Rocky Lionmouth

I've had similar experiences lately, but i think that in my case it might be coming from being able to stay centered and calm enough to take "everything" in and still have space for more. Now it's more of a voluntary action, not so spontaneous anymore, but it's good because i can summon calm and not be surprised by it. It takes one, max two breaths and then it's there. I really like that thing you mentioned about the "pebble in a pond" idea, that feels like a good way of describing it. It's like getting rid of that familiar feeling of modern society sensory overload, but i've been practicing my standing meditation and some of my qigong forms almost every day for about six months so it might just be that my focus and centering-skill has improved. Or is it one of those "hightened states of awareness" that i've heard so much about?

GOL! I tried reading some of it out aloud and found myself failing to articulate between giggles!

Yep, i think you're right about Gong Fu, it's a viable path to self knowledge and gives the benefit of discipline and health, i know my Sifu and Dai Si would joyously agree with you Hmm, yeah it's applications as i've envisioned them seem defensive enough (or at least subject to a "ride the wind" strategy), even though i'm guessing catching a sword'd be high level development, depending on the size of the Vajra. Seen a footlong one, thinking of buying it and see what to do with it. Except for fumbling and dropping it on my foot that is. Yeah i read about it on wiki, i'd love to read the source about the Indian weapon thing. Lemme know if you find it?

Love that one, i'd trace it to Rumi, but thats whatever really.

Im moved by the charity being done in this thread, too bad it's not being appreciated.

Uhm, sorry for bump but I've been looking for info on this topic and not found much of anything. Maybe this is the right thread, maybe not, and if so forgive me. I've read numerous references to the Vajra being used as a weapon, and not just mythologically. I'm curious about wether the vajra in this case is in likeness of the actual ritual tool or is it a more "weaponlike" representation of it? I mean a person who has Gong Fu should be able to figure out a good way to use it (off the bat I'd say it seems to have multiple trapping, bludgeoning and stabbing/pressure point applications) but is there a known formalization of it as weapon? Cheers //Afternoon musings...

My body does that too, kinda sneaks up on me When i started doing it there was tension everywhere and exhaustion, sweats and whatnot. But difficulties are normal in the beginning since you're doing the exact opposite movement of what you have practiced earlier with ab-breathing. I experience the same thing everytime i learn a new technique in kungfu or qigong, muscles don't know what to do and struggle to break the already established patterns (human body is a great example of inertia at work). I had to establish this new way of motion in my physical repertoire first, THEN learn to fine tune all the synapses and nerves and shave off all the unnecessary movement and tension. As with everything, it's a gradual process. Try to do it as a breathing meditation, just sit in your favourite posture and do nothing other than reverse breathing, no visualizations, nothing, more like a litteral Zazen approach, just explore the technique and the sensations it generates. It took me quite some time and practice to get a fluid motion and i still unintentionally "do it wrong" a lot (don't focus on right or wrong, stay neutral in your mind and don't expect anything to happen). Once you get familiar with it you'll start to feel it's effects on your body, they will be positive.

Hey! Saw the mail, read your post, its good!

Anytime!

Hmm, spot on my friend, though didn't know it had a name! True about the newborn in its essence, next step is karma, wich i right now also understand as a construct of both social and environmental root. But hey, i still got a long way to go i hear Thanks for your advice. When you start to practice that it shows you where you tense up in the process of breathing whit your abs contracted (back, shoulders, chest, neck and a bunchload of places) and so you learn to relax everything you don't need to be tense. In the end you can still breathe effectively and oxygenate yourself properly when you need to use your abs for support or such. It can do a whole lot of different effects i hear, i've only found out a few myself, namely those above. In meditation i find it helps me focus. I think it stimulates the flow of qi in your body more actively than the regular abdominal breathing, but i'm not sure, i'm kinda new to qigong. From a martial point of view it does wonders for your core, when properly used you can express a lot of energy with it and it can help you withstand powerful strikes to the body, but im still exploring that as well. You should try it Remember to draw in the dan tien as you breathe in and expand your abs completely at the exhale, and see that your breath goes deep. No tension anywhere in the body. Try this while sitting and just standing, look it up, it might help you keep your breath good even when walking fast or running. Just a thought

