doc benway

I liked the original Iron Chef show. Chef Morimoto has a killer restaurant in Philadelphia. My son was a huge fan of his and we went there for his birthday and he got a photo with the chef... It was fantastic. I caught the American version once and didn't like it. The only show I watch regularly on TV is Top Chef - it's a stupid, melodramatic, cooking competition but, for some reason, I dig it! Other than that I do like to watch movies from time to time and I normally watch them at home on DVD rather than pay the ridiculous prices to sit in a movie theater listening to cellphone ringtones... My son was over a few nights ago and we watched Curb Your Enthusiasm - his favorite show - it was really funny. My kids like to watch the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, the History Channel, and my son likes the mixed martial arts shows on Spike.

In my reading and studies, I frequently come back to a feeling that I'd like to share. I don't know if I can capture it well in words but I'll try. As I work on cultivation, I find more and more that the nature of consciousness/awareness/self-ness is so amazing, so elusive, and so beautiful. Yet, there are so many traditions and people out there who seem so focused on something more than that. Simple being and experiencing is not enough. We look for magic, supernatural abilities, short-cuts, pomp and circumstance, secrets, costumes, rituals - anything to make us feel that we have found something special. Yet all of that simply distracts us from simply being and getting closer to the source. It's almost as if we're afraid of the truth or purposefully (if subconsciously) trying to distract ourselves from the simple and plain. As if the showy stuff is some sort of proof that there is something more out there or that we're closer to the answer. Yet the "more out there" and "the answer" is inside and can best be seen when the all the extras are let go, through the simple and the quiet... Anyway, it's funny, sad, frustrating but mostly fascinating to see the human machinations which do very little more than take us further away from our true nature. And don't think for a minute that I'm immune to it. I guess it's the awareness of that very tendency in myself that has sensitized me to what I see around me. Thanks for listening... sometimes I learn something from trying to express these feelings and hopefully this is a good place to do just that.

Some of my favorite books on Daoism and Taijiquan: Reading Osho and Alan Watts genuinely helped me to wake up... Osho: When the Shoe Fits and The Empty Boat - Both contain commentaries on Zhuang-zi's parables Tao: The Pathless Path - Commentaries on Lie-zi Alan Watts: The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are Eastern Wisdom - An inexpensive collection of three of his short but profound works - What is Tao? What is Zen? An Introduction to Meditation Thomas Cleary (translations): The Secret of the Golden Flower Opening the Dragon Gate Kuo Lien-Ying: The Tai Chi Boxing Chronicle Deng Ming-dao: The Chronicles of Tao Raymond Smullyan: The Tao is Silent

Check out a book called Supernatural Meetings with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind by Graham Hancock. It's an encyclopedic work that tries to demonstrate a causal relationship between human experimentation with hallucinogens and the seemingly dramatic shift from the primitive to the "modern" human mind about 30,000 - 40,000 years ago. Very interesting stuff. This stuff sounds scary... http://www.erowid.org/plants/salvia/salvia.shtml

Easy, after watching the movie trailer. In fact, it does measure up to my experience in life. There are many people demonstrating their "powers" or God's "powers" by showing their students or patients or congregants shaking in a film clip, dojo, or church. Everyone from kiai masters to faith healers to tele-evangelists. They all look exactly the same and use similar methods. It's quite common, predictable, and unimpressive. There is a kernel of truth in all of their practices that is soiled by the sideshow. Max's methods for cultivation may be productive but I'm disappointed by the packaging. Pretty much anything that catches and holds my attention for a while... Taijiquan and Dao meditation more than anything else I'd consider attending an East Coast seminar. I believe they require 20-30 participants

Agreed, that's 虛靈頂勁 'xu ling ding jin': xu~empty, ling~light/lively, ding~crown of head, jin~energy It's directly out of Taijiquan Lun or Taijiquan Treatise attributed to Wang Zongyue from X'ian in Shaanxi province. Nothing is known about Wang for sure but by legend he is the link between Zhang San Feng and Chen village. It certainly predates Yang Cheng Fu and, probably, Yang Lu Chan. It's also a part of the Wu/Li Classics. 2nd stanza - "Empty, lively, head-top energy; qi sinks to dantian; neither incline nor lean; suddenly hidden, suddenly appearing. If (opponent's) left is heavy, then (mine) is empty; if (his) is heavy, then (mine) disappears. If one looks up, it seems all the taller; if one looks down, it seems all the deeper. If one advances, it is even further; if one retreats, it is even closer. A feather cannot be added, a fly cannot alight. My opponent does not know me, I alone know him. A great hero faces no enemy. In a word it comes to this." To my recollection it generally occurs spontaneously. Sometimes it happens during seated meditation. I mentioned it to my shiye once and he told me to ignore it during meditation. I often get a very similar feeling in my left shoulder blade area.... I ignore it as well.

