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I prefer her over Lord Byron. (Just kidding. I haven´t read Lord Byron.)

This bunch of bums is not representative and on top of that the ratio male female is heavily skewed. Too much women meekly do as the church tells them, thereby betraying their sisters.

I find this one a fun informative documentary. Be patient because he'll only find what he's looking for in the second part of the documentary.

Mhe ...... your poem was better .

The answer is Nungali - I’m not kissing him!

I miss a lot of the old school here.

no, but i see several movements of fanatics, when those grow we will soon have a problem. Roughly a third identifies themselves as Christians Good to hear, I guess in places were most people are going to church the fanatics are a minority, i fear the new movements wich find their existence in fanatics and do not have the buffer of a large group of people with more moderate ideas In this case I do not mind much the rational view, i get enraged. its Christians that drove out the old ways, Christians that reduced women to a lesser sort of human christian who deny women to decide about their pregnancies, who chucked gynecological care into the hands of men. really Apech, I get a red haze before my eyes when I think about it, thats a deeprooted anger in me. and whichever group of christians did it is not of much interest for me, the thoughts and idea of the witch-hammer still do the rounds in all the misogyny I've seen and endured in my life. as I said, they killed and tortured my tribe

What is up with this semen obsession? lol Also (and I could be wrong, but I'm not) I think, thinking and seeking literal super powers is more of a young man fantasy.

I was just contemplating this yesterday. Why are there so many more men on here than women? But in TCM its just the opposite.

It took me a long time to get into this book - about a year and 150 pages. I am so glad I persisted as I am finding it magical and full of creativity and life! Just finished it with tears in my eyes and gratitude in my heart. Highly recommended!

I have never heard the vatican condemning surgery on little innocent intersex babies. These kids are assigned a gender without having a say in it. Mystics of any religion are much more interesting then the official dogma's for the peepul

Both of my lineage teachers repeatedly emphasize the same. There is no need to chase or try and manufacture the MCO. It is a natural process native to us that will be revealed without any need to chase or manufacture. Indeed chasing and trying for force, are impediments.. The emphasis seems to be about embodying pure raw beingness whether in movement or stillness, on the cusion (or doing the laundry eventually), unlayered, unfettered quiet being and then the natural process once hindered by all the layers is revealed and experienced within settled awareness and being. The further i walk the path of motion and stillness, the more unshakable the experience of stillness inheirent in all movement. The more they merge into liquid reflections of each other... it seems there abides a point of stillness out of which, and to which all movement arises from and returns to...

\ I had kept this thread but admit I never read it ( or have forgotten about)

Do as "the way" is quite common in all the Zen literature. But usually doesnt refer to Dao as understood in Daoism but as the way meanig the Zen way or the buddhist way. For example: “From thought-instant to thought-instant, no FORM; from thought-instant to thought-instant, no ACTIVITY—that is to be a Buddha! If you students of the Way wish to become Buddhas, you need study no doctrines whatever, but learn only how to avoid seeking for and attaching yourselves to anything.”― Huang Po, The Zen Teachings of Huang Po: On the Transmission of Mind

Thanks for the book and and for providing LDT meditation technique 🙏

Neidan is a made-up western word which means 1) the teaching of alchemy, 2) the practice of alchemy 3) the product of alchemy (the elixir). These are 3 different things yet the westerners lump all 3 of them into one fake term The westerners made up this fake term in order to delude themselves that they can A) understand the alchemy, B ) practice the alchemy C) teach the alchemy - without ever D) producing the elixir. To answer your question: NO. For normal people, with or without a teacher, it is not possible. YES . For a particularly gifted, 1-in-a-billion person, it is possible . This exceptional book explains " LDT meditation technique" for virtue, health, power and wisdom in complete detail. Who could get these results from this book will be able to advance to neidan.

The third movie is the closest to "alright" of the bunch. Allegedly the director didn't read the book.

I read the first two books in the 90’s cos my daughter - who never read books was obsessed with Harry Potter. I must admit I thought they were very derivative and poorly written. I have never watched any of the films.

She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

I went through all of those youth novels, Harry Potter, Twilight (couldn't make up my mind between team Edward or Jacob), Hunger Games.

bad person, worse author

well, just a guess a lot of guys find Daoism due to them doing some form of martial arts, and they are prone to be power hungry after making fire with their fingers and blasting things out of the way... women tend to be more interested in healing and caring But I do not know and its unbalanced years ago the men and womens places were created to get rid of all the posts about semenretention That was good action women are a tiny minority here that's one of the reasons that at the first sign of misogynistic behavior I pounce also the whole forums is not to be compared with what it was, i hope it will become alive again, I remember a place teeming with threads of all kinds and lotsa people.

Currently reading Narcissus and Goldmund, by Herman Hesse. A good novel definitely.

Ah, hope you managed to make it! Sorry, I should have posted it on here earlier

what is up with sticking pins in people? 😀 super powers is def a bloke thing.

I thought it was just the martial arts background of many plus the mantak chia retention syndrome which drives many young men here

they've killed off my tribe with their witch hammer and I have not forgotten, nor forgiven. its one of the things that can enrage me, apart from the horrid torture, they've efficiently bred out the voice of smart loudmouthed women, or so they like to think.

An extract from Park's book 'How Buddhism Acquired a Soul on the way to China' attached if anyone is interested.

True but I think officially what the Pope says is how it is, at least officially. Aside from that I have listened to Catholics that represent the entire spectrum of views.

My impression from reading Catholic stuff is that there´s lots of room for dissenting opinions in Catholicism, that each person has to consult her own conscience about matters. So perhaps the Catholic mystics you find interesting aren´t always in agreement with the official Vatican statements?

