Trunk

I like the air association better, just makes more sense, imho. I’ve seen a lot of people make up some pretty round-about explanations about why “metal”. I suspect that it has to do – at least partly – with the strong east asian warrior traditions, and their use of chi kung (including breathing exercises) for development of internal power,…[Read more]

i> I once did a research paper on cigareete addiction and it turns out that your brain actually develops more an dmore receptor sites on it’s surface to absorb the opiate like transmitters from cigarretes.. >

I’ve been doing some meditations, and readings, on the brain, that I think might be relavent. (Though I’ve not been a smoker..) Here’s…[Read more]

I heard an interview with Tommy Chong on the radio recently, and he and Peter Sellers used to hang out sometimes. From what he described, Peter was a very unusual guy and they had wild, wild times together. (That makes me laugh without even remembering the story specifics. Just think: Tommy Chong and Peter Sellers hangin out for an evening! lol!)

> Excellent article. Thanks. >

Wow. I 2nd that.

check it out 😉Therapy Session

> someone needs to separate chi kung into a system of exercises totally devoid of theological.. frameworks.. >

On what basis do you say that? Sounds arbitrary and capricious to me. Perhaps based on personal and/or prevelent cultural preferences, not on a thorough investigation of what is what re: chi kung. (I might also add that going by…[Read more]

Things we can all do.

Thank you. Ordered just now (conveniently, they take PayPal).

> Brief discussion: >
> he glosses over, .. without giving an adequate explanation of his own practice, and the transformations it acheives to convert jing to shen and VV. >

I can see how one could look at it that way. I always just took it that it was not his role to teach.

> I also wonder why if Sean only believes in concrete results…[Read more]

Singing Ocean,

so> If you can’t back up your statements with even a brief discussion, .. >

A brief review of Denty’s posts shows that Denty’s posts here, while few in number, have often been very lengthy and quite considered. Similar to his posts at TTBs. Considering that his intent was only to make short forays at both sites, that is home…[Read more]

s> Where is David? .. >

It’s common for teachers to keep some distance from each other; potentially too contentious, otherwise. The main duty of each teacher is to run their school – not go into some other’s school and this-&-that. It’s a matter of staying to what is important.

Just my point of view.

s> not on some secluded process…[Read more]

I’ve had a feeling for a while (several yrs) that there’s not much time. Looking at external events, I think that it’s likely that big cities will be less and less safe in the coming years, decades. I’ve always preferred country living, and am happily making arrangements to move to some place where there’s more nature, with plenty of neighbors…[Read more]

Seems to me that the term “stagnation” can be broadened to include stuckness at any level, form~energy~formlessness (or however you want to slice it up), and that different approaches apply to different levels (ex. physical work-out, energy work, deep-center stillness).

Thanks for the wudang orbit tip!

Mx> -Why is the original book “Taoist Secrets of Love” still being sold? >

MW> Its publishers choose to sell it under copyright agreements signed 20 years ago.
While it caused problems for a small number of students who did not do the preparatory work, it also caused a revolution in sexual consciousness in the West that was badly needed.…[Read more]

Fajin,

F> we don’t attempt to “beat the idle thoughts to death,” just let them pass by like the birds in the sky or fish in the sea. >

Agreed with the principle and experience that one can’t “effort” the thoughts to stop. 🙂

> Taking a break from forums, >

Healthy. 🙂
Look fwd to a hello after you return.

Trunk

Fajin,

F> The main difference is the non-thinking is not grasping to those thoughts. .. As Dogen says, put your thinking in the palm of you hand. >

I would agree that not getting attached, entangled, in train-of-thought is a step in the right direction re: meditation.

F> Yes idle thoughts die, not the thinking process. >

I disagree. I…[Read more]

I quite disagree.

“No-thought” means simply that: a meditational state where the flow of conceptual thoughts cease (they are not “suppressed”, btw). Various states of mind, pure energy flow, and purification becomes much more available as a result.

In some lineages it is relatively common for no-thought to occur for students. In many other…[Read more]

> Cleary: .. My work is not connected to any personal, political, or sectarian associations or alliances. ..

As I have already translated both Buddhist and Islamic scripture from their original Sanskrit and Arabic, I was requested to address that assembly. I just recited some scripture as an amicus mundi, friend of the world. >

🙂

me & some others have been keeping a note-pad of work, some of which might fall under the heading of ‘positive practice experiences’.

i> in reality there is an entire enteric nervous network based in the intestines, a definite nerve plexus extending towards it from the spine,.. >

Also, the concentrated energy of jing has a lot to do with energizing, nourishing, creating sensation within the nerve plexuses (as well as subtle goings-on), and this comes not just from the…[Read more]