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Hello Tibetan_Ice, I'm doing well, thanks for asking... just a little busy lately with studies so not much time to participate in discussions. Hope you're doing well too Having realized the formless Beingness/Presence, there is a tendency to reify that formless Beingness/Presence as being of a higher, more ultimate status than other forms and experiences. Then with the view of inherency and duality, it may be treated as an Eternal Witness, and later the One Mind subsuming all experiences. However, after anatta, the 'mere appearances' are not treated as 'passing, unimportant stuff' but are realized to be Buddha-nature themselves. Then that intensity of luminosity of SOUND, of SCENERY must be directly experienced (and will naturally be experienced after anatta). The key that leads to this transition is the realization of anatta (as an insight, not merely a nondual peak experience): In hearing only ever sound, no hearer, in seeing only ever just scenery, no seer. There has never been an actual agent, seer, seeing the seen - the seer-seeing-seen framework is a delusional reification. What is this 'SOUND'? It is Pure Presence itself... Then next is to see the illusoriness of this self-luminous-display (and the self-luminosity IS the display, the spontaneous manifestation), still as vividly bright, present, yet like an illusion/dream, empty and non-arising. Then there is truly One Taste in all manifestations and in its essence as self-luminous clarity and its empty nature. When Self-originated primal awareness is realized to be always this spontaneous manifestation, then all manifestation are recognized to be one's empty clarity. Just this is the Dharmata, the nature of reality. I was reminded of something Thusness wrote some months ago. As I said in the other thread Thusness does not represent Dzogchen whatsoever (and he is always careful not to be mis-associated as some Dzogchen-related person hence this disclaimer), but still I feel there is some relevance to this thread. He said to Jackson Peterson in Dharma Connection (fb group): '' John Tan Haha Jackson, u never give up. This heart is the "space" of where, the "time" of when and the "I" of who. In hearing, it's that "sound". In seeing, it's that "scenery". In thinking, it is that "eureka"! In snapping a finger, it is seizing the whole entire moment of that instantaneous "snapping". Just marvelous such as it is on the fly. So no "it" but thoroughly empty. To u this "heart" is most real, to dzogchen it is illusory. Though illusory, it is fully vivid and brilliance. Since it is illusory, it nvr really truly arise. There is genuine "treasure" in the illusory. I think Kyle has a lot points to share. Do unblock him. Nice chat And happy journey jax! Gone! December 12, 2013 at 8:24am · Unlike · 10 ......... John Tan Hi Kyle, Actually I am saying instead of attempting to deconstruct endlessly, why not resolved that that pure experience itself is empty and non-arising. In hearing, there is only sound. This clear clean and pure sound, treat and see it as the X (treat and see it like an imputation/conventional designation as u explained), empty and non-arising. In seeing, just scenery, just this clear clean and lurid scenery. Where is this scenery? Inside, outside, other’s mind or our mind? Unfindable but nonetheless appears vibrantly. This arising thought, this dancing sensation, this passing scent, all share the same taste. All experiences are like that -- like mirages and rainbows, illusory and non-arising, they are free from the 4 extremes. Resolved that all experiences are non-arising then pure sensory experiences and conventional constructs will be of equal taste. Realize this to be the nature of experience and illusory appearances will taste magic and vajra (indestructible)! Groundless and naturally releasing! Just my 2 cents of blah blah blah in new year. Happy New Year Kyle. 2 minutes ago • Unlike • 1 February 6 at 1:50am · Edited · Like' p.s. Kyle (asunthatneversets) also shared with me his realization of anatta years ago: ...my most shocking and powerful experience so far was anatta in the theme of that first stanza thusness wrote: There is thinking, no thinker, There is hearing, no hearer, There is seeing, no seer. It actually came on suddenly one day and it was intensely profound for me, brought me to tears... in that experience thought actually cut out completely as if it was buried... and I unknowingly forced it to come back so I could jot down mental notes on the experience which were actually exactly the same as his stanza, seeing no seer, hearing no hearer, experience IS...

He definetly mentioned caffeine yes. I was aware of it for quite some time. I had not drank coffee for a month, when last christmas I stayed over at my father. Since he is a regular coffee drinker, I could not resist the temptation. The same night I had a wet dream. The next morning I had coffee again, and again a wet dream that night. So if anyone is having libido problems, caffeine is great. But if you're into retention, better stay away from it. The answer of the yoga teacher as to the reason of my wet dreams was: 1 Impurity of food. He says no meat, eggs, garlic, onions, coffee. 2 He said: You may need to practice yoga and pranayma too for even distribution of energy.

my best advice is not to talk about it... i was celibate (no porn, masturbation, etc) for almost 50 days. i had a wet dream after talking to my friend about something sex related. how do i know? the dream involved exactly what we where talking about. yeah, it's that deep. now i'm on my 8th day except i'm including masturbation and pornography; this is mostly so that once i have a partner non-ejac sex will be a breeze (i hope..). masturbating and not ejaculating requires... a lot of discipline, so i guess take it with a grain of salt if your considering retention.

or the birth of an idea, ideal, dream,,,,,,

OK, Rain, watch this Hey that's great you all had a good laugh about the energy vampirism thing. I'm laughing too. Ha ha. Answer this for yourself. Which would an energy vampire prefer, a room full of sixty young people shaking and generating lots of energy or a geriatrics ward? HAAAA haaa haaa. Hilarious isnt' it? In fact the situation created in the seminars would be a gold mine for any energy vampire, a dream come true. They couldn't come up with a better deal if they thought about it for years. Max could be siphoning 20% to 40% off the top and you naive little fellers would never know it. What a temptation, what a juicy opportunity! Even a fence sitter would be sorely tempted. The only thing keeping someone from stealing energy in a situation like that would be ethics, Te. But wait! Max doesn't have ethics, his website is so full of lies and boasting, all very unethical. So there you have it folks. Aint that funny? HAAAA haaa haaa haaa. Not only is there a real apparent lack of ethics, but the website is designed specific to attract the naive and inexperienced (younger) crowd which will produce the best results, vampire wise. No doubt he gives someone a little zap of energy now and then to impress them. Give a little, take a lot, a vampire's dream come true. Suckers!! HAAAA haaa haaa haaa. There's another type of manipulation going on with these things that is even deeper and more sinister.

