林愛偉

I apologize. Perhaps I should change my name to an alphabetized manner. My name is Lin Ai Wei. Please call me Lin.

It is the work of past historians and fame-seekers looking for an authoritative stance to create separations within the 3 schools of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. due to their tremendous public relations work, and influence on the ignorant, we are left with an argument which was started a long time ago, by people who either didn't cultivate at all, or just cultivated and didn't follow the rules of their practice. It could be that, and or just people who originally had an interest, and then got big-headed over what they "knew", and then started a nonsense debate/claim that Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism are extremely different, with extreme views against and apart from each other. Its just lots of heads talking and nothing to base the claims on.

Not at all about the " past karma" outlook. Just because one has that out look, doesn't mean they forget about anything on how karma was formed. Therefore, any views about it is simply the cultivator's own thinking. Just because on sees why something is the way it is, doesn't mean that must carry along with it a detached manner of behavior. That is a construct those who misunderstood the teachings figured. They figured Buddhism is about f-the world, and get on with your own business. Not at all. KNowing the causes allows us to understand why things are manifest the way they are. Anything else in terms of view points added, is the responsibility of the person viewing. Not the teachings. Recognizing the causes is one thing, placing a view upon it is a totally other thing altogether. :-) Past causes of certain deeds which results in wealth, may not be in one's lifetime. It may take many lifetimes to amass a grand amount of the vibration which leads to wealth. And then, in a lifetime one receives those fruits. Nothing big. There is no mercy in karma. Its as simple as "do this, get that. do a multitude of things, and get a myriad outcome of those things combined (perhaps)".

HAHAHA Oh so right! Be rich, is fine. It is a blessing from the heavens when you are cultivating the way... perhaps you may be rich in finances, or blessings, good company, or even blessed by gaining good teachings... rich financially is just one's karma, good or bad. :-)

HA! you were really thinking, "Oh jeez, here he goes again.. so much crap, I am at a loss for words"

:-) Good practice. Don't forget to keep the anal lock and tongue to the roof of the mouth.

hence why I only gave the first posture. Take it slow on trying to feel the contractions. From the toes to the shoulders, but not he neck, face and head. This is much easier than trying to go into the much deeper aspects of the body physically and energetically. So first focus on how to flex the body at the tangible level. Its not till much much later that we get to specifics energetically and energetically.

Malikshreds joined in on a recording of the Expedient Means show this weekend. He brought a young view point into the roundtable discussions, and shared some common views and questions while discussions were focused on "Profound and Mundane" as well as "Common Misconceptions of Spirituality". These shows will be airing in several weeks.

This is great: HAHAHA It Just Is.

I am humbled by your kind words. Thank you for finding it worth your attention.

Then my answer would be to stick with one method for an extended period of time without question; and make sure the method doesn't highlight states, sensations, realizations and abilities as a marker. From what I know that is, is just single minded concentration. Done through breath, done through investigation, contemplation, recitation, bowing without views, walking, sitting, lying or standing (yes, in zhan zhuang and even with your feet/legs together, hands touching at palms at the heart level.) This methods will break through any stagnancy, or delusions in the mind in one's life and practice. Why? Because it simply does (especially since it is non-discriminating mind; thus that inner wisdom shines, and the realization/learning begins).

New episode: Recognizing States Along The Path

Profound indeed! I especially love the last sentence: hahahahaha This is so great! I couldn't have said with more humor.

I feel Master Wang's commentary is right on point. When I learned Yiquan internal exercises from Sifu Rudy Curry, it was one of the most profound sets I learned growing up and the points in this article/interview on intuition, posture, etc are what I was told when learning, and are very important. Today's world of martial arts does look like a big circus, full of high acted egos and low level skills made to look like they are ultimate.

I will try to upload and email you the vid.

On the contrary, exhaling and contracting is quite an intense exercise. Inhaling and contracting is also very deep. Both offer two specific mannerisms of cultivation. Inhaling is the transition. Exhaling is the stationary posture. One wouldn't want to contract while moving. This will cause damage to the body. Standing or sitting is transitional. The manner of this practice I post has nothing to do with sitting, and everything to do while standing. Natural or not is not a worry. As long as there is breath, it is natural. :-) Then I do assume the majority of "knowledgable Taiji Quan practitioners" are few and far between. Even if it is "known", I have not seen one person display, or even consider such a practice in their Taiji Quan. Thus, you would be the first person I have met who would. :-) Not to mention the fact that I wasn't talking about Taiji Quan in my original post, nor was I posting it for those who have been well along in their cultivation. Given someone was well along in their cultivation, they would understand that basic practice is exactly that...basic.

hahahaha

I recorded one, but having a hard time converting it. Very cool. slow and steady... Good advice. Everything should be done slowly. Fast will cause problems. Slow is important. Contraction exercises shouldn't be done fast unless its for issuing force. Then the contraction is quick. On a deeper level, the contraction is with the mind, and follows the thought. I see I forgot to add in: Apply the anal lock, and keep tongue to the roof of the mouth. :-)

I'm grateful you find it useful.

