ChiDragon

You took everything out of context. Are you still into the old thread...??? Please let it go.

Sun Tze teaches us how to win a war. Aim for the least casualty, by not loosing a war was to be considered winning. Chuang Tze was always in peace, he may not has to plan for it. He doesn't get involve in thinking about war like LoaTze does. Chapters 30 and 31 of the Tao Te Ching are related to Sun Tze's art of war.

Perhaps, he didn't say.....he didn't know.

Double talk as shown in bold, no...???

Templetao... Very impressive.... If that comes out from me, nobody would have believed me.... PS... It doesn't mean that I am approve of it.

That was a good scholastic attitude by showing the subtlety of understanding about something to its refinement in silence.

Sorry, there was only male waitress at the time...

Yes, Qi Gong is definitely not Tai Ji. Is Tai Ji a form of Qi Gong....???

I do appreciate you took a neutral stand. What I am tried to do is not to lump everything together that we have learned as one whole system. The are definitions and terminology in each system. They must be understood thoroughly to their basic smallest component in order to isolate them from one another. If the terms are not any different, then why call them with a different name. I grant that you all have a very broad knowledge of the martial arts. However, knowing everything in general and stay at a gross level will lead nowhere. To demonstrate one's ability of comprehension one must narrow it down to the finest level by definitions. Thus anybody can come in and throw in what one has learned by saying this is it and that is it with lots of crazy and funny names was just chaotic. IMO I bet you nobody, here, can distinguish the difference between Chi King and Nei Kung. I dare someone give me a distinction between the two.

國: small country 邦: big country; nation Laozi was sarchastic to the Confucian wanderers.....??? Please reread the Tao Te Ching and reevaluate LaoTze again. A sage treats all people like straw dogs(Chapter 5). Don't you know about LaoTze's Wu Wei concept...??? Where have you been...???

In that case, I have to disqualify myself to engage further discussion with such a prejudicial conclusion. Especially, the last statement will reveal how much one has learned from his teacher.

Yes, Chapters 6 and 42 will support your statement. Tao can be an endless reproductive female.

The proper translation to have the logic flow: 6. Therefore, if one was using crafty cleverness to rule a country, 7. He would be considered as a bandit of the country. 8. By not using crafty cleverness to rule a country, 9. Then, it would be very fortunate for the country. 6. 故 以 智 治 國, 7. 國 之 賊。 8. 不 以 智 治 國, 9. 國 之 福。 The direct paradoxical translation: 6. Therefore, if one was using his wisdom to rule a country, 7. He would be considered as a bandit of the country. 8. By not using his wisdom to rule a country, 9. Then, it would be very fortunate for the country. With a direct translation of these lines, they are very paradoxically. It doesn't make any sense. In order to make it sound logical and make sense, lines 6 and 8 should be interpreted with reverse logic. To keep the logic flow with lines 7 and 9.

It was the opposite showing respect of the kings. Thus it was a taboo to use their names in any document. That was why the characters were changed.

Yes, that was the whole purpose for being a Taoist.

Stigweard... I'll reserve my comments. I don't want to be "know-it-all".... To prevent: 天下不太平.....

the full becomes empty the empty becomes full what is full is not empty what is empty is not full there can never be an emptiness that was not full before there can never be a fullness that was not empty before

You can find my answer in the previous post in of the threads. I had stated that in my experience, RAB was not mentioned as a requirement in Tai Ji practice but breathe naturally. I think you want me to say no. However, for being breathed naturally, RAB is possible under certain circumstances. I hope that will satisfy your question. PS... I am looking at things microscopically, while you are looking at macroscopically. If you would like to continue to discuss things in this manner to kill time. I glad to be here shooting the breeze with you....

Applying the principles to oneself, yes.

Well, I will say RAB gives a very strong and effective blow at a strike. Indeed, RAB still restricts the breathing a little bit in a way. That was what I mean by "it was not feasible".

You have asked a very critical question regarding to Tai Ji. It has a lot to do with the Yin-Yang concept. In Tai Ji Quan, the weights were not to be distributed evenly; so one leg has more weight than the other. The leg with less weight was considered Yin; and the other leg was Yang. Still means not in motion but just reserving energy to be ready for release at demand; and it was considered to be in the Yin state. Tai Ji was always considered oneself to be in a Yin state or a Yang state during combat mode. e.g. either one was standing still or in motion. In addition, the right hand was doing Fa Jin while the left hand relaxes and vice versa to produce the Yin-Yang effect at all times. However, at static mode, a Tai Ji practitioner always puts oneself in a Yin-Yang state, simultaneously. For example, the body weight was distributed unevenly in the legs(Yin-Yang state) with the hands relaxed(Yin sate). Edited to change the words from "not to be distribute unevenly" to "not to be distributed evenly".

I grant you that to have a good teacher to get one initiated is a must. It's really meaningless to argue having a teacher or not. The rest is how much can the student absorb and comprehend. Let me use a little common sense to answer your question. Using the RAB to Fa Jin is not as effective as using NAB because all the energy were concentrated on the abdomen by muscle contraction. When one is in motion, it would be difficult to control the breathing while the energy was being used elsewhere. In Nei Kung practice, the muscles are being prepared for external punishment. RAB is very good to harden the abdominal muscles; so, the internal organs can be protected and the abdomen was able to take a great impact as well. When someone is doing Fa Jin, one need to breathe as freely as one can be to control the breathing in a natural manner. Unless one is standing still, otherwise, RAB is not feasible for someone who is in constant motion.

Chapter 65 - The methods of ruling a country. 1. In antiquity, those who were good in observing the principles of Tao. 2. It was not intended to make the people cunning. 3. But to keep them simple. 4. The people are difficult to be ruled, 5. It was because they are full of trickery. 6. Therefore, if one was using crafty cleverness to rule a country, 7. He would be considered as a bandit of the country. 8. By not using crafty cleverness to rule a country, 9. Then, it would be very fortunate for the country. 10. Understanding the difference between these two ruling methods, 11. Then, it would be recognized as a great principle. 13. Always knowing the great principle, 14. It was considered to be a deep virtue. 15. The deep virtue is profound and remote indeed! 16. With things are returned to the state of simplicity, 17. Thus they will attain the ultimate natural state by following the course of Nature. Chapter 65 - How to rule a country. 1. 古 之 善 為 道 者, 2. 非 以 明 民, 3. 將 以 愚 之。 4. 民 之 難 治, 5. 以 其 智 多。 6. 故 以 智 治 國, 7. 國 之 賊。 8. 不 以 智 治 國, 9. 國 之 福。 10.知 此 兩 者, 11.亦 稽 式。 12.常 知 稽 式， 14.是 謂 玄 德。 15.玄 德 深 矣 、遠 矣 ! 16.與 物 反 矣。 17.然 後 乃 至 大 順。

Thank you for pointing out the critical point of RAB. I am not really against RAB for skilled practitioners if they choose. IMO Like they said it makes no difference in the benefits for MCO-1. If people come out yelling and screaming recommending to use RAB without mentioning not for beginners, it was absurd.