forestofclarity

I also heard of some woman who healed herself of schizophrenia. On a more serious note, Gurdjieff used to say that one has to become familiar with occult tricks if one does not wish to fall for them. I don't know much about plywood and physics, but I know JC feels like a fraud. This comes from years of dealing with criminals and liars. One of the problems with pursuing powers, or bliss states, or whatever, is that it takes away from the "work of the soul". You can see in Jane's story the work she has done on herself that shows in her ability to see what she did, where she went wrong, and hold herself in a critical light in public. This type of work provides insight into the mechanics of the mind, which is far more important in the long run than developing a power or state.

Nice post. Interesting reading.

If only, if only...

Baiqi, I don't might debated translations. Unlike Tian Shi, I tend to take a more "holistic" view, especially with Taoist texts. In fact, the more the merrier. I would enjoy hearing more of your commentary on this stele. Forget strikes me as such an unusual word. I only hear this in Taoist texts. Often in the West, the approach to thinking consists of blocking or suppressing it. "Forget" strikes me as a more "wu wei" solution.

I consider myself a follower of the Buddha and the Tao, so I may have a unique set of answers. 1. I see no tension between Taoist thought and the three marks of existence according to Buddhism: everything changes, nothing satisfies, and everything lacks a self. You can find non-attachment in Taoism as well-- check out TTC 1. I do see pointed differences in Buddhism, but these strike me as more form over substance. Many (perhaps most) Buddhists and Taoists may argue on this point, however. Explore both and see for yourself! 2. Personally, I see Taoism and Buddhism working with or without rebirth. I have heard Taoist teachings of rebirth. 3. I do see a difference between working for oneself and for all sentient beings at one level. At a higher level, I see no difference. Theravada teachers have said that the best approach to save oneself first. On the other, I feel a certain power with the Bodhisattva vow to save all beings. Further down either path, though, these dualities tend to collapse. The main difference I've seen/heard has to do with the cultivation of ming (body, life, etc.) and xing (essence, spirit, etc.). Taoists start with ming and then go to xing, whereas Buddhists tend to concentrate on xing. * Edited for, and written in, E-Prime.

SFJane, I've read many of your posts here at the Taobums. You seem to link your occult exercises with the arising of your mental illness. You've also indicated that you have a family history of mental illness. This leads me to wonder: did the exercises cause the illness, or merely quicken its arising? The reason I ask relates closely to my second question: have you heard of others in similar situations overcoming mental illness with Taoist techniques, or do you find yourself alone in this? Another way to say this: do you know anyone who started with mental illness outside of meditative/qi gong who then overcame them in a similar fashion? *Written in E-Prime

"I see change as the only constant."

The rules allow for phonetic short-cuts. For instance, the rules forbid "you're" because of the hidden "are." I suppose one might say that the very act of language "languages" the world, translating it from dynamic flowing to static symbols. There exist a number of other (harder) rules that could help correct this, but the extra baggage may render communication impossible. The ideas offered by semanticists include the use of numbers and dates. For example, if I would not say USA, I would say USA(1968) or Taomeow (2008). Also, we could say Communists(1) (people who believe in Marx/Engels) to differentiate this from Communists(2) (Commie-pinko-liberals).

Only one word can possibly describe this: AWESOME! Taomeow: You have improper contractions! Thanks E-Prime Checker!

I would caution everyone to use due care with meditation. Blocking your thoughts may lead to a stiffening and narrowing of the mind, especially if done with any sort of force. This will close off certain avenues of spiritual practice, in particular the so-called "higher" ones. Others have pointed out a more natural way to still the mind which does not have this side effect. Yet even a still mind must eventually pass away. Everything that we do builds a habit.

It requires a lot of patience. I find that the practice illuminates certain assumptions we make about the world. Often, I find that I talk unwittingly in absolutes. [quote name='Rainbow_Vein' date='04 March 2010 - 11:43 AM' timestamp='1267728228' That ought to be a cinch. Challenge me, it just might! (Oh... it already has.) Ok, I'll try. (It just happens that the title of my new personal practice forum starts with the word "be." )

I felt the same way. I personally do not believe that qigong works for everyone. In fact, until I found that I could calm down my mind, I found that I received more health benefits from light-to-moderate Western exercise than qigong. Besides, you can always Intu-Flow! *written in E-Prime

You can use "will" and "going to." Forbidden words include: am, be, being, been, are, is, was, were.

Luckily, I don't have to wonder. I see the truth of practice each and every day.