Greetings! I actually read every single post of this 15 page thread (up to this point). There is a lot of really good info, and then funny comments too. In reference to the compression exercises posted earlier, Maybe a little bit of advice in the breathing: Don't let the pressure of the breath move to the neck and head. Compression in reverse breathing can cause qi to rise, and at such a stress from the heavy compression, can injure, upset, cause pain etc in the head, eyes, brain. Pay close attention to maintaining focus on the breath and if there is pressure rising to the neck and head, slowly release the hold on the abdomen, exhale and return to abdominal breathing. After a few slow breaths, and perhaps a minute of two to calm down, resume the training. In my set of compression exercises, the beginning levels are the whole body, excluding the neck and head. Then it moves to specific parts of the body. Further levels work into the bones, marrow, organs, and then energy centers. At that point it is not the compression using the physical pressure, but the mind: intent and will. Each stage has various experiences, and levels of progress. In seeing the compression exercises in one of the previous pages, I recognized great similarities in what I do. I hope the above advice isn't taken lightly. Please be careful of the breath. The pains and pressures in the lower dantian, and pelvic area I had experienced 11yrs years ago in my own training, at 22. While performing standing practices, I was thrown off my feet 3 times from going deeper into compression into the dan tian. Persistence that evening allowed me to progress in that practice. Also at age 13 with various energy centers vibrating to a point where while lying in meditation, the body would be bouncing up and down, and only grew stronger when trying to control it with breath. Throughout the years since 8yrs old, many more of these experiences and states were realized. The extent of my practice is dependent upon the inability of the discriminating mind. This means that one can progress in their practice, so long as they do not attach to their experiences, do not speculate on what they experience, do not be greedy for abilities, and do not create and believe in theories about how one thinks the world is. Simply practice as though there is no flavor, no sound, no sensation, nothing to see, no scent, and no state to realize. Any who, it is such that after a while in one's practice, they get to a point where they will understand how to progress naturally. They will realize the method to practice intuitively. That is how I learned since a child. Advice in this, is to practice diligently, do not chase after sensations, states, visions and especially abilities. Let those things come and go, and you will find that a lot stays with you, building up. Over time, it becomes apparent what you have "attained" as a result of practice. BUT remember, those are still small attainments, no matter what you can do. The greatest spiritual ability is the manifestation of the human body. So many have one, and so little realize what they can do with it. The greatest attainment is the realization of one's inherent wisdom. Every one has it, and so few realize it. ***Added: Please remember to drink water regularly when taking on compression cultivation, and any high level practices. Peace and Blessings, Lin

When I was younger, back when 19yrs old, I had a lot of time on my hands, and spent 6 months working on my eyes. During that time I didn't use my glasses. Qigong, coupled with eye exercises, brought my prescription from -12.50/12.75 down to -1100 in both eyes. Unfortunately, my 6 month free time was eaten up by teaching and teaching and teaching.. I had no time for the practices I was doing. Thus, my eyes are stable at -1100 till this time.When I take the time to practice specifics for eyes, instead of seeing 4 moons, I see 1, and very very clear. Yet, I don't have the time to apply such practices, so back on with the glasses...lol

Greetings All, I have a friend who is looking for any Taiji Quan teachers in San Francisco. If anyone has any references, please let me know, as I will forward the info to my friend. Any style of Taiji Quan is good. Having various choices will help him decide what he wants to work on. Thank you :-) Lin

Thank you :-)

It does need to be practiced with more commentary. Because in all we do, we should breathe expanding and contracting the abdomen, we are simply applying the muscular focus and mental focus on not expanding the chest, and pressing the stress of the inhalation to fill the whole lower trunk of the body. This is not solely abdominal breathing. If you could, you would also hold the abdominal muscles in, while expanding the lower back on inhalation. That means you do not use your muscles to expand the lower back, you let the pressure do the work. The action of the breathing is very beneficial, but it goes far more deeper than just breathing from the lower half of the body.

hahahahaha