My first kundalini energy rising experience was very memorable and tremendous. You have been in darkness for SOOOOO long and, some how, when the chi begins to circulate in your body and to have completed the MCO, the sensation is tremendous and very life reaffirming. For a while I asked myself why, after a decade of my first kundalini energy rising experience, I could no longer re-experience this tremendous physical bliss. I didn't get my answer until I begin to study the subject of samadhi and how even your physical bliss sensations would slowly fade off...because your mind becomes more refined now. Even your sense of bliss is an illusion, depending on your 6 senses. Nowadays, I still get the inner body illumination and some chi warming throughout my body and they will last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. My samadhi experience is now more conceptual and less of physical. Not sure what stages of Samadhi I am in now. And only in dreams, or dream yoga, I can enter into a full Samadhi and with a bit of astro-projection....

What are you favorite song lyrics that hold a deep personal meaning for you? I will start with two of mine. Tool -Lateralus Black then white are all i see in my infancy. red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me. lets me see. as below, so above and beyond, I imagine drawn beyond the lines of reason. Push the envelope. Watch it bend. Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind. Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines. Black then white are all i see in my infancy. red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me. lets me see there is so much more and beckons me to look thru to these infinite possibilities. as below, so above and beyond, I imagine drawn outside the lines of reason. Push the envelope. Watch it bend. over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind. Withering my intuition leaving opportunities behind. Feed my will to feel this moment urging me to cross the line. Reaching out to embrace the random. Reaching out to embrace whatever may come. I embrace my desire to I embrace my desire to feel the rhythm, to feel connected enough to step aside and weep like a widow to feel inspired to fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral to swing on the spiral to swing on the spiral of our divinity and still be a human. With my feet upon the ground I move myeslf between the sounds and open wide to suck it in. I feel it move across my skin. I'm reaching up and reaching out. I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me. what ever will bewilder me. And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been. Spiral out. Keep going. Spiral out. Keep going. Spiral out. Keep going. Spiral out. Keep going. Spiral out. Keep going. ____________________________________________ Nine Inch Nails -Right Where It Belongs - See the animal in his cage that you built, Are you sure what side you're on? Better not look him too closely in the eye, Are you sure what side of the glass you are on? See the safety of the life you have built, Everything where it belongs Feel the hollowness inside of your heart, And it's all... right where it belongs What if everything around you, Isn't quite as it seems? What if all the world you think you know, Is an elaborate dream? And if you look at your reflection, Is it all you want it to be? What if you could look right through the cracks, Would you find yourself... find yourself afraid to see? What if all the world's inside of your head? Just creations of your own Your devils and your gods all the living and the dead And you're really all alone You can live in this illusion, You can choose to believe. You keep looking but you can't find the woods, While you're hiding in the trees What if everything around you, Isn't quite as it seems? What if all the world you used to know, Is an elaborate dream? And if you look at your reflection, Is that all you want to be? What if you could look right through the cracks, Would you find yourself... find yourself afraid to see?

White rabbit is great ! Ill post another one i like R.E.M: loosing my religion ! (was hard choosing between this and shiny happy people lol) Life is bigger It's bigger than you And you are not me The lengths that I will go to The distance in your eyes Oh no I've said too much I set it up That's me in the corner That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion Trying to keep up with you And I don't know if I can do it Oh no I've said too much I haven't said enough I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try Every whisper Of every waking hour I'm Choosing my confessions Trying to keep an eye on you Like a hurt lost and blinded fool Oh no I've said too much I set it up Consider this The hint of the century Consider this The slip that brought me To my knees failed What if all these fantasies Come flailing around Now I've said too much I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try But that was just a dream That was just a dream

i believe you took my statement as literal. when i said that, i meant as far self-indentification goes. an aspirant going from being stuck within the illusion of I/ego with all of it's trappings/suffering, to them gradually identifying with/"dissolving into" 'all' their surroundings and seeing the world as an extension of themselves. self-realization. there are users here who have attained such to a degree. the state i was referring to is know as nirvikalpa samadhi. i appreciate this quote and teacher- "Samadhi is as the ocean to which all Sadhana flows. The seven streams of Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Prathyahara, Dharana and Dhyana all find their consummation in it. Every trace of name and Form disappear in that Ocean. He who serves and He who receives the service, he who meditates and He who is meditated upon, all such duality is dispelled and destroyed. One will not experience even the experience, that is to say, one will not be aware that he is experiencing! Oneself alone, naught else - that will be the Samadhi. If there is aught else, it cannot be Samadhi. It is something like a dream, a fantasy, a passing vision at best. Samadhi can admit of nothing other than Brahman. - Sathya Sai Baba.

