Cat Pillar

Yeah, I'm slowly coming to realize how much I still have to let go...so many expectations for what it "should" feel like or how it's "supposed" to work. I haven't tried practicing in nature...nature is hard to come by in Houston. =\ I'm not sure if my post expressed accurately what I was wanting to portray...that despite not "feeling" anything, I could still tell that the practices were having an effect.

Eh...I hesitate to get involved in this discussion. As a really new student of Max's, I'm still evaluating the practices myself. But I was happy to pay the money for the seminar and travel expenses based on "conjecture" and "hearsay." Max laid his hands on me during the seminar, and I didn't feel a damn thing. (although I was tweaking out in my chair from Kunlun at the time...I didn't FEEL anything from that either, but it sure as shit was doing something to my body.) Of course, I also have the energetic sensitivity of a brick wall. I respect your skepticism, More Pie, I just don't see the need for the level of aggression you seem to have towards Max. Don't take that as a judgment though, just my limited perspective based on limited interaction. I'm not you and you're not me...and I appreciate that you seem to respect that the practices themselves have worked for people and have merit. Personally, I'm evaluating Max and his practices the only way I trust - direct experience. So far, it's going pretty good.

Glad to see you back, Manitou. Can't say I relate to your specific experience, although I often wonder whether I'm sane or not. I do have a strong tendency to do things over and over again expecting different results...

That was a fun read, thanks for sharing!

Hi balance! Yes, I understand Max's reasoning behind not giving the transmissions anymore...it's just something I've always wanted to experience. When I said "So many things to let go of!" that's one thing I was referring to. Because of past patterns of thought and being, I tend to have a very hard time with cynicism and skepticism. It's not that I expect or desire a constant stream of awesome/spectacular from my practices, but I have often wished for one of those paradigm-shifting events to help combat the clouds of doubt. Fortunately there's enough within the practices themselves to keep me going for now...like I said, patience is one of the things I need to work on cultivating.

Comments are welcome!

I think it would be awesome to get some traffic in the chat room. I've jumped in there every now and then, but I never see anyone around. Thursday nights I probably wouldn't be able to make it, Wednesdays might be doable though. I would LOVE to hang out with some bums in the chat some time. ^.^

*paints his face green and stretches his ears* Do, or do not. There is no try! Tulku, c'mon brosef. You're never gonna get enlightened if you stay so attached to that frowny face. Buddha likes to smile!

Hey, cool! I also started Kunlun about a week ago! I went to Max's seminar in Austin to learn it. I've got a personal practice journal too, which I just started. Might be fun to share notes from time to time, since we started pretty much at the same time!

I was only taught RP 1...Max did not teach RP 2 or 3 at the seminar I went to. There were also no transmissions given. I was kind of disappointed by that, as I've always wanted to experience a direct energy transmission...and could definitely have used the boost! I'm going to try keeping a little more focus on the heart during RP, I tend to forget to do that cuz the brain part is a lot of fun. ^.^ I have to admit, impatience is a flaw of mine. This is the first practice I've been taught, and the first one I've been serious about pursuing. Trying to keep my expectations and excitement down has been a bit of a challenge. After six years of spiritual waffling about, I guess I'm just itching to have an experience outside of the mundane. So many things to let go of! Hehehe...

No worries, Scotty. I appreciate the input. I have noticed that Red Phoenix in particular REALLY cuts down on the mental noise. It's still there, but not nearly as prevalent. Also, I'm excited by how quickly that particular practice seems to be deepening. Before starting my practice I usually do one breath + standing 5 elements (though I'll be switching to I-jong after my current cycle completes.) It does definitely help. My biggest problem is usually with Kunlun, cuz my focus often strays to the mind. Still, although it doesn't seem to be going as quickly as RP, the K practice IS still getting deeper.

Could I get one of those personal practice journal thingies, please? I want to keep track of my progress at various intervals, and would like a dedicated space to do that.

Thanks, Steve!

Nice post, Scotty. I know my biggest challenge with these practices is the "letting go." I have a feeling I'm going to be one of the ones who takes awhile to "pop" as it were (not talking about GDB, but getting Kunlun running.) I talked to one student at the seminar who said it was 6 weeks into the practice before it hit him and really opened up. I'm not worried, though. I may be as energetically sensitive as a brick wall, but I can tell the practices are doing SOMETHING. I just don't know what yet. ^.^

Sounds good! I'd definitely like to keep in touch.

