TzuJanLi

Greetings.. Cool, it's not often we can get to the details.. the 70/30, YongQuan/heel ratio respects the balance of energies lost through BaiHui, LaoGong, and HuiYin, which have no direct connection to the Earth for locally replenishing the losses.. HuiYin substitutes for YongQuan in sitting meditations.. Be well..

Greetings.. The door is not shut, and the mind is not 'blank'.. the 'still mind' dances with Life as it unfolds, it dances with Clarity.. it dances without the interference of 'thinking' it knows something about the Experience of Now.. the 'still mind' is fresh and Alive, vibrant in its clarity, exhilerating in its spontaneity.. Be well..

Greetings.. Hi Blasto: You may regret this request, but here goes.. Once you have resolved the issues with 'girdle tension', and mean really resolved, the meridians expand tremendously.. the full-body flow of energy cannot be contained within the classic/traditional mreidian lines. Imagine a river that flows wide and has several 'channels' of varying depths.. when the practitioner has established Energetic Coherence, there is a full body circulation traveling from the feet up to the crown and back down to the feet.. the extremeties, legs and arms, are deep channels.. the torso is the deepest.. the meridians are smaller channels that form 'whirlpools' (cavities and accupoints).. The recent understandings of western science and eastern energy modalities are finding the Connective Tissue System (CTS) as the 'River', and the 'liquid' in this river is very unique.. the CTS has exactly the same properties of Liquid Crystals, the property of changing states instantly, based on stimulus.. imagine taking a garden-hose and turning on the water such that there is a single flowing column of water flowing out in an arc.. imagine walking through that column of flowing water, it would hit you and splash around harmlessly, but.. imagine that the flow suddenly froze into a moving arc of 'ice', it would have a much more intense impact.. the CTS is like that, fluid, flexible, elastic and.. shifting to solid and back in nano-second intervals, creating a 'tensegrity' network throughout the body.. The 'bounce' is this 'tensegrity' moving and rippling along the CTS with directed intention and coordinated breath-work.. the effect of this is to massage and enable the classic/Traditional meridians.. and, without 'resistance', exponentially enhanced power and awareness.. Speed?, as fast as you can shift your awareness, tensegrity manifests.. this whole process is actualized by vibrational signaling through the CTS, signaling that is 16 to 20 times faster than the Central Nervous and Neuro-muscular System.. it's the 'magic' that emerges when you are 'in the zone'.. Ooops.. sorry i got carried away a bit.. i'll try again, later.. Be well..

Greetings.. It is my understanding the the shoulder joints, the hip joints, the knees and the ankles should be aligned vertically when looking directly in the mirror.. this creates a structure most appropriately aligned with the pull of gravity, to reduce fatigue and to facilitate smooth energy flow.. from the side-view, the ears, shoulders, and hips should be suspended over the ankles, and the knees over the toes.. i find this to be very comfortable for an hour or more.. on the infrequent occasions i can find that much time, usually it's about 30 minutes.. Be well..

Greetings.. None that i am aware of, but.. that is not a familiar practice for me.. I 'bounce' energy off the ground, discharging toxins and impurities at the 'bounce' and exchanging them for energy that has been 'grounded'.. the bouncing is coordinated with breath and can become physically observable.. if you feel like the energy is 'moving you', move.. resistance or denial are not productive activities in ZZ.. Be well..

