Stigweard

Unless of course there is no "creator" and then you are royally screwed

Well happy flying my friend, just watch when you get closer the sun...

Just saw this ... with this one post you have completely invalidated all your other assertions of superiority.

Matey you are assuming there is "somewhere" outside of nature. It seems you are hell-bent on trying to claw yourself "outta here". I appreciate that you are basing your views on a different ontology, but why are you trying to do this??

LOL ... instead of fighting "against" them, "fight for" Daoism by posting more relevant stuff in the Taoist Discussion forum

Cough ... splutter ... damn matey you made me choke on my coffee Me more advanced that you??? Crap dude I think you might need to revise that position I think it was Taomeow who said that the true sign of achievement is what people do at home when noone is watching. The truth is that I am just another bum bumbling along Seeing that I have been brought into it I will share my very uneducated thoughts. Firstly our "birth chart", whether western or eastern astrology, is the harmonic upon which we entered life. It gives us the predispositions of our personalities, it gives us the general vibe of our life's journey. Over in How to handle the unknown I gave a simplified model of the self. In reference to the subject at hand, the features of our Island of the Known is an amalgamation of our astrological predispositions and the matrix of belief that we have formed due to our responses to experience. In the process of self-cultivation, one of the fundamental things to achieve is the integration and harmonisation of our personality ... call it internal Feng Shui. It is about eliminating the energy leakages caused by disfunctional personality behaviors. This is where astrology etc can be a valuable tool because it literally gives us the fundamental template upon which our personality is formed. Empowered by this we can expediate the process of self-integration. Can we "transcend" this template? Well here I will concur with our enthusiastic if not slightly over-zealous tulku, because, as I have been taught, if the practitioner can truly cultivate Xindan (i.e. Golden Elixir) then they can indeed transcend their biological destiny. So whilst transcending the personality is the apex of the mountain, it is working within the realms of the personality that prepares us for ardures of the climb. That fact is also that you can never permanently erase the personality and it is this fundamental template that gives us a practical reference point to make sense of the mystery. We "collapse" the personality to journey into the ineffible, but then we must return to the personality, or the known, to ground out our experiences of the unknown within the practicalities of everyday life. As the Zen saying goes: Before enlightenment, cut wood carry water. After enlightenment, cut wood carry water. So tulku is both right and wrong. To focus too much on astrology etc is to get too caught up in the known. But to ignore it is to wastefully cast away a powerful tool that can help us on our journey.

Whilst your post contains truths of some inequities that took place, I would suggest to you that you have a very close look in the mirror to examine what it is about your manner that attracted to yourself such a general opposition. The very notion that "you did nothing wrong" shows a great deal of self-denial and arrogance. If you wish to become an excepted member here in our lovely little mud-pool then I suggest that you learn to give as much credence to other people's views in as much as you give to your own. Just a kindly word from a long-time survivor of The TaoBums

Totally disagree with "Human is not part of nature" and that Laozi in any way said that. In that same chapter he declares Human equal status with the other 4 greats of Earth, Heaven and Dao.

Me four ... hey that means "I am number four" ... nice movie.

Same could be said for the person who tries to push their truth on other people. Mostly people do this when they feel insecure in their own beliefs and need other people to agree to make the feel more secure. If you were truly free of ego you would not feel the need to do this.

Damn ... I just knew it ... I did, I did ... Marblehead is the dark lord !!!!

LOL Mal ... you've gone fishin !!!

And please accept my personal choice to be very much interested and engaged in the subject and advocate positive change here on TaoBums.

Good o Now that is the basis, or point of reference, of my critique. So if you go back and read what I have said it might make more sense to you

Hmmm ... remember to breathe, and don't ask silly questions. Seriously, just breathe, ask yourself internally, "Does this path have heart". Then act conclusively on the response that arises from within.

Found what I was looking for: Fajin theory or 发劲理论 states 蓄劲如开弓，发劲如放箭，其根在于脚，发于腿，主宰于腰，行于手指" 的行径。此外，还应敛气凝神、以呼气助发劲 Translation: storing jin/energy is like loading an arrow on a bow and actual release of energy is to release like shooting the arrow. the root is in the feet, exerts from the legs, commands from the waist and travels to the extremities/fingers. Furthermore there should be coordination between the qi and spirit with the breathing assisting in the fajin) This was care of Warmond Fang from Ontario.

Hmmm, well that's not true with the bitches I know .... oh wait up .... you said "witches" ... right my bad ... carry on.