Hi everyone, I always was very grateful to those that shared their experiences from the S-M workshops. Thus I could paint a vague picture of what to expect or not to expect and yes, these reviews made me quite curious to start with Ya Mu’s system. First on my own from the book and the DVDs and now finally after one year I took the next step and attended one workshop myself. At the lobby I left some brief words about myself, in case one is interested. In this post I want to cover these topics: my experiences as an autodidact my experiences from the workshop what changed after the workshop my advice to autodidacts and beginners pre workshop as an autodidact As already mentioned, that I started with S-M on my own just with the book, the DVDs and several posts here on TTB. I didn’t rush into things and let the “theory” of the book and the post soak in until I started my fist S-M sitting session one or two weeks later. It took a while until I made myself comfortable on my stacked pillows and then I finally started with the opening ritual. I went a bit deeper and there it already was: circles, waves, nods - the whole body, just the head or no movement at all. I was even a bit surprised, that it felt so natural to give in into these moves and to just let them happen. Even more: It felt like they have been always there - like coming home. Of course I had some troubles doing the full hour in the beginning. Sometimes I would stop already after half an hour because my legs would hurt or I would loose focus on _not_ indulging. I practiced maybe 4 times a week and eventually I got used to it more and more, but until this day I am not always one hundred percent comfortably sitting and can’t always turn my head off entirely. I guess it was a couple of months after my first S-M sitting session, when I first felt qi traveling up my spine and sometimes even into my head. I knew this feeling from my short Tao Yoga practice and from hanging out at places of power. At this time I slowly started with GOT I (btw: Gift Of The Tao as an acronym -> Gott which is the german word for god). Some moves I immediately liked, some I loved and some I had no special connection with. But it as well took some time to get used to the movements and to be able to focus solely on the energy. I guess it was after one or two months, when I felt the energy within my body moving also. With some moves more, with some moves less or not at all. Nothing extraordinary, but I could notice that there was something going on. And, maybe since I try to sink deeper into the movements, I often even tend to have S-M like movements within my GOT moves, especially at the more static once. At some sessions it even happened to me, that the energy was not just following my movement, it was basically driving me (especially at the atomic symbol) and like an observer I just went along with it…well, like an astounded observer, to be honest. Still I was not practicing more than 5 times a week, but it became a habit though and I got even a bit uneasy if I didn’t practice for more than 2 days. I can’t tell if my pre-workshop practice “worked” in S-M measures or terms, but I felt good during and after each session and somehow it grounded me. Especially when I faced extremely busy times at my job where I was basically caught in the treadmill with only little spare time and often separated from my dear wife, the S-M Neigong gave me confidence and mental stability. It was this time, when I went to a familiar place of power. I picked a place on an energy line that I divined with my pendulum (my “listening” crutch) and practiced GOT I there. It was incredibly charging and - I am tempted to even use the word “healing” - exactly what I needed at this point. I felt even more happy and thankful that I had found out about the S-M system. It was as well about this time, when I slowly felt more and more the urge to visit one of Ya Mu’s workshops. the workshop I live in Europe and therefore I initially wanted to only join a distance class, since I read very positive critics here on TTB. But I’m very happy that my wife talked me into travelling to the US to visit a face-to-face workshop instead. A decision, which I shouldn’t regret even for one single second. From the very beginning there was such a positive, warm and friendly atmosphere among the attendees - from beginner to senior student everyone was extremely pleasant and helpful. One could ask even the most basic questions about the practice or the personal experiences and there was always someone there to assist you if one encountered some sort of uncertainty. The same applies for Ya Mu. The positive reviews on him here on TTB are definitely not exaggerated. It is this unique way of combining knowledge, experience, wisdom, energy and humor, which makes him such an extraordinary person and teacher. He would always take time to show, explain or to give an advice if requested. And yes, sometimes he has this cryptic way of answering questions or explaining that one would expect from a master - but I never had the feeling that his intention was to confuse, but only to make one think and find the answer due to introspection by oneself. The workshop itself was a vivid mixture of practicing the GOT movements, spiritual expansion / rituals / projections and further explanations on techniques, historical anecdotes etc. This is roughly the agenda, how I recall it: Day 1: Taoist warm-up + 8 Brocates GOT I + II (except Spirit Circle and SECB+DE) S-M Tree Qigong Day 2: Taoist warm-up + 8 Brocates SECB+DE Spirit Circle GOT III Food Blessing, S.H.I.E.L.D., Spiraling Technique,… Day 3: Clinical application: projection Clinical application: Taoist Medicine As far as I heard, there is no set agenda. A lot seems to depend on what Ya Mu feels to be right at that very moment and of course on the group dynamic and the questions asked. But there was always a flow in the program. Even if sometimes we would sit a couple of minutes in silence to simply experience its energetic plain beauty - an electrifying calmness like resting in an electrical high voltage field that would cause the body hair to erect and the air to sizzle. The seminar room was incredibly charged due to the practitioners and the exercises. On the morning of day two, even without focusing on it, I felt the energy penetrating my body and raising my energy level. Something I only experienced at certain places of power - I was astonished. But let’s get back to day one. After the warm-up we immediately started with the GOT I movement. The GOT sessions were very helpful and important to me, because even though I tried to study the moves on the DVD’s as much as possible, I noticed that I couldn’t capture them entirely. When I say entirely, than I mean as far as I could get at this certain point, because I am aware that there is just one person that is able to capture the moves and the energy or the idea behind it completely. The explanations, corrections and discussions between the single moves gave me a much better understanding and therefore much better perception of the energy that we are moving and gathering with the help of the moving patterns. I didn’t practice GOT II before the workshop. The only thing I did was watching the DVD and letting it soak in. Thus the first time I went through the whole GOT II moves was the day before the workshop and I was happy I did so, because after GOT I we started with GOT II right away. I was already quite charged and the further practice of GOT II felt even more powerful then, even though my mind was quite occupied with focusing on the moves and not completely on the energy. It was even a bit awkward, that my palm and my forehead where constantly sweaty because of the heat within my body. Then it was time for the S-M session, that we started seated and in the middle continued standing. It was not just a normal session, because it involved some chanting from Ya Mu and as well some projections and energy work on the attendees. My memories are a bit blurry due to my state of mind at that moment. I only can and want to tell that for me it felt like strong emanations of energy cleansed the room in the beginning of the session and later energies streamed through my body like I have never experienced them before. My energy channels/centers seemed to get opened up and finally strong bursts of light went through the top of my head in my perception. I experienced something similar in my pre workshop practice, but at the seminar it was like every other exercise just several times more intense and actually even more like a revelation. After the session I needed to sit down and had to dry some tears off my cheek. I was still quite puzzled and moved, due to these events, but at the same time incredibly calm. Still a bit wobbly and gently circling with the energy I was looking around and realized I was not the only one contemplating what had happened during the session. On the second day we got introduced to GOT III, which is not available on DVD yet. Again I started to get quite hot very soon due to the energy of the moves. As well we caught up for two moves of GOT II that we haven’t covered on the first day. The SECB+DE differed from my personal practice from the DVD prior the workshop mainly in the detail that we stayed much longer up in the light after every expansion and jump. So again I could pick up a different perspective of the exercise. I expected that the Spirit Circle would be just the missing move showed on the GOT II DVD. No, it was much more. I cannot decide if the S-M session on day one or the spirit circle was more mind blowing. Even though I have perceived maybe just a fraction of what was going on I experienced incredible, indescribable energies and occurrences. Nothing I could or would like to put into words. Simply astonishing. The second and last regular day ended with a recumbent Qigong technique and with some further details and explanations about the system and specific techniques like food blessing, S.H.I.E.L.D.ing, practicing etc. The third and last day was optional and had the focus on medical Qigong. After a brief introduction we split up into groups and basically started right away with the practical application. Under the supervision of a senior student one or two novice students would project energy in order to help at a certain issue like stomach problems, strained ligaments, headache etc. I personally asked for easing my breathing. I once had a quite reduced lung capacity due to allergic asthma, which is almost gone due to sports, mental development and diet changes. But only just almost - I still felt a slight resistance when exhaling sharply which doesn’t really bother me, but I could immediately tell if it would be gone because of any projection. To be honest, the projection of the other student in my group had basically no noticeable effect on my lungs, even though I felt the projection to some extent. Thus the senior student continued with the projection and indeed, after just maybe 30 seconds of projection there was not the slightest resistance anymore. After a couple of minutes I was asked to again determine my breathing capabilities. It was not as present as in the beginning, but it slightly came back. So again I received some energy and again the resistance was gone within seconds. During the practice Ya Mu was constantly going around to assist if needed. When he passed by to ask about the progress in our group, I explained that it worked pretty well on me and then he projected even some more light for maybe 20 seconds. I have to admit, that even though it is high pollen allergy season right now, I basically have no or at least much less breathing restrictions than I would usually have at this time of the year - simply amazing. The results of the other groups where quite similarly positive and even beginners where able to emit Qi and most caused positive effects on their training partners. I never had projected any energy knowingly, so therefore I was a bit skeptical if I am even able to. I was allowed to project onto the hand of a senior student who was quite sensitive to emitted energy. My first attempt worked, but not perfectly since my Qi didn’t make it all the way to the hand. She gave me a very helpful advice and suddenly it worked like a charm! A novice student with seeing abilities could even distinguish between cold and hot Qi - I was happy and amazed at the same time. Never would I have thought that I would be able to project energy. To make sure, that I was not just lucky once, later that day I projected onto a sore ankle of a senior student with the same result. The projection and the pulling worked. But not only that he could feel the projection and the pulling of the sick Qi, even the pain was gone completely afterwards. But as well I noticed that projecting lots of energy has its price, because afterwards my energy was quite low for some minutes and I even felt a bit dizzy and sick. I had my shield on and wore the gloves, but maybe not strong enough. I can’t tell, but it was and is a good reminder, that Ya Mu’s cautions regarding the shielding and recommended minimum practicing time to build up enough Qi are valid. On the third day we as well learned the Taoist healing method, where the body and its disturbances are picked up and balanced via certain points beside the spine. It was highly interesting and everyone felt very relaxed afterwards. But my eye-opener happened at the very end. One participant was still lying and receiving the Taoist treatment while some others including me were discussing our experiences. Ya Mu then checked on the lying “patient” and noticed a small disturbance still remaining. So I reached out to apply the Taoist treatment on this area and Ya Mu put his fingertips on mine. I immediately felt a weird tingling in my small finger. Ya Mu told me, that one notices the right energy vibration, when the thumb seems so sink into the back and indeed, it appeared like my thumb was sinking in for 5mm (one quarter of an inch). And then he said I would maybe pick something up from the area where my little finger was resting. Oh yes, now it made even more sense! All in all one can really notice that it is not money, prestige or ego that is driving Ya Mu. Such a workshop must be exhausting with all the projections, demonstrations and continuous questions of the students. And still he is there to willingly respond, advice or demonstrate all day long to clarify even the smallest uncertainty. This workshop was most definitely an incredible experience and still some happenings are occuring like a dream and I am very curious what the future will bring. post workshop I most definitely have a different level of awareness now. I am not able to put it into words, but trees are not just trees any more. Humans are not just humans anymore. Everything is energy and I am part of it. Not that I didn’t know that already before, but now it simply feels different. My GOT sessions are much more productive. Of course it needed some time to get used to the slight adaption due to the feedback at the workshop. But after that all the moves have their place now for me. Before just some of the moves were speaking to me. Just recently I did my first full GOT II session. I can’t explain how surprised I was when I sucked in the vortex for the first time with full focus on the energy. I usually have my eyes closed, but there I suddenly opened my eyes wide because I was simply shocked and thought: “What the heck was that?!?” I didn’t expect such a powerful sensation. All in all I feel the energy much more at the movements. As well the expansion at the SECB+DE. One not so positive aspect is, that some fears from childhood came back to the surface, where I had the feeling, that I was not alone in the dark and therefore of course scared. Well…I worked a lot an my shielding… ;0) I tried to project energy on my wife’s hand to see, if this gift is there even without the field of the other practitioners. And yes - it is there. My mother had a strong pain at her heel. I projected energy for maybe 30 seconds (she could feel a knocking) and pulled sick Qi from the area and afterwards I asked her if she felt a difference and yes, the pain was not gone, but much less. Of course it came back the next day, but what can one expect from roughly 30 seconds of projection of a novice. In my opinion still an impressive proof of the power of S-M Neigong. The sitting/standing S-M sessions didn’t change much, maybe because I already had the movements and certain sensations before. Probably further progress comes with further time and effort. But what changed is, that the gentle moves are now quite often there as soon as I just give in. Before I had to allow them in order to initiate, but now it is more that I have to allow myself to not go along with them. And it takes just slightly more and the gently moves turn into the bigger moves and eruptions that I am used to from my normal sessions. But always controllable at will - no awkward spasms in the office or while waiting at the red light ;0) I performed the Taoist treatment on my wife. The result was amazing, even though it did not reduce the back pain that I actually wanted to address (remember - it was just one session). She felt a lot of heat, at some points severe pain even though I basically didn’t apply any pressure and as well other sensations. She didn’t sleep well that night, and she had the feeling that something opened up. Both, she and I were impressed about the effects of this treatment. I want to particularly point out, that one is not left alone after the workshop. After the Taoist treatment on my wife I of course was a bit scared if I maybe did something wrong since she had troubles sleeping in the night and hot flashes. So I asked Ya Mu for his advise and not much later he already had replied. Recently he even asked about the progress which I found extremely considerate - I mean, how many teacher do you know that would go to this extent? As well the senior students offered their support if any questions would raise up. Something that is very comforting and underlines the friendliness and big-heartedness of this group. my personal advice to autodidacts and beginners I was quite happy for the first months with just the book and the DVDs. But I am encouraging you to visit one of Ya Mu’s workshops as soon as you have the feeling that there is a resonance with this system. I did not regret a single second, single effort or single Euro / Dollar I have dedicated to make this happen. The experiences at the workshop are second to none compared to the autodidact home training and an early visit prevents you from carving in small mistakes into the daily routine due to wrong perception or misunderstandings. As well the sharing and discussing with the other exceptionally nice practitioners is a very big part of the progress and experience in my personal opinion. But I recommend to practice the moves and as well the opening and closing of the sitting/standing session before the workshop, because you will benefit much more if you are not overwhelmed by too many new things (either way there will be lots of information then). Read the book and watch the DVDs several times, you will learn or notice something new each time. Use the archive of TTB-forum and search for the posts of Ya Mu and the other S-M practitioners, they provide quite often very helpful advices and insights. There is a very interesting interview with Ya Mu linked on his website which contains as well some very interesting and beneficial information, that you won’t find in the books or on TTB. Feel free to ask if there is something unclear. If I can, I am happy to help or clarify. All the best!

