodies like the Stoics- Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. Many dharma talks touch on detachment, though they might be calling it controlling the ego. Then there's the dharma of 38 Special, preaching that we should hold on loosely, but not let go..

Speaking of feet, one change I have over growing up is that we usually take off our shoes on entering home. In the 70's that would have been very eccentric, but it keeps the floors a little cleaner and the tootsies a little happier.. imo.

I don't know about greatness, but there is survivability in not taking a stand, not getting hung up on opinions and adhering to live and let live, so that one doesn't have enemies. Sometimes its simply better to recognize change and harmonize or get out of the way. That may not hold up at the extremes, but for the other 99% it tends to work nicely. There's no way like Wu Wei-

I like walking barefoot on the beach. Early on, my biggest fear was coming back and finding my shoes gone. Happy to report after all these years that's never happened. <note to self, buy better shoes> I acknowledge that crappy things can happen, yet I'm tough. If they do, hookworms, animal bites, stings.. I'll get over it. Better to take the risk then not know the pleasure of walking on the sand au naturel. Let me also throw out that Christopher McDougall's book Natural Born Heroes:Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength & Endurance, is also an excellent read. It links the tough guys of the past with modern refounding of there skills.

sink comfortably and naturally like you were resting your butt, back and arms on cushions. These cushions support you. You can sink a little deeper into them to relieve pressure, though you still must keep your basic alignment. That and keep a feeling of extension going, head pulled up, kwa pulled lightly down, arms slightly stretched holding the big ball. You may not want to make a habit of it, but occasionally practicing to music or watching TV isn't bad imo. I like to stand and listen to Rawn Clark's Archaeous practice, which has several levels of stacking elements within the body, aka Hermetic elemental system.

something to remember

We spend our lives wondering and weighing. to me, releasing all effort, is deep confidence in the way, internalizing it. I force myself do certain things, healthy things, I'd rather not but they're good for me. My wife on the other hands, likes healthy food. She likes to exercise. For me, its effort, for her it's natural. There's wisdom in liking what's good for you. When you have that, which I don't, you can release effort, because you've internalized dharma.

I think the stock market is a way to grow your money, probably not to get rich or make millions but grow it 5 to 10% a year. Nor do I think it takes alot of time. I find a portfolio 1/3 to 1/2 large ETF's that cover large pieces of the market (SPY, DIA, QQQ..), 1/3 or 1/4 in solid high dividend stocks, and the last 1/3 or 1/4 in companies with promise and growth. Set and forget (preferably re-invest dividends if possible).. you'll have good years, bad years, but in the long run you'll make 5 to 11% (due to compounding perhaps quite a bit more after 10 or 15 years). Hopefully allowing you to live comfortably, provide security for your family, and perhaps have a chance to see what this big world has to offer. Intelligent investing, acquiring assets allows you to help others, ie philanthropy. Money is a form of energy- good evil or neutral. A good person can do much good with it.

I was introduced to the warrior breath after doing winter misogi, after a weekend of martial arts (Aikido), meditation, intense Shinto chanting we went into a river in January that was partially ice covered. I was told if a person couldn't shake the chill, the sensei would have them do a few rounds of warrior breath that would usually snap them out of it. Even though it was in the single digits and we had a long walk from the river to the shelter, no one needed it. The last couple years I've done Wim Hof training. Breath and cold stuff. His breathing method tends to be 30 deep fast breaths, then usually a hold on the exhale. The breathing changes your blood chemistry and heart beat a bit, releasing hormones and stuff like adrenaline. It allows for long holds, even after exhaling your breath. Most often you do 3 rounds. While hard at first, I've gotten to like it. I'll do it first thing when I wake up a few times a week. Why?? Some of it is relaxingly pleasant, maybe because it contrasts with parts that are suffocating, ie near the end of the hold, when my diaphragm pulses involuntarily and my fingers twitch and and brain says what the hell you doing. At that point the in breath feels real good. You relax in its peace. At the beginning I'd have visions during the long holds, not any more. After doing it, I can do much longer breath cycles.. 10 in 40 hold 20 out.. Very peaceful. I can't hold that breath sequence for long without doing the Hof method. And the longer breath cycles bring on there own nice sense of peace.

He's the man, Sadhguru had me at his first smile. Beyond words, you watch his stillness. I suppose in the context of this thread, his answer on psychic powers was go beyond the intellect. Into the space he called shiba(shiva?), yet we can't do that because we lack the years of training and are too attached to our thoughts. Maybe lack of accumulated 'grace' too. There are times the physical world seems to bend for holy men and saints. Not consistently or necessarily on command but at times it bows. And being a saint/holy is something you can't fake.. not to the Universe anyway.

Please tell us about the method.. ie breath pattern and for how long?