I was unaware the small heavenly cycle existed, until one day teacher said to me, when you practice tomorrow touch your tongue to the palate on that spot. it was as if a dry riverbed suddenly filled up, it roared though my system and although it does not roar anymore, it just keeps on going, even without any practice.

The Catholic stories in particular always take a steep nose dive into darkness for me whenever the battles against witchcraft get mentioned... Anyone a bit different than 'the norm'... any women using the old pagan folk remedies to cure the same whooping cough... anyone who didn't 'act right'. Kind of like the heavier and more virulent reactions by many to trans folks and the new awakening in society right now.

I can't comment on whether it blocks the neidan in specific, as I don't practice Taoism, but indeed that's the glaring gap that insight meditation/shikantaza and open awareness practices leave open, unconscious processes. They don't leave it 100% as a gap of course as e.g. even baseline mindfulness ie sensing a bodily reaction next to a person provides some contact with unconscious processing. There has been discussion on other threads that eg latent memories may come to surface etc that is all true. However it's not the full power of the unconscious, which can never be fully brought to consciousness as-is, there simply aren't enough brain layers there at the outer layers which compose the conscious mind to store everything in the inner ones. Open awareness practices are excellent but deep unconscious processes will stay under the radar ( automatic reactions will also stay under the radar ), it's those deep processes that drive fundamental changes in life or how someone approaches life. The unconscious doesn't understand time, only "now" is highly symbolic and "decoding" the symbolism is what translates its message. Now as to if that blocks neidan, it blocks a ton of things in life when the unconscious and the conscious are not aligned, so it wouldn't be a surprise if it blocks a spiritual goal. To give credit though as these practices do quiet the mind, this also increases the amount of times someone acts based on what the unconscious is suggesting. What's needed to unlock the full power of the unconscious though, extends beyond that.

The way in either Daoism or Buddhism refer to the "path" and practices, yes. While the highlighted qualia and terminology might be more specific in Buddhism, being in "alignment", or "wu wei" in Daoism, are no different than "Beginner's Mind", or non-doership in Advaita Vedanta for example. Enlightenment is enlightenment. The depth of that enlightenment depends on the degree to which dualities have been seen through and are no longer identified with. Edited to add: Those dualities INCLUDE attachment to specific practices and rites, which Stream Entry (Sotapanna) greatly reduces and arhatship dissolves entirely: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_awakening#Path_and_fruit

CELEBRATE WORLD TAI CHI QIGONG DAY with SIFU TERRY DUNN in Santa Monica, April 27, 11am-1pm PST (Zoomable) To All My Tai Chi and Qigong students and friends — especially those in SoCal: This is a last-minute notice that for World Tai Chi Qigong Day this Saturday, I will be giving a free two-hour Tai Chi and Qigong celebratory class at this spot pictured below in Palisades Park in Santa Monica from 11am to 1pm. This is my “usual” spot where I taught Tai Chi Form and Push-hands classes every Saturday from 1992 to 2017!: https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedefed9f-5c8d-4615-8e85-fcf2e005540e.heic?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Location: This spot between these threes in Palisades Park — along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, 30 yards north of the round rose garden (with the Mrs. Bandini statue) at Montana Avenue “T” intersection. Free ZOOM Participation: World Tai Chi Qigong Day Celebration with Sifu Terry Dunn Time: Apr 27, 2024 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87914345494?pwd=Wkk3anUvYTcwQzNwZjZSWFhHSmFpdz09 Meeting ID: 879 1434 5494 Passcode: 185755 Be there this Saturday or be square! Sifu Terry

From the Title of the OP, I think you have some idea about the Neidan already. LDT meditation is the key to reach the realm of Neidan. If you know how to do that, then, no teacher is required.

It’s full of something alright.

I think what Sam is suggesting is that the idea of distinct ‘things’ called dzogchen or Chan may be confusing. I think it’s not about one thing dominating another thing but more something happened from which what we know as Dzogchen and Chan emerged.

What is that teaching, ..., nothing arises by itself. All things arise in dependence upon their respective causes and conditions. They do not arise without a cause. Words do not just denote a single meaning. They have connotations. Meanings associated with other things. And what is clear to you may not be clear to others. Communications is much like an art form. Not everyone gets it right away. Again, I apologize for my mistake.

Could be Sam van Schaik or Jeffrey Samuel - I have read a lot of both.

I don’t have references to hand I’m afraid.

I’m sure TT is one of those particularly gifted, 1-in-a-billion persons

If we don’t need a teacher to learn neidan, then he should post every step and instruction here.

Was feeling the need of getting some islamic culture specially due to the times we're living. Fortunately the universe was good to me once again and gave the opportunity of traveling to beautiful Tunisia. Will definately leave a piece of my heart here.

Thodgal practice in dzogchen lineages works in a similar way. Seeing and hearing what appear to be external visions but knowing they are arising internally breaks down the inner-outer boundary.

Using single-pointed focus to induce nondual realization. The instruction sounds very much like tummo. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

I've been working my way through a course by Daizan, and have arrived at meditation called 'soft ointment' or 'Nanso no ho'. This is from Hakuin's Yasen Kanna: Now this type of meditation is completely new to me. But I'm guessing the benefits of it come less from the visualised 'ointment' but rather from the 'sung' releasing or letting go that arises as a result. Is this an early step in the neigong process too - releasing downwards in sitting meditation?

You might also be interested in the work of Meido Moore Roshi, who also emphasizes body-based methods in the lineage of Hakuin. I've never seen him mention the wheel of law though.