Developing Right Student Mindset

[Ascetic]

1 hour ago, silent thunder said:

 

 

wow. 

just wow.

Im unsure if you're disagreeing or not, but idk the reason I said that is because lifespan is very dreadful. I would imagine it would take hundreds of years for a human to become a Mage, maybe a full lifetime to make progress with cultivation in a world that is mundane.

Time is just something I at least battle everywhere, efficiency is so important on this world.

[forestofclarity]

On 10/11/2024 at 5:01 PM, 心神 ~ said:

I'm just a bit overwhelmed and trying to determine the next step.

 

But what happened to: 

 

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In that event, I'm leaning toward Lotus Nei Gong International with Damo Mitchell / Roni Edlund. I found the book they wrote to be incredibly helpful, and the school offers a program that supports women's specific practice in addition to the standard program.

 

Why not check it out and see what happens? To my knowledge, no one has produced any evidence that Damo is not teaching Daoist practices he learned from a living teacher in an authentic tradition. In fact, one long term Bum (freefrom) has stated that what Damo teaches, is consistent with what he is also learning from a different living teacher in an authentic tradition. I don't think we really know how the path is going to unfold. 

 

As the sports people say, you always miss 100% of the shots you don't take. 

 

[Thrice Daily]

I’ve watched some of his stuff, he seems like the real deal. His Bagua certainly looks to be that way too.

 

Looks like he is a big fan of safety features in his practice as well, and his students. Looks like a good egg 👍 

[心神 ~]

 

@forestofclarity & @Thrice Daily

Thank you for the encouragement! 

 

I'm still in the stage of receiving information, I suppose. When I asked about Damo Mitchell, it was because I'd read a book by him that I enjoyed and I wanted to source opinions. I hadn't researched him in-depth, his was simply the name at top of mind. 

 

Saying "I'm leaning towards" conveyed a level of conviction I didn't intend, and I could have worded that better. "I'm curious about," is more accurate. But I haven't lost interest, per se, I just want to continue to do my due diligence.

 

I do appreciate your perspective! It's just that with limited financial resources, I can't afford to dive in and see what happens. I need to know that I'm making a wise investment, so I don't mind taking my time to assess and decide. 

 

My question about how to develop studious discipline and respectful teacher-student rapport wasn't limited to only Qi Gong / Nei Gong, either. There are a variety of adjacent subjects I'd like to learn. But as was pointed out, I could have been clearer about that as well.

 

The overwhelm I mentioned was more existential than anything, a rumination on fate and karma and will, wanting to be worthy of my chosen path, and wanting to make the most out of what I can focus on and influence.

 

Honestly a good indication that I should relax! So I'm focusing on strengthening my daily habits and participating in the community here, and for now I find that's going well.

 

Edited October 15 by 心神 ~

[S:C]

On 12.10.2024 at 2:55 AM, dwai said:

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one should learn to think in full sentences. a student of what? a teacher of what? if it really does not matter of what exactly, then  discipline will be   like digging when in a hole.

 

Moderator  Comment: What is with this aggressive behavior? If you don’t understand the question, and genuinely want to know, you can articulate your question without the condescension. Let me be very clear with you @Taoist Texts - 

if I see even a hint of condescension/bullying from you again, it will result in a permanent ban. 

 

If I learned anything from those I consider a teacher and/or a friend, it is that asking the right questions is imperative (for survival, success or sanity along the way - take your pick!). 
 

Reading TT’s comment did help remind me of a few lessons that always serve to be learned again and again. 

The receiving part might hear his words from the ear of condescension or bullying or aggression, (honi soit qui mal y pense!) - his/her loss - but it seems to be open to a broader spectrum of interpretation and one where TT’ throws Ariadne (modern female cultivators and princesses have to help themselves… (!) no white knight Theseus comes with a sword to kill their dragon… anyways in a weird way they would be the same person anyways) a red thread in the labyrinth of the dragon to find her way out there hopefully.
 

All we can do here in TDB as friends along the way is to throw some trails of breadcrumbs out of the woods of the witch or pointers at the moon (good lord what a mix of metaphors.) If we forbid helpers to speak up it’s getting dim for our chance of success.
 

https://www.buboquote.com/en/quote/32-carroll-if-you-don-t-know-where-you-are-going-any-road-can-take-you-there

 

Applying discipline or cultivation to a lost cause or wrong end is a waste of time and energy that could (or should) be avoided (if it doesn’t coincide with one’s personal goal or nature). It’s always wiser to observe and orient with several options and consequences before deciding for a course of action. 

 

Sometimes a more direct approach can be necessary, I don’t see an insult or offense here: not everybody can teach with silence alone. 
 

Aren’t we all getting a little miffy with the so called modern emotional based rules of rational discourse? Cultivation is no cuddling. 
It must have been more fun to talk in the past.

Edited November 5 by S:C

[Ajay0]

On 10/11/2024 at 11:30 PM, 心神 ~ said:

 

I've read a few discussions on finding a good teacher. I would like to know what one should do to develop personal discipline to become a good student worthy of a good teacher, especially as a student coming from a Western culture.

 

(Apologies if this is not the right section for this question.)

 

 

This is a very beautiful and important concept and point. 

 

Often the right teacher could be there, but because of lack of right mindset and other qualities, the student will lose the opportunity to learn and improve.

 

Even if the teacher may be deficient in teaching skills, the student with the right mindset and qualities can learn optimally all that is to be learnt from the teacher.

[S:C]

On 10.9.2024 at 11:30 PM, Lois said:

 

 

[S:C]

As long as we haven’t a no-resistance (zero-Ohm)teacher that reaches to us from the ‘other side of the light’ we must be aware that we could be taking to the fool or the sage in our teacher at any time… 

 

and as well act and react from the same positions ourselves … as also we still are partly fool and (if lucky) partly sage. 

Not saying: anything goes, but - be reasonable and proportionate in forbidding someone to speak his/her voice! 
 

 

Edited November 6 by S:C

[S:C]

4 hours ago, Ajay0 said:

 

This is a very beautiful and important concept and point. 

 

Often the right teacher could be there, but because of lack of right mindset and other qualities, the student will lose the opportunity to learn and improve.

 

Even if the teacher may be deficient in teaching skills, the student with the right mindset and qualities can learn optimally all that is to be learnt from the teacher.

Indeed. 
And if despite training, discipline and listening there is no improvement it might be time to move on. 

[Ajay0]

On 11/6/2024 at 5:50 PM, S:C said:

Indeed. 
And if despite training, discipline and listening there is no improvement it might be time to move on. 

 

If the master is enlightened, you can benefit just by being in his or her presence.  There is no need to listen or learn anything.

 

The prana/chi levels within oneself increases, and there will be meditation happening spontaneously. The rising chi levels is a reason why there are physical and mental healing experiences around enlightened sages.

 

This can be amplified by being in the presence of a master in the proper frame of mind, positive and equanimous.