doc benway

Wonderful news! It simply means that you're paying attention and being genuine. _/\_ WIth that approach, anything is possible. Blessings to you for the new year

There have been a number of nice martial arts videos posted lately but xingyi's yet to be represented. Here's a nice clip:

For me? No. For many, apparently so. No idea - no interest. Have not yet seen anyone come close nor do I feel much drive to be concerned with it. The methods speak for themselves and if we do not have a passion for the practice, the words are meaningless anyway. I hope this doesn't sound confrontational (that's not my intent) but I don't understand why people are so prone to turn questions regarding their experiential practices into criticism of those who choose to work within a different paradigm. I've got one foot in the experiential camp and one in the scientific camp and I would agree with the scientific community that there is little support for certain concepts and assertions from a rigorous scientific perspective. That's OK with me. I'd prefer it that way over trying to validate all sorts of soft science and mixed paradigms. So far, I find it better for me to simply practice as much as possible. That said, the results certainly have been validated in both the Daoist and scientific communities. This question is a nice illustration of the differences between belief and faith. I can have faith in the method without necessarily adopting a particular belief. I think an integral part of the practice, in fact, depends on letting go of beliefs and being open to direct experience. I think this is important in the experiential arts but, ironically, equally important in the scientific community.

I must disagree with this statement. If anything, it's the other way around IME.

Exactly. Once the experience is there, the words are simply pointers. When it comes to Qi, I don't necessarily"believe there is something there." (Nor do I mean to necessarily imply that there is 'nothing' there). I don't look at or experience Qi as "something" or as nothing. I don't think one needs to add anything beyond body and mind - direct physical experience and awareness. Something occurs between body and mind, between awareness and manifestation. Whatever that something is, it has not yet been isolated, measured, or proven. And yet it is certainly there. To me that something is inseparable from body and mind, just as body and mind are inseparable. It is more of a relationship, an interaction, a process, a doing rather than "something." And I feel no compulsion to try and explain or understand it much anymore. The words and concepts simply don't do all that much for me from a practical point of view. In fact, when I was teaching actively, I didn't use theoretical concepts and terminology much at all, except to answer questions mostly. I primarily referred to and described use of the attention (awareness/mind of intent) and the physical body and found it to work very well. I found that there was no need to use the theory and terminology much at all from a practical perspective. And some of my students are forms and pushing hands champions and are quite accomplished in the internal arts and meditation (don't mean to sound arrogant but just want to make the point that my teacher's method works).

Before trying to put conditions on Daoist theory based on concepts like time and periodicity, I think it would be valuable to really look into what time is…. Krishnamurti gave some pretty probing and potentially illuminating talks on time and how it relates to thought. Daoist cosmology and practice transcends the limitations of thought.

No harm in using them at all. I guess my point is that the terminology is inconsistent and has the potential to be misunderstood and misleading when not used by "each of us who experience it" and "those who traveled this path before us." The other point is that each of us can practice the same thing and become skillful and yet have a very different intellectual idea of what's going on.

Nice post roger - I couldn't agree more. I find it amusing to see how desperately people are looking for some magic, something special - super powers, unlimited energy, longevity, immortality, fa shen, qi magic of various sorts.... when all the time they are the very manifestation of the miraculous and ignore the richness and wonders of each and every moment.

Ultimately, one finds that less and less muscle tension is needed to hold postures. However, in my opinion and experience, there is never a time when all muscle contraction ('holding') is absent.

I think that the way the question is posed presumes that we would agree on the definition of things like Qi and Jin. I'm not sure that this is the case. I would wager that my way of understanding Qi, Jin, and other similar concepts is different than most. I have developed a certain perspective based on my own experience, knowledge, and biases (as do we all). My view doesn't happen to be in agreement with most of what I hear or read about others' perspectives and yet I've developed some degree of competence in CIMA's and other Daoist methods based on trust in my teacher and following his guidance as accurately as possible. To become skillfull in the Taijiquan martial system requires one to cultivate skills like Ting Jin (listening), Fa Jin (issuing), Song (relaxed structure), Zhan Nian Lian Sui Bu Diu Ding (stick, adhere, connect, follow, don't separate or go against). These skills clearly require attention to and cultivation of the internal environment. That said, I don't think that one needs to adopt any specific sort of believe system to do this. It's similar with Bagua and Xingyi. If we are specific and clear with our definitions, then words like Qi and Jin can be a useful tool for communication. But I don't think any particular belief system is necessary. One certianly does need to do internal work to develop skill in the CIMA's but it really doesn't matter whether or not you overlay that with a belief paradigm.

