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How about muscle testing or pendulum dowsing in general or to fix physical ailments, and problems, or improve life in general? Are they against nature/Buddhism to be used? These tools are supposed to help get rid of pain and suffering or help one not to be emotionally volatile or imbalanced (helps us not to create more bad karma) but I'm unsure if there are any karmic risks to using these things or any long-term or unseen harm to myself as an exchange since it is energy work. I am hoping someone who is both Buddhist and has experience in this area can answer, but anyone can feel free to answer. 🙏 EDIT 1: To clarify, I'm asking to see if it aligns with Buddhism and what Buddhists have a say on it as to whether it is a proper practice or tool to help relieve suffering or to improve one's ability to practice Buddhism indirectly/directly, and if there any risks to using these tools or healing modalities or similar.

Some time ago i tried to create a qigong practice and it messed me up for 3 months i got better but was still messed up it had made my stomach weaker i can no longer eat many foods without throwing it up and still can't but i was getting better slowly i have recently felt my stomach bloat lately during qigong what could this be and could there be a way to heal this?

Hello, I hope this is a forum I’ve been looking to find for a long time to discuss anything regarding true health and with the understanding that not everything is for everyone, even ancient teachings like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine (which I resonate deeply with), as a wellness therapist with over 20 years experience. many thanks! Christiaan

I heard this from someone but I don't know anything else about this. Sometimes I lack energy or am sick and want or need something to lean on to meditate. If it's true, does it have to do with how the energy/qi interacts with the thing/wall we're leaning on and is this an issue only in deep or advanced meditation, or simply at any stage? Also, any sources on this if possible? I appreciate any help on this. 🙏

Hi, Everyone, This thread has come about because I get asked a lot of questions on various threads. In an effort not to hijack people's threads, I'm just going to ask folks to put any questions you may have here. For those of you who may not have read any of my stuff on here, and for those who have, here's a VERY brief bio. (Dear GOD I hate talking about myself in the third person! But here we are!): Infolad1 is a professional Illustrator, writer, and designer, with 39 years of experience on that end of things. On the esoteric end of life, for the past 27 years, Infolad1 has practiced Theurgy, Neidan, Meditation, Waigong, Qigong, Neigong, Neidan, Shen Gong, Tao Gong (and has been a fan of the original Gong Show for years ), Ancient Egyptian Cultivation, Taoist Cultivation, a dash of Mahayana Buddhism Kabbalah, Yoga, Pranayama, Laya Yoga, Yang Style Tai Chi Quan, Chen Style Tai Chi Quan, Baguazhang aka Bagua Quan, Bagua Zhang, Pakua Chang, Pa-Kua Chang, Pa Kua Chang, Iron Body Nei-Gong, Iron Crotch Nei-Gong, and...Okay, that's enough now. Jeez! I also do extensive research and comment on Information Theory, Simulation Theory, History, Pop Culture, Comics, TV, Film, Anime, Animation, EDM, Science and Technology in general, AI, Health and Wellness, Life Extension, Longevity, Bootstrapping/Startup Culture, The so-called "Paranormal", and other "Weird S#@%". So this thread will be the question depot for all of these things. If it's anything personal, just message me. I'll answer them as soon as I can. My life, like everyone on here, is super busy these days, and getting busier. I'm here to help If I can. Cheers!

