BigSkyDiamond

this post ^ [4/14/2025 at 2:31PM] is the "above post" that was responded to and that was referenced and that was included in my own post.

so then just as there are other lifetimes of me in different times and places on earth, so too are there other lifetimes of me in different places in other parts of the universe. And other lifeforms i have inhabited as well. I remember once having the most vivid experience if inhabiting a tree that caught on fire and was burning. For much of my life including as a child i have yearned to inhabit large boulders, and large trees. I can feel the stillness. Not imagining it, but remembering it. Thank you for describing you r experiences and events. i think of "me" being able to be all these different places at the same time like the sun. which can be touching and landing and seen in many places all simultaneously all at the same time, the rays of sunbeams branch off from the central sun and are seen landing on the ground in the icy arctic, and in the humid jungle at the equator, and on the sidewalk of a busy city during rush hour, and on the deck of an apartment building. All those spots of sunlight on the ground can be traced up and back to the same one sun ("me"). They all emanate from the same sun at the same time but are seen and touch down in different places. so then how do you envision the you in the different places, what is your framework for understanding?

In many pathis (of religion and spirituality) God is both transcendent ("out there") and also immanent (inside us, "in here"). The human has access to God because Divinity resides within us (soul, spirit, Divine Spark). We not only "interact with God" but God (divinity) is inside each and every one of us. We can chose to ignore that part of our self. Or we can access it and utilize it.

yes. so lairg, tell us more about this please ! ! I have had a couple of physical experiences of parallel timelines. my understanding is that time is purely a function of the physical, and does not exist at the non-physical level (the level of soul or divinity or spirit). It is an artificial human construct. It does not have an existence of its own. It is a linear construct created by humans for convenience. But there is no separate individual "time" that a person can define and point to. Even science is now recognizing time is an artifical construct and vigorously discussing it. So since there is no time, but only this moment now in the present, then that means all my past lives are actually happening concurrently, simultaneously, at the same time. And that explains how healing or growth or trauma in one lifetime can spill over into other lifetimes including my current life. It also explains how we can even within our own lifetime revisit our past self or future self for healing, advice, information sharing. ( Counselors use this when a person for instance "revisits" a difficult situation in the past and scripts it differently, has interactions occur differently.) Anyway lairg, looking forward to hearing more on how the parallel timelines were experienced by you. Thank you.

i don't see how that is being bypassed. Utilizing and practicing a path of religion or spirituality can be and is for much of humanity a powerful and effective tool for addressing all levels of the model. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs In the 1940s, Abraham Maslow proposed a theory about motivation that, for the first time, linked human biological needs and human psychology. According to Maslow, humans strive to meet their needs in a predictable order or hierarchy as shown (in diagram). People’s physical and safety needs must be met before they can focus on their higher-order needs. Next, people need their social and self-esteem needs met. They need to feel loved and accepted as part of a group. Then, they can focus on achievement and gaining the respect of those around them. Only after all those needs are fulfilled can they focus on self-actualization, or achieving their highest potential, through professional growth, education, or other enrichment. source https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/LearnersFirst/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs.htm

There is no "Old Testament" in Judaism. That is a Christian appellation. In Judaism there is Torah which includes the Jewish Bible and a whole lot more (see below) So what is described in post above reveals and reflects the proclivities, inclination and mindset of the writer. it reminds me of when i lived in an area for an extended period of time that had a large indigenous population that included many different varieties of culture and ethnicity and history and background. There were 23 recognized groups each with its own distinct language, laws, governance, religion, culture, and environment. Some of the words used were very telling. If someone of a certain nation looked down on those of another nation, there were derogatory words used to describe not just that person but slurs against the whole nation or tribe. It occurs to me that the post above is doing that. ----------- "The word “Torah,” in its narrow sense, refers to the Five Books of Moses. In a broader sense, however, Torah includes the entire Written Law (Tanach), and the entire Oral Law (Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash). In the broadest sense, Torah refers to the entire body of Jewish writings and thought, including the works of commentators throughout the ages."

