Celestial

http://www.youtube.c...StandStillBeFit Those videos will explain the benefits of standing meditation. Start with Day 1, and come back after the 10th day and tell me if you notice any difference at all. Now don't expect after only 10 days of Zhan Zhuang for it to have a huge impact on you, but you should notice something. Hope this helps!

Exactly.

Yeah that's possible, but according to John Chang, we draw in Yang and Yin energy at the same time. More Yang than Yin especially if you don't meditate outside. Apparently, if you meditate outside on natural soil, you'll draw in Yin Ch'i from the Earth up into your 'root' chakra.

I am fortunate to have a small yet private backyard with grass, and trees everywhere. So, I stand (Zhan Zhuang) in several positions for no more than 20 minutes. Or I sit, and meditate. Edit: When I first started years ago (since then I've half-assed my training up until recently) I was plagued - like most people - with the chattering monkey mind. Now I can meditate in complete darkness without any thoughts. If thoughts do arrise, I simply observe them without emotion or judgement. I've also had some OBE's in the past, and just recently started having them at will again. A great book on OBE's is one called Astral Dynamics, by Robert Bruce. Take it or leave it, I have no connection with the author, but it opened my eyes to the process with an in-depth approach to having an OBE. http://www.amazon.co...astral dynamics That's the book I have. It's 559 pages. And it covers everything you'll ever need to know about Astral Projection.

I once saw a Reiki Practitioner who did work on me and afterwards said I draw in A LOT of energy. I am guessing this is a good thing?

What interests me the most is the taoist formula for immortality. In Mo Pai, John mentions that you have to be at least Level 30 to achieve this. Since Mo Pai is a dead lineage with no real active students/teachers, and hardly any accurate information on how to progress through the 72 levels (everyone on this forum pretending to know is a FRAUD), what path would you (GrandmasterP or anyone else) recommend?

So many frauds, so little time.

I love how people come into threads and discredit Jim's knowledge (method), yet don't offer any explanation as to how they arrived at this conclusion. In a day and age where almost everyone has a camera phone, webcam, or some type of device to take a picture and post it on the internet (you do realize you're posting on the internet right? which means you have access to technology) - everyone discredits everyone else but provides NO PROOF as to what they themselves know, or can perform. There's nothing wrong with discrediting someone as long as you have proof to back up your claims. If not, you're most likely another fraud who's out to steer others down the path of your own product line.

I have kept this story a secret since it happened to me seven years ago. I thought if I told anyone they would think that I was crazy. I feel it's time to find out why this happened... Seven years ago I signed up for Tai Chi classes. I learned the first basic form, standing meditation, and the 8 pieces of brocade(or eight brocades). I was a horrible student. I never practiced outside of the required once a week to twice a week class. I would simply just get to the class early and review what I had learned last week so that I didn't look like a complete fool. Yes, I dishonored myself and the school by doing this. However, while my Martial Arts background is not as extensive and consistant as most with similar interests, I managed somehow to pull it off. I did this for about one year. Then I quit. Did I say I was a horrible student? : ) Now here's where things get interesting... Out of the blue I started practicing standing meditation again (about a year after I quit Tai Chi). I practiced only for about a week off and on. One night, I got in a good 20 minute practice (for me that was good dammit! lol) and then afterwards went into the bathroom, but instead of turning on the light like I normally do, I decided to light a candle. The candle was rested in a tray surrounded by a bed of pebbles. I took a lighter, ignited the flame, and as soon as that happened I heard a loud "THWACK" noise come from off the wall behind me. I was startled, so I quickly dropped the lighter and turned on the light. I examined the wall and there was a small dent near the bottom. Below the dent on the ground lay one single pebble. I haven't practiced standing meditation since. Can someone explain what happened that night? Thank you. Edit: The distance between the tray of pebbles and the wall behind me was roughly 3-4 feet. Don't know if this matters or not. It also didn't fire off in a straight line, it launched diagonally and missed me by about 6-8 inches to my right; then impacted the wall. The sound that I heard from it bouncing off the wall was instantaneous after igniting the flame.

Yes they have. Not to me personally, though. And no, it wasn't Casper the Friendly Ghost.

