HI and my goals.

[Priest]

Hello,

 

I am interested in martial arts and read about qi gong a while back.I went into it a bit and found Mantak Chia has a lot of books out and seems to be an authority on this.I don't know where to start and what to do first.

 

My goals are -

 

1. Prevention of disease and weakness in old age.

 

2. Replenishing the " Jing " and having a surplus.

 

3. I dabble in martial art.I want to " Pack " my body with chi as the old masters did and prevent injury

 

4. Cultivation of sexual energy ( which i know is very important ).

 

5. Strengthen the body to withstand blows and also be able to punch and kick hard.

 

6. I have some problems with popping joints which i want to cure.

 

7. Increase mental capabilities like memory, concentration and creative powers.

 

Which of Chia's books should i start with? I know he speaks of the " Microcosmic Orbit " as being the first thing you work on? I am interested in his Iron shirt and bone marrow nei kung besides cultivating male sexual energy.

 

Please advise on what book to read and what to do first.

 

Thanks

 

[Chang]

Hello and welcome.

 

Your best bet would be to find a class to attend with a good teacher. Books are good for reference but cannot take the place of hands on instruction.

 

Good luck and best wishes.

[leul]

Hello,

 

 

Hi Priest and Welcome !

 

I am interested in martial arts and read about qi gong a while back.I went into it a bit and found Mantak Chia has a lot of books out and seems to be an authority on this.I don't know where to start and what to do first.

 

My goals are -

 

1. Prevention of disease and weakness in old age.

 

For that goal I would recommend "Walking qigong" . Simple and effective.

 

 

2. Replenishing the " Jing " and having a surplus.

 

Walk, eat, sleep well.

 

3. I dabble in martial art.I want to " Pack " my body with chi as the old masters did and prevent injury

 

10 years ago I practiced Iron Shirt Qigong ( not the Mantak version ) , and I achived quite a good resistance .

 

 

4. Cultivation of sexual energy ( which i know is very important ).

 

Before you start on that, make sure to document yourself on every aspect and from multiple sources.

 

 

5. Strengthen the body to withstand blows and also be able to punch and kick hard.

 

The Iron Short will increase resitance, you need to do Zhan Zhuang (horse stance for example) for kicking hard , and push-ups for punching hard .

 

 

6. I have some problems with popping joints which i want to cure.

 

Maybe you contact an acupuncturer.?

 

 

7. Increase mental capabilities like memory, concentration and creative powers.

 

I guess the Mantak "wisdom qigong" helped me on this one, but you need to go to some workshop, it doesn't work from the book.

 

 

Which of Chia's books should i start with? I know he speaks of the " Microcosmic Orbit " as being the first thing you work on? I am interested in his Iron shirt and bone marrow nei kung besides cultivating male sexual energy.

 

as chinese saying : "The lies are transmitted from 1000 books, the thruth in a single word" .

 

Just find someone to guide you.

 

 

 

 

Please advise on what book to read and what to do first.

 

Thanks

[BaguaKicksAss]

Some of the stuff you wish to practice really should be taught in person.

 

You might find this thread interesting, well or at the very least you can read the reasoning for in person training

 

http://thetaobums.com/topic/30104-mantak-chias-iron-shirt;-good-or-bad-practice/?hl=%2Bmantak+%2Bchia

 

Btw, welcome to the forums .

[Priest]

Ah yes, but the problem is i do not have access to professional teaching.I have only books and possibly the people here only.

 

 

4. Cultivation of sexual energy ( which i know is very important ).



Before you start on that, make sure to document yourself on every aspect and from multiple sources.

 

I do not understand...?

[Priest]

Thanks for the link Bagua, i am now confused as to whether Chia's stuff is good or dangerous.I know caution is advised while doing this, but people going blind is just too much.

 

A few more things -

 

1. His sexual practices are said to be dangerous.Is this so? What about tantric practices which also say you should circulate energy?

 

2. I workout hard doing running and calisthenics not to mention some sparring.Will this act as a natural vent for energy build up ( if any )?

