ChiDragon

By LaoTze's definition of Wu Wei is not to start a war rather settle matters in a peaceful manner. Starting a war is not natural to LaoTze. What make you think that winning a war was natural decided by Tao....??? Edited to add: In this thread, are we within the scope of the Tao Te Ching or Buddhism....???

You seems to know a lot about breathing. Abdominal breathing doesn't necessarily mean deep inhales, long exhales. That is correct, but if you do, it would be Chi Kung.

One can only breath through the nose or mouth but not the diaphragm. Breath through the nose is better because it has a filter function to get rid the impurities from the air. Breathing through diaphragm means during abdominal breathing the diaphragm becomes flatten to allow more room for the lungs to be expanded. As a result, it will increase the capacity of the lungs to hold more air when you breathe.

It seems to me it was all in your mind. Think positively, you like people and people like you. Based on what you'd said: "This is due to the fact I believe people won't like me, I believe it vehemently, I have almost all of my life that I have memory for, and this presents a few problems: the guru wouldn't take me intrinsically, he wouldn't like me, furthermore, this being such a large block in my consciousness, he would turn me down because I am not ready, since I have this block." Hence, you had reservation about the Guru. It is not going to help you in any way, I think. I think it would be a hurtle that you have to over come yourself. You must take the first initiative yourself to build up your own confidence. You must have a mind of your own to start with. It is because you can't rely on somebody else's mind to control your mind to tell you what to do all the time. Besides, any Guru might take advantage of your vulnerability. Why should you want a stranger to run your life...??? Please get a hold of yourself and be strong...!!!

HE... I'm glad that I got your attention on ATP and Chi. After all these years of practice of Chi Kung, my muscles had transformed to have fast reflex and gave me a tremendous energy(body strength) to cope with the external chores. One day it got me thinking, people always talking about energy. What is this energy and how was developed inside my body...??? I figured that it has something to do within my body. Then, I bought a book with the title: Understanding Human Structure and Function. I was surprised that in the book which mentioned something about muscle contraction requires a biochemical energy. This biochemical energy was generated by the small granules within each body cell called mitochondria. The biochemical energy was generated by a process called cell respiration. Cell respiration used the oxygen that we breathe to breakdown the glucose to produce water, carbon dioxide, heat and energy(ATP). All the muscle contractions require ATP energy. The muscle of the lungs, heart, and other organs do need ATP to function. Besides, muscle contraction, each body cell needs ATP for part of the generation of its own energy. I had done an intensive research on the ATP and muscle contraction from the Internet. These all added up and supported my theory. Since Chi Kung involves body movements with muscle contraction and breathing oxygen, that leads me to link the cell respiration process together. Hence, I had come to a conclusion it was the large amount of oxygen came from practicing Chi Kung which gives me the tremendous energy. If you study about the heart, you will find out the heart beats on its own as long as oxygen was provided. Therefore, each time when I breathe, I breathe deeply. I know the large amount of oxygen will keep my heart healthy and my blood pressure normal. At this point in time, you can call Chi whatever you want. You may think of it as oxygen or energy since it was energy related.

OK, fair enough. I wouldn't treat this as an argument rather then an exchange of ideas. I am sure it was not directed to me. Indeed, I would be a loser if I don't have any justification for my reasoning or not able to tolerate or withstand any adversity.

hmmmm...... By laoTze's definition in this chapter: 14. The auspicious position is on the left, 15. The ominous position is on the right, At formal functions, the chief should be at the left, especially, he'd won the battle. Thus his victory was considered to be the auspicious and should be placed at the left. However, LaoTze placed him at the right, the ominous position, because he has to take the blame for killing so many people for his victory. Anyway, this was an illustration for a part of the philosophy of this Chapter.

Actually, I understand what the TCM was saying; it was only the way how it was presented that makes me to think it was a myth. If you were really familiar with it, there are lots of contradictions about the functions of internal organs between the west and the east.

You already knew the answer to your own question. Young man...!!! 1. (no, guy, that means you're living! haha.. theoretically, I get it) 2. I've been to a doctor, and have been told my heart rate, blood pressure are normal. You are the one, only the one, who can put your mind at ease. Why don't you ready something, on the internet, how to heart functions...??? You'll find out that your heart beats on its own as long as you eat and breathe.

