gendao

I have always had a bad lower back and shoulder that doesn't like me sitting down in the office all day. I have tried various exercises on and off over the years.

I push pretty hard, because I don't think I'm strong enough to dislocate my femurs or anything...but I'm not saying that's not possible either...so use due caution, of course.

I practice pelvic contractions all the time while I'm working. My semen is noticeably whiter since I've started doing that, a sign that it is less stagnant. I also have pretty awesome orgasms from the pelvic lifts. I have like 15 orgasms a day, and 1-2 really powerful ones a day, just from pelvic contractions.

"According to your level of concentration, there can be four levels of breathing:

 

The first level, nostril breathing, is the shallowest one. Its meaning is just what the name suggests. At this stage, you are breathing through the nostrils about 16 to 18 breaths per minute.

 

The second level is called abdominal breathing. As your breathing becomes deeper, although your breath still passes through the nostrils, there are movements of the rising and falling of the abdomen.

 

The third level is called embryonic breathing. At this stage, the breath no longer passes through the nostrils. Instead, every pore throughout the body is breathing. The whole universe is like the womb of the mother, and your body -- the embryo -- receives oxygen directly from the environment.

 

The fourth level is called tortoise breathing. At this stage, oxygen from the external environment is no longer needed. Your metabolism slows down so much that even the heart stops beating. You are in a very deep state of samadhi. The body of the meditator becomes its own small universe. The energy inside the body circulates, supports, and nourishes itself"

I'm not suggesting that about you, specifically, but I keep getting that question. The answer is yes, it can be applied to people who are not open. The price for doing so is that their nervous system can become severely damaged.

 

It is just a matter of cranking up the amperage.

Or should I not resist at all to get the full therapeutic effect (but then not prove to myself how involuntary the effect is)?

BTW, thanks for the vid, OR! I have actually experienced something similar before with an Aikido/Wing Chun master in KS. I saw him toppling over his students by moving his hands around them (without touching them) - who all appeared to be resisting (like the last guy bending over backwards) to no avail. So, I had him try it on me. He moved his hand towards my head and either I did the limbo to naturally avoid it or I was pushed back by his empty force. I still have no idea to this day because I purposely didn't resist at all, and just went with the flow. Which is why next time I'd like to give some resistance just to let myself know which it is.

I also know that once I inadvertantly blocked a qigong doctor from injecting qi into me by breathing up into my chest instead of deeply down towards my diaphragm. So, it may not be hard to stop energy transfer if you want to. However, as has been said - when pressure builds up from being blocked - you will probably be the one to suffer any damage from it.

There is no hypnosis. You are either open and receptive to this type of energy or you are not. Some students are, some are not. It all just depends on how much of your mind you are able to get out of, and become more of your bigger self.

But just the fact that they can legitimately work on some proves to me that there's still something to them.

And as far as his titles in different traditions - that issue has already been raised and addressed here. So, it's not like no one else has wondered the same thing. I would agree that MW is a master at subtly slighting others, but everyone has their own style and I simply take that into account now whenever reading his reviews.

In fact, if he ever met me, I'd be interested to hear his jaded opinion just for the free drive-by psychoanalysis, lol...

link

I also found this reply there interesting:

"When we breathe in and out the sun and moon channels are activated. This is a state of polarity. During Kunlun level one, breathing becomes less and less and eventually ceases as the sun and moon channels energetically collapse. When this occurs, the central channel activates and opens one up to a pure magnetic reality."

I also suspect a lot of the ling kong jing displays are like hypnosis. They can work, but not on everybody. Some people are just far more suggestible than others. Maybe even a lot of masters would admit this. And I think they would actually gain more believability if they included some clips of people it didn't work on just to acknowledge that. But, I guess stage hypnotists don't like showing those either, lol - so who can blame them?

And it doesn't mean I still don't believe in either. Just know that they exist within limits.

I'll watch Lama's vid tonight and if I go to his workshop, I will try to resist if he demos empty force on me just to convince myself for my own sake.

Here are the driving instructions from Mapquest.com on getting from the seminar hotel to the bookstore.

 

Start:5250 W El Segundo Blvd

Hawthorne, CA 90250-4142, US

End:8585 Melrose Ave

W Hollywood, CA 90069-5105, US

 

Directions Distance

Total Est. Time: 22 minutesTotal Est. Distance: 16.16 miles

But is Lama Dorje going to do any more seminars elsewhere, like TX? If so, maybe I should just wait?

