RyanO

My understanding is that this advice is meant specifically for when one desires to refrain from ejaculation during sex. I'm not sure he would advocate total lack of awareness or exercising of men's PC muscles.

Found this commentary on the Heart Sutra by DT Suzuki: "4. "Empty" (sunya) or "emptiness" (sunyata) is one of the most important notions in Mahayana philosophy and at the same time the most puzzling for non-Buddhist readers to comprehend. Emptiness does not mean "relativity", or "phenomenality", or "nothingness", but rather means the Absolute, or something of transcendental nature, although this rendering is also misleading as we shall see later. When Buddhists declare all things to be empty, they are not advocating a nihilistic view; on the contrary an ultimate reality is hinted at, which cannot be subsumed under the categories of logic. With them, to proclaim the conditionality of things is to point to the existence of something altogether unconditioned and transcendent of all determination. Sunyata may thus often be most appropriately rendered by the Absolute. When the sutra says that the five Skandhas have the character of emptiness, or that in emptiness there is neither creation nor destruction, neither defilement nor immaculacy, etc., the sense is: no limiting qualities are to be attributed to the Absolute; while it is immanent in all concrete and particular objects, it is not in itself definable. Universal negation, therefore, in the philosophy of Prajna is an inevitable outcome." From A Manual of Zen Buddhism This sounds very Taoist to me and points to emptiness being more of a 'reality' than you (xabir) are letting on. My opinion is that Buddhism is a wonderful method for freedom from dukkha, which is all Buddha claimed it was. He was famously silent on metaphysical topics. And Taoist metaphysics make more sense to me than certain post-Siddarthan Buddhist metaphysics (notably those which don't posit an origin). It seems to me that the teaching of non-clinging is taken to extreme levels in certain Buddhist understandings. Why is it that having an understanding of an ultimate reality means one is clinging to an ultimate reality? An extreme clinging to non-clinging is not only paradoxical but falls short of the virtue of moderation.

Xabir, ok, at least it's clear what your stance is! There's one thing I never understood about this and other radical nondual/emptiness perspectives, perhaps it's never been explained to me very well so maybe you can help me out. And that is if there is no ultimate reality, and everything is an illusion, why cultivate? Why try to be a better or more loving person? I have my own answers to these questions, and obviously how one answers them will depend on their metaphysical/philosophical understanding. So I'm wondering what you think. Conventional Buddhism would say that unless we achieve Nirvana (which requires cultivation) we will be endlessly stuck in the pain of Samsara. This assumes truths about reincarnation and karma. Is this your view as well? It seems though that a consequence of what you're saying is that because even being stuck in the illusion trap isn't 'real', then that state is just as perfect as a nirvanic state. If there is no ultimate reality, or whatever you want to call it, to be a litmus or ground for evaluation of various states of realization, then why call one state/realization better or more true than another?

Jainism is really cool. As far as I can tell it's the least hypocritical of the so called "right-handed" spiritual paths. I really respect it for this reason. It's actually surprising to me that it's even been able to survive in this inherently competitive world of ours.

Yeah the Sanskrit is a little different, the Cundi pronunciation (presumably the most important part) is the same though. There is a famous proverb that echoes the sentiment that the exact pronunciation is not as important as the intent behind it. That said, I understand your preference for the Sanskrit, and CT's video is a good rendition of the Sanskrit to music so you can get a feel for the pronunciation. But again, exactness of pronunciation will vary and is not very important IMO.

Here ya go http://www.meditationexpert.com/meditation-techniques/Zhunti.wav From http://www.meditationexpert.com/meditation-techniques/m_buddhist_zhunti_meditation_opens_your_heart_chakra_for_enlightenment.htm This version is in Chinese (Sanskrit is a little different).

Oh yeah I also wanted to add that another cool thing about the first CD, Zhan Zhuang Gong Music, is that it has nature sounds combined with the music, and it is done really well.

A lot of good stuff has been mentioned and there's obviously a lot of good stuff out there. I also prefer silence for deep meditations, as well as Kuan Yin's meditation of listening to ambient noises. I do prefer music for moving meditations however. I really like this CD one if you're looking for more authentic Chinese music: http://www.amazon.com/Zhan-Zhuang-Gong-Music-Various-Artists/dp/B00004SR3K Also Chunyi Lin of Spring Forest Qigong has some great CDs, his Inner Beauty being just music: http://www.springforestqigong.com/meditation_cds.htm#inbty His Self Concentration track in his level one CD is great for sitting meditation because it starts off with some good affirmations and visualizations and goes into emptiness meditation from there with some nice music in the background. You can get just the CD or Level one altogther: http://www.springforestqigong.com/instructional_tools.htm For something else that's is more Celtic/New Age influenced I really like Gary Stadler's Fairy series, my favorite being his Fairy Lullabies: http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Lullabies-Gary-Stadler/dp/B000H7J9US (also on itunes) It might sound a little childish but it's actually quite beautiful.

