Krenx

Oxygen is not a form of qi. It is a manifestation of qi. It is not qi. You have to discern laters of phenomena this way. The daoist sciences discerns the causal chain of the dao to wuji, to yin yang permutations, into the elements, into physical existence. Everytime you mention phenomena, you have to respect this framework and causal chain. If you don't, and just casually say oxygen is Qi, you depart from the entire daoist science.

Qi is the basis for the existence of oxygen. But oxygen is not qi. Because how can oxygen be something that is the basis of other things? So one cannot say oxygen is Qi. It is like saying. Hot soup is fire. But fire although is a basis for hot soup, it is also a basis for other hot dishes. So saying hot soup is fire is silly.

Every experience is mind experience. It cannot be "outside" of mind's phenomena. Whatever we perceive as external, is still an internal experience within the mind. Nibbana is a different thing. It is the unconditioned, where something like "life force" cannot be. It is beyond the idea of life itself. The end of birth aging sickness, and death.

Qi is the mind substance that creates the fabric/matrix of existence. Similar to physical substances, qi has various states and frequencies. Why a master can have alot of Qi, but not blow up like a balloon, is because qi has a quality of density, and also a transformative aspect into the different frequencies, where the subtle frequencies are not bound by space and time. Jing- Qi - shen are an example of the different frequency categories. When training neigong, your task is to transform your vessel, into a very unique machine, that is incredibly free of obstacles, allowing abundance of Qi to flow through you passively, and a state of mind and body that does not leak energy unconsciously.

This is a quality of feeling we call in Buddhism neutral feeling. Neutral feelings are painful when it is void of wisdom. Pleasant with wisdom as a basis. Pleasant feelings are pleasing when sustained, painful when changing. Painful feelings are suffering when sustained, pleasing when changing.

I never heard of that term. I don't think it is a term used in early buddhism. 🙏.

"Feeling" bad is not even the worst part of immorality. The fruits of bad kamma will come. Try your best to position and set yourself up for success in the future. Don't harm yourself anymore by doing immoral stuff. 🙏

In terms of buddhism terminology and definitions, when "dhamma" is mentioned, it often referees to the Buddha's teachings on the 4 noble truths, the 8 fold path. And the other common use of the that term, is the nature of existence. For example the nature rebirth, kamma, good results from good deeds, bad results from bad deeds, what kind of views and actions inclines a bring towards lower realms, or heavenly realms, impermanance in samsara etc.

Kamma is the cause and effects of actions and intentions. The dhamma is the nature of existence, and also is refered to as the Buddha's teachings.

Does the state of mind you have acquired lead to keeping the 5 precepts? No Cheating, stealing, lying, killing, consuming intoxicants(alcohol/drugs). Precepts that we keep, break, are good mechanism to check if we are acting out of greed, aversion, delusion. Not thinking does not always mean a good thing. Because ignorance is another outcome of not thinking. Basic Intelligence, and active contemplation is important on the path.

That teaching by the Buddha is an extremely key part of the practice for contemplation, connected to the teachings of dependent origination. To gradually develop the insight that the 12 links are phenomena that arises on this own, and passes away independently. It is our ignorance that connects and links the chain up creating samsara. So observing body in body, feeling in feeling, we start to be mindful and apply skillful action and habits to see things as they are and weaken this chain. An example would be feelings of anger. We see this anger arise, We restraint it from rolling into action. And we watch the feeling change on its own. And eventually your heart will realize that no amount of pressure of feelings can EVER be enough to automatically turn into action. It is in fact impossible. It is our choice to make that assumption to allow anger to turn into harmful actions for example. We made that assumption and choice, the feelings could never do it on its own. Our feelings are not responsible, what caused the feelings are not responsible. We are responsible for that habitual action based on an assumption, that chain of assumption to be form and bind ourselves in samsara. Very important and unique teaching from the Buddha.

You do not now. But it is an unstable state that makes us liable to commit bad deeds in the future. We are not placed in positions to make certain choices, so most of us do not know really the extent of this quality. That something else involved, is just this quality of self preservation getting worse the more we feed it, the more wrong views we tangle of with. So we have to honestly ask ourselves, are we increasing or decreasing that quality of self preservation, and for what purpose? Life is valuable, not saying don't make effort to stay healthy and safe. We need to stay alive for a period of time to transform spiritually. But to what extent do we hold onto this life? Is this "preservation" idea spreading and increasing, adopting more things to preserve, or gradually decreasing in burden.

Self preservation, aggressive levels of conceit are some of the causes for people to kill one another.

What would you say are the key conditions and goals that are essential for a yang taiji form to be authentic in flavour? Beyond just moving slowly and smoothly .

Generally it is rooted in craving and aversion. - craving for sense pleasure - Aversion to neutral feelings, restlessness. - Aversion to pain. Self inflicted pain could temporarily redirect the mind away from the mental suffering, to the physical affliction. - Confusion, do not see a way out of suffering. So they end their lives, assuming death would end suffering. But it does not.