^ Too bad, I didn't get to see it. Did anyone save a copy they could send me, please? What all did it show?

For anyone going to the Bodhi Tree bookstore for the free Friday evening lecture it is sometimes hard to find parking in that area. There is no parking on the side streets during the evening (unless you have a permit) and they do issue a lot of parking tickets in that area. In the evening I look for a parking meter to park at. I believe after 6 pm they are free (look at the signs to be sure.) The Bodhi Tree is on Melrose about two blocks west of La Cienga. I usually look for a parking meter on Melrose a couple blocks east of La Cienga or on La Cienga south of Melrose. Of course if you are lucky you could find one closer. Perhaps there is a parking lot somewhere over there but I am not aware of any. Last month the lecture room was pretty full so if you want a seat you might want to get there early. Craig

Perhaps I could stay at the Ramada Plaza Hotel LAX for the seminar (or maybe it's too pricey)?

And I wonder how far Bodhi Tree Bookstore is from LAX and this hotel? I honestly have no mental orientation of LA, just know it's quite huge.

I do have a friend I could stay with in LA, but I have no idea how far he lives from all this. And, I don't think he'd be interested in chauffeuring me around for a weekend (although maybe I'll ask). And, I'd rather not have to rent a car and try driving myself on LA's crazy roads. I don't mind doing it in other cities, but LAs multi-lane jams rather intimidate me.

Is anybody else flying in? And if so, maybe we can coordinate logistics or even split a room somewhere?

I am in Shandong , Jinan. I have a disciple in Beijing, and will be in Beijing maybe in .. sometime soon.. Anyway... I know of one of my student's Bagua Teacher. Master Xu Shi Xi out in Tiantan Park. Google search his website. He teaches bagua out in the park for 4 hours a day.

I know you wont find Daoist masters out in China unless you know someone who is highly cultivated and respected in the Daoist community in China. The Daoists here are not open to anyone, and they only respect you if you have cultivation under your belt, and if they see that it is worth something. Then, you will find those who are looking to make an extra few hundred RMB and they will make up a form to show you.

 

I do apologize for such a blunt manner, but it is the truth.

Anyhow, thought I'd just drop a quick note here. I went to the Baiyun (White Cloud) Taoist temple yesterday. Very similar to Buddhist temples, except all the statues of revered "gods" and "monks" on the premises had long beards, instead of just being clean-shaven. So overall, it had a slighty "darker" feel. Well, I'm sure there's more differences than that...but that was just the most obvious one.

I don't know if any of them were even actual Taoists or monks...but I'm guessing the real Taoists in Beijing are private citizens who don't bother dressing up like they still live in the Ming Dynasty.

Anyhow, it is HOT AS HELL here and I don't know how much more sightseeing I'll be doing - especially if it is not within close walking distance from a subway station. So, I think Dong Haichuan's tomb is out now. I'd still like to check out some masters in the parks, but I'd have to get up real early to catch the subway over to them (none of which is close by to me). Not sure that is going to happen, either...lol.

Hmm, I dunno about all the spiritual or energetic drawbacks...but the main physical downside to eating meat IMO is that it turns your blood acidic. Which leeches minerals out of your bones in order to balance it back to a "normal" pH of 7.4 (slightly basic).

It's just like when you get cavities from plaque or drink some OJ or soda and your teeth feel a bit chalky right afterwards. This is all due to acid eating away at your teeth.

Meanwhile, if you eat a bunch of raw spinach or other leafy greens - you'll notice that your teeth feel much smoother and "sealed" after. This is because leafy greens alkalize your blood and, I suppose, saliva. Not to mention they are high in minerals. So, this all helps to "rebuild" your teeth instead of break it down.

The same thing would theoretically happen to your bones. Which is why the US has a higher rate of osteoporosis than Asia - even though they hardly consume calcium-rich dairy but we drink it in loads. The difference is that they also eat more veggies and less animal protein - while we do the opposite. So, the net effect is that they are less acidic than we are.

Bottomline: Eat less meat and more leafy greens. Because it's a battle between acidic and alkaline - and ideally we want to be slightly alkaline and not acidic.

Essentially, it's the heart sound, "haaaaaw" which is modulated from a very low pitch to a high one to a relaxed medium one and it takes the energy to the heart.

 

Maybe if you search "keysound" in the taobums search function, that'll get you more info.