I said "Hi" to Max for ya! It was a pretty awesome experience. No direct energy transmissions anymore, just a teaching of the practice. Max is a really cool guy though, and the seminar was a lot of fun! A lot of nice people there...even ran into someone I knew from somewhere else at the free lecture Friday night...he didn't go to the seminar, though. I think I got Max's attention somehow...he kept looking at me as he was talking and explaining things. I thought it might have been my imagination at first, until two other students commented on it later to me. o.O In any case, really looking forward to practicing and seeing what happens. You might already be offline Cameron, but safe journeys and enjoy your time in Tokyo with Kan! Hope I can meet him some day too.

Remember my last thread where I was all depressed? I feel like posting an update, because things have changed and I'm coming to a fuller realization concerning certain things that weren't clear to me before. So, shortly after I made that post, I got a lot more serious about meditating. I hadn't been meditating much at all. Essentially, my current meditation consists of using a binaural beats track (Shinka Meditation Level 1, which I purchased a long ways back) and focusing on the sound of the wind while letting thoughts go. I do this most days for at least an hour, sometimes more. Only a week after starting this back up again, I experienced a significant improvement in mood. Not only did my mood improve, but my attitude about certain things improved as well. From a viewpoint of depression, all I saw were those things I was resisting and fighting against...life situations, unfulfilled desires and fantasies...and there was little consideration for what I have. Now, as the days go on, I find that I am naturally becoming more grateful and accepting. I certainly have a long way to go with my attitudes on a lot of things, but there is a noticeable improvement in my approach to life. I still suffer from anxiety, but I'm starting to think that at least half (if not more) of that is poor lifestyle choices...and even at that, my anxiety is not near what it used to be. When I look at my life now, I am much more prone to feel grateful for everything I've accomplished, and everything the universe has provided for me. In gratefulness, there is a humility and a...release, I guess you could say...that is very uplifting and refreshing. Also, I am coming to understand just how much I've changed in the past few years. Before I started seeking I was an angry misanthropic youth with a bone to pick. My thoughts were about power and personal gratification. But in choosing to explore the meanings and mysteries of life, I have slowly evolved into a person who genuinely wants to have a positive impact on the world. All of the introspection, the mostly irregular meditation practice, the paying attention to thoughts and their sources...all have gradually accumulated into real, positive, measurable change. I want to thank everyone here who has given me advice, challenged my preconceptions, and prodded me to look deeply into my nature. Every exchange has provided an opportunity for learning, great or small. So, thanks!

Thanks for the well-wishes! I've actually experienced what you've described with negative energy/blockages a few times before. You're totally right about trying to feel the emotions fully - when I hit rock bottom (which is when I posted that last thread), that was one of the things I did to try and manage it. All throughout my spiritual journey I've had these things come up, I just usually didn't recognize them for what they were. While difficult to experience, they ARE important lessons that are being brought up specifically because they need to be dealt with - and the longer they've been buried, the more they usually hurt. But, like you said, it's important to remember that you're working through your issues, and while it may hurt in the moment, everything changes and even if it takes time the work you do will pay off in the form of a better Now. I know I'm not totally out of the woods yet, but I'm a lot more positive about my situation and much more confident in my ability to handle new blockages as they arise. Cheers, and good luck on your journey as well!

Thanks for the replies and support, everyone! Becoming aware, although still not well acquainted with. ^.^ Ten years of major depression and unconscious living can make for some big obstacles! Although I've come close at times, I never truly gave up...so, I guess I have more patience than I ever gave myself credit for. Makes me even more grateful for what I have been provided - the universe has been much more patient with me than I ever was with the universe!

Hot damn! That's a helluva story, Kempomaster! If I wasn't keen on seeing what I can do for myself with Kunlun, I'd be beating down your door for a treatment! Oh! Actually...I have a friend with a sick wolf. Would it be possible to arrange a distance healing? Just let me know what I have to do. ^.^

That's fascinating! It's good for us modern folk to keep in mind how smart the ancients really were...helps keep us from getting too arrogant. ^.^

I was doing cold showers for a real short time (I also picked that up from Bardon.) Been thinking about getting back into it though, I tried it again recently after reading this thread and I had forgotten how energizing it is. It actually feels really good. Not to mention, there's the HUGE bonus of not freezing my bits off after I step out of the bathroom, as happens with hot showers.

I'm happy we have people like Kempomaster and Ya Mu participating on this board. I'd like to thank both of them for being here. Stillness-Movement is such a fascinating lineage. If the universe hadn't dropped a Kunlun seminar practically in my lap, I would have had a really hard time deciding which path to pursue, cuz Kunlun and Stillness-Movement were at the top of my list. In any case, thanks for being here, guys. Your presence is appreciated!

Hehe, fair enough! I'm so excited for this seminar I can barely contain myself. ^.^

May I please, with cherries on top?