If you continue practicing, you will have lots of interesting experiences. As you get very deep and your mind becomes more tranquil, you may even have some very strange or frightening experiences. This is why it is beneficial to have some expert guidance when practicing meditation.

I love this quote! My only criticism is that the ones logging in and reading ChiDragon's soliloquy have already interrupted their own practice - you can't blame that on ChiDragon! Enjoy your practice!

San Ti Shi is a great practice. Yes, there is pain involved and it is not right for everyone. On the other hand, all serious Xing Yi Quan practitioners learn to master it - it is a very legitimate and credible method. It took me about 6 months to build up to standing 30 minutes per side per day. I went through a lot of ups and downs and it never became 'easy' but most people can work through the problems - with proper guidance. I still practice it but much less as my practice has evolved from martial to more health/well being related. It matters quite a bit whether both sides are being practiced as the body needs that balance and if half the time were spent practicing the left side, the problem may not have occured for your friend. Most of the time, people who develop problems with San Ti Shi do so because they try to stand too long, too soon; or because they have incorrect posture or some underlying issues that interfere. I would also say that standing on one side only is more likely to cause problems than practicing both sides.

Yes, I practice turtle and crane breathing. In our system, turtle breathing is not equivalent to embryonic breathing nor is it simply "really long like that of a turtle." It is a part of a comprehensive qigong/neigong method called Jian Mei Qi Gong and involves a specific way of moving the head and neck along with internal work during breathing. While the breathing is done very slowly, there is more to it than that, at least this is the case in our system.

Cultivation (Buddhist or Daoist) is generally a way of discovering and understanding who and what we are and coming into balance with our "natural state." Drug use takes us out of the "natural state" and subjects us to challenges and experiences that are foreign and contrived. On the one hand, this sort of 'shake up' of our natural condition can be a way to help people let go of their illusions and delusions and make breakthroughs. On the other hand, intoxicantion is a distraction from our "natural state." I think that there are some limited insights that intoxication can provide but they tend to be artificial and superficial, though they may seem quite profound while we are intoxicated. Most importantly, if you choose to work with plants and entheogens as teachers, you must know how to approach them shamanically and should absolutely work with a guide. Otherwise, you are just entertaining yourself (or worse). Good luck!

Didn't your friend also practice the left side?

What are you going to do for entertainment?

I don't believe in the concept of 'best.' Different postures offer a variety of benefits. No question that San Ti Shi gives great martial benefits and Bruce is a martial artist so his preference makes sense. I think there is much to be learned from basic Zhan Zhuang posture with the hands at the sides. If you practice for long enough, the body begins to relax, unwind, and move through a variety of stages including different physical postures, movements, yawning, and so forth. Very few people practice for long enough or consistently enough to derive maximum benefit from the practices so for most, the idea of a 'best' practice doesn't matter much anyway.

Yes, it is a common experience. Another common experience is for the "sense of self" to expand… Lots of stuff comes up. Good luck with your practice.

Whatever we think or write or understand is not it. Chapter I, for the theorists... Stand baby!

I really like Adidas Classic Sambas for bagua. Flat, stable, good arch support. The sole has a lot of grip which takes some breaking in.

Timeless and colorless wisdom: The white man has given his soul to the preacher, his health to the doctors, his money to the bank, his decisions the the politicians, and his kids to the school, then he wonders why he feels weak; and that white man culture means working in jobs you hate, spending money you don't have, to buy things you don't need, feeling bad so you can look good, to impress people who could care less. --- Unknown Native American

LOL! Hell no!!

I see recognition as waking up to the knowledge of who we are. Realization, on the other hand, is the ongoing process of acting from that perspective in such a way as to give it full expression in our lives.

beautiful - time to modify my routine!