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wierd. I read a book called 'the tao of zen', except it was by alan watts. Dont remember much, if any of it, now.. except that my impression of alan ... that he is really an excellent author, and really knows his eastern philosophy. maybe I should read it again sometime =p

There is an awesome, awesome page at biologyofkundalini. com (or something like that,) that describes the effects of NO... especially in regards to its association with kundalini.

didn't modern hermetic come from 3 free-masons? (or something like that..) I know a free-mason... he's a nice guy but couldn't be anymore unspecial... but this doesn't mean I don't think that, potentially, being a free-mason would make me slightly more privvy to other organizations actually worth a damn. or am I being naive?

this is from her website, about her fourth book: "Since 1993 Jasmuheen has received all her nourishment and vitamins from prana and has no need to take food. This book also covers immortality and tools to stop the aging process. " holy shit, she's an immortal. (I don't care what anyone says, if you're living off chi, you're immortal.) that's more than chia can say.. I've never heard he ever made the jump to the prana-diet. ...in fact, I don't think I have heard of anyone alive currently claiming this.. except for a somewhat questionnable article at cnn.com... wow....just wow.... bodri talks about it in his books... don't recall in real-live references, though! has anyone any experience with her? is this true-- that she is .. what's the word...uh.. well, that she doesn't need food anymore? (for over a decade??) she's leading the 2007 dark-room retreat, tao garden. (I wish I could afford it... the 2 grand or so for the flight alone is already too expensive...) her website is cheesy, but I guess I still kind of appreciate it.

I think you should have added a text-bubble above your head saying "DIE!!!" or something. (now you have a how do you say... whats the sanskrit word for vagina..?) as an avatar, lol ) I think you were right when you said it was just a picture. HAS ANYONE SEEN RON JEREMY?? WHERE HAS HE GONE?? He was quite the genius there at the end... also really had me convinced about the chem-trails thing... (omg,)

great! thanks. I was just searching the forums and ordered a bunch of dion fortune books.. the kyballion.. and a qigong book =p I can't wait lol to have them

well, it seems falun gong members just want to practice falun gong. And, the chinese government still seems pretty corrupt. So are they really bad guys for wanting to overthrow their government? I wonder what fried eyeballs taste like I really wish I knew what the motive was!!

I agree with the jist of the two earlier posts... the biggest thing about taoism, in my opinion, is that there is no dogma... no right or wrong... the good men are the teachers of the bad... But the poor thing about taoist philosophy is that it can be contradicting. (probably because it was written by different people at different times...).... I find apparant contradictions within the tao te ching, hua hu ching... and can easily, easily understand why sean, and any others, would think along these lines. Though I lean towards the more 'nihilistic' side of taoist philosophy, I totally dig and respect the more 'selfless and virtuous' side, as well. virtue is non-virtuous, non-virtue is virtuous.... I can come up with some contradictions between these two books, tao te ching and hua hu ching, if you need me to.

haha I wouldnt be caught dead in one of those outfits. Just wear some khaki's, dude. (please! )

Tao.org not so much a monastary, (which would be dreamy,) but it is a private temple with programs and stuff. in boston.

I thought I would share this gem with you ... I own a couple of his books, and I have read one of them, and use it as reference, (tantra: the path of ecstasy) I didn't know he had a site. There is even an e-learning program (250 hours and 800 hours...) on yoga tradition and stuff... I am sure they're almost useless for practical purposes... But I think I'll have to sign up for a course one of these days! before I forget here is the url: http://www.traditionalyogastudies.com/ I am still exploring it... oooh, here is a pretty cool quiz.. it is something I think of often, and i think fits well on these boards: ---- Is it possible to stably reach the higher levels of Yoga without a guru? yes, absolutely 21.25% (133) no way 13.10% (82) not very likely 13.90% (87) for some it may be possible 30.03% (188) one's progress is entirely up to the Divine 11.82% (74) it all depends on one's karma 9.90% (62)

Level 6 (Prerequisite: Invited candidates only) Objective: Toward realization of Nirvana: Training and a further retreat. Contents: The ultimate goal: Nirvana in Theravada, Middle Carrier and Mahayana doctrine: Examining past and future lives, Transcending or jumping out from the cycles of Samsara. ------ If someone is teaching this level-- does this mean that there is someone who has achieved this level involved in this training?

