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Hello, bums. First, excuse my English. For whatever reason I always choose to write these at the end of the day, when my brain is barely functioning. I'll try and keep this as concise as possible. I had to take a break from meditation for various reasons. Now I've come back to it, I want to focus on the basics for the time being. I hope you'll forgive these, what are probably quite silly questions. Any insight will be much appreciated, even if you can't answer all of the questions. To aid you, at the moment I'm doing 30 mins of Tai Chi a day; probably about 15 mins of Chi Gung as per Master Lam's way of energy; and about 30 mins of meditation, following the line from my nose to my dan tien, and back. I'm following Frantzis's books for the sinking, scanning and the like. 1. When scanning, sinking and dissolving, or at least while dissolving, I gather you need to focus in on the energy blockage you come across. So how exactly, do you navigate through your body? It's clear you follow a route downwards, intuitively it seems you would go from one blockage to another at a certain level, and then make your way down to the next. So what exactly, do you do when you reach your arms and legs? If you follow a specific route, let's say you work down the arm, then you're going to leave the torso and other arm out. Do you do one route at a time, or somehow do the entire body as a whole in one downward passage? Are there differences in how you go about it, depending on whether you're sinking, scanning or dissolving? 2. And there certain milestones you should reach before proceeding to the next stage? All I have done is scan so far. 3. How often should one sink? Should one do it a few times in a session before dissolving, and then perhaps end the session sinking too? 4. The more I practice, the more I get the sensation that energetically, the body and the etheric body will merge, the lines between them becoming indistinct. In that case, eventually, when sinking, scanning and dissolving, do I treat them as a whole? 5. With regard to the metaphor, ice to water, water to gas. If one focuses in on a block, continually goes behind the energy, wears it down, to the point where it becomes water, does the gas stage happen automatically. Or do you need to expand to the limits of your etheric body using your intent? 6. You end at the bottom of your feet for sinking, and below the ground for dissolving and scanning? How does one find the limit? Will it automatically stop at a certain point if you scan downwards? 7. Sometimes when I finish meditating I get the sensation of sorrow. Any idea what could be going on? 8. I almost forget to ask this. Frantzis talks about sinking being about releasing physically. However I'm at the stage where I can feel quite clearly energetically. I take it you sink energetically? Much obliged. Once again, I'd like to reiterate how helpful and friendly I find the people on this forum.

First of all, I made a thread about this the other day, only to return and find nothing; so hope I didn't do something wrong the last time around. I'm noticing a lot of wobbling in my legs during and after practice. Also, strangely enough, I feel a bit unstable and dizzy when near sinks and while operating taps! This seems to have increased the more I practice. I was tangibly wobbling during today's session. It's not accompanied with any emotion or thought, so it seems to be a physical thing. Another thing, possibly unrelated, is that I notice is that I get an odd, mild shock sensation; it's particularly noticable when I'm trying to get to sleep. I have a constant mild tinnitus too, and as I get one of these shocks it becomes louder during the split second of the shock. This seems to be unrelated to practice, I get these even during periods of non practice. Really I only do 30 minutes of tai chi a day and 10 minutes of zhan zhuang, in the neutral posture. I used to meditate back in the day, but don't any more. Any suggestions. Incorrect posture. Maybe my arm position is wrong, as I rest my thumbs on the outside of my legs. Some blockage manifesting itself? I feel there to be a big, inpenetrable one roughly behind my sternum. Hmm, come to think of it, I can sort of feel it now as I'm sat in my chair, it almost seems to be coming from my chest, and I'm mildly wobbling in my chair. Almost as if something is trying to free itself. Any insight would be much appreciated, my tai chi teacher didn't have much of an idea.

someone seems to have been helping me. Or least, it seems so, maybe I'm imagining it. I'm so exhausted after that, and it still hasn't been cleared out. I'm at a loss. I think i'm going to have to retire for the night. Again, my concern is whether I can find a place reputable. I know there is a tcm place in bolton. Some in manchester. God, that's the worst thing I have endured in my life. If someone was helping, please contact me, likewise, if someone can help, I have phone or skype.