Do you ever wonder how the Qi Gong masters can elevate the temperature in their hands to near boiling...??? Do you think his physical body has anything to do with that...??? This is beyond my scope of interest for the time being. However, my focus is more practical about practicing Chi Kung and how does it give me a tremendous body strength. To me, it has a lot to do the bio-electric energy. The reason that the Western science hasn't identified Chi as bio-electric energy is because they are too hip about energy and stuck on trying the find the Chi imaginary energy. It is because they only have one definition for Chi is Energy. They don't even know what kind of energy and start looking for it. May I ask you this...?? How much do you know about muscle contraction and the bio-electrical energy, known as adenosine triphosphate(ATP).

日月... I do respect your philosophical view. Thanks anyway....

4. Gentleman take the left as the precious position, 5. Militant take the right as the precious position, 14. The auspicious position is on the left, 15. The ominous position is on the right, 16. The vice-commander is on the left, 17. The chief-commander is on the right, It was interesting about LaoTze's style of writing in this chapter. In lines 4, 5, 14 and 15, he identified the left and right position with the attributes. The main figure always takes the left, the auspicious position; and the counterpart takes the right, the ominous position. However, if we look at lines 16 and 17, then why did he place the victorious chief-commander on the right position and his assistant on the left. It is because of line 10: Victorious but not glorious. It was customary to have a parade for the chief-commander after a victorious battle. In the parade the chief-commander suppose to be at the left position, instead, LoaTze placed him at the right. Why...??? LaoTze thought, even though, it was a victory for the chief-commander; but he killed so many people to gain his victory. Thus in the parade, he should be placed in the right, the ominous position. Hence, the parade was treated a funeral to show the last respect and honor the deceased. That was how LaoTze showing his feeling about wars.

Western science can't explain why TCM works when it does work either.....??? It seems like this general statement is a little bit too broad. Can you be more elaborate on that and give me some examples. You see, a lot of people just took the words from the ancients and says OK to them it works. They cant figure it out why it works due to the lack of understanding. The ancient concepts are very macroscopic. However, it can be explained microscopically with the Western science. If one understand both systems, they can be integrated. What do you know about acupuncture...?? I know it works and I did used acupressure myself. I can use the Western science to explain why and how it works. It has to do with the central nervous system. Did you know all the acupuncture points are laid on our nerves. The ancients called them meridians instead of nerves. If you compare the meridian diagrams with the Western anatomic diagrams, you can locate all the acupuncture points on all the nerves in the body. Edited to add: You know why Chi Kung works for some and not others...??? Some people get headaches and some don't. I am more appreciative about Chi Kung; and it works for me is because I understand how it works and why.

Thank you. I was hoping somebody might ask me that. To me, "Chi" means air or breath. Chi Kung is an ultimate method of breathing to be cultivated to its perfection. Here is my understanding of the multi-definition of the character of Chi. 1. http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the_old_myth_about_chi.html 2. http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/scientific-explanation-of-chi-kung-no-14-the-definition-of-the-character-chi-in-chi-kung-be

Chapter 31 1. 夫佳兵者不祥之器， 2. 物或惡之， 3. 故有道者不處。 4. 君子居則貴左， 5. 用兵則貴右。 6. 兵者不祥之器， 7. 非君子之器， 8. 不得已而用之， 9. 恬淡為上。 10.勝而不美， 11.而美之者， 12.是樂殺人。 13.夫樂殺人者， 14.則不可得志於天下矣。 15.吉事尚左， 16.凶事尚右。 17.偏將軍居左， 18.上將軍居右。 19.言以喪禮處之。 20.殺人之眾，以悲哀泣之， 21.戰勝以喪禮處之。 Translation in terse English 1. Military affair is not an auspicious matter. 2. People disgusted with it. 3. Thus, a Taoist not even involve with it. 4. A gentleman regards the left as a honorable position, 5. A soldier regards the right as a honorable position, 6. A weapon is not an auspicious tool. 7. It's not a gentleman's instrument, 8. Employs it only inevitable. 9. Peace is far superior. 10. Victorious but not glorious, 11. However, to a glorious one killings are joyful, 12. One who take joy in killing, 13. Cannot succeed to rule the world. 14. The auspicious position is on the left, 15. The inauspicious position is on the right, 16. The vice-commander is on the left, 17. The chief-commander is on the right, 18. It was said to be handled as a funeral arrangement. 19. With such a big massacre, 20. Thus funeral attendants with grief and sorrow, 21. Though it was a victory but handled as a funeral.

