Ecclectica

Hi Guys

 

What I have decided?

 

I'm going to try Yantra Yoga.

 

I may also try 8 brocades and maybe  Shibashi later.

 

Reasons:

 

There was by chance a Harmonious Breathing (This is based on Yantra Yoga) workshop near home so I went along and it seemed ok. I am going to learn both Harmonious Breathing and Yantra Yoga via books and DVD's I will likely have the opportunity to do a workshop or course in the next six months and can contact a teacher in the interim if I need help).

 

I like and practice yoga and it appeals more than Qiging or Tai Chi and will give more physical benefits which is important as I plan to do some long, hard-core meditation retreats.

 

I am interested in exploring the breath generally as an aid to both sitting and moving meditation and I feel both methods will greatly increase my breath awareness.

 

Its a Buddhist practice and that's my path.

 

As to why 8 Brocades and possibly later Shibashi:

 

I met with John Dolic. He didn't advocate any specific technique (same as most here).  I wanted something easy to learn and wasn't attracted to any of the other methods he taught. Apparently these styles can be easily learnt in few classes unlike Tai Chi. 

 

I like the fact that Yantra and 8 Brocades are really really old methods.

 

I may do Yantra first or maybe practice both - I think John said that was ok.

 

I've tried to approach this in a logical way by posting here and meeting John but ultimately this is largely an intuitive and prgagmatic decision and I will just see how it goes. 

 

So I am doing stuff that I think I might like and therefore stick to or otherwise starting with simple methods - so this feels like common sense.

 

Cheers

 

PS I had never heard of Yantra Yoga till I read about it in this forum ten days ago. So I can say I got the answer to my question here.

 

12 minutes ago, Earl Grey said:

I would not say more popular means more competent teachers, as many of them don’t actually have skill, but know park Tai Chi for elders. It is a specialized practice that with the best teachers is a martial, medical, and meditative practice that can kill, heal greatly and even help significantly with issues like Parkinson’s, and bring you to a unique meditative state of awareness.

 

More popular doesn’t mean more quality, lest we say that applies to McDonald’s and the perfection of the cheeseburger... Look up Jake Mace to see what popular art and terrible quality teaching means.

 

You can’t go wrong with dwai and his recommendations though, so likely he saved you time finding a good Tai Chi teacher in your area.

  

 

Fair enough 

 

Lazy, Sloppy stuff by me.

 

I mean something more along the lines of there are probably more decent TaiChi teachers than Qiging teachers with one hour of me.

 

And because Thai Chi is more popular they may teach in classes rather than private and therefore it may be more affordable etc

 

36 minutes ago, dwai said:

Taijiquan is a form of qigong. You might find people wax eloquent about how qigong is different from taijiquan but I don’t subscribe to that perspective. 
 

As you noted, taijiquan is more easily accessible and it’s easy enough to learn the yang or Wu style forms. 
 

The real fun starts after you’ve learnt the form, and start working on single form practice - like isolating a particular  part of the long form, sort of like how one would focus on specific drills in the gym (only using the gym analogy as an example). That’s when the serious neigong (inner work) starts in taijiquan. Your energy is then amped, refined and converted to spirit and emptiness.

 

since you mention Sydney, I happen to know a good taiji guy in Sydney (not sure about suburb/neighborhood etc) - Dr. John Fung - https://practicaldentistry.com.au/dr-john-fung/

 

he’s a FB friend of mine and a good taiji person. Might be worth a shot checking him out  

 

good luck 👍🏾 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks dwai

 

Very Interesting to hear about isolating parts and Neigong etc

 

Also thanks for the reference toJohn Fung  - he seems like a very accomplished guy - he is not too far from me - I will Investigate further.

 

Im glad you suggested TaiChi because it got me thinking about pragmatic considerations as opposed to the best method for me.

 

TaiChi =

more popular

more competent teachers 

more cost effective classes

etc

 

Cheers

 

 

9 minutes ago, Earl Grey said:

 

A lot of this is true, but this is not the default for teachers. Real and great teachers are rare, but unfortunately, they do command a premium in value, which either you see or you don't, and their teachings are priceless or beyond what anyone can truly give to reflect that value. My five teachers are like that and their attitudes are "Either you commit fully or you don't" because even if you do have the finances as one millionaire trust fund child did, he wasn't committed, so his money was returned as he was more of a chore to deal with than it was worth. 