hello, thank you all for your kind replies. I need to gravely relate the most disturbing experience I had last night, and earnestly ask for some direction. Forgive the awkward English, as I haven't had much sleep. I need to see someone today, ideally, as whatever it is, it seems to be reaching a head. I don't want to endure another night of that. Firstly, to answer some questions, this shock, has an alive electronic sound and quality, sometimes accompanied with flashes of light, and is only brief, but affects me at the core. As for the wobbling, well I placed my awareness on it last night. I felt it was something that I had to face head on, as it was eating me up. As I did so, things started to get pretty horrific. This wobbling, seems to come from something that seems to be moving, or, dislodged within. Something that seemingly has a dynamic quality. Anyway, my palms started sweating; my pulse racing, followed by thudding; I started trembling. Then I started violently shaking. What ever it was, it felt like it was rising, and clinging on for dear life. I felt I had to purge this thing, as if I stopped it just would mean I would have to deal with it on another night, so I continued in that fashion for what I estimate to be 20 minutes, with this most horrendous shaking. After so long, I could no longer take it, I didn't know if there would be an end in sight, whether I was capable of freeing it myself, just what the implications were, so I stopped resisting it. Then whatever it was, seemed to move throughout my body, and settle itself back in my chest. Now appreciate please, as you must all know, any attempt to relate this to a Western practitioner of medicine in any form... well you can see how it looks. So I feel like I am in a most vulnerable position here. Some extra information. I have had a check up not so long ago. Blood tests, 24h ecg, blood pressure, ultra-sound of abdomen; gastroscopy, all negative or fine. I have lost a bit of weight in the past 6 months. In fact, my body almost looks emaciated, if I raise my arms my chest shows every rib. This is despite eating a lot. Other symptoms: Extreme coldness for past six months, I was cold even in summer. Left ear has been blocked in the past few weeks. Brain-fog and lack of energy, it was really hard to muster any coherent thought. I've also had palpitations, extreme thirst, and been rather skinny for the past, roughly ten years. As for my state of mind, well it hasn't been perfect, had some depression and anxiety. But of late I have been feeling pretty fantastic, with a sense that I can deal with negative emotions, so long as I bear in mind 'awareness without judgement' to whatever may arise. So when you talk of seeing a doctor of oriental medicine. Who, exactly? Some kind of spiritual master, or a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. Just what exactly am I dealing with here? It seems I have three options, the first, is madness. The second, is some kind of blockage or imbalance. The third, is something spiritual and grave. So who do I see exactly, bearing in mind I am located in the north west of England, quite close to Manchester. I have limited funds, but can procure some extra if necessary, which this certainly seems to be. There is also the Manchester Buddhist centre, I am sure they have a fair few experienced practitioners there.

Wow, some excellent advice. I appreciate the time you put into your responses. Again, I need to digest this and practice a little, and as you say, refer to the book again. One thing that sticks out immediately though, I appreciate what you're getting at with the downward layers. But you also talk about starting from the outside and going inwards (starting from the skin say, and going deeper and deeper). Does that apply simply to when you get to the opening the energy gates (I have not studied that chapter in too much detail as I am trying to settle on these three basics), or does that apply to everything? I tend to start at the top of my head at the baihui and don't discriminate how deep into the body I go.

Thank you snowmonki, I wanted to practice a little before I got back to you. I think the important points probably to re-emphasise are not to force things, and to settle in and let things occur naturally, without over-thinking. A few final questions if I may. Back to point 1, I appreciate what you're getting at here, but it still seems like you need to focus in, especially at the dissolving stage, on the block. So how do you reconcile a need for a broad awareness when you travel down, with a more focused awareness when you reach a block. If you focus in, then you're at one specific part of your body, say your torso, and then you lose your awareness of say your arms The sinking is very quick right? One downward flow should take less than a minute say? It seems sometimes when I practice, I get the sensation of a kind of pressure building up, feeling perhaps a little light headed, what's happening inside me becoming noisy, and sweating a little. I break off the practice at this point, because as it's a building sensation, I don't know what point it will reach. Getting these sensations is what stopped me practising last time. I do have some ailments if you will. It seems to be the stomach region, or so the doctor says, in the upper abdomen anyhow, it is sore when pressed, coupled with a lot of belching. I do have a referral for it from my GP. It also seems to obstruct my abdominal breathing a little, it feels constricted and like I can feel a solid object there. I feel it is weakening me significantly as I have also been feeling light headed while doing exercise. Blood pressure and bloods normal. Oh, and also, sometimes that region is drawn to me, and I feel a natural urge to focus on it and dissolve it, even though I probably shouldn't if I haven't yet sunk Any advice?

I've been practising Tai Chi Chuan every day for probably 9 months or so, I have an instructor for this. 'Generic' meditation every day for probably 6 months. And Chi Kung every day for roughly 4 months, using Master Lam's the Way of Energy. I'm very much new to Taoism, but what I've read so far of the philosophy has more than intrigued me. In fact, it resonates, and I intend to find out a lot more. What I'm hoping to be helped with, is how to take my practices further; where to go from here. I do appreciate the necessity of getting some proper guidance from an experienced practitioner, and intend to, however that's not really practicable in the short term. I've been using Frantzis' Water Method of Meditation book 1 for the past few months, with the understanding that this is a reasonably safe and appropriate starting place for beginners. But I'm having some difficulties with the practices themselves. I'm finding the information a tad incomplete. I've been doing the initial breathing exercises, ie breathing from the dan tien, and hope to move on to the dissolving methods which I understand are a lot more difficult. My issues so far are thus: 1. The first section details feeling the sensations of each breath in a line, starting at the nose, through to the throat and ending at the lower dan tien. I'm guessing I've done this incorrectly though. The area I draw the breath to is an inch or two below the navel, but is more towards the surface, I'm guessing it should be a straight line down more towards the centre of my body? 2. I find the sensations to be quite intense. As if my consciousness, or spirit, is drawn or moved towards my belly. Everything goes black, I can feel the energy currents, organs and breathing all around me, and little or no sensation in the rest of my body. Am I supposed to go with this, or to observe these experiences objectively from my head? That leads me to the next question. 3. As far as I can tell, the book has no details with regard to how to end the practice. This can be somewhat disturbing, given that during my initial generic meditations, I would end by gradually taking my attention out away from my breath, towards my body, then gradually outwards. But now given I become so heavily immersed in that area, I can feel little else. 4. Given these points, it's evident that I need to increase my understanding significantly. Therefore are there some books that would be especially recommended? Anything dealing with the theory or practice for beginners, but that is not too 'fluffy'. I do have Dr Yang's Embryonic breathing, though understand this is more appropriate for intermediates. Is it still worth reading now, even if I wait a bit before attempting the practices? I've also purchased Frantzis' Opening the Energy Gates book, hoping it has more detailed information. I should add that, given these vast gaps in my knowledge, I do intend to take things very slow, until such time that I can find instruction. I just want to master some of these basic practices and increase my learning. Cheers for your help.

