Mud Dragon

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  1. Means to Cultivate the Body?

    I have joined this forum because I'm curious to learn about qigong and other forms/means that promote health and longevity. I need a physical practice that's simple enough to learn from a book or video. Something I can practice in my home. Something that will allow me to cultivate the body, and subtle energy system. Something which can be done in 90 minutes or less. I suppose my ultimate aims would be immortality and enlightenment. For now I will settle for less bodily discomfort, any physical means to cultivate physical, emotional and mental balance along with greater energy. That is, I have heard, and realized that for greater emotional and mental balance, I need to cultivate physical balance. The mental side of the equation has been addressed. The emotions are partially addressed. The body need attention. I'm not terribly attached to the outcomes, since I've realized a certain degree of immortality. I am not enlightened per se. But I have seen enough to not be very concerned with the eventual death of the body. Been through the occult power-seeking rigmarole when I was a youngster. Blocked up my throat that way, doing western esoteric stuff. Went pretty looney. Spent more than 6 years sorting it out. Very clear minded now. But I need to cultivate greater emotional balance, and develop the physical body. To become wiser and maintain some degree of health as I age, will make me very happy. I have a had a bad accident several years ago (circa 2009) in which my right clavicle was crushed, and my spine damaged. They money I received as compensation is all used up. I don't have good access to a skilled doctor, because of where I live. I'm also on the very low end of the income spectrum. So I don't have money to spend traveling to a teacher, or for expensive materials. I haven't really investigated Taoism. I have spent a multiple year measure of time investigating and learning Buddhist practices. Prior to that I was involved in what might be considered western esoteric thought and practices, along with investigating yoga and tantrism. What brought me here (mostly) was my investigation of Falun Gong. See a few months back I was looking for some way to help alleviate some of the problems I've had with my spine and internal energy system that new age yoga teachers haven't been able to help with. Instead they were like "you were injured because the universe is trying to tell you to practice yoga, sign up for classes, we also do meditation workshops!" Which I find absurd, since I was practicing yoga prior to having a serious accident and injury. I must've gotten really red in the face, because they shut right up, and I politely left... I digress. I have to say, I firmly believe accidents happen. Perhaps it is a matter of providence. Presently, I haven't the beyond-temporal vision to see all the causes and conditions. We'll see what we see. But back to why I'm here: Having tried the five exercises of falun gong, I said "wow this stuff is doing something profound, I can really feel something happening." So I started to read the literature. I read The Falun Gong book, I listened to the 9 lectures a whole bunch of times. I ordered the Zhuan Falun book. (What a waste of money.) Much to my chagrin, I found Mr. Li Hongzhi says a whole bunch of things which don't fit with Buddhist doctrine. I hesitate to investigate how Taoist his ideas are. He makes a bunch of baseless statements which I could neither verify nor ascribe credulity to. But at the same time, I did get a falun implanted before he mentioned it being a thing, and when he mentioned falun, mine was really energized. He has some powers, or is linked into a power system of some kind. It's exact nature I can't discern. But he's no Buddhist, as he doesn't seem to know what nibbana is or what it means to be an arahant. He does seem to think he's an enlightened being of some variety or another. But at one point or another he claims an arahant can regress to become an ordinary being, unintentionally! He says in more than one place that infinite planes are limited.... and so on. I still find some of what he has to say interesting. But I have decided to not study his writings or listen to the lectures anymore. I might read the Falun Gong instructions a few more times, to check my understanding, or compare it with other systems. I'm attached to sutras, tantrism, and practice mantra recitation. So giving that up to practice his looney religion simply won't happen. He says you can't accomplish anything by doing his exercises and practicing anything else. Apparently it's too delicate for the separate Taos and Buddhas to sort out. He says the various Buddhas, Taos and Buddhas are all separate from each other! He even tries to say that the 84,000 dharma-doors are 'unique cultivation ways' that have to be practiced in exclusion to eachother. This is absurd, since mathematics and geometry are two of the dharma doors. Much of what he says contradicts my direct experience and what I've heard from Buddhists with lineage. So I regard him as a cult leader. I do like how Falun Gong is given away freely. That really appeals to the Buddhist values I have bought into. I also like it's simplicity. It's quite effective at energizing the body. I like to drink and curse and smoke though. Plus the whole "give up cultivating Buddhism and follow only Dafa or fail at both" ultimatum. I can give up drinking and smoking. Curse words and Buddhism are a part of this personality that will probably stay. I'd like to continue to practice the Falun Gong