wisetaobuddy

for your info to arrange altar as per taoist practictioner it always must face outside door or balcony.This is the first rule.

I am preparing a taoist altar and have read numerous writings on the subject, including what has been posted in this community. Given the "rules" for placement of the altar, I have a dilemma, given the limited space in my relatively small house. The preferred location would place the back of the altar facing north (front to the south), which I understand is good. The issue with this spot is that while it is technically not in a bedroom, it would be at the end of a hallway which opens into my bedroom. That is, there isn't a wall between the altar and the bed. It is a large open space, a converted attic, which I would describe as "loft-like". The second choice would be the den, which is a kind of family room, but the only available wall there would place the back of the altar to the south, front facing north (not desirable). While this is not a bedroom, it has a futon couch which is used as a guest room when needed. What to do, temporarily remove the altar if we have guests? The third and final choice would have to be the basement, where I could pretty much put the altar anywhere. The issue with that is that it's a semi-finished basement and isn't the most inviting space for meditation. Of the 3 choices, which do you feel would make the best location? I'm hoping someone with more experience than me can give some advice.

what kind of altar are you putting up??

Is that a Buddhist belief?

 

To Taoists believe in reincarnating as an animal?

the truth is the buddhist and taoist have the same believe in many aspect also it lead to the same path.The difference is that we dont understand enough the explanation on the dharma .Sometime the dharma quote a few sentence but have thousand of meaning but we manage only to understand a few so this is where we are confused.Hope this help you understand the situation.

we can see once your mind is clear from all the attachment and also we can feel the qi

well...

 

qi - energy

 

gong - work

 

so its working with your qi or energy.

its called working energy and this energy work by itself and guide you through the whole process.Hope you can gain something from my explanation because this is related to all the universal energy.Hope my statement can enlighten you further

We have little enough control over what happens when we are alive. Why then worry about what happens when we are dead?

we are actually can control part of it or reduced the cause of happening if you know how but frankly speaking I would rather agree with you because it will take years or many cycle to understand it.Its quite a complicated and hard to understand because it involve karma issue.

What do you think happens after we die? IS there heaven and hell?

 

I read in some book sages could move out of their bodies and experience another dimension.Is this true? DO they go to the afterlife and come back?

yes there is heaven and hell and animal realm so it all depend on your karma which place you should go.Nope they will be reborn as different physical form but still carry with them the wisdom and merit they learn and earn on this life.

If they are fed and well-regarded, they will be happy indeed, and many obstacles can be averted!

ya once they are fed up they will leave you in peace

the less attachment you have

the more enlighten you got

quote by myself

A few days late, but happy ghost month bums.

 

Good time for lighting some incense to feed the hungry ghosts and pay respects to your ancestors.

 

Bad time for swimming, whistling, and all kinds of other things if you believe in them.

 

I think the main day for putting out the offerings, the main ghost festival day is the 21st this year. So get your ghost money, incense, fruit, and other offerings ready. Oh and don't hang out clothes to dry at night, or pick up red envolopes in the street, and watch what you say about the departed even better yet don't say the word "ghosts"......Traditionally not a good time to schedule surguries, weddings, sign contracts, move, etc..... Just generally not very auspicious until the gates of hell close again and the ghosts return.

 

The gates of hell close again on the 5th of September (full moon) and like I said, the main festival day for offerings is the 21st of August (new moon).

I dont think its happy ghost month.It should be hungry ghost festival month

Most of what you just said is highly documented in books. What I have found in my practices is that I can feel what is and what isn't working. It's not a gift, we're all born with this ability. Teachers can show you the way, they can also discipline you, but ultimately you know your limits.

sorry i didnt say something from the book but all I say was from my own practice and wisdom.Nope teacher cant show all because its also depend on the limit of each person like what you say because if I am gonna teach you something that you dont understand then it will make the matter worst.So a good teacher will teach according to the student limit.Yes I agree with you that we the only one know how it feel when things is not working but a good teacher will notice you when you have a problem.Well not all are born with this ability because some of them dont even recognised your practice and your religion.So we are born to according to our karma not to the same believe and practice.Sorry to bring out the word karma.

I disagree with some of what you're saying. It's chicken and the egg. What came first? Who taught Da Mo the fist and palm forms while he was spending 9 years facing a wall? I mean let's be honest here, If you can't figure out how to stand in first position of Zhan Zhuang or perform Baduanjin without a teacher then you probably are not meant to achieve much spiritually in this lifetime - and that's okay.

 

Another thing is finding an authentic teacher, not a white dude in a dojo that charges $150 a month to hand out belts. This doesn't mean white people can't become masters, but it's growing extremely rare to find even an authentic asian master to teach you this stuff.

