multiarms

I do some vocalizations as part of my red phoenix practice. There's also a certain droning nasal tone that I use to resonate inside the niwan and through the 9 palaces. That's a very weird sound when you hear someone make it. And when I make it myself it is rather trance-inducing. My cat loves it. And I occasionally use 3 other vocal sounds to activate/harmonize the 3 dantiens. Very basic practice, that. But my favorite vocalization is laughter. Usually spontaneous, although sometimes it's fun to force yourself to start laughing, especially with other people because then you start laughing for reals.

I've done prostrations in the past. My teacher told us to first visualize the whole lineage tree of that particular tibetan sect and then prostrate to it. There was a nice little lineage prayer/chant as well that could be done beforehand. Ultimately, just like many other forms of sadhana or practice, I found it too restricting. So now I'm happy with my kunlun and red phoenix practices since they are more spontaneous (and kunlun is really very much like the shaking we've been discussing). I also really like practicing a completely objective-less form of contemplation where I just sit down (or stand or lie down) and literally do nothing. But it's not really something I practice, more like something that just happens to me on occasion. Some of my most profound transformative moments have come from those sessions. I never plan them or set timers or anything. But every now and then it's like I'm just called to stillness and silence and I think of it as a fun vacation and complete relaxation of identity, purpose, and responsibility. And it's great.

To OP: It's an interesting post, and good research. It's helpful to disrupt the romanticized cultural picture of Lao as either a godlike figure or a wise little old man. So for a change you can picture him as a chinese Machiavelli twirling his fu manchu moustache. I prefer to think of "him" as not a discrete person at all with a plan for how his writings will guide others, wether they be in the palace, or disciples in future generations. I am quite content to admit that the daodejing was cobbled together by multiple people over a period of time, and is more like semi-connected musings on ancient life, happiness, spirituality, politics, etc. As far as the political character of the work as a whole, I read it rather more as metaphor, rather than a manual for ancient warlords. I mean, this is a book which talks all about the miraculous charactersitics of water, ancient sages, valley spirits, nourishing from the mother, the "mysterious pass" (whatever you think that might be, haha), etc. Presumably we all understand this as mostly metaphorical, or at the very least not 100% literal. So why should we consider all of the talk about rulership, war, and the people to be 100% literal? Couldn't it be that the advice to a king on the ruling of the people is meant as advice for any individual's personal, moral, and/or spiritual conduct? Or even providing clues as to a specifc method of introspection or meditation? Aren't we all fighting a war within, and attempting to bring our own internal kingdom into a state of peace and harmony? Just a thought.

Very interesting post, thanks for sharing this interview, OP. I found some surprising similarities between the esoteric Christian practices he described and my own taoist-based practices (KUNLUN System, specifically). - "just surrender and let go and you as Awareness will merge with the Source." (during his discussion of grace and baptism). Excellent instructions for spontaneous neigong... - The place to focus on is a few inches to the right of the heart (during his discussion of Jesus Prayer)... this seems to me to be the same location described by Max for the practice of kunlun method. Max specifically says just a little to the right from the middle of the chest. - The downward flow of energy from the crown... this certainly seems akin to the "water path". The christian monk even contrasts his own practice with kundalini (the epitome of the "fire path" traditions). - "there is a completion stage of perfection where even the body is transformed and filled with light flowing through all the opened channels." Sounds a lot like the "Gold Dragon Body" to me. Just some thoughts for all my fellow bums.

don't mock that basement-dwelling neckbeard... he has authentic Dzogchen transmission via Skype.

yellow here

i prefer standing or sitting on a chair with the feet on the floor. I have done half and full lotus in the past, but I find that those postures tend to raise too much energy upwards (for me). So I keep the bubbling wells pointing down in to the earth, crown pointing UP, and then I can modulate the flow of energy a bit based on the position of my hands (palms up, palms down, or one up/one down).

does BKA keep dossiers on all the bums with detail s of their lives and interests??

I aslo recommend "Tai Chi Master". As I recall it's a mythological version of the story of Chang San Feng inventing Tai Chi. You might also find it on DVD or on the web under the alternate title "Twin Warriors"

i feel like TTB should have nothing to do with Mo Pai. If we create an official MoPai subforum then it lends it credibility and keeps those same people circulating through the rest of TTB forums.

I live in the desert too, in Southern Nevada. We get 1 oe 2 thunderstorms a year if we are lucky. I miss it terribly. I used to love to watch the storms roll in from off the Great Lakes. You could enjoy their approach from miles away, tons of thunder and lightning, and the air so charged with negative ions your whole body felt so alive!! And the smell....