Indeedio! No matter how many times the word subtle is mentioned around these practices many still expect discernible results. As as i've walked in the world with both Tao and Chan in mind all i'm learning is to disregard my own ideas about myself, the world, Tao and Chan. I came into it a romantic, and what i'm looking at now is almost depressing. My western mind is always "wrong", my definition of self is always empty. Even though that brings me to great "results" i can't say it's a result i wanted, or want. Existance is truly like the proverbial muddy waters, there is a need to search in depth and disregard everything: it's all either mud or water, none of the two are really the issue. But there's always another way to look at it, not in the sense of a better way, just another one to add to the collection of paradoxes. Quite bothersome, but i've learned to cope with delusion and the fickle nature of emotions very well Do i come off as pretentious and with my head stuck up my a** a lot? That's how i feel at least Are you familiar with reverse abdominal breathing?

Maybe this is OT but here goes: how do you guys feel while in an OBE? Any sensations afterwards? I mean either physical or emotional. Had my first OBE, "spontaneously", some time ago, while wide awake: Accidentally walked off a roof some 7meters up in the air, the moment i felt the void and the plunge i saw myself from the outside, hardly recognized myself at first, and looked at myself falling and thought "i die now." and then almost immediately "No, wait, i'll be paralyzed." Then i got pulled back into my body as it curled up to a fetal position, and instantly hit a roof section three meters below and broke my leg with a loud cracking sound. Dreadful experience. Strangest thing was i wasn't scared or excited or anything, there was almost no emotion whatsoever, just these inner monolouge statements. Funny thing is it all happened in slow motion, i swear it felt like minutes before i hit the roof below. I cant really say if the world around me looked like the physical place i was at since the focus was so strong on the falling body in front of me, all i can remember clearly of my surroundings was the backdrop of the brick wall, and some external light source on the far right that wasn't there post-impact. Think i was in a state of schock when i came to a few seconds later and the pain hit. Heat, sweat, coldness, stiffness, spaghetti-limbs, all these things going in cycles for about 40 minutes. I've heard it's not uncommon with NDE's and the like. I do not recommend this practice for OBEs, ( ) falling from a height towards uncertain landing was traumatizing and the following nights i re-lived the fall as i was drifting towards sleep. Not as an OBE, but as a physical memory with all the fear of death and pain, lasted mere instants, much like the time i must have spent falling in the physical.

Bit of both

I thought there is no such thing as time, that it's only subjective illusion. The fact that we are able to be aware of a plurality of stages in the process of that subjective illusion unfolding gives us the impression that we are affected by it. Blargh. Or maybe not. I don't know, i'm having a hard time not being subject to said illusion. The most important thing about a spiritual path is to walk it, right? At least if you listen to it's endorsers. Marketing isn't maybe too far off from the core of this time-thing. And we all know how NOW is the best time to get something DONE, and how many of us feel LATER is a better time for NOW to be happening and things to be DONE. Right? The whole age shift thing, maybe that's true and will become significant, maybe only if given enough opportunity to manifest itself? And yes, technology is advancing fast, but not faster than we can share information, make good of it and apply its fruits. I'd even say everything is advancing just as fast as it ever was, but now we're aware that it's enveloping a larger scope of people and a larger actual area than we were able to be aware of earlier. Speed, urgency, time and such are - IMHO - relative. Ages, are defined by us. We chose how to formulate the universe around us through our illusionary understanding of it, we are active, we are acting, some of us even non-acting at times. And if you look at history, isn't it always a good time for something? It's always a good time to look at what's really important in life. Of course some paths are more ripe than others, but that is still a subjective illusion right? Or am i missing something? I wont be the one to deny tendencies. That's the whole idea about tao right? A general whole with some internal tendencies and their counteracting tendencies? Like a breathing body.(I know i'm simplyfying in absurdum here but bear with me) Maybe we're just very good at analysing the current tendency and predict its normal force (as in physics normal force, counteraction, whatever you wanna call it) from our previous knowledge about opposing forces. However, we seem to always be surprised when a true shift comes around the bend. We might turn green tomorrow, as a consequence of whats been happening. Maybe all this war and misery we know about now has shifted our consciousness, at least in part? No such thing as essential properties, no such thing as fixed states. Only motion and uncontrolled dynamic shifts in opposing forces, perfectly balanced at all times. That is the Tao, or isn't - as it cant be defined and it escapes all accurate description. But yeah, why should anything be more right than anything else just by it's possible placing in a stage of existance? It must be related to the effect you're trying to achieve right? Like in martial arts, timing is the only thing that matters really, but it is relative to circumstances and your intentions. I dont know, i should probably hit the sack instead of being here ranting about thing i cannot know. PEACE

