Baguakid

Yes, that was me I thought you fell off the face of the earth. Glad to hear you're back again. Best, Bill

Hi KathyLi, My post was directed more from a direction of clarity of teaching and presentation and you do represent WLP's lineage so 别太客气。

Ok, let me clarify. I do like "some" of YJM's books, particularly on qigong, as a reference. I bought his yang style taiji books a long time ago and thought they sux'd. I think, for the most part, he's a good author and/or translator. I, personally, would not seek him out to learn anything I'm interested in, particularly Qigong. I have no reason to believe he is a Qigong Master but it has been a long time since I've talked and delt with him so that status may have changed. Others, as stated, may have an interest with things they are interested in (ChinNa, etc) which he seems to satisfy. Bottom line, IMO be selective and critical when browsing his rather large list of subjects.

uhh... no, I didn't receive anything but information which has been on the web and other places for decades. I'm not one to "idolize" someone like this or look for secrets "between the words". I've been in it too long. CL apparently doesn't do it for me. Yamu, Kathy Li, Terry Dunn, and others not on this board resonate with me much better.

I'm not a fan of YJM myself but others seem to like him. Personally I find his former co-writer Liang Shouyu to be more my way of thinking. http://www.amazon.com/Qigong-Empowerment-Medical-Buddhist-Cultivation/dp/1889659029

What status would that be?

I found the interview to be just OK.. Not great, not terrible.

You need to get out more.

What happened to Spirit Ape? There was a lot of activity in the past regarding his burning palm DVD then nothing for a long time.

Blasto and Mark Foote, think RENO. Close enough to the bay area yet not expensive to live. I love Orange County but can't afford the cost of living or the pressure.

My post was more about people being thin-skinned and ready to run crying to the PC authorities rather than being about advocating more profanity laced or other non-desirable dialog. Of course we can always move towards a more higher, refined dialog but should not fall apart if someone uses less than refined text.

I am not a statesman nor do I care to be. I like people who talk straight and if they toss in a few insults to get their point across that's fine too. I think people today are quite thin-skinned. Some of my best friends have been people who can express themselves without holding back, insults and expletives included.

Cool. When you and Doc Brown get done with the time machine tell him to come by my house. I'd like to go for a ride myself.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11000635 Woolly mammoths died out because of dwindling grasslands - rather than being hunted to extinction by humans, according to a Durham University study. After the coldest phase of the last ice age 21,000 years ago, the research revealed, there was a dramatic decline in pasture on which the mammoths fed. The woolly mammoth was once commonplace across many parts of Europe. It retreated to northern Siberia about 14,000 years ago, where it finally died out approximately 4,000 years ago. The reasons for its extinction are unclear and have been a matter of heated scientific debate. Some scientists have argued that it was principally the result of climate change while others say that it was driven by pressures of a growing human population, or even a cataclysmic meteor strike. Now, according to Professor Brian Huntley of Durham University, that debate has been settled. "What our results have suggested is that the changing climate, through the effect it had on vegetation, was the key thing that caused the reduction in the population and ultimate extinction of mammoths and many other large herbivores," he said.

Thanks for that. Didn't know the source just remembered from where I got it.

Did you predict my rant Bob? I could have used that prediction stuff yesterday. I spent time leveling a box truck box in my backyard and after going inside the little door I forgot to duck as I made my way out. I now look like cyclops. We both have a common friend who once said, I don't want to read anymore, I want to experience. Right or wrong I have been in agreement with that statement for a long time now. Probably why I continue to have no idea what Taomeao's "translation" means since I have lost any scholorly background to connect the dots. Please don't expect me to "Pai MaPi" if I don't agree. Who knows, next year or next week I may have a sudden awaking which will cause me to find great interest in reading those texts. Time will tell. I've lost any interest in Taiji and Gong fu and even my Bagua is sitting alone in the corner these days. I think it's the current state of CMA today that's causing me to lose interest. The MMA BJJ EPH direction of it all and the street punk cockyness to go with it (not directed at you Bob). Anywho, Don't get bent out of shape from these postings. I'm certainly not. We are moving out west. You are always welcome to come out, meetup and have a cup of tea. And should you ever need help in China in any way don't be shy. Peace !!