There is no Devil in Judaism. Judaism does not view “Satan” with the same connotation as other religions. The shaytan in Judaism is that which is within each person that perhaps tempts or advises us to transgress. The yetzer tov ("good inclination") is like our conscience which recognizes and steers us in a direction of spiritual growth. While the yetzer hara ("evil inclination") pulls us away from that. The shaytan or yetzer hara describes an inherent aspect of human nature that is within us all. It is not a separate entity opposing God. the shaytan is actually seen as working for God, as being an agent of God to draw us closer to God so. So we can make the decision to "do the right thing" when perhaps tempted otherwise. Say for instance you are being considered for a position working at a business. Can you be trusted to act in ethical ways? The owner of the business wants to perhaps test you to find out. So they set up a situation where you could steal money (oh let's say $25,000) without anyone finding out. You encounter that temptation. It is a way to test character development and build and strengthen our own character development based on how we respond to whatever situation we face. In Judaism the Torah is read as a map describing our inner world, our psychology, our internal make up, the challenges and difficulties we grapple with, our character traits, those we seek to enhance, those we seek to eradicate. When reading the Torah (Jewish Bible) through that lens, all the events described in it, all the heros and villains and battles and events and circumstances, are not "out there in the world" are not "out there in history". Rather they are all parts of ourself. it is a map for character development and yes drawing closer to God. Which yes is also within us, the divinity that resides in each of us. (Divine Spark, some call it soul or spirit) https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/satan

Thank you both for checking and providing information, Miffymog and Pak Satrio..

The list above indicates Gnostic Christian, and Islamic Hijama, and Buddhist, however the entry for Kabbalistic is missing its corresponding identifier and source = Judaism. Judaism dates back to 3,800 years ago. The entry needs to read: Jewish Kabbalah or Judaic Kabbalah As Sifu Terry so often reminds us: honor the lineage. Thank you. "Kabbalah refers to the received wisdom of theology of Jewish practice built upon teachings handed down through the generations from Sinai. It is sometimes described as Jewish mysticism." "Kabbalah isn’t a book, it’s an area of study, and thousands of texts deal with its subject matter. Those texts were written and compiled over a period of more than 2,000 years, and continues until today. " source https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/170308/jewish/What-Is-Kabbalah.htm and Aish, Kaballah link Some of the most important and well-known kabbalistic works include Sefer Yetzirah, the Bahir, Zohar, and teachings of the Arizal (Rabbi Isaac Luria). The Zohar is credited to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who lived around 1900 years ago. He is buried in Meron, Israel. About two million people visit his burial site (kever) each year. The Arizal is buried in Tzfat, Israel and that is also a pilgrimage site. I have visited both of those kevrim (graves).

Thank you for this helpful guidance and information Pak Satrio ꦥꦏ꧀ ꦱꦠꦿꦶꦪꦺꦴ. I am still keeping set to 60 minutes with those five standing listed (do mid-day or early afternoon). Body sensations felt during today's practice include coolness in the spine and lower back (for Monk Gazing at Moon); a lot of heat in the hands and forearms, some heat in lower back, but not an uncomfortable heat and no pain (Monk Holding Peach, Monk Holding Pearl). LOTS of shaking and vibrating in the upper legs throughout Bending the Bows. It is my favorite (Bending Bows) feels like it tubo charges everything and is the engine driving the bus. It feels like priming a pump, the up down together movement. And whole body buzzing when we got to Wind Above Treetops. This was the first time i noticed that for four of the five (all except Monk Gazing at Moon) things "kicked in" during the opening breathing sequence even before starting the set. That is new for me. I am spending about 2 minutes between each of the five exercises, just standing in wu-ji, observing whatever is going on in my body. Then for the next exercise, a specific flow turns on. It is different from and not just a continuation of what i felt in the previous exercise. Usually i would feel that turing on during the exercise itself, but this time i felt it turn on during the breathing sequence. I am still astonished that i can do this set for 60 minutes and feel no pain whatsoever in my back between shoulders. When I did Zhang Zhuang (which i have done on and off since 2019) for any longer than 20 minutes i would end up with pain there that only disappeared when i stopped for several days. With the exception of wu ji posture which always felt great. I also would get fidgety and antsy during Zhang Zhuang, the time dragged. With this 60 minute Flying Phoenix there is no fidgeting and i don't get antsy. The clock documents that 60 minutes elapsed, but during the 60 minute practice there is no time. That is one of my favorite "side effects" of Flying Phoenix. Awaiting the arrival of the DVD set. After they are received then I can start adding some of the sitting Flying Phoenix in the evening because it sounds like that is recommended by the subject matter experts. But in all honesty, if these five standing are all i ever have, then i am happy with that because they are so powerful and are doing so much.

