Harmonious Emptiness

I really don't think it's gone that far, but what makes you think so? I think there is too much critical thinking, and total disregard for any levels of authority for it to be a cult. There is no forced indoctrination or inner circles or homogenization of beliefs even. I'll just say in regards to the OP, that religion is essentially commodified spirituality, imo, which is not necessarily a bad, or good, thing. The trouble is just that the structure which has been created in order to mass distribute the spirituality becomes worshiped instead of the virtue it was meant to proliferate. It's like a faster way was created to hold music (mp3 vs. cd) and so people enjoy the music but are so attached to the convenience of mp3s that they will fight even the possibility of other ways of distribution. Still, the live show and the master-tapes are where it's at, but these channels for mass distribution have issues co-existing. It's not a perfect system, but it does the trick until everyone learns how to play music themselves, or something.

Yeah, I didn't mean to provide an alternate way to getting high, just a way to wean one's self off of addictions. The catnip, being a mild muscle relaxer, is good just because the mild effect is hardly noticeable but enough to relax some of the physical discomfort that comes with kicking a habit, and some of the tension that comes with that too. I'd be surprised if it actually caused euphoria at all. The kava kava also is just in case the mind is really pushing for some kind of sensation to get over a rougher time, sort of like they provide in rehab clinics, but not as strong. I hesitated to put it there since it could just replace the old way of getting a buzz, but as a last resort it's better than going back to the original source of addiction. Of course, going for a walk somewhere and just doing something else with your time is a much better option; or getting so healthy and feeling awesome that you'd never be satisfied with anything less than FRESH AIR...

Sounds like you missed this: Transcendental Meditation Experiment Arrests Crime Study Shows Dramatic Drop in Violent Crime During D.C. Project 1 June 99 A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Social Indicators Research reports on one of the most dramatic sociological experiments ever undertaken. Researchers predicted in advance that the calming influence of group meditation practice could reduce violent crime by over 20 percent in Washington, D.C., during an 8-week period in the summer of 1993. In fact, the findings later showed that the rate of violent crime--which included assaults, murders, and rapes--decreased by 23 percent during the June 7 to July 30 experimental period. The odds of this result occurring by chance are less than 2 in 1 billion. Rigorous statistical analyses ruled out an extensive list of alternative explanations, according to John Hagelin, lead author of the study and director of the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa. "This work and theory that informs it deserve the most serious consideration by academics and policy makers alike." Dr. David Edwards, University of Texas- Austin The demonstration project involved assembling nearly 4,000 practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs from 81 countries. Participants were housed in hotels and college dormitories throughout the District of Columbia and at the University of Maryland. Hagelin says previous research had shown that these meditation techniques "create a state of deep relaxation and coherence in the individual and simultaneously appear to produce an effect that spreads into the environment, influencing people who are not practicing the techniques and who have no knowledge of the experiments themselves."

Catnip tea is sometimes used to help get over addictions. It is a mild muscle relaxant and sedative for humans. Some people even use it to put their kids to sleep (not that I'm recommending such things, especially without checking with a qualified naturopath, which I am not) White pine, sweet grass, and sage is also very chill. If you're looking for more of a buzz, there's kava kava, but it can be dangerous apparently if not from an excellent source, and I would be very careful about mixing it with other herbs. I find that sometimes herbs work better when used alone, possibly because the body can process the effects better than when processing so many at the same time. That said, some herbs should be used to balance others, especially when using Chinese herbs.

Though there are many chapters directed to rulers, I think the above statement misses the fact that so much of the Tao Te Ching is advice to every person to follow the ways of nature and thus the ways of the sage. This is not only for those in power. The disenfranchised are also shown how to benefit from their position, and also to see through common impulses to envy the powerful. For example, see chapters 63 and 64: Feng and English translations: Sixty-three Practice non-action. Work without doing. Taste the tasteless. Magnify the small, increase the few. Reward bitterness with care. See simplicity in the complicated. Achieve greatness in little things. In the universe the difficult things are done as if they are easy. In the universe great acts are made up of small deeds. The sage does not attempt anything very big, And thus achieved greatness. Easy promises make for little trust. Taking things lightly results in great difficulty. Because the sage always confronts difficulties, He never experiences them. Sixty-four Peace is easily maintained; Trouble is easily overcome before it starts. The brittle is easily shattered; The small is easily scattered. Deal with it before it happens. Set things in order before there is confusion. A tree as great as a man's embrace springs up from a small shoot; A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth; A journey of a thousand miles starts under one's feet. He who acts defeats his own purpose; He who grasps loses. The sage does not act (I think it should be added that this statement ought to be understood in light of wu-wei, or empty-action, meaning "the sage does not act out of egotism"), and so is not defeated. He does not grasp and therefore does not lose. People usually fail when they are on the verge of success. So give as much care to the end as to the beginning; Then there will be no failure. Therefore the sage seeks freedom from desire. He does not collect precious things. He learns not to hold on to ideas. He brings men back to what they have lost. He help the ten thousand things find their own nature, But refrains from action.

dry dust in nostrils dripping down with self pity fresh grass. mmmmm. wholesome.

