You Dare?! Posted January 9 This junior greets the esteemed Elders. I am but a humble neophyte practitioner and have just found this heavenly forum where the Seniors share their cultivation secrets and enlightenments. All I have been doing is the 8 brocades cultivation technique. But this humble junior feels like I hit a bottleneck and is requesting guidance on which holy scriptures to be directed to, regarding building up jing in body cultivation. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted January 12 Some samples of the heaps of FOUNDATION work you ought to be doing: He Jinghan is a specialist of this type of work. His channel hosts hundreds of highly useful videos. Enjoy the grounding journey that lies ahead of you! 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
You Dare?! Posted January 13 Senior is wise. I have recieved these profound insights and will integrate these foundational techniques. I will also peek into Master He Jinghans video collection. Thanks for the push to the right direction! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddie Posted January 13 On 1/8/2024 at 6:48 PM, You Dare?! said: This junior greets the esteemed Elders. I am but a humble neophyte practitioner and have just found this heavenly forum where the Seniors share their cultivation secrets and enlightenments. All I have been doing is the 8 brocades cultivation technique. But this humble junior feels like I hit a bottleneck and is requesting guidance on which holy scriptures to be directed to, regarding building up jing in body cultivation. Eight brocades are one of the first qigong routines that I ever did :-) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted January 13 Hi You. Welcome to the forum. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted January 13 1 hour ago, You Dare?! said: Senior is wise. Happy to help. From my personal experience, from someone who was so ungrounded that almost became psychotic after 3 decades of living the chair-academic lifestyle: child to adult. HJH has hundreds of videos. Better start from the bottom (around 2005). His material is invaluable. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChiDragon Posted January 13 On 1/8/2024 at 4:48 PM, You Dare?! said: This junior greets the esteemed Elders. I am but a humble neophyte practitioner and have just found this heavenly forum where the Seniors share their cultivation secrets and enlightenments. All I have been doing is the 8 brocades cultivation technique. But this humble junior feels like I hit a bottleneck and is requesting guidance on which holy scriptures to be directed to, regarding building up jing in body cultivation. Welcome, my humble one. Do not believe everything you read nor heard. Do not practice everything that you were introduced. Do not start something in the middle because you were told that is best for you. Do not practice as many styles as you like. It is not the more the merrier. Just stay with one style and master it. Building up jing in body cultivation is by practicing Qigong. Qigong is learning how to breathe properly to have the body function at full capacity. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted January 14 You have a good moving practice 8 brocades. Now look into sitting practice.. energetic focus or still. Perhaps a sound focus, mantra.. chant.. Hardest of all is making everything a practice. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddie Posted January 14 On 1/8/2024 at 6:48 PM, You Dare?! said: This junior greets the esteemed Elders. I am but a humble neophyte practitioner and have just found this heavenly forum where the Seniors share their cultivation secrets and enlightenments. All I have been doing is the 8 brocades cultivation technique. But this humble junior feels like I hit a bottleneck and is requesting guidance on which holy scriptures to be directed to, regarding building up jing in body cultivation. May I ask what you mean by "bottleneck"? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted January 15 Maybe seek this input from the one who taught you 8 brocades and not random folks on the interwebs... 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChiDragon Posted January 15 (edited) On 1/12/2024 at 3:30 PM, Gerard said: He Jinghan is a specialist of this type of work. His channel hosts hundreds of highly useful videos. FYI The videos shown here are not for beginners. In the way, come to think of it, it is not even for intermediate level neither. It take time to achieve to the higher level. One cannot jump the gun and skip the progressive practice. Edited January 15 by ChiDragon 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted January 15 I have stated in my last post to start right from the beginning (2005 he posted his first video). He Jinghan ran also a blog which is no longer active. It contained very good videos for total beginners, something like this which is in essence the same exercise: However this exercise must be performed very slowly, using the kua and waist area rather than the legs. Stay in the squat position as long as you like and then go up again very slowly. There was another video that involved performing Pu Bu in the squat position while holding the tree. Brilliant exercise! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
You Dare?! Posted January 16 On 1/14/2024 at 8:45 AM, Maddie said: May I ask what you mean by "bottleneck"? When I initially practiced the 8 silk brocades, each session concluded with a sense of euphoria akin to reaching new lofty heights. However, that euphoria seems to have integrated into my baseline state, creating a sustained sense of well being. That is why I say I have reached a bottleneck and looking to incorporate new techniques to reach further heights in my cultivation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
You Dare?! Posted January 16 On 1/14/2024 at 7:28 AM, thelerner said: You have a good moving practice 8 brocades. Now look into sitting practice.. energetic focus or still. Perhaps a sound focus, mantra.. chant.. Hardest of all is making everything a practice. Senior I wish to embark on a body cultivation path not the spiritual path Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