Aloha to all! I hope I'm doing this right as I'm a new member and not exactly the most techie person. I am a senior with type 2 diabetes. My mother died of it over 3 decades ago. She followed the conventional Western medical knowledge of the day and I injected her with insulin, but unfortunately her health still went downhill and what happened to her wasn't something I would wish on anyone. I am not looking to live longer, just want to be in better health so I can do things. I control my diabetes with diet alone, no meds and doing well with my blood glucose having dropped substantially into the "normal" range. A friend who is a martial artist, Kung Fu, suggested looking at Qigong starting off with the Ba Duan Jin/8 Brocades. I am learning the movements off a course I purchased on UDEMY. At present, I have no in person sensei. I have noticed stress will raise my blood glucose quite substantially even when I try to relax so I am experimenting to see if using Qigong will help with the subconscious stress response and glucose levels. Around October/November I will check my A1c and see if Qigong seems to have a made a difference. For obvious reasons, I am interested in the health effects of Qigong, but was quite unprepared for the what seems to be overwhelming piles of information and all the types of Qigong. If anyone has any suggestions of where a novice can me can start I would love the assistance. I learned Reiki and Healing Touch some years ago and it has been years since I used either, however it has at least left me sensitized to feeling energy and I have at least a rudimentary understanding of the meridians, dantiens, chakras, etc. so at least I got that step started...LOL. I also have another area I'm interested in. I have had a some spontaneous risings of kundalini. The first time in particular it was painful. All I could do was like on my back and keep my spine straight or pain time and at one point I could certainly see why they relate it to a serpent or snake because it certainly felt like a big thick serpent of energy was winding up through my spine. Since then it's not quite as bad, but there is some pain and heat particularly at the lower back when it happens. I learned to do the Swimming Dragon (online due to Covid), the T. K. Shin version, but quite honestly have fallen off using it as I find I'm still bit unsteady rising up onto the toes as I lost over 30 pounds quickly while bringing down my blood glucose and I'm somewhat weak. Are there any forms or movements of Qigong that would be helpful in clearing out the blockages and pathways so it's not quite so trying when kundalini rises? Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

“We can’t all live in nature, but that doesn’t mean we can’t live naturally” Have you checked out this guy's "natural living" ideas and practices? Have you adopted any or already naturally done them? Have they been helpful? From the show notes: Tony Riddle is a barefoot running natural lifestyle coach who has devoted his life to studying what makes us human and how to live naturally in the modern world. With simple practices, Tony helps people heal and improve by changing our relationship to ourselves, to others and our personal environments.

Hey there , I'll try to cut it as short as possible. There is a problem with my energy field. People other people get drained by me but without me doing anything but being present. I practiced some black magic last year i was decieved by an indian scammer named vishal rampersad. I used his frequencys but they are actually jinn magic attached to music. ever since then i started to notice this. here is where it gets weird. I sometimes see people 30 feet away and even further getting drained by me. i feel completely lost and suicidal because of it. I notice it because people keep rubbing their eyes. I want to get my jing and yuan qui back.. my own that is. whats the fastest way to cure this passive energy vampirism? i have cut all contact with my friends when i get invited i turn down because of it. i could post a picture of me if someone here is energy sensitive.

So a few weeks back the inner voice was quite direct, clear and insistent and it said unmistakingly, 'start making herbal tinctures'. So I put some thought into it, spoke a bit at work about it, but no one there is into this and I let it go. Well a few weeks have passed and this morning my gal woke up and said "I was making herbal tinctures in my dreams last night... it was quite vivid. I think we should start". So, message backed up by secondary source... got it. Time to act. I've cursorily explored methods for making it and it seems quite a direct and simple process, but figured I'd post here and appeal to anyone who may have some experience already in making alcohol based herbal tincture infusions. I'm planning on starting with a brandy or vodka base, but expect to play about a bit for a while before settling into what alcohol works best with what herb mixtures. The process for making the tinctures is surprisingly simple, what to me is thick as weeds pun intended is the plethora of potential herbs and mixtures of herbs to use for various properties to play with... here's where any existing experience would be very welcome. Anyway, just a light topic, if anyone has info on good herbal guides, or remedies they've got from family recipes, I'd be chuffed for any offered info.