Why dont you ask the Lama these questions? No but seriously, he's ought to have some insight in the matter - ask him, slip him a note or something else.

Oh i agree, 35mm has nothing on the true oldschool stuff.

I highly reccomend you to get a nice purple earthenware pot, can't remember the proper name for it but they're great. Single serving style, you sip it out the spout if you wanna be real traditional about it I saw someone already reccomended Tie Kuan Yin (my acupuncturist says it's strong for the stomach, but exactly what he means by that i'll have to get back to you on), that one is a favourite to enjoy out of earthenware pots. There is one Tie Kuan Yin variety that has a much more intense flowery taste, Tie Kuan Yi laplap hoa. Also a green tea called Hua Bi Luo, excellent taste! Otherwise get a chinese porcelain tea-brewer and hit it with any loose, non cut leaves: green, white (Mao Feng is very nice), oolong, black tea (Try the slightly expensive Kusmi brand Assam, ho-lee...) and it'll taste great and the balance of tastes and bitterness will be easier to control. IMHO is that any kind of metal that comes in contact for longer than a second with the tea during and after brewing will make the taste more bitter and produce higher amounts of that pesky acid that can give your stomach an unpleasant flush. Also, never let any tea simmer too long, the boquet mixes up and becomes very unison if it gets too strong... OT: i wish i knew more herbology.

Hi! Newly arrived on the site, have eyed through a few topis and i'm amazed to see how many people out there who are practicing and seem to have accomplished so much in their work! I was born in sweden but my ancestries lie in italy, my primary occupation is creativity in the fields of graphic art and music. On taoism i've humbly read the Tao Te Ching after i being pointed in that direction by a quaint little book by one B. Hoff who relates the principles of taoism to a set of characters from a popular childrens book (wich left me thirsty to say the least, no for cartoons but for developing a closer bond to the Tao) Studied a bit of Osho's lectures on Lao Tzu and his classic, found it pretty helpful. I'm relatively new and unexperienced in the arts of meditation and qigong, but i have practiced Southern Shaolin Five Form Fist under GM Tran Loi Minh Dai-Si and his main swedish disciples for about five, five and a half years now. I've been into the idea of Taoism since my early teens and i confess myself to be a bit of a philosopher in the topic (a talkative one i might add) but i'm very stoked about the taoist practices of inner development. My sifus give me tips and hints on the internal aspects of our art and i'm planning to apply myself deeper into our systems QiGong side, wich is Five Elements Qi Gong, this fall. Anyhow, i just wanted to say hi to you guys and say that i'm very happy to have found a place where to discuss these matters, since most people i know go cross eyed and have meltdowns when i adventure in such topics Looking forward to become wiser by your teachings! PEACE

At first i thought this link was wrong or something, on some "whats with the contemporary amateur artistic photo thing?" First thing that came to my mind when i realized this was supposed to be proof of a magic technique was what you just mentioned! It's easy to use even with your average random "not so expensive and advanced" digitals, even though an ordinary 35mm film camera would yield a better, more "spectral" result. High aperture values and long exposure with a low sensitivity film or a dimly lit room and presto! You look like you're an etheral creature, dissapearing into thin air, or being extremely fast in your movements comic-book style. This is photo-school 101. Now i'm not discrediting the guy who claims to be able to turn invisible and his high level technique, but his evidence is on the level of cheap parlor tricks.

"Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water. After enlightement: chop wood, carry water." - some Zen dude "If you meet the buddha on the street - kill him." - Gotama Buddha (?)