Long Yun

Wow I missed a bunch while I was in the shower! Good stuff. One last question. Is it possible to do this practice with a girlfriend (who will one day be wife and hopefully bear many children)? I know that it won't be possible to have sex during the practice, but perhaps before and after? Maybe I should just stick with some simple qigong practices...

Well, I've got a lot of improvement to do in that department... Thanks for your help Darin! And I think that if any of us were immortal, spending our evenings on the computer is the last thing we'd do. With that, I'm out of here for the evening.

I love this post! I think it's becoming increasingly hard for us to define immortality in a modern setting. And I've actually thought before that maybe all the enlightened ones and immortals didn't really know for sure that they were. I guess this comes to the fact that we don't know as much as we think we do, and that we never stop learning and evolving. Anyway, profound post.

I think I am beginning to see your point. You're saying that the results achieved by this method are delusionary? (Darin, I'm not refuting you here... ) But I'm getting well and truly torn now...

And would you recommend anything before I practice this? I'm still learning as much about the Tao Te Ching as I can, and I'm learning from other classics as well. Should I be doing any kind of qigong before hand?

Feel free. And I don't think I'll ever be able to please everyone. I stopped trying a long time ago Darin, thanks. The links you posted are great. So Wilhelm worked great for you?

Please elaborate. I was under the impression that this was a method of cultivation. But maybe I'm more impressional than I realize

I don't think it's impossible to understand, especially Cleary's translation. A bit of cryptic language, but what old treatise doesn't have that? (By the way, I am not claiming that I do understand it yet)

Potentially, but the method Cleary describes is more turning the light "inward" if I remember correctly. It's been so long since I've read these though...

Last year I got a dzi bead, and it supprisingly feels pretty good. When I touch it whatever aches and pains I may be having go away. Maybe just a placebo effect, though. I don't know. (For those of you who don't know, dzi beads are supposedly ancient, ancient beads from heaven that fell to earth and they have mystical properties, etc.) But this year I'm thinking about one of those negative ion salt lamps. We'll see. Well, what is everbody getting themselves?

http://www.pacificspiritcatalogs.com/Dzi_B...t_of_3-2895.htm This is the link to 3 loose dzi beads for $16. They look authentic in the photo, which means I wish I'd seen this before I had ordered mine

You can get them from numerous feng shui suppliers online. You can get recently made ones from Tibet for around $30, but if you want one of the really ancient ones, you could end up paying hundreds. I got a $30 one http://www.squidoo.com/dzistones This site has a lot of info on them, and some of the things listed seem a little far fetched. But I am a big believer in the power of crystals, so I just think of dzi as being another type of crystal. And mine works with suprising effect for clearing up headaches... so there's got to be something said for them. Anyway, theres a site that sells them listed on the above page, but any google search for "dzi bead" will pull up plenty of providers. Read the page and know what makes one real versus an immitation. Hope this helps. Peace.

I'll admit that I was pretty excited watching the video on kunlunbliss.com when I first heard about Kunlun. But when I saw the photos on the book page, I lost any hope that I had in the man... I think he probably has some pretty cool abilities, as everyone on this forum who has tried Kunlun seems to love it. But overall, I think he's let those abilities get to his head. Maybe I'm wrong (I haven't tried Kunlun) but I think I'd rather stick with less commercial practices. By the way, I mean no offense to those who've tried and like Kunlun. These are just my thoughts on the matter. Peace.

I think the fight was called off too soon. Yeah, Kimbo was taking a lot of heavy hits, but just look at him! He wasn't out. He was trying to get back up. (Honestly, I'm a little bitter about this fight because my friends and I waited for hours to see the fight between Shamrock and Kimbo, only to see Shamrock wimp out and Kimbo get screwed.) I think if they had let it go a little longer, Kimbo would've cleaned the guys clock. And shouldn't this be in the Off-topic section?

