Ryan McCoole

Spectrum, I really like that "soup" analogy...very good flavor of word choice Todd, interesting interpretation. The diamond body is that sacred "work", that spiritual evolution which has potential in all of us...or so I read it. Oh the question marks were a code error when I copied and pasted the text. Sorry about that. The words mean "The Book of Consciousness and Life" if I'm correct (seldom am), but I think that's what it means. See Spectrum's post above on the "diamond" part. There is an alchemy tone in here as well, for the drawing that accompanies the verse is of a man with a microcosmic orbit within him (one pathway), and the semen pathway out of the body ("the outflowing" of Jing). Be well!

Yeah I think Kosta said that that’s the shape the earth makes when the thunderbolt (yang energy) strikes the ground. Also, the shape itself, being held together in the center is a hint at the Dan Tien as a center for generation and gathering of Qi? I’d have to look in the book again to be sure. The Hui Ming Ching states: “If thou wouldst complete the diamond body with no outflowing,? Diligently heat the roots of consciousness and life.? Kindle light in the blessed country ever close at hand, And there hidden, let thy true self always dwell.” Any thoughts to the Bums? It might be that to achieve true Dao you must “heat” your Dantien via your Yi (intention) to wake the Qi, and if you remain in your center in meditation and daily life for…however long…you’ll saturate your charkas with Qi to the point it completely re-organizes your being? Musings… -Ryan

After buying Master Lam Kam Chuen's book The Way of Energy last year, I have been doing the "standing like a tree" excercise everyday for about 30 minutes (15 morning, 15 in the evening). The other foundational positions of Zhan Zhuang are "Standing in the Stream", "Holding the ball infront of your face" and others. I am thinking of upping my times (15 minutes without pain or fatigue is already here for me) and then adding more excercises during the day Anyone have any experience with there Zhan Zhuang practice? Here's a basic wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhan_zhuang In Dao , -Ryan McCoole-

*nods* awesome, thanks. One more pestering Q: I hear people taking general inner-body pills, that clean out the whole system and make it better/more receptive for qi? Anything like that you'd recommend? Any other pills/herbs while I'm there? Haha, it's my first time there and I just want to be sure there isn't the "oh duh , why didn't you get this" item...although I'm sure it's all subjective/whatever the situation calls for. Be well,

*laughs* I am amused as well. I am going tomorrow to pick up the Yunnan Bai Yao. Does it also come in a pill form, or is it just the powder? Thanks Aiwei, and be well, in the Dao, Ryan

Aiwei, thank you, I will definitely check that out (I am in chicago, there must be a shop close by methinks ). Are there any other herbs/ mixes you'd recommend for general cleansing use? Just something you take on a regular basis? More musings, be well,

*nods and bows* well said Aiwei. When reading this, chapter 20 from the Hua Hu Ching came to mind: "The clairvoyant may see forms which are elsewhere, but he cannot see the formless. The telepathic may communicate directly with the mind of another, but he cannot communicate with one who has achieved no-mind. The telekinetic may move an object without touching it, but he cannot move the intangible. Such abilities have meaning only in the realm of duality. Therefore, they are meaningless. Within the Great Oneness, though there is no such thing as clairvoyance, telepathy, or telekinesis, all things are seen, all things understood, all things forever in their proper places." Be well, Ryan

To play the devil's advocate, then why all this stress on cultivation and secrecy and powers being a standard for 'enlightenment'? Is it just the allure of bending the veil of Reality? Having something that you can call 'mine'? Or....? Just some musings...

To second Aiwei, John Chang says in that new video that all this Qi stuff is only on the surface...byproducts of the real meditational and Awareness-expanding journey that he makes. Be well, -Ryan

I am defintiely interested as well.

Taomeow and Cat, Thank you both for your great suggestions! I'm on a mission, and I won't stop till I'm completly de-blistrified.... Yeah Meow...I have no idea why it started to hurt ony an hour later...strange and stranger. Thanks again! -Ryan

And by greed for enlightemnet I mean fervent zeal taking over the calming, relaxing flow of the Dao.

I've read it gives more energy right after, but then your body works to replenish the Jing and it slows you down. However there have been times where I'm like "Ah! I needed to release here because the toxins were building up, etc."

Yeah "Sung", I remmeber reading about that in Lam Kam's book...its like settling into yourself..finding that groove and letting it groove you. Cameron, I like that description! I think of it as the Taoist concept of "completly empty, yet completly full"...its that strange, calm charge. Be well,

Today I was sitting and, for some reason, I felt more than usuall the Unity in my body...everything was One: my hands, legs, dan tien, head were One. When I took in each breth, I felt the WHOLE of me vibrating to that inner pulse. And then I began to expand my Awareness around the room, relaizing that I am the same as a penny or a tree or the little lamp by my bed. It's interesting to think that, aside from a slightly different arrangement of carbon atoms, there is nothing seperating us from a tree or showerhead. Everything is blissfully One...it's good to feel that charge in practice as well. Be well always,

My Thanks as well!

Congrats! I've been retaining my jing for about a week on average, but after that I feel "withdrawl" symptoms and eventually succumb to releasing it. After reading so much positive stuff, I wonder: how many days do you go without releasing your Jing, and what methods do you use to stimulate your Dan Tien. I practice Zhan Zhuang standing/static positions and can really feel a rush of Chi after practice, but what is the timing and methods of your sexual aspect? Congrats again

Indeed, the Master's mind is the beginner's mind...if only I acted on that more...

Yes! I also found that "standing like a tree" i.e. "holding the ball" has taught me so much about my body, mental responses, and spiritual energy. I felt so much pain I couldn;t even hold it for 10 munites, but I kept having patience, not "fighting" through the pain, but rather calmly finding my center and *experiencing* it to its fullest...then letting it go. Lam Kam in his other book "Way of Power" says that top become proficient in Zhan Zhuang, you have to fight through fear, anxiety, impatience, nerve impulse to move, and mental wandering. I am only now seeing how endless and beautiful and challenging this path is. I like the zazen as well. I also practice the standing and breathing through my Dan Tien, just letting this happen around me and merging into them...

I am wondering nearly the same thing. What say you, bums of Tao?