 

As someone who has also lived in multiple countries (13), I can appreciate your 30 countries perspective, but that soft skill really is tested when learning due to the culture of lineage.

 

 

I recommended Dolic because he is in Sydney and is a wonderful human being besides being a teacher who teaches more than qigong and doesn't charge for what aren't qigong techniques or martial training. He does Tai Chi and Bagua on top of Shaolin Long Fist, and can recommend people as well if you're really interested in something he doesn't teach.

 

My other teachers are not in Australia, but happily teach online provided you understand the limitations of learning online and have their own recommended reading. I can't give you recommended readings on techniques because a lot of books out there are incomplete or inadequate.

 

 

Consult a TCM doctor or Ayurveda doctor. For you, I actually would recommend Eric Isen at www.ayurvedicintuitive.com who can actually diagnose which is a good system to practice, whether it is Flying Phoenix or Bagua or Spontaneous Five Animals. 

 

 

Reminds me of a Haruki Murakami quote from Norwegian Wood: "Don't feel sorry for yourself--only assholes feel sorry for themselves." 

 

 

Oversimplification risks becoming trivialization, sadly it's common when communicating online as there are nuances you can't pick up from words on a screen. 

 

 

Thanks Earl

 

I phoned John Dolic last night. I will go and see him sometime in the near future and see what he says.

 

Thanks for the further recommendations too. Seems like a sensible way to proceed

 

 

Re the internet

 

I am learning a lot here from the nature of all posts regardless of whether they are what I want or expected to hear. The internet is rather murky. Energy practise is murky territory too.

 

I am trying to do things in a logical way by choosing carefully what is an appropriate method for me.

 

Spiritual practice involves so much effort and suffering and I understand many people spend years and thousands of hours or even a lifetime getting nowhere.

 

Knowing this I wouldn't have the motivation to put much effort into an energy practise unless I had done my due diligence beforehand.

 

Of course I am limited by my general lack of knowledge in this area, it is my responsibility to educate myself.

 

 

Cheers

14 hours ago, dwai said:

Try and find a good yang or Wu style taijiquan teacher in your area and practice diligently everyday.
 

Taijiquan will help regulate your energy, teach you to relax and release tensions. Also after you’ve learnt the form, it transforms into moving meditation. 

 

 

Thanks dwai

 

Can't complain about your advice not being specific.

 

I had been wondering about Qiging vs Tai chi and somehow thought Qigong was better or more appropriate for me. I don't really have any proper basis for that assumption.

 

Is there is any reason why you recommend those methods over others and Tai Chi over Qiging?

 

From a practical point of view

 maybe it's easier to find a good Tai Chi teacher than Qiging teacher - it seems more popular. 

 

Also, I would prefer a method that is taught in a consistent fashion, not one that different teachers teach differently or have lots of variations.

 

Cheers

 

5 hours ago, flowing hands said:

 

I think you've got to ask yourself why you want to do this? When you know this then you can decide in which way and which teacher to seek. Random sittings and inconsistent technique and breathings will produce some odd sensations in the mind and the body. My advice is to stop what you are doing and find a competent teacher for your chosen path (quite a difficult thing in itself). 

Most energetic and physical blockages manifest from deep seated patterns of behavior, body posture,  unfulfilled emotional and psychological manifestations; locked in the mind and tissues, they can remain part of the tissues for the rest of one's life, although one may feel they have been resolved. Sometimes the best one can do is just make sure one establishes a good sense of self worth and confidence. The years of gut wrenching self torture to resolve problems may bring more unhappiness in trying to solve them, than the original problem. It is a very tricky path to follow and no one person has all the answers. 

Spirit interference can also cause many so called mental confusions and more serious physical and mental problems. Many who are unaware that they are opening themselves up by certain practices do not realise that this can be what they are inviting into themselves, unwittingly.

 

WHY?

 

If you read everything I have posted it should be clear what my motivation is.

 

I am past half-way in this life. I went to University. Worked as a professional. Spent 7 years overseas in 30 countries. Learnt a foreign language. I have done stuff.

 

But ultimately as I have already said I failed in all aspects of life, always been an outsider and never bonded with anybody ever. I am disliked due to my personality.

 

So I had a major depression some time ago and eventually realised you either have to suicide or try and get out of the depression - it's just too hard existing in that state. (It took a couple of years to crawl out).