pfft. I remember when I explored falun gong, and they said that I would have to stop all other spiritual practice If I were to try falun gong. Of course I didn't. I would be betray any instructor before I would betray myself. There is no reason, (I know of,) why you should not supplement your standing with CFQ... If this instructor is an ass like that, simply lie to him and tell him you're not doing it anymore. This way, you can learn CFQ, maintain your standing practice, and further enrich your spiritual practice.

a nice news program documenting a local qi-gong expert. you know, this annoys me... because I have some serious, serious, hay-fever/seasonal allergies.. and I never could find any relief from meditation/qigongwhatever. I guess it is totally possible that I just didn't do it enough... ...but I prefer to think that allergies are a unique illness.. instead of a cancer or virus or bacteria in my body.. it is my body itself over-reacting to things it regards as dangerous to my system... does anyone have any qigong advice for allergies?? any anecdotes?? friends or neighbors, *anyone* ever hear of qigong curing allergies?? --and please, no 5 elemental or herbal advice. =p

thats because I'm fucking lazy! hahahaha..... I don't want to go into youtube to find it again. go to youtube.com and search qigong local news, it shouldn't be too difficult to find.

ooooh thanks

oh... I forgot to include the video.. lol. unfortunately, barn-yard animals and a raw-diet are somewhat out of the question for the moment. thanks, though... --freeform, I am about as spiritually advanced as any other zombie you meet on the street-- thus, no real connection to the meridians. Very interesting about the triple-warmer-- never heard that one before. I will have to remember that. when it comes to TCM, I tried working with the more manifest of the elementals... foods, hot baths, that sort of thing. There was never any improvement =( phil, what is the water cure? (surely not nasal irrigation? that doesn't work, either.)

that's, really, super incredibly cool...

judging from experience, I would say that list is pretty accurate... with the exception of the retracted genitals. I have all those qualities, you see, (even my arms reach below my knees,) but I have this MASSIVE schlong that I fling everywhere, you know. I can't even wear briefs because I would have to *coil* my schlong up like a snake to get them to fit.. and that's pretty uncomfortable.

when I do qigong or tai-chi, I usually just fuck around. I am in the process of learning yang-long style (private lessons-- W00t!).. but I still find myself just fucking around and doing whatever... getting more into the feeling of the qi than into the feeling of the form. but I am really begining to question how you are supposed to manipulate the qi when you do tai-chi!! I learned how to 'really' feel it (I guess...I think...) via embracing the tree pose. ...So it was like I was holdng a ball of qi. Now, I am experimenting trying to get a feel for all the qi in the room-- I think, and try to feel, as if, through my movements, I control a flow of qi through the room. is this the right idea? I have also tried experimenting as so... at every progressing stance, I will experiment by feeling more grounded, to feeling more 'airy', to feeling more grounded. (switching from heaven to earth every stance..) Just today I have begun trying to feel the qi build up only inside my body, which makes me feel real thick and strong and want to hit things. I have noticed there is a serious lack of real tai-chi instruction, beyond the 'this is how you move your arms and legs' shit! wtf! can someone help me???

thanks =) I'll google it...

uh, sorry, kinda off course here-- "Imagine what it feels like when all the chi and emotions you've been repressing come up to be discharged? Most people run away. Then they criticize the method instead of themselves for being cowards." what are these techniques you are refering to? =p

I must have been in the hamstring stretch 5-10 min today. It's the best! especially when you feel it in the upper thoractic spinal area when you hang your head down. the hamstring stretch itself is great, too. it's really, really nice when you feel it in your calves, as well. I think I'll do it right now...

hey-- I just ordered a DVD off of amazon that I found after searching 'universal tai-chi'... and I found this really cool sounding practice-- the dance of shiva. I hope to get it soon I wish I could do next-day shipping. It sounds like it would be incredibly embarrasing to do in public, (I think tai-chi is embarrasing in public ) but very cool none-the-less... it was mentioned that whereas tai-chi concentrates on energy and developing it for martial arts purposes, the dance of shiva is more focused on developing transcendental spiritualism. (or something like that...) anyone know anything about it??? I am very intrigued and can't wait for the DVD! is it really any good .. or just some wacko bullshit??

OMG the topic about nitric oxide is totally enlightening! this site is ABSOLUTELY godsend. I have some NO that I never used... I was going to use it to supplement my body-building program... But I figured that since I was using creatine, I had better not load up on too many chemicals like that. I think I'll start taking the supplement =p at the end of the topic.. he really gets you wondering about the physiological importance of celibacy/excessive ejaculation. I wonder whatr he has to say about that...???