From a different point of view. Money is not an illusion. You will need some to survive, more to live comfortably. Take the time and pain to learn a trade that will allow you to earn a good living. Thats not to say you should forget your dreams. They're extremely important. Discover them. Work on them. Make them a serious hobby and see if you can make a living from them. In the meantime become an expert at something that will pay you well. You're going to be alive 80 to 100 years. You have time. Time to sort things out. Find out what is important. Appreciate life, you're going to be here awhile. Appreciate people, most of them are pretty worthwhile if you give them a chance and take the time to communicate in their lingo. Fight cynicism and prejudice, its all around, but it will limit you. I don't think we create reality. We're born into it and have the freedom to interpret and react to it. Maybe we can nudge ita little, but its a whole lot easier to change our attitudes. You can't fight it, but you can flow in the direction you want to go. Good friends will keep you sane and help you enjoy life. A good mate will give warmth and love (& drive you slightly insane, but thats what the friends are there to counter). These are important in life. To live without a source of it is stulting. The solution is finding the right combination between pragmatism (corporate shill) and idealism(starving artist). Blending the dream and lifes neccessities to find the life thats right for you. So I say move in two directions. Pick a dream, work and put legs to it. Also pick a job area that can make you money and you can give a damn about. Study hard, smart and find good mentors. Michael

