Finding a master or school

[Earl Grey]

On 3/11/2020 at 9:13 PM, statusquovadis said:

 

I see. What's your school, if you don't mind? Thanks for answering the noob questions, btw.

 

List of teachers and influences (I am only teaching bolded topics--everything else I am still merely a student)

 

Taijiquan and neigong - Sifu Eric Randolph via Glenn Hairston EDIT I am no longer associated with Eric Randolph 

Xin Yi (Yi Quan and Liuhebafa) - JR Rodriguez via David Chan and Chan Yiren/Yikyan and Wang Xiangzhai

Baguazhang, Sleeping Qigong, Spontaneous Five Animals Play - John Dolic via Liang, Nan Yun, Tian Ruisheng and various anonymous teachers who wish to not be named

Flying Phoenix, Tao Tan Pai- Terry Dunn, via GM Doo Wai and Share K. Lew

Akashic - Claudine Mangasing via Kim Lopa

Vedic Sanskrit Mantra - Thomas Ashley-Farrand (Namadeva) and Satyabhama via Sadguru Sant Keshvadas

Edited August 5, 2021 by Earl Grey

[forestofclarity]

What are you time a management secrets? I find I can only practice a few things, and I have little time for online posting. Do you have a job and a family? 

 

 

2 hours ago, Earl Grey said:

 

List of teachers and influences (I am only teaching bolded topics--everything else I am still merely a student)

 

Taijiquan and neigong - Sifu Eric Randolph via Glenn Hairston

Xin Yi (Yi Quan and Liuhebafa) - JR Rodriguez via David Chan and Chan Yiren/Yikyan and Wang Xiangzhai

Baguazhang, Sleeping Qigong, Spontaneous Five Animals Play - John Dolic via Liang, Nan Yun, Tian Ruisheng and various anonymous teachers who wish to not be named

Flying Phoenix, Tao Tan Pai- Terry Dunn, via GM Doo Wai and Share K. Lew

Akashic - Claudine Mangasing via Kim Lopa

Vedic Sanskrit Mantra - Thomas Ashley-Farrand (Namadeva) and Satyabhama via Sadguru Sant Keshvadas

 

[Earl Grey]

3 minutes ago, forestofemptiness said:

What are you time a management secrets? I find I can only practice a few things, and I have little time for online posting. Do you have a job and a family? 

 

 

 

In the beginning, it takes a lot of work. Build your foundation and what once took several hours can be done in minutes with quality. As your skill goes up, you learn techniques that beginners can’t do because their bodies are not rewired yet. 
 

I get more out of a super heavy posture than a beginner doing it because my joints, tendons, and fascia are rewired by the proper Zhan Zhuang, contraction, linking, and competing exercises, and this is for Xin Yi alone. 
 

Details are reserved for students and classmates. People with a family and work can still get far in 3-5 years if they do exactly what we teach. Most of the time people don’t listen and want to do what they think is right, and then get mad when the few who do listen show them what they could have had if they did their assignments.

[Earl Grey]

4 hours ago, statusquovadis said:

Still laughing about the Akuma thing, it made my day 😂

 

So you can see for yourself:

 

https://tantrismuskritik.blogspot.com/2013/05/taoism-vs-tibetan-buddhism.html

 

https://eldercraigblog2012.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/mak-jo-si-www-chiinanture-com-fake-daoist-god-aka-demon-worship-busted/

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by Earl Grey

[Rara]

21 hours ago, Earl Grey said:

In the beginning, it takes a lot of work. Build your foundation and what once took several hours can be done in minutes with quality. As your skill goes up, you learn techniques that beginners can’t do because their bodies are not rewired yet. 

 

Exactly this. I'm thankful for the past 12 years as progress is much faster now, and can still work full time, socialise from time to time. If I ever get to family stage, I think I'm gonna be alright.

 

I know someone in China with wife and kids, yet his internal power is extraordnary.

[Charris34]

@statusquovadis  Like you, I have been exploring training options....read most all of Damo's stuff and watched his videos.  There is something there, but I don't know if it is a complete system since he pieced Lutus Neigong out of his findings from multiple teachers.  This may be a non-issue, but something to take into consideration.  Another school to consider is Daxuan.  Serge Augier has a complete online training that I am looking at, myself, as well a book on Shen Gong and Nei Dan.  I have been communicating with people who have taken his training and am currently taking a sample class on Udemy from one of his students.