Hello, good afternoon! Some time ago I started a topic here about this practice, but I haven't started practicing yet. Now I'm commited to do it because I have some traumas and phobias and I want to get rid of them to live a more healthy life. ============================================================================================== 1- What is the correct order to do the sounds? Mantak Chia start with lungs but I've read some topics here where people would start with LIVER and then KIDNEYS-LUNG-SPLEEN-HEARTH-TRIPLE BURNER(a complete different order from Mantak's teachings). 2- Should I practice seated and focused on the sounds or should I do movements along with the sounds? Mantak teaches some movements to do while you do the sounds, but I've read that you can do the sounds only sitting still without moving, only breathing and focusing on the sounds. 3- Should I do the sounds audible or inaudible? I've read that audible sounds are better for physical issues and inaudible sounds are better for psychological issues(my goal). I also read that you shouldn't do the sounds audible. ============================================================================================== Thanks in advance!! P.S. English is not my first language, so maybe I made some mistakes in writing, but I hope it's understandable

Hi, the diet is the foundation for our palace named body. As long as we cant ascent, we should be attentive to what we put into it. I know the title may trigger one or another a bit, because the needs of a body can differ. But generally, there are bad things and good things for our bodies. I've dealt with it for quite some time, but there are so many opinions, explanations, studies (i know that many are bs), scientific results and so on.. I can't be sure what to eat at the end and whatnot. Vegan or Paleo or HCLF or LCHF or Meditarian or/and Oil-free or/and Sugar-free or/and Gluten-free or/and Raw or/and without processed foods or/and regional or/and "high-frequency foods", ...the list could go on. Have you any knowledge of how I ought to handle it? Sur sure rich in micro nutritions and elements (such as gold, silver, iron, zinc...) But other than that? Thanks for any knowledge you submit

Hello everyone, In the past years, I have occasionally read some threads in the daobums forum, but I never bothered signing up. Now I did, because I want to start practicing inner energy work properly. I want to do so in order to increase my vitality and gain better health primarily. Secondarily, I am also interested in experiencing subtle energy flow within my own body. Lastly, I would also like to develop myself spiritually. I am aware, that spiritual development is probably prioritized by many people, but I guess I am still very much attached to this physical world, which is why improving my physical health is very important to me. Well, other than that I am actually really curious about one thing: Has anyone been able to reconcile the practical/theoretical differences between systems like Daoism and f.e. Vedic teachings? Has any comparative literature been written on this subject, ideally from a practitioner's point of view? F.e. I have always wondered why in Daoism the fifth element is metal, whereas in the Vedas the fifth element is space or aether. I am also curious, if the different conceptions of energy pathways in the body can be reconciled in some way? TCM has twelve main meridians, whereas Ayurveda speaks of thousands of Nadis. Can the differences of the chakra system and the Dan Tian system in Nei Gong be reconciled? Obviously practitioners from both traditions reach great heights of mastery, so does that imply, that there are many methods, which will lead to the same outcome? If so, how can methods, that differ so much in terms of theoretical concepts of metaphysical understandings, lead to the same outcome? To my materialist mind, it would make much more sense to assume, that there is one correct way of how to conceptualize the nature of reality, even down to those levels of reality, that go beyond the purely physical. Anyways, I am looking forward to learning more about all this.. Peace Entob

Hey, After living in 7 different countries and reading some of the best books of wisdom, I have been able to help every desperate person (who would listen to me) in the areas of health and escaping the prison of being single. If I can help you out, that would be great. I host free meditation sessions in Portugal for the general public, to lift the vibration of Lisbon. I wrote a book on soulmates because it needs to be written. The little that I know is worlds beyond the knowledge of the masses. My personal challenges are: understanding how best to do "the Sabbath", how best to use rhythm in structuring my days, how best to help the wider world outside my city, which mantras are most useful, etc. Love and blessings, Tis

Sorry if I hurt some sensibility if this is not the right place for my inquiry. I have been all my life seduced and spiritually fulfilled by the taoist understanding of phenomena related to Life and the Universe without really penetrating into any particular practice. Now I am approaching my 80th anniversary while in need to retrieve my physical and mental fitness. Right nowI am doing a basic Qigong routine but my goal is to develop a consistent Inner Orbit practice. I have found profuse instruction from Mantak Chia and others with many steps in the circulation of Qi, to other teachers indicating a very simple guidance with two steps breathing stages. I will appreciate your advise for an effective, not so intricate and meticulous Inner Orbit practice pointing the Qi or energy centers I have necessarily to deal with in order to activate the energy I need to be still healthy and aware. Thank you very much for your advise. Fer