Thanks Mal and Apech for your reflections. Let's continue for a moment with Semco's model seeing that that is what I am throwing up as an "ideal" model that we should be trying to emulate. As I mentioned the workers have organized themselves into smaller work groups and they only have a "manager" if the group feels it is necessary. If they do then the work group writes up the job description of what they think the manager should be able to do and their responsibilities. The workers interview the prospective manager and the workers vote for the best applicant. In day to day operation, if one member of the work group or pod becomes a problem then the "moderation" comes laterally from the other workers NOT down from management. In fact Semco has gone to great lengths to prevent the possibility that management can control the workers. So if moderation is required then the work group has the right to simply stop work there and then and call a team meeting. Only those people interested enough in the issue attends, there are no closed doors and neither are there any obligations. Semco encourages lively and bold debate, even if the meeting turns into a shouting match it's allowed. I am sure though they maintain a principle of respect however, just as here. Basically whoever feels they have an interest in the issue can pitch in and voice their view. And the debate is allowed to continue for as long as necessary until the group reaches some sort of consensus as to what should be done. Maybe it means the disruptive member gets booted out of the team, maybe the member admits fault and moderates his/her behavior. Then, and only then, does the management act and does so only to enact what the team decide for themselves. So, how would this translate to The TaoBums??

Ah yes ... you don't understand what I am getting at so there must be something wrong with me. Typical CD, very typical.

1. Nope, this is the instruction from the Taiji classics. Steve is much more of a scholar in this than I so if he reads this maybe he can post up the appropriate references. 2. Don't like the word "frozen"? How about stiff and rigid then? Please remember that I am basing my critique on how I do Taiji and how I was taught (traditional Yang family coming down from Yang Sao Chung, and Chen Man Ching form coming down from Huang Shyan). If you don't think my critque is relevant than don't take it onboard. But you did ask for comments From my persepective you are demonstrating no transmission of power through your body, thus, if push came to shove, your Jin is only coming from the arms. 3. BS ... Taijiquan is a martial art. Remove that aspect and its no longer Taijiquan, more like Taiji gymnastics. How can you possible honor the "martial spirit" if you don't train it as a martial arts??

