WhiteTiger

There are many different variations of microcosmic orbit. I'm personally not a fan of the way Mantak Chia chooses his words to describe lots of things. At least with a lot of the meterial out on the internet and so forth. What exactly do you mean that now it's easy as pie... I do understand the referance is based on the previous sentance. What exactly do you mean in more detail when you verbalize the meaning its easy as pie to circulate your microcosmic orbit? Depends on exactly your understanding of the the Microcosmic Orbit is. Editing to add: MCO (Microcosmic Orbit) is definately something that you should only practice with a instructer. I would go so far to claim only to practice with such things with a Lineage holder also guidance, and teachings.

Been searching through the internet on Henry Look. Found out he seems to be a lineage holder and there seems to be a bunch of students under him currently that also teach but didn't find any information about him living or openly teaching in the Bay area... this seems like decent advice and i thank you but so far my research for looking at him (about an hours worth) I have not found anything but stories about him and his students students talk about him. Is there more information you could give me about Henry look or someone else you mind mentioning that is seems more avaliable (I'm still on the search for Henry look once again... did not stop my endeavors not until i find at least the information about his current events and if he teaches anymore)

Forget the dumb word Chi... just talk use the word Energy... If a person has a smile on there face and is happy thats energy... I mean Chi is more the brake down of types of energy and is a complete science side to what energy it is and so forth but honestly... its Chi = Energy... very simply put... he can not deny that. Although he can not properly understand why it is... but then you can explain well you contain energy, and outside of you theres energy. Happiness or emotions equate roughly to the Chi in you and the brake down of you. Whats more crazy is thats pretty easy to accept but the next step is realizing with that understanding because emotions can display your energy you litterly can change your personality for the better? How crazy does that sound to a generalized westerner that doesn't believe in Chi... personality change wierd HUH? (when I'm talking about personality change I'm definately not just talking about the outside surface but definately the inside surface) So inside you don't gotta be really insecure

editing because i put the wrong qoute... Agreed! But i would like to point out I used to do a practice where you take in what was taught to me as taking in Yang and letting out Yin... But the way my teacher explained it to me which i can not tell weather she was manipulating me with this or not, you take in all, and you let out the stale. When i say stale qi i mean it like river not flowing is stale water. Its bad. Stale water represents not moving or no cultivation often times its seen as Dying, or Death. I mean often times its seen as (represented as such...) dying or something that is dead.

Nice story Sean! I would be interested in hearing any more extra information about this before i delve into it, I think it could possibly be a great investment thus why I would buy the E-book. Also I'm wondering if anyone has signed up so far for the group and got the E-book... what do they think? *looks at Taomeow and Franklin and anyone else that is willing to answer the question*

Often times teachers transmit energy to the students in decent taiji classes. You should also show a will to practice and show a long term commitment for them to just want to transmit energy so freely. To feel energy go through your body while practicing is basically Qi. Or the practice of Energy going through you or in you. there are several methods. I'm not aware of many different methods of it happening... Once again I'm nothing close to a teacher. This is basically referred to doing Qigong in your taiji set or forms or drills. If this is happening this is a good thing. Its important very important to equate feeling good in a workout and wanting to do more or having the copassity to continue means you have this practice of doing qigong in your practice. If your teachers are opened to it try and ask them about how you can strengthen you Qi inside you while practicing taiji or doing other strenuous activities. Remember that I wouldn't just go around doing these practices infront of everyone. I personally would keep it more between you and your teacher. So basically when you are finding you have the energy to continue even though your muscles are fetigued this is basically qi. When or if you learn to do Qigong inside your taiji form or even in your drills than you can gather energy and exercise that way as you continue your workout. One thing to keep in mind most schools that don't have high level qigong teachers that aren't willing to give you energy its best to learn from those teachers or somewhere else to do seated qigong to gather more energy and supplement it from there. (lots of martial arts places that are even decent will only teach you qigong in your taiji in intermidiate or when your an advanced student. My honest opinion about that is, well i think not very highly of the place that teaches like that. (of course i don't judge them but i definately question why they decide to take that sort of action there must be a reason,. Once you figure out the reason and depending on how good it is you can decide for yourself what you think, but remember things can change) From the beginning they should teach you how to practice on your own seated, standing, qigong that they will later teach you to put it into your taiji, or whatever internal martial art. Just my two cents... Hope that helps

Pranaman Are you aware of doing Qigong while doing your Taiji and are you aware of doing any sort of Nei Gong while doing your Taiji? If so your already geting longevity. If not I'm sure you now know what to seek. (weather you learn to practice it while your taiji or not those are longevity practices.)