 

3. I understand many have problems by overdoing it, and a teacher is absolutely essential.However i will have to make do with just the books.I trust there will be some warning signs if i overdid it before the blindness sets in ?

 

4. Chia's instructions are said to be incomplete.Is this true?

 

5. By keeping a sort of progress log of my efforts, is it possible to identify errors and real progress? I could report what happened that week and members could point out the right and wrong?

 

Thanks

[Songtsan]

Which joints pop? I see you are a runner - you don't run on concrete do you?

[Priest]

Just about every joint.Neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hip, knees, ankles...spine also.

 

No, i just started running....on a field.

[Songtsan]

1. His sexual practices are said to be dangerous.Is this so? What about tantric practices which also say you should circulate energy?

 

I am not so fond of in-ejaculation techniques...it doesn't conserve jing in my opinion...it's not the loss of sperm that creates loss of libido/life essence in my opinion, but orgasm itself. I am a fan of Karezza. It's in regards to brain chemistry. The tubes should be cleared through the practice of self-prostate massage, and sexual techniques which avoid orgasm and avoid stagnation of sperm/fluid in the epididymis, prostate, and vas deferens. Some others may have different opinions here. I am part western science, part eastern spiritualist.

 

2. I workout hard doing running and calisthenics not to mention some sparring.Will this act as a natural vent for energy build up ( if any )?

 

Overdoing training can lead to increased sympathetic tone, increased cortisol, loss of sleep, increased stress levels, etc. Know the overtraining signs & symptoms and you should be fine. Cross-train, make sure to get good sleep, have rest days..listen to your body. Spend excess energy and store the rest.

 

3. I understand many have problems by overdoing it, and a teacher is absolutely essential.However i will have to make do with just the books.I trust there will be some warning signs if i overdid it before the blindness sets in ?

 

Excess/rapid thinking, delusional thoughts, megalomania, inability to relax, inability to sleep, lack of appetite, feelings of heat in the head, decrease in the bodily sensations below the head, feeling like you had too much caffeine, fidgeting, decreased ability to concentrate, restless legs/hands (due to increased peripheral nervous system activation), and more...

 

4. Chia's instructions are said to be incomplete.Is this true?

 

It didn't translate well to English in the earlier books for starters...

 

5. By keeping a sort of progress log of my efforts, is it possible to identify errors and real progress? I could report what happened that week and members could point out the right and wrong?

 

 

Good idea - glad you are so committed - it will take you far...I have some ideas of things to track to if you want...

[Songtsan]

Just about every joint.Neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hip, knees, ankles...spine also.

 

No, i just started running....on a field.

 

Are you a skinny guy? Tall? Loose connective tissue? Super flexible? Hard to gain muscle?

[Priest]

Are you a skinny guy? Tall? Loose connective tissue? Super flexible? Hard to gain muscle?

 

no, average height.Quite built.Neither of those problems.

 

Wonder what it is? Have had it for as long as i can remember.

[Priest]

So the multiple orgasm or valley orgasm leads to a loss of jing then?

 

So there are very palpable signs of overdoing it...good, i will know when i am wrong.

 

I would love to hear your ideas, thank you for taking the time to share them.

[Songtsan]

no, average height.Quite built.Neither of those problems.

 

Wonder what it is? Have had it for as long as i can remember.

 

popping joints is often due to air pockets/gas expansion - if it doesn't hurt, it might be OK.

[Songtsan]

So the multiple orgasm or valley orgasm leads to a loss of jing then?

 

So there are very palpable signs of overdoing it...good, i will know when i am wrong.

 

I would love to hear your ideas, thank you for taking the time to share them.

 

It all depends on who you believe...you can go western science, eastern philosophy...I enjoy NONE sex...Non-orgasm Non-ejaculation....maybe come every two weeks at most...sex is great....for hours. No probs with this technique except for needing to clear the prostate and ducts out manually...

[BaguaKicksAss]

It is a sad sad day when folks start to beleive that books and videos are better than their local teachers.

 

Ah yes, but the problem is i do not have access to professional teaching.I have only books and possibly the people here only.