You Dare?! Posted January 16 Senior Gerard I tried to watch the videos but I don't understand what he is saying. I just try to mimic the masters movement! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddie Posted January 16 (edited) 4 hours ago, You Dare?! said: When I initially practiced the 8 silk brocades, each session concluded with a sense of euphoria akin to reaching new lofty heights. However, that euphoria seems to have integrated into my baseline state, creating a sustained sense of well being. That is why I say I have reached a bottleneck and looking to incorporate new techniques to reach further heights in my cultivation. I wouldn't call a sustained sense of all being a bottleneck. I would call that quite an accomplishment! Okay but you feel like something's missing. Can you identify what it is that you feel is missing? Edited January 16 by Maddie 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
You Dare?! Posted January 16 7 hours ago, Maddie said: I wouldn't call a sustained sense of all being a bottleneck. I would call that quite an accomplishment! Okay but you feel like something's missing. Can you identify what it is that you feel is missing? Very simply what I am missing is that high feeling afterwards. Because the way I interpret it is that I am not increasing my cultivation but it is stagnant. This makeshift chart below is to showcase my thinking. | _______ <- new new cultivation base | / | ____/ <- original cultivation base |______________ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddie Posted January 16 4 minutes ago, You Dare?! said: Very simply what I am missing is that high feeling afterwards. Because the way I interpret it is that I am not increasing my cultivation but it is stagnant. This makeshift chart below is to showcase my thinking. | _______ <- new new cultivation base | / | ____/ <- original cultivation base |______________ This is actually very common. As an acupuncturist usually when a new patient comes in for stress for example. Often they are amazed at how "high" they feel after the first treatment. Very often they gradually become disappointed that they feel this high less and less. It's not because something is wrong, its just the law of diminishing returns. If a patient comes in and after the first treatment we reduce their stress by 50% the next time if we reduce it by 50% again, compared to the original stress that is only 25%. And if we reduce it 50% again that is only like 12% of the original. It is a sign that things are improving. The goal isn't to be "high" but to be healthy. Being high isn't a sign of advanced cultivation. Otherwise every pot head is an advanced cultivator. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted January 16 (edited) Keep doing the body cultivation and watch and observe that sense of euphoria...and let them go. It's only one small aspect of the greater picture. The problem starts when people start clinging to them. You are smart about being only interested in the body cultivation. That's the spirit of a true warrior! Edited January 16 by Gerard 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
You Dare?! Posted January 16 7 minutes ago, Maddie said: This is actually very common. As an acupuncturist usually when a new patient comes in for stress for example. Often they are amazed at how "high" they feel after the first treatment. Very often they gradually become disappointed that they feel this high less and less. It's not because something is wrong, its just the law of diminishing returns. If a patient comes in and after the first treatment we reduce their stress by 50% the next time if we reduce it by 50% again, compared to the original stress that is only 25%. And if we reduce it 50% again that is only like 12% of the original. It is a sign that things are improving. The goal isn't to be "high" but to be healthy. Being high isn't a sign of advanced cultivation. Otherwise every pot head is an advanced cultivator. Haha, very well said! I understand now. Thank you for the insights! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
You Dare?! Posted January 16 Just now, Gerard said: Keep doing the body cultivation and watch and observe that sense of euphoria. It's only one small aspect of the greater picture. The problem starts when people start clinging to them. You are smart about being only interested in the body cultivation. That's the spirit of a true warrior! I agree fellow daoist, body cultivators reign supreme! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted January 16 (edited) I forgot: -Find a good real life teacher. https://rumsoakedfist.org/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=01928906b876eb79d501e7d6e0835248 -Supplement your practice with HJH's foundation work. When you become more advanced you'll understand his teachings better. Give me some time and I'll link some videos of him that will be easy for you to do and understand. You can start with the "tree squat" exercise I linked above. Do it every day, several times a day. It's all you ever need. Edited January 16 by Gerard 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddie Posted January 16 28 minutes ago, Gerard said: Keep doing the body cultivation and watch and observe that sense of euphoria...and let them go. It's only one small aspect of the greater picture. The problem starts when people start clinging to them. You are smart about being only interested in the body cultivation. That's the spirit of a true warrior! I'm curious about your view on body only cultivation. I ask because I seem to be drifting in that direction because of the results I get. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted January 16 (edited) 14 hours ago, You Dare?! said: Senior I wish to embark on a body cultivation path not the spiritual path I'm no senior, respectfully, imo, it's all connected and they compliment each other. Plus somethings don't take up much time. For me, when I'm in the shower, I chant. Sacred meanings but also a unique of vibrations that echoes out and echoes within. Kotodama- sacred sounds. Speaking of showers if you want to go body cultivation- cold showers. Release many good chemicals/hormones and build your will power. Start slow.. from warm to a minute or so of cold, and build up to a few minutes. Sitting is re-resetting, in that it is a form of deep relaxation, it's a body cultivation. Instead of looking at it as spiritual it can be viewed as psychological. Sitting quietly, you watch your mind. It can be hard, the noise, the thoughts that seem other. Control of mind is control of body.. somewhat. Cooking.. also excellent cultivation and what I'm doing now. So please excuse me. Wild rice w/Chicken soup won't cook itself https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/wild-rice-and-orzo-chicken-soup/ Edited January 16 by thelerner 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted January 16 16 minutes ago, thelerner said: …cold showers … Cold showers in some may increase the risk of stroke or heart attack. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