# Taoism: Shit happens. # Confucianism: Confucius say, "Shit happens." # Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit. # Buddhism #2: Shit happens, but only because shit happened before, but only because.... # Zen Buddhism: Shit is, and is not. # Zen Buddhism #2: What is the sound of shit happening? # Hinduism: This shit has happened before. # Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah. # Islam #2: If shit happens, kill the person responsible. # Islam #3: If shit happens, blame Israel. # Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it. # Protestantism: Let shit happen to someone else. # Presbyterian: This shit was bound to happen. # Episcopalian: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it. # Methodist: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it. # Congregationalist: Shit that happens to one person is just as good as shit that happens to another. # Unitarian: Shit that happens to one person is just as bad as shit that happens to another. # Lutheran: If shit happens, don't talk about it. # Fundamentalism: If shit happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!) # Fundamentalism #2: If shit happens to a televangelist, it's okay. # Fundamentalism #3: Shit must be born again. # Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us? # Calvinism: Shit happens because you don't work. # Seventh Day Adventism: No shit shall happen on Saturday. # Creationism: God made all shit. # Secular Humanism: Shit evolves. # Christian Science: When shit happens, don't call a doctor - pray! # Christian Science #2: Shit happening is all in your mind. # Unitarianism: Come let us reason together about this shit. # Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit. # Utopianism: This shit does not stink. # Darwinism: This shit was once food. # Capitalism: That's MY shit. # Communism: It's everybody's shit. # Feminism: Men are shit. # Chauvinism: We may be shit, but you can't live without us... # Commercialism: Let's package this shit. # Impressionism: From a distance, shit looks like a garden. # Idolism: Let's bronze this shit. # Existentialism: Shit doesn't happen; shit IS. # Existentialism #2: What is shit, anyway? # Stoicism: This shit is good for me. # Hedonism: There is nothing like a good shit happening! # Mormonism: God sent us this shit. # Mormonism #2: This shit is going to happen again. # Wiccan: An it harm none, let shit happen. # Scientology: If shit happens, see "Dianetics", p.157. # Jehovah's Witnesses: >Knock< >Knock< Shit happens. # Jehovah's Witnesses #2: May we have a moment of your time to show you some of our shit? # Jehovah's Witnesses #3: Shit has been prophesied and is imminent; only the righteous shall survive its happening. # Moonies: Only really happy shit happens. # Hare Krishna: Shit happens, rama rama. # Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit! # Zoroastrianism: Shit happens half on the time. # Church of SubGenius: BoB shits. # Practical: Deal with shit one day at a time. # Agnostic: Shit might have happened; then again, maybe not. # Agnostic #2: Did someone shit? # Agnostic #3: What is this shit? # Satanism: SNEPPAH TIHS. # Atheism: What shit? # Atheism #2: I can't believe this shit! # Nihilism: No shit. # Narcisism: I am the shit! ------------------------------------ And some TaoBums shit: # New Age: We take old shit and call it new shit # New Age 2: We mixed all the shit together. # Solipsism: I am the only shit. # Qigong: Sink all your shit into the dan-tien. # Qigong #2: There are three levels of shit. # Zhan Zhuang: We shit standing up. # Zhan Zhuang 2: Shit is happening, just stand and breathe # Confucianism #2: Nearest shit is the warmest shit. Don't forget it. # Martial Arts: I'll beat the shit out of you if necessary. # Martial Arts 2: My shit can beat your shit. Oh yeah? Well take this shit! # Tibetan Buddhism: Only chosen few can ever see us take a shit. # Chinese Esoteric and Martial Arts: We only shit behind the closed door. # Chinese Esoteric and Martial Arts 2: We produce the real shit, but don't ask for proof you shit! # TTB Buddhists: all the shit depends on some other shit. # TTB Buddhists 2: If I throw more shit then anyone else my shit must be right # TTB "big" shot: all the shit (except my own) is arrogant. # Modern Spiritual Teachers: This $hit ain't free. # OSHO-ism: Your shit won't stink when you're enlightened! # Fundie #4: When shit happens, let Jesus have it all, and whipe your butt clean! # Fundie #5: Shit and Satan are one and the same! # Jiddu Krishnamurti - There is no path through all of this shit. # UG Krishnamurti - Enlightenment is shit # Shakespeare: To shit or not to shit, that is the question. # Mantak Chia: Tighten your asshole and hold that shit. # Fundie Taoism: We are going to exorcise that shit right out of you! # Fundie Taoism 2: If your shit doesn't have robes then it isn't shit. # Zeitgeist: This shit has got to go! (Amen to that) # Gender discussions on TaoBums: We can only talk about this shit in the pit. # Girls: They take shits too! # Princessism: Women don't shit, they delicately excrete! # Maleism: We can only take one shit at a time # Satanism 2: We made this shit happen! lets shit some more! # Zen: before enlightment: chop wood, take a shit. After enlightment: chop wood, take a shit # Democrat: There is enough shit to go around. # Republican: Shit happens because it can. # Independant: It may be shit but its my own. # Communist: You cant have the good shit. # Socialist: Only the government can have the good shit. # Anarchist: Shit happens because we make it happen. # Christian: Shit happens because we are sinners. # Jehovah's Witnesses: The shit always gets brighter. # Jainism: We feel like shit if we kill mosquitos. # Hatha Yoga: I'm tied in knots, I can't shit. # Laozi: Talking about shit is not the real shit # Laozi 2: If they think "We did this shit" you're a good leader # Zhuangzi: Maybe I am just dreaming this shit # Ramana Maharshi: Who is it that shits? # Battlestar Galactica: All this shit has happened before, and all this shit will happen again. # Mahamudra: Rest in shit. # Descartes: I shit therefore I.....Stink???? # Bruce Lee: don't think... Shit # Qui-Gon Jinn: Shit... don't think # Aryuvedic medicine : Now eat your shit! And some personal shit: # GIH-ism #1: All the shit is intentional. # GIH-ism #2: Beliefs are shit. # GIH-ism #3: Different types of shit come in, but only one shit comes out. # Steve: You can't gain anymore shit than you have, you just need to be more aware of shit happening # Marblehead: This is purely objective shit # Marblehead 2: Nothing more to this shit than just shit # mjjbecker: If the shit knew how to self-moderate we wouldn't have all this other shit # Stigweard: I am sooo going to get a star for this shit! ★★★ # Mod Team: Get that shit outta here! # Mod Team 2: Have 7 days off to think about your shit # Mod Team 3: Please be respectful when flinging your shit

1. "In Taiji power is initiated in the feet, issued by the legs, controlled by the hips and expressed in the fingertips." What does this mean to you? 2. For power to flow through the body, every part of the body should be alive, not frozen and dormant. Any tension acts as a resistor to the flow of movement which means the movement will lose its vitality and dissipate before you have the opportunity to issue that force. In such a case people will "cheat" with the movement and only move their arms trying to imitate what they think the movement should look like. Regardless on how pretty they make the arms, the movement becomes contrived and external rather than ziran and internal. 3. Remove the martial arts from Taijiquan and its no longer Taijiquan. Remove fighting from martial arts and its no longer martial arts. You must put your form under the pressure of a non-abiding opponent and then you must remember that context when you are training solo. To do otherwise leads to abstracted fantasies. Just my honest opinion

LOL my students keep hassling me to do DVD's, I keep saying I will. All things in time. I have a short clip of me doing a demo but I don't know how to get it off the disc and onto my computer to upload to Youtube I would be happy to critique your form. Getting Steve on the job as well will be beneficial. It would seem he and I see things quite similar though with enough variation for it to be interesting.