Hello under, obviously Youve recieved tons of great advice..besides all of the spiritual/grounding stuff, a lot of your symptomology resembles mine to a T. There are a few things I can almost guarantee can help. It sounds like somewhere/somehow, your adrenals and or thyroid have become pretty unbalanced. Someone else said from a TCM perspective your kidneys are weak. this is pretty much adrenals. Adrenal problems can cause you to feel numb, dissasociated, fogged, almost like a zombie. this has a knock on effect on the rest of your hormones. May I suggest this product: http://www.enzymatictherapy.com/Products/Energy/Daily-Energy/04085-ADRENergize.aspx You will know very very quickly after taking a dose of this if the adrenals are at least a big part of your issue. It will quickly brighten things up and youll feel a zest that I am assuming is missing at the moment. You probably wont even need the 3 capsule a day dosage, in fact 1-2 often is enough especially since you are young. Also would not hurt to get your hormones checked out..large doses of vitamin c, magnesium, and assorted B vitamins will work synergistically with the supplement Ive recommended. This gives you something concrete to try along with trying to get grounded, qigong etc. If somethings malfunctioning with your adrenals/thyroid, it doesnt matter how much spiritual activity you do its not gonna get you over the hump. I think you need something quickly to help to let you feel like your self and see theres a light at end of tunnel. Ive been there man, brain fog and fatigue so thick I literally couldnt remember what I did 5 seconds ago, accompanied by a feeling of total numbness and dissacotiation, like everythings a dream. This is adrenal/thyroid related Id almost guarantee it. The supplement is very safe and its worth a shot. Let me know if you try it and how you get on. good luck..