Yeah, I guess it depends on how you learn it. Seems like the most common way is let the qi settle naturally afterwards, but not to say there aren't other good ways to close. Something to re-invigorate the circulation at the end sounds good too. The tensing thing I was talking about isn't something I would ever take as a general rule, but there does seem to be some specific ways of flexing the body if you watch Shaolin qi gong styles. I'm just not ruling out the possibility is all...

Khemetic proverb: "be in the rhythm of the time"

What qualifies as a "hyper-conscious state?" Do you mean "acutely aware," such as being absorbed in what one's doing? Short of enjoyment, I think pressure is a big cause for that, but it's possible to turn it on simply by will. See my signature (intensely, with acute awareness ). To wax philosophical a bit more, fear can create acute awareness, so can probably any intense emotion, but they can also make one less fully aware ("missing the forest for the trees") which I think is a more valuable destination to work towards. So a calm state of mind can be necessary for full awareness when compatible with awakened senses. Paradoxically, over-stimulated senses can dull awareness... Paddling too hard can flip the boat or over steer it.. Not paddling at all's no good too... If you've ever paddled with 2 people in a canoe, it's like the back and front need to paddle in balance. The back has to pay attention and keep the boat straight, while the front helps to push but too much and the back can't steer any more. If you're talking about things like Kundalini awakening, I guess looking deeply into the water sometimes can flip the boat... if you're lucky the waters nice and warm...

In Chapter Fourteen, it's quite apparent that there is more being pointed to than a mere philosophical principle. This chapter describes (for lack of a better term I'll call it a) "power" or maybe better a "force" in the way that a current has force simply due to the fact that it "moves with the present." Also, from the perspective of shamanic practices, this chapter shows how to find and, perhaps, approach this power. There are plenty of things to be understood from this chapter, but I don't see how this side of it could be overlooked in the process. English/Feng translation (for impartiality) Fourteen Look, it cannot be seen - it is beyond form. Listen, it cannot be heard - it is beyond sound. Grasp, it cannot be held - it is intangible. These three are indefinable; Therefore they are joined in one. From above it is not bright; From below it is not dark: An unbroken thread beyond description. It returns to nothingness. The form of the formless, The image of the imageless, It is called indefinable and beyond imagination. Stand before it and there is no beginning. Follow it and there is no end. Stay with the ancient Tao, Move with the present. Knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of Tao.

Just wanted to add something as I noticed that a lot of this stemmed from an incident with mushrooms. Something I've learned about drugs is that they burn off your spirits. You feel good for a while because they pull the spirits out, but they waste them too. When your depleted of these spirits you will feel like shit because you lose your protective shell of chi. Without this energetic shell you will get sick easily, will be more prone to outside influences of fear and negative emotions, etc. Working out too much can deplete chi as well if its not balanced with relaxation to regenerate. Things like chi gong and meditation are good to rebuild this electromagnetic field and make you feel powerful again. The descriptions of how children and animals are natural and adaptable are also examples of how we naturally conserve our chi. When chi is allowed to flow it will be more vibrant. If we are tense and have negative and/or repressed emotions then we are working against this field. Doing things that we enjoy can make the field more vibrant as well, so long as we don't burn it out. This is why sometimes even going out with buds to a bar and having a great time (without over exerting our emotions) can actually get us over a cold, when logic would say that we should stay at home and rest and not drink alcohol. So, don't be afraid to pursue your dreams and do things you enjoy, as these can actually make you stronger on numerous levels. At the same time, don't overexert yourself and your ambitions as you need to be balanced and harmonious. This involves letting go of things at times. Virtue includes having good character which involves courage and work ethic, but being humble and "letting things go" are also part of it. Tao Te Ching could be translated as "Book of the Way of Powerful Virtue."