Xabir, thanks for your detailed response. Putting aside the atman/anatta questions for a moment, I want to address your understanding of what 'real' means. I am inclined to think part of this is a semantic issue. Are you saying that my experience isn't real/existing? I could grant that my experience is real in the same way a dream is. Both are temporary and when one wakes up from a dream they say "Oh it wasn't real". But the experience happened. So how isn't it real? So I would grant that when we perceive things in physical reality we are not perceiving their ultimate nature. But how is even an illusory experience possible if there is not some existing stimulus? How is experience possible at all if nothing is 'real'? Also,my other question about Greg Goode remains, which is why he chooses to focus on nondual teachings if he feels emptiness is a 'higher' truth? I know you're not him so you don't know but I'm wondering what your opinion is. Best!

I remember reading that thread a while back. I wasn't there for the Bodri/Winn debates but I definitely have a read a lot of them. It's a really interesting topic! Plato had some very scathing things to say about Winn's approach. I find it pretty ironic that he seemed so sold on the value of merit and now makes his living selling ejaculation pills lol. Though from one angle improving people's sex lives, people who are going to be ejaculating as much as they can anyway, isn't such a bad thing. But I'm not sure encouraging ejaculation meshes well with Buddhist values and right livelihood. Perhaps he had a change of heart regarding the importance of retention (which would of course be counter to both Bodri's and Winn's teachings). That thread was seven years ago and a lot can happen in that time!

xabir, thanks for your reply. Interesting account of Satori, Suzuki is great. Also, thanks for the link to Greg Goode. He seems pretty cool. I haven't looked at his website in depth, but it looks like he is still teaching Advaita philosopy and methods along with emptiness teachings. According to you are these compatible? Would Advaita then be a stepping stone to the higher realization of emptiness? If so why do you think he focuses on it? Skillful means? I'm still with anamatva on this one. I'm not really seeing that your insights aren't influenced by Buddhist conditioning. It seems like what one looks for they will find. In fact, this is an issue I have with certain Vipassana teachings in general. If you look for no-self, impermance, etc, of course you find them. But you could also look for atman and find that too. What makes you think no-self is 'higher' or more true? To make substantive claims about the nature of reality based on subjective experiences is a risky endeavor. It is worthwhile to ponder the contrast of the universality of science and the dissent of religions. Also, what do you think of the Ken Cohen quote? Do you think that 'energy' is real? anamatva, interesting about your invoking the Creator for energy work. I have found invoking Kuan Yin to be very powerful when working with energy also, even though she doesn't have 'creator' status lol. I agree that the yin/yang polarity of taoism does a lot to shed light on the paradoxes of emptiness teachings.

To quote Ken Cohen: "Sensual reality is not an illusion. The illusion is confusing our ideas, projections, and values with that which is perceived." p. 150 The Way of Qigong Saying it is not an illusion to my mind means it actually does exist, thus contradicting xabir's belief. Of course, though Ken is influenced by Buddhism, he is more Taoist. Thus, according to xabir, he is subject to 'Taoist conditioning". But how is this different than being subject to 'Buddhist conditioning'? From your post xabir I take it that you base your understandings on personal realizations and experiences, albeit with a little help from Thusness' mappings. Is your subjective experience not influenced by such mappings? And even if not, why is it that you trust your subjective experience to accurately portray objective reality? Anyway, I think xabir's approach is only one way to interpret the Sutra. Just a disclaimer: I have neither studied the Heart Sutra in depth nor can I claim to have fully comprehended its mysteries. But to my mind, I think it is best read with some mental "suppleness", so to speak. From my perspective, xabir seems to have interpreted it a little too dogmatically, which I believe is counter to the Sutra's intention. Dogma and fundamentalism are anthema to non-duality, which is in part why some "left hand" paths go against social constructs to achieve true freedom. My belief is that even in such paths the shedding of conditioning leads one naturally to the path of love. One thing I find interesting about the Sutra is that when approached intellectually, it almost seems a little depressing (nihilistic). This seems to be true for many westerners when confronted with the notion of 'emptiness'. Approached logically, I can almost see it in this light. I say almost, because I have experienced otherwise. When I read the Sutra from my Heart (as it seems it was intended!) I am instead filled with happiness and joy, and I can't really explain why conceptually. So though it can be used as support for certain Buddhist dogma, I find the Heart Sutra at home in Taoist philosophy as well. I find that not only does it complement the Tao Te Ching, it is indeed remarkably similar.