Thank you Miffy. Are we able to view archives for learning? I would love that.

Interesting to note the last two days during Flying Phoenix standing practice (i do the five standing in a single set, 60 minutes, done mid-day or early afternoon) that time stopped. Time disappeared, it was gone. After the whole set was done, then time returned and it felt like usual. The other curiosity i've noticed since 3 days ago, is now seeing my spinal column and vertebrae made of a different material. Usually when i picture my bones or skeletal structure it is bone colored and bone textured (like the life sized skeletons hanging from a pole on a rolling stand, which we used in all those classes in school learning anatomy and physiology and kinesioloy). But now I am shown that my spinal column and vertebrae are still just as detailed but are transaprent and made of what looks like clear crystal. That is strange. It hasn't gone away or changed back, the sense i get is this is a replacement spine (i.e. not a visual for instructional purposes, which come and go for specific illustrations to show me something that is going on or where to work). And it is made of a different material. When i look at other bones in m;y body they are still bone colored and made of bone. For about a week one of the "healing requests" i've been putting forth (i routinely actively work with about 3-4 intentions instructions put forth to let's call it my etheric healing team in non-physical form which provides medical treatments) is straighten spine. (the others at the moment for me are "strengthen immune system" and "balance vision" and "deep diaphragmatic breathing as natural"). For "me "straighten spine" includes and encompasses the specifics of: flatten curve in lower back, drop coccyx down, and anything related to the scoliosis. my sense is that the new spine made of a different material is related to that and the Flying Phoenix qigong. I had added "straighten spine" to the list since starting the Flying Phoenix qigong and listening online to Sifu Terry Dunn answer questions and talk about flatten lower spine, and I want to have correct body mechanics in the qigong exercises.

This link does not work for me. Is this section still active, or is request for access needed? I am interested. Thank you.

Thank you for responding. Yes, this makes sense.

"Beyond the ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." ----Rumi

that it always shines, nickle on the dirt road, a diamond in the dust

I have noticed there are times during the day, such as on my daily walks outside in nature, when i can feel the energy strongly for instance in my hands and arms, the same way it feels during Flying Phoenix qigong practice (i've been doing the five standing as a set together 60 minutes). Since I often use my walks for tapping into different healing modalities, can we consciously connect to the Flying Phoenix energy at other times than during our formal qi gong practice? i.e. on my daily walks. It sounds like Grand Master Doo Wai is saying (below) that we can connect and tap into the Flying Phoeinix Healing Qi. I remember reading somewhere in this thread that one of the reasons we "close" the Flying Phoenix exercises with closing breaths after each sequence is that if we don't and leave it open and running that it will become depleted within us. (sorry i don't have the post at hand to link). I want to make sure that tapping in to the Flying Phoenix stream is not depleting. Hope that makes sense what I am asking. Thank you.

Thank you Giles

DocB, i love love love this ^ put bluntly in recovery: "the common denominator in every problem, situation, challenge in my life.... ....is me"

