wudangspirit

I'd like to get some opinions about what you guys think is the traditional Taoist lifestyle. There was another post earlier about how to live as a Taoist. But my question is what do people in this forum think is a tradtional Taoist lifestyle and what makes them think come to this conclusion? Have you had traditional training? Read some books? Heard about Taoism on the internet? etc.

It has been a while sense I have viewed this. Sorry. I want to thank everyone for taking part in this discussion. It was helpful and you guys, in my opinion, are dead on.

Generally, those are shrines or qigong classes or schools. There are no working Taoist temples in the USA as far as traditional temples like Zixiao palace.

Wow.... I just read some of your comments and if you all spent 1/2 the time cultivating that you do on arguing who's right and who's wrong about cultivating you'd already be immortal! You all just took 10 years off your life of leaking Jing Qi and Shen hahahahah!!!! Tao Bless

This is how you return to stillness. My thoughts exactly. Don't attach and return to your dantian

What kind of meditation are you doing? You should detach from any feelings and go back to stillness

I think it is about finding the right teather for you and whether you are comfortable paying for it or not. No big deal. Your Tao is your Tao. Find the right teacher that teaches you what you are looking for. My only criteria was: Does the teacher practice what they preach? Does the teacher show physical proof in their own life of attainment and knowledge? Can the master's teachings and guidance make a difference in your life, if you practice? Does the teaching you learn apply to your life and your Tao (your way)? Do you have Yuan Fen (common affinity) with that teacher and their teachings? Do the teaching make sense to you?

I completely disagree with this notion. A Master is someone who master's themselves and will openly teach those who are willing to learn. If someone cannot learn how to meditate from these guys from a beginner then how can someone learn from them? Where would they learn to meditate for four hours in total stillness to begin with. Your theory has holes my friend. The "story" of Wang Liping says he learned from a beginner from immortals. They trained him from a total beginner learning step by step and could not even sit for 10 minutes at first. Do you think Wang Liping would hold himself higher than his own Masters and not except anyone who already knew how to meditate for four hours? I think not. My suggestion is to keep looking and he will find who he is looking for, for his own reasons.

You'll find who you are looking for when the time is right. However, do not get caught up in an illusion of ancient Shifu's who will not charge you. This is still the modern world and Shifu's need to eat and live as well. The key is are they giving you the value you are paying for and it is it within your means. Like I have said in previous posts, you need to watch out for scam artists. You can study with someone and if your life changes exponentially (in they way you want but maybe not they way you expected) from it, then I'd say you found your Shifu.

There are no secrets. People either will get it or they do not. The Tao is very dialectic and we have to see both sides of everything to understand the whole and then give up the concept to go deeper. It is about self cultivation anyway. There are a lot of people out there after fame, ego and your money. You need to be careful.

Nicely put and to my point, yes Wudang was undeniably attacked but there still survived our lineage and teachings as they could not take oral tradition away.

No egoes here my friend. It has all been documented. A special on my lineage and grandmaster has also been aired on CCTV. Which is the Chinese Central Television (central government run by the way) and they still do not deny it. Not a glorious history by any means. Tough times and they went through a hell of a lot. I can back up 100% of my claims.

Two ways: 1. We can take the conversation offline on email. You can email me at [email protected] and we can take it from there. 2. You can go to my master's site to read more. I can assure you he is the real deal. www.wudangtao.com

Where did you get this information? Couldn't be further from the truth. Yes the red guard did frequently burn down temple and take priests away to the re-education camps however they could not take away oral tradition. That is the beautiful part about it. My lineage for instance has still kept the pre-communist orthodox teachings thanks to my grandmaster and master. If you are interested in these practices I can help.

Not sure I am understanding what you mean by "pointer". Traditional lineages still exist in Taoist practice that have nothing to do with communist influence if that is what you mean.

This is a key term for Qigong practice. Post heaven intelligence is using the conscious mind that has been gathering all the information and storing it since your were born. It is what creates judgement and bias. In order to do Qigong correctly you need to have a still mind without the attachment of this type of thinking. You need to utilize the stillness to tap into your original spirit. THE REAL YOU without judgements. This allows you to trust yourself and begin to sense the real qi inside you.

While watching the animals in nature it allows us to get back to our own essential nature and reminds us to connect with our own original spirit. As for the movements, Qigong is grounded in stillness and the flow of qi can only be activated while in stillness then the body can begin to move. So going back to the Goose shaking his feathers, that was an inspired movement and intended for us to shake of the bad qi. This movement is also done in white crane kung fu. It is not about imitated the animal exactly but when you can visualize a goose shaking off wateer off his wings you can also see how that relates to shaking off stagnate qi. In healing work we also do this. You need to go beyond post heaven intelligence and realize the essence of the teaching and movements.

Pai means family or sect in Chinese

Your heighten your "mind intention" after training? Yi is mind intent. We usually say that the Shen guides the Qi and the Qi guides the body. In Zhan Zhuang the Shen is still and that is how the qi begins to flow. This is Taoist alchemical theory. Motion comes from stillness. Once you are still the qi will flow naturally and your root will be stronger as well. Wuji meditation, Taiji, Qigong and Wudang internal kung fu is how I get more qi and conserve it by being aware of leaking qi through lifestyle and awareness. Training is not a few hours a day but 24/7/365 You must nourish the qi you build and be aware of what can cause damage to it through everyday living. Tao Bless Wudangspirit Your heighten your "mind intention" after training? Yi is mind intent. We usually say that the Shen guides the Qi and the Qi guides the body. In Zhan Zhuang the Shen is still and that is how the qi begins to flow. This is Taoist alchemical theory. Motion comes from stillness. Once you are still the qi will flow naturally and your root will be stronger as well. Wuji meditation, Taiji, Qigong and Wudang internal kung fu is how I get more qi and conserve it by being aware of leaking qi through lifestyle and awareness. Training is not a few hours a day but 24/7/365 You must nourish the qi you build and be aware of what can cause damage to it through everyday living. Tao Bless Wudangspirit

Marblehead, TTC and Zhuangzi are not the only texts. Vegetarianism is definitely a must for monastics. If you are in the temple you ARE vegetarian. If you are outside the temple you have your choice but it is recommended. However, balance it best. Too much meat can cause too much heat.