Fu_dog

What you are describing is also called "passage meditation". This is a very effective form and it's the method taught by Eknath Easwaran. He goes into detail in his book on meditation, which is very good. This style of meditation is also described in the book "Meditation & Its Practices" by Swami Adiswarananda. He calls this "meditating on a holy scripture". Another excellent book, btw. I have been practicing this type of meditation daily for several months now and also find it to be quite effective. Good luck with your practice! Fu

Eknath Easwaran's audio's on meditation and Buddhism are excellent, full of wisdom and insight. I can recommend those while you're driving, which is how I listened to them. Ken Cohen's audio on Taoism isn't bad, however, it may be too basic if you are already into Taoism.

I can only meditate in silence. Anything that defocuses the mind from the object of meditation is a detraction. During meditation the mind should have a single focus of concentration. To focus the mind on the object of meditation *and* listen to music is a dual focus, which is not the goal of meditation. So, unless the music itself is the object of meditation, silence is the way to go.

Cihan - Great post on your experience doing the FP Long Standing form for a year, then going back to BTB and finding it to be very powerful. About 6 month ago, I had a similar experience with the FP Seated Meditations. I had gone for over a month doing only the Advance Seated, not the Basic Seated. Then, one Saturday morning I got up and did all 6 of the Basic Seated and I was amazed at the amount of energy generated! I told myself I had really been missing out by not doing the basic Seated as well as the Advanced. Regarding the FP system, I recall Sifu Terry once saying, "you might find the basic meditations are not so basic". Looks like we can both attest to the truth of that. Again, great observation. Fu_dog

Sifu Terry - Great topic of conversation, i.e., that of different types of energy. I can personally attest to the fact that the Flying Phoenix meditations generate and develop a very different energy...lighter, more healing than anything else I have practiced. The part of your students saying "the Flying Phoenix doesn't like to move that way" is most interesting. I do not practice any other energetic system, however, it's not a stretch for me to glean the FP energy has a certain feel, with characteristics all it's own. In one of your DVD volumes you mention that the FP practice is "cumulative". When I first heard it, I thought "Which way?". Does he mean it's cumulative day by day, or does he mean cumulative with longer practice in a single session. After experimenting, I learned you meant both ways. I have made several posts discussing the healing characteristics that I myself have experienced. However, about a month ago you mentioned two seated meditations that can possibly turn gray hair back to the color it was before it turned gray. So, I set out practicing those two every day. And, much to my surprise (and my families) those two exercise did indeed reverse the graying of hair. I had a big blotch of gray on my right forearm about 4" x 2 ". Within a couple of weeks that went right back to brown! Also, my mustache had turned mostly gray, with only a little brown left. Now it's mostly brown, with only a little gray. My neighbor asked me if I had dyed it! Nope. It was the Flying Phoenix. BTW - 60 pages on this Flying Phoenix thread...Wow!!! It's become a how to manual, a FAQ manual, and a great source of information for those that care to go back and read it. Sifu Terry (and Garry)...thanks much for your continued contributions.

WOW !!!

Hagar... I enjoyed your comments in this thread, though I have to agree these things can be a challenge to discuss in a public forum. I hope you keep posting on such subjects though. I believe the feeling you described experiencing during your practice is perhaps the most natural and enjoyable of states of being. I have only touched the boundary of this state at times in my own practice. However, after several years of practice I know for sure I am only the barest beginner. Also, I did click on the link you provide to your blog. Some very good stuff there. I wish you all the best as you continue your path.

Hagar - you observed in your OP something to the effect that "the cultivation involves the disappearance of the cultivator." That's a nice way of describing the state one can enter when in a deep state of qigong/neigong meditation. I have also experienced this, however, could not have expressed it so eloquently. Good post. Not sure about what you mean regarding "the radiation effect". Can you please clarify?

One of the best ways to learn about Blofeld is to read his books. "The Secret and Sublime" and "Taoism" are particularly good.

Chris - yes, that's definitely been my experience. The qi generated by the Flying Phoenix system has a very different feel to it than that of other qigong systems I have practiced.

