shidadao

This interesting post was made recently on a Ch'an Buddhist site - it contains the actual Chinese mantra script that Mak sell to people for £80 a time: Cult Alert-Chi In Nature-Daoist Perversion http://chanbuddhismuk.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=disc&thread=212 Thank you all for your collective efforts in the Dao.

I am not sure about the economic question, but I thought the following quote from Confucius might be interesting; 'The Master said; "Riches and honours are what men desire. If they can not be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held. Poverty and meanness are what men dislike. If they can not be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided.' Lunyu: 4:5

As far as I know, (and that is, as far as I was taught), reverse breathing - also called correct breathing, is not forced in anyway, or used when moving around. Mostly, I was taught to do it in a seated position, but sometimes when standing, but stood in a relaxed manner, and definitely not when moving. It can be a quick method of acquiring energy. Literally separating qi from carbon dioxide - the latter is breathed out, whilst the former is taken down into the Dan Tian Charles Luk has written two books containing reliable information; one is Taoist Yoga, and the other is Secrets of Chinese Meditation. Luk trained under a Daoist master, and conveys interesting information and practical advice. Not everyone should do this method, and if they do, it should be under the guidance of a qualified master - the warnings are clear. I think Xingyi is a battlefield art - possibly based upon the wuxing (five phases) of qi transformation. And probably not Daoist in the true sense. Therefore, reverse breathing would not be a suitable practice for this art. As for medical concerns, there has not been any reliable research that concludes that reverse breathing is systemically dangerous when practiced. Individuals may have had medical complaints before starting reverse breathing, or develop health issues due to unconnected reasons. Do not practice without proper guidance. I have used reverse breathing for 20 years, with no associated ailments.

I think the 'breath' is the central point. That is qicong. Tai Chi Chuan is an exercise that has evolved around the breath process. Emphasising perfect balance of mind, body and spirit. This can be achieved in seated meditation (Zou Wang), as well as moving meditation - Tai Chi. The breath nanifests in many different ways - Tai Chi is not required, but it can be interesting! It can help with circulation of blood and qi. Thank you

Hello to everyone! I study Chinese Ch'an Buddhism, and am a lay-monk. I practice Chinese martial arts, and just wanted to share the Dao with like-minded others. If anyone would like a free Book of Changes reading, please contact me at [email protected]. Send a question by email, and I will reply as soon as possible. Than you

Hi there! By and large, it is a path of 'oneness', or 'monism', that has followed on from a formal monastic experience some years ago, within Chinese Buddhism. Outside of formal training, in a secluded area, I have maintained the central role of keeping to the Dao in all things. The Vimalakirti Sutra gives me great strength and inspiration. You might want to explore contemporary moansticism, whereby people live in the 'everyday', following the Dao. I do not know of any formal lay-monkship as such. However, the Dao knows no exception of course, and we are fine where we are! Thank you. PS: Zou Ch'an and Zou Wang - seated concentration and seated forgetting are 'here and now'. Good luck!

Thank you for your kind words!