 

WHICH WAY?

 

I am committed to the Buddhist way? 

 

RANDOM SITTINGS?

 

I don't do random sittings. I have meditated almost every day for four years.

 

STOP WHAT IM DOING?

 

A few people have said stop due to risks etc. I appreciate the advice and concern but I can't stop, I'm in too deep and have no other options.

 

In any case according Buddhist Maps of the path etc (Not that I am a fan of Map oriented approaches such as espoused by Daniel Ingram) I have gone past the point of no return and into what people on the internet like to call 'the dark night of the soul' - although that's a bit too dramatic.

 

FIND A COMPETENT TEACHER? 

 

As you admit its a good idea but easier said than done. Anyway, I have been guided intermittently by a very good teacher on retreats so I feel confident that I am on the right track - albeit not an easy one.

 

Few teachers are going to devote themselves to you anyway. They either have better things to do,  don't think your worth it,  just don't like you that much, want to charge $100 hr or more, want exploit you sexually or otherwise  or come from a very different cultural perspective and won't quite get you etc etc etc

 

A teacher can't climb inside your head and see what's actually happening. Ultimately we have to be our own teachers.

 

My response probably seems a bit harsh - sorry about that. But I just want to clarify to everybody where I am coming from. I note that your advice is similar to many in others in being cautionary and I've got to say quite pessimistic 

 

 

So to be clear:

 

 

1. I'm on this ride and ain't getting off. I am happy to take risks -my choice.

 

2. My main practise is Buddist meditation. I only want an energy practise (or simple methods) to assist with managing energy or resolving blockages or whatever is the correct way to say it. 

 

3. I naively assumed different energy practises would be suitable for different purposes and accordingly people would recommend an appropriate method for my situation ie I already have the energy so I don't need to waste time trying to generate it - I've just got to deal with it. (I realise this assumption is probably wrong-headed and due to my ignorance of these matters).

 

But I am disappointed and surprised few people have suggested specific methods and books (I only recall one book suggestion). Once again I am not criticising posters just feeling a little perplexed. 

 

Shouldn't choosing a method be a bit more like walking into the pharmacy, describing my symptoms and being given a choice of medications.

 

If this forum is the pharmacy and you guys are the pharmacists and I have just said I have constipation, I still don't know if I should treat it with aspirin, condoms or band aids.

 

Ok, that's probably not the best analogy but you get my drift?

 

Anyway, just being real honest, clarifying stuff and trying to  illicit some specific advice. 

 

 

PS Don't advise me to change my personality.   

 

I once saw a psychologist in the midst of my major depression (for which I was voluntarily hospitalised for a period of 10 days at one stage) 

 

She told me 'Just stop being an asshole and stop feeling sorry for yourself'.

 

Things are never that simple. 

 

Cheers

 

12 minutes ago, Jeff said:

 

Thank you for sharing, and I a glad you found some sense in my post.  I do not wish to be rude, but I do not think your approach will really work.  In essence, rather than letting go, what you are describing is avoidance. As I said earlier, you are taking things in and receiving, but not yet transmitting.  It is kind of like you deeply want to be loved, but are not loving others as you view it as an exchange (or trade) rather than a free flowing. While you have some “internal energy”, at higher levels your energy Will more connect and expands to people and the environment around you. With just advancement, the balance on inward and outward flows become critical.

 

Rather than just retreat, maybe consider engaging in the world. See the pure wonder and curiosity of a young child.  The playful abandon of a little puppy. Smile at the people around you.  Simply give a loving hug to someone who is having a bad day and needs it. Give for the joy of giving, with no expectation of getting anything back.

 

As an experiment, I am sending you a hug. If you are up for it, focus/imagine me for a moment and see if you can feel it. The flow of it.

 

Best wishes.

 

 

Thanks Jeff

 

I note that I do have my moments of joy and abandon - usually while listening to music, exercising or both.

 

5 hours ago, rideforever said:

I was trained in the Burmese style and it is very good.  I remember being on retreats and suffering from non-sleeping as well, at that time I did not know the cause of it.  I also had many awakenings and profound experiences on retreat in this style.

 

The origin of the non-sleeping for me was over-concentration in the front of the head, it has nowhere to go, it is like pumping up a balloon in the forehead; eventually you can't sleep.

