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Jonathan, I'm envisaging that it's either a browser or java problem... My suggestion would be to run your site through a few different setups. Check this out Yours, James

Yes, people can end up mentally/physically/spiritually unbalanced when doing meditative practices. I am one of them, and I know there are a handful of others on this board too. This doesn't in anyway mean that the effects are permanent and lead to death. It's not just one extreme or the other. In your other thread you said that you've met one person you ended up ill due to the energetic exercises... out of how many? Being the pedant I am, I doubt the odds are anywhere near that of a lottery. Also, I am inclined to agree with our beloved Scotty - no apology is/was necessary. You have views and opinions and you are welcome to share them with us. Yours, with respect, James

Your honesty is appreciated. In my eyes you are more than welcome to make your home here, fellow bum Yours humbly, James

Thank you, rex, for an exceedingly coherent response. I may look those books up if the need for them lasts longer than it is wanted. A great part of me fears losing my usual social circle, for they have been such great friends over the years. I guess that only my true friends will stick around if it ever comes down to such. In some respect those around me define who I am at any given moment - personalities are never rigid. Again, it all comes down to having the courage to stand apart. For someone who has been on this forum for so long, and posted so relatively little in all those years, I am honoured to be on the receiving end of your words. Yours in admiration, James

What browser are you running?

Now that, Li Jiong, sounds like a challenge I cannot refuse. When my financial situation has rectified, I shall give it a whirl Yours humbly, James [editted for grammar]

I share gladly dude. Part of me is glad that you are in a similar boat. To me it signifies progress. Lol definitely agree that such a siddhi could be advantageous!! Free radicals? Hah Anthrax? Hah Thank you Rex Yes, I have been practicing it - I certainly believe it to be the main cause of why I am feeling this way. Something struck me recently... In this society we are surrounded by examples of what it means to be male, or what it means to be female. People buy into it simply because they go, "Oh, ok, I should be this way, I should do that." Don't get me wrong, I have known about this for years but there seems to be a great difference between intellectually knowing something and actually 'seeing' (for want of a better word) it. I have not had any pleasant sexual gratification for over 18 months. And you know what? I don't care. Sex is something where I can honestly say that I can take it or leave it... won't bother me either way. Reflecting upon this it stands to reason that I felt alienated and unmotivated - for a while I even thought I may be gay - it's because I didn't fit in with the rest of my gender... at least, those in my social circles. Well, I now no longer feel alienated and down - no where near as much anyhow. Why? Because I can accept myself for who I am that little bit more thanks to the insight I gained. And if I can accept myself a little more then I have a little more courage to be myself. This makes me wonder... Does courage come from realising the (lack of) worth of external things? Yeah, I totally agree that it's a powerful mantra. Amazingly so. Thank you for the recommendations, but my practice schedule is currently full and I'm happy wading through all my shit, turd by turd if need be, to get somewhere... might take a while, but hey, I'm still young in body. And if I'm feeling low thanks to all my karmic debt, then it's my own fault for being in this position in the first place. Compassion and love have been revealing themselves to me slowly. Joy is something I can happily wait for Progress will come with time, and in time. Yours humbly, James

I agree with Taomeow. How could there be a teacher-student relationship without energy transfer from one to the other? Qi is in words and action as much as it is in silence and non-action. Yours humbly, James

I see a man who has trained hard for over 20 years and reached a certain level of attainment. This is dedication. I see a man who wants to share his teachings and guide others with his experience. This is compassion. I see a man who has the courage to stand up for himself, knowing full well many of the bums will question him intensively. This is integrity. The concern many have is understandable. It fits rather well together doesn't it... impending doom, Li Jiong's Daoist matrix, a small fee for potential salvation... However, he believes in the disasters and is kind enough to inform us about them. From the money he makes, he is saving to keep his family safe during the years ahead. He openly offered a 30 day trial for those of us who doubted him. I see no fraudster here, a misguided individual maybe - these confrontations are meaningless. Yours humbly, James

In cultures all over the world there are beings who guide the newly deceased safely to their destination, whatsoever that may be. I know that some humans are called to the same path. Is any one here experienced with guiding the dead to places? What spiritual practices can loved ones perform to help those on their last legs? Yours humbly, James

djs - thank you so much for sharing that with us Yours humbly, James

Simply saw this, thought it was awe-some and thought I would share http://www.buddhist-images.co.uk/ Toodles, James