movements. But I'm concerned with the fact of the leader being not what he says he is, and teaching things which are false. Like the whole "taking medicine forces the disease karma substance deeper into your body" bullshit. (Buddhas of the past vowed to cause medicinal plants to grow in various realms for the benefit of beings.) I mean, I could throw away the books, and just do the exercise. But the fact is that practicing the forms seems (to my mind) to imply being influenced on an emotional and mental level by the mental and astral gestalt of Falun Dafa. Not to mention the implant! I feel this might impede my progress, and moreover, limit my future possibilities. Mr. Li Hongzhi has committed the fifth heinous act, and as such will be subject to birth in a hell realm. So learning from him seems problematic at best. I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction...! I need a simple exercise regime that will gel with my hermetic Buddhist view and practice. I'd like to continue with Falun Gong movements. But the matter of it being tied to a group whose ideas I reject seems to pose a few problems to which I haven't a sure remedy (aside from emptiness.) I'm not a perfected Kabbalist, not a high level Bodhisattva, and certainly not a Buddha. So my mind and emotions are subject to external influences. I'm very open to doing Daoist exercises, as I've done Hindu ones before. I'm more a hermit than a sectarian. The Buddhist exercise systems I'm aware of are relatively inaccessible to me, and seem at least as complicated as their Hindu counterparts. I'm looking for simplicity with efficacy. Advice on choosing a suitable system for cultivating the body and internal energy system is most welcome!
  2. Means to Cultivate the Body?

    I have been practicing "kunlun level one". It seems to be doing something. I'd describe part of it as tonifying the energy of the internal organs. My internal bodily awareness feels somewhat heightened. I'm more aware of my liver and kidneys. Since it is doing something tangible, I'll make a habit of practicing this posture. Looking through Max's second book, I see there are the five elements standing postures. I will have to habituate those too. Once all that is a habit I will either pick up Jenny Lamb's DVD on Yigong, or I will pick up Sifu terry Dunn's DVDs to see how the Flying Phoenix Qigong affects the body, emotions and mind. I guess it will depend on my inclination at that time. If anything really interesting happens which i'm willing to share, I'll post here. Years ago I had made a habit of practicing the generation stage of white skeleton, and mixed it with cultivating energy clusters in the various power points of the body. I was not very stable with the concentration and resting in emptiness stage of white skeleton at that time. So I would cultivate the energy clusters to help train concentration. I haven't practiced white skeleton for a long time. A few years I would guess. One interesting experience I've had while practicing the "kunlun level 1" posture is the spontaneously arising visualization of white skeleton. Seeing and feeling my bones radiate white light, the whole skeleton feeling energized. I suppose more stuff like this will unfold gradually, as my awareness expands.
  3. Means to Cultivate the Body?

    Can anyone comment as to whether one can practice both yigong and flying phoenix chigong? It seems they do rather different things. I'm totally not familiar with the differing kinds of arts being talked about here, their dynamics and relation to each other. This thread seems to indicate that one could practice yigong and flying phoenix qigong on the same day. I'm thinking flying pheonix in the morning and the yigong in the evening could be doable, if time permits. I dunno what my level of dedication will be like. I suppose it depends on how quickly I'm able to learn the forms. Simplicty makes yigong seem appealing. If I have to choose one of the two, I'm not sure which would be best presently. Might have to throw the dice on this one. Either way, I think I will have to buy one of Sifu Terry or Sifu Jenny's first instructional DVDs. Reading a bit of the thread of Flying Phoenix I am pleased to learn that it has lineage which can be traced back to an influential master of past centuries. I'm really curious about how Yigong may have originated I understand it's Maoshan in origin and has a practie lineage that goes back over 1800 years. Doing the spontaneous adjustment qigong form (as it's described in Pillars of Bliss,) I'm stunned by the effect. I'm also stunned that Coyote get's mentioned before sister Jenny Wu! I'm curious about the actual history of red phoenix, seminar secrets golden flower alchymic-neigung meditations, 5 elements Maoshan i-jong. Where's all that originate? What's it do? Red phoenix is not the same as red sun? Is it? It seems to me there is hype selling the Pineal gland activating koonloon lineage secret protected art.While feeling averse to 'spiritual business,' I'd like to know what this alleged lineage of practice's history is. The apprentice and facilitator lot seem like a bunch of jimmy rustlers, selling 'kunlun lineage' secrets, as taught in my unique and personal way with variations I made up for spiritual cash. Root, branch, fruit.... In addition to all that, can anyone suggest a good book to digest that will help prime my mind for practicing these kind of arts? Right now I have Liao Fan's Four Lessons. I don't know anything about Chinese classics or culture. I'd like to avoid confusion, and speculative approaches to enlightenment, health and longevity. [Edited for brevity]
