Rara

Nah, there's enough ruckus that goes on here. You could join the few that call people out individually It always makes fun reading. Peace.

Subjective, is what it is.

Did it! Somene else also gave me a pointer too. Cheers

My latest living arrangement has got me back into my old place, which my landord now uses like a hotel. He came back from abroad last night and found some tiny coffee cups that were given to me by a friend around October time. I have 6 of these, and I did think at the time "I wonder what I'll do with 6" Funny thing is, I still haven't used them to this day. He walked into the kitchen and asked "can I use a few of these to make ice cubes"? Voila! Wu wei. A use for everything. And a housemate that I think I'll get on with

That's what I thought, but I can only find a "hide" option. Thanks though.

@admin Please can we change the title to say "disguise"? My phone's screen protector also likes to protect me from typing letters. Thank you!

Do you find that laughter and humour needs to carefully applied? Because on the other hand, it can be mocking as well. I mean, setting this up alongside far-right "hate parade" I would think would be provocative. Do you think Chuang Tse was respectively critical, or a comedian with little care if he offends the opposition?

I like this analolgy. I find I have to at least clear my cache quite often!

Hehe, I don't think you can drill that out of some cultures. He's done well to not dismiss this all as voodoo.

Jeffrey is a good dude, from my expeience. Thanks for sharing the vids, I hope more Bums see this thread

To elaborate on @CloudHands (hey, btw, long time no see!) post, the best way I can describe it is that Taiji forms incorporate martial arts moves. Like taiji, qigong has many different variants, depending on which school you learn from. What qigong does is work more on a refined set of body movements as well the working the energies in the body. Initially, you would think that qigong would be a precursor to learning taiji, because as cloudhand mentioned, the gems are there. And this all later comes into play if you practice both, HOWEVER, the case is that most people that practice taiji and only taiji will obtain its benefits much faster because one doesn't necessarily need to focus on qigong elements to generally get a healthier body both internally and externally. Don't let that put you off qigong as a primary focus, though. If that's what you want to do, then certainly go for it. Now, finding a teacher is a good point. I am a firm believer of the "when the student is ready, the teacher appears", because that's pretty much how my two teachers came into my life! Until then, I held curiosity, but stuck with Kung Fu, and later MMA for a considerable number of years until the right situations came along. If you're looking for the best school, then you'll know what I mean. You'll shop around but your instincts will tell you if something isn't genuine. If there's specific advice you're after, based on location, drop me a DM

What I like is your own identification that you're not one for sitting still. Neither am I, and I do seated meditation very rarely. I do feel its benefits, and I know I should do more, but it's about the time consumption....I work and love my taiji and adding more and more to my practice negatively impacts on results because I'd be cramming. So my particular priorities go: Taiji Strength exercises Qigong or standing practice Sitting meditation But either way, homing in on qigong practice daily will keep your mind, body and spirit in good condition.

Takes some practice. At the beginning stage, one will start swingin', which just looks plain shabby.

I was going to go down the "find a teacher route" but figured this would open a can of worms as the first thing they would do probably is teach a form... Which is affectively what you're saying hehe. But your point stands. I was taught ZZ and went away and enjoyed some practice. Then one day in class when I was practicing, suddenly my teacher started moving my body parts into the proper position. We always think we're doing something right, until someone points out that we ain't!

Already did actually. Had blood tests a few times when feeling generally weak and drained and the only thing that came back was Vit D deficiency, which was sorted with a short course of supplements. As longs as I keep on the move, I'm ok. A great excuse to practice my taiji more regulalry 😁

Actually, this is an interesting point. I wonder how conditioning and also genetic makeup come into play. I've recently sorted a new deal with my old landlord to move back in for half-rent, while he comes back to use the place like a hotel when he needs. He will never turn the heating on, but for me, I have to put it on 3-4 times a day right now, being a stone house and winter. The guy just doesn't get cold. How I envy him...if I were this way, I'd save heaps of money. Instead, when idle for more than 30 mins if the heating hasn't been on in a while, I begin to shiver.

I might appreciate the penguin more. Being eaten alive by insects during practice in 35°C heat was quite offputting, but there would be no risk of that in the antarctic

Check this with your GP, just in case it's a nerve thing. I've developed numbness in my right arm in the past couple of years and am currently having physio. I noticed it when leaning on it, but now it's definitely present during ZZ, so a slight concern!

After 40 mins of qigong, when I walk after, everything becomes like a dream. It's amazing stuff, but yes, focus a lot more on grounding exercises.

Loved the whole post, but this especially. As a friend said to me once, Daoism is Pantheistic.

Interesting. Let's talk about that...!

This.

Shifu in Wudang had to train in the dark back in the day. I believe that the inner doors students are getting some quality training and knowledge there, but it is very noticable that they have to also have to adhere a lot to government regulations which may restrict their Daosit approach. For what is quite a carefree philosophy, Daoism is easier achieved in the west than it is in the east, imo.

I've been thinking this might sort itself out, but it's been about a week since I considered myself "recovered". But ever since, I have had a tight stomach, no real desire to eat and I am constantly repeating last meals. I mean, I am eating 3x a day to ensure I don't get weak, but it isn't very comfortable. Does anybody know what flu or bad cold symptoms do to make the body act this way? In the meantime, I have inevitably cut down on carbs/sugars and am drinking green tea and fresh ginger drinks to try and ease my stomach but I think I might need a diet plan to get over this. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

I was going to reply to @SirPalomides but with you sending this, I'll answer with the same thought, being.... ...I guess it depends which sect you ask then! Useful to know anyway, because regardless, Zhuangzi is my favourite Daoist figure, so I have absolutely no shame in viewing him as an immortal/sage either way. Just like my Dad idolises Elvis Presley haha. I'm just not convinced that it was ever intended to be this way.