I have also noticed that long-time practitioners of this style tend to have large eyes, their awareness has been over-concentrated over the years that it affects the whole from of their heads and they start to look a little strange.

 

Awareness practice occupies the mind using the externalized attention. 

The mind being occupied becomes quiet.  Because people get this benefit they would like to use this mechanism until the end, but the approach actually needs to change at some point.

Awareness is using the same external mechanism that you would use to hunt tigers in the distance ... it is an external function.

 

It is not an internal function.

Realisation requires switching to the internal function, or intuitive recognition of self.

This is a big change in approach.

If you soften your Awareness it is better, and you might slip into the right state indirectly.

However many Awareness students spend their lives increasing the power of their "external attention" and do not switch to a more intuitive inner sense of themselves.

 

The Burmese tradition hold authenticity however it is limited.

It gives rapid relief from the minds thinking and bring peace to the mind.

Perhaps by doing Shikantaza you have realised something else needs to happen as well.

 

Consciousness exists without awareness.  It senses itself internally, intuitive recognition.not through awareness.  Consciousness is at the back of the head and is a different tradition to Awareness which is more at the front of the head and associated with the eyes.

Zen and Taoist practices also bring recogntion of the self at the level of the belly, dowwards.

 

The practice of breathing at the belly is not actually another use of externalized attention.  I tried to describe it carefully.

 

All true practices must use internal sensing of your self, intuitive inward recognition.

Awareness is a bit like hunting quite a forceful and masculine approach, but for a complete approach there must be a more feeling / softer approach, also an intuiting sense of self ... and also a not-doing approach.

It is useful to try this by splitting a 30min sitting period into (a) masculine approach hard awareness (b) feminine approach intuitive resting (c) non-doing.

 

 

 

Thanks for the edited post Ride. 

 

I appreciate your efforts in trying to get through to me. I get your drift, but it's up to me to educate myself  so I can fully appreciate the your advice (and that of others). 

 

I note that I have been experimenting with split sits, usually open awareness followed by shikantaza/non-doing and I like the approach. In time I will endeavour to try what you have suggested.

 

PS

 

FWIW Kenneth Folk has a 3 step approach

 

Step 1 Standard awareness as you describe 

Step 2 Ramana Maharishi style self enquiry into 'who' is experiencing 

Step 3  Non-doing 

 

Thus seems to me a little bit similar to what you are describing.

 

 

Cheers

7 hours ago, Jeff said:

 

Your current blockage is based in the heart. At a subconscious level it would translate into issues around your fear of being loved (or loving others). Rather than flowing freely, it is more like you get stuck in a hyper receptive mode, and you hold on to the energy with it spilling over into conscious aspects of mind which create your experiences.  You need to learn to release (or transmit) the energy.  Then the next step after that will be realizing the polarities of the energy.  In more Taoist terms, you are too yin, and need to go more yang, learning to balance the flows.

 

Overall, it is all good stuff, as less than 8-10% of people can feel energy at the level that you are experiencing. Also, any accomplished teacher should be able to energetically push (or pull, depending on the perspective) you so that you can feel/notice the polarity difference and help with the rebalancing.

 

Thanks Jeff

 

Makes Sense.

 

re:

'fear of being loved (or loving others)'

 

Although I don't consciously experience it as a fear I can admit to never having had a normal decent relationship with anyone ever - just some superficial stuff at times.

 

Naturally I failed in almost all aspects of life, work, $, women, friendships and family.

 

No pity sought! 

 

Im not in crisis, just suffering a bit.

 

I am however in very good physical condition and I have a good aptitude  for meditation and good concentration and excellent flexibility and posture.

 

My attitude is something like - 'ok be crushed almost totally by the mundane life, and don't hope for anything other than to be ok with being crushed'.

 

I found this to work ok on retreats  (I don't get distracted by my mundane world failure anymore) but it doesn't work off retreat.

 

I think what's got to/going to happen is I add to my spiritual skillset then I get to the point of total disillusionment then I go on retreat(s) indefinitely.

 

The only thing that could go wrong with this plan is having things go right for me in the mundane world.

 

9 hours ago, rideforever said:

Good luck to you, I am sure you will find your way.

 

@Ecclectica  Just a thought ... do you let go ?  Do you have trouble letting go ?  

You do a lot of practices which from your description seem to be mind-oriented, controlling and focussed, so it builds up a lot of energy in the head. 