Hello all, I have been wandering around this site for quite some time and finally decided I need to join. I’m not sure where to start but I feel frustrated. My teacher is a Kahuna master whom is also a teacher of qi. He is amazing and has taught me so much. He has also recently given me permission to teach. My issue is I became ill 6 months ago and with his help I was back to healthy again in no time. However, this past week all of those old problems (ills) have started to return. I thought I was done with this. A few things to note. - I have 2 young children and my daily routine has become less daily. I replaced it with yoga to prepare myself for full lotus position. - I know now this was a big mistake. My teacher has now left the country and I am a little lost. Any help?

Good day guys. Jun Yu Xian again for another beginner's inquery. Please suggest a diet that could help me in cultivation and also would help me make my body fit. Note that I am not neglecting workout. I just want to want to eat something healthy.

Please post people that are great examples of health and long life. let me start it off with this: The Healthiest Old Person on the Planet Explains How to Stay in Shape Charles Eugster, 96, is a runner, body-builder, public speaker, writer, rower, and wakeboarder. He also claims to be so healthy that his formerly grey pubes have turned brown again. By Matt Blake Apr 11 2016, 7:40am ShareTweet CHARLES EUGSTER POSING WITH HIS WORLD ROWING MASTERS TROPHY. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHARLES EUGSTER Charles Eugster is the greatest British sprinter you've probably never heard of. He currently holds world records in the 200m (indoor) and 400m (outdoor) sprints, as well as British records in the 60m (indoor), 100m (outdoor), and 200m (outdoor). A couple of weeks ago, he narrowly missed out on the world record for the 60m sprint after pulling his hamstring halfway through. He still won the race to become European Champion. It's an impressive record, given that the man—by pretty well established standards—shouldn't be able to cross a road without help, let alone run. He is 96 years old. The London-born ex-dentist, who now lives in Switzerland, is arguably the fittest senior citizen on the planet. He's also a body-builder, a public speaker, a writer, a rower, a wakeboarder, an entrepreneur, and a budding fashion designer, planning his own line in elderly couture. But more than anything, he is a professional death defier who hasn't just slowed the ravages of aging, but reversed them all together: where once white pubic hairs grew, he says, brown ones now flourish. This was, of course, quite tricky to independently verify when I rang him up recently. CHARLES WAKEBOARDING VICE: Hi Charles. Congratulations on the over-nineties 60m European title. Were you disappointed not to get the world record? Charles Eugster: Oh, very. The thing was, I felt absolutely great before the race and was in my youthful dreams with hopes of attacking the world record of 14.28 seconds. I flew out of the blocks and, after the first 30m, I was out in front of the pack. That's when my hamstring tore. You see, I was against the most extraordinary people: a 90-year-old German and a 99-year-old Italian. I knew they were quick, but I'd left them miles behind. Then, as the leg pain set in, they started to catch me. I was scared stiff that they would beat me, but of course they didn't. I staggered over the line within over 18 seconds. Nowhere near the record. Now I must stop training for a month. Sprinting—or body-building, for that matter—are not things one normally associates with old people. Why? I was 87 and realized my body was deteriorating. I had a muffin-top waist and my muscles were getting weaker and weaker. I felt so old. But because I was so vain, I didn't like the idea of it at all. So I joined a body-building gym and employed a personal trainer who was a Mr. Universe to rebuild my body from scratch. Nine years on, at 96, do you feel old now? Not at all. I feel like a youngster of 60, tops. Being fit is a wonderful thing. Before I turned 90, I got severe colds every November, but now they've completely stopped—I've had two in six years. I'll tell you something else: strength training increases your libido. And you know this from experience? Well, you know the story about my pubic hair, don't you? I feel like I'm about to. When I was still training with Mr. Universe, he took me aside one day and asked, "Have you noticed an increase in your libido?" I was embarrassed. I said, "Look, this is not something I'd like to discuss. It's private." But he was very persistent, and in the end I relented. I said, "Look now, you mustn't tell anybody else, but what I'm about to tell you is very dramatic. Incredible. Since I started on this program, my pubic hairs, which were white, have turned brown." I mean, wow! So you've literally reversed the process of