Iskote

I don't really know your situation so I can't comment on whether you really need more 'yang' in your life. It sounds like maybe you are talking more about your personality traits rather than an actual energetic imbalance... Anyway, if you are the experimental type and are interested and able to try this exercise, you can try facing the direction of the sun early in the mornings, just after sunrise within an hour or two or so. Breath relaxed and deep and softly through the nose using deep abdominal breathing and imagine you are absorbing the sun's energy down to your lower abdomen as you breath in. You only need to do this exercise for a few minutes each morning. It is probably better if you can do this outside, but you can try doing it facing a window as well, if possible. You can still do the exercise even if it is cloudy. This is supposed to be one way to absorb more yang energy. Does it really work? I don't know. I have tried it for a period of a few months and did not notice that much difference, but I used to do it while driving to work towards the east in the car. I did notice some increase in overall energy though sometimes. Maybe if I did this exercise outside I would have noticed better results. Don't know. Just throwing a thought your way. If you are talking more about personality traits then what I have described might not be of much help. Again, don't know. Just thinking in your general direction... Best wishes from Iskote...

Just wanted to add that although there may be various obstacles for the scientific study of qi in the West, sometimes practicality can accomplish something that might otherwise be a tough go. The Chinese have been using qigong therapy in clinics for years and no doubt have likely been making efforts in recent years to more properly scientifically document their clinical studies and results. Medical care is very expensive. As open dialog increases more and more between the West and China, it seems quite likely to me that more and more interest is going to develop in the West regarding qigong therapy, since from the practical standpoint, if Western doctors can be convinced that various illnesses can be treated effectively using qigong therapy by witnessing the effectiveness of this with their own eyes, and also by reviewing the Chinese studies and clinical data, etc., they are much more likely to start trying these methods themselves and start conducting their own studies. If it gives good results and is much cheaper and easier to implement, Western doctors and governments will likely start taking notice. Money talks. If it is going to reduce medical costs and overcrowding in hospitals, etc., it will start getting people's attention. This is already starting to occur in the West. The medical benefits of qigong are already starting to be known and studied in the West, from what I can gather. Interest seems to be picking up. IMO, once various Western medical studies begin to corroborate the Chinese studies, assuming they do, it is quite likely that more scientists will start to gain more interest to try to understand better what is going on. So, my point is, the situation may not really be as grim as it might seem.. Best wishes from Iskote...

Well, for one thing, science isn't doing anything. 'Science' is just a way of studying our world. It is scientists who would be doing the research and experiments and what not, not science. Anyway, assuming you are talking about Western scientists, what makes you think that many Western scientists are looking? I suspect relatively few are actually looking, but I could be wrong. I think also that many Western scientists would not know what chi (or qi or ki or whatever) is, or many might just assume it is just a superstitious concept, or that is really just a way to describe certain types of physiological phenomena, so what's there to study? Also, many Western scientists work for commercial organizations, so there would likely have to be some angle where companies could see a potential for profit before investing money into such research. Besides the money issue, it is not an easy matter to overcome cultural biases. Also, there may not be a lot a truly accomplished qigong masters here in the West who are willing to subject themselves to the time demands of the rigorous scientific testing that would be required. Despite all that, I think there is at least some research going on in the West regarding qigong therapy, and even more research into acupuncture. Such things take quite a bit of time, as many studies have to be done, and then refined, and done many times again, and be able to be replicated by others, and also withstand peer review, etc. There is also the widely held concept that 'extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence', so the reality is that it would take much stronger scientific evidence to convince many in the West that qi really exists than it would to establish scientific proof for more mundane things. This relates to the cultural bias thing. In China, where the concept of qi is much more widely accepted, it may not require as strong scientific evidence as would be likely required in the West to be able to start convincing other scientists that the scientific results are significant. Another factor is that whatever qi is, it may not lend itself well to study with current methods and instruments used in scientific study today. The methods used in quantum physics may prove more useful in this respect, who knows? Best wishes from Iskote...

I don't think it is really all that critical, but I am not sure how much difference it would make if a person kept their practice to those specific optimal time periods rather than practicing at other times. Early mornings and late evenings are good if a person can manage it. One has to be practical though, so just practice at a time or times that you can maintain regularly. Consistent regular daily practice is probably more important than the exact specific times that one practices at, I would think.

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This sounds quite similar to how Taoist meditation is normally practiced except one usually keeps their attention on the lower dantian when starting out, or breathes (through the nose) down to the dantian. There are variations to this which would normally be directed at the discretion of the teacher. Anyway, assuming that's translated correctly, Gong Ding Xian must have had his reasons for specifying it the way he describes there. I saw a reference that Gong Ting Xian (Gong Ding Xian) was a Chinese doctor who lived sometime during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The Chinese name for the book he wrote is apparently 'Shou Shi Bao Yuan', which apparently translates as something like 'Protecting the primordial (or original) to Procure Longevity'; so pretty much the same as the translation you had. The time periods you mentioned are not necessarily times when energy is highest (there are both yin and yang energy peak times), but if one practices regulary at the indicated times it will supposedly give the most beneficial and best overall balanced results (effects on yin and yang energies in the body) to the meditation. Traditionally the Chinese divided the hours of the day into twelve (2 hour) periods. The periods that are often cited as the best meditation/practice times are the ones that were listed. In Chinese Medicine, one's internal energy is supposed to be most active in one of the 12 meridians during each of these 12 time periods. So the choice of time periods also relates to this as well, to provide overall balanace and best results, (based on my understanding). 11:00 PM - 1:00 AM - Zishi - gall bladder meridian 5 AM - 7:00 AM - Maoshi - large intestine meridian 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Wushi - heart meridian 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Youshi - kidney meridian If you can't practice at all four time periods, then early morning and/or late evening are usually the times people who work, or are otherwise busy, practice. If that won't work for you, then just practice at the times that you can practice. Best wishes from Iskote...