Here's more on the 5 sounds, btw:

These comprehensive energy processes, through an analysis of universal Truth and harmony, have been correlated by Taoism as the following: 1) Energy rising: South, Fire, Heart, virtue of love, joy, happiness, gratitude, small intestine, Summer, taste: bitter, color: red, negative emotions: impatience, arrogance, hastiness, cruelty, violence, Mars, mantra of "Hawwwww." 2) Energy sinking: North, Water, kidney, bladder, virtue of gentleness, generosity, alert stillness, Winter, taste: salty, color: black or dark blue, negative emotion: fear, Mercury, mantra of "Woooooo." 3) Energy expanding: East, Wood, liver/gallbladder, virtue of kindness, forgiveness, Spring, taste: sour, color: green, negative emotions: anger, aggression, Jupiter, mantra of "Shhhhhh." 4) Energy solidifying: West, Metal, lungs, large intestine, virtue of courage, righteousness, appropriateness, Autumn, taste: pungent, color: white, negative emotions: sadness. Venus, mantra of "Ssssssss." 5) Energy stable: Center, Earth, spleen, pancreas, stomach, virtue of openness, fairness, justice, Indian Summer, taste: neutral, color: yellow, negative emotions: worry, sympathy, pity, Saturn, mantra of "WHOoooooo."

Interesting synchronicity,

Laozi lived in his mother's womb for 81yrs and was born with white hair and a long beard. They named him "Lao Zi" which means "Old Child", but he was actually a reincarnation of Mahakashyapa. He was born in China because Shakyamuni Buddha had noticed the Chinese had good karmic roots. Most of them did not believe in the Buddha, however, so Mahakashyapa was sent to China to found the religion of Daoism, which is the same as the Brahman religion of India and which cultivates purity of Conduct.

The energy redistribution only really comes about with complete relaxation, ie., rounding of the back, creating the bows, pinching of the gua , and resting on the balls of the feet.

 

Strangest thing at first.

You're not really rooted if you're leaning... suddenly changing the force should have no impact (leaning would create a stagger/lurch).

 

It's quite a bit like how proper fa jin is really about sensitivity and relaxation, not force. As a side note, it's amazing to me in the way that they are so closely related. Anyway, with rooting, any muscular tension becomes the fulcrum by which your ass will be uprooted.

And yes, Fong Ha says to never lean...

Also, so you rest on the balls of your feet, eh? Like in Aikido? I guess cuz that gives you more room to absorb force (as opposed to backed up on your heels)?

I agree that tensing up anywhere creates a "handle" or fulcrum that can be used to move you. Whereas relaxing would make you more like a water balloon - and harder to move. In theory at least...as I still can't do this in practice. When I relax, I just end up getting pushed back as well...

Spectrum - agreed that my underlying assumptions here may be wrong. Again, I don't know and am trying to figure it out still! But, let's say you are in a static standing posture and some guy is pushing on your shoulders. Many rooted people can still resist that push, even without obviously "moving" (unless it's micromovements inside).

Again, this is probably best explainned in person via feeling, and next with video...and only lastly through text. Which is why I am looking for actual video demos of this. It's easy to talk about, but far harder to DO.

His answer was that if she truely has that strong and unshakable kind of a faith there is sure no need for all these practices as she is truly saved already!

But, saved...from what?

And what is the ultimate goal of LSD anyways, then? To return to the wuwei source? To be "saved" by "God?" Or are these the same things?

Last year I was at a party where the host, a high-level taiji player, got methodically and seriously drunk and invited everybody to push him over while he was standing on one leg sipping his brandy. Everybody tried, no one succeeded. He was like an unmovable mountain, even the brandy in his glass didn't move except down his gullet!

Joel "Chihand" (known in JKD circles) told me it's mostly about using your hip structure by tilting your tailbone forward and mental focus.

Fong Ha (Yiquan) said it's about maintaining your equilibrium.

Yet still, I can't get it...

So what kinda video do we want? Someone redirecting linear force from pushes without any major external postural adjustments?

I'm talking about assuming a posture with as little biomechanical advantage as possible (like wuji) and having someone push on you using as much biomechanical advantage as they can muster (deep bow & arrow stance or whatever). And preferably being pushed directly on the body instead of through extended arms. Then taking that full force head-on - without moving.

Let's take a step away from all the over-intellectualism and get down to brass tacks, people! Maybe this should be some type of challenge for us. Sort of like the Tsung Hwa Memorial DANTIAN CHALLENGE (btw, can anyone do this?).

objective signs of some kind of progress... and "maybe even" signs of certain levels.

 

I was told that if I have true belief in God I do not need all this kind of training. As it is: I do not have that much belief!