Greetings.. Hi Blasto: No, there are several issues i disagree with in that presentation.. and, that doesn't mean 'i'm right', just that my experiences contradict some elements of the video.. feet are too wide, making the effort to 'align knees with toes' create excess tension, relating to knee issues.. the elbows are too high, trapping energy in the shoulders and traps, leading to rapid fatigue and distraction.. the weight should be 70% ball and arch of feet (Yong Quan) and 30% heel.. majority of weight in heel is static and unbalanced.. heel is a 'round ball', unsteady and without any mechanisms for fine-tuning the posture.. the 70/30 weight distribution in the foot is fully connected and fully dynamic, the YongQuan is activated by the dynamic tension and is the primary bridge to the 'ground'.. the heel is primarily a supporting 'brace', even by its structural design.. the 70/30 weight distribution in the feet (each) is the 'trigger' that 'floats' the skeleton/frame within the muscle/tissue, creating the 'tensegrity' necessary for ZZ to reveal its potential.. it is noteworthy that IF the 'spine' is perpendicular to the ground, the body mass is forward of the spine and the weight 'naturally' shifts into the ball/arch of the feet.. The presenter makes many good points, and i applaud his well-intended effort.. it's better than most.. the issues i describe above will find a unique balance between conventional ZZ and the state of 'Central Equilibrium', revealing the best of each.. please don't take my word for it, though.. try it yourself, be a little diligent, and when everything is properly aligned you will 'know' it by its whole body 'awareness', a sort of buzzing 'white noise' with the warmth of energy flowing into the legs, it is tangible and identifiable.. Be well..

Greetings.. Hi Sloppy Zhang: In the two quotes of your post, above.. can you see how you may have "already made a decision" that 'sci-fi is cool and that model suits you, and are trying to justify that decision? I have no "conclusion" about "dull and boring".. i am just observing what 'is'.. i am certain that Life offers no evidence that we have 'no freewill or choices'.. those are conceptual ponderings built on "if/then" suppositions that have no supporting evidence in Life.. It is my practice to respect consistency and practical applications of conceptual ponderings, as such, and having pondered this same subject long ago.. i have set the issue aside in the event new evidence might reveal something i have overlooked.. your fondness for "sci-fi", hasn't inspired me to reconsider the possibility that Life has happend prior to the existent 'Now' in which it unfolds.. Fantasy is a remarkable entertainment, it inspires great imaginings and eloquent theoretical possibilities, but.. the existent reality, tangible and verifiable, the one right here, right now.. this 'reality' simply blows 'fantasy' out of the water.. no fantasy can compare to Living the Life that you ARE.. or, as Ram Das said: "Be Here Now".. it's just that simple. Be well..

Greetings.. Life has revealed freewill to be the instrument of its own exploration.. without which, randomness and spontaneity are not possible, and.. randomness and spontaneity are the variables that reveal ones 'true 'nature'.. We/us/Life exist as Independently Functioning Versions of Oneness, for its purpose of experiencing its own existence, for understanding its own 'Nature'.. without the unpredictable outcomes of freewil and choice, Oneness would reveal to itself a mechanistic passionless drone, a cog in a machine unable to affect its own existence.. and Life clearly contradicts that false result by brilliantly demonstrating the abundant creativity of the Human Experience, even if we sometimes do not approve of that creative result.. Attachment to theoretical physics or ancient models of a Cosmos beyond the grasp of primitive understandings serve to secure one's place in the mechanism that aleviates the experiencer from accepting responsibility for their own existence.. suspend ALL beliefs, study and observe Life from an unprejudiced perspective.. there is only one conclusion, freewill and choice are the vehicles of existence, the options of acceptance or rejection in each of the relationships with Life we experience.. just as you will choose to accept or reject the merits of this opinion i have posted.. Be well..

Greetings.. Please provide supporting data for such beliefs.. i can find NO verifiable evidence this is an existent condition outside the imaginations of those 'choosing' to believe it.. Be well..

Greetings.. Most of my students struggle with maintaining a relaxed 'girdle', the abs, the low-back, the glutes.. relaxing the girdle is essential in the ZZ practice, otherwise there is 'interference' between the upper body and lower body.. the interference is the result of 'resistence' in the girdle and it traps energy in the respective upper/lower regions.. this can be countered by 'sitting' on the 'quads'/femurs by firming (NOT locking) the foundation so that the pelvis hinges freely when the abs, low-back and glutes relax.. done correctly, the feeling of coherence and grounding are very tangible.. Be well..

Greetings.. Logic is categorized in many ways.. mostly to suit the intentions of those that set the standards.. i rely on 'practical logic', as long as it works i accept it as valid.. if it stops working, or didn't work originally, i set it aside for future re-evaluation.. you never know how 'new evidence' will affect old opinions.. Formal logic is confined by its own limitations (formallity).. Be well..