aging. Yes! You see, the stupid thing is that people don't realize that you can have a beach body at 90 and turn the heads of the sexy 70-year-old girls on the beach. I am living proof that, if you eat right and exercise properly, you can be that guy at any age. What do you eat to stay in shape? Variety is key. I start every day with a protein shake because, as you get older, your protein synthesis no longer functions as well. I avoid sugar and eat lots of meat, especially fat. I've been on a fat trip lately. Fat! Piles of fat. Yet, I was in a supermarket the other day and was perplexed to find yogurt with zero fat. What on earth is that? The idea of the nutrition pyramid where, at the top, is a little fat and meat, and at the bottom a lot of carbohydrates, is, excuse me, bullshit. Humans are so unbelievably stupid that we have begun to tinker with food. Our theories of nutrition have resulted in a pandemic of obesity. Can you imagine a hunter-gatherer enjoying a low-fat yogurt? Let me tell you this, too: I read a report recently which said that a fatty diet also increases your libido. I know you sadly lost your second wife, Elsie, 15 years ago. But with all this talk of libido, are you looking for love? Yes. But the only problem is that I seem to be so busy with so many other things I don't have an enormous amount of time. I'm registered with a dating agency, but all they can produce are young things of about 70! Above 70 there's nothing. Why is that, do you think? Because people of 70 to 100 years old are absolutely the lost population. We are ignored by society, by medicine, by research. And we can't get a job. Nobody cares about us. I'll give you one silly example: there are no training plans, or gyms, for anybody over 70, as there are in Japan. The way we treat the elderly today is disgraceful. And don't even get me onto retirement. What about retirement? Retirement is the biggest killer of old people, full stop. I prefer to call it involuntary unemployment. What I'm nearly bursting a blood vessel about is the fact that humans are blissfully ignoring the aging process. We recycle everything nowadays, except human beings. Our expiry date is 65, after which we're thrown on the rubbish heap and chemically treated. We are pouring the experience, creativity, and talent of people over 65 down the toilet. They should be able to found companies, be creative. They have nothing to do except sit about and get sick. This is a world problem and it needs to change. What's your answer? PUT. OLD. PEOPLE. TO. WORK! One of the things I want to do is set up a retraining program for older people. I'd like to see companies set up in old people's homes that offer, say, computer services. For example, if I want to find out something, the computer is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it takes a while to find [what you're looking for]. Now, if I could call up an old people's home and say, "I want this information by that time," if they have 50 old people working on computers, one of them is bound to come up with something. Like a sort of elderly IT sweatshop? [Laughs] Well, we'd pay them properly, obviously. It could be transcriptions, or research, anything. Hidekichi Miyazaki, the 105-year-old runner Charles wants to challenge You've seen a world war, a Cold War, the Great Depression, and god knows how many financial crises, not to mention all the good things that have happened since you were born in 1919. What's the one piece of advice you'd give to young people today? Explore your talents and never stop learning. In your lifetime you will not have one job, but you will have a huge number of different jobs in different areas. We are at the very beginning of the digital age, of which nobody really knows the consequences. Oh, and don't get too wrapped up in the culture of youth. Youth is so fantastic, but we should be impressing on people how wonderful, stupendous, exciting, and amazing old age can be, too. Oh, exercise and eat lots of fat. You know why! What else is on your bucket list? I want to change the world. I'm writing a book called 97 and Loving It, which I hope to publish this year. Then I want to establish fitness centers for those over 70 and start a job creation company to retrain older people. Then, of course, I want to have some connection with nutrition for the old. And the other thing in the back of my mind is that I would like to create a fashion label for older people. Because the way that older people dress is absolutely disgusting. I don't just want a label, I want a whole conglomerate. And what about your sprinting? Well, once this hamstring heals, I think we'll see what can be done about the 100m outdoors. There's a 105-year-old Japanese sprinter called Hidekichi Miyazaki who I would like to run against over 100m. They call him "The Golden Bolt," and with our combined ages of over 200 years, I think that would be some spectacle!

