Antares

Thanks for sharing this recipe here. How about cooking yellow lentils instead of yellow moong dal?

What do you want to achieve by practicing qigong? Generally speaking, it is not good to mix lineages and methods. It is better to choose one and follow it.

Here is an article written by Bruce's student: Yes, indeed, the water qualities were described by Lao Tzu in DDJ but I personally not sure there were such phrases as Water Path and Fire Path to describe the differences between schools at that time. But there have been Fire and Water which have they own unique qualities and methods that work with them. In DDJ we can find such terms as: 上善若水 水善利萬物而不爭，處眾人之所惡，故幾於道 - The highest virtue is like water. Water benefits all beings and does not compete, dwelling in low places that people disdain. Therefore, it is close to the Dao 孰能濁以靜之徐清？孰能安以動之徐生？ - Who can make the muddy water clear by stillness? Who can bring life to restfulness through movement? ----------------------------------------------- Here I see an indication of the necessity to achieve stillness, and then movement within stillness. One could say that this is similar to the movement and quality of water, but Lao Tzu did not distinguish between concepts such as the path of water and the path of fire. There are methods based on action and non-action, there is yin and yang, and the phases of yin and yang. --------------------------------------------------- 萬物負陰而抱陽，沖氣以為和 - All beings carry Yin within themselves and contain Yang, combining these energies to achieve harmony ---------------------------------------------------------------- Overall, it seemed to me that Bruce spoke of the path of water as a path based on non-action. This is the path of old Taoism, in contrast to later schools where, for example. visualizations, asanas and breathing techniques are used a lot,

From a conditional perspective, practice can be divided into "cleansing" and "gathering" qi. As an example, Bruce Frantzis describes spiritual practices as the path of fire and the path of water. Indeed, there are different approaches to practice—some that focus more on cleansing, while others emphasize gathering qi. Sometimes these practices work together, involving gathering qi, cleansing, and replenishing. But sometimes there is more emphasis on cleansing and dissolving, it depends on a stage of a practice. If one engages only in cleansing practices, sooner or later imbalances are inevitable. However, I still don’t fully understand what is meant by the path of duality and non-duality nor where this division of practices originates. All genuine practices, in the end, should lead to a non-dual state of mind - heart. Nevertheless, there are different approaches to practice. As I mentioned above, it’s not best approach to focus solely on one aspect, such as cleansing at the level of energy and the body. We have two energies—yin and yang—and both must be cultivated. As for Eros, all superficial layers should be removed from sexual energy, while simultaneously jing must be cultivated. And then it becomes possible to discover a state of non-duality.

Honestly I tried to understand what these word mean but I did not succeed. It is better to use daoist terminology to describe the process. The devil is in details. The base you talk about can be post heaven shen (heart - mind). I cant really understand what you are trying to achieve. But I believe that methodology is more important than philosophy in this case. The latter matters but practice is more crucial here

Can you explain what this differentiation means and what it involves? Also, what do you mean by "expression of the base" in this context? And what is the way you propose to realize it?

I can foresee the future. I see millions of practitioners receiving guidance, blessing and initiation from AI. Is this the bright future?

The practical aspect here plays a greater role than intellectual understanding. There is no point in comparing the Daoist understanding of this process with Jung's understanding, as the latter was not a practitioner of Daoist alchemy. Therefore, his understanding is merely intellectual masturbation. AI merely rehashes these concepts, turning them into a product for intellectual entertainment of the mind.

So if I get it right in your practice you are trying to bring together your Xing and... Eros (emotions, desires)? May I ask who inspired you to do it this way?

ChiDragon, honestly I dont know what you are doing in this section of the forum. May be u need to go to sciencedao.com?

In my humble opinion these are postheaven fire and water - Li and Kan. They must be cultivated and purified. When they are full they can be reversed and thus transformed from postheaven quality into their preheaven state.

I believe it more depends on whether one's meridians are open and thus one can be grounded on the level of qi. Also "ground" is not physical in this context. Ground is Earth which is the central element in WuXing, so psychological state depends on the state of energy - whether all elements are balanced and how qi flows in meridians.

That's true. There is the building foundation stage in daoist practice. Ofc it is not possible to realize if one has not authentic method. Another issue people stumble upon is Hun and Po balance in the practice and daily life even if one has got an authentic method of cultivation. If one works on Ming mostly the Po will be strengthened and there is a chance to fall into desires and lust and that is where most people balk at in their progress... If one works on Xing mostly there could be another sort of problems. Both issues relate to Hun and Po balance. Dual cultivation of Xing and Mng is the best solution. The more balance one has the more chance to control desires but it is not easy task anyway. I am not talking about methods people get from the books or any sort of videos which are not authentic in most cases. The problem becomes insoluble in such a case

I just say this is misconception. Did u get it from that book? I am sorry then

WHAT?

there is no LDT i am afraid but there is specific channel that book author confused things

at the moment no lust or desire for i live in remote area almost in the forest need to check it when go socializing but the more i practice the more i realize what is what and i like internal ecstasy wasting it is just like giving out the water u really need to drink no masturbation, no porn ofc

First of all concentration on the physical body may cause channels blockages Secondly it may cause false fire rising Thirdly it may cause deviations - lust, desire and so on...

No I got issues. But i did that before he suggested. I had solid background in it

Interesting picture

so is it ur experience that LDT is just above the anus?

I know a person who teaches others to concentrate on "third eye" area and this should set off downward kundalini flow, then it activates upward kundalini... then they meet and do the work. It is "integral yoga". He said he taught 3 other people and they got enlightenment.

Well for some people it might work. But for 90 % of others it might cause issues

Oh I used to read his books years ago finding it interesting... Then I realized it is not for me. Then I realized this is westernized neidan. I have pdf's. Opened coz somebody asked my opinion on his methods and I had to re- read it to show that person problem with that approach

I dont want to promote him but he is very famous