 

However, I agree with you that if you can find a teacher (granted someone authentic/legit) to show you the way, that it is ultimately better than learning from out of a book. Just don't be so quick to dismiss the power/intention of a well written book by authentic masters.

Well a real chi kung practioner is the one that know how to regulate the chi.So you need to understand what is the chi doing and how we can absorb the chi and regulate the chi.Well you need a master to tell you how.But thats not the case some of them are blessed with the capability or in other words its naturally having this capability but didnt realise what its but this its just a small number out of few thousand .

 

I was referring to the latter in the quote but it was ambiguous and argumentative.

ok and you are right that we dont need to perform ritual to be a good taoist practioner

Hello dear Bums

 

I have had an unintended active Kundalini since January 2010 and gone through about 1500 hours for letting all kinds of kriyas occur naturally. The process has been very fascinating and challenging, but I don't seem to have changed much on a deeper level. I'm still the same person I was before the awakening. I have gone through some heavy mood swings but I don't feel any more overall calmness, happyness or deeper connection to anything.

Isn't all the kriyas supposed to clear mental and emotional blockages? Does it take way more time?

 

I have read that a Kundalini awakening can be a waste of time without proper cultivation, but on the other hand many also say it's dangerous to proceed with further sprititual practices? I tried some deep meditation and that seem to stir up some bad emotions, should I proceed or is there better and safer ways and methods for cultivation? I work a full time job so I don't have much time study and test everything. I would love to be able to live a relatively normal life while gaining some of the benefits of Kundalini, if that is even possible. I feel that my nervous system is a little messed up and that I have some old resentment that should be dealt with. Any good practices to handle that?

 

Is KAP legit btw?

 

I'm a little on the egde right now so excuse all the noob questions that have been floating in my head for the last days. Any tips and suggestions is very appreciated.

well first you need to understand what is kundalini?its the external force or the energy that flow in to your body.This energy will guide you in your body such as moving your hands,head and your body as well.You need to have some experienced teacher to tell you what is this and that so that you can progress further.Its good that you practiced this but you just missed the understanding of it.You see every meditation also you must understand what its and how it affect you and what is the benefit of it and how can you achieved it.There is actually every answer to all your meditation practice and everthing that you gone through.To me you have a good start because you are connected unintentionally to the external energy so you are destined to achieve it.Once you understand what you are practicing then you will find it easy and relax and thus you will have more confidence on your meditation.My advice is keep on asking question if you have doubts so that you can understand better.I will be glad to help you as long as I am here.

If breathing doesnt play a significant role....then you've got to go back to 101 class

sorry for me breathing doesnt play any significant role at all because I am using the nature energy to practice my meditation.

Well, a Taoist may not have to perform any rituals at all to be a good Taoist practitioner.

he was refering to a taoist priest and not a normal taoist follower or practioner so a priest need to be involved in chanting and ritual.

AM I right?

 

There is stillness all around, now. I imagine it has always been there. Both inside my body, your body, and all the 'space' that seperates us and everything else. What is interesting about this empty stillness is that it can act as a medium for consciousness to travel through. I am not sure if the stillness and consciousness are mutually exclusive sources. It is through this space that I am able to connect with other sentient beings, feeling their energy, transmitting my own, etc. It is possible, I believe, to stay in contact with this empty stillness all day without mental strain. To wear it within you. In fact, this stillness seems to exists seperately from intellectual cogitation entirely.

I know you must know what I am speaking of. What do you call it? Is it the seat of the eternal? Is this the 'void' that I am sensing from within my own body?

Again, thank you for the time and consideration

how you know its in other people body??hope you can explain more so that I can share some of my experience and able to clear your doubt

I've seen mention in other places about the art of writing Taoist talismans. I've searched around here but haven't seen any mentions. Does anyone have any experience with this and/or know where I could learn more about this?

well to me you need to practice to summon the heavenly gods to be able to write a talisman and I am not sure whether you understand what is thte heavenly gods.

well not all priest are performing the same kind of ritual so we actually dont need to be a taoist preist but what is important is that as long as your ritual or whatever you perform is seeing result then you can consider yourself good taoist practioner

Talismans are taught to initiates of the school of whatever sect that uses them. The are forbidden in general to be taught to others, and you need to have initiation for them to work. So in order to learn talismans you have to join some sect or school or lineage. Otherwise you are just writing stuff like doodles, or collecting information about them like a librarian. They are connections to other levels of reality and those beings.

i agreed because its link to third dimension thing so you need a teacher or guidance to practice it

any style is a good style but still not all can practice all of them because each of us have different physical condition and also different in our purpose of learning it

hi all,

I am new to this site and hope to find a truly good practictioner here which can share knowledge in meditation and experince.