Hi Sifu Terry - First, we are all happy to see you back on the forum after a small hiatus. Your comments and insights are always very welcome and good reading. I have been doing FP for one year and 9 months now, and the quality of the energy I feel continues to become more refined. I have not hit a ceiling, and in fact consider myself but a beginner. I am not sure where a ceiling will be with this style. In November it will make two years of practicing Flying Phoenix for me and I will then make a post then detailing my experiences. For now, I am tying to go 100 days of FP practice without missing a day. I am finding this to be a challenge, but with excellent benefits. One benefit that I have documented before is that my skin has become much smoother and healthier. Before FP, all the years in the Florida sun had me going to the dermatologist every 2 to 3 months to have a keratosis removed. Since FP, I do not need to go. In fact, I had a period of very heavy work and travel a few months ago in which I got lax with my practice of FP, and sure enough, here comes another keratosis growth on my cheek. Well, I fell into a strong practice of daily FP, and the keratosis shrank and then disappeared...i.e., gone. Some would call that "spontaneous healing" however, I know better. That was a direct result of my FP practice. The FP energy healed it, and for me and those who know me, my skin quality is tangible evidence of one of the benefits of FP. You had also mentioned to look at the skin on the back of the hands and an indication of health. At 57 years old, mine were getting dry and cracked. Now going through my 100 day program, the skin on the back of my hands has become clear, smooth, healthy. Even though I have practiced now for 21 months, and have a very tangible feeling of the FP energy, I must admit I still don't understand what it is. I can say it feels quite a bit different that the energy generated by other styles of qigong I have tried. I know your advice has been "just do the practice", and I appreciate that, but at the same time any other clues you can share as to the nature of the actual FP energy would be greatly appreciated. If it can be described in words. In Catstaneda's books, Don Juan says one goal of a warrior is seeking power. I feel FP is one of the paths with a heart that lead towards this goal. Would you agree? Thanks in advance. Lloyd

I won't make any comment on yin vs yang qi. But I will address breathing qigong and standing qigong. I can attest to the fact that for me I must do both a seated breathing qigong (to the dan tien) AND a standing qigong (in my case Flying Phoenix) daily to get the full benefits. The dan tien breathing is extremely energizing. I can feel tangible alchemical effects. The standing qigong forms circulate the energy and open paths. This is very healing and I can visibly see the benefits. Interestingly enough, either one of those by itself does not provide the full benefits for me that qigong has to offer.

Daniel - To answer your question: No, I have not progressed through the book, as Zhan Zuang has not been my primary qigong. Though I start my mornings with ESCK then immediately after about 12 to 15 minutes of Zhan Zuang, I consider Flying Phoenix as my main focus. To my mind, Flying Phoenix has some of the same elements as ZZ, however, it also includes the "percentage breathing" sequences to begin each exercise, which I find as added dimension. All the best, Fu dog

Non - yes the Nei Kung book is good. I believe Blasto can provide you good first hand knowledge of Chu's Nei Kung. DanC - regarding the Zhan Zuang that I do after the ESCK, I do 4 minutes each of the first three postures, which are: Lifting, Holding and Expanding. Those three benefit the lower abdomen and organs (Lifting), the middle abdomen including stomach, spleen (Holding), and the heart and lung area (Expanding). I find the combination of those three work well for me. Fu_dog

DanC - Great question. No, I do not do Exercises 11-12 either. I do 1-10 only. I do this for the same reason you stated, 11-12 seem to be small pieces from tai chi. If I want to do tai chi, I will do an entire routine. After doing ESCK exercises 1-10, I immediately do a seated Zhan Zuang routine from Master Lam Kam-Chuen's book, "Everyday Chi Kung". This makes for a very good daily morning routine. Fu_dog

I have been doing ESCK nearly every morning for the past 10 years. It's an great start-up-your-day qigong. I equate it to a very good "qigong calesthenics" routine, though to your point it has elements of a nei gong. I don't see it as my only qigong. However, for me it's an outstanding foundation practice. I do ESCK first, before any other qigong. At this point, I feel like something is missing if I can't start my day with this routine. It definitely gives me a energy boost. I highly recommend it.

