dawei

I think we're saying the same thing from two ends of the elephant. I think you're probably more correct in the roles. Its just that my view is that heaven is the mandate which nature carries out... so yes, Nature is heaven's executioner but heaven really makes the call... so to me, that ultimately means that heaven made the decision to execute.

Do you hold that the energies which the local mind feels 'hitting' home is/isn't akin to more yin or yang? More thin or dense? I am wondering if what we interpret in terms of the sensation or feeling could be like saying divine male or female energy? For example: Some light energy which touches my heart causes it to jump and be carefree while another feels very dense and thick. Or would you rather say that instead of looking at the receiving end (my local interpretation), you would say the sending side is simply sending it differently?

I think that association is correct in regards to being the natural way... nature's executioner is heaven. If people followed their hearts (ie: heaven's prompting) when they are wronged, they would confront the situation to make it right.

Maybe "fear" is the wrong word here... it may convey those that understand the nature and implication of a potential crime vs those who could care a less. To be 'fearless' is sometimes nothing to do with lack of fear but complete stupidity to confidence.

I think this is closer but no cigar yet as it doesn't seem (to me) to fit with the next sentence in relation to the meaning of the opening sentence. Meaning: If they are exceptions to the general fear of punishments (death), then they are the folks described in Line 1... so there is no point in threatening them. But the next line suggests to do something. Mair: If the people ever fear death, and I were to capture and kill those who are devious, who would dare to be so? Ta-Kao: If the people were constantly afraid of death and we could arrest and kill those who commit treacheries, who then would commit such? So it seems to me, the exceptions are those who fear death but nonetheless still commit crimes.

How do you figure into the equation, male and female energies? I hate to use my equation too much but that is a construct the local mind can understand. Is this only for the energy side or also impact the clarity side? And/or Does the clarity side have two sides which balance that?

And light on the kidneys... they are usually already weak... more tonifying might be good.... but your right: Pay attention to your own body

The reason I would start with the Liver is that the Liver Qi is the most easily to scatter contaminate other organs... then progress through the Five Element Sequence. Doing the liver later means you may dirty what you just cleaned... JMO.

Do they give a specific reason 'why' that order?

Some TDB links: Introduction to Taoist Alchemy The Way of the Golden Elixir Cultivating the Tao by Fabrizio Interview with Fabrizio Pregadio Building the foundation and Inner Alchemy Unraveling Taoist Yoga Taoist Yoga & Daoist Alchemy: Discussion Taoist Internal Alchemy and the book 'Taoist Yoga'

Does this require payment to participate? I should move this to "Upcoming Events" where either payment or non-payment events are shared.

You seem to construction: Perception = Clarity + Energy ; and yet point out: 1 = 1 + 1 (as the latter two are the same thing) You mention specifically at the level of the local mind. So would you characterize it as: Local Mind Perception = Clarity + Energy (this perception depends on balance); physical working with the divine Beyond local mind Perception = Clarity of Light (the unity beyond physical construct of local mind); divine only

Then pick your most comfortable position, free of distractions if possible... and see how it goes. I am curious as to the order you follow (or taught in the materials). I rarely see someone talk about why a particular order is important (or not). And I don't quite mean, 'because it is the five element order'.

I am curious what others think of the Pit/Chaos last post visibility? I am not sure I have all the history correct but I think in the beginning, it was a place where folks could go unmoderated, start topics and have it out... but then it was changed to being the Pit of unsavory stuff and one could not longer start topics there. I wonder... if members dirtied it up... if they couldn't also clean it up... I find much less objectionable going on and with the new experiments of Owner Permissions (aka member responsibility towards each other), it seems fitting to not hide something from members. Now that I can see the last post, it does 'feel' normal in a way it never did before.

Ok, so I changed it so it can show the last topic to those who are signed in.

I split this out to a separate topic. As background, the name was recently changed but I like what ZYD has suggested as "The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts" http://thedaobums.com/topic/38105-can-we-change-the-title-of-the-pit/?p=619734 Why does it show 'protected forum'. Mainly because we are not trying to advertise what is in there... but I think you have a point for those who are actually logged in. So I'll see if that can be conditionally displayed for actual members.