I learned humans bodies are truly only designed to eat fruit, flowers, nuts, seeds, and herbs... **note: I don't care to "convert" anyone's dietary life or anything, this is simply my experience and innerstanding of it all... Tho, I grew up with the S.A.D. (standard american diet) eating meats, processed foods, dairy - you name it. I slowly became aware through the years of health & our biological requirements, what dis-eases really are, etc. I began to transition to vegetarianism, then to veganism, and now to raw vegan Not for longevity or even to feel good (tho, those would be included). It was to expand my awareness of All That Is... and it has been working. I no longer have anxiety, and I have way more energy now, and am more clear minded. I aim to be frugivore at some point and see what it's like (I heard for some, they really get into the astral realms and have to start eating vegetables again to ground themselves if they have to deal with other people). Anyway, thought I would share my experience for anyone interested in this. When the body is purified, energy can flow w/o obstruction (qi/chi/prana/etc.), the mind is less taxed, the emotions are more clear, etc. Everything is connected... so it was logical for me to start cleaning up my physical vessel. I have been taking a class for a certification at the International School of Detoxification (taught primarily by Robert Morse). If anything I said, you vibe with, then I recommend checking out some of his videos on youtube. Namaste, my friends

In the early 1960's Bong Han Kim discovered a biological system that lined up exactly with the meridians and acupuncture points of the human body. Shortly afterwards Kim and much of his published research disappeared Prior to that, his research indicated, this system had energy carrying capacities, far beyond any other of the human circulatory systems. The next 50 years saw an active suppression of this research. But, the Bonghan system is now being resurrected as the "Primo Vascular System" by some pretty big names in biology, chemistry and cancer research. It seems that this new research is corroborating much of Bong Han Kim's earlier research. I am interested in how many Dao Bums know of this and what their understanding is of its' spiritual/meditative/health value?

Hey guys, I have recently picked up "The Little Book of Meditation" by William Bodri. I found out about this book from the energy cultivators handbook thread. And honestly, a lot of the ideas resonate with me at this stage. Anyone read his material? It's repetitive so I have to skim slme of it, but I'm liking what I'm reading. He goes over different aspects of life like gaining merit/karma, dieting, and sexuallity. If you have any input on his thoughts please elaborate. He starts off with talking about meditation and all of its benefits. He says that you can open up chi channels with meditation and so fourth. Then he dives into a subject I am spending a lot of time trying to implement into my life and that is the subject of chanting. He says it's good to chant all day when you aren't busy (which is literally all day for me being a lifeguard this summer). He gives numerous chants from different religions. The are also numerous websites discussing chanting and the different benefits they can bring depending on the chant. So I took to chanting and for the last few days I chant out loud when I'm alone and in my head when in the presence of others. It kind of makes sense because in the very least, it forces me to breath deeply in and out. I've been chanting on the out-breath and taking deep in-breaths afterwards, all through my abdomen. I've also been chanting in my daily meditation. The chant I have been using is "Om Mani Padme Hum" prounounced "Aum Ma nee Pie me Hoom". I've been liking the way it sounds and feels so far, but I've only chanted it maybe a few thousand times and compared with most monks that chant, that is supposedly next to nothing. Anyone have experience with chanting? What chants do you use? Anyone have opinions or input on this practice? Best Regards, Chi Boy

