thelerner

In my view, Rand has good ideas but takes them to an extreme where they're negative.

Not my area, there are books on it. I collect guided meditations and this one was fun for you. Bit more of a mental game, but some realities begin in the mind.

Seems to me with formal systems, as you get higher, and gain some juice, you really want guidance and feedback to stay on target so as not to screw yourself up. As you get energy and move forward in cultivation, mistakes can start affecting your personality, energy system and health. Its good to be careful.

Not a member of his forum, but from my reading and correspondence, SoTG has always been solid, deep & knowledgeable and a bit eccentric.

It is brave (or foolhardy) for people to come forward to talk about there system and open it up for questions. It doesn't take many to devolve a discussion. And that's too bad, because a good (or great) teacher is gold. Some experienced teachers can be thorny as hell, and do not suffer (in there eyes) fools disagreement or criticisms lightly. For better or worse, they have decades of experience under there belt and simply don't feel they should put up with (in their view) uninformed posts. Some great teachers have gone down in flame wars because of this. Others simply left (I'm looking at you Dhao Zhen) because they didn't like the boards contentiousness. A possible solution is simply to treat this section: 'Teachers and Systems' with a little more deference, take it or leave it, kind of attitude. Ask questions, but don't challenge. If its not your thing, you disagree with it, state your truth (nicely), and walk away. This is a platform for someone to discuss there system. If a person wants a formal indepth debate they should start a separate thread, so as not to derail a teacher discussing there art.

interesting.. what's 2 & 3? Also many interchange Socialism w/ Communism. An easy thing to do, Communist regimes tend to hide behind the Socialist label. Whereas I see most Socialist systems ie European/Canadian as Capitalism with a wider social net. More taxes and more social benefits. I was just in Canada, I liked it. It felt cleaner, safer, maybe saner then the U.S. Course I was just a visitor.. and perhaps being from Chicago, I'm used to a lower bar. Not that the city doesn't have its good points.

I might say the extreme of capitalism is feudalism, ie if too much wealth gets concentrated and some own all the marbles and country becomes a Company Store. I prefer Capitalism with a decent social net, intelligent environmentalism and sense of we're in this together, not just for ourselves.

I was just in Stratford Canada.. the place is littered with swans. Or rather the swans are littering the place. Actually its very romantic, even with these long necked pests, the Shakespeare festival is lots of fun, they're doing a great Tempest.

I don't think they're weasel words. To me Steve might be putting at least part of Self into the realm of Soul.. a kind of a transcendent, eternal, non divisiveness.. the kind of thing experienced in mysticism during satori. addon> and in a practical sense, when the world is giving you guff, its helps to realize, somewhere deep down we have a core of divinity.

Great book and good author. Black swans are dark events that people tend to think are rare, yet in reality happen much more often then popularly thought.. ie 50 year floods or market crashes. It's a call to be aware of the reality of 'unlikely' negative events and be prepared for them. The book isn't so much pessimistic as a call to see things in there true statistical light. Imo, a must read for people in finance. It's not so much Taoist, though it touches on clear thinking and acknowledging unpleasant pieces of reality. <addon I was thinking of this when a member who sublet a house talked about an expensive 'resettlement tax' due when a tenant leaves a rental. The tenant leaving is an unknown and unknowable time, but when they do an expensive tax is due. Thus a black swan, someday inevitably it'll hit. What can one do? Simply segregate a small amount of each rent payment into a separate account til its close to covering the tax. ie Don't ignore black swans, don't panic, have a plan. Often the best involve small steady preparations.

Nah, depending on ones personality either can be great.. with different excellent lessons within them. Neither will convey any kind of absolute protection.. the world is tricky that way. Security is an illusion (an important one). It's very important to know ones limit and the good and bad of ones art. I always like the idea of hard arts for the young, gradually softer as one gets older, but again it depends on one's temperament.

Let's see.. my sins. Classically.. Lust, oh yeah.. less these days due to age. Not one I regret either. Gluttony, definitely, nor has it abated with age. Greed.. mild.. but there. Sloth.. all the time. I've even worked very hard for short periods of time so I can enjoy sweet sweet sloth. Wrath, again, less with age, but had my share of anger.. most often pointless. Envy, not too much, rarely for material things, but that still leaves a whole world of other wants. Pride, I'm better then most people when it comes to fighting this.

