Master Logray

This soup looks safe as it uses quite common ingredients, and there are ready made tea bags sold, which means it can be used by common people with limited knowledge. Of course it is more appropriate to consult a TCM doctor before taking medicine to avoid contradictions. This combination increases internal dampness and mucus, and is frequently used by women for menopause.

Neidan, Dan Dao, Golden Elixir, Jade Pill, Neigong, Qigong - are just different activities, or different names of the same or similar activities. The question of correctness doesn't arise normally. Could we say walking is correct but swimming is incorrect? or diving is correct but water skiing is incorrect? Which is better? It depends on the person, on the situation. Will it help us to interact with others in a more positive way? - If you need a simple yes/no answer, the reply is no. It won't help in the interaction with others. For the higher stage, the followers of the path are expected to avoid all human interactions.

I read about that. But never see one.

http://yibian.hopto.org/fang/?fno=9 Is it the one? The darkened words of the 3 ingredients can be linked to the biological names. Please check. In fact there are ready made condensed powders in bottles for TCM doctors. Or even tea bags. They may not ship overseas or website in Chinese only.

To build up something, let say wealth, cutting down expenditure is a must. Jing is like wealth. Abandoning desires, activities, habits.... is just like reduce expenditure. The irony is when a person is having some success in reducing outlay, the temptation to use it increases. A person could have been tired, short of time, short of cash, thereby avoiding activities. After a while, he is bored now, with some cash and idle time, body recovered, the desires are even more appealing than before. Many inner alchemists fail because of this reason. The statement "no sexual thoughts when the Jing is full" describes a situation of highly successful replenishment, which is rare. This situation possibly comes from a few factors like years of conditioning the body, stilling the mind and the body has a very pleasant sensation that is comparable or even better than physical sex.

Do you still have lingering problems after covid? I want to know if someone trained like you fare better than average people. Btw what do you train during and immediately after recovery? Your standing stances would have been too hectic?

I think games are spiritual. What we can do in one life is limited. Most of the things, careers, professions need a lot of training, efforts, qualifications and so on. It is difficult to move between professions, going up (or down), taking different posts. We want to try different things in life, but not invest decades in doing so, and missing all other opportunities. e.g. I fly planes on PC. I don't want to be a pilot. Having a taste of it is good enough, even if it is not very realistic. I can have a taste of many things in a year. The traditional approach is by reincarnation to learn life experiences. Isn't it very inefficient and ineffective?

I have researched different YJJ styles years ago, wanted to re-pick up one of the styles that I used to practise decades ago. The finding is interesting. YJJ has so many different styles, all look so different and most likely different internally. Nan Hua Chin said there are 35 styles circulating. There is a contemporary China book which enlisted 14 major styles. Currently one style is most popular, @Shadow_self 's link Master Shi Yong Yao. It has almost become the standard. Comparing with Qigong, YJJ styles are usually more strenuous, more training on exterior/muscle strength (in addition to tendons), less emphasis on the mind or spiritual, all are movements, generally faster in speed. I would say they not only result in more Chi but greater strength and power too. Some of them are not so safe, not about Chi deviation, but they move in such a way twisting the body and doing it strenuously. Perhaps they are more for the young and supple.

Nowadays people don't fear death that much. What is scarier than death? the pre-death! It usually last about few months to 10 years before death. With the aging society, people see the horror of getting aged, losing of basic physical functions, all sorts of sicknesses, incessant physical pain, huge medical and care expenses, distancing of family, friends, losing dignity and basic care in facilities. I am talking about advanced and well-off societies. In many occasions, when this issue was discussed, many older persons just don't want a longer life. They want to die when they are still not that old. Death is still feared for the actual moment of it and leaving behind persons, achievements, wishes.

As @Antares says, Taoist not only different in the depth i.e. pre and post-heaven level, they are also dynamic. While in other systems, male and female forces are static, male is always male and female is always female. In Taoist system, yang when it reaches full maturity, female force germinates and gradually takeovers the male force. When the female reaches its peak, the seed of the yang is sown and becomes the ascendance again. In a way, the 2 polarities changes into another.