The other half of practice is "surrender", "letting go downwards from the belly", "sung".  This creates a drain so the energy can descend through your body and down from the tantien into the earth ( the absolute ).

Then you have both halves working.  Presence + Surrender.

Otherwise your Presence just gets bigger until it never sleeps, it has nowhere to go.

How to do this practice ?  Sitting in meditation ... relax, relax, unknot unwind. (1) Then try to drop from your mind into the belly, as you exhale naturally just let your centre drop into the belly.  Like I said before this does not mean you concentrate on the belly from the head.  It means you drop.  It may take some time. (2) Then from the belly and pelvis / gwa ... rest down on the floor, rest more and more, until a descending flow is created.  The Central Channel flows downwards, the belly initiates it.   

 

It is all based on letting go from the belly, flowing down and letting go.  Okay that's my effort to explain it.

 

Bioenergetics / shaking are effective to release over concentration of energy but is only short term.

 

 

Thanks Ride.

 

My main practices are:

 

1 Open Awareness 

2 Shikantaza

 

I don't have a lot of trouble letting go. I have always tended to the passive rather than active doing. I am neither controlling or focused in my approach.

 

My open awareness style is influenced by Burmese Monk Sayadaw U Tejaniya. He is all about being relaxed, not trying to create any states or make anything happen or resist what is occurring and wish it to be otherwise. Just relaxed awareness with appropriate attitude. He says 'Do not focus, control or penetrate'.

 

 

Re dropping to the belly this sounds to me like trying to cultivate a sense of awareness itself emanating from or resting in the belly. This sounds like playing around with awareness as described by Loch Kelly in his book 'Shift into freedom' based on Sutra Mahamudra. E.g. 'Unhook local awareness from thinking, let it drop through your neck into your upper body..feel local awareness knowing sensations and awareness directly from within your body'. 

 

I do a little breath concentration or Bodyscan  occasionally, but only if I'm in the mood  - I won't do it if it feels like work.

 

9 minutes ago, rideforever said:

Blockages cannot be fully resolved with qigong because they are ultimately due to unconsciousness, and so continuing with meditation practice becoming conscious is a big part of the solution ... until that time you do not actually have control of your self.  

 

When you sit you should not move.  That is a fundamental of the practice. You simply must not move. 

Not to be overly controlled, but you certainly don't move anything. 

In Zen sitting just follow a traditional teacher like Suzuki's Beginner's Mind Zen Mind.

 

As the water settles the rocks appear.  There are many discomforts that need to be worked through, that is the journey, it is painful and your experiences show that these things are arising.  That is normal.  Continue. 

It may be useful for you to take a more settling approach to meditation as a whole.

I gave instructions for merging with the breath in the belly.

 

I suggest that physical exercise might work for you.  Running, martial arts, anything.   You can get Yan Lei's bootcamp dvds or join an evening class.

It may fix your discomforts better than any energy work; energy work may bring much more energetic disturbances into your life.  Much more.  Spontaneous qigong will completely let loose a lot of things and you may not like it at all.

You can only deal with so much. 

imo you are already releasing too much stuff and need to relax and strengthen.  This karma has been there for a long time, it will take time.  So relax, and then continue.

 

You can try Shane Lear WG, or Mark Cohen. 

I also like Bruce Frantzis.  These are grounded people with grounded practice.

 

I would avoid any big energy systems.

 

 

 

Thanks Ride.

 

I did a long retreat recently and energy symptoms were minor ( after the first 10 days or so at least).  Since home I have done little sitting only 45 mins - an hour daily, however I'm much more energetic in sits and I cant stay asleep.

 

I am doing more and more retreats and each time I leave I am  really unsettled in the real world. I may need to do a couple or more 3 month retreats in a short period and just push through.

 

Since home my intuition said to get physical so in addition to my usual 3 x week weight training I've been doing heaps of physical stuff at a Yoga studio including Yin and tang yoga, stretch therapy, focused movement and fascia work and Feldenkrais.

I've also been swimming.

 

I am not sure which are the big energy systems? What about Shibashi? 

 

Also, previously you advised against WG, is Shane Lear very different?

 

Thanks again.

 

28 minutes ago, Earl Grey said:

 

As you are in Sydney, my teacher, John Dolic, at www.qigongchinesehealth.com, is one of the best people I have met for it. Spontaneous Qigong alone from him is fantastic, but he also teaches Baguazhang classes in a group and Shaolin long fist. The man also knows many more styles beyond what he publicly teaches. 

