Long Yun

So did I! I think that Jackie Chan may have been making up his own version, but Drunken has been around for a while... I'm no expert, though.

That's pretty neat, but I thought you said you were immersed in white light.

What could I possibly use to represent Jing/Qi/Shen by the way?

Makes good sense to me. I could use a black pumice guru instead of the cedar (black being water and pumice being fire, even though the stone itself is earth). That would bring both into the mala and would sort of symbolize one of the goals of inner alchemy... the joining of kan and li, but with a grounding earth influence. I think I may go with that one. Maybe a cedar stupa bead. Thanks Shon!

Please do! I'd be very interested to see it. I don't think I'm at a radiating level yet, haha Just finally being able to really sit in total stillness, so now the real fun starts.

Well, based on the info here, I think I'll hold of on Kunlun, at least for a while. I don't think that Max is some evil conartist, and I don't think that you kunluners out there are stupid for doing a practice that works. I just think I'll steer clear of this for a while and continue with what I have been. Still, I can't help but find this stuff just a little interesting. At least it's gotten good reviews from those who've tried it.

Well, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to say that "glowing" isn't possible. I think it happens in people with great attainment, but my question is just regarding the photos of Max on the kunlun site. I don't think those photos are real, and this raises two possibilities: 1) Max is the real deal, but he put up doctored photos in order to appeal to a wider audience 2) Max is not the real deal, and put up doctored photos in order to trick us into thinking he is Since I've heard rave reviews from those who have practiced with Max, I have to admit that he probably is at least some kind of master of some types of internal techniques (whether or not these lead to enlightenment, I can't say). Assuming the photos are real, they're obviously not definitive proof of anything (or I would not be raising this question in this thread) so why use them for advertising?

Cheese is fermented also, correct?

I'm thinking that color will be the easiest way to incorporate them. Perhaps one red spacer and one blue one on either side of the guru bead. And I guess I'll either stick with the cedar, or use some kind of nut that we have at home (we call it a buckeye, but I don't know if that's what it really is) Any more traditional suggestions?

Some pretty good stuff. The video says snake, but he teaches drunken also. Also a classic, haha. But you could learn some good techniques by watching I think. A fight science clip. Scroll down to episode 4 part 2. The first 52 seconds talks about Taijiquan, but then it mentions Drunken. http://www.usadojo.com/video-library/usado...les-kickass.htm That's all I've got!

I'd love to see some pics of your malas too It's always great to see some design ideas.

I have not trained with him, but I can vouch that he's a very helpful and genuine guy. I emailed him, and he gave me several verses from the TTC that were pretty inspiring if not helpful

Very true, there have been many Lama *something* Dorjes.

By doing good without thinking twice about it or hoping for a reward. I'm not perfect at doing this, but I'm doing better day by day.

This is a message from JJ Semple regarding my question for him: Myles, Yes, there is definitely an emotional readjustment. Read Gopi Krishna's Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man, pp. 52-53. He has an interesting account of the same phenomenon. This emotional readjustment is disconcerting at the beginning. As you progress, however, you will understand that your human nature is changing and it is, in fact, a much-needed positive step. Over time, there will be a change in your being's emotional structure. And that's as it should be. After all, it's emotion that governs our behavior and dictates our human nature, which, as you look at the world around you, you realize is responsible for most of our problems. Generally, as a race, we let our emotions run wild, and are powerless to change them. Emotion is at the root of most of our problems. They are the anchor of our human nature, but since we are unable to control them, our emotions cause problems. The only way to change our human nature is to change our state of being, and Kundalini is the key to this. Kundalini overhauls our being, and as a consequence, changes our nature, gradually purifying our affective makeup. After Kundalini, we move away from the beings we once were and it seems as if we have lost feelings we once treasured. However, eventually we come to realize that this is only a step to a new being. Love does not disappear; it changes in nature. To evolve, we must control our emotions. This is very hard. Read Ouspensky's The Fourth Way. It's a great book on the subject of changing the being. His method works on self-control, uses self-remembering to master emotion. It's a very long process. Kundalini does this by changing the somatic and metabolic structure of the individual. And although the physical changes are accomplished swiftly, the affective changes take time. You must get used to the idea that this work will change your being. Think of this as a positive step, a much-needed readjustment. In fact, picture yourself as a superior being for a moment, incapable of emotion. Try to imagine how this will change the ways you look at others. You will be so much more understanding. You will be outside the "game of life" to a degree, objectively able to see where people are "coming from." From this understanding will come a new kind of love Spirit entities have no emotions; emotions come with our inhabiting bodies. Look at the reckless emotion around you, the problems it causes. As you progress in your practice, you will begin to separate from the magnetic control your body and its perceived needs have over you. You will begin to realize that you are responsible for your emotions, just like you are responsible for a baby. You can't let the baby wander out into traffic; you can't let your emotions run wild. In a nutshell, you will begin to feel love in a different way; love without attachment, love in a less possessive sense. Don't be afraid to go there. JJ

Holy Crap! I'm literally speechless. How does that sound like a good idea to anyone? Where did you find this information?

Haha, how would I incorporate these? Color? Enhydro quartz? Volcanic stone? Yeah, I've made one out of just old wood beads from Walmart. I made some shell spacers and used tigers eye, russian jade, and amethyst rest beads. Made a tassel out of black linen. Speaking of which, what would some good colors be for tassels? What colors represent what? Please, do go on! I'd love to hear more about malas.

Hello folks, I posted this in the Personal Practice Discussion. It hasn't seen much traffic, so I thought I'd get some opinions on here. Sound like a good alchemical path (assuming the Secret of the Golden Flower works)? Give me some constructive criticism please I'm always happy to learn my mistakes.

Thanks allan! I haven't read it in over a year, and back then I had no idea what it was talking about. So not much sunk in At least I understand some of the terminology a little better now. I appreciate referring me to those sources as well. I'm feeling better about this practice every day, and I'm looking forward to doing more.

I agree. Spring Forest wasn't the first qigong I've tried, but everything you need to know is there. I've moved on to different practices now, but I'll definitely carry some of Master Chunyi Lin's teachings with me no matter what path I move to. And the emptiness of Zazen will work wonderfully with SFQ.

Oh haha It seems I need to get my terminology in line. And I completely agree with spending more time contemplating than reading the Tao Te Ching. My intention was to read one chapter (not much) a day. I doubt it would take me that long to read one haha. So I'm kind of including contemplation in that time slot. Well, so far with the general concensus of two people being good, I'm happy with it

I thought that dual cultivation refers to body and mind. And yes, I'm hoping to develop my virtues as I go, I just don't know how to put that in print really. Thanks for your well-wishes. But I meant specifically for inner work, does it sound good? Complete?

My signature, haha

Alright, I think I've distilled my practice down into something that I can actually attain. Tell me what you guys think. -I will continuosly practice stretches, good diet, virtue/understanding cultivation (which includes reading the texts), stillness/emptiness meditation. -Should I continuously practice lower dantian breathing as well? No matter what stage I'm at? -I will sometimes fast, take retreats, do mantras. -I will only once do the Secret of the Golden Flower. (Years from now that is.) Sound like a good practice? I think it is... So far I've only done alot of reading, less meditation, and even less Spring Forest Qigong. I think that I'd be happier doing it this way though. See any problems? Got any tips?

Well, I honestly don't know. I've never much looked into other styles of TKD. And I think that Chang Moo Kwan might have at one point at least been considered Kong Soo Do. Anyway, I will agree that I've seen a friend doing traditional karate and that it was almost identical. In CMK, the Kung Fu-ish forms start at around 4th Gup I think, and I'm no blackbelt yet so I've only seen a few.