Hi Sifu Terry - I am at the point where I have gone through all the available FP DVD's and have learned all mediations (except I am still fussing with learning the 90 second exercises). To my mind, I am at a very basic level of learning. Next step for me is to make my practice a meaningful part of my life going forward, and to optimize the benefits of Flying Phoenix as part of my lifestyle. So, a question for you: How often do you practice FP? Approximately how many days per week, and how long do you practice each session? I am considering your practice habits to be a good benchmark, so thanks for your time in responding. All the best, Fu_dog

Sifu Terry - I have a question about FP Qigong and Tai Chi. Standing Flying Phoenix meditations and tai chi seem complimentary practices. When doing both in a session, do you recommend doing the FP first, or the tai chi first? Or, does it matter? Also, can one move from one straight to the other, of should there be a little break in between? Thanks in advance, Fu dog

Sifu Terry - Thanks for your thoughtful response regarding place of practice. This was helpful. I glean from your response that first choice when traveling is to get to a peaceful place outdoors. If one can't then perhaps finding a local Buddhist temple. Last, (and this is most common given my hours), practice in the hotel room. I'm not really aware of how to clear the space energetically, however, I will take you up on your suggestion to read some feng shui. As always, I and the board appreciates your comment and insight. All the best, Fu dog

I have a bookshelf by my bed, however, what I'm reading right now is "The Secret and Sublime" by John Blofeld and "All the Pretty Horses" by Cormac McCarthy. Both are excellent.

Aki-Dan - I have experienced that same problem because while practicing FP when you get in that "zone" then sounds, any sounds, seem like they become 3x louder. I remember a couple months ago, I was practicing FP one evening indoors. One room adjacent to where I was doing my FP, my wife was finishing up doing the dishes, and was stacking the dishes in the rack. Under normal circumstances the sound of the dishes being stacked in a rack to dry is an everyday sound you hear around the household. You probably would not even hear it. However during that particular evening the sound of the dishes being stacked seemed *incredibly loud*. It sounded like someone was clanging symbols in my ear! I have concluded that during the practice of FP, the sense of hearing can be sharpened to an amazing level, so that even the slightest sound seems greatly amplified. (Ironically, this does not happen *every* time I practice, but it does occur most of the time.) Regarding your question about playing ambient music during the practice of FP, yes, I find this works very well. In fact there are some pieces of ambient music that for me seem to be on the same wavelength of the FP energy and it enhances my practice. Also, I have one music track with about 30 minutes of a repeated "Om" chant, and that one really has quite a positive effect on my FP exercises. I have not tried practicing with headphones, however, I have a boom box that I adjust to an optimal sound level for playing ambient music. I see where you are headed with this though....there are noise canceling headphones. Sifu Terry did say that the practice of Flying Phoenix is *not* bothered by jewelry such as rings, necklaces, wrist watches, etc., so perhaps the headphones would not be any problem. Why don't you give it a try and let us know your experience? Back to ambient music...net-net I would say find the right ambient music and it can do two things for your practice: (1) it can serve to soften the random sounds of a household that can bother your practice and (2) If the ambient music is at the right vibrational level, it can possibly enhance your practice. I wish you continued success with your practice Aki Dan! Best wishes always, Fu dog

Thanks for posting Trunk. I bought one of Chris's DVD's several years ago (Silk Reeling) and it was excellent. I just went to ebay and made on offer on the Harai Family Mudras DVD. If it works out that I get it, I will come back and provide a quick review.

Sifu Terry - I'll throw this question out there, though I know you can only occasionally respond these days. This question is also a bit tangential. I have always heard there is different qi quality in different physical locations. For example, in general, the quality of the qi is better outdoors than indoors. Better in an area clean and neat, worse in an area dirty and messy. The quality of qi is better near the water, worse near a garbage dump, etc. Also, I have always heard it's better to practice qigong in an area where there is a good quality of qi, for example outdoors in a peaceful setting. So, to my point: I travel quite a bit and usually spend 2 nights per week in a hotel (typically a Hilton). I have always felt that the quality of qi inside a hotel room is pretty low. I don't think I will get much argument from anyone who travels often. That said, I practice Flying Phoenix in my hotel room at night time when I am traveling, and I feel the Flying Phoenix energy very strong. So strong that I am not sure that it matters where FP is practiced, so long as it's not a negative energy area. Can you please weigh in on this? Thanks in advance, Fu dog

Dale - just curious....how's your FP practice going?

Interesting observation Non. How long do your dan tien breathing sessions last? I do between 25 and 60 minutes of dan tien breathing daily, so your little discovery is interesting. Thanks for sharing.