 

He also teaches Shibashi on his site and does Skype sessions too. Feel free to contact him and if you need an introduction, let me know and I can talk to him. 

  

 

Thanks very much Earl.

 

I will give him a call.

 

Just checking his website now. 

 

He has some expensive classes! 

 

1 minute ago, Wuschel said:

maybe the open awareness time and spontenous movements is all you need?

 

 

Yes, could be enough.

 

I did however ask an ex-monk and full-time teacher who knows my practise well if I should do Qigong and he was for it. Maybe he was just just being prudent though.

 

The other thing is it helps develop bodily awareness which is important in developing continuity of mindfulness.

 

It is also an engaging alternative to walking meditation on retreats.

 

4 minutes ago, rideforever said:

 

Simon Blow, I bought his WG book which was sold with the idea that it has technical understanding of energetics, but it is extremely superficial and went straight in the bin.  I also noticed he got the requisite photo with the teacher back in China, which seemed quite insincere.  He is not committed and probably wants a retirement income for himself teaching seniors.

 

What are your blockages exactly ?  What is it you want ?

 

 

 

I don't know what my blockages are.

 

I really don't know what more I can say other than what I have said. I just want an energy practise to resolve, in whatever way, my energy issues so I can meditate more effectively.

 

 

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond and making me welcome.

 

In response I wiil try to be concise -  I hope I don't appear rude:

 

 

On 03/11/2019 at 7:13 AM, Spotless said:

Seek some comprehensive advice from the teacher you mentioned - explain in detail what you have experienced but make sure to include what practices you have engaged in while "meditating".  How you breath, where your awareness is centered.

 

Many engaged in "meditation" are not meditating - they are actively engaged in "a sitting practice" - doing.

 

Breath always into your lower dan tien - this will help to mediate the energies and overloads. 

 

Fasting would be recommended and stopping all active Doing practice until you receive clear guidance. 

 

Yoga Asana's would be helpful to relax the energies into and throughout all the nadis.

 

Currently it would be wise to be less active and more exercising the passive until you speak to the teacher you mentioned.

 

Caution is needed - (not fear) - in that you are experiencing kundalini symptoms and your bodies are trying to catch up to the energies that have built up quickly.  This is something to take seriously - we have had several members that have participated in these forums from psychiatric facilities who experienced many of the things you have mentioned prior to becoming members of those facilities.

 

The long form asanas will be helpful.

 

Qi Gong only if your instructor fully knows your entire present situation and what habits you may have that would be decisively ill advised. Breathing habits and practices are among the most serious threats to energy deviations.

 

 

I'm not clear on the bolded parts.

 

How do I breath into my lower dan tien? Does all the time mean when am not formally meditating or otherwise practising? Is there a resource I should read?

 

What is meant by active doing practice? I usually do an open awareness meditation or a Shikantaza type. I occasionally concentrate exclusively on my breath or do a shortish bodyscan  loosely based on Goenka style. 

 

What are long form asana's?

 

Thanks Spotless.

 

I note that my queries arise due to my ignorance in these matters.

 

 

20 hours ago, rideforever said:

I studied Simon Blow and Wild Goose for a year, going through the material of several teachers; but I do not consider him a good teacher he has a Western/ mental approach which does not reflect Wild Goose, also he seems to be in poor physical condition compared to other Wild Goose teachers.  The best teachers I found were Shane Lear in the US, and a Chinese woman called Hui Liu I believe in Canada. 

 

However I do not believe WG or any such traditions are for you, and that you should seek a Qigong that will flow with your Buddhist path and your natural adeptness, WG and such things are for people who have no energy gifts and need to recover from sickness.

 

Shikantaza has a large energetic component.  What you can add to your practice to turn on the energetic work is to rest inside the belly and gently fall with the exhale.  First resting down from the belly, sitting down from the belly, and ultimately flowing down from the belly.  In order to do this you must change your practice point to be in the centre of the belly.  This does not mean that you focus from your head to the belly, it means you are no longer inside your head.  You must begin this practice from being inside the belly.

I say this because Buddhist practices are often head based.

Eventually if you fall from the belly it descends the Central Channel and eventually the head follows creating and downward current into the source or the base of the ShivaLingam.