[Wu Ming Jen]

On 3/10/2020 at 11:10 PM, statusquovadis said:

Hi guys, I've been reading and digesting stuff for about a month now, and thought this may be good time to ask the question on where to go from here. It's either this or casting yarrow stalks

 

A bit of background, which may be relevant, else just skip to the next paragraph. I did a fair bit of external and internal martial arts from early teens to early twenties, with no specific emphasis on qi. In fact my mind back then was rejecting it for various reasons, despite some evidence of something beyond what is strictly physical. In the early 20s, I activated the microcosmic orbit through a description in Dr Glenn Morris book. Still didn't know what I was doing, asked my taichi teacher but he couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me more, other than that being an indication of spiritual powers. I left it alone, started working and forgot all about it. A few years later I did KAP1 online, and that made me more comfortable with the idea of working safely with spiritual powers. But it was the beginning of many years of struggle with depression and working through "stuff", so again I left it behind. Several years later, I had a serious accident and that brought about some change. It sounds clichèd, all that stuff about searching inside and finding meaning, borne out of the realization that youth and this body I took for granted wouldn't last forever. I started meditating and going to silent retreats. I'm now in a comfortable place for about two years, with a sense of effortlessness of life unfolding on its own accord. I still practice meditation, but in that tradition it is widely believed that eventually one would need to be a monastic in order to work towards full enlightenment, which I feel is not my path in this life. Or rather, taking the path of least resistance, this is not where my life is going. 

 

At this juncture Daoism seems to lay out a path of integration as a non-religious lay practitioner. I'm interested in the philosophical aspects of it, reading DDJ and got Dan Reid and Pregadio lined up, but another part is still curious about energy works, just wanting to see where this leads to. 

 

Looking at the bigger picture, it seems like I worked on jing (thus affecting ming) up to mid-twenties. Then started working on xing in late thirties, through intensive meditation practice. Now I'm returning to work on ming, to fix physical issues that came by aging, accidents, and the strain of sedentary life. Self diagnosis, could be totally off: the three fields are fairly balanced presently. MCO and side branches of the thrusting meridians are open, as well as some meridians down the limbs and back. Some imbalances between the left and right, attributed to old injuries, and between the yin and yang vessels (yin vessels need some work). Thrusting vessel and baihui opening only partial, though fortunately not causing any serious issues.

 

The question is, what does one do from here? I have read some books, but feel it can only get so far. Some options would be:

- Join a big name teacher's retreat (e.g. Wang Li Ping, Damo Mitchell, Mantak Chia, etc.), but this would probably be a one-off without any follow up, and requires coordinating leave from work.

- Join one of the teaching institutions in China, thinking of the Five Immortals temple, or Wudang Daoist Kungfu Academy, they are open year round, easier to schedule and the teachers seem more accessible. Will need to learn some Mandarin.

- Find a local teacher. I have a couple of names of teachers with a lineage but the class is very much health qigong. How does one get through the door, should I wait until we know each other better, or get a private lesson? Will it be necessary to become a formal disciple?

 

Any answers, comments or suggestions much appreciated 🙏😺

 

Five immortal temple and Wudang Taoist association academy's with its many places to learn (long men pei dragon gate.... for real)  are the way to go in my most biased opinion possible . Stay away from Mantak Chia he thinks that vitality or jing is purely sexual energy and a physical substance like semen not to also include blood and saliva at the physical level AND what about the non physical, did he think about that! the other half of the story?....Funny right?..... (Sex Sells, 101 marketing and misguided at best).

[Wu Ming Jen]

WHY in the world did this post 3 times and I can not delete at least two of them. Must be some kind of fucking virus that we all need to  vanish to dust.

[Wu Ming Jen]

On a side note, we do not need to speak Chinese for instruction. The wordless teaching and international language is enough. Also there are students and teachers to translate for you if you think it is that important.

[Wu Ming Jen]

Spamming this thread upside down.How many post can I make with no replies. 

[Wu Ming Jen]

14 seconds and no replies yet. Good night, see you all in a week or so.

 

(Sarcasm is "a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter gibe or taunt". Sarcasm may employ ambivalence, although sarcasm is not necessarily ironic. Most noticeable in spoken word, sarcasm is mainly distinguished by the inflection with which it is spoken and is largely context-dependent).

[Wu Ming Jen]

So someone asked what is the international language? (not yet because I keep posting with no replies) The answer is a combination of intention, body language and mental state of being. Everyone in the world can understand us with out any words.

 

The down side is we can not deceive and miss lead others with words, words greatest gifts are to say the half truths of our experience with false energetic quality. This makes for great actors and actress. What movies are made of...so great!

[Earl Grey]

1 hour ago, Wu Ming Jen said:

Five immortal temple and Wudang Taoist association academy's with its many places to learn (long men pei dragon gate.... for real)  are the way to go in my most biased opinion possible . Stay away from Mantak Chia he thinks that vitality or jing is purely sexual energy and a physical substance like semen not to also include blood and saliva at the physical level AND what about the non physical, did he think about that! the other half of the story?....Funny right?..... (Sex Sells, 101 marketing and misguided at best).