I've had a similar sensation periodically. Never lasted more than a few days and never amounted to anything in my case. On a somewhat related note, I've recently been able to focus and maintain my mind of intent at the very crown of my head much more consistently while practicing the form and push hands and it's done wonders for my balance - xu ling ding jin.

Be a little careful here - Laozi may have been a historical character but also may simply be a legend. Nothing really is know for certain about his life. The authorship of the Daode jing may have been a single person or may have been a compilation of earlier wisdom from multiple sources. Unanswerable questions. What does seem likely is that most of the Daoist meditative traditions converge on some basic common themes as Taomeow eloquently described.

One is wuji, two is taiji, could three refer to consciousness/awareness? It could make some sense that differentiation of complimentary aspects of being (ie the two or taiji) is a prerequisite to everyday consciousness which, in turn, produces awareness of the 10,000 things. It's then our aim in cultivation to return to the source - beyond or prior to regular consciousness, ie prenatal consciousness. I've seen other sources which refer to three as being analogous to the "child" of the two, implying reproduction or the beginning of life. Reproduction being the source of the myriad things. Like mentioned earlier - creation and evolution. Just like any single character has multiple meanings and interpretations, Daode jing has infinite possibilities. Cool stuff and excellent question... I agree that references to consciousness and perception are inseparable from references to the external universe - mutual arising.

I occasionally post on EF and I'm new to this forum. I generally try to be very respectful in all of my posts, no matter what forum. I agree that there are some aggressive types over there on EF. Sometimes it's unjustified and I've been rubbed the wrong way more than once. People here seem to be more open-minded but that doesn't mean that we like having our intelligence insulted. I don't believe that Lama Dorje is legitimate. His claims are too far-fetched. He's not old enough to have studied and "mastered" a fraction of the arts he claims. His claims, when read carefully, are full of inconsistencies and contradictions. Perhaps he has some skill and knowledge but his presentation online is all about sensationalism - no true student of the way would present themselves in this way. This is not altruism, it's more akin to megalomania and exploitation. To those of us who practice cultivation, it's comical. Claims like - one hour of training with him is equivalent to 100 years of practice in other systems. I believe that he is probably a good hypnotist and exploiter of charisma, perhaps he even has some degree of skill and knowledge. The Lama Thunderbolt film trailer is exactly like many other self-proclaimed qi masters out there. One kiai master in Japan recently put out an open challenge and was beaten senseless by his challenger - you can see the sad result here, if you're interested... Intersting how similar his kiai fighting is to the lama's supernatural powers in his movie. Here's another guy that can injure his students without touching them, but couldn't do anything to the news reporter covering the story... Through my study of Dao meditation (Kun Lun Xian Zong sect), Taijiquan, and Xingyiquan (as well as some Japanese arts) over the past 35 years, I feel that I have at least a rudimentary understanding of human potential and energetic potential (I'm also a surgeon so I understand anatomy and physiology a bit). I'm sorry if I sound arrogant but I simply want to make a point. I don't believe anyone's claims of supernatural ability unless I experience it first hand - nothing so far although I have met some very talented people... Cultivation and enlightenment are experiential and not things that can be easily demonstrated or communicated to others. Nearly every "demonstration" of qi power I've seen in books, magazines, film clips, and live demos are parlor tricks. True qi power can certainly be felt and experienced (I vividly remember each time a high level internal practitioner has let me feel their fajin), but not that easily seen from a spectator's perspective. I believe that Lama Dorje's "magical powers" on the Lama Thunderbolt film are a combination of hypnosis, voluntary cooperation, and perhaps some other type of trickery. I'd be happy to be proven wrong but doubt that'll ever happen. I would gladly give him an opportunity to blast me with his qi, thunder, or whatever he wants to call it, I have no fear that I'd be in any jeopardy. I'm very open-minded but also realistic. My shiye is extremely advanced in meditation and internal (and external) martial training and was similarly unimpressed by the "Lama Thunderbolt." When someone puts themselves out there in this fashion, how can you expect anything less than the kind of reception he got at EF...? I feel that it's a bad reflection on us as martial artists and seekers of truth through Daoist and Buddhist cultivation to enable, facilitate, or encourage such exploitation and foolishness. Self cultivation and internal martial training are beautiful and valuable practices. Parlor tricks like in "Lama Thunderbolt" lead to us being lumped in with charlatans, tele-evangilists, and snake-oil salesmen. Perhaps that's no a big deal - in the long run it really makes no difference, but it does turn a lot of people off who might otherwise benefit from praciticing meditaiton, taijiquan, and other valuable forms of cultivation... People like Lama Dorje compromise the credibility of those of us looking for real truths in internal cultivation, not shortcuts and sensationalism... Sorry for the rant but sometimes you've got to call bullshit when it's poured all over your PC monitor...