Can't vouch for it, I assume it won't help everyone but for some who follow it closely and have the right amount of grace, it would work-

Perhaps to understand Tao, we need a poet, not a scholar

In trying to understand a concept I swing from metaphor to metaphor. Keeping a few in my pocket to pull out depending on circumstance. Right now Dao means hunger. So I'll eat.

For short and easy I like Pan Gu gi gong, wonderfully simple.

It's gets so semantic.. Arguing over male or female is not that far from arguing if Tao is black or white. Not that it can't be a pleasant diversion, but too much and you start moving into increasingly silly dogma or catma, as you will.

Yup, and once deified, dogma moves in and minds get closed. Lao Tzu, deified. Buddha, deified. Jesus, defied. imo, We lose there humanity and our potential, when we do such.

The good life.. how would you define it? What's needed to get it? What actions... things.. practices? or is it the wrong question?

The word, concept and history of God has alot of baggage connected to it. For Daoism, I prefer Nature or Way. Perhaps Way is better, cause nature has its own set of baggage and suppositions.

Maybe they're hearing your thoughts, or maybe you're expressing them (loudly) through body movement, facial expression and minutiae. The solution is probably the same in either case. Keep a quieter mind. I practice such with long quiet walks. Also by imaging that in my mind I have to record players. One plays a long monotonous tunes, which set my emotional state, the other is my louder thoughts. When I notice my thoughts, I mentally lift the stylus off the record, thus quietness, for awhile. Also good to be aware of what the emotional record is playing, because that sets the stage for my thoughts. Often that can tuned down.

In Jewish philosophy there is the Evil inclination and the Good Inclination. Evil inclination (yetzer Harah) is selfishness, only thinking of oneself. The good inclination (Yetzer Tov) is toward selflessness, helping and caring for others. While mankind would certainly benefit from more Yetzer Tov, the evil inclination is not without some merit, ie ambition comes from it. Separating from your parents and building a new family and career and house is also partly driven by selfishness. Thus we need a need some Yetzer Hara. Most of Mussar philosophy, Jewish improvement, tends to be exploring the positive and negative areas within a trait, seeing clearly where one is at, and deep reflection leading to action on where one should move in that area.

My taoist goal is to become goaless. Living without past or future, until such things require my attention. my golfing goal is to swear less, hit straighter, & perform better at the lie.

personally, I don't think there's a karma that punishes 'evil' activity. There may be no 'thing' keeping score and the sun shines on the good and bad equally, yet Evil actions tend to be (ultimately) self destructive and 'prizes' won are are not gold, just glitter. Ultimately character is revealed and has to face the mirror and world it has made.