So, who says that a true belief in God makes the training unnecessary? David? LSD? And what IS their view on "God" and are they saying that all the same powers and goals could be obtained simply with a true belief in God?

Ching Fung Dao Shr/Lama Nakpha Dorje (Max Christensen) sounds intriguing...

Lama Dorje told him about a class he was teaching at the local park where his students learned different martial arts styles and that they also did a secret monastery practice called, the spontaneous Kunlun. Having never heard of such a practice, the student asked to know more about the spontaneous Kunlun. Lama Dorje described a practice that raised the bliss energy and the magnetic potential of the practitioner such that he might shake as if in a seizure, laugh hysterically, cry, speak in tongues and could be drawn and stuck magnetically to a fence, tree or a post and not be able to get away. He said that this simple practice was all one needed to completely open one's energy centers and reach enlightenment (or re-enlightenment, as he likes to put it).

 

Obviously my curiosity was piqued, but when he told us that one-hour of this practice was equivalent to one hundred years of another practice, I decided that I would definitely be attending his next class.

 

An air of mystery consumed the park as the students took the starting posture. Almost immediately torsos began spiraling and people started smiling. Within about a minute or so, some students started shaking. With this shaking came laughter and in some cases a kind of insane mumbling and I realized that I was witnessing "speaking in tongues."

 

After a few minutes of this, the students were overcome by this shaking energy that seemed to have a will and direction of its own. The starting form had completely disappeared and everyone went off into their own thing. Some students began moving about, running, spinning in circles and many were hopping up and down as if being controlled by some unseen puppeteer.

 

I watched in amazement as Lama Dorje stood with his hands raised and vibrating, directing the "blissed-out" students around like some magnetic orchestral conductor. Wherever his hands moved, the chosen student would inexplicably follow. Even those with closed eyes and the ones he stood twenty feet behind (obviously unaware of his focus), would find themselves moving forward, backward or sideways as the movement and direction of his hands dictated.

 

He started me out standing with my knees bent (such that I couldn't see my toes), tailbone and chin both tucked slightly to straighten the spine, shoulders relaxed and chest soft. My hands were positioned in the proper posture and I was told to stand and wait for the bliss feeling to activate.

Or tried his methods? His spontaneous Kunlun standing sounds an awful lot like basic wuji posture or zhan zhuang? However, those postures don't quickly lead to prancing around in a bliss state and enlightenment (at least not in any such short order)...

I've heard anecdotes of Master Liao doing rooting while sitting in a standard office chair (with rollers/wheels) and being pushed by different people. They were all unsuccessful in even budging the chair.

 

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Well, that's just IT. Being able to root in a wheely chair would seem to rule out biomechanical factors...which would then strongly imply that something else (like qi) is the main force at play there.

And THAT is exactly the pudding I am after... Some real-world feedback and SOLID PROOF.

To me, this would be a concrete measure to myself that I have achieved something - and it's not just all in my head. Which I think is a very easy trap to fall into in the metaphysical arts. Just ask DarinHamel...

So, less talk, and more action please. Many of us here can talk about it, but how many of us can actually DO IT?

Sometimes I have coworkers or friends push me for fun. The people I know who are really strong in this it's literally like pushing against a tree or something.

Wayfarer64 - yes, it is a foundational skill. However, that doesn't mean that most martial artists possess it. In fact, most don't. And I'm talking about being able to hold a strong stance without having to hunker down. The ones I met could do it standing straight up or in a slight bow & arrow stance.

standing on one leg w/ a hand held out as people pushed against it.

 

My instructor, John Eley 5th degree (then) really had IT. Instinctive deep rooting. Really phenomenal.

A real test for rooting would be if you could stand with your feet together (or maybe one slightly back) and resist getting pushed from the front at your shoulders. I've felt this before and it is really weird - and does not seem to make much sense physics-wise.

Sounds like Eley had some real rooting. "IT..."

And IT is what I'm desperately trying to get!

Rooting is a foundational skill in the Chinese energy arts. The ability to stand there and become an "immovable" object when pushed on. This is a good litmus test for your structural alignment and ability to energetically connect with the earth.

I've now felt this with 2 Taijiquan and a Yiquan player. One of the Taijiquan players having been largely self-taught for only 2 years..

And yet, I still can't figure it out yet! Their ability to withstand extreme force just standing there almost seems to defy physics...or at least common sense.

- Is it biomechanics? Perhaps some, but most appeared to hold a pretty casual, neutral posture without any noticeable contortions.

