taijistudent

I use a jade gua sha blade that looks something like this: I prefer the broad tool so it covers more area on the back. The technique is simple but it helps to have someone demonstrate. You have to feel for the sha (sand) and break it up. Most of the gua sha techniques I have seen are adequate but again pretty light in order to accommodate Western sensibilities. A person is clear when it remains a light pink that quickly disappears. The dark red, purple, blue, or black spots (black being the most) indicate some toxins remain in the body.

Aspects experiments which seem to confirm the non-local actions at a distance (so-called instantaneous faster that light effects) have since been confirmed many times for large particles and distances. So there is something happening that confounds science. David Bohm, who was one of the inspirations for Bell who is the author of Bell's Theorem and the inspiration for Aspect, has posited that there is an Implicate Order where information is enfolded and unfolded in a holographic like manner. It is a fascinating model which attempts to explain the nature of Nature and the nature of life. As a companion philosophy, there is Henri's Bergson's metaphysics, which may have influenced Bohm, where he suggests that external time (the time that we use to measure for analytical purposes) is different from the time that we experience as a unfolding within us all (our internal time). He calls this time Duration and together with Memory and the Elan Vital (the vital impetus or intelligence), he constructs a metaphysical model that attempts to explain the problems with the Relativity view of time (there really isn't any time in Quantum Physics). All of these authors are fascinating reading. Whether one needs any type of enlightenment to understand this, depends upon what one seeks and what one observes. Understanding nature and life is like a jig-saw puzzle which can be solved in many ways.

Very nice spiraling energy techniques. I have in the past studied the different styles. There are differences and similarities. All are quite interesting. As always, if someone understands the fundamentals then one can learn a lot about cultivating and using energetic techniques. It is good knowledge to have.

Just hanging out on a forum together until something else comes along. Cain was a bit of an independent wanderer in Kungfu. I think he was like that in real life.

It is primarily my nature that I choose to go my own route and form my own views in my own way and my own time. I enjoy the freedom to change. Groups, by necessity must adopt specific beliefs and rules that create the group and allow to group to endure and be cohesive. Normally there are people who guide the group and share their beliefs with the group and the group in general adopts these views. They are the leaders, the gurus, the sages, the teachers who people choose to follow. There are times when ideas diverge and groups may split into separate directions or individuals may decide to leave the group and follow a different path. This is the nature of belonging to groups. One shares a joint journey as long as one shares the journey. I am a person who is constantly learning and changing. By being my own person, I am free to change whenever I want and follow my own path, and above all to thine own self be true. It is by choice and by nature that I am my own guide.

Excellent post. This is what I tell my students. Each individual is different. A teacher can only speak of one's own experiences and not suggest that a student will in anyway be the same. It is doubtful that Einstein promised any of his students that they would be geniuses. Life's journey is one's own.

I would say that they are ancient Chinese health exercises that have been adopted into many types of formalized training systems. Drawings can be found in ancient texts and evolved over time to suit different ideas and principles. Yoga has its own form of standing exercises to bring rooting and balance. My guess is that any health tradition will have similar ideas since it is fundamental. There are hundreds and probably even thousands of derivative health, exercise, and martial arts traditions that have evolved from ancient practices.

Yes, Learning to rest is as advantageous as learning to do. Each of us gains from our studies and our relationships with other people who share our journey and then there is the time to reflect.

I do not pursue Daoism or any group per se since I prefer my journey to be more independent and true to mine own self. I also do not belong to any groups that have created or following certain traditions, though I myself have adopted many ideas from these traditions including health and relationship practices. I enjoy studying texts that speak of the Dao in one form or another (Yi Jing, Dao De Jing, etc.) since they give me insight into the thoughts of other people. These thoughts are not just symbolic of what people might have been thinking thousands of years ago when possibly awareness was more lucid, but it also gives insights into the thoughts of those who seek to translate and interpret these texts. These people share my search for understanding so it is a method for me to hear about what they have found in their journey. The concept of the Dao is very simple and oft repeated in many ancient cultures (Heraclitus saw it as the Lagos). But it helps to bring focus onto the essential questions that I am seeking to understand and through this inquiry I learn about so many other things. As for my interpretation, I do not see non-doing as an aspect of life nor of Daoism per se. Such a concept would be an impractical contradiction as you have pointed out, and for me the texts associated with Daoism are highly practical and meant to address every day needs in life.

There are many ideas and explanations. No one really knows what it is. Here are some possibilities: Yahoo Answers

My family often uses Gua Sha. It is excellent for eliminating toxins which can cause disease as well as a treatment for colds and flus, particularly if used immediately when the cold is detected. Here is a short posting on the subject. How To Use Gua Sha to Alleviate Pain and Colds

There is a place in this world for everything and everyone and each person will choose their path and learn from it. It would be helpful if the moderators created a separate section for all ads for instructors so that those who seek a certain type of instructor can find their instructor. It would also be helpful if moderators limit ads in signatures since posts simply become a medium for advertising. In this manner those who are searching can find what they are searching for.