 

 

4. Cultivation of sexual energy ( which i know is very important ).



Before you start on that, make sure to document yourself on every aspect and from multiple sources.

 

I do not understand...

[Priest]

It is a sad sad day when folks start to beleive that books and videos are better than their local teachers.It is a sad sad day when folks start to beleive that books and videos are better than their local teachers.

 

No, i said i would have to make do.No one has pretty much heard of Tao here...

[Priest]

It all depends on who you believe...you can go western science, eastern philosophy...I enjoy NONE sex...Non-orgasm Non-ejaculation....maybe come every two weeks at most...sex is great....for hours. No probs with this technique except for needing to clear the prostate and ducts out manually...

 

And how did you achieve this?

[Songtsan]

Its sad but its what it is...there aren't enough good teachers nowadays for the masses, just lots of cardboard cutouts who take a few seminars, pay their fees, and get authorized to teach a system, as long as they keep paying their dues topwards.

 

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that is this: A teacher need not be physically present to communicate just as effectively. Words can travel thousands of miles in an instant these days. What matters whether a person is standing in front of you or is outside of arms reach? The reach can be great or small, if one cannot touch, then its the same for all. Good thing there are forums like this one where folks can come and get good advice.

 

In the end, we must choose our own path, based on what we think is right for us anyways. You never know who to trust anymore. That is, until you learn to trust yourself!

[Priest]

A teacher need not be physically present to communicate just as effectively.

 

Good thing there are forums like this one where folks can come and get good advice.

 

My thoughts exactly.....

 

So i should start with opening the microcosmic orbit then?

[Songtsan]

A teacher need not be physically present to communicate just as effectively.

 

Good thing there are forums like this one where folks can come and get good advice.

 

My thoughts exactly.....

 

So i should start with opening the microcosmic orbit then?

 

Start with everything, from the place you are every day....

 

You are going to get conflicting advice on this forum. The other animals haven't peeked their heads out of their dens yet is all.

 

This all takes time anyways.

 

NONE technique is easy - don't come. That's the hard part. Taoists use techniques such as nine shallow, one deep (thrusts during intercourse) to stop from coming. There are far more creative ways to have sex than that however - that's all old school stuff. Know your limits - when you reach the 'hot point' back off! Get a feel for the pre-orgasmic rush. See it, note it, stop before its too late. Every two weeks seems fine for most people, but listen to your body. With this system, you need to manually drain your prostate of excess fluid by milking the acini ducts from the inside. See self-prostate massage on the internet. Takes 1-3 minutes a day at most...You don't have to do it every day either, just when you feel that fluid is building. Also, practice kegels - 1000x a day - do 900 quick flexions, 100 firm/deeper/longer ones...penis flexion exercises. Do them while you are on the computer, reading a book, etc. Doesn't take too much time. You will then soon be able to master the urge to splurge. No matter how active you are, you will be in control. After maybe 2 weeks of consistent practice, you will note the easy control you have. I can always expand on any of this stuff if you like.

 

Microcosmic orbit (MCO) starts as an awareness meditation....it is very based in scientific fact. You start at the Dantien, AKA center of gravity, about two finger-tip widths below the navel. It is not necessarily a small spot, so don't get fixated on finding the exact right point, just keep roving around down there with your mind. It's maybe 2-3 inches inwards at most, not counting fat deposits...everyone is a little different. Its a nerve plexus some think. Around the stomach wall, or possibly related to the enteric nervous system (I am thinking this may be possible, but not sure still). The vagus nerve comes down the center of the chest (approximately) in two lines..you can treat them as one for the most part - they call this the Yin channel - has a Chinese name that I can't remember. Whether the dantien is a branch of the vagus nerve or another place I have not yet discovered, due to lack of time to research, but I am pretty sure of the location and that is all that matters for practical purposes. Start here, using the traditional techniques of focus, simply become aware of the area - focus brings energy. Where focus is, energy is. By keeping focus here, the energy can build. When it builds, it feels funny at first if your channels aren't clear...this is the beginning stage...there are energy storage techniques to be aware of too. Circling and what not after you are done meditating. I will leave this to others to discuss with you as I am not certain as to the necessity of this step, and would not want to give you misinformation if I am wrong.