Well, If I remember my TCM yada yada yada correctly, the human lifespan is controlled by a combination of things but most importantly, one's Preheaven Essence/Jing whatever stuff. So, if that can be affected then the lifespan can be increased significantly. Thus the 250 year old man problem. Still have not found that answer yet. It's late here but I'll respond in more detail tomorrow.

Bob, the only things that stand in the way of people going to the motherland is them themselves. I wanted to go for many, many years and finally I sold two cars and picked up and left and you know what? The biggest question I had was why I didn't do it sooner. The Egg and Banana metaphors are commonly used in Chinese circles Bobby. Anyway, I also see a decline in understanding out there and I don't know if you can tell in my writing but it frustrates me terribly. I'm seriously at the point of just dissolving back into society and telling the world to F.O. I see people with ailments which could easily be solved with some standing Wuji or other gongs but talking to such people is like talking to the refrigerator. I, in 20 years, have not found one person outside our very tight circle Bob that has grabbed what I've offered, for free no less. As Stuart Alve Olson's teacher Master, T.T. Liang wrote, "it's like throwing pearls before the swine" or something to that effect. So, WTF? Piss off I say. I'll be moving out of "cracker-ville" soon and with fresh beginnings, I'll just keep to myself. Yeah right. No, I enjoy frustration, I apparently live for it so long life to me. At any rate, If Original Essence (preheaven Jing) can be affected then the 250 year old man has some meaning. Otherwise, it's just a story. How's that for a rant?

You're far more intellectual than I as proved by your far superior articulation of the English language. I'm just a dumb jeep riding Florida cracker. Yes, I have two materia medica at home, several TCM manuals which I studied many, many years ago and btw I found much more useful than the I-Ching. I've also had plenty of herbs, and I'm not interested in your forumulas. Here's an article (like I said, it's all over the place) and Bob should like it as there's plenty of Western references in there. Actually I like it, pretty good and it reminded me of the question I should be asking. Pre-heaven jing/essence.. Can THAT be affected is the real question. http://www.yin-yangalkaline-acid.com/The%20Tonification%20of%20Pre-heaven%20Qi3.pdf Hey, they have Yuan Qi formulas in there too. Whoot Anyway Qigong is a higher source than herbs so I only practice qigong and meditation. Peace...

Whoah... Elitist? Well a heart felt Piss Off to you Bob!! LOL.... Anyway, I prefer "traditionalist" in both Martial arts and Qigong theory. If that makes me an Elitist then so be it. If Taiji doesn't have a Qi component then it's not Taiji and it's not Chinese. It's Shuai Jiao or BJJ or MMA or whatever. Anyway, I digress.... Let me say this, to date I have found no translations that were worth a crap to me anyway so don't feel bad Taomeao. I have a hugh I-Ching in my living room. It's providing lift/height for my reading lamp. Let me ask this? Can Yuan Qi be affected? According to my link Yuan Qi (yes it's on there if you happen to look) is derived from original jing. Since original/prebirth jing comes from Mom and Pop then I ask again, can Yuan Qi be affected? If it can then I'm all ears. If not then what do we do with this discussion?

Sorry, I have no idea what Taomeao is trying to say here. Call me stupid or call me an egg (white on the outside yellow on the inside) but it doesn't make any sense to me what-so-ever. The concepts of Qi are outlined all over the place and for me don't see any reason to westernize it. Example: http://www.yinyanghouse.com/theory/chinese/what_is_qi Sorry to go against the grain. Now back to my practice.... Best,

Sorry, I'm busy thinking of the next line in Bob's book... no time to sit. Sorry... so sorry...

Perhaps the answer should be that The tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao?

But you said the physical body is a direct manifestation of the spirit. Sounds like inconsistency there. Yes, they are unaware and their channels are not open so they "exist" and are happy to do so. Again, if the physical is a direct manifestation of the spirit then tell me how they can be separated.