Master Logray

It is impossible to quote (not from previous message) you or search for you now.

Indeed. More than half a century ago, people thought the effects of Chi Kung and internal arts came from more oxygen in breathing exercises. When Quantum Theory was a hit, people speculate it was quantum effects. Now fascia is popular, then it becomes the rationale behind. To look back, some of these speculations were stupid but they used the most modern theory at that time.

I believe in some sort of path dependence in personal development, which means history matters. Even though the goal is the same, the paths taken affect the persons so much that when the goal is met, the persons are very different. Take an example, if different persons want to make a huge sum of money. One of them achieve it by invention, another by building a drug cartel, the last one by politics. Then these 3 are completely opposite to each other in character, history, outlook and even physically. So the choice of the paths above matters a lot, in a way altered the goal itself.

I have googled this line. All sources say the direct pointing is self pointing. A Buddhist doesn't have to follow the system, but can directly refer to one's own heart/Buddha nature. There is no implication of psychic transmission of information, no sync between 2 persons. It is a solo internal matter. From the story, it happened in China, the records were in Chinese, there should not be any translation issue. The confusion may be like this. The teacher showed a flower. Only one student smiled, indicating he knew the genuine meaning. Is it communication? non-verbal? psychic? To me, this kind of scenario happens all the time to normal people. It is just they are prominent Buddhist teachers. I have read that direct transmission occur between student and future teacher, in Hinduism. But that was a calling (brief) than a course or a set of instructions. Taoists don't have that between people (anyhow masters live with their students). It might happen between Immortals to humans. One interesting thing is the earlier part of the sentence, 教外別傳 (preaching outside of the religion). This phrase is mentioned in many Taoist books. I think its meaning is Buddhist using Taoist system to achieve their goals.

Reading your link, it doesn't seem to imply anything about psychic transmission of information, if it is what the title has indirectly pointed to.

If I understand correctly, you mean the "No-mind" stage can be reached and measured by, without method, without intention, without expectation of result, centre on the stage before thinking or emotion arise. It seems quite Buddhist way to me. And unfortunately Buddhist meditation is renowned for not effective in getting Taoist results, a bit of waiting for the gift falling from heaven (等運到)。 This approach is quite suitable to be attained by emptiness meditation, which you find boring. I would rather say it is the lack of result or signpost that is disconcerting.

Is it a problem in the west? I suppose you guys just move on when a course is finished. In the east, even for today, it would be more difficult to look for another teacher as it creates ill-feelings. But somehow 100 years ago, the masters and prominent seekers all receive tutelage from more than 1 source. Don't know how they did it. Indeed if it is an Order or School or monastery, when there is Sifu, Si Uncle, Si Grand Father/Uncle around. Yet there are many independent teachers, who only have a few students. As you say, it is a wastage. But the greater problem is the art may perish when the students could not pick up the teachings or left. This type of situation is not uncommon. In this forum, there was a school whose master passed away, the students are left behind. For internal martial arts, I would say observing the level and characters of the students is the best way to determine if a teacher is worthy (the end product is good). It proves the teacher has real knowledge and he is able to teach. Without both criteria, this teacher is of limited in value. Yet this method is difficult for cultivation, when the level is not obvious and genuine Taoist masters are expected to be low profile or even deny they have the knowledge.

I think instructors and masters have their roles. You don't want Einstein or Hawkins to teach your kids in the kindergarten. Masters (not Buddha level ) may not be good teachers at all. Many of them have no teaching skills. Some are lowly educated or even illiterate. Some are naive. They are no doubt high achievers in their internal arts but it doesn't mean they are good in other aspects. Showing tricks and dragging are common. Can you teach a person meditation everyday? I have seen a teacher's curriculum. There are full of inflators to prolong the teaching.

e.g. this Spanish guy in China, WuDang Mountain https://www.instagram.com/wudangzixiao/ https://www.wudangzixiao.com/español/zi-xiao/ But rare.

Acupuncture and acupressure use the same theories and meridians and points. Acupuncture uses metal needles and very often, connect with electricity. It is said there are change in body's electricity flow, ions created and so on. Acupressure is different as it covers wider and deeper areas, can rub massage inner tendons, varying the force, applying heat, resetting bones, improve alignments etc. Thus they produce quite different results. The choice would depends on a lot of factors. Very often both are used. As to effectiveness, 一砭二针三灸四药五按跷六导引. The Six Main Techniques of Chinese Medicine. The first approach is use special stones to scratch, follow by needles, then moxibustion, medicine, acupressure, daoyin (now Qigong).