I remember one of the books by Stephen Hayes had some info on ninja kujikiri. Not sure which one though. If you can find a local ninjutsu group affiliated with Masaaki Hastumi and his "Bujinkan" organizaiton, they could probably fill you in.

Woof

question for Taomeow: you mentioned some interesting things about "dual cultivation of man and woman" in your previous Q&A thread. Can you tell us some more of your thoughts on bedroom alchemy? Did you learn from a teacher or a particular text? Is there any book or other source in English which you find useful? thanks

I suspect that you are correct, because if you take what he writes to be literal truth, then G seems like an incoherent mess. Plenty of other teachers are like that, too (my own included). And a lot of people misunderstand or malign them because they take everything at "face value" without examining the meaning and motivation behind it. Stories, myths, symbols, allegories, etc. However, I have noticed that it is not as simple as psychological allegory vs. physical "reality"... the world is psyche in a sense. And if there is one thing I have learned it is that there is no rigid dividing line between mental and physical, and no rigid division between individual subject and others or the world "outside". Which may help account for apparently miraculous or magical events, etc. All that said, I really don't know much about Gurdjieff other than a few stories and anecdotes, but he seems cool to me.

I'd like to get the bums' thoughts on the topic of sin. Apech mentioned earlier in the thread that he feels revulsion for contemporary Christianity, and I have the same feeling sometimes. In particular, the harshly moralistic judging-others attitude, and the extreme focus on the "this world" existential aspects of sin and redemption are a major turn-off. So, from a more esoteric or gnostic point of view, what does it mean to be a sinner? Is it the sorrowful or suffering state of separation from God? Is the fall of man the pride and arrogance of constructing a mind-projected world of "objects" to be conquered or destroyed? And what about redemption? Beyond forgiveness for moral/ethical lapses, what does it mean to be redeemed, saved, or whatever by the power of Christ's resurrection? Interested to hear your thoughts...

I'm a tea fan and drink some almost every day. I usually make it gongfu style in the morning with my wife, before going to work. It's a nice little ritual and way to spend time together in the morning. 90% of our teas we order online. You can get a few ounces of different teas for about $100 and enjoy tea for a few months depending on how much you drink. My favorite sites for good quality chinese teas (mostly grown and imported form Taiwan) are Three Treasures Tea, Tea Trekker, and Red Blossom Tea Co (which has a nice tasting room in San Francisco Chinatown as well). Recent favorites: 2013 spring Fou Shou Shan fresh oolong - really good, almost all gone Roasted tie guanyin jasmine scented white tea Bi lo chun green (a cheap but reliable daily drinker)

"Kunlun snake"... Not to get too specific but it involves lying on the ground with hands together and feet together - and then it gets crazy. Max instructed to do it only occasionally. I think I've done it twice in two years.

Thanks for posting this interesting passage. The real question, it seems to me, is this - Is the physical and energetic body somehow different from consciousness? In other words, is there any fundamental difference between mental "stuff", physical matter, and energy? Is there a "realm of consciousness" separate from the realms of matter and energy? In my understanding, we are not minds, inside a body, inside a world. But rather all is the display of consciousness. From this understanding, the alchemy takes on a different flavor, like consciousness dancing and playing. Instead of a struggle to break out of something or become something.

Eternity, you should try to contact user "Sloppy Zhang"... he has been quite interested in Frantzis' stuff for a long time and has some experience and can probably help alot. Regarding the use of the phrase "water path" or "water method". As far as I know, Bruce Frantzis and Max Christensen are the two teachers who use this terminology. I feel there is a common ground there, although on the surface their practices seem different. The downward, non-forced flow of energy is emphasized, as opposed to the rising heat energy or kundalini-type energy of the so-called "fire path" traditions. Max's techniques tend to unlock a bit more "high amplitude" energy as opposed to Frantzis. On the plus side, Frantzis seems to have a very consistent, clear system to follow with his books, CDs, videos, training programs, martial arts, etc. Good luck, I have read a few of BKF's books myself and think it's a cool system.

"Meditations on the Tarot" published anonymously in 1984, but written earlier by Steiner student Valentin Tomberg... A treasure trove

Cool picture. Do we know the name of the artist, or the translation of the text? A lot of these paintings seem to be depictions of traditional scenes or legends. Does anyone know the story of this one?

Thanks for the links. These podcast lectures look interesting and I think I'll take some time to listen.

Whhhhewwwww! Holy shit, old school flame war. The OP really got his money's worth with this thread To get back to the original question, and summarize: "Red Phoenix" is a technique taught by Max as part of his Kunlun system. It's a seated meditation with an energetic element, and its centered on the brain. Max does not want the actual technique disseminated publicly which is why you won't see it described in detail on forums like this one. If you are interested, contact Max or one of his facilitators, or attend a seminar, for personal instruction.

^ bingo