rex

Max, aka Lama Dorje, had a lively reception over at the Empty Flower forum: Taoist Lama

Thanks Yoda, I'm making haste slowly, so at the current rate I'd have caught up with you in about a year. This is the last time I'm going to bang on about this. Even though I take Cam's point that Max can possibly operate outside any framework, someone capable of teaching a complete system should certainly be known by other recognised lineage holders of that same tradition. So while it's not entirely practical to stick rigidly to the traditional Tibetan safeguard of checking out a potential teacher for twelve years, anyone seriously interested in studying the 'complete' Tibetan system with a teacher of unknown credentials could do a lot worse than write to the Office of the Dalai Lama for verification.

Really? Is this literally speaking or figuratively? Has Max been formally recognised and his previous incarnations identified? Or is he an exceptional individual who has the equivalent function of a high lama in his ability to bring benefit?

Yoda, yes it's good that things are opening up and it's easier now to get all sorts of teachings that were previously inaccesible. For some you can virtually walk straight in off the street. While the Dalai Lama has authorised a partial lifting of secrecy this doesn't extend to unqualified teachers giving tantric transmission. I'm still plodding through the prostrations. Mantra68, so Max is not a lama and 'Lama Dorje' is a nome de plume, thanks for the confirmation.

Sure thing Matt. The biographical information used to establish his credentials is vague and the references to the Tibetan practice lineages too general, e.g. 'Cave Lama practice', 'Snake Chod' which seem to appeal more to populist new age sentiment then to clarity of practice lineage. It is unclear what training he undertook to get the title 'Lama' (receiving the Vajrakilaya initiation seems to be disproportionately emphasised), who actually bestowed the title Lama on him and to what Tibetan lineage he belongs. His Tibetan name, Nakpha Dorje, gives a clue, i.e. a lay tantric practitioner in the Nyingma School, but his short hair belies the title of a Ngakpa whose hair is never cut after ordination. It is also unclear who authourised him to teach the 'essence of Nyingma tantra'; the mantra and visualisations of Vajrakilaya; and the basics of the spurious sounding 'Cave Lama practice' to, presumably, non-Buddhists. In the Vajrayana teaching this is a big deal, as is precise identification of the practice lineage. There are stern uncompromising stipulations about who can teach Vajrayana and who can receive and practice it. Looking at the subjects taught the Tibetan element forms a small part of an impressive looking curriculum. Those of a less charitable and cynical disposition, i.e. me, may wonder that why, from all the many names Max Christensen is known by, does he choose to teach an essentially non-Tibetan curriculum using a Tibetan name, if not purely for the marketing value?

Just to be a little rain cloud hanging over the parade, going by the information on the website Lama Dorje's Tibetan Lama credentials appear tenuous.

Not necessarily. There are different grades, one for external use and another for internal use. My colonblow package is waiting collection at the post office. Given your experience and the reviews Yoda mentioned I may supplement mine with bentonite clay, psyllium husks and epsom salts. Will post update, but no photos! (BTW, if anyone can stomach it, see here: http://ratemypoo.com/ Like Gross!!! ) Since we're on the subject of do it yourself, anyone thought of making their own gravity powered colonic irrigation kit? Daniel Reid says that it may take up to ten irrigations to clear the colon. At $130 a time at professional clinics, the price soon mounts up. The five gallon container and tubing shouldn't be too difficult to source, but making/improvising the colon board to catch the sludge and direct it down the loo presents some difficulty.

Lokas are one of six destinations for transmigrating beings - admission by negative emotion. According to the Bon tradition unpurified mind streams with particular dominant qualities may have the following karmic vision: Hell Realm: Anger Hungry Ghost Realm: Greed Animal Realm: Ignorance Human Realm: Jealousy Demi-God Realm: Pride God Realm: All negative emotions combined Slightly different to the Buddhist view but the gist is the same. Focusing on divine beings etc. may result in rebirth in a pure realm beyond the lokas.

The 'Yi Swallows Chi' method you mentoned ages ago is used in standing postures in one hard qigong system I know of.

Thanks for the warning. I'll do lots of abdominal massage and use all three bags (not at all once!) and will give an update.

Legend has it that the English New Forest Witches performed extensive ritual in the 1940s to stop the Germans from crossing the channel. Some are even said to have given their all during the performances and died shortly afterwards.

I'm gonna try colonblow and time it with the lunar calendar for body rhythms (I'm quaint that way), and get some replacement gut bacteria.

Meaning is arbitrary and based on personal and social constructs. It is a useful and necessary illusion. While liberating on personal and spiritual levels, saying that nothing has any meaning or that it's possible to realize the absence of meaning could possibly lead to nihilism. Absence of meaning on what level? Personal? Social? Historical? Spiritual? I suppose it hinges on context and what is experienced when the perception arises into awareness that there is a 'realization of the absence of meaning'. The absence of meaning is in itself meaningful. Later edit: Just reread this - what a load of old bollocks it is!

In the order of the Creation Cycle of the Chinese Elements, starting from the lungs. So: Lungs -> Kidneys -> Liver -> Heart -> Spleen BTW the Inner Smile can be done in order of the Cycle of Destruction: Heart -> Lungs -> Liver -> Spleen -> Kidneys

Me too Peter. It depends on how the 'Void' is seen and used to inform practice. From a vajrayana perspective, the clear light nature of mind is inseparable from emptiness, qualities (like compassion), and activity. So emptiness, in this context, being one quality of the goal, is not the goal, but path. Exactly ZenB. Non-abiding nirvana refers to the state of a buddha. Nice if one can get there using a non-gradual approach though.

How about the middle way beyond the extremes of samsara and nirvana? Non-abiding nirvana. 'You' merge with the 'Void' and spontaneously manifest qualities and activity in response to the needs of sentient beings. These qualities and activities are inseparable from the 'Void' and are not an addition to it.

How do we unlearn? By regular contact with the transpersonal and its integration in daily life. This implies vision, discipline, and diligence. Some of the things we've learned are useful, so we wouldn't want to necessarily unlearn them. Perhaps they can be put in another context so they don't limit or condition us.

I might have done you a dubious favour!

There's some suggestive biblical references to Qi: Ruach - The Spirit of God The Catholic Creed recited at every Mass states that God created things 'seen and unseen', so qigong is merely working with the unseen.

Seems like folks are following one of two paths: renunciation or transformation.

1) What am I? 2) where have I come from? 3) Where am I going? Saying 'no one going nowhere' can be a bit of a cop out - like claiming a view that one doesn't possess.

Hey Sean! With reference to the new welcome message, does this mean that Tao Bums is changing direction to be more specifically Taoist or are we still welcome to talk about other things as well?

R. J. Stewart has a lot to say on faeries and has written extensively on them. This is just one article: The Irish Faery Tradition and the Living Land

Super! Much more inclusive.