Master Logray

@Earl Grey What is your view towards the Philippines stick fighting?

Not me.

Who is Wang Che in Chinese?

Sometimes, even Qigong within the system cannot be practiced together. It depends on the objectives but also current body conditions. This is a very complicated question that only your teachers or peers can answer.

In the modern world, a person can be highly developed in spirituality, wealth, art, knowledge, skills, appearances, alchemy. But offending others is offending others.

I have developed a new way to improve my meditation. It is the "Ignored List" method. When my thoughts stray, I would imagine put this person/thing/situation into the "ignored list", so that I have a calmer mind to continue. The inspiration of course comes from.... Would it work?

The Chinese don't need that for memory. They recite everything. Schools are mostly role learning. Hardworking students memorize English dictionary word by word. As to Taoist and memory, there are 2 interesting things worth mentioning. Firstly, Taoist philosophy prefers a person to banish reasoning and smartness. Under this context, they didn't develop memory aid like memory palace or practices for super intelligence. When a Neidan, or other Kung fu masters, want to impart secret skill to selected student, it is often done in utmost secrecy. Students are given the few lines of texts to be memorized immediately, not written down in any case, and often not explained at all. So I figure they are having good memory in the first place.

As far back as possible. If you are very serious.

Eslite is everywhere. San Min got 1 store and its blue green books are printed in 2005 for my collections. I think it is quite alright to mix religious and philosophical beliefs. Having new religions is also exciting. But Neidan is too technical, so it is better to be pure to avoid unwanted side effects.

I have the impression that Taiwan is almost completely Buddhist, even though there are a lot of Taoist temples. In bookstore, 95% of the books are Buddhist.

That makes things more clear. It is just that I don't really think Taoist inner alchemy is "spiritual". There are some spiritual developments, but probably not the "spiritual" you have in mind. For the ZhengYi Taoists, they deal with spirits and entities directly. I just wonder this kind of spirits relationship management is again "spiritual". For "spiritual master", does it include non-human entities? Re @Taoist Texts 's opinion on student readiness, there are indeed stories or folklore in China. It is often an Immortal or high level Taoist master giving out disgusting or dumb challenges to potential students, before accepting them as disciples. These may satisfy the notion of student preparedness and master sought out students. But these happenings were not meant for anyone. The chosen ones are outstanding in terms of their endowment or previous achievements in the same field. Sometimes karmic/reincarnation was involved. For a general person, however prepared you are, the master would not come.

There is not too much sense in this statement if the definition of a master is unknown. Let say does it include advertisement?

In real life, a master can appear when the student is ready, or not ready, or not interested, or rejected. We all see how "masters" can look for pupils these days in our very forum.

Indeed. But the Gate is an important step that most traditions cannot bypass. Traditionally the controversy regarding the Gate is its where about, rather than how to achieve it. The secrecy is about how to directly access it, in a much faster and expedient manner, in a sustainable fashion whenever required. Technically someone with deep Xing cultivation, like some Buddhist or Hindu, can inadvertently access the Gate. However, they don't have the purpose of using it as an energy source for physical transformation, nor the know-how. And making use of the Gate in many circumstances make these meditation traditions deviate from their own objectives. If the Gate is in a definite physical location, say LDT or UDT, then the secrecy should not be there. Almost everyone will train the LDT or UDT in some stages, and from time to time experience the Gate phenomenon. If it is outside the body, visualization is very important. But most Neidan traditions are not particularly visualization intensive. My thinking is around a Tetrahedron https://www.pinterest.com/pin/148618856442387854/. The so called Merkaba diagram is interesting in depicting some elements of a Mystic Gate. - It has definite reference to locations in the body. - It is not entirely in but has an out of body element. - It is probably affected by cosmic or astrological influences (it is why Neidan stresses on the months or hours or direction to meditate) or linkage to Feng Shui (on the body) - It can appear in different tips (i.e. mobile) - It is not available under normal circumstances but need something to access. The similarities are interesting. ** for those without Pinterest account, the diagram

Neidan, in its higher form, requires living the life of a hermit. A hermit is very uncommon in the east as well as in the west. The lower form can be practised in modern society, just like Hatha Yoga does. Dan Dao is actually the proper name for practising Neidan. It means the Dao of cultivating Neidan, having a broader sense too - it is a Dao, not a method or activity. Both terms do not generally specify which particular cultivation methods are used. So they can be opened to everyone to call their own methods belong to Dan Dao or cultivating Neidan.