You are you. There is no distinction. There is no boundary. You are like a wave in an ocean flowing yet distinct. Where does the wave begin and where does it end? But the wave is there and it is what it is. Are you property? Do you own something? It depends. One can say that you are part of the whole (e.g. society) and society makes rules to protect you. I think this is healthy and helpful to one's life. And then society makes rules which may be unhealthy for you (e.g. prohibits certain things that might be beneficial to your life) and you may resist saying that you are you and no one has the right to infringe. So it is a current that moves back and forth. It is not stagnant. It is not one or the other. It flows. Concreteness in a world of flow is difficult to find, though we try to create concrete in order to share. So, we say we will meet at 12:00 noon. Of course we don't because it is impossible to be precise, but we say we will because it is practical.

The link provided has been labeled as Malware by Google. It should be avoided at all cost.

My experiences is that it is located in the approximate region of the thalamus, though it is usually described as being between the eyes above the bridge of the nose.

My wife and I fasted for 10 days once. Mostly water, some soup, and a half an apple a day. We felt great after 10 days. No problems, however what finally forced us off the fast was utter boredom. The body seems to desire "tastes". The fast was a Pi Gu fast. We did lots of Qigong preparation before going on a fast. Basically, whole body breathing and imagining eating and absorbing nutritious foods. I want to emphasize we felt great. Probably the healthiest we ever felt because of the combination of Qigong and fasting. But, life is more than fasting so we went back to life.

There is the quiet nothingness that we slip into during the duration between dreams. Then there is the sense of awareness, creativity and the desire to share that is within us when we are awake. And then there is the dream state which is somewhere in betwee. All of this I believe provides clues as to the nature of the origin. I do not believe that the Dao is elusive (we are part of it) nor must we follow it (we are part of it), nor must we seek to return to it (we are part of it). We are all aware of it (ourselves) but it is indeed difficult to understand. In Hindu it is called the Maya-Lila (Hidden Play).

Qigong effects on the body are necessarily very subtle because one is cultivating life energy. One can feel this energy oneself, as it grows in strength and it may manifest in a more healthy body (e.g. more elastic spine, muscles, sinew, better skin tone, healthier skin color, clearer eyes, etc.). Couple a healthier body with greater awareness and skills, Qigong can assist anyone in any activity in life. As any athlete will tell you, the more repetition the better it becomes. However, the manifestations are subtle and can only be slightly felt between people, e.g. when someone passes a warm hand through another person's hand after quiet Qigong practice. It is very real, it is very healthy, and it is very useful in life. Such benefits come over time and anyone can gain such benefits by practicing in any Qigong group or by oneself. There is no magic or need for great expense which would be simply a transfer of money with little gain for the hard earned money. A knowledgeable teacher is always helpful. One who has a good heart, good knowledge, good feeling for teaching and of the students. For lack of this, I have started a thread of Youtube videos which provide quiet demonstrations of Qigong that anyone can do. I hope everyone enjoys their practice and the benefits that it brings and I hope this thread helps provide people information about the very rewarding and inexpensive practice of Qiqong. Qigong was designed so that everyone, young and old can enjoy the rewards of the practice.

Hello, New member. I have been studying Taiji, Qigong, and Daoists health and text practices for about 30 years. I came here specifically for discussions about the texts, Hope to come here often.

Yes, I had a number of such events in my life at one time. It was a very sad period in my life, yet all of these synchronistic events, several occurring while my friends were there to witness. One friends asked me, what do you think it means? I said, I think it is a way that the universe informs that all is alright, there is more that needs to be understood. And then, it all stopped happening.

I would say it is the intelligence from which everything was born. From A Brief History of Qi, by Zhang Hu Huan: "Clearly what the Dao De Jing describes as dao is the origin and basis for all creation. Chapter 42 (The author's interpretation and translation) Dao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two. (Yin/Yang) Two gives birth to Three (Yin/Yan/Qi) Three gives birth to the Ten Thousand Things (everything else). " I believe that this is a reasonable way to look at it.

Thanks for sharing the article/interview. Very nicely done. To elaborate a bit from my own experiences: 1) Besides herbs and acupuncture, I have found tuina, cupping, and guasha very useful. All serve slightly different purposes. Anyone can learn techniques to apply tuina to themselves to relieve stagnation. My wife and I frequently use cupping and guasha for which we have been trained. 2) Moderation is helpful in everything we do. 3) Cane sugar should be avoided. The diet should be approx. 70% vegetables (preferably lightly cooked), 20% grain, 10% fruit, and the rest a mixture of fish, poultry and infrequent meat. Of course, this may be changed depending upon an individuals constitution. Cow's milk is very difficult to digest. It is easier to digest if it is cooked (as it is done in India). Goat's milk is the easiest to digest. Alternatives include rice milk, almond milk. Many people are allergic to soy. 4) Fat in the gut (around the organs) causes the most problems. 5) The spine can be exercised (e.g. qigong) to keep it flexible. This is important since a stagnant nervous system will most likely to lead to diseases which may ultimately find its way into the internal organs. Great article. Keep it coming.

Recently I began perusing Youtube for some nice presentations of Qigong. The first one is a nice short series that I thought I might share with members, followed by a series with a different flavor demonstrated by Grandmaster Feng Zhiquang. The essence of any Qigong practice is the quiet flow of breadth, breathing in while expanding and breathing out while contracting. I hope you enjoy them.

Yes, I remember seeing this one. Here is another video of the 8 Brocades. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlI3N33sCTo

Thank you!