mjjbecker

Don't. Go for Spring Forest Qigong or Santiago's stuff. http://www.springforestqigong.com/ http://www.doblesinstitute.com/wst_page8.php Have a look at the websites. Take some time thinking about the best decision to take for yourself. It's a good thing to ask for advice, but it is not to ask people to make decisions for you. Decisions are your responsibility. Think, enquire, but take responsibility for your own life. Best, Mike

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Nope, but I know someone who is a personal friend and student of Chen Xiaowang. My friend has a high opinion of the father. Personally, I prefer Wu style myself. Those deep stances in Chen style and all that leaping about...too much like hard work for me . Best, Mike

Aye, but in the middle east there seem to be some shady people occupying some of them, (sorry, couldn't resist). Like yourself Cat, I'm with Hagar on this. Bring on the Skol song! Childhood memories...sorry...couldn't resist...

Thank you . You are welcome and my pleasure .

Just ask your teacher for some exercises that he can recommend. I'm sure that will do the job. I don't ever recall seeing a fat instructor of Chen style taijiquan. As for nutrition, I like this website: http://whfoods.org/ Good recipes that actually taste nice and are easy to prepare. Remember: KEEP IT SIMPLE. Best, Mike

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Lets not make any generalisations here regarding what Wang Li Ping does or does not charge. It is something we have very little information about, and non of it has been provided directly from the source-the man himself. In my experience teachers will often vary their price according to their feelings towards the student. Some will pay more, some will pay less. Some will pay nothing-in money. Does a handsome sum of coin go into the pocket of David Verdesi seems to be the issue here. Well, from direct experience I DO NOT KNOW. I THINK it is likely so. But thinking and knowing...they are not the same. Many other people seem to have the same impression. Nothing wrong with that. I would always seek ALL the facts before hanging someone personally. I've jumped to conclusions too many times in the past and placed my foot squarely in my mouth as a result. Now, the only question THAT MATTERS, I think, ( ), is whether it is worth it-TO YOU. People have haggled over prices most likely since the dawn of time, 'I'll give you this lovely piece of flint for that woolly mammoth tale'. Some will agree the price is worth it, some will not. Some will resent not being able to afford the price. Some will simply not be willing to pay. This has also been the case since the beginning of time. Wail and gnash your teeth all you want, it will not change this fact. My own feelings on price differ from the standard economic model of pricing, what the market will bear, i.e. let supply and demand fix the price. I think this is what David Verdesi follows though. A group size maybe 10 people. You set the price to the point where you have your ten people. Same money you'd get for a hundred or more people, but significantly less effort and hassle. Now, you can argue all day regarding how 'spiritual' that is, but in the end it will just come down to people shouting at each other with opinions. That is all they are. Opinion is fine but reality is where the rubber meets the road. There is something to think long and hard about. There are other choices out there-for some. Life provides the options that it does. You don't like it, change it. It is often quite absurd to see the complaining that goes on-something I have been very guilty of, and very easily slip into-about how hard done by we are. Yeh, well that's 'horse shit' to quote my friend. Every day I get to see people riding tricycles around the city. Many are collecting rubbish that people don't want, so they can sell it on. Others are pushing around 1000's of pounds in weight of goods, building materials, etc. They get the work because they are cheaper than a van when it comes to shifting stuff. As I sit here typing this I can hear one of these people calling out for business. Near the big western supermarket where most of the western goods are sold, there are elderly people who collect plastic bottles from passers by, so they can go on and sell them at the recycling centers. In Indonesia and Thailand I saw people begging that had limbs missing, who were deformed from disease or some horrible misfortune. I've encountered Polio sufferers here begging in the main shopping streets. Begging is more difficult in China from my experience, as the police will 'move on' such people on sight. So, if you are reading this from America or Europe, or a modern 'developed' country, well guess what? You won the jackpot when you were born. Start thinking about what you have instead of what you don't have and what you 'want', because I doubt anyone reading this here is really 'wanting' for very much at all. It comes down to whether YOU think your glass is half full or half empty. Most likely its more than that. Give and you will receive. Funny thing that. Seems to work. Best, Mike

I look forward to our meeting.

Bless you my friend. I noticed a difference. I pray I never need a bodyguard, but I am honoured by your offer. Best, Mike And bless you for sharing.

Did you not read my earlier post? His name dropping of John Chang and referencing of John Chang's abilities. This person DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE regarding neigong and its levels and requirements. NOT A CLUE. If he is happy to name drop and lie in order to make money, then clearly he is utterly lacking in morals. Now I DO know what I am talking about. I have met John Chang. I was a member of the Mo Pai. I have studied the beginning level of Mo Pai neikung. I have studied other methods. I have taught martial arts before. I am a member of another high level school. Can I put it any clearer than that? Asking for advice is fine, can be a very good thing, but ultimately you are responsible for your life and the decisions you make. You need to bear that in mind.

In regards to the 'foundation' training offered by David Verdesi. I know it was asked on his forum, (I used to be a member, but not since the $$$ fee was introduced), if you needed to do the foundation training in order to practice one of the 'lei shan dao' methods. The answer was no. However, it was stated the practice did have various benefits in preparing the body and mind for training in other schools. I've said it before, and I suppose I'll repeat it for those who don't want to go and search the old threads, what you do is your choice. Personally I decided to find a teacher directly, rather than go through David Verdesi. That was my intuitive feeling of what was right for me. Some people may be drawn to what David offers. That may be right for them. I will say this. I know there is a lot of interest in Wang Li Ping. Being as I live in China I do have some advantages when it comes to searching people out. If I manage to find any contact information regarding Wang or his students and teaching being offered, I will post it here. There will be no charge, no demand for $$$$. The rest will be up to you and your destiny. Best, Mike

As the old saying goes, Santiago is a prince among men. While I have my own teacher and am quite happy with what I am doing, I certainly look forward to meeting up with Santiago in the future-that's a 'when', and not an 'if' BTW. He has a big heart.