Sooo due to some comments in another thread, I came across the topic of fasting. It only seems relevant that if I'm going to be practicing Brahmacharya (celibacy), I might as well start by testing my self control with regards to food. I ate my dinner last night, and all day today I haven't had a bite of food. I like how it has been making me feel. Yeah, I'm not the highest energy today, but I've been feeling very spiritual and very blissful all day. I feel like I've been more in tuned with situations, and more my true self. It is also nice to step back and realize how thankful I am for the food I recieve. I think I want to start giving thanks for food before I eat it as well. My stepmom is Japanese, and her family says "tadakie mas" (idk about spelling) before eating as a way of giving thanks for the food and farmers that it came from. Fasting gives my body a chance to regenerate and cleanse apparently as well. I can also tell that next time I have a but to eat, which will be tomarrow, it will be the best bite I've ever had I've been drinking water all day and I took my liquid multivitamin as well, but that's it. I got the idea from a really amazing bum named Arramu and I am very thankful. I also want to fast one day per week or at least every two weeks. What are you alls feelings towards fasting? Does anyone practice multiple days of fasting at a time? What kind of fasting have you all done?

Does anyone simply walk for exercise and to meditate or reflect while doing so? I am 21 but started moving more when I noticed myself starting to age, youth fading and my body deteriorating. I now try to walk 10,000 steps a day and while doing so I reflect on life. I am a runner as well, but don't do it as much (only about 18 miles a week) because it is more "yang" to me and seems to degenerate the body in excess. The rest of my health practices and body / weight management are via yoga, healthy diet and fasting. But I like walking

Whoops just realised I had already posted this. I thought I may have? Sorry will leave this here anyway. The book is good and backs up the programme though PLUS it tells you how to effect change which in line with this forum (meditation). :-) Hi saw this a while ago. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1z4iyq_e07-the-power-of-the-placebo_tv It really is well worth a watch imho. Placebo curing a Parkinson disease sufferer from the shakes! Curing a woman when she thought she had surgery! And have also just read this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Are-Placebo-Making-Matter/dp/1781802572/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420458700&sr=8-1&keywords=matter+placebo Interesting study by a 'scientist's on how thoughts/feelings/imagination turn on and off DNA and create your bodies health or disease. It may give you more awareness about how powerful each thought is and more confidence/belief in those positive affirmations if you do them. Just thought I would share... Peter S

Does anyone have a particular Taoist practice or discipline that they follow for eating? I live in the United States which is a country in which, ironically, it is the abundance of food that is making us gravely ill. So it makes good sense to have good habits that promote spiritual cultivation and growth. The below page I recently read, and found it to be a good resource for this topic: http://www.seventhfam.com/temple/books/eattolive_one/eat1_10.htm I think one large meal a day is more than possible, and honestly makes good sense because you can devote the majority of your day to everything besides cooking or eating. It just seems to be cultivating an "eat to live" mindset. I have never done well with several meals a day. I've had very religious experiences fasting for a couple days, it seems to open creative and soul channels which are closed after consuming food. I have never gone longer than a few days though because I'm already slender. I've also read about one bowl meditation where you put everything you want to eat in one bowl. Not sure about the practicality of this if eating one meal a day.

I have a question regarding proper breathing patterns and the ideal of practices involving the control of the breath, because I have observed that deep breathing is widely advocated by diverse teachers or people giving advice. But I have read that hyperventilation is unhealthy and according to some teachers of Yoga, the goal of Yoga is not to increase the intake of oxygen but the reverse, namely to breath less than the average. Here is a wikipedia article on the physiological effects of hyperventilation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperventilation Here is a video in which a professional practitioner of Yoga argues that the purpose of Yoga practice is to develop the ability to breath less than the average: http://blog.yogasynergy.com/2012/11/spinal-movement-sequence-part-23-why-to-breathe-less-than-normal-in-yoga/ What do you think?