Dao Zhen was an old wise member who unfortunately hasn't posted in a few years. A few people have asked about him lately and thought I'd collect a few of his writings- I think as friends and companions, and also as Westerners exploring these Taoist Arts, we have to be objective, honest, and also have a spirit of sharing; then maybe we can make some headway... To be honest, we must seriously look at the RESULTS gained or LACK OF RESULTS. I think three basic hallmarks of a good Internal Alchemy system would be: 1. A real and tangible method to quiet the stray thoughts and desires from the very start of the journey. 2. A real and tangible method to quickly open all channels - thereby allowing the student to be free of disease and in health and also to be able to sit for longer and longer periods of time in no pain. 3. A real and tangible method to deal with the first main door one approaches - "what to do when Jing is full" - By my research and understanding from personal practice, a "SYSTEM" would address the above points in a very clear manner, and also other points that come later on..... I agree with you in a simple manner on your 4 areas that arise as dimensions of practice; though we could analyze and list quite a bit more -or maybe that is the job of the Buddhists It is good to look at a system in outline form, as it can give you some idea of where you are in your practice, if you are progressing on course, and also if perhaps you made some error, and are going in a wrong direction. Beijing able to look at a system in outline form, can also show if in fact this system has some aim of Union with Tao, and a means to provide a vehicle to allow the student to make such a journey.... I would also go one step further, and say that to qualify as a True Method, such a system should have some living examples of adepts who have made advanced headway using these methods - otherwise it is all fancy talk, legendary stories and tall tales... Without a good map, it is perhaps almost imossible to get to the destination..... In a simple way, our practice could be outlined as such: 1. Laying Foundation - 100 days 2. Incubation - 1 year 3. Journey through the Big Pass - 7 days 4. Nursing the Infant - 3 years 5. Facing a Wall - 9 years In a more complex way as listed by my senior: STEP 1 Preparatory work STEP 2 Cleanse the heart of all stray thoughts, desires and passions STEP 3 Settle mind-will in Lower Elixir Field STEP 4 Open up the Eight Extra Channels STEP 5 Administer Jing STEP 6 Harvest Yang Qi STEP 7 Revolve the first small waterwheel STEP 8 Gather Psychical Rays STEP 9 Gather the Qi of Great Unification STEP 10 Automatic revolution---Fetal Breathing STEP 11 Preserve the Buddhist Relic STEP 12 Nourish the Buddhist Relic STEP 13 Golden lightning flashes three times STEP 14 Conduct the Buddhist Relic to pass through the Three Passes STEP 15 Conceive a Fetus of the True Self in ten months' time STEP 16 Give birth to the Fetus of the True Self STEP 17 Raise the Fetus of True Self in three years' time STEP 18 Possess the same body with Tao STEP 19 Fill up the infinite emptiness with my brilliant psychical light in nine years time <me.. I haven't gone through the site, but this matches up with these steps and has more info on the bottom of the page http://www.taoiststudy.com/taoist_alchemy/whole-process-taoist-internal-alchemy might be a good link.. or not, haven't gone through it enough, could be link to Dao Zhen's system or at least info on it> If one is just practicing sitting, and encounters pain, there are a few ways of dealing with it. FIRST - in ancient times, and in many modern systems of Taoist practice, there is "preliminary" work that is done to prepare for sitting. By my personal experience these are usually Dao Yin stretches with breath training done in a cross leg posture, and also standing Dao Yin methods to stretch the body and tendon network, etc. These methods also begin some very basic work to open the meridian system, train the breath, and circulate the Qi. So look around for Dao Yin methods, or even doing Indian Yoga and Tai Chi can help lay some foundation of BODY for the work of SITTING. SECOND - When sitting there are two methods to work with in passing through the stage of PAIN. Do this, and make it past this stage, as the reward is worth the effort. The pleasure, internal peace, and UNION we gain from the journey past the PAIN stage is really worth the effort. I was taught to allow progress to take shape naturally in meditation. So one method in this regard is to allow the pain to come - say in the hips, or knees, or numbness in the feet - let is build slightly, and before it becomes HUGE, very slowly stretch the feet out and allow things to become comfortable again - then very slowly draw the feet back - AND CONTINUE THE PRACTICE - with this method, a beginer can stretch a practice session out for 1.5 to 2 hours no problem. A second method is to use the breath to push past the pain, or to seek to reach an experience of the meridian opening. This method is usually only good to use if one has a method of practice that combines with the meditation to build up the Qi. As the pain arises, you begin to focus deeply on the breath, and pumping the breath in and out from the Lower Dantian. DO NOT focus on the pain, just focus on the breath. Sometimes one will need a soft breath, sometimes a strong breath. If you can hold the mindfullness, and keep the mind and breath together, and not DRIFT off into the area of pain - oftentimes you will reach a WALL, and then suddenly the WALL breaks down, and there is an OPENING, and the channel opens, and the pain MELTS away like ice, and there is a WARM, comfortable feeling that arises, and the body feels very light, and usually this will lead one to a deep state of emptiness........ These are just to give you something to play with. Really, I wish you can all experience to learning of the hand postures - and the related other methods - as it opens things up quickly, builds a healthy qi, and leads one in a very specific direction in the practice..... Our system has nothing to do with "practices" nor "techniques".... In the first few stages, some technique must be given, some guidelines, etc.... Most never move past such a stage, and even the basic level of Transformation of Jing to Qi is given as a "technique" or method in the first steps - but even this must become natural, and the mind-will should not be involved in any direction or guiding... The process is like "growth" or a natural "movement" in a direction that you are "pushed" to from the first trainings and "transmissions" from the teacher... Yes, it is much like "seeds" or "software" is installed.... As internal "signs" arise, at times the teacher will advise the student to "employ" a slight method, and this can cause the growth to continue on in a proper direction. For example, at one stage, there is an experience of a strong light that flashes in front of the eyes three times, and at this same time the Qi feels very active and a sound like a roaring will arise from behind - at this time of these signs, there is an action to be taken to continue in the proper growth, etc... The way it was taught to me was we learned the "practice" and we also learned the "theory"... But in reality, they are two different things, and the practice is what is important. The outline of the practice course is not a reference to "technique", but a view of the main stages of growth that take place along the journey. A tree grows from a seed, to a sapling, to a small tree, to a large one.... Perhaps we can on paper chart such "stages" of growth of the tree, and give each stage a "name".... But in reality, it is one process of growth, and it is completely "seamless".... Such is the practice of Internal Alchemy.... Growth..... I do not have my stack of theory notebooks with me right now.... I am recalling now one stage of the practice where the bones will become like some feeling of "fire" and very intense pain...... I did not reach this stage yet, and am just recalling the lecture.... I will be back in Wudang in 3 weeks or so, and can go through my notebooks to look for that stage..... I also know there was talk about "false pain", being created by the "false heart" at a stage to try and stop you from practice.... This was talked about in reference to one reaching an important point of "breakthrough" in the practice. In this reference, it was advised to just sit and move through it, no matter how bad the pain gets - to totally ignore it, and give it no mind, thought, or vision - and attempt to be empty with no movement of the mind-will.... Sorry, but I do not remember all the theory, and try and practice more than memorizing such things.... Perhaps if you are a seasoned seated meditation adept, then the pain is another thing besides just sore tendons, stiff hip joints, or closed channels in the legs...... When sitting with my teacher, it was as if there was a HUGE pressure, almost crushing me about 30 min in. This would then lead to a great heat, and a huge pain, almost inside my bones, and a strong fight / flight response to open the legs due to the pain...... I would hold, breath and just be with this...... After the sessions would end, I would be soaked in sweat, and REALLY tired....... It reached a point of intensity after about 5 days, and then it was as if I came face to face with this wall, and there arose a pure and sincere intention internally, and my heart had a vow - "I do not care about this pain. I shall not move, ever....." A force arose inside, and the pressure become stronger, more pain, but this "vow" was like a light growing.... Then the pressure and pain suddenly "melted", and I had a huge breakthrough in the practice - whole body become light, like being in a shower of golden light, and I fell into emptiness, and just kept sitting and sitting, and when I came out, Teacher had already left the room, and it was quite late.... Maybe this is something like where you are at in your practice? Perhaps when the heart feels strong and it is the right "time", just sit..... Till the wall comes down........ Maybe a great breakthrough is waiting on the otherside of the pain............. <Addons 7/22/18 By Dao Zhen I think for serious students, this is a big hurdle to overcome. It is best to not get into the habit of gaining depression when an emission happens in sleep. It is natural, and go slow and do not force anything, nor become obsessed with "saving" jing. Keep practice, follow solid methods and guidelines. With time, all will become secure quite naturally. I have found the following to be a help for me in my practice. Yet this is by no means advise from an expert, as I have very little experience. In the tradition I am learning, it is generally accepted that a serious student is celibate. - Points to help prevent emission during sleep - 1. Change conditioned habits and patterns in regards to viewing and interacting with women - on the street, and in the manner we speak and deal with them in public situations - If we flirt, and have playful interaction with women, it may stir things up quite a bit, and cause trouble during sleep. Honor and respect women as your sisters in Tao, yet do not view them as sexual objects, nor project sexual fantasy on women. 1-a. Do not view pornography video, magazine, or sexual movies. 2. Diet. Do not over eat, and do not go to bed while full. I have found it best to eat the last meal of the day around 5pm or so. Also in the tradition I am learning, it is thought best to follow a simple vegetarian diet, with no spice, garlic, onion, scallion, chives, and cilantro. 3. Do not have very heavy blankets on the body that will create too much heat when sleeping. 