In this Earthly realm there is a sect of Taoism called Zhengyi Dao in which the leaders of this sect are referred to as Celestial Masters. There are also other Taoist sects that use this term as well for certain highly accomplished Taoists, from what I understand. For those that are outside this Earthly realm, I don't know...

Yes, I have tried such practices as well. I know the sensations you are speaking of. There can be all kinds of sensations. In my experience the effectiveness of one's practice is not really measured by sensations though. Different types of practices may produce various sensations or other experiences at various stages, and sometimes you may not feel much in the way of sensations at all. Such things can vary quite a bit as your practice progresses. Also, some people seem to be less sensitive to such things, but still get all the benefits, so sensations and the like are really not a reliable way to judge effectiveness of practice or progress IMO. My main practice is stillness meditaton so I don't really focus on such things, although sensations of all types come and go. I am more interested in the results. I am starting to become more interested in qigong healing methods as well. Best wishes from Iskote...

Even so, a TCM practitioner can still effect change in the health of a patient, so their knowledge at least helps. BTW, don't you have a book out on qigong? Maybe I am confusing you with someone else? At least they will have some idea of what they are undertaking, and maybe some idea on how effective the practice is as well. There are teachers teaching stuff out there that other teachers say is ineffective or even harmful. I know it is common for teachers of one type of practice to criticize other practices though, so one should probably take all such assessments with a grain of salt. Anyway, my intention was not to hijack Dao Child's thread. Getting back to Dao Child's question on whether the method of drawing qi from the 'cosmos' in one hand and redirecting it out the other hand for healing purposes really is an effective method for healing, and whether it drains or at least impacts one's internal energy or not, I don't have any experience with that. It sounds similar to Reiki healing where the energy is supposed to come from outside the self, and the Reiki healer just channels and directs it. Not sure though. It would seem that if you are drawing energy from one hand and emitting it from the other hand that you would still be impacting your internal energy in some way, since the energy is passing through you, but I don't know. Also how would you be able to tell if you are not also emitting some of your own energy as well? Would you feel immediate effects if that were the case? I tried to clarify a bit in my other post on what is meant by the term internal energy, so maybe someone else can comment more on the effectiveness of such methods ('water pump'), and if or how it impacts one's internal energy. Best wishes from iskote...

The problem as I see it is there are so many practices out there. There is medical qigong, martial qigong, spiritual or mystical qigong, etc., and no clear dividing line between them all. Also, many teachers teach various combinations of these different types of practices. If someone has a better understanding of what the approaches of the various practices are, and what exactly they are trying to achieve, it seems reasonable that one can then make a more informed decision on what route they want to go. Whether theory is written, or transmitted in person through conversation, or through demonstration, it is still theory. Some teachers prefer to emphasize theory at first and some prefer to emphasize practice at first. Some teachers prefer to teach both right from the get go. But I don't think that's the point here. I think it is more to do with getting a better understanding what the various approaches do and why. With such information one can then make a more informed choice on what they want to practice. Once they have made their choice, they can learn what the teacher is teaching, and practice the way the teacher instructs them to practice, but at least they will be practicing something that is likely taking them in the direction they want to go. Again, I hope others will contribute to this thread, as I am interested in learning about the various approaches and exactly why they are done as well. Best wishes from Iskote...

Levitation videos. Real or not real? Flying Yogi? Check out this video. It is fairly blurry and could have easily been faked of course, but it's still interesting. Towards the end of the video you will see a shadowy shape zip up into the air. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKSTqsUKWc8...feature=related Levitating African Shaman? No indications in this short video clip were given regarding what steps the film crew took to try to detect trickery, but it is interesting anyway.

I think they probably knew that 'Ramana' stunt was an illusion, but they like to include stories like that in the news as 'human interest' stories. It also makes good filler when there is not enough important news to fill the whole time slot.

Now that would definitely be fun. Sort of like what I have experienced in my dreams sometimes... I have done so too. It usually feels pretty good. Levitation would likely be fun. Could use it when dusting light fixtures and the like as well, so it might come in handy. Best wishes from Iskote...

Yes, there are lots of fake videos out there. Such things can certainly be done with tricks or special effects. It doesn''t mean all such videos are necessarily fakes though. The TM 'yogic flying' seems rather strange to me. If it is just a training exercise then maybe it is not so strange. Best wishes from Iskote...

Unfair? Now that's just plain silly. Also, I don't need or require decisions, was just wondering what people think, if they feel like commenting. No pressure and no contracts to sign. Was actually more just looking for comments on levitation in general... Such is just talk. Intellectual concepts only have a basis within the confines that they hold true. There is relative and there is absolute. Intellectual analysis belongs to the relative. To continue with your line of thinking, I guess you might also say hammers are not real? If so, remove your shoes and hold the hammer up about 5 feet directly above one of your feet. Release the hammer. Are hammers real now? Best wishes from Iskote...

That sounds complicated.

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