Responsibility, yep. Couldn't agree more

Narrowing the view I like it... both a reflection on computer usage and cultivation. Indebted, James

Thank you for the uplifting comment cat And thank you, durkhrod chogori, for providing those insightful links - although they were not intended for myself. You see, the problem is, I am at a stage in my cultivation where I am burning through much karmic debt. I know this to be true. You call me beautiful, yet all is see is that I am rotten to the core. I am not who I thought I was. I continue my practice, but there is a deep sadness inside. I've been lying to myself all these years - too blind to notice. More lyrics from Witchcraft: Guilty by all means how to survive this day means so much I've payed my debts to you sleep in fusion file awaken by guilt again bear my innocence wake my innocence it's just a spectre an interlude of confusion don't let it scare you so be it thoughts of amusement the light counters dark as it reaches its peak blend and balance the bold takes it all the threshold's been diminished your ideals are gone the struggle almost over you've found your pot of gold learning to pray upon these false indications clinging to this nothingness might do you good solve this riddle the answer lies within tantoblin knows where the hierogram is Yours, in gratitude, James

Couldn't let the above go without a second glance, or perhaps even a little fanfare Your presence on this board is appreciated, and I am glad my own thoughts are yours too One mind. Yours most humbly, James

Like many here, I have been where you are. Come to think of it I am still there. Losing the desire for all those things you once greatly enjoyed. Sex for the sake of sexual gratification became hollow when it used to be fun. Getting wasted for the sake of forgetting the need to control is no longer fun. Socialising in the vast majority of cases is meaningless and fruitless. Loneliness is the only place where there is some comfort - for me anyway - thanks to the silence and peace. Now the only enjoyment there is seems to be the multitude of experiences I witness during my cultivation. And these too, I know to be just as hollow, no matter how profound they seem at the time. I have gained glimpses of wisdom on the nature of love, karma, happiness, relativity, and many other things. But knowledge and understanding of such bring me no joy. Why? Because I do not live the life I am. I am not congruent with myself, I am not aligned with my higher being. I see the problem, I see the escape hatch.... yet there is no motivation. I simply practice in the hope that one day I may fall through that hatch accidentally. Stuck between the old and the new. Like a miner in a cave, I keep digging. So much pain, hurt and sorrow. A very dark night indeed. From No Angel or Demon by Witchcraft: The love that I'm leading Was leading me down But now I am leaving Leaving me behind I'm leaving you out now I'm leaving you down Now I am losing Yeah, I'm losing ground Oh no Yours humbly, James

My previous cultivation method. Storm Silence Fluidity Crashing Encircled Oneness Yours with respect, James

Although I have not yet done the KAP training, I know that this is something that Glenn Morris wanted to avoid as much as possible. He used many of his students as guinea pigs in the development of the KAP system, and the syllabus has been improved on numerous occasions. I believe the main issue here is of rooting. Without a firm root, raising the energy can lead to all sorts of problems... both mental & phsyical health can be effected. Blessed be, James Thank you kindly Niel That's a lot to cover in a short space of time. Are you expected to remember, let alone practice, all of them or are you simply given the tools and theory to further yourself along your own path?

Hello bbsoft0 Glad to have you on board. Rookie or not, all are welcome. Just post your questions in the Taoist Discussion subforum. You're in good hands though, because I am sure most of us would agree that healing and regeneration are our main interests Yours, James