  4. Means to Cultivate the Body?

    Thank you everyone for your responses. I'm going to have a look at these suggestions over the next few weeks, and see what I most resonate with. No mention of Kunlun?
  5. Hallo

    Hey y'all, I have joined this forum because I'm curious to learn about qigong and other forms that promote health and longevity. I need a physical practice that's both simple, holistic and that can compliment or possibly replace my other practices. Also keeping an eye open for any method that compliments my aims. I suppose my ultimate aims would be immortality and enlightenment. For now I will settle for less bodily discomfort, any physical means to cultivate physical, emotional and mental balance along with greater energy. Unusual abilities and psychic faculties are something that I have an interest in developing. In my view, the development of supramundane ability is something which would come with being highly realized in terms of balanced enlightenment. From what little I know about Daoist immortals, they are said to have various beyond-common abilities too. I'm not terribly attached to the outcomes. Been through the power-seeking rigmarole when I was a youngster. Blocked up my throat that way, doing western esoteric stuff. Went pretty looney. Spent more than 6 years sorting it out. If I do become wiser and can maintain some degree of health as I age, I will be very happy. I haven't really investigated Taoism. I have spent a multiple year measure of time investigating and learning Buddhist practices. Prior to that I was involved in what might be considered western esoteric thought and practices, along with investigating yoga and tantrism. I'm male, and almost 28, if I recall correctly. Maybe that matters to someone. Maybe it's relevant to what I practice. I don't know much at this stage. I'm also left handed, and that seems to be a factor with some of the energy practices I've been investigating and practicing. What brought me here (mostly) was my investigation of Falun Gong. See a few months back I was looking for some way to help alleviate some of the problems I've had with my spine and internal energy system that new age yoga teachers haven't been able to help with. Instead they were like "you were injured because the universe is trying to tell you to practice yoga." Which I find absurd, since I was practicing yoga prior to having a serious accident and injury.... I digress. I have to say, I firmly believe accidents happen. Anyways, having tried the five exercises of falun gong, I said "wow this stuff is doing something profound, I can really feel something happening." So I started to read the literature. I read The Falun Gong book, I listened to the 9 lectures a whole bunch of times. I ordered the Zhuan Falun book. Much to my chagrin, I found Mr. Li Hongzhi says a whole bunch of things which don't fit with Buddhist doctrine. I hesitate to investigate how Taoist his ideas are. He makes a bunch of baseless statements which I could neither verify nor ascribe credulity to. But at the same time, I did get a falun implanted before he mentioned it being a thing, and when he mentioned falun, mine was really energized. He has some powers, or is linked into a power system of some kind. It's exact nature I can't discern. But he's no Buddhist, as he doesn't seem to know what nibbana is or what it means to be an arahant. He does seem to think he's an enlightened being of some variety or another. But at one point or another he claims an arahant can regress to become an ordinary being, unintentionally! He says in more than one place that infinite planes are limited. he claims to explain higher dimensions and then utterly fails to. He says he will make remarks about going beyond the five elements and three spheres, and fails to clarify anything. Also he makes statements about the space in Amida Buddha and other pureland paradises being limited to a certain umber of individuals (in the hundred thousands.) Part of Amida Buddha's vow is that his paradise would accommodate countless beings. Not to mention the whole apocalyptic aliens and technology conspiracy ideas... which appear to be in the process of being sanitized. Also the way he makes certain statements, sounding uncertain and then clears his throat. If he was a westerner I would be absolutely sure he was knowingly full of shit. But I find I don't well grok people from asian cultures. At least not quite as well as I grok people from the culture into which I was born. So maybe I'm way off about the tone of voice and body language. I won't mention that I'm attached to sutras, tantrism, and practice mantra