Taoism is traditionally different from Buddhism in China. Buddhists (priests/students) mostly live in monasteries. Most of the Taoist buildings are temples but not monasteries. Temples are service centres and lodgings for gods, with a few persons only. It is not unlikely Catholics in the west, church building is not the church. The majority of Taoist clergies are ZhengYi, they allow marriage like Protestant. They mostly live at home or wander from town to town. What you read about Taoism in the west are QuanZhen but not ZhengYi. Stated recognized temples are often tourist and cultural facilities. And very often run by non-Taoist outsiders (in Taoist attire). Taoist lineages do have a "certificate", which is to show their identity and allow free lodging in other temples out of town. The Taoist association does have a list of the main active temples all over the country, but there are just too many outside the system.

Isn't that good? Peace finally.

This is a more probable theory. In those days, there were so many perils on the long road and back. And how he got teachings there? It would be difficult to find a true teacher in Himalayas even we have planes and internet today. It was quite likely he met someone with such knowledge, 2nd hand or 3rd hand.

There is a general presumption that once Buddha/Jesus/Prophet came, then the world changes, the goods prevail from then on. This is only a presumption. Looking at history and see the human nature, all of them had not been always successful then and now. Their legacies are not failure, but certainly not success everywhere every time, and sometimes their followers do more evil than good. Just like some of your needles don't work. To properly gauge their effectiveness, we may have to imagine a world where they never came. What could have happened? Would human race be better or worse?

Taoists generally don't preach. They don't have Sunday service. Temples don't teach..... I think Taoist thinkings permeates into the society, as life teachings, folklore, way to cook, way to fight, way to govern, medical, Feng Shui and so on, even into other religions' believers.

This is my recommendation to him only.

It is not defined but mentioned in some ancient books as below the navel. Over the ages the exact location of Dantien has not been established, or there are just too many exact locations. Anyway I think the best approach is what the forum always say - follow your teacher/system.

There are a few problems for this approach, even from a western viewpoint. Firstly, there is a question of efficiency. Your time and resources are limited and there are opportunity costs. And cultivation shows result slowly. So it is hard to determine the effectiveness. Another point is these arts claim to have significant rewards. Significant rewards must come with significant risks. Finally it is not wise to trek alone into the wild. Get company, guides and read map/manual/travel stories beforehand is simply prudent.

In another post, I mentioned the "rough" cultivation method on Dantien. After checking, I find out more, there are methods like Hit, Hold, Turn, Shake, Rub, Push, Vibratory hit, Spray and Dangle. These are ways to activate. The Hit Method is to use your belly to hit a tree or a pole continuously . Of course, using the attention and breathing would also work. These are probably more potent yet dangerous. I won't suggest anyone doing such unless guided by experienced teacher, and another reason is they take quite a bit of time everyday. Regarding the storage function, I doubt the "container" analogy. When Chi is considered light and fine (otherwise it cannot go through the inside of the body), there must be significant physical change to develop a "container". In that case, modern medical checks would certainly reveal its presence. The more probable explanation may be the fluid theory within the small belly space. They are a sort of magnet to keep a certain amount of Chi in place.

If there is no going to be a teacher for you, it is better to do as little as possible i.e. do not temper with breathing at all unless you have obvious breathing problem now.

Strayed. BTW I always want to know whether the tiles in your garden is coarse or smooth, what kind? Got mosquitos around when you practise? It happens in language more. This particular situation of "crossover" is worse than languages. e.g. speaking/learning Dutch and German, Portuguese and Spanish, when they are so similar. It would be easier to distinguish Korean and Arabic.

It was not mentioned in history. There are many variations of spoken languages in China till today. All using roughly the same set of words.

There are modern Chinese translations of these texts. Yes, Chinese today need such.

Middle and Modern Chinese are tonal. They won't come from nowhere. It was not out of a imposed design. The logical reasoning is that the tonality must have evolved from earlier not barely tonal or not so tonal versions to a fully tonal language.

Indeed Taichi is an inefficient system, both in terms of martial and cultivation. It is Qigong, but is not an efficient QG. But once you master Taichi, all QG become very easy for you. The original purpose of Taichi was not for first line combat, but as a fall back when one is getting old and as an avenue into the inner world. This system can still be useful even when the person is old as it doesn't really depend on muscle and bone powers. They affect each other even learn separately. Somehow you end up having A style and a B style that has an A feel.