The Observer

Unification or consolidation the thrust of the act is similar. I've often thought of conquerors and empire-builders as unconcious agents of progress; maybe Ghengis Khan realized this when he proclaimed himself the Whip of God to the Muslims he encountered.

Passivity is the root of action, activity the root of tranquility. One emerges from the other in a never ending cycle...

I would argue that his accomplishments were admirable. Remember, thanks to Alexander the Great Greek culture spread to the rest of the Middle East, even to India and East Asia (to an extent). The fact that he tried marrying his Macedonian officers to the Persian nobility showed that he more in mind than just conquest, but rather the unification of the known world. There is a Monty Python skit that illustrates a very valid point about empires; they are bad for the conquerors, but in their wake they leave new, open trade routes and the spread of new ideas!

Any good books you guys can recommend on Taoist techniques for love making/sexual cultivation?

Bang up job? Really? So if I killed your family, forced you to speak another language, force colonize your country and torture/imprison you that's a bang up job? Some "Qi Gong Teacher" you are...how much are the communists paying you?

There is nothing wrong with making a choice to improve your current conditions. Even doing nothing is making a decision. If for example you are sick and you do qigong to improve your health (not only for yourself but for the loved ones that depend on you) how can that be a negative thing. I do agree however, that it is negative to want to change other people, at least against their own will.

Dude.....sometimes there is only a few right ways to do something. There's nothing wrong with being given a lesson (provided you have a teacher with a good-heart).

I agree with Yuen, a good teacher can see much, much, much, more than the average Joe. Also there are many intangibles that perhaps you may only learn kinesthetically. Aside from that a DVD or book can be a useful supplement to the direct teaching you receive.

This is very important. Regardless of your paradigm you should focus on the moment at hand, this life is very valuable. Now that aside I believe that if you have the experience this neurosurgeon had and you come back to the world of the living with full recall of it, it's so you can bring something valuable back for the rest of us world dwellers. A hero's journey in every sense of the word.

Power is energy in it's yang state. Sometimes power flows through you; it's not a bad thing to enjoy it as long as you don't abuse it, just know that when it's leaving you don't be attached to it and harmonize with the cycles of nature. Blockages happen when you hold on to things too long.

Not a 100% relevant but from what I've been taught you can find the 3 dantiens (mouth=lower dt, nose=mid dt, eyes=upper dt) represented in the head. Once again the macrocosm can be found in the microcosm.

Maybe it's not the world that's wrong but rather our point of view and perspective. Kind of like how you're cranky when you ain't slept and rested enough, meditate deeply and it's like you got new eyes (and perspective too)!

Life is like a dream and dream is like life....the two blur together till each is indistinguishable....so called evil manifestations in real life and dreams are just unconscious parts of my mind that want to be spoken to instead of pushed away. Each day I strive to shed light on my whole mind until it's one unified, glowing, radiant, whole.

Give up knowledge? I suppose that means knowledge of the Tao Te Ching and the knowledge of reading and writing that let you type up that post....

I recently bought three statues of Chinese gods. To make a long story short, I just wanted the statue of Guan Yu, but the other 2 figures came with it as a package so I bought em all. So getting to the point who are the other 2 gods flanking Guan Yu in the attached picture?

Wow. Awesome book, thank you for sharing Gerard!

It is said that to become a Buddha you must become a bodhisattva/bodhisaata first. And if I am not mistaken bodhisattva's have complete recall of their previous lives. Why did the Buddha have to undergo all those trials in order to gain his wisdom, when theoretically he should have lived at least one incarnation as a bodhisattva and with it total recall of his previous lives? Nirvana="blown or put out, extinguished" as per http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nirvana

Ok, ET I think we are getting off topic, let's stay on the subject.

If one works to his fullest ability and receives nothing in return then he his getting played. He may need to find a different work/study venue. However, the norm is that effort is rewarded. Sometimes, the ones leading are only there because of luck or some kind of privilege. In that case I would go work/study somewhere else if possible. Usually (or rather ideally) the ones leading are getting lots in return because they are doing more mentally intense kind of work rather than physical labor (mental work=more expensive than physical labor, which means higher salary for boss guy).

As far as love and forgiveness go, I extend it as much as I can (such that I am not hurting myself or being stupid) to everyone I meet; however, I don't expect to just get it from people. I let my actions determine that. If my actions are guided by virtue and a good heart and nothing was given in return then I have nothing to be guilty about, I did my best. The same goes for other things. There is a time to be easy going and a time for work. If I sit on my butt all day that's not going to put food on my plate.

Small Fur made an amazing post so I guess the only thing I can add to that is; just relax and enjoy each breath!

I think that life is Yin and Yang. When you are awake, work, make love, socialize with others, argue, etc. that is the Yang phase. Too much of this and you will become tired. When you sleep, relax and meditate this is Yin. You go into the void and receive nourishment from Dao (in a more direct way anyways). When I have had too much Yang I become dissatisfied with the external world and go inside for nourishment. When I have had too much Yin I become restless and extend outwards to do things in the world.

I meant you have to earn an easy going work schedule and frequent vacations. I'm not sure where your going with the rest of the post...clarify please.

No disrespect intended to any Magick people here but is it stupid for me to doubt the legitimacy of Magick practices in the West versus Oriental practices because the Western ones seem like something made up or mashed together? Granted a lot of Eastern practices are fusions of different things but the lineages seem longer and more continuous than the Magick traditions.

I think it's hilarious that you guys start multi-page thread wars about knowing how to master elements when none of the people arguing can even master their own emotions enough to stop themselves from childish outbursts. I like what Fu Yue said although I can't confirm it myself.