recitation. So giving that up to practice his looney religion simply won't happen. He says you can't accomplish anything by doing his exercises and practicing anything else. Apparently it's too delicate for the separate Taos and Buddhas to sort out. He says Buddhas are separate from each other! I do like how Falun Gong is given away freely. That really appeals to the Buddhist values I have bought into. I also like it's simplicity. It's quite effective at energizing the body. I like to drink and curse and smoke though. Plus the whole "give up cultivating Buddhism and follow only Dafa or fail at both" ultimatum. I'd like to continue to practice Falun Gong. But I'm concerned with the fact of the leader being not what he says he is. I mean, I could throw away the books, and just do the exercise. But the fact is that practicing the forms seems (to my mind) to imply being influenced on an emotional and mental level by the mental and astral gestalt of Falun Dafa. Not to mention the implant! I feel this might impede my progress, and moreover, limit my future possibilities. Heck, it might cause me to descend. I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction...! I need a simple exercise regime that will gel with my hermetic Buddhist view and practice. I'd like to continue with Falun Gong. But the matter of it being tied to a group whose ideas I reject seems to pose a few problems to which I haven't a sure remedy (aside from emptiness.) I'm very open to doing Daoist exercises, as I've done Hindu ones before. The Buddhist exercise systems I'm aware of are relatively inaccessible to me, and seem at least as complicated as their Hindu counterparts. I'm looking for simplicity with efficacy. Also if anyone has a simple method for immortality or extreme longevity.... ping me a few times, and I'll make myself as receptive as I can to dream and trance transmissions. Holy wall of text! How often do I repeat myself? Enough blather I suppose. With sincerity, Mud
  6. Means to Cultivate the Body?

    Thanks Mudfoot, I will read through that thread. I'm concerned with establishing daily physical practice for the body as a habit. Given my situation, the book/video route is the most feasible at present, I would say. Subtleties being lost is something I've considered. But since my options are limited, I'm willing to take the risk. I had an internal energy disorder before, from practicing meditation incorrectly. Sorted it out (mostly) with breathing meditation, meditation on emptiness, meditation on deities and gentle movement. I'm not sure if there is some residual issue with the internal energy; or if what I'm experiencing is merely a result of the accidental injury. Hard to be totally certain, it usually appears as chronic tension in the throat. It may just be from the alignment of the spine, putting pressure on the nerves, combined with chronic muscle tensions. This is part of why I would like to have personal instruction, or a skilled healer around. Lately, since massaging a few acupoints in the hand, wrist and below the knee, I felt some changes in my internal energy. Then doing the falun gong, a similar feeling change. Both situations, massaging the points, and practicing the falun gong, the tension in the throat has been in flux. Also I feel some changes in my digestion, and in some of the channels that run down the front of the body. Hard to characterize, as it is new to me. Feels kinda hot, and a mix of dry and wet. When I was having the internal energy disorder, I would get very strong electrical sensations in my whole body, combined with involuntary movements, muscular tensions, sudden pains, burning sensations, itching, and the ant-crawling sensations. I was used to the ant-crawling sensations from practicing hypnotic techniques. But the other stuff had me scared. It's sorted out now. I think my digestion has been a bit upset by eating at irregular hours, and eating too many chilies. Gotta find a new equilibrium with the eating habits. Meditation on the breath, and treasured deities coming from and dissolving into light/emptiness was probably the most helpful for dissolving the energy problems. As for spiritual alignment, I'm not too concerned at present. I've got some guidance. The approach which has been fruitful so far has been to be broadminded, and as balanced as possible with respect to the elements and planes. That is, in terms of view, and conduct. For the moment that approach is sufficient. If I find myself in a position to have a person instruct me, I will have to consider it. I considered monasticism but realize I'm not interested in being celibate my whole life.