@freeform @Earl Grey Do you guys reply on phones? It is quite tedious for long messages, and hamper your creative thinking. I mostly use a PC.

Thanks, these are very useful real life observations. One more question, I don't expect your greater family is mountain dweller? Those living in mountains usually live longer. Some of your relatives may start off with a little discomfort, not really sickness, or not recovering well from illness or wounds. It somehow affects them being not so active, not so positive. They could become more easily irritated, impatient, easier to go for substances to lessen their situations, less active... And in turn these affect their bodies. Then it becomes a vicious cycle. So their habits and attitudes could both be a cause and a result. BTW, I will clean up more often from now on.

We Taoist are very interested in longevity. The whole family to be at least 100 seems fantastic. Can you tell us if it is more of hereditary - the family only or even the relatives, or things you people eat or do? Actually your family is quite admirable. Long life and intact family amongst most broken ones. For the Facebook and communication matter, you better see if anyone can help. It is also for your own safety. It is quite inconceivable for me to think of living so far off. This kind of advice is not without merit. Since speaking is not useful or even bring more problems in the past, why speak so much. Try to touch their hearts by touching their bodies. Keep you mouth shut as much as possible. See this website: https://arborsassistedliving.com/importance-of-touch-for-seniors/ Imagine you go back to the time when you were a little girl when you hug your father and play with him. You didn't fully understand what he said. But there was no problem in relating to each other. Now you don't have to listen and analyze what he says and plan to argue with him. Being present and hold his hand is love already, and time flies. You would return home after the visit feeling better than before. In the longer term, learn a bit massage, or Taoist acupressure (not acupuncture, no needles). Seniors always got pain and stiffness here and there. Such techniques sometimes can do what western medicine or physiotherapy cannot do. Even if not so successful, they still offer temporary relief. You don't have learn the full material, just those you need. Concentrate and use your senses to feel the muscles and tendons, softly massage them. Avoid the side of the neck, ribs, or protruding veins, for likelihood of bone fracture for old folks and dislodge blood clots which can travel to the heart. If it is too awkward, you can tell your father you are learning and working on your partner and need someone to practise too. Such skill would also come in handy for yourself and those around you. Don't worry too much, a lot of eastern parents behave similarly.

What does it mean? Your dad is 75. People at that age develop problems in walking, handling stairs, drinking, chewing, swallowing, seeing and having dementia. Some don't even recognize their children. This is in addition to all the other sicknesses. Some of them lose interest in life and become half zombie like. From a few years onward, you would be very happy that your dad can still watch the screen, and still having something interest him, and have a sound mind that able to belittle others. I do think keeping distance from him would be good. But your case is different. Time is slipping away. And it doesn't help to feel remorse for the rest of your life for not doing something when you still have a chance. Considering his age, you do need to visit him periodically. If it is too difficult for you, ask him to report his own status on FB every few hours. It can be disguised by asking him to send you interesting items, video of his cooking etc. Chat with him on FB messenger too. You can be "too busy " to reply promptly, this he would understand. It would avoid him get hurt or fainted when there is no one in the house. You could install some apps into his phone that can keep you informed of his physical location in case he goes out. I am sure you can think of ingenious ways to utilize the situation to benefit him without hurting yourself.

I read Mak's 2 free books. They are quite actually quite well-made, simple enough to understand. The magic itself should be able to be operated by any race or language. It is the spell that is problematic. Taoist doesn't use Buddhist or Hindu's short sacred sound as spells, or Harry Potter style. They use litany which can be quite lengthy. If you don't know the language, it is near impossible to recite them by memorizing the pronunciations. When the gods/deities are totally unknown to you, would it affect the connection? or mess with the intricacies? I agree Mak seems act like a used car salesman. But there is a need to know the background. Mak's lineage belongs to the Zheng Yi Section, which is seldom mentioned here. Zheng Yi is one of the 2 main sects of Taoists. To be frank, if your impression on Taoist masters is someone with a plain robe, sitting in a nature surrounding, being vegetarian and speak of the mysterious of the universe and man's ascension in spirituality, embrace love and integration with the whole and often found in retreats, the ZY Taoists are often the exact opposite. They are the magicians and religion bearer. They don't have to stay in monasteries, they can eat meat, drink wine, get married, have children. They often work alone, without a formal temple, though may have a place for the shrine at home. Many of them are very street smart and belong to the lower strata of the society. Their work nature requires them to be lethal at times, anyhow they are Magicians and Exorcists, and it is unfriendly spirits that they are always after. In modern terms, they may be called a freelance magical service provider. So we cannot apply the same standard on Neidanist or Philosophy Taoist to them. They are more often judged by their power and ... business ethics, than looks.

