doc benway

I think Frantzis is quite accomplished in martial arts and Daoist meditation. The price is high but good instruction is priceless. We'll see what the market says... I would like to spend some time with him given the opportunity. Reading through some of his Daoist meditation work shows that he knows what he is talking about.

I just got some Li Shan Wulong tea from Taiwan. I think it's the best tea I've ever tasted.

My favorites: Awareness - Anthony Demello To Be Human - Jiddu Krishnamurti When the Shoe Fits: Stories of the Taoist Mystic Lao Tzu - Osho The Question to Life's Answers - Steven Harrison ... in no particular order

I wouldn't point fingers at individuals like findley chose to do, simply because I am not an authority. Nevertheless, I think findley makes a very good point. When it comes to spiritual practices and cultivation, exploitation is rampant and not always intentional. People who are cultivating are looking for something they don't have (or think they don't have). This is the drive to cultivate and this makes them extremely impressionable and vulnerable. It's easy to plant a seed in their consciousness and since all of this stuff is experiential, no one can really prove or disprove anything. Buyer beware! I now feel that cultivation as a rule is a way of showing someone that they already have everything they need. It just takes a varying amount of time and effort for people to come to understand that.

I like Gong Fu tea method also - Yixing pot, water just a tad cooler than boiling, enough tea (Wulong) to cover the bottom of the pot in a single layer. 1st round - steep for ~ 30 seconds 2nd - steep for ~ 45 secondes 3rd - 60 4th - 90 The above times may vary depending on tea, water temp, size of pot, preferred strength,... After each "round" steeps, pour it into a pitcher. Once the pitcher is full, serve. Delicious!

1. Awareness by Anthony Demello (although I much prefer to listen to his talks than read him - his voice and method of delivery are wonderful). 2. To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti (and just about anything else he has written). Contrary to Demello, I don't like listening to JK, reading him gives me time to digest and live the words, which is more important than just reading or hearing them. 3. When The Shoe Fits: Stories of the Taoist Mystic Chuang Tzu - Osho is the book that helped me break the code of the Daoist classics.

Which part of the foot is numb? The top, bottom, or entire thing?

Not reliably - all have been so modified over the years that I'm not sure I could honestly say any particular system is true to its ancient form. That said, a few relatively old sets are Eight Brocades, Five Animal Frolics, and Shiba Luohan Gong. Date of creation is certainly no guarantee although successful systems tend to last and weak systems tend to be modified or discarded over time. Certainly a new system can be better but there are only so many ways the body can move and I suspect the old masters investigated this quite thoroughly. The Taiji form is Qigong. It is not broken down into short, focused bits like most Qigong exercises are. I think that proper performance of the Taiji form will, arguably, yield as much benefit as other Qigong systems. If you like Taiji, stick with it.

Excellent question! I think the best way to answer such a question is to practice some different forms and see what, if anything, you get out of it. Find what is right for you - physically, emotionally, psychologically. When we try to answer questions like this verbally, I tend to find the answers gratuitous or rote. Physical movements combined with focus and breathing are valuable for a lot of reasons - physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual. Different patterns will be beneficial to different individuals and this may change over time depending on where you are at any given period in your life. I think that almost any movement of the human body combined with focused attention and breathing can be instructive or valuable when practiced appropriately. All muscle groups and joints benefit from stretching and strengthening. Often this will mimic other animals, sometimes not. Your idea of "aligning ourselves" "with OUR OWN nature" is absolutely reasonable and as, or more, valid than any other. This does not apply to us only as a species (although that's part of it) but also as individuals. The only way to do this, I believe, is to learn a variety of methods (or no methods) and either find what works best for you as an individual or develop your own. Be wary of putting too much faith in all Qigong systems, however. The vast majority of Qigong systems practiced worldwide were developed by opportunists during the Qigong "boom" in China in the past few decades or by non-Chinese riding on their coat tails. Most of what is practiced was not developed by ancient shamans who were deeply in touch with nature but by modern Chinese looking for something to believe in after the decimation of the Cultural Revolution. This Qigong craze started in the 70's in post-Mao China and really gained momentum in the 90's as China progressively opened to the west. The publishers of multiple Qigong books and videos are not sharing priceless, ancient secrets for the most part but anything that looks like it could sell. A very famous publisher of Qigong videos approached a friend of mine, wanting to put the Qigong sets we practice on tape and package and sell it to the public with a fancy name and history. Buyer beware...

