gendao

However..I also have deep conncetion to Aikido and think maybe I should stay with that. I sat in on Aikido class last night almost started crying.

 

My feeling is Aikido might be able to help transmit kunlun energy faster..or be more powerful to help the earth to heal.

Quick question on Kunlun 1: is the animal skin rug a necessity if you're practicing inside? I can understand about outside. Usually I do my meditation sitting on a round leather-type material pillow, on my couch (the pillow allows me to sit up straight and not use the back.) Its a decent height (w/ cushion) to have my feet on the floor, though I'm pretty comfortable cross legged.

Like, if your floor is carpeted, would that suffice?

Because, I remember something about "John Chang" levitating in a hotel room but saying he could only get like 2' off the ground because the synthetic carpet was sort of "insulating" him from the Yin Earth.

.. no tai chi push hands or wing chun bs please; they are just games and not practical for street fight.

I've dabbled in many external martial arts...but none of them come close to teaching these deeper core principles. It's just not in their curriculums.

With that said, you will get far faster, concrete results in "reality-based" MMA-style systems. The CIMAs have a far steeper, stepped learning curve that requires "getting" a lot of subtle things...or not.

As far as CIMAs though, you might also consider Baguazhang & Yiquan. Yiquan is supposed to be the core training for Taijiquan - composed primarily of zhan zhuang.

In fact, it sounds suspiciously like:

The Mao Shan 5 elements are like zhang zhaung. There is a standing posture for each of the five elements which are wood - liver, fire - heart, earth - spleen, metal - lungs, water - kidney and they are practiced in that order.

I think a lot of life is about proper positioning. You position yourself in the right way at the right time in the right place - and let the universe do the rest. It's like catching a wave. Or assuming the Kunlun meditation posture and then letting go. Or in BJJ, you always seek superior positioning - which makes the finishing move a formality after that.

I know for example that bliss often comes from rising energy. I know that rising energy is generally dangerouse if you don't have a strong enough downward flow. I know that putting your weight on the ball of the foot tend to rise the energy.

That's why this meditation (and many others) is concluded by returning all energy to your dantien area.

I also feel this practice is inherently on the safer side since it's about letting things happen, not forcing them to. It is a Yin water path. So worst case, I figure simply basically nothing happens. I mean, how dangerous is sitting in a chair doing nothing?

Secondly, and I realise this may be like a fish asking about the finer points of running, I'm curious to know how bliss leads to/is connected with awakening/enlightenment/karmic release/whatever it is we're all after. Do people not get attached to blissful states and then go to bliss realms and fail to cultivate? Or are there safeguards against that?

 

In fact I'd love to know what bliss actually is. Is it a consequence of open channels and kind of physiological? Is it appreciation, desirelessness? Is there a difference?

But, I believe we seek the Source.

The root of the grapevine.

The fountainhead of the stream.

The empty mother of all forms.

When you want the purest, truest, unadulterated reality, we always seek the source.

Behind the masks.

Behind the manifestations.

Before the degeneration.

I think when you find the ultimate truth, everything else suddenly becomes trivial. As does all the drama, attached importance and suffering to them. Finally, you get the "Cosmic Joke." Ignorance is not bliss. Finding the light creating all the shadow play is naturally blissful. And not just intellectually, but in reality. Only when you feel it, have you actually found and done it. That's why alchemical meditation works on opening the energetic body as well as the mind. Because simply knowing is not enough.

Knowing is not doing. Feeling is doing (in the metaphysical world).

As Cameron said - I think keys to this practice are letting go and feeling. This makes it a particularly good challenge for me - who fears giving up control and am often stuck in my head. Whereas, I have to learn to trust the universe (more than my own limited ego) and feel. Women do tend to have a big natural advantage here.

But again, perhaps I have over-thought and said too much. As Bruce Lee said:

Don't think...feeeeel!

I'm really sorry, but I like check things out. So I asked about "Lama Dorje" He claimed to belong Ralo Rinpoche's line. This letter arrived today:

 

Ven. Ralo Rinpoche the master of Phurba lineage has never given the authority to instruct Phurba teachings to anybody until today. He has only given numerous empowerments and teachings to his students about Phurba.

Simply claiming to have studied in someone's line is different than claiming to have gained teacher status there...or even having studied directly under that lineage holder himself.

I've studied Yang-style Taijiquan. Doesn't mean I studied it directly under Yang Luchan or was permitted to teach it from him.

Also, Max taught Kunlun in the workshop, not Phurba.

Sooo...if there's a smoking gun somewhere...I don't think this is it.

I would say at least 50% of those who attended had an experience similar to what Cameron described in varying degrees of intensity.

He did do many demos with his assistants too (similar to what you saw in his vids) - which the diehard skeptic could always say were "faked" by them. Although watching them in real life, I personally doubt that. The displays were very convincing to me. Which is not to say you'd see the same visible effects on just anyone. Max himself even said that they had a "mind agreement" between them since any effects were ultimately therapeutic. And so they happily cooperated - even if that meant physically resisting at times.

Now, if he did the same thing on a truly unwilling person with closed channels - I don't know what would happen. Perhaps that person's reactions might not be as visibly severe or he might risk internal energetic injury. Who knows.

But the fact that he can get open, willing "ukes" to react so strongly is still a testament in itself.

And to get half or more of us nooby students to really feel something - often something really intense - is even more difficult. I cannot speak firsthand here yet because I did not feel anything strong yet, but I did see Cameron and others reacting quite violently and seemingly rather involuntarily.

So in my opinion, the guy has some real power and is of a very high level. Probably extremely. I seriously doubt he is just some "Lobsang Rampa" paperback hack. At the very very very least - he is an extraordinarily-talented group hypnotist with an encyclopedic scholarly knowledge of Eastern (and some other) mystery schools. Or...he is basically what he says he is.

As far as his lineages and teaching credentials, etc - I personally can't give an informed opinion since I am not familiar with all those specifics. He does seem rather knowledgeable about many different schools, lineages and practices, though.

Personally, I think he is like a free mind that may not enjoy dealing with messy politics. And is also caught in a precarious balance where the old safeguards that were used to preserve traditions...now also threaten to destroy them. In a modernizing world where sincere students and authentic masters are both rapidly becoming extinct. A similar bind that "John Chang" struggled with. Where he wants to leave this world or just enjoy a simple life, but is bound to stay and help us. Then wants to teach things but may be bound by previous oaths not to. Wants to disseminate power but must also take safe responsibility for that. The whole Prometheus complex, in a nutshell. It's probably a very thin tightrope to walk and if he wobbles a bit, I don't think that simply discredits him as a whole. It's hard to find a perfect solution to such a complex problem.

I don't get the sense that he is arrogant or intentionally disrespectful. Just irreverent and playful. Perhaps that is his strength, and at times, his weakness. He is human, after all. The guy loves pizza & sweets, for god's sakes!

Well, this was all just my humble opinion and initial impression. I probably said too much, at the risk of possibly eating some words later. Or more likely not. Time will always tell more. And if I unintentionally misrepresented Max, I apologize and will gladly stand corrected. But overall, it was probably the most amazing weekend of my life yet - not just due to Max "The Main Event," but also some of the other incredible people I met there. Thanks to Max & everybody involved for making it happen!

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.