  7. Zhuan Falun (Turning The Law Wheel)

    Hey y'all, I have to chime in here and say that Zhuan Falun does not teach Buddhism. Falun gong might very well be a qigong form of Buddhist origin. But what Mr. Li Hongzhi teaches in Zhuan Falun is certainly not Buddhist in origin. It contradicts the teachings of the Historical Buddha. What is it that Mr. Li Hongzhi teaches about arhats? What is it that he teaches about karma? Isn't it true that Mr. Li Hongzhi states in his lectures that and arhat can have his level lowered unintentionally? Isn't this contradicting what the Buddha taught? What does Mr. Li Hongzhi teach about the root of suffering, the three root defilements? Does he teach that Nibbanna is the cessation of suffering by cutting of the root volition? Didn't the Buddha refute Mahavira's position on the nature of karma being substantial? Didn't the Buddha teach that karma is volition, action and an aspect of Idappaccayatā? Don't take my word for it. Study the sutras for yourself. Compare them with the lectures and Zhuan Falun. If you haven't the time, just look through the table of contents of the book The Refutation and Analysis of Falun Gong. Look at a few of the key points and investigate for yourself. Do as the Buddha instructed and see that in fact, one should not take things as being just as an authority figure says they are. The wise investigate things for themselves. Mr. Hongzhi lacks the qualifications of a Buddha. He denigrates the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. He claims monks "can't save people". What do people need saving from? Being eliminated? When did the Buddha teach that bad people are eliminated? Does Mr Li Hongzhi teach that people are in the three realms because social conditions in heaven became too complicated and people lost their enlightened status because of a loss of virtue? Doesn't this contradict the Buddha's teaching about the root of suffering? Doesn't this imply that Mr. Li Hongzhi has committed the fifth heinous action? Doesn't that imply that he will go to one of hells? These are all rhetorical questions. I am not soliciting a debate. I won't debate this issue. I leave it for each person to sort out for himself. Let me go on to say that Mr. Li Hongzhi displays a great deal of ignorance about Chan, and the West. He posits an eternalist religious philosophy which, to me appears theistic. A Buddha is omniscient, and has the 32 major marks. There are no celestial udumbara trees on earth. This kind of tree grows in the deva realms. It says so in the suttas. Moreover, why do the Falun Dafa people keep bringing up disparate bits of prophecy as a means to support their position? Wouldn't you agree that is a rather weak rhetorical means to curry faith? Why so much emphasis on the end of the world, and the elimination of bad people? Moreover, you should all consider again the 32 major marks of a cakravartin. Does Li Hongzhi have a head protuberance? What do the sutras say about the 32 major marks? Also, if you look at comparision charts availible on the net, you will find Falun Dafa is categorized as it own religion, and is remarkably different from either Buddhism or Taoism. I would say Falun Dafa is just one of these new mash-up religions founded by a charismatic leader. Buddhism and Taoism have more in common with each other than they do this new philosophy expounded in Zhuan Falun. Finally, let me ask, what actually happened to Sakyamuni, when he was seated under the Bodhi tree? Is it like Mr. Li Hongzhi says, he remebered all his past lives and was thus able to teach high level cultivation? Suddenly all his super-normal powers were unlocked and he was then an immortal? I heard, that what happened under the Bodhi tree was that the Bodhisattva became an arahant. He experienced the cessation of the three root defilement of aversion, desire and ignorance. He ceased to have volition. I heard that Li Hongzhi still experiences anger. I heard that teachers who mislead their students go to the cold hells. Lastly, what is this nonsense Li Hongzhi teaches about Buddha's teachings changing over time to accommodate the new things Buddha enlightened to, remembering new ideas from past lives as he taught and expounded the dharma? This contradicts the suttas. Svakkhato Bhagavata dhammo sanditthiko akaliko ehipassiko opanayiko paccattam vedittabbo vinnuhiti! Find out what those words mean for yourself. Study the actual teachings of the Buddha, before accepting some new mish-mash religion's leader as being a Buddha. A man who preaches fear and dogmatism is no Buddha. Buddha accepted questions, and made himself available to his disciples. Mr. Li Hongzhi does not appear to do so. Again, these are all rhetorical questions and statements. I am not soliciting a debate. I won't debate this issue. I leave it for each person to sort out for himself. PS The epoch times is a Falun Dafa run website. They're as biased as the Chinese anti Falun propaganda websites. I have to also say, I would very much like to know more about the real origins of the Falun Gong movements.