2 hours ago, Chang dao ling said:

For example if you do meditation on agna chakra within 7 to 10 years you will develop clairvoyance.

 

You shouldn't be sharing info like this. If anyone picks it up, then they may develop a powerful siddhi without any supporting development. Clairvoyance is one the more dangerous ones. One reason is that opening spiritual vision means that the spirits can now easily see you too.

12 minutes ago, Taoist Texts said:

siddhis do not exist in the physical external world. they are internal subjective phenomena in and of the practitioner's consciousness. whoever believes in  external siddhis is naive. whoever claims to sell  external siddhis is selling a bill of goods.

 

 

39 minutes ago, Pak_Satrio said:

This might be a silly question but I’ll ask it anyway. I’ve recently bought a smartwatch that can record pulse, breathe and other functions of the body. Is it safe to wear it while practicing Flying Phoenix or will the electronics etc interfere with the FP energy?

 

This is what Sifu Terry had to say about jewelry over a decade ago:

 

On 3/26/2011 at 6:29 AM, zen-bear said:

Flying Phoenix Qigong is so benign and very accommodating that one can wear rings, watch, bracelets (for the ladies) and all the neck jewelry and bling that one cares to while practicing. Normal jewelry will not interfere with the process of cultivating the FP healing energy. (I am excluding, of course, esoteric types of crystal jewelry created for alchemic purposes.)

 

I say this based on two levels of experience:

 

(1) In the years that I trained with GM Doo Wai, he only took his watch off for one purpose: to spar or to demonstrate martial techniques. When he practiced and demonstrated Flying Phoenix Qigong and other Bok Fu Pai (White Tiger) meditations--much of which I videotaped,the grandmaster never took off any of his jewelry. And he would wear rings, pendant on chain, and also certain pins on his clothing that signified his standing in the Chinese healing/herbalist community.

 

(2) Other forms of qigong and neigong are better practiced without jewelry or without clothing for that matter. For example, some of the advanced neigung exercises of Tao Tan Pai ("Taoist Elixir Method" Kung Fu) of Grandmaster Share K. Lew are best done without clothing. They just work better that way. Another reason is that one "sees" better if one is practicing in front of a mirror.

 

But that is not the case with FP Qigong: one's normal jewelry that one wears on a daily basis--and which carries one's energy anyway--is not a problem to wear while practicing.

 

Sifu Terry on electronics a few years ago:

 

On 12/12/2021 at 3:22 AM, zen-bear said:

Also, while we're on the topic of earphones filling the human auditory channel--and as a basic healthcare tip:  remember NOT to have an active smartphone next to your head or on your body for any extended period.  While there has been no definitive science that has proven any trends of increased head and neck injuries due to cell phone use over the past 20+ years, I believe,  based the science I've read to date, that smartphones today emit more low-frequency non-ionizing radiation than ever before because they are transmitting and receiving more complex data than ever before.  So to be safe, always turn on the speaker mode of your smartphone when conversing or use wired or Bluetooth earphones or  headsets instead of putting the phone next to your ear.  If you have to talk directly into a smartphone, tilt the phone away when you speak and bring it closer when you listen.  That's because a phone emits more radiation when its transmitting data than receiving date.  And every millimeter counts; the emitted radiation  decreases logarithmically the farther away you hold the phone.  [Flashback:  moreover, my accidental research in a Las Vegas hotel casino  back in the early 1990's had me observing hundreds of people coming out of a huge cellphone manufacturers' convention put on by Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Apple, etc....and practically every single person with a visible phone was wearing wired headphones.  I figured then that that  industry knew something about dangers of cellphones that we consumers didn't. ] I still feel the same way today.

 

At any rate, to play it safe, make sure that you practice FP Qigong free of any radiation-emitting electronic devices.

Also, do not practice FP Qigong in any location that is spiritually active--unless you know with absolute certainty that the place is sacred!

 

 

On 3/5/2019 at 6:32 PM, zen-bear said:

It would make sense if you said not to do it at home, because I have a lot of difficulty doing it there, it just seems to be more awkward generally, either I get interrupted by my child, or I get distracted by sounds like someone being there, or whatever the obstacle may be on any given day. It may look like coincidence, but it may be because I should not?

••  You've pretty much answered your own question about whether you should practice FP Qigong at home or not.  Co-habitating spirit(s) aside, because your practice is generally more distracted, awkward, and interrupted at home, unless you can secure your abode and shut out any and all forms of mundane interference, you would be better off practicing in a more quiet, comfortable and secluded setting.  If you have no other alternatives to practicing FP at work in a room with a lot electronic equipment, then that will have to suffice.  It is certainly not ideal, but at least you won't be interrupted.  Everyone has to cope and make do with their environments in order to practice FP.  Over the years, I've practiced countless times in spaces with turned-on electronic equipment and/or machinery not in operation.  And as a matter of  fact, when GM Doo Wai taught me and the circle of students I had formed in the early 90's, about 80% of training was in a hotel room with the television turned on.