Greetings.. Hi Ya Mu: Yes, it's ALL 'energy', behaving in a 'Universe' of manifestations.. coherence, resonance, interference, disonance, are qualities that our Unique Independently Functioning Versions of Oneness (Selfs) identify as 'Awareness'.. whether applied to the traditional 5 physical senses, or the other senses of insight, intuition, and Creativity, those qualities are our Individual 'tactile' relationship with Cosmic Energy.. Our individual understandings and our Life experiences are resident in our physical Being's Connective Tissue System as a 'symphony of vibrations', and this comprises our Unique Energetic Signature.. a dear friend refers to this as our "Soul Song", which i really like as a poetic reference, but.. i avoid the term due to the inherent ambiguities which will be exploited by the analytical skeptics among us.. anyway, this Unique Energetic Signature interacts with the Universal Energies and 'senses' the fundamental qualities through 'resonance, disonance, coherence and interference'.. It is when we 'still the mind' that the 'structure' of mind ceases to distort the 'Universe of Energy' and we can most easily access the 'Cosmic Memory'.. When we sleep, awareness is released from external physical input 'duties', and finds opportunity to reconnect with the Cosmic Memory, the ALL of it ALL.. every past event, life, everything, in vivid 3D tangible detail.. as our 'Awareness' Entrains a particular past memory's vibrations, it is relived, re-experienced through the 'being' whose memory we accessed.. very powerful stuff. Upon waking or re-engaging the 'thinking' process it is very likely that we will interpret the 'recollections' of the Cosmic Memory Experiences as it 'resonates' with our current understandings and beliefs, i.e.: past lives, channeling, etc.. but, yes, we can experience being in the presence of 'past masters', or we can actually 'experience' being that past master'.. or.... we can experience memories of events and beings so removed from our 'human' understandings that there is no frame of reference for any recollections.. this is the 'deep dreamless sleep' or the meditations we can't recall.. oops.. i'm rambling again, sorry.. BE Well..

Greetings.. There is some emerging research/evidence that short-term memories exist in the body's Connective Tissue System (CTS) and are only 'processed' into thinking/analysis by the brain/mind.. all memories appear to be permanantly existent in the "Zero Point Field" as 'vibrational consistencies', that is ALL memories of ALL that has ever occurred.. for us, as individual unique Energetic Signatures, the 'recall' is a matter of resonance or coherence with the 'vibrational consistencies' those generated by 'our' experiences are the most readily available, and proximate by attraction to their source.. Interestingly, those people that claim 'past lives' or 'channeling', may very well be accessing those 'other' memories by their own expanded resonance or coherence.. and, further enhancing or embellishing those memories of others according to their own preferences or beliefs.. It is the 'stilled mind' that creates the least 'energetic resistence' in the accessing of memories, the coherence and resonance encounter no 'interference' by thought patterns.. in this condition the memories emerge as 'Whole-Being' recollections in the CTS, a nearly instantaneous 'Body-Mind' "Knowing", sometimes described as our 'Nature'.. Anyway, some interesting contributions from our friends dabbling in the 'Sciences'.. Be well..

Greetings.. One of the more profound workshops i have attended was a weekend workshop with Cai Song Feng.. we worked from 5 minutes of Wuji to 40 minutes of Wuji on both days.. between sessions we played some Wu-style pushing drills to balance the practice.. that was maybe 15 years ago, Bill (Baguakid) was there.. do you recall how long ago that was? Anyway, i still practice daily a minimum of 20 minutes, but i favor the opportunities for 40 minute sessions.. ZZ is just a simple energizing of the upper extremities, increasing the awareness of the shoulders/arms/hands without 'thinking' about them.. 20 minutes of ZZ in the A.M. and 20 minutes of Wuji in the P.M. is a nice balance.. for 'me' anyway.. Be well..