Smile

Happiness and love. Two themes that are inseperable throughout the vast majority of all stories, whether old or new. For those of us who come across these concepts, what do they mean to you? 'Happiness' and 'love' like all other words, are a combination of symbols arranged in a horizontal manner to relay meaning. This is a vast part of the difficulty in communicating. In our minds we bear witness to the influences of hormones, apparently ruled by something we call 'emotion'. What, then, is 'emotion' and how can we define it? When do you FEEL? Say your partner cheats on you with someone. Genuinely, sit there and contemplate you are going through it right now. How would you feel? Betrayed? Hurt? Angry? Jealous? Happy?! Due to the information you received, your brain responds by flooding your system with hormones. This is more than simply the fight or flight response, because your life is not directly at threat here. Perhaps you are having the response because this is the anti-thesis to your concept of 'love' and of 'happiness'. That solidity that you had, that brief construct of permanency, changes before your very eyes. Is the purpose of emotion, then, to throw us around from pain to pleasure, and vice versa? We cannot know the meaning of the words of others. It is only them who experiences what they feel, and it is them who place the labels of 'love', 'anger', 'hate', etc. on their internal experiences. My concept of 'love' is very different to yours because my past is different, and because my internal scenery (brain chemistry and neurological make-up) is different. Arguably, my internal scenery is different due to inheritted traits and due to my perceptions of the world. Are those two indistinguishable? Do I inherit my perceptions, or are they learned? It's the old nature vs. nurture argument. We don't all end up like our parents, do we? Eitherway doesn't really matter in this case. The fact is that there is a part of us which interprets our experiences... the information from our senses as well as the flow of hormones. It is the difference in interpretation that makes us individual and our consciousness which is simply aware of what our condition is at any given moment. I would postulate, therefore, that our meaning of concepts is individual too. Just as you cannot truly know if someone sees the colours in the same way you do - one man's green could be another's yellow and there is simply no way to know the difference. No way at all, other than direct experience of the other person's perception. So 'love' and 'happiness' are as different as they are to each of us. Generalisations can be, and usually are, made. 'Love' for example is frequently used in experiences of mating, companionship and service. It can also be linked to certain hormones. Yet, the experience of it still remains with the witness, the interpreter, the individual. So let's list a few actions that are associated with 'love': Self-sacrifice Mutual enjoyment Strangely enough, I am actually stumped. I cannot think of anything more to add to the list which wouldn't be a variation of what's already there. Actions and emotions directly affect each other. The actions of ourselves and others have an impact on our emotional state. Emotions themselves have an impact on our actions... for if you are feeling happy do you not want the whole world to know about it? Or, if you are lonely, do you not seek the company of others or wallow in your solitude? Our actions and our emotional state are clearly interdependent. This creates an interesting model. A feedback loop. Two variables in the equation are related to each other. This means that if you do 'loving' deeds, you will impact your emotional state for the 'better'. If you do 'un-loving' deeds you will impact your emotional state for the 'worse'. Similarly, if you feel 'loving' you will do 'good' deeds and if you do not feel 'loving' you are much less likely to do 'good' deeds. The relationships are clear, there exist both constructive and destructive cycles. In these linear relationships it is evident that once you are on one path you will continue along it - being either destructive or constructive. By no means is this a new idea. It is perhaps as old as human thought itself, or may even predate it. Cause and effect. Or if you prefer, karma. Although by no means the only application: do good and be happy, do evil and be unhappy. But who is the judge of what is good, bad, or even happy and unhappy?! Quite simple. It is you; the interpreter; the individual. Your upbringing has brought you this far and has shaped your values and beliefs. It is also you who determines how you are affected by your emotions, how you decide to feel at any one given moment. The elusive happiness and love, therefore, are not a consequence of external and internal manifestations. They are your choice. Yours in humility, James

Very keen to hear a report, whether you deem it to be good or not... after all, one man's meat is another man's poison I have read about many mystics from all over the world who would meditate in trees. Like trees, they have their roots in the Earth and their heads up in the Heavens. May I ask which book it is? This reminds me of a story my father told me. There was a tree doctor in circa the 1930s in Holland who spent much time diagnosing and find solutions for the many pests, diseases and nutritional deficiencies that developed in the our beloved green and brown giants. In one of his books this tree doctor told of a row of trees that were infected by a particular beetle. The beetles found their way on to one tree at the edge of this row. They multiplied in number and spread from one tree to the next. By the time the beetles had reached the last tree in the row, they could not feed off it for it had become immune. Theory goes that the message spread from one to the other and the last one had the most time to build up whatever defences were necessary. Spread the joy my friend If we ever meet I'd love to introduce you to guerilla gardening!! From self to self, James

Thought I'd bump this post back to life again I was just curious as to how those taking the course are finding the practices that are imparted? Are you managing to keep a daily routine? Any experiences you'd care to share? Yours humbly, James

Advanced Yoga Practices Bill Bodri's MeditationExpert.com Glenn Morris' Kundalini Awakening Process Yours humbly, James