I think that's fair ChiDragon. I've really gone back to basics and have scaled back my practice. For the following reason. Since adding Master Lam's third posture after 6 months, holding the belly, it has just sent my body into disarray! Afterwards my palms start sweating, get tremendous anxiety, and light headedness, the energy seems too intense. Are these classic burn out symptoms? Only doing a minute or two of that posture seems to bring it on, so naturally, I've stopped now, but I was a little curious as to what might be going on. Separately I've been scanning my body, and can feel a huge blockage in my abdomen, feeling like a slab of concrete when I scan there, presumably related to my digestive organs. I've been having digestive symptoms for a while that I've been trying to get diagnosed. Gluten being a possible culprit. Could this blockage be affecting my practice? As mentioned I'm definitely 'not going there' for the foreseeable future, cause it's too intense, and I obviously need some instruction and guidance. It's a shame, because these practices all but eliminated my anxiety problems. Nevertheless, I am curious. Maybe I'm just 'ill-constituted' for this stuff.

Hi guys, first of all, I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful advice. I'm pretty sure this is the friendliest forum I have come across Sorry I didn't back sooner. I intended to do so after I had given your suggestions a try and so could report back my success. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. I became ill, which stalled my practice for a while, and naturally things take longer to achieve than you anticipate. I feel a lot more comfortable undertaking these practices now. Moderation was indeed key. I'm also referring back to these answers for tidbits in the future. Hmm, as I understand, the baihui is at the top of the head. I've not encountered or practised yet above around the neck area. But this description is important. Because yesterday, I became aware of that central channel. Previously, I'd encountered what felt like 'squirts' of fluid around my body, then it felt like a thick paste emanating from my dan tien, and finally last night it was like a fast flowing river along that central channel. It was an incredible sensation. My question is, now I have experienced it, what on earth do I do with this? I'm aware that I'm probably irritating you guys with my really rudimentary questions. The issue I'm having, is that Frantzis describes this ambiguously as something like the 'central channel' towards the beginning of his book. I'm not entirely sure he's referring to the same thing I am. In terms of the stages he describes, I'm still towards the beginning. I'm at the stage where I'm supposed to increase consciousness of what's happening inside my body. So he talks about expanding this central channel equidistant towards my skin at the front and the spine at the back. Should I be doing it with this energy flow? Can it not be harmful to interfere with or move this flow if I don't know what I'm doing? Can I move it in an upward direction as well as down? If not that, what? Is this energy flow the basis of microcosmic orbit meditation? I appreciate what you're saying and what others have said. I'm sure I should be fine reading his work as long as I bear this in mind. Maybe I'm doing Yang a disservice here, but he seems to dedicate a lot of time to theory, and very little to the actual descriptions of the practice. (I know the two go hand in hand). Thanks again guys. (forgive my horrendous grammar, braindead atm).

maybe it simply debases as it often strays into the territory of bragging about our accomplishments and progression. Perhaps the dividing line should be between those few trustworthy souls who have a genuine interest or by divulging your experiences you may be able to help, versus those who want to extract the superficial elements and not put any work in. Adopting any extreme doesn't seem like a good idea.

Thanks for your replies chaps. I'm going to have to ponder on your post a bit joeblast, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by some of those terms, thought-stream-energy? ChiDragon, I'm asking because of this diagram. http://ymaa.com/files/article-concept-qi-qigong.gif If my breath takes a course straight down from the throat, it should reach the 'real dan tien', according to that diagram. But I believe mine is taking a more convex path, towards what I think may be the 'false dan tien'. I always got the impression that the dan tien is something deep inside the body, as I say, I felt as mine was quite near the surface, maybe an inch in. Can't tell for sure. Another thing, it seems to be a bit of an effort. Or it doesn't feel very natural. The next stage in the process is to maintain a line of awareness from my throat to the dan tien. But is the feeling of this line something that comes with practice? I become very much sensitive to what's happening inside my belly, but oddly find it hard to feel this line of my breath. "did you breathe slowly and expand your abdomen outward" Yes, I believe this happened naturally though. If I tried to be too conscious or forceful with my breathing, I couldn't reach that state.

Quite new to these practices. Hope to learn a lot and contribute as I build up my experience.