They claim this will do that and that will do this with no real explanation. Any body can do that. If you follow their sayings, it was all about breathing and body movement. Can you derive the commonality from that...??? Do they ever tell you what is going on inside your body besides Chi is flowing in the meridians....???

FYI 1.) The things that was claimed in TCM is a myth to me. I do not believe most of the stuffs as claimed because there is no real scientific explanation for it. 2.) Your mouth is closed when you sleep. Don't you have a dry mouth when you woke up...??? 4.) Here is my take on it... http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Scientific_Explanation_of_Chi_Kung_No_6_The_Art_of_Breathing.html http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/scientific-explanation-of-chi-kung-no-11-why-does-it-work

If you are doing isotonic Chi Kung, you are involving with you mind, breath, eyes and movement. 1. Your mind helps to control your body movements. 2. You eyes follow your movement of the arms will increase your concentration and help your mind to control the arms to move to different positions. 3. Breathing is helping to generate the inner chi, body strength, within the body. 4. The movements will build up your muscle tone and transform your muscles to be stronger and to have faster reflex.

1. It is a fallacy. 2. Lifting up your tongue will keep your saliva flow to keep the inside of the mouth moisten. Otherwise, your mouth will be very dry during breathing practice. Indeed, it has no physical effect to your body whatsoever. The only thing is effecting you is the amount of oxygen that goes into your body.

Yes, we don't breathe like a baby anymore; but we need to practice to breathe like a baby again like Chi Kung.

5. 嫉妒心，伤天理，见人好事即不喜； 面是心非藏阴毒，终亦必亡而已矣。 嫉妒心，伤天理，见人好事即不喜； Jealousy, violates the moral principles, One sees others with good fortune, then he's unhappy; 面是心非藏阴毒，终亦必亡而已矣。 Despite showing a smiling face but it was not in the heart and full of evil thoughts, Consequently, it was only a doom to self destruction at the end.

Riyue... 1. 無名天地之始。 2. 有名萬物之母。 3. 無,名天地之始。 4. 有，名萬物之母。 How would you translate these four lines...???

吾不知, 誰之子, 象帝之先 Translation: I don't know who's son that he is. It seems like before all the gods.

"I meant 3 second inhale and 2 second exhale. 1. anyone have any idea why the longer inhale vs. the shorter exhale? 2. The important thing is that it cycles 12 times per minute." ************************************************************************************** 1. The reason we want to inhale longer is to breathe in more oxygen. When exhale, we want to breathe out the carbon dioxide. At the same time, we don't want to breathe out the rest of the unused oxygen. 2. That will keep a balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide so the blood vessels do not constrict to cause hypertension. Also, to maintain the pH at 7 to prevent to have too much acid in the blood.

Yes, that was exactly what I was trying to lead him to. 1. Yes, please try to understand the whole procedure before you do it. This is a matter of life and breath. 2. Don't try to stop your breathing as a beginner, you are not ready for that yet. That is why you are having headaches. The reason we breath is try to bring lots of oxygen into the lungs to distribute through out the body and the brain. If you don't provide enough oxygen to your brain, you will feel dizzy and have headaches. When you mediate, right now as a novice, try to just breath as you normally do. Try to feel where your breath stops as a reference point. The goal is to make your breath go though that reference point until reach the abdomen, but not in one day. You must do it slowly, it may that days, weeks, months or even years. Another word, do rush it and do it at your own pace. BTW It took me years of practice to hold my breath for one minute. The key is how long you can hold your breath depends how much oxygen can you breathe into your lungs in one inhalation. That is why abdominal breathing is so important in Chi Kung because it allows your lungs to increase to the highest capacity to hold a maximum amount of air or oxygen. If you can keep this in mind, you have won half the battle already.