Yes I have heard the same and had it explained to me this way when I began seriously studying my religion in depth and was told not to mix it with other religions. I balked at this and was arguing with the (religous leader). .I wanted to know the inner secrets of the religious body of work and I wanted to know why i couldn't access them if i was also engaging with other religous texts ideas and practices. He explained it to me like this." if you try to have a relationship with two women at the same time, the relationship will have problems and will lack depth. It will only ever stay at a very superficial level. No woman is going to share and reveal the depth of her innermost secrets unless and until you demonstrate a committment to her and stop sleeping around with others." Then i got it. Same principle and I understand it and agree. In reading this thread i am fascinated to hear also that in the qi gong world for the different schools types (what is the word to use?) there are in the same manner inner secrets which not everyone has access to. And that to be worthy or capable or selected to access those inner secrets a person needs to qualify and prove themself in some way. I just love that. I especially love the stories of the sages (this is drawing from my religious background) who even at some point in their studies and learning were basically told "oh if you want to know that you will need to be taught by _______ (name of earlier sage, now deceased) in the heavenly realms." So only those who had developed the skill to access information from the heavens could obtain certain learning. Other sections of the secret learning were only ever shared with one person per generation. I am reading that is also done in the qi gong world. Good stuff, lovin' it.

Thank you Turnip for the in put and insights. I could use some help in understanding and discerning between the different types of qi gong I have heard mentioned: medical qi gong, martial qi gong (that one I get, it is for fighting), spiritual qi gong, internal qi gong, and now with post above heavenly energy source. When it comes to motivation reason intention for doing qi gong, then that part is clear and easy for me. My reasons for practicing qi gong are: medical, healing, health, and religious (I don't use the word spiritual but that's just me). But it is not yet clear to me what category of qi gong a certain type is (except for martial, that one is clear, and not on my radar at all). So I could use some help in clarifying that, I don't want to engage in any types of qi gong that may be contra-indicated. The two types of qi gong I am practicing and learning are: Zhineng qi gong and Flying Phoenix qi gong. They both are described as "meditative" which in my understanding puts them in the category of spiritual (religious in my parlance). They are both done eyes closed (a few exceptions). And I do them both for the same reason motivation intention goals. But since they are different schools (not sure that is the right word) I do not mix them, and I separate them apart in the day. Would you say that they are both heavenly energy source (from post above) and so not do both? Thank you for help and insights in my understanding and evaluating this. How do I know determine figure out if a qi gong type is "heavenly energy source"? I have a healthy regard and respect for paying attention to contra-indications. edited to add earlier posts found; this answers some of the questions i've asked ahhhh, here is information from p 41 of the thread from Sifu Terry Dunn, identifying Flying Phoenix qi gong as medical / healing spiritually transformative and this from page 236 of the thread, it confirms that Flying Phoenix is a "heavenly energy source" qigong (still working through reading the entire thread from start to finish, up to page 42 of 242. I'm also working backwards from page 242.)

Distance healing (not in person) and distance transmission (not hands on) are valid method of delivery.

however i dont doubt or question or dispute the sincerity of those who engage in this or that practice, and find it effective and beneficial. Effectiveness and benefit are in the eye of the recipient. There is never a need to disparage anyone's path or choice of practice. May we each find and connect with the path that resonates. And honor accord extend to each other: dignity courtesy and respect.

Wow these are great responses, thank you for lo these many voices. And also thank you to the powers that be for creating a break-out thread for this conversation. Much appreciated. In regular daily life, I am trying to spend one hour a day on the floor, it feels like this would be healthy for me. For years i slept on the floor on a thin mat and it always felt good. But have been sleeping in a bed now for past 15 years (low bed, slats, firm mattress). I started noticing in the past year some stiffness and limitation in simple activities such as picking something up from the floor, bending down to adjust shoes, getting up from a chair, getting up and down from the floor, and so I am taking steps to increase flexibility and range of motion in muscles and limbs. Part of my action plan for remedy, is increased qi gong so learning two new forms (Zhineng; and Flying Phoenix). Another part of the action plan is the hour a day on the floor, during that time is stretching, sitting, reading, watching Netflix, whatever. I am noticing improvement. One of the qi gong practices has seated postures so I am exploring various approaches to that, hence this topic. the responses are helpful, interesting, and engaging.

I am very much enjoying reading these long-ish posts, there are many points to comment on. But I gotta ask first regarding section just above, why would these be removed: reference to craniosacral rhythm and sphenoid? I am asking because of my background, training, and experience in craniosacral therapy. Thank you.