 

Hopefully this helps while Sifu Terry's answer is still pending.

Meeting with European Campaigners for Peace

November 8, 2023

Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - This morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama met a group of peace campaigners mostly from Europe. Their leader, Sofia Stril-Rever from France, declared that their hearts were filled with joy to meet him again. She told him that they were inspired by the example he has set in service of humanity. She reported that the group took part in observing the UN endorsed Day of Conscience on 5th April. This occasion is dedicated to establishing fundamental freedoms and human rights for all people without distinction.

 

Stril-Rever asked His Holiness how good conscience and love can contribute to lasting peace in the world and he responded:

 

“As human beings we all receive our mother’s love as soon as we are born. As young children we unhesitatingly play with other children without caring where they are from or what they or their family believe. This kind of openness is our basic human nature.

 

“As adults, too many of us see other people in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’, basing our discrimination on secondary political or religious differences between us. If we are to contribute to peace among us, we must find ways to acknowledge that fundamentally, as human beings, we are all the same. We share a common experience. We are born the same way and ultimately, we all die.

 

“Focussing on differences of nationality or faith just becomes an excuse to kill each other. It’s unthinkable. Even animals live together more peaceably. If things are to change, we 8 billion human beings must learn to live together on this planet. We must recognise our common humanity. That’s why, whenever I meet someone new, I always see them as another human being like me. And because of this I recognise that we all belong to one human family.”

 

In answering questions about the climate crisis, His Holiness remarked that the changes taking place seem to be beyond our ability to control. He reiterated that as human beings we are all the same and we must learn not only to live together but also to work together in our common interest.

 

“While we still have time,” he added, “it would be sensible to cultivate a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood and help each other. We need to find a way to prolong the basic human love our mother shows us at birth and extend it to others for the rest of our lives.”

 

Asked how religion can influence the future of the world, His Holiness replied:

 

“The essence of religion is warm-heartedness. This is what all religions teach, whatever philosophical stance they adopt. Warm-heartedness is the essence: cultivating this is what will help.”

 

https://www.dalailama.com/news/2023/meeting-with-european-campaigners-for-peace

 

 

 

The Efficacy of Non-Violence

 

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53 minutes ago, Maddie said:

Honestly as an acupuncturist I would find it very interesting if qi could be proven to exist.

 

See my old post here:

 

 

There are many ways to study and approach the qi phenomenon and how the human energy-body works. I've also read of cultivators in Germany using infrared video cameras to capture how the body reacts to higher training.

8 minutes ago, Maddie said:

Manta is one of my main practices

 

 

Mantas are beautiful creatures and diving in the sea is a great hobby for sure. You take photos or just go on to admire them?

On 12/5/2023 at 3:25 AM, johndoe2012 said:

I would say sex with love will actually open your heart more than someone who just meditates. It is real rather than fake and dry.

 

Do you feel there is difference between romantic love and altruistic love?

 

Why do you think the Mahayana Buddhist practice is centered around cultivating bodhicitta, i.e. altruistic love? Could it make meditation more powerful by any chance?

19 minutes ago, RobB said:

Any chance we can keep threads about specific teachers to the https://www.thedaobums.com/forum/413-systems-and-teachers-of/ section?

 

Endlessly entertaining though these threads are, they do make the place look rather untidy.

 

The Dao Bums doesn't have any decent policy for content curation. Think of it as the anarchists' library where books are often placed and returned on random shelves.

In general, Mitchell says that his main lineage is Dragon Gate.

Mr. Mitchell keeps his lineage information hidden which is considered alright and even normative in the Daoist tradition. Not everyone likes this lack of transparency.

On 12/5/2023 at 3:57 PM, liminal_luke said:

Good heavens -- what will we think of next!?

 

My thoughts about the overall abuses in this thread:

 

Having correct ethical discipline gives clear and meaningful speech. Lacking maturity or kindness, it's easy to permit abusive language, odd attempts at humor, or get sidetracked into nonsense.

 

If a person believes that causing no harm is a valid and highly worthwhile value, then there is real consideration for not harming others even by accident. Not harming is one of the few indicators that are difficult conceal and which show pretty accurately where a person stands in their ethical training, and by that I would also say how well their preliminary training has succeeded.

 

Preliminaries should be in everyone's heart when any strange powers or attainments are brought up because it's heartfelt kindness which actually transforms and empowers people. The lack of love only empowers vices and delusion.

6 minutes ago, Mark Foote said:

The "foggy sea-bottom" point?