I agree. Which is why I said I don't advocate the "abuse" of drugs. But I wasn't talking about the casual dope smoker. Those types have done nothing but give marijuana a bad name to begin with. Marijuana - like tobacco - are used during certain spiritual rituals as well and have nothing to do with getting high for the sake of getting high. Moderation, as you already know, is key with everything. The ignorant comment wasn't directly at you specifically. There's a lot of uninformed people everywhere who have bought into government propaganda when it comes to mind altering drugs. As a result of this, they have trouble forming an educated argument that doesn't involve pointing their finger at the stereotypical stoner as proof that drugs are bad.

How do you feel about real Shamans using Ayahuasca as way to have an enlightening experience, amongst other things? It's a mind alternating drug just like marijuana (both are grow naturally), but has been used for centuries by spiritual guides, healers, prophets, etc. To even make this drug requires I believe 3 plants from within the Amazon. You know how many different plants there are inside that jungle? Thousands. How did these people figure out that if you take these particular three plants and blend them together down to a liquid base, that you'll have some crazy psychedelic experience that changes you and the way you perceive the world? There's something to be said about this. I don't advocate the abuse of drugs, but I am not so ignorant to the point where I can't see that other cultures embrace the use of drugs for spiritual cultivation and advancement. And have done so for thousands of years...

Interesting, thanks for posting this. I sent you a PM regarding something more personal to get your opinion on the matter. Thanks again.

Wow. It's bizarre that you just posted this because I've had the same question rattling around my mind for years! It's like a thousand tiny white flies phasing in and out of reality about 8-15inches from my face. I see them mainly during the day while engaged in some activity that is on automatic, like driving a car for example.

Such great posts in this thread. Thanks 'thetaoiseasy'

Such a great post, couldn't agree with you more. I mentioned something similar to White Wolf in a previous thread which is what compelled him to create a separate thread for discussion.

Good read. Thanks for posting this.

Eternal Dao Boys. Rappers from the 'source'

I thought the thug couldn't fight at all. Watch it again. He had no form, no footwork, no nothing really. I think whatever external art you decide to take is a good thing; if anything it's great for exercise and laying a foundation. But until you see what a master of internal power can do, there's no point in a debate. Like I said in a previous post to z00se, you might as well be arguing over who shot Kennedy. Edit: I've seen that video before, it's hilarious. I would love to watch a video like that but where the attacker gets someone in a nasty muay thai clinch and goes to work.

Accidental double post. Sorry. White Wolf ~ If you would like to discuss further, send me a PM.

Fireballs? Where did I say fireballs?? You're grasping for straws. You watched a YouTube clip of John Chang and decided that was going to be the basis of your argument? Lol! That alone shows how little you know about internal power. I on the other hand, was talking about power behind each punch. With mastery of internal force you can do more damage with your punches than someone who just focuses on the external. I am closing this debate with you because no matter what you'll never believe a word I say. It's like a conspiracy theorist arguing whether or not American's really landed on the moon. Or who actually assassinated JFK. Some people believe what their told, others experience it for themselves before passing judgement. Good luck.

I agree with you on the smoking part of it, but there are far more uses for it than just getting high. Hemp, the non-psychoactive part of the plant, can be used for myriad of things but yet is illegal to grow in the United States. Gee, I wonder why.

Yeah, and from what I've seen personally I'd much rather step in the ring with the likes of Mike Tyson than someone who's mastered true internal power. And I don't mean what I've seen on YouTube. Lol. But of course to most this sounds ridiculous and they'll never believe it in a million years, which is probably why they'll never achieve such power in the first place. Edit: Watch this video. This guy is trained, has great footwork, technique, and falls right in line with your "force formula" yet he still couldn't take down a common street thug.

It doesn't improve my striking technique, it increases the power behind the strikes. That's why I agreed with you in that it's a good idea to learn the basics of real fighting such as boxing. To train internally you have to first build up and store your chi; this takes a considerable amount of time. And that's just the first step.

Sorry, my mistake, my response was based off of this comment you made: "but I would take on a taiji or bagua player before ever considering disrespecting a real boxer." -- which is why I thought you were using that video as an example to prove one is better over the other. I agree with you about knowing the real basics of fighting. Boxing/Striking is a great start. However, focusing internally will give you much more power behind your punches versus just training the external side of fighting. But, I bet we'd both agree that it really just depends on what you want to get out of your training.