Irrespective of how Mr. Mak conveys his messages, it is better not to get associated with Thunder Magic for most people here. If Neidan is secretive and short of info, Thunder Magic is totally obscure. It cannot be learned by online nor in classes, the most traditional form of master/disciple relationship is at play. It is also impossible to compare notes with other practitioners, nor assess how is one's progress. When the teacher is no longer around, the student could be left alone to deal with the unkind spiritual world. If a student is not from Chinese culture or Chinese religion, or doesn't know Chinese language, it could be very hard, not to mention they are not modern Mandarin.

Many Zen masters and monks practice Niedan. These results could be from Niedan, and Buddhist pranayama practices, or a combination of different methods.

Your impression is correct. It is the norm. Nowadays In China (the book was 1990), it would still be disturbing to them if you mention Qigong with "Spirituality". Qigong is usually treated as health system only. In the traditional Daoism, the spiritual side is handled by the religious Daoism. They are highly spiritual in the sense that they have extensive and regular interactions with the spiritual world. Certainly the direct actual dealings with all sorts of spirits and deities are more spiritual than the current western idea on spirituality which would be kind of empty and hollow.

In ordinary Chinese, the term Tao usually means the Way (method, principle..). It is only a Way, leading to somewhere. Following the Tao is following the way, don't stray. Of course there is something at the end of the road. But it is not necessary nor desired by the majority. Dan Tien breathing, MCO, YJJ, are different training methods for different purposes. MCO is almost the standard operating procedure in current day Neidan. It comprises Dan Tien breathing usually means belly breathing. There are quite a lot of breathing methods like reverse, holding, spore, variation in the in/out. YJJ is a body strengthening system, mostly practised by Buddhist monks and martial artists. It is not Neidan. Nan Hua Chin said, Buddhist is more mental, while Taoist Alchemy is more physical and biological. But is it prudent to change to another system when you encounter some problems in your current system? You would not be the first one and there must be solutions in your current mental system.

Quite true. Is Hinduism in India very diversified and decentralized?

If you see flash or green light, it may be retinal detachment. Be careful.

The forum is set up for a purpose, and for specific subjects. Members inevitably talk about non-related things. If these become too many, then what should the forum do? Whether it is Covid or flower arrangement, if every time I log on the Activity Section, I see 50 posts about Covid or flower arrangement, I would not like to scroll to the end and find out any normal post. True or untrue, saving or destroying lives, these are subjective opinions. But the quantity of unrelated posts is very real and quantifiable, and annoying too. Keeping them in Current Section still appears in the Activity Section? right?

Virtue seems related to Confucianism more than with Taoism.

Discussion on using Chi or TCM or meditation to deal with Covid should be allowed.

Time changes everything. It is not easy to be an earth immortal now or to be lower level ones. Everyone watches a lot of vampire movies, and become perfectly aware of the problems of living a few hundred years. Attending high school 20 times is not fun. Relocating and breaking all ties every 10 years hurts. Not to mention all sorts of electronic IDs, facial surveillance everywhere. How to explain your immortality to the authorities? Heavenly Immortal is not desirable traditionally. It is said to be allocated a position in the Heavenly Court. That means a job, obligations, schedules, responsibilities, results, superiors, colleagues.... Longevity and powers would become normal in the new environment. Superman would not be super in his own planet.