And you need no  further instruction.

 

If you wish something more you can do Zhan Zhuang with a teacher who teachers surrender like Mark Cohen.

Other teachers teach toughing it out to build qi - which is not good imo.

And there is also Hakuyu Butter Meditation.

https://buddhismnow.com/2015/09/12/zen-sickness-by-zen-master-hakuin/

 

Also if you are adept at meditation and energetic work, you could also add other avenues to your growth including relationships with women and other skills in the world.

 

 

 

I am clueless as to which methods are like WG and conversely  which will flow with my Buddhist path. I am keen to hear from anyone else too on this point.

 

I think I need a resource to refer to so I can understand resting inside the belly , sitting down from

the belly etc. - Is there a name for this practise?

 

Not sure about the idea of teaching surrender.

 

Thanks Moment. 

 

Again, my queries arise due to my ignorance.

 

 

 

MORE CLARIFICATION ON ME

 

I appreciate the urges to be cautious, but confess to being fairly relaxed about all this - it's been going on for three years now  and the intense crazy Kundali movements finished 2 years ago.

 

I did meet with Simon Blow and attend one class with him and bought a book and DVD. I told him of my experiences but he didn't seem too interested - although he was very  nice and polite guy.

He didn't question me on any details or caution me about the dangers or recommend any particular style. My impression was that he mainly teaches retirees in community classes and travels around doing not very serious courses here and there as well as leading Qigong tours to China. ''Rideforever' you can maybe correct me on this. He may have ability but not sure if he is a genuine teacher of serious students. 

 

Is any teacher better than no teacher? I have been unable find any serious Qigong in Sydney - only community type classes catering to senior citizens mostly. I went to  a martial arts school too but it was hopeless (the master no longer taught due to old age).

 

I am thinking to give Zhan Zhuang a go via the Marc Cohen book and maybe find some teacher later if possible. Is Zhan Zhuang doable from a book?

 

I might try Yantra yoga(Apparently authentic Tibetan) Yoga via books and Dvd''s. I understand the poses are fairly straightforward Hatha style (although poses are not held for extended periods) and I like yoga and am quite good at it physically. I could do a retreat later with one of the very few teachers of it in Australia (none in Sydney).

 

What do you think? Are these as effective as Qigong or Tai Chi? And are there any recommended styles for my situation? Or is it a matter of just trial and error and experimenting to see what feels right?

 

I could just do the Shibashi Qigong DVD I have and do some not very serious classes. Are there any opinions on Shibashi?

 

Also what about my spontaneous Qigong?

 

My goal is to resolve energy blockages. I am not focused on health or martial aspects of Qigong or any other energy practise. 

 

For the sake of clarity I'm not responding directly to all posts and all suggestions but I am taking them on board - will give due consideration and research further etc.

 

So thanks again everyone.

 

 

Hi, I'm new here

 

I am seeking advice on selecting a method of practice.

 

I have been practicing Buddhist meditation quite seriously for a few years and have lots of internal energy. (I have spent a total of 9 months in 15 meditation retreats)

 

My internal energy has manifested in many ways including a period of three months where my body moved involuntarily every sit for 3 months (this largely ceased as a problem a couple of years ago), odd bodily sensations, feeling intensely cold and being unable to warm, intense sexual urges, orgasmic sensations while meditating, inability to sleep or stay asleep and and getting small burns on my skin while meditating (I know that one is a bit hard to believe) and other stuff at various times.

 

I have recently been doing some Shikantaza type just sitting. This often produces a period of spontaneous Qigong followed by some pleasant energetic sensations then much calmness and clarity. 

 

My question is what type of Qigong or Tai Chi should I choose?

 

I don't need to get more energy I seem to have too much already just need to continue to unblock my chakras etc - or sat least  that's my guess.

 

Is a formal method recommended or can I just work on the spontaneous Qigong and if so how would I go about that?

 

NB The spontaneous Qigong seems quite mild, controlled and brief compared to the somewhat wild extravagant movements I experienced a couple of years ago which went on for the duration of each sit.

 

I note there is teacher near me (Sydney) by the name of Simon Blow who teaches Qigong including Shibashi and Wild Goose  - he is apparently a lineage holder of the latter.

 

Anyway any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Apologies if I'm using wrong terminologies or spellings or making false assumptions - I don't know much about this stuff.

 

Cheers