I'll throw in my 2 cents here that I think dabbling can be all good so long as one does have a primary focus which the dabbling is meant to nourish. Plus, once you build a solid foundation in a particular side of an art, the other sides become far more accessible. I'm sure this applies in martial arts, when you develop the flexibility, speed, and power in one you will advance quickly in any other styles. Though, the body memory of one style can make certain others difficult so there could be drawbacks, but stripping those barriers would also have many benefits. My reference for this comes from music, mainly. Every instrument uses the same scales and melodies, but they are played differently. However, when you figure out how the other instruments work, you can see the limitations of your main instrument and figure out how to incorporate the "wisdom" of other instruments into how you play. Then, of course, learning drums and percussion gives you better timing, while melodic experience allow drummers to play more "musically." That's all within one art form however. I can see how the attention of painting could assist in martial arts, how the physical discipline of martial arts could assist with drumming, how the sensitivity of music could assist with martial arts, and of course the relationships between martial and healing arts. I guess the moral of the story would be that dabbling is good so long as it enhances your main goal rather than distracts and sabotages it. It's good not to be (too) rigid, so opening up to different things is important, imho.

with so many questions, how could you possibly find an answer?

Well, if it doesn't fit your scientist commie-agent agenda, you can always pretend it doesn't exist .

Anything from the Quan Zhen sect would be my first request, though I'm not sure what has not been translated. There are a number of Liu I Ming texts, especially "Arguments on cultivating the truth" which would be great! The following ones have been translated into English, though I'm not sure where they can all be located. from this thread "Awakening to the Tao; Understanding Reality; Inner teachings of Taoism (which includes Four Hundred Words on the gold pill by Chang Po-Tuan commentary by Liu I-Ming), Journey to the west (short commentary by Liu I-Ming like a page explaining how to read Journey to the west), The Taoist I Ching; a commentary on Triplex Unity, Tapping the Lines (Qiaoyao ge), The Hundred Character Inscription, The Rootless tree (Wugenshu)." Also,

I agree with the above statements that it can be either. It should also be noted, probably, that most religions are not all that far off from shamanism when their adepts pray to higher powers for health or fortune with degrees of ritual. Even Christianity is very shamanistic in some of its forms if we can see beneath the layers of missionary propaganda that has made it seem so different from every other practice of summoning divine power. Judaism also has elements that could be viewed from a shamanistic standpoint with its prophets and divine interventions. Maybe I'm just turning the tables around on the question, but I think it supports your views as well. All cultures and religions were based in a type of shamanism. Few practices even of the same region are exactly the same in shamanistic cultures yet they all reach the same goals (of power)(not to say all practices aim for the same goals). I guess the main issue is just that practices have been limited for political envelopment by a, perhaps, pseudo-spiritual-shamanistic ruling elite and have drawn imaginary demarcations between "legitimate" vs. "superstitious and evil" practices of interacting with unseen powers. Of course, this has largely been an attempt to disarm political opponents, but that's a whole different topic and discussion. On this discussion, I'll add that the political side of the Dao De Jing seems least applicable to shamanism, though I see how the shamanistic roots bubble up in the dealings with every situation and issue. I see massive amounts of similar ground in the way that Native Americans have so much respect for nature and the gentle approach of the sage in the TTC (ha.. the Tao Te Ching, not the Toronto Transit Commission and it's legion of freemason chauffers.. k. now I'm just getting silly.. too much Chuang Tzu today maybe...

I think a lot of people are a bit too limited in their idea of what it means to follow Tao. Following Tao doesn't mean practicing qi gong, or meditating every day, or knowing lots of stuff about Taoism, or not knowing lots of stuff about Taoism. Applying the wisdom of Taoism in your life, your relationships, your struggles, your successes, your health, your learning, as well as in meditation, and qi gong. All of this is part of following Tao. Reading books, vs. meditation, vs. qi gong, any one of these is complementary to the other in following Tao. And following Tao isn't just something you practice or read about, it's something you do. It's about putting aside your desirous and frustrated emotions so that that you can benefit from the wisdom of nature. Doing this on the highway is as important (if not more important) than doing so during your "practice session." And contrary to the popular majority of the advice here, you can also get better at this by following the advice written by Taoist sages. Just don't bite off any more than you can chew when your reading though. Read as much as you think you can remember and put into practice until the next time you open the same book. If you haven't found something you can put into practice, keep reading, once you've found that balance "walk with it." As with any spiritual discipline, you should be practicing that discipline in every and any situation. The meditation, or qi gong, or reading session just gets you going. Sure, you can lean a lot of what's written on your own through meditation and qi gong, but the writings can be fast tracks to tell you what to practice. Don't qualify your every thought according to what you read. Learn for yourself by life experience, surely that's our #1 teacher. But these writings are there for our benefit. The paper might not see into our subconscious, but serendipity will often make it seem like they do come from a personal mentor. Words can have powerful effects. Just be aware that like any power, they can damage us too if we forget ourselves and become totally reliant on them.