This is a well raked over debate. Is there really anything to be gained by going over it yet again? For the umpteenth time, it really doesn't matter what others opinions are. Opinion without experience is worthless anyway. There, debate that.

He doesn't have a clue regarding neigong, what it requires, or the purpose of this kind of training. Yet, he shamelessly name drops John Chang, someone I doubt he has ever met, and talks of 'Chi ball fire meditation'. Oh Lord... I'm sick and tired of people like him peddling the dream of esoteric powers and using peoples naivety-and desire-to line his own pocket, (his website is covered in Pay Pal 'Donation' buttons and Google Ads). It is about service to others and spiritual attainment, not thunder bolts or flying around on top of pink clouds, (that would be a reference to the old Monkey TV series for anyone who hasn't seen it). 'Sigh'...

I think it was more the comments regarding Kunlun, but yes, lets not revisit that particular discussion. Instead my friend, let me pick up the half brick for you and lob it in the direction of NLP and its ilk. Regarding NLP and the industry that surrounds it, I fully agree with you. I liked the article about NLP that you gave the link for and agree with the author. Introspection, to gain insight, is the answer. Suggestion and manipulation are not the answers. Much of the 'self help' industry seems to revolve around selling the idea that happiness is material wealth, bleached teeth and a partner who looks like a model from a glossy magazine. One cannot help but wonder if in a past life many of these self help gurus were not in fact members of the Inquisition or similar groups: 'Repent your sins my child. Let the blessed flames cleanse your sinners soul and bring you back to the mother church'. Regarding spirituality, I doubt many of them would recognise it if the Archangel Gabriel came down and smacked them over the head...

He reminds me of Tony Robbins. That's not a compliment.

I concur with Seadog's sentiments regarding following supplement advice. It is dangerous to make recommendations without knowing the patients full medical history. Diagnosis needs to be done in person, not via the net. Taking supplements and herbal remedies in conjunction with existing medication is deeply unwise without the approval and monitoring of the patients doctor. It should be blatantly obvious why-all of these substances have an effect on the blood sugar level of the patient. The patients doctor will set medication according to blood tests done. If the patient then goes and takes further chemicals that also change the sugar level, then the medication dose becomes incorrect. Think then of what might result. This is why I recommended Dr Joel Furhman's site. He is a medical doctor and can treat patients accordingly, ensuring that they get the correct medical support. As a doctor he has a successful track record of treatment, and in some cases reversal, of the illness. You can't ask for more than that. I am not against alternative medical means-my own teacher is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine-but again, any diagnosis, recommendations, can only be done person to person.

A medical professional with a proven track record: http://www.drfuhrman.com/disease/Diabetes.aspx His books are easily found on Amazon. Best, Mike

I'm not just side stepping the question here. There is the 'big picture' to consider. To follow 'the way', at least as I understand it, is for each person to do what is right for them. We each have things to work out, karma from this life and other lives. That is HUGELY important. For one person in a school, it might be celibacy is the right path for them. For another, wife, children, family might be. Consider John Chang has a wife and family, but his teacher did not. Consider Wang Li Ping got married and had a son, but there is no mention of his teachers doing the same. Maybe they did, but it isn't mentioned in the book and that is not the impression the reader gets. Something I find DISTURBING is the 'one size fits all' mentality that can sometimes come across, even with good intentioned advice. Not everything is right for everyone, even within the same school. That is why good teachers don't teach all students the same way, or the same things. When you are looking for an answer to a question, then look to your heart. There you will find the best answer for YOU. Not the head, the heart. As always, I repeat, get a teacher, a guide. The right one, the one your heart leads you to. So, first consider how to listen to your heart. Then decide what is right for YOU. Whether Wang Li Ping, John Chang or anyone else is celibate matters not one jot.

Well, John Chang has children and grandchildren...

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I don't think even Santiago would say this kind of training is the be all and end all of it. The physical methods have their place. Even the Mo Pai has its fighting style. I recall Michael Coleman, the top student of Tanemura sensei of the Genbukan writing of an interesting experience with his teacher. Tanemura sensei asked Michael Coleman to attack him, but when he tried to, he found that he could not raise the intent to do so. Tanemura sensei had taken away his will to attack. Even with this, the Genbukan has plenty of physical methods of self defence. Craig makes an interesting point about intent. I recall Kostas met a teacher in Indonesia who claimed he could not be hit. Kostas clocked him one and KO'ed the guy-at said teachers invitation. Kostas is someone who knows a lot about intent-and fighting. Best, Mike Psychopaths. There are people out there that could kill you and not have their pulse rate rise. Such people are documented and have been studied. Not nice...

I read the same article. Complete celibacy was prescribed if you wanted to follow this bagua teachers route. There are quicker and easier ways to get the neigong working. For your problems with the kundalini, I suggest you give Santiago a call and see if he might be able to help. He seems to have some experience in this area. Best, Mike