doc benway

My favorite!

Before the current crop of moderators were selected, Sean did it all by himself and folks got away with a lot more. Part of that was Sean's philosophy toward moderation and part was due to the sheer volume of posts that needed to be reviewed. I don't think the increased moderation activity has limited the freedom of expression or exchange in any meaningful way. It has limited the nastiness, however. I think the moderators do a very good job. Unfortunately, conflict seems to be a part of human nature and a lot of folks don't value civility. As long as that is reality, forums like this need moderation.

That was nice

For those new to it, Taiji Ruler is a Qigong set done using a Taiji Ruler. Here is a nice resource for a ruler though they can be found on Ebay a little cheaper. It involves several body movements done holding the ruler between the two palms and moving it in different patterns mostly while gently rocking back and forth between the ball and heel of the feet with one foot slightly in front of the other. When I learned Taiji Ruler Qigong several years ago, I was instructed to practice it daily for 100 days to experience the full benefits. I never made it beyond ~ 6 weeks due to other practices taking priority. I did feel that it helped with grounding and I felt like it improved my capacity in the middle and lower dan tian. That's about it. I was also actively practicing other things at the time (microcosmic orbit, Taijiquan, and Xingyi 5 elements) so it's a bit tough to really know what was related to the Taiji Ruler vs other practices. I never really was that impressed with the set and abandoned it in favor of my established practice of Shiba Luohan Gong and 8 Brocades.

I've struggled with this for years. I work long hours and early mornings. First - make your commute and your work a meditation. Second - to practice specific Daoist meditation techniques, I find that I simply must MAKE the time. I will never FIND the time. It means getting up an hour earlier than I would otherwise. I find my sitting to be much more effective in the early morning. In the evening I am too emotionally and psychologically drained. For each hour of meditation, you need 1-2 fewer hours of sleep per day. Meditation is more restful to the mind and body than sleep. It may not seem so in the beginning, but after some period of steady practice this may become evident. Good luck!

Put a pair of the 57/08 or 57/09 pickups on the PRS - pretty close to a Les Paul, just a lot lighter and better quality control! That said - nothing sounds quite like a Les Paul, especially in the hands of Robert Fripp. Saw King Crimson live in '74 and '81 = two of my favorite shows of all time.

Not at all - the teacher is just way beyond the students' skill level. Alot of the Chinese and Taiwanese players mix some Shuai Jiao in with Tui Shou in competition. This is just how they (we) practice. If you ever compete internationally - you need to be prepared for this.

Nice clip - a little touch of Shuai Jiao here and there but the teacher is demonstrating some very nice pushing hands techniques. It would be nice to see him against someone more skillful - he is way out of any of the students' league.

It's funny how lot's of much less credible and less experienced "masters" of Taijiquan love to publish demos of their superhuman skills but these "grandmasters" look just like me and my mates when we push... Where's the magic?

Great thread Stig - one of the single most important concerns for those of us interested in exploring ourselves. Can truly venture into the unknown, that is - beyond it's contents? Whatever the mind perceives and works with is, de facto, contained within it's contents and therefore, known. How does the mind conceptualize that which it does not know/contain/perceive? As it connects with new things, these things are integrated into it's existing framework, conditioning, and biases. Sure, we can think creatively, adopt new ideas and concepts, create beautiful art and science, but I think it is an inaccurate statement to call this a part of the unknown. Certainly, there are moments where we experience the AHA! phenomenon and seem to gain new insight or knowledge where before there was hope and belief. Nevertheless this is all a part of the contents of mind and, therefore, You Ming. I would suggest that it is a much more subtle thing to connect with Wu Ming than your original post suggests, Stig. I do not feel at all comfortable addressing how that occurs in words or ideas but I do feel that it is an absolutely critical exercise for each of us to try and wrestle with, if we are at all serious about our approach to reality. One way I like to phrase the question (inspired by J Krishnamurti) is something like - What is the quality of mind that can go beyond all of its contents and conditioning? To try and answer this question is futile because the answer must lie within the realm of the known. To ask the question and sit with it is worthwhile. This is one of the questions to life's answers....

I love new music. There is plenty out there that is full of heart and soul for me. It's just a matter of looking and being open to new things. Of course we are all conditioned to music (usually due to nostalgic associations) but I love falling in love with new music. A few samples of music from the last few years that I enjoy: From Brazil - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LegbmEX-_Z8 From Mali - Oumou Sangare and Ali Farka Toure are as passionate and soulful as any musicians who have lived, IMO... From Cuba - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRmpUtIX7Yo From the USA - This last one was written about 12 years ago but is soon to be re-released and I just saw them perform it live a few weeks ago - took me back to my teens (not that I was in my teens 12 years ago...). Great stuff!

Excellent point and the stories we tell ourselves are very tough to drop. First we have to become aware of them. So many exist at so many levels. And when we think we've rooted them out, there are more. And more are always being manufactured. The mind is such a subtle and devious thing. And beautiful, let's not forget that as well.