Back on topic: Some Buddhists claim that you can only recognize the natural state/primordial awareness by becoming clairvoyant. This is supported by the fact that many many teachings say that shamatha/vispassana or the corresponding version of it in the different schools is a necessary preliminary practice. Most all teachers claim that shamatha practice will develop the mundane siddhis (psychic powers). Could it be that clairvoyance, a mundane siddhi, is necessary in order to realize rigpa/primordial wisdom/the natural state? Several Bon teachings indicate that first you practice the preliminary practices, and then once having achieved a certain stability of mind, the teacher points out the nature of mind to the student. Therefore, the implication being, that stabilizing the mind through gradualy refined forms of grasping to non-grasping is part of the process and will reveal the natural state all on it's own. Even Buddha, teaching the jhanas, said that the jhanas are a stepping stone to enlightenment. The jhanas empower the mind. With the empowered mind, it is easier to see that this reality is no different from the dream worlds, the astral planes, the illusion of it all. I found an interesting definition of grasping in "Pointing Out the Nature of Mind - Dzogchen Pith Instructions of Aro Yeshe Junge. He says:

I think we all needed a long time to find how to implement the system in a way that fits us. I tried to use a Palm, but realised that I did not want to open up a computer every time I wanted to take a piss or make a phone call. Personally I use the 3x5 cards. Divided into buckets. Each bucket is a small plastic container. The size of a 3x5. I bought hundreds of them when I was playing Magic (the Gathering, the card game), and now I had them running around. So I use a 3x5 card with the name of the bucket. But then mostly A8 papers inside (that's half of a 3x5). One paper one task. I also have a huge box with the maybe someday's. It is a wooden box, that sits as my dream box. The box of all the things I dream to do. I only open it once every few months. But then I read them all, and update it. FOr the calendar I use the one in my phone. SImply because I have it always with me. The only thing I have implemented but not really using is the 43 folders system. I just can't be bothered every day to check it, so it it useless. Essentially as I am using it right now is not keeping me in the mind like water state all the time, but I have the possibility to go there any time I want.

Darn, my dream of: Lobby General Discussion BAGUA Off Topic The Pit Just isn't going to happen... .

I think its about time I confess....many will possibly have noticed by now given my Jesus picture.....but I OldChi am a Chi Addict. I get as much as possible and store it in my dantien everyday. It's gotten to the point where I practice Chi Kung for over an hour every day and then even when I am driving my car and walking around at work I still struggle with my desire to collect chi in my Lower dantien. The warmth and flowing energy moving up my spine, the sense of expansion in my 3rd eye and the subtle bliss that sometimes accompanies my addiction......it can all be a bit too much....I am now even working on trying to learn to collect chi while I sleep and dream.....it will be a struggle to leave this addiction behind....but I know that I have all of my Bums to depend on for assistance and support in this struggle. Couldn't resist. My 2 cents, Peace

Non-lucid dreams are interesting in a creative sense. The 90% realistic dreams are interesting in an intellectual or explorative sense since you get to create amazing realistic dreamscapes. The 99.9% realistic dreams are so much like reality that you have about as much control as you do in real life. This is like in the video where you eventually get to a point where you realise that life is a 100% realistic dream or at least a direct parallel. I think this is why I lost interest in lucid dreaming.

Any practicing mage here familiar with sequences? I was told I was stuck in one in a dream I had a while back concerning some family members. From what I can garner it is a spell or 'psychic letter' or something of that sort that is casted for a certain scenario to unfold or to be pushed upon the victim. I wanted to read up more on this and figure out wtf is going on. Some of my family members don't know how to get along and resort to magick to get what they want

I know! "Dream Trip"???, ppfffttt!

i am nature! 1.marsh represents joy - life among other things 2.thunder is movement - nerve system are sound. 3.Wind, is like dream or mind moving the trees 4.Mountains - stops, hindrance. wind moves clouds to mountain and thunder rolls, lightning strikes mash and creates life. (when lightning strikes water amino acid occur - smallest form of life) sorry maybe bad English, but I am Norwegian..... and we have Viking tales of Thor eternally battles Trolls. Thor is thunder and Trolls (Jotun, Rise and Dwarfs represents mountains, often specific mountains) same, same but different. As all know!!! Tai Chi Chuan translates Supreme Ultimate Fist or pole, or post, or position. many who train T.C.C are just doing Chi Chuan without the Tai. And that is good.. cause reaching central equilibrium, is a very taxing assignment to life. understanding the order of change is one way to improve your cultivating then pay attention, behave and take care!!

That'll always be the dream here. No goal, no gain. There's nowhere near enough 'holy fools' in the world. Yet.

Dream yoga is a very powerful practice that has recently in the last 20-30 years been brought to light by a man named Stephen Lebarge. His book entitled, Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming is a classic. The main difference between le barge and traditional dream yoga is their cosmology. Le Barge does not use ld for spiritual realization, but more as a novelty. I think is can be used for psychological treatment and spiritual attainment. Just like meditation can be used for stress release and relaxation, it has a higher purpose which can be used for enlightenment. There is a great video that I have been contemplating on buying. It's about astral projection and lucid dreaming: http://www.saltcube.com/welcome.jsp I've heard people say great things about the video. If you are interested, check it out, 20 bucks is a steal.

... Yes. I'd like to change "chi arts" to "Wizard Wayz." Some may be sceptical that my practices are "chi arts." I do various forms of meditation. I do things that are "ritualistic" eg tea making, use of candles and incense. Pranayama. I hum. I chant. I pray/"invoke". I do various forms of writing. I do a little reading, mostly on the 'net. I do things that are like yoga. I do things that are like tai chi. I do something that is like dancing! I do something that is not unlike singing! Every waking moment (sleeping moment?) is waking state as Mr M said above. I don't cook much, I eat little and throughout the day in small snacks. I don't shop. I don't go out. I don't sleep much. I have no friends. Some days I spend a lot of time sitting on my cushion. And I listen to my little radio, or music from the laptop speaker. What else am I gonna do? Sheesh Oh, and there is also dream qi gong for while I sleep. So, its basically 24 hours. I mean, I meditate whilst chewing my nuts. ...

