oak

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Posts posted by oak

  1. Posted

    the mystery gate is a fairly contested subject in Daoism, with early schools believing it to be the nose and mouth, and then some schools making the criticism that it actually referred to the lower dantian, third eye, or solar plexus, but the best definition of the mystery gate, and the one I personally use is that of Huang yuanji, which is that the mystery gate is the time when the mind enters into the  "Hun dun" or chaotic state.   This state is when the kun hexagram reverts to the fu hexagram (deepest yin passes and one yang line emerges as the base of the six lines),  The first place I've seen this articulated in terms of neidan was in some poetry from the southern school, but the middle school totalizes it into a theory of how the meditative mind moves from the active (you wei) to the inactive (wu wei) and then action without action (wu bu wei).   In this case, it is when pre heaven jing, qi, and shen all collect together in Chaos and fortify the energy body, as well as giving birth to stronger post heaven Qi.   

    In practical terms, the mystery gate refers to when we forget ourselves.  Huang Yuanji called this "I do not know what my home is."

    It is the big difference between practices which focus on the pre heaven and practices which focus on the post heaven.  post heaven practices will look to build Qi by coaxing it with the intention, while pre heaven schools build Qi by entering into emptiness to the point where the mind disappears for a brief time.  When it comes back, the alchemical process has been started without our even having recognized it happening.    This is totally in keeping with how the Neidan school articulates two different kinds of Qi, one means the qi related to breath, blood and external nutritional elements, the other type of Qi refers to something which is tempered in emptiness.

     

    Thank you, sillybearhappyhoneyeater.

    • Like 1

  2. Posted

     

     

    Neidan is not "safe" and waidan is not "unsafe" by themselves -- it all depends...  A transmission is neither a safe nor an unsafe method.  It is something inherited from the shamanic tradition where the new shaman had to have prepared herself and to have been chosen by the spirit realm to receive it, or else it might even kill her.   On the other hand, someone chosen for the task couldn't safely refuse it either.  

     

    Most true taoist transmissions are, generally, of the same kind. 

     

    Is there in Taoist alchemy an equivalent to the "dark work" of western alchemy, a terrifying and painful purification as the starting point of the process? The question is for anyone who wants to answer it. Thanks.

  8. Posted

    So she goes and kisses a frog, and sees that it's still a frog, despite her father calling her princess. She found a lie.

     

    The only way I would say that truth is beyond logic, is because Logic always gives us a description or analysis of reality - "the map is not the place". Aside from that, Logic is the prerequisite of all truth.

     

     

    Don't think she found a lie. She's in the process of understanding truth expressed in a non linear form.

     

    If logic was the perequisite of all truth there wouldn't be the necessity of symbols and there is such a necessity as we all dreamers know and it's natural. How about paradoxe? Paradoxe is another natural expression of deeper truths (again can be found in dreams), right daoist bro?

  10. Posted

    I would call it knowing by sensitivity like Lord Wenhui's cook. Truly amazing, and it seems like it's something achievable like the young man in the above video demonstrates.

    • Like 1

  14. Posted

    My problem is.. I don't know divine guidance from my minds whispers. 

    Actually that would make a good thread. 

    I think it would make a great thread too  :)

    I don't know either divine guidance from my minds whispers but it's important for me that I sincerely ask for it. My experience tells me that it comes in all shapes and forms, many times in amazing synchronistic ways.

    It came to my mind a wise thought from the TTC that I can't locate right now but it goes something like this _ the wise man let's people reach their conclusions as if they got there by themselves _ please everyone forgive me for somehow daring to misquote Lao-Tzu.

    • Like 2

  15. Posted

     Keep it balanced with good grounding and you'll go far. 

     

    Grounding being walks in nature, seated meditation, physical activity.. keeping centered. 

     

    Asking for Divine guidance is also very important. I'm afraid male baldness comes with the territory, just take a look at the simbology of the "sacred bald man" (buddhist, egyptian etc.)

     

    Best wishes

    • Like 1