We have weird people here in TheTaoBums?

And Brian would most likely be right. The biggest thing i try to advocate to people (even though i'm not a teacher just realizing theres a important piece to the puzzle missing) is that weight lifting at least the way they add on weight in gym circles in the western world in todays ages (most not all) don't allow the density of the bones to become strong enough for the size of the muscles, (although that might not be the biggest of peoples problems...) more importantly tendons, fluid in the joints and many other bodily adjustments need to happen. Although its great stress relief and most likely makes you feel better (and if not your doing something WRONG!) but there is a lot more to the nakid eye and the modern age of gym weight lifting today. External martial artists do external trainning but in the end they also get make connections with the internal later in way more advanced stages. Yes its a different method in doing things but its only different not any worse. Now I do advocate also that External should be understood properly and Internal is not "BETTER" then Internal martial arts. But for me i perfer Internal martial arts (whom would have known hehe, the way i talk about external martial arts so passionately) editing to ask, yatzhong a question (instead of making a new post) yatzhong, are they're any pretty damn good (Very good Teacher or Master in ability) teachers in CA accepting with opened door teachings, you would be willing to drop there name for Yiquan? And if not very good teachers, how about good? Please feel free to send me a PM. I'm definately very interested in learning more about it.

I like the way Spectrum stated that quoted comment by Xuesheng also, along with the way Xuesheng explained it. Great knowledge by the way .Broken. I learned some stuff YAY! 'Hsing Yi strikes like lightning, Ba Gua twists like a tornado, Tai Chi is like a great ocean - deep and calm but reserves immeasurable power' - Master Wei Lun Huang I'm sure these metaphors were not only used by Master Huang, but this is his exact quote, so i thought i would properly tag it. This quote talks about its cultivation process in the general. At least in energy terms. Remember the Power or Jin might be applied slightly different depending whom is teaching (At least when we compare different masters) Actually to get a better understanding and learn more from what people say online try looking at www. EmptyFlower.net Specially if you look at old posts... i guess they get into more detail then your looking for but still would be beneficial. (A little about Ba Gua that i understand keeping in mind I have never practiced Ba Gua)... Ba Gua biggest difference, or shall i say difference in training is its circle walking. They bring about different aspects, basically the eight trigrams. (A little about Hsing I. Understanding that i'm a complete novice with very little experience in Xing Yi)... Xing Yi, also translated to Mind and Form boxing, (Yi meaning Mind for example what is the state of your mind, or intent. Xing Meaning Shape or Form, and well its a martial art so we call it boxing) Is the practice and understanding of the Functions. Through proper training of the art in functions trainning you can learn the 5 elements and their "FUNCTION" (thus why its called Functions) and play in cultivation on martial level, and can draw parallel from spiritual cultivation or possibly do spiritual cultivation while learning such a martial art. (A little about Taijiquan as I have very little experience in such a subject) This art seems to be extremely adaptable to many different ages. Sadly this art is often times more than not butchered in proper practice, or lack of complete practice. The biggest and most important thing about Taiji is the practice of balance of Yin and Yang. Because as stated by Master Huang the ocean is created by the balance of Yin and Yang and thus making its martial practices stem from Yin and Yang.

Thats a pretty interesting question actually. I've switched from Community College to Community College, it really depends one the college your attending and what they offer. (even if were not talking about community college) Also depends are you willing to travel and so forth? In all honesty The most common and best thing I can think of at a typical American, State college, or University (notice how I say American) that doesn't have very specified degrees, I'd go with Exercise Physiology. The biggest thing I've noticed is that degrees at different colleges (Depending on the teachers you take in the college for your specific degree, and how they teach and what they cover) they cover slightly different stuff. Because its such a general degree. The more general the stuff will be, unfortunately (As i have learned) + Not only do they teach slightly different aims they often call it different names at different colleges it gets into a LOT OF STUDYING ABOUT COLLEGES! Anyway, thats the type of options in the past I've looked at, and figured out. Hope that helps, if you have some more specific questions about what i said feel free to PM me. The knowledge I have is free specially if i know it off the top of my head.

Good luck and hope to see you in the future.

If you look up on wikipedia Wu Xing you shall find the Wu Xing chart. If you scroll down it has a chart called the Diurnal Cycle. (I hold that name somewhat suspect but names don't mean much rather then labels which represent very important things) check out this link... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FiveEle...iurnalCycle.jpg It shows the changes of the phase, within the day. Even the elements are represented in it. Its very interesting... I was taught 4:00 Am to do meditation.

Congratulations and hope it turns out extremely forfilling and fruitful for you, and your students.

Thanks, I will try it.