Greetings.. When you ZZ becomes 'comfortable', try standing on bricks stood 'on end'.. Dr. Yang teaches this advanced practice, and i highly recommend it.. it enhances Awareness by challenging it.. then, when you feel really adventurous, stand two bricks end on end for each foot.. or, set up your Bagua Circle with bricks on end.. everything changes.. and, get lots of Dit Da Jow for the ankles Be well..

Greetings.. Hi Bill, I hear some of the old Taoist monks (Complete Reality Sect) have returned, due to a certain 'immunity to practice' and a comfortable stipend granted as an enticement to the new "Preservation of Cultural Heritage" programs (read, attract tourists), but.. the old manuscripts are still there and still attended to by pre-tourist authentic monks.. as i hear it, the 'old monks' cannot resist the mountain's mysteries.. legends help, too.. Be well..

Greetings.. Go to Hua Shan.. the rest will take care of itself.. Be well..

Greetings.. Unfortunately, the simple Clarity of this quote is balanced with the angst generated by the preferred method of 'pointing'.. We each climb the same mountain, different paths, same mountain.. Be well..

Greetings.. Dreams, that we recall, are the adventures of Awareness released from the duties of maintaining the physical experience during the waking portions of our existence.. it is the 'local awareness' of Consciousness reconnecting with its 'non-local' existence.. hence the fragmented and disconnected recollections/dreams of that awareness.. the vastness on non-locallity seldom recurrs in a sequential continuum.. the absence of recollections/dreamlessness or 'deep sleep', is the result of awareness encountering experiences we have no frame of reference for recalling.. Waking existence, the local environment, recurrs sequentially in a continuum of verifiable experiences.. it is the reality in which we are manifested and our aware Consciousness effects Change.. Be well..

Greetings.. This video never gets old, i laugh every time.. http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/5751467/ But, i can't laugh when this thread turns into that video.. Good luck, MPG.. BaguaKid is a gifted and sincere Neigong student, a worthy traveler on your journies.. Be well..

Greetings.. It is my experience that i can actually 'let/allow' the mind relax or rest.. it seems to only be a type of conditioning that compells the mind to incessantly chatter.. after just a few sessions of effort to find stillness, the mind seems to appreciate 'time-off'.. It is also my experience that there is no 'goal' other than the clarity.. without the 'chatter' fragmenting the sensory input, the sensations of existence are 'connected', fluid, vibrant, symbiotic, and consistent.. sensations, unhindered by 'mind-play', reveal much more than the classic physical senses, the experience of existing becomes (W)holistic.. beyond the mind's categorizing, conceptualizing, and intellectualizing, there is the Clarity that simply refines your 'Nature'.. when you become the Life you Live, not the memories reshaped by programming.. Bed well..

Greetings.. "Realization of the truth", begins without any sense of its outcome, without and preference for the result.. and, if the seeker is sincere, 'truth' will never be revealed.. the simple caution of unhappiness because the self might be a 'fiction',is the subtle prejudicing of the seekers authenticity.. As i have maintained since visiting this forum, suspend the beliefs, thoughts, preferences and prejudices.. still the mind, and let Clarity reveal 'What IS'.. then, you will be able to shape it into 'your' understanding from Clarity.. not from someon else's interpretations, or dogma, or programming.. at least have the Authentic experiences to shape your understandings.. Be well..

Greetings.. Stilling the mind is fairly difficult until you are able to actually identify what it IS.. most beginners have already had decent experiences of stilled minds, but didn't recognize it as such . so.. it's difficult to do something that you have no working model for.. the 'words', "Still the Mind", don't tell you much.. Have you ever listened to certain music, usually instrumental, and found youself simply mesmerized, i am fond of Orlental and Native American Flute music, Hindu, Middle Eastern, North African, and Afro-Celtic Instrumentals.. there's a quality that seems 'trance like', where the Mind relaxes and there's a coherence/resonance between you the experiencer and the experience of the music.. there's no 'thinking', no thought.. the Mind is still but the Awareness is vibrant receptive Alive.. There's a technique i recommend for a 'quick-start' to stilling the mind.. find a comfortable posture/position.. agree with yourself that you intend to meditate, and.. extend your index fingers to the point that you feel a slight bit of tension along the inside (palm-side) surface of the fingers.. the positions of the other fingers is unimportant as long as they aren't 'pointing', too.. then, just sit, or stand, or.. even move a bit.. maintain the pointing/tension.. please, let me know how it works out for you.. Be Well..