From what little I know about absorbing chi into the bones, it's usually done at the end of the qi gong set, whereas this is done at the beginning more as a warm up. I wouldn't want to do this warm up slapping at the end of a qi gong set as I'm pretty sure the relaxed flow feeling after the set is more likely to naturally allow some absorption with a bit of "blowing branches, swaying willows" spontaneous, gentle, swaying. Slapping sort of haphazardly at that point I think would disrupt the nice flow. The method you mention could be a very different approach, and applied after the swaying, though it may involve more intentional and skillful application with timing and accuracy. The tensing up it causes might help move the chi inwards towards the bones, I see things like this in Shaolin hard qi gong, but I don't know much at all about those styles. Someone else here might know something about that method, but the slapping in the beginning doesn't do the same thing, though it likely assists with similar results.

Throughout history, humanity has gone through numerous renaissance, (naissance=birth). I'd say communications technology has been the most recent transformation. Travel technology before that. Science before that with electricity and chemistry. Medicine has been evolving steadily, but it still has lots of potential to continue, both in technology and working with nature instead of only modern science. Discoveries have been made in very short time-spans, and the world is now listening to the same voice as cultures are finally open to each others ideas (if you see further than the hijacked tele-vision screen). The Harlem Rennaisance, 50's and 60's, and continued today, Earth People have made unprecedented progress in clearing away racial barriers, allowing ancient knowledges to intermix... Music has taken on a new level of social power and influence, that one's musical taste now defines a teenager's social identity more than their race, religion, class, or country of origin, in many Western high schools. The music also allows for all nationalities and cultures into each others hearts, mixing elements from African, East Indian (psychedelic guitar=blues+sitar influence), European (classical harmony, song writing composition), Middle Eastern (Cuban music has some Islamic roots as well, giving it more of a downbeat, and funk (and thereby rock) drumming learned a lot from conga rhythms ). There is basically no limit to the sounds we can make to create this music of the world too, given technology in electronic sound manipulations. Power engineering is appearing to have the potential for unlimited free energy if it would ever be allowed within the next, say, 20 years (now that 10s or 100s of thousands of people know about it). So, there have been renaissances of different sorts every 20 or 30 years for the past 350 or so. How should we be enjoying our rebirth for the next 8 years?

Personally, I do some shaking, similar to the Santiago video, before doing qi gong. After the shaking I do another warm up, just twisting the torso side to side and letting the hands loosely slap on my butt, hips, and kidneys/liver areas. From some things I've read, I'm pretty sure purpose of this is to un-stick stagnant jing in channels. So if you add shaking (and maybe body slaps) to your current practice (versus just doing the shaking, which some experienced teachers here do highly suggest for things like you mention), I suggest doing them before the qi gong as the qi gong movements are likely to be more effective in moving the energy after opening your channels. Also the final brush down "smoothing the qi" will be part of any complete qi gong style/system. Let me know if you want suggestions for a system/style.

I think you would enjoy this: The Four Frames of Reference It's a bit hard to read, but you could skip to the second paragraph and just click on the sutra reference links to get to the main information.

The Media-Political-Military-Industrial complex [ha ha ha, I just made that up... prepare to hear it again by someone else in 1 year] and anyone who wants to dominate someone else will pretend that they are something which they are not but that the other can dominate, on a larger level using stereotypes to describe a sector of people so that this becomes the only thing they have to deal with. See George Orwell's Language and Politics, or 1984 and how new-speak limited the amount of things something can be. Orwell noticed the way this happens in real life. See how this propaganda technique is used in daily life (also see "the sheeple police" a la David Icke). People are made to think in those limited paradigms to keep them easily controlled and "in the wrong."

The Media-Political-Military-Industrial complex [ha ha ha, I just made that up... prepare to hear it again by someone else in 1 year] and anyone who wants to dominate someone else will pretend that they are something which they are not but that the other can dominate, on a larger level using stereotypes to describe a sector of people so that this becomes the only thing they have to deal with. See George Orwell's Language and Politics, or 1984 and how new-speak limited the amount of things something can be. Orwell noticed the way this happens in real life. See how this propaganda technique is used in daily life (also see "the sheeple police" a la David Icke). People are made to think in those limited paradigms to keep them easily controlled and "in the wrong." I think this belonged in your other thread, but.. ... like.. whatEVER..!!....