One of the most dramatic cases resolving a very severe eyesight condition exacerbated by surgeries I know of is that of Meir Schneider, who now teaches a whole bunch of techniques he first successfully used on himself. I looked into his material years ago and don't remember the details, but there was a distinct qigong flavor to some of his practices, applied to the eyes specifically. Here's from the website: http://self-healing.org/meir-schneider/ Born Blind Meir Schneider, PhD. LMT, was born with cataracts and other serious vision problems to deaf parents. After five unsuccessful surgeries on the lenses of his eyes, which left them shattered and filled with scar tissue, doctors pronounced his condition hopeless and he was certified permanently legally blind. He performed his reading and schoolwork in Braille. Inside, he never relinquished his dream of gaining sight. At age 17, Meir learned the Bates Method of eye exercises. He practiced them with a diligence that probably no one had ever applied to them before, up to 13 hours a day, undeterred by the opposition and skepticism of family and physicians. To this he added his own regimen of self-massage and movement. Learning to See Within six months, he could recognize visual objects for the first time in his life; within 18 months, he could read print without glasses, holding the paper a few inches from his nose. Today, he holds a current unrestricted California driver’s license, and his vision continues to improve. From 20/2000 (able to see from one foot what a normally sighted person sees from 100 feet) to 20/60 (70% of normal vision)!