- Is it tendon strength? Maybe some, but again they often seemed fairly relaxed and not twisted up. I mean, I could feel some force being expended when they were holding "unbendable arms," but sometimes I was only pushing on their shoulders, not forearms.

- Is it qi? How much of this rooting is "simply" qi and yi?

Can anyone here really root? And I mean, actually possess the skill...not just move hot air about it? If so, could anyone post a vid demoing this?

I know this is not a "super high level" skill...but it is a significant and foundational one that I have nonetheless not seen very often and I am really trying to acquire. Help?!

Agreed with thelerner...

You won't find Taoists or Buddhists warmongering or abusing others...but most such abusers in China are not Taoist or Buddhist. The government is officially Marxist and atheist. Who actually cracked down on a lot of spiritual systems in the Cultural Revolution. So, the overblown abuses you are seeing now are due more to Marxism than Taoism or Buddhism. And plain realpolitikal Machiavellian powermongering (just like in many other countries).

I will be in Beijing for a whole month soon...

I've already been there before and have seen the major tourist sites. So this time, I'd like to check out some of the "lesser-known" sites, but with particular relevance to Taoism or martial arts. In particular, I'd like to maybe meet or watch some masters, find areas where intermediate or higher level students train and visit various historical sites...

I believe Wang Liping lives in Beijing...but is probably way out of my league. Not to mention, he went underground after the Falun Gong crackdown (it's rumored Li Hongzhi had studied with him), so is probably not too accessible. Although, I sure wouldn't mind running into him somehow!

One site that does look cool to visit would be Dong Haichuan's tomb:

Supposedly, this grave is only a mile away from the East Gate of Beijing.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to check out Pan Jia Yuan (潘家园) Folk Culture (Antiques/Flea/"Dirt") Market at least once too and browse all the goods.

So, does anyone have any other suggestions or info? Of people to see, things to do, etc?

I know Beijing is a martial arts mecca and probably also has a good number of Taoist spiritual alchemists, as well.

That`d be kind of hard, considering there`s over a billion of them, don`t you think?

South Africa had a huge Black majority...ruled by a tiny White minority.

So no, you don't necessarily need high numbers to become a powerful minority. It's more about how much socioeconomic and military power you have. And Machiavellian ethics and double-crossing don't hurt, either.

2. John Chang's master seems to harbor some prejudices againt western students.

In the 1800s, the Sassoon family and the British dumped opium into the country and started the Opium Wars. And then took over Hong Kong. Then the native Ming Dynasty was replaced by the "foreign" Manchu Qing Dynasty...which weakened China enough to allow increasing encroachment by Whites and Japanese. Everybody wanted to take over China at the time! Hence the grassroots Boxer Rebellion...which proved pretty useless without firearms. And all the while, Christian missionaries were trying to indoctrinate and convert the masses. Of course, this was then followed by the Japanese invasion.

Point being, the native Chinese have been put on the defensive against aggressive foreign invaders for the last 2 centuries or more. And they don't want to end up oppressed minorities in their own land like the Native Americans or Australian aborigines. So Chinese elders from the older generations are naturally going to have a higher level of suspicion and distrust for Whites (and even moreso - Japanese).

I think John Chang had been extremely open to ALL students, though. Not to mention, he didn't charge a red cent for any of his generous teachings.

Stephane got his techniques from Stephen Piccus's White Tiger Tantra. Stephen P's dvd is much more detailed and apparently Stephane's is incomplete.

 

I also thought that Stephane appeared emotionally imbalanced in the dvd, which is a perception reinforced in my personal dealing with him. I hate to be negative or gossipy, but his behavior and some of his statements in his newsletters call for a warning about this guy. He preaches compassion but then is rude, arrogant and puts other people down, including me in the context of a email communication problem, with no apology or rational response when i confronted him on it.

 

In his newsletter on how to be a pick up artist, he said that if you see some guys not getting anywhere with girls go up to the group and say. ' isn't it cute that these guys are like little puppies humping your leg.' Then the guys are supposed to go away and you can stand there like the big man, according to his advice.

So, I believe he's simply become as hard as he NEEDS to be to deal with today's spoiled granddaughters of 2nd-wave feminism out in the REAL WORLD. Although, I wouldn't doubt if he also overcompensates some as a revolt from his AFC youth - and sometimes misdirects this towards harmless men.

I also would find it somewhat questionable businesswise if he is simply remarketing Steve Piccus's material...unless it's with Steve's consent.