 

I am fairly confident of all the information I have given here, but you should never ever believe anything anyone says, because everyone has a little bit of misinformation brewing in their brains. You must become your own teacher, given the fact that you have none around you. That means you should move slower and take time to research and get lots of second opinions.

 

I am most confident on the NONE technique stuff I spoke of. I have been doing this for around 20 years. There is much more I can say on this, but I will have to come back later. I have experienced full MCOs, but they were a gift of sorts...

[Priest]

I have a kegel routine sorted out.So i start by feeling the energy, then clear my channels and onto iron shirt and other techniques?

 

I know an accomplished MMO guy who does it by kegel flexes.

 

How long do you think it takes to open up the orbit and get it circulating?

 

I should start with Chia's " Awakening the Healing Tao " then?

Edited July 16, 2013 by Priest

[BaguaKicksAss]

It is a sad sad day when folks start to beleive that books and videos are better than their local teachers.It is a sad sad day when folks start to beleive that books and videos are better than their local teachers.

 

No, i said i would have to make do.No one has pretty much heard of Tao here...

 

That is very unfortunate . You might also look into qigong and/or taichi teachers for some of the information as well.

 

Yes I agree though, we are very lucky in this day and age to have access to so many resources, many books, videos, youtube, forums!

[Songtsan]

I have a kegel routine sorted out.So i start by feeling the energy, then clear my channels and onto iron shirt and other techniques?

 

I know an accomplished MMO guy who does it by kegel flexes.

 

How long do you think it takes to open up the orbit and get it circulating?

 

I should start with Chia's " Awakening the Healing Tao " then?

 

Focusing clears the channels....or opens them. When you start pushing more water through a hose, it increases pressure/intensity and starts to wear away the 'gunk' along the walls. In the case of energy channels, it may be psychic gunk, I am not sure. Also the more energy that goes through a channel, the more can flow after a while. I am not a specialist on Taoist techniques, I only do MCO stuff. I think you might want to take this post to the Taoist section and start over - not so many people read posts in the lobby. I wouldn't limit myself to one book or so, see if you can find all that is similar between various authors systems, and you will be sure to have something that is good.

 

The orbit takes different time for different people - also, not everyone feels it as deeply as others at first, but that doesn't mean it isn't flowing well - it is a matter of your own sensitivity and focus strength. Having lots of head energy tends to keep the energy trapped in head. It depends on your YinYang balance. Energy in head that won't go down = stuck Yang I believe.

[Jadespear]

If you can bear progressing slowly and making mistakes through trial and error, then why would you need a teacher...you could do it by yourself.

 

I've taught myself how to play guitar with minor instruction through books. The concept of self learning is no different whatever the subject matter is...if you understand it you can learn to practice it, you can become good at it, and you can master it. No matter whatever it is that you want to learn. It is however very helpful to keep an objective and subjective view or journal of yourself as you go, so you don't have to remember everything little thing that does or does not work.

 

How do you think all of this information about chi, energy, spirituality, and everything else was ever discovered? There was at some point in time someone who was curious who sought out experience and answers for himself, found some, and communicated them to others. And that's where we all sit on Earth, right now.

[Songtsan]

If you can bear progressing slowly and making mistakes through trial and error, then why would you need a teacher...you could do it by yourself.

 

I've taught myself how to play guitar with minor instruction through books. The concept of self learning is no different whatever the subject matter is...if you understand it you can learn to practice it, you can become good at it, and you can master it. No matter whatever it is that you want to learn. It is however very helpful to keep an objective and subjective view or journal of yourself as you go, so you don't have to remember everything little thing that does or does not work.

 

How do you think all of this information about chi, energy, spirituality, and everything else was ever discovered? There was at some point in time someone who was curious who sought out experience and answers for himself, found some, and communicated them to others. And that's where we all sit on Earth, right now.

 

I am in your camp...not that I wouldn't mind being affiliated with a real teacher, but I don't live near any obvious ones. If there are any here they don't advertise.