** MAGICK 10 -- CABALA ** Western magick is based upon the Cabala, a Jewish mysticaltraditon first written down in 12th and 13th century southernFrance and Spain. It was oral before that; and it contains the"lost" knowledge of the ancients, possibly going back to Egypt andbefore. The most important Cabalistic books are SEPHIR YETZIRAH(The Book of Creation), and the ZOHAR (Book of Splendor). ThroughCabalistic philosophy we are able to classify and "pigeon-hole"all of existence. The four worlds are recognized in the Cabala, but they are givenHebrew names. Thus -- Assiah, physical; Yetzirah, astral; Briah,mental; and Atziluth, spiritual; as shown in the chart.WORLD NAME MEANING ATTRIBUTE===== ==== ======= =========spiritual Atziluth Archetypal World pure deitymental Briah Creative World archangelsastral Yetzirah Formative World angelsphysical Assiah Material World action The divine name of God is TETRAGRAMMATON (or name of fourletters) made from the Hebrew letters YOD HE VAU HE (EnglishYHVH). Of the four letters, YOD corresponds with Atziluth and theelement of fire; the first HE corresponds with Briah and water.These first two letters make up a yang-yin pair (respectively).The other two letters also form a yang-yin pair (respectively),with the VAU corresponding with Yetzirah and air; while the secondHE corresponds with Assiah and the element of earth. The Cabalistic parts of the soul use new names for the threehighest vehicles of consciousness. NESHAMAH (Divine Soul) is theSpiritual body; RUAH (Moral Soul) is the Mental body; and NEFESH(Animal Soul) is the Astral body. An important attribute of the Cabala is the SEFIROTIC TREE (or"Tree of Life", Otz Chieem). The Sefirotic Tree is a diagram ofthe universe made up of the ten SEFIROTH (primal numbers or ordersof creation) drawn as circles upon the Tree in a decending patternfrom the highest aspect of God at the top to the most physicalaspect of our world at the bottom. As can be seen in theaccompanying diagram, the sefiroth are connected together withnumbered lines, called paths. / (1)\ / | \ / | \ (3) /----------|---------\ (2) | | | | | | | | | (5)\-----------|---------/ (4) | \ | / | | \ | / | | \ (6)/ | | / | \ | | / | \ | | / | \ | (8)/-----------|--------\ (7) \ | / \ | / \ | / \(9)/ | | (10) This is my attempt to draw a Sefirotic Tree using ASCIIcharacters. Several paths are omitted (15, 17, 29, 31). Pleaserefer to a printed diagram (in most any book on Cabala) for abetter illustration. Above the Tree is the infinite void -- the unknowable,unmanifest God as Divine Light -- the three veils of negativeexistence: Ain, Ain Sof, and Ain Sof Aur. The Divine Light (AinSof Aur) is made manifest by the first sefira where it istransformed into positive existence. Emanations of energy(magical current) flow from the first sefira (Source) along thepaths into other sefiroth which transform and emanate to lower andlower sefiroth. In Adam Kadman (primal or ideal man) the sefirothfit upon the physical body; note the similarity to the chakras.The process of creation is one of emanation from the spiritual atthe top of the Tree to the physical world (Sink) at the bottom.All current which is Sourced into the Tree must also be Sinked(earthed). That is, magical energy set in motion by ritual shoudbe used up in the physical world whether or not the ritual was asuccess. Sefiroth 1, 2, and 3 on the Tree form the Supernal Trianglewhich is beyond normal human experience in the world of Atziluth.The first sefira, KETHER, is the supreme *crown* of God; itsignifies pure Being, and is the Source. Kether is androgynous.Immediately arising from Kether are two further emanations. Thesecond sefira is HOKMAH, the *wisdom* of God and the masculineforce of the universe. Third is BINAH, the *understanding* orintelligence of God; this is the supernal mother. Between the Supernals and the other seven sefiroth is the Abyss-- a great gulf which forever separates ideal from actual. Withinthe Abyss an 11th sefira, DAATH, the *knowledge* of God issometimes placed. The second triangle, comprised of the 4th, 5th, and 6th sefirothin the world of Briah, is sometimes called the Mental Triangle.Sefira 4, HESED, the *love* or mercy of God, is male and positive.The 5th sefira, GEVURAH, the power or *strength* of Godcomplements Hesed as justice. Sixth is TIFARETH, as the compassionor *beauty* of God; the heart of the universe. The third or Astral Triangle contains sefiroth 7, 8, and 9 inYetzirah. Sefira 7, NETSAH, is the lasting endurance or *victory*of God. Complementing Netsah is 8, HOD, the majesty or *splendor*of God. The 9th sefira, YESOD, the *foundation* of the world, islinked with the moon, hence the tides and the libido. Yesod isexperienced as dream consciousness, and is very important inmagick and astral projection. Finally, at the physical world of Assiah is the 10th sefira,MALKUTH, the *kindgom* of God, and the basis of all materialcreation. We experience Malkuth as sense consciousness. The Sefirotic Tree has three vertical columns or *pillars*. Asyou face the tree, the pillar on the right, headed by Hokmah andending with Netsah, is called the Pillar of Mercy and haslight/masculine (yang) qualities. The pillar on the left, headedby Binah and ending with Hod, is the Pillar of Severity withdark/feminine (yin) qualities. The Middle Pillar between themequilibriates the two opposites, and is the *Shekhinah*, orfeminine counterpart of God. The *klippoth*, or evil demons,generally in Assiah, represent unbalanced forces or excesses. All the attributes of the universe fit like pieces of a puzzleupon the Sefirotic Tree. Each numbered part is a numeric key tothe various correspondence tables, such as Crowley's '777'. Thesefirotic tree has its parts variously colored and each sefira hasa color; in fact the paths which run between the sefiroth havetheir own colors too. There are four major color scales for thesefirotic tree and each color scale corresponds with one of thefour worlds. That means we are dealing with not just one sefirotictree, but actually with a separate tree for each of the fourworlds; although it is easier to think of it as the same tree witha different color scale. The Queen (Briah) and King (Atziluth)scales are the most important. There is also the Empress scale(Assiah), and the Emperor scale (Yetzirah). The Queen and King scales for the sefiroth are shown below.(Note that when 4 colors are listed toghether, the sefira isdivided into quarters and the first color is assigned to the upperquarter, the 2nd color to the right quarter, the 3rd color to theleft quarter, and the last color to the lower quarter.)KEY QUEEN SCALE KING SCALE=== =========== ==========1 pure white brilliance brilliance2 gray pure soft blue3 black crimson4 blue deep violet5 scarlet red orange6 yellow (gold) clear pink rose7 emerald green amber8 orange violet purple9 violet indigo10 citrine, olive, russet, black yellow The 22 paths connect the sefiroth together. These pathscorrespond with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, as basedupon the SEFIR YETZIRAH. Due to the nature of the Hebrew alphabet(some letters can take two forms) SEFIR YETZIRAH divides each oftwo of the letters into two (dual) parts. For this reason, it isnecessary to divide each of the two related paths into two (dual)parts. These are numbered 31, 31b (bisected); 32, 32b. Yet whenthese paths are drawn on the sefirotic tree they are usually shownundivided (and numbered simply 31, and 32). The following tableshows the colors and location of the paths in relation to thesefiroth. You will want to add the path numbers to theillustration of the sefirotic tree, or draw a new tree. Somewriters may refer to "32 paths", by calling the sefiroth "paths"1-10.KEY JOINS SEFIROTH QUEEN SCALE KING SCALE=== ============== =========== ==========11 1 - 2 sky blue brt. pale yellow12 1 - 3 purple yellow13 1 - 6 silver blue14 2 - 3 sky blue emerald green15 2 - 6 red scarlet16 2 - 4 deep indigo red orange17 3 - 6 pale mauve orange18 3 - 5 maroon amber19 4 - 5 deep purple greenish yellow20 4 - 6 slate gray yellowish green21 4 - 7 blue violet22 5 - 6 blue emerald green23 5 - 8 sea green deep blue24 6 - 7 dull brown green blue25 6 - 9 yellow blue26 6 - 8 black indigo27 7 - 8 red scarlet28 7 - 9 sky blue violet29 7 - 10 buff, silver-white crimson (ultraviolet)30 8 - 9 gold yellow orange31 8 - 10 vermilion glowing orange-scarlet32 9 - 10 black indigo31b deep purple white merging into gray32b amber citrine, olive, russet, black The queen and king scales are complementary. Also complementaryare the paths and the sefiroth. Traditional use of the queen scalesefiroth will find the king scale as paths and vice versa. The useof complementary scales is based upon the idea of balance. A treecomposed of sefiroth in the queen scale and paths in the kingscale is all you need for most magick. Although correspondencesare what work for you, there is said to be an ancient traditionsurrounding the conventional color scales and it may be helpful tolock into the energy associated with them. From the magical point of view, the Tree of Life is a map ofconsciousness which is useful for understanding and attainingvarious states of consciousness. In cabalistic magick we areconcerned with the linking of higher energy to lower levels on thetree. That very thing takes place naturally as well, in nature andin life. A subject in itself is cabalistic meditation (pathwork,or the way of return), in which we attempt to climb up the tree(ladder of lights) to attain union with divinity.REVIEW QUESTIONS1) What is the sefirotic tree?2) How is the queen scale used in magick?3) What is a path? How many are there?BOOK LISTJ. Abelson, Jewish MysticismEdward Albertson, Understanding the KabbalahBernard J. Babmerger, Fallen AngelsRichard Cavendish, The Black Arts______, editorial comments to "Cabala", Man Myth and MagicAleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth______, 777 RevisedDenning and Phillips, The Magical Philosophy______, Magical States of Consciousness (on pathworking)A.D. Duncan, The Christ, Psychotherapy and MagicDion Fortune, The Mystical QabalahAdolphe Frank, The Kabbalah: The Religious Philosophy of the HebrewsPerle Epstein, Kabbalah, the Way of the Jewish MysticWilliam Gray, The Talking TreeStephan A. Hoeller, The Royal RoadIsidor Kalish, Sepher Yezirah: A Book on CreationAlta J. LaDage, Occult PsychologyBernhard Pick, The Cabala: Its Influence on Judaism and ChristianityCharles Ponce, Kabbalah: An Introduction and Illumination for the World TodayHenry B. Pullen-Burry, QabalismIsrael Regardie, A Garden of Pomegranets______, The Golden Dawn______, The Middle PillarLeo Schaya, The Universal Meaning of the KabbalahGershom Scholem, Kabbalah______, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism______, On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism______, Zohar: The Book of SplendorArthur Edward Waite, The Holy KabbalahR.J. Zwi Werblowsky, "Cabala", Man, Myth and MagicWilliam Wynn Wescott, An Introduction to the Study of the Kabalah______, Sepher Yetzirah========Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem)P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 http://www.armory.com/~mortoj/magick/magick/mag10.html