It is common to have an English name in Hong Kong. A person's name can be Darrell LAU Din Cheuk, or LAU, Din Cheuk, Darrell. The Darrell or English sounding names may or may not be registered in identity documents. It was started in the old days when having an English name was more "modern" and in those days typing was as difficult as cultivation, no mistake was allowed, especially on important papers or in telex where every character costs money. It is much easier to type something familiar. In government or institutions, people like to call each other on initial basis "DC". There is another cultural factor too. People do not like their full Chinese names to be called. I won't call a person "Din Cheuk" but rather Lau, Cheuk or Darrell (if exist) or other nicknames. It infringes one's privacy and is a bit offensive because only authoritative figures would call your full name.

Actually I always wonder why there were so few discussions on this subject, given its importance. Do you think the mystic gate is a fixed location, or mobile give the different conditions?

As far as Chinese culture is concerned, it is simply incorrect to openly criticize another person's method or write off their whole system altogether, not to mention the whole lineages. It is certainly not a Taoist way nor a norm. Taoist are mostly conservatives. Criticisms are more open privately, but still with reservations. The tone of the postings do not follow this. And any comment would be dealt with by abrasive remarks.

Do you understand Chinese? If you do, you will know it is not about language nor cultural reasons.

You are right. It is mostly the case. To explain further, presume we have a model of reaching Immortalship. Stages: Unknown - highest stage Post foetus - the final stage of total transformation of the human body and psych to another level Neidan - what are written in all the books Mind - mind matters Body - exercises, Qi Philosophy - how do you live your life It doesn't mean after reaching a certain stage, you can discard the previous. These are main challenges, while the previous stages are still practised concurrently, though to a smaller extent. The Neidan stage is where the core subjects locate. The first 3 stages are mainly preparatory. Take the body stage as example. It normally comprises Qigong, Neigong and a big lot of supplementary exercises, slapping meridians, massaging and diets. Needless to say, these skills most probably have their own objectives, even though they can also be used to train in Neidan. Take standing stance as an example, it can be - as exercise to improve balance for old folks - as martial arts foundation built up - as Taichi training to maintain balance under outside forces - increase Qi and let it sink in Neigung - to tame the mind and clear blockage for Neidan - to turn the senses inward and develop and maintain focus for prolonged period The standing stance would be adjusted according to specific purposes.

Yes and no. The historical background and general usage of the 2 terms are quite clear. The unclear part is that both are employing the same ways of training or very often doing the exactly same exercises.

If they are translated into English terms, it would be much easier. But the mysterious power of using foreign words is lost.

It is not a bad thinking. The body related part of alchemy (Ming) really needs a teacher, to explain the terms, to tell the many important details. The "spiritual"/mind part (Xing) is said to be even able to be self-learn. But both are necessary otherwise results are limited.

It may not be fabrication. In infant stage, human do not have an ego or identity yet. We do not know what is inside and what is outside, which part is our body or is not. Meditation is a way of regression to earliest point in life. So we remember being united, not fabricated, perhaps enhanced a bit.

Everyone. You must have seen drawings or movies about solitary Taoists (or other seekers) living in mountains or caves. This is almost ultimate cessation of interaction with other humans, right? Anyone on these paths must be prepared to be anti-social or "alienation from society". Neidan, or similar paths, demands a certain mental state. It must be clear, calm or "empty" or "still". Then the goodies promised will manifest. To achieve this state, lots of different trainings are necessary. Most of them are done alone for long hours. Looking at your navel in a dark room for hours, months, years and decades, imitating death, cannot be described as positively interacting with others. These inner trainings have an external element - environmental factors. It is not useful to wash your brain clean when dirty things like emotions intrude again and again at every moment. So there are a lot of teachings on how to live a "proper and conducive" life. But cutting ties is still the most useful and indispensable method, to ensure the minimum disturbances. When you are in quite advanced stage, even good human interactions consist of love, compassion, empathy are to be minimized as they also hinder progress or in some circumstances - harmful.