It just goes to show--- don't cling to the teacher. Follow the teaching.

Does anyone know where I can get a copy of Wang P'ang's Tao Te Ching commentary? I've been reading his comments in Red Pine's TTC and find them brilliantly illuminating.

My wife and I have been doing the Beginner set of Intu-Flow. We both really enjoy it so far. Her wrist popped into place after being sore for a long while. For those who are doing this, I make a list of moves so you don't have to keep watching the (they're under Intu-Flow Beginner Parts 1 - 6) or DVD. I wasn't able to find a list online. I was dismayed to find a lot of Torrents for this, though. If no one is willing to pay for this stuff, they will stop making it. Torrents for copyrighted material is stealing, no matter how "spiritual" your goals. Intu-Flow: Beginner Forms 1. Neck a. Side to side b. Slide forward, down and back c. Glide left and right d. Up and rock back e. Lift ear to shoulder 2. Shoulder Rolls a. Roll forward—shoulders to ears, blades together 3. Shoulder Swings a. Arm Circles b. Across Body c. Top circles d. Down circles e. Front circles : guitar swings f. Behind circles 4. Elbows a. Three range: extend, rotate outside, flexion b. Opposite: Down, outside, extend, up c. Both arms: forward d. Both arms back 5. Wrists a. Wrist circles, forward: top, outside, bottom, inside b. Wrist circles, back: opposite 6. Arms a. Shoulder, elbow, wrist i. Outside ii. Forward iii. Outside iv. Forward b. Shoulder up, wrist down, elbow, shoulder down a. Outside c. Together a. Outside: Shoulder, elbow wrist b. Across body: Shoulder, elbow, wrist c. Alternate forward (swimming) d. Alternate right (swimming) e. Alternate left; wrist, elbow shoulder (swimming) 7. Fingers a. Circles: thumb to pinky, pinky to thumb 8. Thorax a. Forward curve spine:/Collapse down b. Glide spine 9. Pelvic Lumbar a. Extend hips forward / Collapse and sit into chair b. Lateral: all weight on one leg, then another (sit and root) 10. Spine a. Go down and side to side or figure 8s b. Bend over forward/ Bend over back, drop head: sit down to come up c. Side bends, arm over head 11. Hips a. Lift forward (sit dows), backward b. Inside/Outside lift c. Twist in, twist out 12. Knees a. Bend forward/back b. Twist knew inside/outside 13. Ankles a. Toes out and down/flex and back b. Turn inside/outside 14. 4 CBD (support on opposite leg) a. Forward for ten b. Lead with heel, outside for ten (foot to side, toes up) c. Lead with heel, back for ten (head forward over ground) d. Forward for ten d. Cross leg into figure four, knee for ten 15. Spinal Rocks (hold knees) a. Kick with hips b. Push with chest 16. Quad Hops a. Hands in b. Feet out c. Bounce with equal weight 17. Breathing Squats (Normal Breath) a. Lift shoulders, drop shoulders b. Shoulders, elbows wrist (inhale) c. Shoulders, elbows, wrist (exhale) 18. Lateral Arm Waves (Normal Breath) a. Elbow across body (lead with elbow, straight back) 19. Dropping Arm Waves a. Down across the line, one way then another 20. Spinal Waves (Normal Breath) a. Lift shoulders, extend chest, relax/ Opposite direction

Makern, What you describe is a fairly predictable pattern in my experience: with physical exercise, with meditation, with anything. Also, what you think is an "energetic effect" may be your body purging the garbage its built up. Walker, There are six videos. Try Scott Sonnon's personal channel on YouTube and type in a search for "Beginner Part" to get all six. As for stealing spiritual things--- when I was at my poorest in life, I could always find money for cigarettes and beer. A lot of people also claim they have no time, but then spend hours on the computer, or watching TV, or reading trashy novels. When people say they don't have money, they usually mean they don't value whatever it is you expect them to pay for. Also, the fact that some one has access to torrents, and therefore a computer and internet access to watch them on tends to go against this "poor but spiritually sincere approach."

Well, it's not the divination, so much as the materialism of the use. If I had a good line to the divine, it would feel strange if I asked "Am I getting a good deal on a car here?"

I used cars.com with spectacular results. Seems odd to use an ancient book of wisdom to go used car and plane ticket shopping, but likely this is just my cultural prejudices showing.

My view is that Western elements are more like nouns and Chinese elements are more like verbs. This actually makes sense as the West tends to take more of a mechanical view and the Chinese a more organic view.

5pb really gets things flowing.