11:33

Hello Tao Bums, I have in the past spent a lot of time with metaphysics, and new age teachings like the Abraham-Hicks teachings experimenting with the effect of thoughts and beliefs on my outer reality. While I don't think these philosophies are the 'best' or most useful, because of their focus on The Self, I still came away from those years of experimentation with a lot of concrete "weird" experiences On another note, my teacher Sifu Wong Kiew Kit, explains that karma is made of three factors: your thoughts, your speech, and your actions, in order of importance (thoughts being most powerful)... What do you think about the mind Do you think it has power? If so do you have any experiences that would corroborate that view? I personally have TONS of experiences where the odds of certain things having happened just by coincidence seem just impossible. Even one or two experiences that seem to defy the normal laws of reality. I'll share if I think there's some interest, but typing stories takes a lot of time... All the Best, 11:33

If you have cold extremities avoid all 'cold' foods in Chinese Medicine. Raw vegetables are considered cold producing. It is pretty ironic actually, Chinese Medicine says raw vegetables HURT your digestion! (so much for those enzymes ) Raw veggies are fine in moderation for normal folks who have no cold issues, but if it is a notable problem for you, then you should only eat warming foods, which means cooking most of your food.

I totally agree with the "plants are alive too!" argument. On another note, I have tried a sattvic diet for one week. I felt absolutely sattvic. Lol. It definitely had a strong effect on my mind. The foods must stimulate peaceful, loving chemicals in the brain. The effect was very very noticable.

What's up with the four different threads?

This isn't a Law of Attraction forum. You're more likely to get an answer to your question at one of those Most people here are curbing their desire.

Cool!

Scotty, I ordered this book a few days ago based on your recommendation, and seeing it on Google books. I am excited. I'll let you all know what I think of it when it arrives.

Hi Alexandrov, As you seem to have developed a chi blockage from your practice hopefully it is not tooooo deep. Even if it is quite deep, spontaneous qigong can help to reverse it. Spontaneous qigong is just that, spontaneous. The logic is that the energy will naturally unwind itself. The main form of qigong I do is called Shaolin Cosmos chi-kung and uses a lot of spontaneous movements. Without trying to "sell" you something I honestly think you should see an instructor or even someone who can do chikung healing on you. If that is not of interest to you I would recommend you PM me if you want me to show you some resources to learn it. I think it could be very helpful, at least to reduce the problem for now. By PM we could discuss things, and see if you are getting the exercises to "work" for you. It might take a few times to get the spontaneous movements to kick in, but hopefully you're a quick learner. All the Best

Hello Tao Bums, What do energetic practices have to do with enlightenment? I practice Shaolin Cosmos Qigong, under my teacher Sifu Wong Kiew Kit. It makes me feel wholesome, and happy, it opens and harmonizes the channels and nourishes the organs, it makes my mind clearer. However, this is not enlightenment, though it is a start in the right direction I am here on Tao Bums because I am seeking a path for myself to Enlightenment. What I don't quite get is how these Taoist practices are going to lead to Enlightenment. I am specifically thinking of Lei Shan Dao, or some other form of serious Taoist cultivation method, not for example Healing Tao which I have little regard for. How does building a Dan Tian change you into an Enlightened one? What is the mechanism to this, how does that mechanism correlate with the Buddhist mechanisms to Enlightenment. Because to me I don't "understand" how they both lead to the same state. This is all very important for me at this time because I am going to use the information to make an informed decision about what path I want to pursue to Enlightenment, so I appreciate your input. All the Best, 11:33

I think you just get more able to sense the flow of chi after years of practice. For example, when I first learned years ago, I couldn't feel the energy as I can now, and yet I had MUCH MUCH MUCH more imbalance then.

So I wanted to ask about what you all learned at the recent seminar with Kathy Li. Well I already saw some reviews on the other thread, but thought it would be nice to have a specific thread to talk about what was shared at the seminar. What is the main practice? What are you supposed to go home and practice daily, and for how long? Also, what is the Seven Star Meditation? All the Best

That is saddening. In a world that seems to be insane, we can work daily to become wise. We don't have the power to change everything all at once, but we can change ourselves. ... I'm watching the documentary Smile posted. I thought that a line from it was very appropriate, "they believed that they were free, but in reality they were trapped by their own selfish and greedy desires. American society was not going forward, it was taking people backwards. They were becoming isolated beings, driven by primitive animal forces."

Hi, You are wayyyy more likely to get a response to this if you post it in Taoist Discussion rather than here. All the Best, Alex

I agree. I feel more qi now than ever after all these years of practice. The flow feels gentle and smooth, but it my feeling of qi hasn't gone away over time.

My understanding of this is that we live eternally, being reborn in samsara for eons. BUT, we only really understand the fact that we are trapped in this loop of our minds quite rarely. So cultivating purity of mind and thus cultivating to enlightenment is important NOW, because it is not everyday you truly realize that you are in fact caught in a illusion. You may forget next week, and not remember for another 400 lifetimes. True wisdom is the source of all true happiness. You may mistake intensity of focus for seriousness.

Hi, Your symptoms are pretty intense. I personally would cease and desist any and all energy practices as well as semen retention practices. These methods done wrong, or even done right can cause problems. I apologize if someone else already mentioned this. Hope to see you get well soon. Alex ... Also, to me it sounds like you have developed some kind of blockage from incorrect practice of the Chia methods. Some form of spontaneous qigong could be excellent in allowing the trapped energy to unwind. I think you would be best to avoid those situations that are causing your symptoms to occur, rather than retrain. Retraining is a lot harder. ... I have an important question: What is your current practice? What kinds of meditations or qigongs or diet or what-have-you are you doing now?

Maybe you can overdo herbs, but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water! Many Taoists have used herbs for longevity.

I hjave heard of certain sites being blocked from China. Why is that? Does the Chinese government do this?

I really think it was just a simple misunderstanding. I know in my heart that all parties involved were doing their best. Just sayin'

If I let-go of thought and enter emptiness, if I let go of ego, then what will assure that I don't rot and loose my home and die? Is this where these ancient teachings meet the concept of God? Is God or the Tao what ensures my body doesn't go without food or shelter? Because if I let go of the *I*, it does beg the question "well who else is gonna take care of 11:33's body, his home, his loved ones, etc, etc"

To get a second, third, fourth opinion etc.

Hello Tao Bums, I have been reading a lot of the excellent discussions around here and found this man Verdesi, who I have noticed has sparked some "interesting" conversations, hehe... The part that interests me is this quote from here: 1. Is this saying that David Verdesi is an immortal? 2. Is this saying that this Taoist cultivation methods, while being very different from Buddhist methods still cause the same result: liberation from the cycle of rebirth? All the Best, 11:33

Hello youzifive, I wonder if you could describe for us, what do those words mean in English? All the Best, Alex

Hello Kathy, I want to thank you for offering genuine Taoist practice in the US. I 100% respect your desire to not ruin a time-honored teaching by teaching things before the student is prepared. I hope this experience doesn't put a bad taste in your mouth. It is just my small and insignificant suggestion that in the future you be more clear about what will definitely be taught, and what may only be taught depending on the student's level of development and depending on Sifu Wang's direct approval. Even without the Golden Flower, I wish I could have been there All the Best, Alex

Yeah. I don't follow Healing With Whole Foods, but you can get a ton out of it, and then just eat whatever animal products you want to along with it. Then take what works for you and leave the rest. What kinds of diets would you consider more traditional Taoist diets? Any books or links on it?