Fundamentalism scares me

Just wanted to say great job and I fully support your endeavor The Heart Sutra is beautiful. Contemplating it often makes me feel very blissful. Praise to Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa! May the light of her love heal all of those who suffer.

You're welcome! Also, just to give another take and show the universality of the practice, here is a great article about the Inner Smile from a Buddhist perspective: http://mettarefuge.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/the-power-of-the-smile-in-our-meditation-and-live/. The Buddhist practice of metta (loving-kindness) shares many similarites with the Inner Smile. I like the language of smiling because it gives it more 'substance' and is more of an action. I really could go on and on about the benefits of the Inner Smile as a foundational practice. One of the most important is psychic self protection and freedom from fear. Dealing with negative emotions is inevitable in spiritual development and the Inner Smile is a great way to harmonize frozen and painful energies. So wherever your path leads, wishing you many smiles!

You're funny!

Hi there, yes I would say meditation is necessary depending on your goals (and how meditation is defined). The best beginning practice in my opinion is the Inner Smile. It's explained in detail in both practice and theory in Michael Winn's ebook: http://www.scribd.com/doc/25141317/Winn-M-The-Way-of-the-Inner-Smile If that interests you I encourage you to download it free from his website by entering your email: http://www.healingtaousa.com/ There are different ways to practice and different applications of the Inner Smile. His book goes quite in to detail and has a lengthy meditation. It is great, but if it is too much at first check out this simpler explanation: http://chippit.tripod.com/inner_smile.html Also, the best book on overall qigong theory I know of is Ken Cohen's book on qiqong: http://www.amazon.com/Way-Qigong-Science-Chinese-Healing/dp/0345421094/ref=cm_lmf_tit_2 To follow Taoist philosophy one need not practice qigong but they are very complementary. Meditation will help you reach a state of flow and equanimity that allows you to put the principles into practice. In my understanding, the TTC is best not read logically or analytically, but rather meditatively. In my experience the Inner Smile is a great 'practical' way to apply the principles of the TTC. Best of luck to you in your path.

Not sure how similar this is, but I've had a number of incidents of sleep paralysis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis Some of these have been very frightening. Scientists types explain reports of visits from entities (succubi etc) to such phenomena. Since learning and applying the Inner Smile (and practicing qigong/meditation in general), their occurrence has been much more infrequent. And if it does happen, usually when taking naps, instead of being scary it's more exhilarating. One can actually learn to create them using the WILD lucid dreaming technique. In any case, whether or not you experienced something similar, responding to any fearful or strange phenomena with the Inner Smile (unconditional love) is always a good idea.

Hi lifeforce, congratulations! One question, are you still practicing xingyi nei gong or anything else? One reason I ask is that I've recently had similar experiences (but probably not to the same extent) and have been wondering about the difference between surrendering to shakti and practicing qigong or neidan (or any other 'effort' based practice). This is obviously a big question and depends on one's perspective so I am curious as to your opinion and experience.

Lol defintitely hit home! I guess I'll be the sober voice for a moment and add that it is important to keep in mind that many things can be made fun of and a potential downside to this humor is that if someone sees these videos with some interest in eastern spirituality it might turn them off from pursuing such things. I see the current rise in popularity of yoga and even new age spiritualities to be a very good thing, even if that runs the risk of them being fads for some people. And of course, blending the heart focus of spirituality with introspection, honesty, and reason is the best approach.