I think that the story telling you to drop stories is different. It is also telling you to drop itself as well as the others. It is asking us to experience rather than believe. When we accept a story without the direct experience, that is belief. When we have direct, personal experience of something, that is knowledge. I can accept that the OP's story is not a story but a suggestion that stories be dropped to make room for experience.

It might have been a thread relating to Bruce Frantzis. I made a comment in that one about the fire method. In general terms, water method tends to relate to dissolving whereas fire method involves a lot of focused attention/intention. Just a very gross simplification.

Some of my thoughts on motion when standing - When I stand, I sort of look at spontaneous movement as analogous to the process of thought during sitting (or standing) meditation. I don't encourage motion and I don't try to suppress it. It's there or it's not there and I simply don't get attached to it's presence or absence. It comes and goes. I think there is a component of healthy release associated with certain types of motion (particularly trembling and shaking) but getting too attached or focused on the motion can be a distraction from the standing itself.

Thanks for all this great stuff. One of our members here - Jeremy Harlow, has a lot of experience in Native American traditions and Daoist practices and has developed a beautiful set of Qigong that integrates the two. I don't think he's on the forum much but hopefully he'll stumble across this thread and contribute.

Of course he can. Being a Taoist is meaningless. What do you mean by that? A serial killer can burn incense and bow to the deities and cultivate and meditate and practice tai chi and do whatever else one would consider defines being a Taoist. A serial killer can be a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, an atheist. Murders (and all other criminals for that matter) are a complicated lot but many of them can fit into the label of religious persons. Murder is a part of the Dao. It is a fact.

Stimulated by the recent thread on movies, I just watched Enter the Void by Gaspard Noe. His first two films were absolutely horrific. I think his intention was to look closely at how we are desensitized to criminal acts and force us to experience (as much as you can in a movie theater) some of the pain and degradation associated with the experience. That said - I can't recommend his first two films in good conscience. His latest work, Enter the Void, is brilliant - though certainly not for everyone. It's loosely inspired by the TIbetan Book of the Dead and his own experimentation with hallucinogens and owes a lot to Kubrick's 2001, Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, and yet is completely original. It's very long and filled with audio and visual effects that try to simulate a DMT experience. Some pretty strong subject matter, explicit sex, and violence. Quite an intense 2 hour and 41 minute experience. @ Seth Ananda - I think you might find this redeems Noe to some degree.

More and more I keep my ideas and practices to myself or the small group of friends and fellow practitioners that I trust and have a connection with. I do think there is a time and place when we may help others. I mostly restrict that to times when I get the sense that someone who is sincere is looking for help and I may have something worthwhile to offer. As I get older, more experienced (and hopefully wiser) these opportunities are becoming much less common.

Inspiring - imagine the enormous courage this beautiful person is demonstrating. She is a target for every self-righteous religious fanatic in the Islamic world now. I wish her peace and courage and I hope she helps to inspire the poor Pakistanis living in terror and repression.

Hi Ben, I've practiced aikido (Yoshinkan and Ueshiba styles) in the past and I currently practice and teach Taijiquan. The two have a great deal in common. Based on my experience in Yoshinkan (pre-war) and Ueshiba (post-war) styles, I'm convinced that Ueshiba's approach to aikido was heavily influenced by exposure to Taijiquan and/or Baguazhang during his time in China during the war. I also practice Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Qigong and Daoist meditation of the Kun Lun Xian Zong Pai. Sloppy Zhang's comments are accurate, IMO. What your teacher is doing is using his "mind of intent", as my current teacher would call it, to manipulate his situation - this includes not only his center of gravity but his opponents' centers and their psyches (for lack of a better word). There is a lot going on in such a demonstration and it is much different if demonstrating with people other than your own students or other aikido practitioners. I don't mean to take anything away or slam aikido - I love the art. But don't get too wrapped up in demonstrations. Many techniques used in demos are parlor tricks or depend on cooperative (often unintentionally or unaware of it) participants. Practice for a few years and you will understand what's going on. Identical principles are at play when you learn martial applications of Taijiquan and Baguazhang (and other arts, such as Shuai Jiao and Qin Na). Don't worry too much about the how and why - immerse yourself and trust the method. It will work but is a serious investment. The fruits are slow to blossom.

It is fine to be doing what he is teaching. It will not harm you in any way.

I have a lot of respect for Bruce Frantzis. I think he is a skillful martial artist and his water method books are very good. I do take issue with some of the things he says about the fire methods. Some of his comments are way off mark and have me questioning his level of experience in fire methods. I've yet to find a book that does justice to fire methods and have pretty much given up on reading about it. Better to try and find a teacher.

The vast majority of non-indigenous users smoke Salvia, smoking usually involves fire. I won't bother with the rest of your post as I have no interest in defending my statements or trying to change your opinions. Be well.

IMO, meaningful cultivation and intoxication are mutually exclusive unless you are working with an experienced and credible shaman. Even then, there is nothing more pure than natural, unadulterated awareness. This is the state in which true contact with reality occurs. All intoxicants are tricksters and most experiences under such influence are nothing more than entertainment. Beware of Salvia - if you must experience it I would highly recommend having a sober and resourceful sitter who cares about you and is physically and emotionally able to prevent you from hurting yourself. You're playing with fire - literally.