As a newbie to this forum, I'd like to ask what a CCO is? Thanks Steve

I was taught that yawning is a reflex related to hypoxia that gets a little extra oxygen to the brain. Don't fight it, it's the way...

I'm very new to the forum and have learned some stuff already. I'm looking forward to see how things develop. I like the irony - a forum devoted to discussion about a topic that defies discussion and is inherently experiential.... much like the Dao De Jing....

Hi Mantra68, Do you know about how old Max is? Steve

I currently do an hour each (most!) mornings. I'm by far the clearest first thing in the morning. In the afternoon, evening, and before bed I'm tired, my head's cloudy and I struggle more.

Nice clips Buddy - I particularly like the Xian Tian changes.

I'd like to see either of these magical feats demonstrated. I practice Daoist meditation from the Kun Lun Xian Zong school. I'm not that far advanced but there is nothing remotely like what I've seen described in Lama Dorje's site. Perhaps I'm not far enough along in my training to be exposed to the "supernatural" stuff and perhaps our systems are very different but at this point I believe that what is needed is time, patience, commitment, and practice rather than a mysterious direct transmission from a master for a few hundred dollars... Where is the precedent in the history of internal development for achieving enlightenment without years of diligent effort simply for a fee? Steve

Very good question Dwai... It's like the difference between doing the taiji form vs feeling that the taiji form is doing me. It's like using my intellect to guide me through the postures vs using the one point to feel the qi flowing through the postures. Like the difference between doing nothing and not-doing. I wonder if there is a parallel with yin/yang - yin is intuitive and receptive, opening to subtle influences without trying or causing, yang is more analytical, intellectual, taking initiative to explore, inquire, analyze. Very cool question to ponder... Steve

WHen I figure out who is saying "Myself" I'll ask... PS Here's my first revision after some thought... 1. Zhuangzi 2. Alan Watts 3. Osho 4. Thich Nhat Hanh 5. Ourself

1. Zhuangzi 2. Alan Watts 3. Osho 4. The Dalai Lama 5. Myself (whatever that means...)

Do you mind describing what types of supernormal powers you are referring to specifically? Steve

I agree with Buddy. It's easy to push an opponent who is rigid or coming in with force - it looks good to an audience and does demonstrate good timing and rooting. Not so easy when the opponent yields. Fajin is short and explosive, and, when done right, is very hard to yield or neutralize. You can't really see the effect as much as feel it when you're on the receiving end. It penetrates. It does damage inside but doesn't necessarily look impressive from the outside. When you watch him closely, he's pushing out and up and his hands are moving a good distance. An is a downward press, not an upward push, and it's very short with a sinking of the wrists - this video is a parlor trick and lot's of people use it to demonstrate their "internal power." He may have a very high level of skill, I don't mean to denigrate his ability, but pushing a cooperative student in this way is not the way to demonstrate it.

Standing meditation is not limited to "no thought." My shi-ye has taught me two standing techniques that involve guiding qi with the mind of intent. He didn't teach me these techniques until about 1 year after beginning my sitting practice. There is some similarity to sitting in that the yi quides the qi. One is a technique for building strength in the body, the other flexibility. Both are designed for martial development. Neither is specifically related to chakras or to the meridians or microcosmic or macrocosmic orbits.

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.... Native American I can think, I can wait, I can fast. Hesse; Siddhartha Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion. The Dalai lama Steve

Greetings all, My name is Steve and I'm a student of Dao meditation, Qigong, Taijiquan, and Xingyiquan. I just stumbled upon this forum and thought I'd check it out. I look forward to seeing what goes on here and sharing my interest in cultivation with similarly minded folks.