So I have some questions, i will limit to as few as i can. (maybe even one or just two) In hopes to be answered still apart of this understanding these texts. The true self, or whom have realization of the true nature of self, is it anything to do with Yin Chi? (At least for a male)

This is just my personal recommendations for you. I'm not a teacher. But I'm sure this will help you. Um... well to be 100% honest, ego just causes issues with other people. (causes other egos to clash.) You can start all sorts of fights this way. Trick is easy, without eradicating your ego you must keep it intact but without displaying the folly of it. This is the understanding of Egolessness. Only actions show you your present ability you work hard... but your intention is not displayed in any sort of way against another. You can find all sorts of meditation will grant you egolessness. When talking to teachers ask for that specifically. for example, "I'm looking for a meditation or practice that dissolves ego." or "I'm in search of achieving egolessness" The second thing you basically gotta do purify you intent. You must be a good person. Be nice to people without a hidden agenda, without a purpose other then to be a good person, to help out people. In martial arts they talk about your intent. Your intent or intentions must be good. Some people will call this praciticing the wheel of Dharma. Doing this will help safe guard you from upcoming issues or battles you might have. Those are the two things I would say you should practice and find a teacher to teach you those things.

Interesting.

This is my understanding. That it does not take super long to open all these things. Lots of schools refer to some sort of basic foundation meditation of emptying the mind and opening the channels takes around 100 days. Which is also not long at all. (Not talking about Kunlun here) Well I understand you were not talking to me, and I'm not teacher but i still believe your missing one key thing in your question. Effort, in my mind at least, does not equal practice or intensity of training. So in other words you got effort, you got intensity of your training plus your got time of practice. Once again i hope you don't mind if i take a stab at understanding why there are so many variations even though i don't claim to know the correct one. I think its similar with Tai chi. Just take one form there are so many variations of combat techniques you could do with each move, some people are even taught this extremely intensive training. where they teach every single variation. I will claim that Sifu Jesse Tsao offers many of these things. I'm not sure if he does the intensive training thing but it would be a great place to start. (I'm am not a student of Jesse Tsao, and I think in my personal opinion he would be a great person to start learning from if you consider yourself an intermediate, beginner or have never done any sorts of Taiji or similar arts) In my art there always attacking first with fire. We have Chin'na techniques all pinching fire. We also have lots of moves to strengthen our metal (because fire beats metal. In the overcoming cycle, also known as the destruction cycle.) I agree there are so many variations, there are reasons why there are so many. For different purposes, although some might be improper practices but theres a reason why there improper. So figuring out the reason for one thing is still on the search for knowledge.

Although i enjoy his work and have not finished the book. I switch from a few books haven't opened it in a little while this is a good reminder to start begin where i left off. I find it a good book. I do not do the exact practices that it explains, or at least not the way it explains how to do it. By reading the book i start to understand things that were not explained to me by my teachers. It also talks about names of stuff I'm not familiar with but thats not a big surprise. I would not use that book as a practice guide, nor would i do so with any book. I think lots of people have been there done that in understanding a messed up energy body, lots of people have to work it out. I just would recommend not to use a book to do it but an actual teacher that points out things that can observe you and so forth. I also hopefully find a teacher that retransmit stuff too. But if you join any class you better start practicing immediately and work hard, in time of continuing practicing guidance will always come. Hope you look what your trying to find and peace Editing to add the following... There has also been many posts in the past i believe (at least two) about this book, search Taoist Yoga you will get more information, but once again i recommend you do not actually use that as a reference to practice.

Its ok to rant. I would like to bring up somethings about that school. Don't deny the school just because of its issues students or even teachers display just work to make sure you do not display the issues of students or teacher. Bad teachers purposely lead you astray. I've been there don't that, its not happy . There is nothing wrong with the senior guys, there problems reflect there practice and ability, which also reflect there teachers. If you really want to learn Kungfu, you would make that school work. Although that doesn't mean that there aren't better choices at your disposal. (which i suggest to go for the best of course) Personally I would be respectful of senior students as i am to teachers, listening to what they have to offer. Weather there ability reflects it or not if they have a gem for you in knowledge it can help you greatly! Its worth much to keep it rather then throw it away just because the senior students don't reflect there own advice in practice. Attempt to let go of your thoughts while in practice or ubstructions when practicing your practicing to learn. If you feel your teachers aren't really educating your and your seniors thats a different story but you still then can learn to strive in that sort of environment. (although personally i wouldn't even want to)

Thank you very much xuesheng!

Great post Graig thanks for the information, always enjoy anything you have to say on the matter. Edited to take out the huge qoute to your post Craig