Ok, hello again everyone. It's been a very long time since I've posted, so I thought I'd say hello again. Anyway, here's my scenario: I live in a dormitory in a town with a rampant feral cat problem. I was walking back to my room from my workout, and I saw an average sized, dark speckaled cat in the courtyard. It was looking for food, and it's getting quite cold as of late. It had a limp and was holding its hind leg up. I took pity on the thing. I took a can of Vienna Sausages (about the only thing I have to eat that I thought a cat might like) and took it outside to an area not too far from where the cat was. I didn't take it directly to the cat because I didn't want to scare him off. My hope is that he can smell it and he goes and gets it. Now, here's my problem: I think that charity in any form is a good thing, and compassion towards other creatures is a must for Buddhists. But was what I did very Taoist? Was I following the Tao? Was I letting the universe take it's course, or was I acting against the flow? I put the food where he could find it, but I didn't give it directly to him. This way, if he's meant to find food, he will. If he's not meant to, he won't. But I feel like this is a poor example of myself "acting effortlessly." What do you guys think? And sorry for the lengthy post.

Very very true. I like this post. By the way, I'm not after validation, I just wanted to pose what I thought was a decent philosophical question. I went with my gut and feel good about it, but I thought I'd get some input as to how "Taoist" my actions were. Thanks very much!

So I'm thinking too hard? I was just doing it for the sake of the poor little guy. I mean I'm not out for any personal reward. But I couldn't help think that I was acting out of my station. I won't lose sleep over it or anything

I did what I felt was right. But how could I have "acted effortlessly" with this situation?

I don't think you should try John Chang's system. I read those books too, and although it's fascinating, Danaos himself describes the practice as dangerous. Do some research, find a system that's right for you (and safe) and go for it. I know you need to find your own path, but totally pioneering your way through bits of details on a dangerous system is not a good one to take in my opinion. (I am assuming that you only have as much information as was presented in the two books, which is not detailed enough to practice on.) As far as meditation goes though, anyone doing these sorts of things is going to have to reach a state of stillness or emptiness in meditation. I have no teacher (which I should seriously try harder finding) but I've looked into a system, found books and articles about it, found detailed information about it, and now I'm laying the philosophical foundation for it. My point is, find something complete enough to go on. Message me if you have any questions, and definitely message Lin. He helped me out alot, and hopefully he can do the same for you. Peace.

I don't know about books on the subject. Who are all the Taiji Classics by? If they're by Zhang San Feng then YAY But I do know that the Taijiquan practiced at Wudang Mountain is considered his original form. Go to youtube and search for "Wudang Shan Feng Taiji 13 movements." I think that's what you're looking for. Peace.

Okay, I need some input. I have no access to a teacher (I might get to go to the Wudang seminar in Atlanta this summer,) but right now I'm on my own. I've been trying to learn inner alchemy, and I've been reading books for a year and several months. I haven't started anything yet because I wanted to really know what I was getting into before starting. But I think I've figured out a whole system. Tell me what you think (tell me any flaws you see because that's why I'm putting this on here!) I'm working on the foundation right now by reading and rereading the Tao Te Ching and the Tao Hsuen Pien. Then I'm going in the direction of the Northern School of Quanzhen, and cultivate my mind first using the Secret of the Golden Flower (Cleary's version) Then I'm going to cultivate the body with Taijiquan and a type of Qigong. Does this sound like a total system? I would appreciate info especially from those of you who are initiates in any system (but particularly Quanzhen.) If I could become an initiate I would, but this is going to have to do for now Thanks for your help.

Hi! It's great to know that I'm not the only person in Georgia who's practicing Taoism. Do you know of anyone else down here?

If I am able to go to Atlanta this summer, that will be great. There are several courses being offered on different days: - Friday evening, June 13 - Taoist Philosophy & Wudang Meditation - Saturday, June 14 - Wudang QiGong - Sunday, June 15 - Wudang Tai Chi 52 Movements - Monday, June 16 - Tai Chi Intensive (10 hours) - Tuesday, June 17 - Teacher & Certification Training (10 hrs) - Wednesday, June 18 - Friday, June 20 - The Master Within Intensive Which do you recommend? I am interested in San Feng Taijiquan, so perhaps that one. I would do the Master Within because I've heard it's really good, but I don't have $800 right now.

Lin, You're a very helpful man. I appreciate your words, and later if I run into trouble or have questions, I hope you don't mind if I turn to you for advice. Thanks again for your help. Peace.