dawei

This could be a topic all on its own

Also, for all: check out Sino-Platonic Papers http://www.sino-platonic.org/ although usually not full translations it offers a good reading of items of interest to look up further.. and no paywall

A, B, DC are the three in what I related. Counting does get challenging at times, right

That reminds me of the funny argument made about entropy... throw a pile of lumber on the ground and see if it turns itself into a house on its own That one rock on the table came from something... so that is not really the ONE except if we ignore where it came from. But if forces acted on it, even water can break it up into Two.

Stosh made an insightful comment... and I'm always interested to see what folks mean by alchemy cultivation as the term gets thrown around quite a bit without explanation or historical context. I would agree that ancient times show a slow progression of cognition of energetic activity and health but the cultivation done in ancient times seems quite different than the more modern applications of alchemy cultivation.

Let us know what you discover...

Yo have an awful lot of judgement over someone else and I'm not sure based on what... What exactly is his practice ? Have you seen his two videos of his practice ? Just not sure what the comments are specifically based on. I don't find someone not giving an answer always a problem... I've had bosses and teachers who do that with some discretion so as to force one to work through the issue. But I'm talking in general and you seem to talk specifically.

I moved this here as in General it will disappear in short order and hard to ever find again. This seems a better place where we often talk about healthy habits and this seems to fit for a practice or form issue. My advise is to go get an xray of the shoulder because if there is any structural change you may need PT to help get that in order first. I've had a nasty right shoulder for about 6 years and finally went to have it looked at. Turns out my upper bicep tendon where it attaches to the shoulder has a slight tear... no amount of exercise or PT is going to 'fix' that tear, only surgery will. But PT did get me to find exercises to strengthen the shoulder without hurting it (ie: identifying the motions that cause pain and not doing those as part of PT). After some strengthening, or even during, some forms will likely be good to keep the tendons knowing how to relax and be pliable and not just strong.

As was said... What is the date for the TTC vs Alchemy Cultivation ? Does Laozi always use One to denote Alchemy Cultivation or only in this chapter ? And what of all the ancient texts referring to One ? Many interpretations at many levels... everyone sees something he can understand...

Several here already characterized our posting habit and not one said it has anything to do with disagreements. They highlighted dysfunction on some level as well. I never said big. You introduced that concept by reading something that was not mentioned. Are you seeing the problem yet ?

You might want to see our 4 page discussion on Ch. 5... This is Bums school view https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/43710-ddj-meaning-chapter-5/

What is the Dao of a Tree ? Should it slump towards the ground or raise up in response to the sun/heavens? Think Heliotropism of plants. A tree can live (be nourished) due to the benefit of heaven and earth. So should man. The Dao of water likewise displays attributes that we can say, so should man.

~~~ WARNING ~~~ Your comments (yes plural) have resulted in reports (yes plural) due to belittling posts. Try to keep posts less personal or insulting in nature. thank you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The closest form area is here: https://www.thedaobums.com/forum/413-systems-and-teachers-of/

thanks for the follow up and am now reading freeform's comments which I do agree with.. which seems to suggest it is mental, sensory stuff... what I call, 'local mind' experience. I was trying to give a step by step attempt to feel energy... next step is, I use my hand over your palm and you feel it.. then next is, I am remotely in another location and you can feel it still., etc... In the end, it is just seeking the feeling of it... we have to start somewhere... but as freeform suggests, it is not getting to the source of it, yet. Our experience is usually from a local to remote one... and then more and more remote... Eventually you can realize even there is no separation with the universe too... but I like what freeform says... carry on. BTW: I don't do, and never have done sitting... Are you doing that because you feel lead to from a destiny point of view or because you read about doing it?

thanks for some review... this topic is of interest to me but I can't flesh out enough respect for the Confucian point of view. I did catch the "Song" era aspect and the three teachings which always leaves me suspect... like a modernization of the relationship or explanation. But I appreciate your comments on the topic.

Here is a simple test... Once you feel your breathing is steady and slow and focused on a palm... lets say the left palm... and smiling to engage the heart (or not, if you don't feel it, that is ok)... then take your right hand index finger and very slowing move it around the left palm in a circle... focus now on the index finger projecting to the left palm as a singular connection... Do you feel the circular energy movement in the left palm based on the right hand index finger ? This is the Index finger (Large Intestine Meridian) reaching to the PC channel , 7 stages instead of all 12... but you passed through the heart at stage 3 for a boost ! remember to smile with the heart...

fair enough. thanks for the clarification

Pre and post have no real difference except in our dualistic mind application of life. Once we get behind the curtain that divides them... we see they are the same thing. Until then, they will always be different, called pre and post to the mind... Drop every label you can, yet understanding how to apply labels in the mind field.

I hate to get too technical so you can say where to dial it back... There are 12 meridian lines and each has special points; one can press them and sense pain in most cases instead of sensing energy. That is generally because there is energy blockages or need for better flow. While this is good therapy, to sense Qi it is better to do Qigong exercises. Taiji is the best established movements but can take a long time to feel anything. So I'll skip over my personal experience there. In Chinese energy, the heart is considered the General that directs and controls everything (in energy)... but one may not feel it. There are but two meridians through the heart (HT and PC), then why is the heart the General ? Because to get through any meridian, you must get through them ALL... so eventually, you do get through the heart on all [spoiler that I just semi shared a Taiji experience]. I once taught a lady on a flight how to feel energy in her hands and we played with energy sensations... so I'll just share an idea similar: Breath really slowly and deeply. like it takes about 8-10 seconds to inhale and exhale... it should feel stable... then focus on the palm of your hand. See the palm as a source of energy and outlet... and smile... after a minute, now smile at the palm from your heart for a minute? Your palm and heart are not two things, they are one thing joined... Does your heart energy arise in feeling? That is the middle idea.

Very cool !!! You are feeling the end-points or turn-around points in the meridian flow of energy (Qi); Six meridians run through the hands and six run through the feet... I might encourage you to start focusing on some lines of choice, and then find the middle points for energy sensation. Some acupressure might help to just sense certain areas but not that necessary. or maybe focus on the seven chakra energy sources and see if you feel them ? You have lots to explore and wishing you happy energy travels

ZYD: Any comment on this work: https://www.academia.edu/38538959/Laozi_Teaching_Confucius_History_of_a_Text_through_Time?email_work_card=title

that was profoundly absurdist. thanks

seems a manic - depressive argument... the more depressed you can be, the more manic/crazy-happy you can be. It seems too much an appeal that duality requires a rebound to the other extreme... but one is along a spectrum in most cases and not bounding... or you mean an addiction to bad can mean an addiction to good? Then you are not really talking about the extreme positions but an addition ?

That sounds like a good plan to use the PPD... you are setup here: https://www.thedaobums.com/forum/570-goldleaf/ enjoy