Michael Roland

Perhaps more to the point of the question is truth. Be true to your path. If you have ego, you have ego. It's not bad, it just is. Also, to make a sweeping generalization, we all have ego. So, don't sweat it. It gets less important as you stay true to your path. I don't know you Wudan, but if I briefly look at your reflection as I write this, I would say that you have something of value to offer, you are enthusiastic, and want to share. Because of your cultivation, your path has clear parameters. If what you choose to present is the truth or at least you are being true to your path in presentation (and the promotion) then you should go forth and expound the virtues of your offering without the diluting it with doubt...or worse loosing it completely by falling into an ego loop of false comtemplation. Yea so, I say unto you this: Do not hide your light under a bushel

That's a nice way to think about it. Functional, I think, in terms of psychosocial thoughts and interactions and perceived responses by others. But, I would say that truly without ego there is simply knowing and being and doing. Confidence or lack thereof has no basis. No place to stick. The ego has to be present in order to feel confidence. The ego must be there in order to feel itself confident. In other words. Nice, firm, gentle, guys have egos too, they just don't get called assholes for the privilege.

Thank you. So, is that to say, to answer the question presented, that you would like to be "essentially empty within, and functionally straightforward in heart, without bias, without greed, letting the Tao flow through [you], [and have] firmness and flexibility... match each other, action and stillness will combine appropriately, indirectness and directness will attain balance, and they can be passive or active in accordance with the situation," through your practices in this lifetime?

Looking forward to your answer. I'm giving mine some more consideration as well before I add it to the mix. Nice benediction. Thanks. Shall I take this to mean that, to answer the question presented, you intend on "doing lots of beneficial things for all beings and thus [be] well loved in the highest sense," and leave "an impression of importance reflective of course not in ego based principles, but in principles of virtue grounded in a bodhisattva view of things as elaborated in the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) Sutra and the inner realization of Dzogpa Chenpo or pristine awareness that has effected people towards the final goal of human potential," in this lifetime through your practices?

Doubtless, but what about this lifetime? or is that it?

That's beautiful man! I don't know what it means, but I like it.

The point was not to restrict you or to somehow be unfair to you. It was rather to restrict the conversation for purposes of discussion.

What an interesting mix. I think desire can definitely block progress or worse cause a significant deviation from your path, even if it is only desire for progress. I've seen this in those who are relatively elevated, but I suppose it can happen at any level. Ascension to where? Do you mean at the time of death or well before?

There seem to be a lot of knowledgeable members here who practice a great deal. What do you expect to achieve in this lifetime with your practice? Longevity, martial prowess, healing or psychic ability, total enlightenment?

"Anyone who thinks he know what's going on is probably full of shit." Robert Anton Wilson

Are they not two sides of a coin? The front pleases some, the back pleases others. In the end, must they not be the same? The Path. The Way. Is there more than one ultimate and final destination? If we start at the end, can the differences actually exist?

I think more information is needed. What exactly would the purpose be?

Wow, I can't believe I read this whole thread. I have only myself to blame! People who train fighting are going to be better fighters, no doubt about it. There are Bagau, Xingyi, and Taichi guys who fight well. It's because they have made fighting part of their training and they have good martial training. The vast majority of BJJ and MMA guys will beat up the vast majority of IMA guys because MMA guys train fighting and most IMA guys don't. In fact, it's hard to find IMA guys who really know how to fight, but they are out there. I know several--Vince Black Tucson, AZ Tom Bisio NY, NY (yes, before you ask, they have dealt with BJJ guys handily on occasion) and also some of those on this forum. As for myself, I cry if anyone hits me in the face. However, the real point to consider in a Taoist forum might be is IMA, properly trained, offers benefits that cross both physical and non-physical realms beyond time and space and are therefore relevant to our continued existence beyond this short lifetime. We are all immortal whether we like it or not. (so, stop trying so hard:) MMA is essentially pugilistic, temporal, and offers little beyond the physical and mental. If the most sublime achievement available in an art is beating someone to pulp, then it's not for me. If however, it is serenity, spiritual growth, and martial ability as well, I'm in! I like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for its yin(ness) especially. By the way, why doesn't anyone ever talk about old man Gracie meeting the Xingyi man,Hong Yixiang and not being able to do anything at all against him? I think it is chronicled a book called Martial Musings...?

In a word; Yes. Spiritual abilities are just another set of abilities. Daoist practices such as meditation and qigong can directly lead to spiritual abilities without having achieved enlightenment. I assume you mean "spiritual abilities," to be the ability to work and function in realms other than what we consider the material realm i.e. subtle energies, higher spiritual realms, etc. However, many Buddhist, Christian, and other practices can lead to the same abilities.

Hello Everyone, This is my obligatory first post. I'm sure i joined this forum years ago, but as I am not the same person I was then I might as well start fresh. I'm American living in the UK when I am not in Brasil, or somewhere else. At the moment I am in Thailand studying Taichi with Adam Mizner. If you are into Taichi you can check out his stuff on YouTube. Well worth it. I have practiced Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, and Qigong for fifteen years, but closed my clinic last year. Now I only do online consultation for spiritual/energetic matters. I would love to find a push hands practice partner near Stroud if anyone is near feel free to PM me. Thanks. Cheers Michael