I wanted to study there before. If it’s in my karma, I will, though if not, I have a lot of stuff to work on with my current teachers anyway.

[Wu Ming Jen]

Love it! Do not give up the near for the far.

 

I had the karma to go to Wudang and before I had the means to go to the mountain and study I met a Taoist priest from Wudang who came to my home town and taught me some stuff... what kind of odds are that? This inspired me to fulfill my own personal destiny.

 

I am not waving the flag of my own linage everyone's path can be right for them at the right time in their life.

[GSmaster]

24 minutes ago, Wu Ming Jen said:

I had the karma to go to Wudang and before I had the means to go to the mountain and study I met a Taoist priest from Wudang who came to my home town and taught me some stuff..

 

Everyone starts somewhere, the start point then goes through long term teaching, training, education. I have done atleast 6 years of general education in esoteric arts, passing through some 300 seminars and retreats, before going for self-study and research.

 

I dont think there is a point for a someone who started in one start point and progressed along the line, to go to another start point and start there a new. Thats like utter waste of lifetime opportunities.

 

But if you want to continue development, it is always meaningful to find teacher of a higher level.

 

Its just that they are rare, incredibly rare. None of them is teaching publicly, most of them are unknown to public, and you cannot find these people just "going to some area, or region" you need a sort of recommendation to begin with.

 

You have started in Wudang, I have started in other places, @Earl Grey in other places. Thats just how it is, I would not think one place is superior to another.

 

If you have a demi-god, god, or immortal teacher, who can walk through walls, fly in sky, teleport instead of using planes, and know the exact stock market price any day from now, thats impressive yeah.

 

 

[kyoji]

57 minutes ago, Wu Ming Jen said:

So someone asked what is the international language? (not yet because I keep posting with no replies) The answer is a combination of intention, body language and mental state of being. Everyone in the world can understand us with out any words.

 

The down side is we can not deceive and miss lead others with words, words greatest gifts are to say the half truths of our experience with false energetic quality. This makes for great actors and actress. What movies are made of...so great!

As someone who has had experience in this "international language" , i am surprised i put so much emphasis on wanting to be decently proficient in Mandarin before studying in China!

 

One of my favourite women in the world is my former Boss Li's mother... we just call her mama. My first job in highschool was prepping at an upscale chinese place in St.Catharines, ON, and i grew very fond of the family that owned and ran it.

 

She was in her mid 70's, and still more vital than some 20 somethings that i know.... she'd work 12 hour days 5 days a week, making noodles and chinese buns from scratch... The absolute best I've ever had! I was the token westerner, and everybody else that worked there was from China or Hong Kong :-) Some could speak English very well, and others just a bit. But Li's mum, or Mama as we all called her, didn't speak a lick of it, nor I any Mandarin. Yet I "spoke" with mama more than I did anybody else there. We would laugh with each other all the time and sit down and eat at break together. She always knew when I was hungry before I did and would bring me a bite  We used to point at objects and ingredients in the kitchen, and i'd say the english word and have her try to repeat it, and then she'd say it in Mandarin for me to repeat, and we would just laugh at each others inability to get it quite right. We had a special bond I did not have with those that I hadn't a problem speaking with. But with Mama, I really didn't need to say a thing, and in some strange way, that said it all.

 

All of our coworkers, and friends of the family that would frequent the restaurant, would see the connection we had, and it tripped most out. They just couldn't understand how we could possibly connect.

 

Maybe the language barrier, or rather the impediment to communication, is language itself.

 

“The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit. Once you've gotten the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can talk with him?”

 

-Zhuangzi

Edited March 27, 2020 by kyoji
spelling mistake

[Earl Grey]

My intent is not to study with “better” teachers, but to have fun learning something that is also established as what works and is good. The Five Immortals temple looks like it does, but until I touch hands, I won’t know. We’ll see. I’m happy with what I have; everything else is a treat afterwards.

[Rara]

6 hours ago, Wu Ming Jen said:

So someone asked what is the international language? (not yet because I keep posting with no replies) The answer is a combination of intention, body language and mental state of being. Everyone in the world can understand us with out any words.

 

The down side is we can not deceive and miss lead others with words, words greatest gifts are to say the half truths of our experience with false energetic quality. This makes for great actors and actress. What movies are made of...so great!

 

True. It was talking with our hands and eyes that got me practicing with a stranger that to my school.

[Rara]

6 hours ago, Wu Ming Jen said:

Love it! Do not give up the near for the far.

 

I had the karma to go to Wudang and before I had the means to go to the mountain and study I met a Taoist priest from Wudang who came to my home town and taught me some stuff... what kind of odds are that? This inspired me to fulfill my own personal destiny.

 

I am not waving the flag of my own linage everyone's path can be right for them at the right time in their life.

 

It's actually quite spooky how that works with these guys. But one will definitely find their way if they allow it. I like to call it "heaven carrying us to places".

