forestofclarity

The disagreement arises simply because of the different levels of truth. TNH is speaking from the level of relative truth. Tzu is speaking from the level of ultimate truth. No contradiction, no wrong, no problem.

I disagree with GIH here. If you practice concentration, then it is clear that your chi calms down, your mind settles, and you are better able to see clearly what is happening. On the other hand, if your chi is agitated, it is hard to focus. If your mind is scattered and your thoughts are wandering, you won't see clearly. If you don't see clearly, then you won't realize the nature of things. I don't think that working on your chi itself is sufficient, nor is concentration itself sufficient. But it certainly makes it easier.

Two negatives don't make a positive--- a Buddhist hating on Hinduism doesn't warrant the reverse. I'd like to see something behind this statement that Buddhism "ripped off" Vedanta. Buddhist practice is very different from any other I've seen, and I don't mean this in a hierarchical way.

When I said sloppy and imprecise, I was referring to what everyone else means, which you say you adopted as your own. So what is intent? A vague, fuzzy mental feeling that precedes physical action? A mental plan? Physical tension, as when you close your eyes tight and try to move a ball with your mind? A wish? A desire? All of these? None of these? Some of some, not of others? What psycho-physical phenomenon are you labeling "intent"?

Most people tend to be sloppy and imprecise with these things.

GIH, What do you mean by the word, "intent"?

Actually, fraud is probably too harsh a word to use here. I would say, JCs demos feel like a trick. I don't mean to say that JC is a con-man for money or a criminal. I remember an old story from my anthropology class about a student of a famous anthropologist (I want to say it was Levi-Strauss) who learned to heal people by sucking arrowheads out of their bodies. Now the student knew the trick--- the healers would hide the arrowhead in their mouth beforehand, then they would "suck" on the body and produce the arrowhead. Nevertheless, it was found that he could in fact heal the tribe members. I think that what JC does is something along these lines.

Rich people lie, cheat, and steal all the time. Wealth is obviously no guarantee of virtue--- one of the reasons that many monastics take a vow of poverty.

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.