Mike

I was wondering if using self-hypnosis mp3 to improve visualization and also meditation ability. When you think how the subconscious has a powerful influence over our concentration, such media might be beneficial. What if we just slept with them at the end of the day after having done all our daily Chi Kung, Tai Chi and Meditative practices. Maybe it might make them better. For instance I've seen threads where people have difficulty visualizing. May be such self-hypnosis would benefit them as well. Obviously, nothing can be better than doing the practice itself to improve practice. But as an aid I have been wondering about this lately. Anyone have experience using self-hypnosis to improve concentration, visualization and mediation? If so, would appreciate any online links and insights to your experience. Regards, Mike

Thus-gone, I know exactly what you mean! I have sometimes felt this way. It sometimes happens to me when I am standing near a ledge on a high place, I think to myself, what if I jumped? And I see myself doing it and then back off. Or I'm ironing my shirt and think:" what if I just put my hands on the iron and burned myself?". Or I have a warm cup of beverage in my hand and think "what if I just threw this into my boss' face?" Ofcourse these are just thoughts and I wouldn't seriously do such things. I'm no expert, and I have personally wondered about this same question before you've just asked. But the thoughts with the chi you mentioned does sound like paranoia. When you feel like you can't control yourself, its best not to resist, you will just make it harder for yourself. Instead feel as if your chi is the river, let the river flow and it will go where it should. But concentrate what you are feeling as well, because it sounds like you are feeling fear. It is this that you must fight. In the end even if you mistakenly caused your chi to behave in a menacing way this is because your mind is interfering with the flow. Once you just let go and forget about it, the chi would probably go back to behaving the way its should be (like the river) flowing in a manner that is most beneficial for you. Also, its good to make a habit and finish your practices by storing the chi in the sea of chi (navel area).

Thanks for the responses. The pain I feel isn't really on any organ. And I personally don't think it is a serious pain. I've just noticed that whenever I practice it, I start feeling some strange feeling. Pain may not even be the right word here. I usually feel this pain (or discomfort), around the lower part of my spine, around the forearms, wrists and sometimes my legs. As I said, its not pain in the organs, but more like pain in the veins. Its as if the chi is is coursing through my veins at a high intensity and it is this intensity which is causing the discomfort. The pain doesn't really happen while I am doing it, but mostly later during the day. I definitely feel its affects throughout the day. Hope someone knows what I mean.

I would like to ask the opinions here about the Microcosmic Orbit meditation. This was a practice that I used to do a lot in the past and after some time I have decided to do it again. One thing that happens when I practice this is that I sometimes I feel slight pain. I remember this used to happen to me before when I practised this. But I have never been certain as to why it happens. Is it a good sign? Is it because the chi is coming into contact with blockages? Is that what is causing the pain? When it comes to the blockages does it clear the blockages? Or is all this pain, a bad sign? Am I doing something wrong? What I worry about sometimes is if I didn't concentrate well enough on some points causing an imbalance. Would appreciate advice on this. Thanks

Well I consider myself to be a student of Tai Chi and Chi Kung since I have practiced these both on my own and also as part of a class. I am also very interested in Taoism and its teachings. I am happy to have found your forum. Its seems to be the best one I've found so far regarding everything related to Taoism. Thanks, Mike

I've just joined but just realized the lobby is the only place I can make any form of post, Why aren't we allowed to post to other threads?