 

Basically huiyin, yes.

1 minute ago, GreatAutumn said:

Oh, that's just how they start

 

Thank you for confirming your ignorance.

3 minutes ago, GreatAutumn said:

Shoot man, I should start my own cult, this stuffs pretty profitable.

 

You probably have no experience of genuine cults based on how and what you write, therefore you are just another person who doesn't really know how to articulate their thoughts.

 

Cults always have more sinister stuff going on than some crazy monetization scheme(s), but so far you have or anyone else has even implied anything of those on Rudi or his teachers. Of course, it's a very effective insult to call some group randomly a cult because it just suits your fancy, isn't it?

Some years ago I discussed briefly with @freeform about a neigong practice that had a non-standard lower dantian: it was located at the perineum.

 

What does this mean? It tells that the location of the lower dantian is really flexible and can depend on the cultivation method entirely, unless the dantian forms spontaneously through meditative practices. This also implies that some qigong and neigong methods may have natural incompatibility unless the dantian is fully developed already.

 

What is the point of having the dantian in the perineum? It allows a greater stimulation of the root chakra and basic vitality. The downside is that the practitioner must have a very strict discipline in ethics and sexual behavior so that it doesn't lead into losing steam to increased sex drive. There might be other considerations also, but I'm not initiated in the practice and don't know more details.

4 minutes ago, Partez said:

My attitude has nothing to do with reality.

 

Oh boy.

1 minute ago, Partez said:

don't think you understand what I'm trying to say.

 

I understand perfectly well that you are pulling a lot punches with little regard to proper investigative dialogue, etiquette, and how others feel about your judgmental views which you explain as straight facts.

 

1 minute ago, Partez said:

I'm just observing the inner workings of the scam now through his videos.

 

You are inspecting your attitudes and giving them a public voice.

 

3 minutes ago, Partez said:

It's got nothing to do with actual Reiki.  I just used the word Reiki to mean "subtle" energy, or basically anything that doesn't involve set up.  They can't be expected to demonstrate their "electric Qi" at any time now, can they?

 

You really shouldn't be discussing things you don't have the faintest idea about.

1 minute ago, Partez said:

My point doesn't have anything to do with reiki.  By reiki I just mean they aren't showing you the magic trick demonstrations that need set up, so their bread and butter energy work is nothing spectacular.

 

There seems to be substantial issue that you write a lot that doesn't actually mean what it implies, and then go on calling others liars without even bothering to make any throughout investigation.

7 minutes ago, Partez said:

In this video he gives away that most of the "energy" demonstrations these fakes use is just your typical "reiki" type stuff:

 

Out of curiosity and to measure the credibility of your speech:

 

How many Reiki healers have you counseled personally and what have been your experiences?

 

Why you feel qualified to comment on Reiki as if its methodology was in any way comparable to what is taught and practiced in Chinese Neigong?

2 hours ago, Partez said:

That's my opinionated summary.  What do you think? 

 

Do you want a good faith investigation of strange phenomena or a harsh judgment of the person involved with them?

 

How you started you last post seems out of place. You could have worded yourself much more politely without losing any of your skepticism.

On 10/20/2023 at 9:56 PM, silent thunder said:

 

Oh dear. I have met a fanatical vegan who thought this picture genuinely passes as good pro-vegan propaganda. He was a dutiful soldier for the cause of carrots and soy beans.

On 12/26/2022 at 5:34 PM, Kaihe said:

I read about Du Xinlin (from a book by Baolin Wu)

 

Baolin Wu's books have deliberate lies that cast a genuine modern history martial arts master in an unfavorable light as I have pointed out in the thread that was already linked here:

 

 

It's wishful thinking that the miracle story of Du Xinling has any credible substance through the transmission of Baolin Wu.

 

If there was a character named Du Xinling in Beijing as Patrick Kelly tells in his book that you referred to, then the old monk figure likely was a trained actor like everybody else there, although he might have been particularly charismatic and fully enjoying his job of delivering riveting tales to gullible tourists. It's no different than a pirate actor in a amusement park confessing to a impressionable kid that he actually is a real pirate and the others only are actors, especially if the kid had vocal suspicions about some people being fake pirates, and that he goes to drink rum by his hidden treasure stash every night when the paid actors go home.

 

Moreover, what Patrick Kelly's account tells us now is that Baolin Wu himself might have been inspired by the same actor whom he saw in the White Cloud Monastery, so that Baolin Wu decided to elevate him as his make-believe master in order to turn "the old master's Daoist miracle tales" even more lucrative business than ever before. Why waste a good lie if it was found effective such that people enjoy hearing about it and would pay to hear more of these tales made into ever more elaborate fabrications?

July 9, 2023 by Mattias Daly, Organizer