Greetings.. If possible, i will try to make my understandings very clear.. i understand the the 'stilled-mind' suspends judgment, belief, and distracting chatter.. that experiences unfolding while the mind is still are themselves Clear, and their interconnectedness with ALL of Life is self-evident, i understand these to be 'Pure Experiences'.. it is my understanding, that 'the stilled mind' is balanced by the active mind, the source of great misunderstanding and conflict.. the active mind makes judgments, holds beliefs, is subject to pregramming by mentors and socio-religious 'authorities'.. i understand that one's local environment, cultural history, and lineage of belief systems can and frequently does disguise the authenticity and Clarity of Pure Experiences by influencing the active mind's contemplation and interpretation of the Pure Experiences it has engaged.. I have spent more than three decades exploring the mind's relationship with the processes of Life and with existence itself.. i have explored most of the major belief systems and the precepts they claim as validity for their 'beliefs'.. i have come to some conclusions that are consistent with quantifiable physical relationships and withstand scrutiny.. these same conclusions are revealed in the major belief systems as the thread of 'commonallity' evident in each.. what was first evident early in my exploration, is that ritual and tradition interfere with Pure Experience and Clarity of Understanding.. i am an eaqual opportunity offender when it comes to religions and belief systems, they ALL separate the seeker from the sought.. some more or less than others, but ALL do it.. as i have stated previously, my inclination toward Taoist Philosophy is its minimal influence on the seeker and its clear and pragmatic Understanding of Life and Living in relationship with Existence.. to be fair, i lump 'religious Taoism' in with most other religions.. I have issues with religions and belief systems, Buddhism included, that rely on 'Faith', which is conceptual imaginings consistent with someone else's conceptual imaginings without verifiable evidence of the implied results or implied results that cannot be verified beyond subjective claims.. when someone asks you/me to accept that you 'don't really exist', that 'Life is an illusion', that Life is Suffering, and that 'nothing is really something', what is it in your own Understanding that concludes those to be accurate statements?? Next, as predictable as the seasons, i will be informed as to my misunderstanding of Buddhism (already happened, actually), cool.. help me understand, from a pragmatic perspective, the benefits of pretending unsupportable concepts are so true as to model my physical existence after them.. and, i have no interest in believing anything except that which is 'true', or that which withstands intelligent scrutiny.. show me the error of my understandings and will revise my understandings to be consistent with the more consistent and supportable perspectives.. i very much enjoy authentic discussions that sincerely seek functional conclusions, but find that most religions and belief systems, including Buddhism, are 'exclusive' and view other beliefs as inferior and incorrect.. this may be agrued due to clever word-play, but it is an easily observable actuallity.. I find that Eastern Philosophies, including Hindu variants, and Native American beliefs have certain consistent perspectives and understandings, a 'Thread of Truth', that links each with a set of Fundamental Principles that are practical wisdoms for Living well in the Physical Manifestation, and.. based on recent trends in scientific research, these Fundamental Principles are revealing the 'Middle Way' between Science and Spirituality to enhance the Human Experience, both physically and Spiritually.. the failure of most belief systems is rooted in their certainty that their's is the 'only true way'.. it is this 'exclusivity' that breeds conflict between otherwise peaceful peoples, the attachment with 'blind faith' to the dogma of Right/Wrong.. and the belief that 'wrong' cannot co-exist with 'right', leading to the doctrine of 'convert or eliminate'.. so, when faced with Doctrine of any faith, and Buddhism IS a doctrine of faith, i am compelled to inquire as to the veracity of the Doctrine and the dedication of the believer.. Be well..