4. Do not sleep on the stomach. Sleep on the back with one leg crossed over the other – hands resting below the navel, or on the right side with one leg tucked behind the bottom leg at the knee level – right palm cupping the ear – left palm below navel area. 5. The most important point I have found that helps is to sit for 1 - 2.5 hours or so in proper seated meditation practice before sleep. This is perhaps the most important point, and will yield the most results. In this tradition, we have a method to transfer Jing to Qi that is taught. It is termed - "Lighting a Fire", or "Burning a Soft Fire". It is very effective, and yields the effect of the Jing being transformed to Qi, and really is like something burns away and evaporates. There is great warmth generated in the Lower Dantian area that moves, and steams upward during the process in a manner that is very pleasurable and uplifting. One is left with a feeling of great expansion, and the sign that the Jing has been completely transformed, and it is safe to sleep is one has a feeling like a vast, expansive, clear blue sky. The sign that one has made some gain in transformation of Jing over a period of time, is generally one will stop to have dream activity. There is a great stillness in the sleep state, and no real strong dream activity. This is also related to the pattern of the Metal conquering Wood; Or the Po suppressing the Hun during the night. When the Hun is suppressed by the Po, it wanders away from the sphere of the liver, and the resulting experience is dreams. As Jing is transformed into Qi, and the Hun is strengthened, there is less and less dream activity during the sleep state. One sign I have also come to notice is that if I was lazy and just lie down for sleep without practice, there will be a feeling of something stirring in the lower Dantian, like a movement, or maybe even a worm or something is really moving and stirring. This is a sign that one will experience an emission during sleep, and it is important to have a strong will power, and sit up and cross the legs and sit to Burn the Soft Fire. It is also a good idea to get into the habit of getting up from sleep at any time in the night when you awake and there is a stirring in the sexual organ, or a strong erection. Just sit up, cross the legs, and lightly gaze over the Lower Dantian area and sit in stillness. In this system, they also teach a standing method of body movement, contraction and breathe retention in the first stages to strengthen the lower gate, to help prevent the emission during sleep. This stage does not last forever. It is as if the body and being is at first in a habit to let the liquid flow out, and loose the essence. Yet with slow and steady practice, the body and being learns another way. It becomes the natural state to preserve the essence, and no loss is experienced. It is an investment of time. So it takes a strong and steady will power. Constant and steady daily practice over a period of time. Persevere. from Dao Zhen I am a student, and have only studied with one teacher deeply in these arts, thus I can only offer a limited view and perhaps a partial picture of this whole process. The act of "dreaming" is related to the pattern of the Metal conquering Wood; Or the Po suppressing the Hun during the night. The Po resides in the Lung Sphere and may be thought of in one regard as Metal Element. Hun resides in the Liver Sphere, and may be thought of in one regard as Wood Element. Po sponsors Death and has a relation to Jing. Hun spsonsors Life and has a relationship to Soul. When the Hun is suppressed by the Po at night during sleeping, The Hun wanders away from the sphere of the liver, and the resulting experience is dreams. As Jing is transformed into Qi, and the Hun is strengthened, there is less and less dream activity during the sleep state. This will also reflect in the strengthening of Yang and the uprooting of Yin; so many Yin quality will be transformed or uprooted. I think the most important starting point is the Cleaning of the Heart Mind, or to Still the Mind and Clean the Heart Mind of All Desire. After this point, one may begin the process of transforming the Jing back to Qi. This is the Stage of Burning the Slow Fire or Lighting the Fire. There is a method and technique taught and a transmission given for this practice. Later it becomes a very natural state; with no artificial method or technique used, and takes place naturally. Signs from this practice include: ~ an expansion and feeling much like a vast clear blue sky. ~ a steaming, or something heavy from below becoming light, and rising up ward in an expansion that is full of a kind of bliss. ~ shrinking of the genital organ and the testicles after the transformation; like the "ball" shrinks to a very small size if you feel it after practice. ~ mental stillness, and lack of dream activity. Signs that the transformation was not done properly or enough: ~ The whole abdomen feels very wet, or damp, like there is something on the skin in the area and also something inside - but when you feel it, there is only dry skin. ~ A moving in the Dantian as you lie down to sleep, like a worm moving around. ~ much dream activity, and emission of the fluid in sleep. After such a stage has been taken for a time, with Jing transforming back to Qi, the Yang Qi will begin to be cultivated and harvested. In my experience, as Yang Qi begins to come on the scene of the practice, there can be light, strong dropping into a deep emptiness, erection, and a great overwhelming heat and most notable is the loud vibration and roaring sound........ the sound that is outside, and inside, and a sound and a substance, with a feeling, vibration, density and more..... This sound is one of the main signs of the arrival of Yang Qi. When the Heart Mind has not been stilled and cleaned enough, there can be grasping and mental activity when the Yang Qi arrives. This will lead to a great heat and a huge volume of sweat will usually pour off the body. This is a sign that the Yang Qi has transformed to a physical or Post Heaven state, and is discharged and lost. Yang Qi derives from the Emptiness that surrounds Heaven and Earth; thus it is attracted to Emptiness. So one of the aspects of the "timing" is to have "no timing" and to fall into the emptiness at the time of the arrival of the Yang Qi........ Usually one may use the "power" of the ears to "listen" and "follow" the sound...... Following it back to it's origin and root. Around this time of practice one may begin to move into the Large Water Wheel state - or the begining of this process being started. So the Yong Chuan will begin to pulse and vibrate along or in rhythm with this sound. Also the Qi moves with such a strong force and surging motion, like it wants to run its own course and has its own idea of the course it wishes to take, along with the arrival of the Yang Qi. It was taught that at this time, one should begin to practice "lying" on the back. You lay down on the back, with the belly facing the ceiling, and let the qi run its course, and allowing the Yang Qi to arrive on the scene. You forget all aspects of self. You forget all aspects of the corporeal body. You forget all aspects of ego. You fall into the deep empty state, and allow the Qi to run its course freely from Yong Chuan to Bai Hui - though really it has nothing to do with the corporeal body nor any location we may map or chart on the corporeal body and its related landmarks. This is one aspect of sleeping practice. You practice at night, and as it is not a difficult posture to hold, you may train for many, many hours in the night. The first stages of: Tempering the Heart and Cleansing of All Desire and Stray Thoughts Transferal of Jing to Qi Small Water Wheel Harvest of Yang Qi Large Water Wheel All these stages can be done in the city, and while leading a normal life. The stage of Incubation is the time one must move into an isolated place and live away from people and noise in order to complete. I just came back from Huashan and spent time with my companion of tao there. He trains in the sleeping practice of Huashan and the Dream Yoga. We sleep in caves together, and he has never given any formal teachings or ideas about such a practice. Just we lie down and face each other, and waves come over one, and states are experienced.... Deep states of emptiness, and profound Qi circulation....... Like falling into an ocean, and then rising up into the sky, then expanding into the entire vastness of the sky..... I asked him about "Sleep Practice" and he just laughed and said it is just the same as doing the "meditation" work, only you do it lying down.......... -------------------- Lucidity is the noumenon of water, while stillness its Congenital Nature. So it is also with the Heart...... Dao Zhen Those who wish to embody the Tao should embrace all things. To embrace all things means one holds no anger or resistance toward any idea or thing, living or dead, formed or formless. Acceptance is the very essence of the Tao. To embrace all things means one rids oneself of any concepts of separation: male and female, self and others, life and death. Division is contrary to the nature of the Tao. Foregoing antagonism and separation, one enters into the harmonious oneness of all things... Dao Zhen Breathing is a very important aspect of Tao Yoga practice. The success or failure of practice depends on the correct method of breathing. We may say there are generally 3 stages of breath training: ~Natural Breathing~ After Heaven State ~Reversed Breathing~ Pre Heaven State ~Fetal Breathing~ Before Pre Heaven State Within these three stages, there are generally nine methods that can be applied in practice. 1. inhale from the nose / exhale from the nose 2. inhale through the nose / exhale through the mouth 3. inhale from the mouth / exhale from the nose 4. inhale with no exhale 5. exhale with no inhale 6. subtle breathing through the skin pore 7. subtle energetic breathing through the energetic centers of the ‘5 Gates’ 8. subtle energetic breathing through the energy channels 9. subtle refined inner energetic breathing in the Dantian Learning Natural Breathing is the first step to take. We may think of this stage as returning to the natural way of breathing we experienced as children. In this method, we must regain balance of the inhale and exhale. This is done in the first steps by counting. We count 4 on the inhale, pause, and then count 4 on the exhale. The Breath must be soft, natural and drawn deep into the lower Dantian area. The mental intention one has during breath practice is very important. You must learn to practice with a healing intention and a positive heart. This is done by learning to ‘smile’ inside to yourself during breath practice. This will develop the state of ‘Self Nurturing’. We call this method the ‘Healing Smile’. As you breathe, smile deeply inside, filling yourself with joy, self love, nurturing energy and healing intention. Let the Breath and the Healing Smile join together and become one; filling the entire body and inner self with a warm, healing, self loving, nurturing energy. This is a very important first step in practice. Dao Zhen: Those who wish to embody the Tao should embrace all things. To embrace all things means one holds no anger or resistance toward any idea or thing, living or dead, formed or formless. Acceptance is the very essence of the Tao. To embrace all things means one rids oneself of any concepts of separation: male and female, self and others, life and death. Division is contrary to the nature of the Tao. Foregoing antagonism and separation, one enters into the harmonious oneness of all things... <more coming, just need some time>