Quick comment on 畸者. I see ZZ uses this and at least three different translations, in context of course: Aloof, exceptional, singular [person]

I think the discussion of 'people scared of capital punishment' misses LZ's point... which is that there are too many laws, whether on target or not. Being on target is not the point, IMO. This is closer with "and I could always seize those who do wrong"... this is LZ's point. Each person is the law within. If your offended the natural law would be for you to seek amends. I want to share Mair's translation: If the people never fear death, what is the purpose of threatening to kill them? If the people ever fear death, and I were to capture and kill those who are devious, who would dare to be so? If the people must be ever fearful of death, then there will always be an executioner. Now, To kill in place of the executioner Is like Hewing wood in place of the master carpenter; Few indeed will escape cutting their own hands!

A good way to test this is start with a tricky passage... like we're discussing, the last lines of CH. 28: http://terebess.hu/english/tao/_index.html This guy is one of my all time favorites and is very good with staying concise and close to the word meaning. He also translates lots of chinese poetry and so is used to brevity: David Hinton But when a sage is employed he becomes a true minister, for the great governing blade carves nothing. I bought this translation in a Beijing bookstore and have gone back to his rendition many times... but I don't like this ending: Gu Zhengkun When simplicity gets shattered and becomes materialized, The sage makes use of it to be the lord over other officials. One should know The greatest system is not separable. One of my favorites is Chan... but he butchers this up... his book notes are exceptional: Wing-Tsit Chan When the uncarved wood is broken up, it is turned into concrete things. But when the sage uses it, he becomes the leading official. Therefore the great ruler does not cut up. I've always like this guy but this is only ok: Chu Ta-Kao Wholeness, when divided, will make vessels of utility; These when employed by the Sage will become officials and chiefs. However, for a great function no discrimination is needed. These two are spiritual masters so I like to read them.... the first is an elucidation and the second a transmission... so not following the words but the meaning: Hua Ching-Ni When the uncarved block is shaped into various single tools and vessels, its original qualities are destroyed. This is called "the great Oneness that cannot be divided." Flowing Hands For when the block is carved, it becomes useful for men to manipulate and use. When the Sage returns to this state, he becomes the ruler of the Ten Thousand Things. For he leaves everything to rise and fall without interference.

知禮節 - Know Ritual... or Etiquette... Thought to be written by the legalist Guan Zhong: Link "A well-fed people could be governed easily and would have a sense for decency and etiquette. Rituals, righteousness, desistance from corruption, and a sense of shame were the four social guidelines (siwei 四維) of Guan Zhong's ideal state."

True... one doesn't have to combine... but one can. We were combining some with movement and sometimes with slapping or 'raking' the area energetically. One needs to decide to what extent they need to do the purging (in combination or not). Experiment away...

It becomes tricky when referencing other 'schools' thoughts... On the one hand, we can go too far with interpreting away from what LZ meant. Yet, LZ seems to imply a subtle rebuke of other schools in order to make his point and how to better understand some ideas

Sounds are for purging and smiling (with colors) is for tonifying. I don't know what Michael is referred to here nor those CDs, so I can't comment on that.

You've got a potpourri of practices going on for a beginner I am not sure where your getting your advice from so far but I tend to think your practices could be a recipe for harming your one way or another. You're calling reverse abdominal breathing (RAB) advanced but say your a beginner doing semen retention with several other things. Does your system even know how to reconcile everything your doing? I would start over. I don't like to suggest that there is only one way to do things as *some* might be able to handle something advanced as a beginner but your story is worrisome. Before you even consider RAB, I would do about 2 months of normal abdominal breathing (NAB) with a focus on filling the LDT and letting it release through the body. Then do 2 months of the orbit using NAB. This will encourage the filling to continue but you'll then engage the back with the front. By training the front to do NAB orbit (microcosmic orbit- MCO), you stand a better change of the RAB getting it down the front. So somewhere around 4+ months, you could consider the RAB. I would forget semen retention. If you do the NAB and RAB properly with movement of the Huiyin (perineum) in sync with breathing, you'll develop a good 'lock' on losing qi through the lower part of the body. I am also seeing what may be an imbalance of too much 'stillness' over gentle 'movements'... this is also why you need to consider to start over with a newer plan. That is much safer for a beginner till you have 6-12 months behind you.

I do agree that these 3 iterations needs to be considered... male = stream = newborn female = valley waters = uncarved block The Unity of duality = cosmograph / order / model = limitless (Dao) I think this is a little forced