I like the fact that people point out the human weaknesses of our gurus. It helps keep us from getting as attached. Gurus are simply people that have something we think we need. All they have is a different perspective. There is nothing else to have. Getting attached to the guru just gives you something else to have to shed. Books like this help that.

Your friend makes gratuitous generalizations that are unfounded in reality.

A great opportunity to paraphrase the definition of belief (ala Alan Watts) - a fervent hope that something unverifiable is true. In contrast, faith is the certainty that what remains when all beliefs are abandoned is truth.

I would second this. Whenever you are thirsty OR crave soda, drink a substantial amount of water first. Gradually, you should be able to let go of the attachment to the soda. It may also help to substitute tea for soda. Don't buy premade/presweetened tea. Brew some, sweeten it lightly as needed and gradually diminish the amount of sweetener/sugar and gradually transition to decaf. Many years ago I was able to stop drinking soft drinks completely - I'm not saying it's easy but it can be done. I occasionally drink some ginger ale or coke for an upset stomach and that's it. If you have other addictions, tackle on at a time. Each will give you confidence to tackle the next.

I've just been shoveling mine lately. We got ~ 30" of snow on Saturday and due for another 18"+ over the next two days... I do my warmup exercises first, shovel, then do the Eight Brocades after. Seems to keep me feeling pretty good. When I'm done, I'm so thirsty, I would drink from the dog's bowl... yummy!

Praise Tina Chang Brooklyn Poet Laureate All night long there was digging, and the bodies like accordions bent into their own dying instruments, and even after this, after the quake, there was, in news reports, still singing: A woman's clapping was followed by another who shuffled and dragged her own apparition through the ruined streets, though each one knew the anthem the other was singing. History taught them better. No one was coming. The film crews had their sights on the large hotels, the embassies. So they set to digging with their hands and with the shoes of those who were no longer alive. And with that, night fell and fell again like an old black pot tumbling to the ground. When a man dies, the first thing that goes is his breath, and the last thing that goes is his memory. I once saw this civilization passing through a great white door, people weeping, then the weeping was followed by the sound of tambourines rattling the heavy air, something that sounded like celebration only livelier and more holy, voices rising, and then a marching into the dusty road of the next century. When shelter is gone, find your solace on the ground. And when the ground is gone, lift yourself and walk. And after all the great monuments of your memory have collapsed, with the sky steady above you, you shatter that too, with song

I practice because I haven't gotten it right yet...

In my opinion

The "modest degree of science" refers more to trying to apply reproducible data (PET, fMR data and the like) to thought - that is a big leap of faith and quite soft as far as science goes, IMO. "Why are some people isolated, associative, and nihilist when they practice meditation?" Why are some people isolated, associative, and nihilist when they don't practice meditation? I don't think there is any data that shows a direct association between such traits and meditation. Spend some time with Buddhist monks - some of the most gregarious and loving people I've had the good fortune to meet - certainly not nihilist. It's true that meditation requires a fair amount of time alone without outside stimulation but taking the time to practice does not equate to a person being isolated, IMO. I think you are jumping to conclusions based on limited exposure to meditation or those that practice it.

Great post! I'd certainly like to hear more from you on the topic.

With all due respect, you are jumping to conclusions based on a modest degree of science and alot of assumptions related to meditation. I do not agree with your conclusions or concerns. Meditation is highly unlikely to lead to any memory loss. To my knowledge, no research has shown this to be a concern. As already mentioned, you are implying that our daily mind chatter is activity, almost like an exercise needed to maintain brain funciton. It is not that. It is a side effect. It is totally passive. The brain exercise is meditation. It allows us to develop skill in having some degree of control and real time awareness of the process of thought. All of the questions you ask about the relationship of thought to consciousness is something that is revealed with the practice of meditation. There is no need to fear meditation.

I never meditate to music but I do like traditional Chinese music or chant (Tibetan or Chinese) on occasion for Taiji practice.

Welcome brother! Beware of the balut No need to be nervous in this group. We're just a bunch of pansies... Enjoy yourself.

My point exactly! Enjoy.

I've just started reading Relaxing Into Your Being - excellent book! I practice a system that has fire and water elements but is definitely, fundamentally fire oriented (Kun Lun Xian Zong Pai). The information about dissolving practice is wonderful and the book is very well written. Bravo Bruce!

It's only unfortunate for those who become attached to particular methods. It is the nature of mind to desire the practice one cannot do or does not know. There are no practices that are necessary, many paths to choose from, none of them necessary...