 

I honestly think the OP will make it. He might even be on his way now, against all odds lol

[Rara]

6 hours ago, kyoji said:

As someone who has had experience in this "international language" , i am surprised i put so much emphasis on wanting to be decently proficient in Mandarin before studying in China!

 

One of my favourite women in the world is my former Boss Li's mother... we just call her mama. My first job in highschool was prepping at an upscale chinese place in St.Catharines, ON, and i grew very fond of the family that owned and ran it.

 

She was in her mid 70's, and still more vital than some 20 somethings that i know.... she'd work 12 hour days 5 days a week, making noodles and chinese buns from scratch... The absolute best I've ever had! I was the token westerner, and everybody else that worked there was from China or Hong Kong :-) Some could speak English very well, and others just a bit. But Li's mum, or Mama as we all called her, didn't speak a lick of it, nor I any Mandarin. Yet I "spoke" with mama more than I did anybody else there. We would laugh with each other all the time and sit down and eat at break together. She always knew when I was hungry before I did and would bring me a bite  We used to point at objects and ingredients in the kitchen, and i'd say the english word and have her try to repeat it, and then she'd say it in Mandarin for me to repeat, and we would just laugh at each others inability to get it quite right. We had a special bond I did not have with those that I hadn't a problem speaking with. But with Mama, I really didn't need to say a thing, and in some strange way, that said it all.

 

All of our coworkers, and friends of the family that would frequent the restaurant, would see the connection we had, and it tripped most out. They just couldn't understand how we could possibly connect.

 

Maybe the language barrier, or rather the impediment to communication, is language itself.

 

“The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit. Once you've gotten the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can talk with him?”

 

-Zhuangzi

 

You have won the Dao Bums.

 

Time to pack up and go home here guys. Nothing else to see.

[Wu Ming Jen]

17 hours ago, Earl Grey said:

My intent is not to study with “better” teachers, but to have fun learning something that is also established as what works and is good. The Five Immortals temple looks like it does, but until I touch hands, I won’t know. We’ll see. I’m happy with what I have; everything else is a treat afterwards.

Being happy with what we have is some high level stuff. IMO

[Earl Grey]

Just now, Wu Ming Jen said:

Being happy with what we have is some high level stuff. IMO

 

That said, I'm happy to meet other people like you eventually and touch hands for those with martial bent and do some exchange, representing at the very least my Xin Yi and Taijiquan lineages and eventually all four of my martial lineages (and eventually Akashic and Vedic lineages). 

[Wu Ming Jen]

Just now, Earl Grey said:

 

That said, I'm happy to meet other people like you eventually and touch hands for those with martial bent and do some exchange, representing at the very least my Xin Yi and Taijiquan lineages and eventually all four of my martial lineages (and eventually Akashic and Vedic lineages). 

So great.

[silent thunder]

20 hours ago, kyoji said:

As someone who has had experience in this "international language" , i am surprised i put so much emphasis on wanting to be decently proficient in Mandarin before studying in China!

 

One of my favourite women in the world is my former Boss Li's mother... we just call her mama. My first job in highschool was prepping at an upscale chinese place in St.Catharines, ON, and i grew very fond of the family that owned and ran it.

 

She was in her mid 70's, and still more vital than some 20 somethings that i know.... she'd work 12 hour days 5 days a week, making noodles and chinese buns from scratch... The absolute best I've ever had! I was the token westerner, and everybody else that worked there was from China or Hong Kong :-) Some could speak English very well, and others just a bit. But Li's mum, or Mama as we all called her, didn't speak a lick of it, nor I any Mandarin. Yet I "spoke" with mama more than I did anybody else there. We would laugh with each other all the time and sit down and eat at break together. She always knew when I was hungry before I did and would bring me a bite  We used to point at objects and ingredients in the kitchen, and i'd say the english word and have her try to repeat it, and then she'd say it in Mandarin for me to repeat, and we would just laugh at each others inability to get it quite right. We had a special bond I did not have with those that I hadn't a problem speaking with. But with Mama, I really didn't need to say a thing, and in some strange way, that said it all.

 

All of our coworkers, and friends of the family that would frequent the restaurant, would see the connection we had, and it tripped most out. They just couldn't understand how we could possibly connect.

 

Maybe the language barrier, or rather the impediment to communication, is language itself.

 

“The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit. Once you've gotten the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can talk with him?”

 

-Zhuangzi

wow mate.

 

Thank you for that window into your world.

Such gems! 

 

That just cascaded through my being like a bell ringing.

 

thank you for sharing...

[GSmaster]

On 28.03.2020 at 12:46 AM, Wu Ming Jen said:

Being happy with what we have is some high level stuff. IMO

 

Whatever I have is nothing, there is a long road ahead to a much higher mountain peak.