Since semen retention is such a hot topic ‘round here, I thought I’d share some thoughts on the subject as well as a practice that has helped me. There seem to be a lot of dissenting viewpoints on retention. The causes for this dissention range from lack of communication, to different individual circumstances, and for the simple reason that people have different beliefs. One reason I think men have encountered issues with retention, besides faulty practice, is misguided and unclear motivations. If a man practices retention in order to gain more power, for instance, the build-up of yang energy can create a harmful imbalance. Trunk explains this nicely here: http://www.precisiondocs.com/~altaoism/HLHealthySine.htm So yin energy is necessary to balance the yang energy built up from retention. The question becomes how to accomplish this. One answer is dual cultivation with a woman. Another is periodic ejaculation from sex or masturbation. Others are grounding exercises like standing meditation, lifting weights, squats, etc. A crucial piece to successful retention, in my view, is integration of heart energy. Not in a mechanical sense, but real feeling, gritty, embracing heart energy. The Inner Smile is a great way to do this. Many men in relationships get this from women. For single men, the issue is a little more difficult. There can be an existential anxiety associated with singlehood. This anxiety emerges from a sense of a lack of completion or wholeness. This is nothing to be ashamed of and is a natural result polarizing sexual energy. Other than sex, common ways for single men to satiate this anxiety include booze and masturbation. I think most on this board would agree that these are not satisfactory solutions. A problem with masturbation is that the self needs an ‘other’ in order to have a fully sexual experience. A practice I call Making Love With The Earth fills the void of this other and provides a certain type of sexual fulfillment without the energy loss of ejaculation. The movement is basically something I learned from Michael Winn called Deep Earth Pulsing. He taught it at both his Primordial Qigong and Fundamentals workshops. The movement is also on his Sexual Vitality DVD and can be seen starting at around 1:50 in this video preview: I won’t get into the details of the movement here but will if you ask. When doing it, you send energy into the Earth. To get really deep into the practice, it helps to believe in a personal Goddess or at least have a personal relationship with the Earth. The movement becomes a form of energetic intercourse, ‘ejaculating’ love deep inside the womb of the Earth and massaging Her with your feet. A key part of this practice is to not demand anything in return, and do it simply because of your love. Give and allow. That said, there are benefits to this practice with regard to retention. It energetically grounds and cools excess yang energy, and provides the psychological feeling of wholeness. It allows for integration of profound yin Earth energy. There are some interesting alchemical occurrences with the practice. One can either do a fire or water technique to blend the heart and kidney energies before hand, or simply use heart energy. The oft-neglected front channel may also be included. However, I am still a beginner with alchemy and don’t know details of the energetics. For me, it is less of an energetic practice and more of a devotional one, and I think this is where it is most profound. This is also why I make the differentiation between the Deep Earth Pulsing movement and what I have called Making Love With The Earth. If you got this far, I appreciate you taking the time to read this long post. I’d be interested it anyone has any thoughts about anything I’ve said. Thanks to Michael Winn, Trunk for his awesome site, and to you the reader. Smiles to you all

Thanks OldGreen for the bump, and you're welcome anamatva! Seeing this post is quite synchronistic, as not only have I recently been redoubling my practice efforts, I have been doing this with particular focus on devotion to the Goddess. One need only look at my recent posts on Kuan Yin to see this. One development since this post has been my understanding of yin-yang dynamics. It's always been sort of curious to me that Shiva is described as masculine potential, and that Shakti is his active force, but then the formless Tao is described as female and a womb. It also makes sense to me in general that the formless would be yin and form would be yang. But then we have our Mother Earth, often seen as female, representing form and shakti. So which is it? This has led me to a deeper appreciation of yin-yang duality, which really isn't duality at all. It's yin/yang and yang/yin. There can't be one without the other, and they become each other. It's right there in the Taijitu symbol. But we often talk about yin and yang being separate somehow. Of course they are a polarity, but our limited comprehension makes them a duality. So this understanding has helped me resolve this apparent discrepancy. It made sense to me when someone (maybe VMarco?) mentioned that patriarchy had switched the roles of sky/void females and earth/form males. Whether or not this is true it definitley got me thinking. And of course, these metaphysical forces aren't gendered in the conventional sense anyway. But I think personalizing these forces helps us commune with them, especially if we do it in a way that suits us. Thus for me, both the Earth AND the Void are the Goddess. I think spirituality on the planet would significantly evolve if more people saw the feminine as the most apt representation of the divine.

Thanks CT and rex, you both have great points and I agree. Right now I've decided I'm not in a place to commit to this specific program, but I will definitely continue my study of Buddhism in general. I'm finding it more appropriate considering my Taoist orientation to incorporate more of Chinese Buddhism, such as working with Kuan Yin. So hopefully the end result of developing more wisdom and compassion for myself and the world will be the same whatever the tradition

Almost a year later...anyone end up doing this? If so what do you think?