ChiDragon

Welcome. I am a fan of Taiji quan too. I do have some demos on the site. You are welcome to see them!

Well, my friend, I see that you have already made up your mind about things. Certainly, there is no need for further discussion on this complex subject. Isn't it? May peace come into your heart! ❤️

First of all, we do not read into the TTC and mixed with the idea of Confucianism. The virtue of morality is different from the virtue of Tao. However, the virtue of Tao is higher than the virtue of morality. One must read the whole TTC to understand what it is all about. Rather than just based on one chapter or just few lines.

That was not a wise assumption. Chapter 8 - Be Virtuous like Water 1.上善若水。 2.水善利萬物而不爭， 3.處眾人之所惡， 4.故幾於道。 5.居善地， 6.心善淵與善仁， 7.言善信， 8.正善治， 9.事善能， 10.動善時。 11.夫唯不爭， 12.故無尤。 Translation in terse English: 1. High virtue like water. 2. Water is good at benefiting all things without contend. 3. Attend places where people disgusted. 4. Hence, water is similar to Tao. 5. Dwell in good selected places, 6. Good deep in the heart with peace and kind to others, 7. Spoken words with trust, 8. Rule with benevolence, 9. Conduct affairs with best ability, 10.Take action in a timely manner, 11.Therefore, only by not contending, 12.Thus no resentment.

Hello, TDBs. I am proud to be here to present what I have learned. My purpose here is not to argue who knows more or what is right. I just want to tell it like as is. I don't need to be sarcastic and I never wanted to. I wish all the members will do the same by keeping this in a Taoist environment. May peace in our hearts. Thank you very much, all!

Nice one, Cobie!

Question! Is there any system that doesn't use energy? Peace!

Why don't you give me one line or chapter to see if it is a good translation? Let's go from there! PS Let's go somewhere else before this thread is contaminated by us!

I am my own teacher. I am stupid enough to be self taught from a well written textbook by a well known native scholar with the highest authority on the subject. Do you read?

FYI I have my first hand native source to read. Other than reading second hand translation to mislead myself. I am reading a well written text book by a well known native scholar with the highest authority on the subject. Did you have a chance to read 老子註譯及評介 written by: 陳鼓應. Peace! Why don't you give me one line or chapter to see if it is a good translation?

This is also known as Wu Wei(無為, no do's) in Buddhism.

As I've said, I read the native interpretation of the Dao De Jing rather than the mistranslated information by a non-native translator.

If one study the 道德經 long enough, then, one would know that 道 as Dao or Tao. Dao De Jing (DDJ) and Tao Te Ching(TTC) are known as 道德經. FYI I have my first hand native source to read. Other than reading second hand translation to mislead myself. I am reading a well written text book by a well known native scholar with the highest authority on the subject. Did you have a chance to read 老子註譯及評介 written by: 陳鼓應. Peace!

Most people had been reading the misinformation about 德(De) or 道德. In Confucianism, 道德: a compound character, means morality or virtue. Those who follow, observe and practice the principles of Confucius are considered to have the virtue of morality or 道德. In Dao De Ching, 道德經: 道 and 德 are two separated characters that is not compounded. 道 is Tao, the principles of Dao, 德 is the virtue of Dao. Those who follow, observe and practice the principles of Dao are considered to have the virtue of Dao or 道德. The cultivation of both 德 or 道德 are for mental health rather than physical heath.

I would stay away from google for translating esoteric term from a field, philosophy or a religion. Rather I would go to the main source that is more accurate for its definition. Farther more, I would stay away from using the universal definition of chi as energy. It is because it could be very misleading in a field, philosophy or religion. When one talks about 靈氣, one must take a stand in a field, philosophy or religion. It seems to me that Reiki 霊気, here, is a Japanese term for medical Qigong. The Chinese called it 治療氣功( therapeutic Qigong). FYI The Japanese use the same Chinese characters with their own definition. In some cases, it has a complete different meaning in Chinese. Thus there is no exception for 靈氣. As far as I am concern, I will stand for what I had said about 靈氣 with the Chinese definition. PS @Shadow_selfHave a good laugh!

You welcome! Please just don't forget to put some emphasis on breathing. It is very important in Qi Gong and martial arts.

No, I didn't. I have a different definition in mind. It was not my intention to go into the practice. I didn't know that was what you had in mind in the first place.

We are restricted by "to cultivate it" by the question that was asked. If you are running into all kind of definitions, then, good luck. I think we should address one thing at time. Otherwise, you are confusing yourself.

@ Shadow_self Another thing that can be said about the Ling Qi of Nature. A Taoist priest stays up in the high mountain to cultivate by doing Qigong to capture the Ling Qi of Nature into the body for good health and longevity.

Yes, something like this or no images at all but one still can feel it is there.

Certainly! Ling Qi 靈氣 is a vibrant or radiant force image like of those who are highly cultivated. It only can be observed from a high rank Buddhist monk, Taoist priest, Christian pastor or a Pope. In other words, whatever one practices that have been reached the highest realm will have the appearance of the Ling Qi from the individual.

Welcome, SpiritualHulk. Please let us know what have you learnt from your video of Qi Gong. In addition, what have you discovered about Qi Gong from now and before? Did you learn something new or never have any idea what Qi Gong is all about?

Yuan jing(元精, original jing) is the prenatal jing originated from the parents. It stays in the body to be maintained by the postnatal jing. It is not part of a medicine. De(德) is a philosophical term. It is not a substance in the body as one might think it would be. De(德) shouldn't even be considered in the discussion. Peace! )

Yes, 养生功 Yangsheng gong is to maintain life by nurturing the body with foods and air(mainly oxygen). To obtain more oxygen than normal, then, one must practice to improve the respiratory system. That was why Qigong(氣功) practice is the major role. The purpose of Qigong is to learn to sink chi to the dantian(氣沉丹田). Most people, mistakenly, interpreted that sink chi to the dantian(氣沉丹田) is to sink energy to the lower dantian. Actually, chi in Qigong means air, breath or breathing. If it was misinterpreted, then, one will not be able to reach the goal of Qigong. That is sink the breath deep down to the dantian. At this point, the lung is in its full capacity to hold oxygen to nourish the body cells. The mitochondria in the cells will produce the maximum power energy possible for the body to perform its function.

Any form of Qigong is for good health. Yangshen gong, 陽神功(Yangshen gong) is just another fancy name invented by some individual for Qigong. Somebody else can come along to call it something else to make it sound like something new for marketing.