Trunk

I am not the expert on Lin's methods; that list came from biel (long ago), and i only recently sequenced it logically + added a few notes, and got confirmation from Plato that all was well 'cause i felt out of my depth with the stuff. So, ?'s (though obviously a free-for-all) should be more authoritatively directed to Dr. Lin, or to Plato. My two cents, currently, on this is that the Sexual Qi Gong's emphasis is more on working the energy and flesh down the front: through the belly, CV-4, sperm palace, through the urogenital diaphragm and into the scrotum. Circulating qi and blood through all of those jing-potent areas that clench with sexual tension. And that the (ever silly-named) Anal Breathing brings qi from air into the nether regions, which acts as a catalyst ... the jing from the testes pulses right on back towards through the prostate, arse, and particularly the tissues around the tailbone pulse... pulls the whole orgasmic thing right on back.. where it naturally moves up the spine (both into the tan tien and on up further into the brain). Would be interested in hearing clarification, comment, from Sheepish. Trunk

Agreed on both counts. I've updated the link with clarification (prompted by a tip in the same direction from Plato), and a link to a related article. Any more ?'s, or if that doesn't clear it up, please ask away (not that i'll have an answer, but someone might).

That msg was written with broad audience in mind. 8)

In the beginning of reading that set, i thought "hmm, this guy's inventive - fun!". Then later, "shit!, this guy is insane, is he doing all what i think he's doing ... he's in very good shape". Then, the signature: Ooh. :roll:

Sean, Seems to me that the default view for a forum ought to be "flat view" (it takes forever to load, otherwise). And that the default view for a topic thread ought to be "threaded view" (as it makes it clear what responds to what). Assuming others agree, Is it possible to implement that throughout the website? Trunk

:shock: A real project.

Harry, Max and Pietro are giving the straight scoop on the shaking. Shaking tends to happen to people at some stages of their progression, usually to those who are fairly sensitive to energy. The sleeping disorder is a real problem. The energy that you access through qi gong can often be "quite invigorating" and that + your sleeping problem doesn't sound like a good recipe to me. Yeah, go ahead and work on opening your structure, your tissues, your channels. But your emphasis in your alchemy needs to be with practices that will sooth, nurture, and ground you. Diet, herbs, maybe seeing a good dr of tcm, all might be part of it. It'll probably be a long term project to gradually become more grounded and soothed, and learning what things foster that for you. AND learning what things make the disorder worse. Some qi gong rev's a person up, some gradually results in more stability, more anchor. Seems to me that its really important for you to watch your step along this line so that your practice - in the short & long term - takes you along your own healthy road. Trunk

I can't give much of a breakdown of what that teacher wrote. Partly i don't know some of the terminology, and partly i feel it is out of my depth. I can say that that teacher is addressing deep issues.

I heard a teacher say that "energy is like God's clothes". The more foundational orientation is toward deep stillness (related to subjects like the no-self doctrine, non-duality, emptiness, clear light [dharmakaya]). The progression is form, energy, formlessness. "The Tao that can be named is not the Tao." Classical Taoism is very aware of the 'beyond energy manipulation' point of view. In a number of Classic Schools, its considered that its the emptiness practice/view that gets the energetic cultivation to actually work right. It might be said, from a certain strict interpretation that - without that foundational understanding - qi gong is not really "Taoist". All of this is very related to my statement that a certain teacher is "selling sensation and marketing it as Taoism". My statement wasn't intended as some sort of baseless slam, but very carefully worded in regards to the above topics of study. If the whole "slamming" issue could be looked past (its not the issue, in my mind), the statement could lead to some very interesting conversations. .. interesting study... into very root issues of Buddhism, and Taoism.

Harry Would you say that you are sensitive to energy? People vary. For instance, do you feel tingling?, flowing energy?, the resonance of spaces?, people?, that resonance in you change noticably as a result of practice? If yes, always been that way?, or was there a certain event that triggered change? Keith

Thankx for clarifying, Trunk, and hope you don't mind me being a bit slow in understanding: "one ctr at a time in this method" means? Sitting down today doing the crown, tomorrow the brain centre, the day after the throat...? I've always done it simply until i feel the energy move down, be refined by, flow by, that center. Cover all the centers within a single sit, one time around - or multiple cycles. Those are my suggestions but, of course, be sensitive to your own body and - if some variation feels more appropriate. Part of, a big part of, this education is to gain sensitivity, experiece, develope your own good judgement, for what feels right for your own body. Really important.

Trip, The strongest vibe i get from you is that the Chia system is totally working for you. - we're all finding our own Way. Keith

Seems to me, that in any healthy manifestation, there is both yin (concentration) and yang (expansion). "Emptiness" meditations that focus only on yang feel good, are often healthy, at first - but risk dispersion over the long term. Part of the trick to this dilemma is the union of concentration and openness, which occurs in the deep-center. It both transcends and supports the individual. That's the trick of Taoism: using Larger Stuff to promote coherence, nurturance, and transcendence of the little stuff.

The radiance from the centers refines the energy in ren (the front channel). Also, being relaxed in the core (one ctr at a time in this method) allows the energy to flow more freely, down. To a some extent, i am a victim of my own criticism on this; still more essays to write to be especially clear and upfront. The gentle path of blending, harmony, resolution into stillness is it though.. and my website tends to promote along those lines. That cultivation is about Realizing Fundamental Nature, and that "cultivating energy" and "sensation" are short of the goal (yet are legitimate within perspective). Orienting towards "building chi presure" is horribly misleading. Several relevant pages from my site: http://www.precisiondocs.com/~altaoism/gaps.htm http://www.precisiondocs.com/~altaoism/Ext...xtVesCenter.htm Various statements and orientation, throughout the site, follow along this line. Trunk

That website is my attempt (still under construction, and probably will be for some years) to provide alternative viewpoints, resources, solutions.

Though there sometimes is criticism of character, to the point is re: principle and technique. Too much for one post. Couple of thoughts... one, another one, two. No one has fully corrected the situation, imo. Winn is trying - and making some headway.

The kumquats on my bushes are finally ripening. The fruits were in the green stage for some months, now, due to funny So.Cal. weather. Just ate the first few. There was more qi in a single kumquat, grown here in my yard, than in everything put together that i've eaten over the last three days. :shock:

Dunno, bunch o', ah figgr. SoCal early spring, after a month of 'winter'. D'salty swill once again proves strong remedy.

Its part of the Six Yogas of Naropa system. Reference "Tsongkhapa's Six...". The pre-requisites are extensive, the skill level is very far along.

Re-opened AlchemicalTaoism.com today, including re-compile of download version. Thanks to Sean, for his prostrations graphic in the squats section. Also, thanks to Yoda for airborne lunges (including pics). Most recent essay: Dealing with the Force. cheers, Trunk

Yubetchya. 8) The guy doin' the airborne is the Yodster himself! The bandana-babe is a pic that i found on the web.This is Yoda relaxing afterwards:

WHO'S ON FIRST - NEXT GENERATION George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening? Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China. George: Great. Lay it on me. Condi: Hu is the new leader of China. George: That's what I want to know. Condi: That's what I'm telling you. George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China? Condi: Yes. George: I mean the fellow's name. Condi: Hu. George: The guy in China. Condi: Hu. George: The new leader of China. Condi: Hu. George: The main man in China! Condi: Hu is leading China. George: Now whaddya' asking me for? Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China. George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China? Condi: That's the man's name. George: That's who's name? Condi:& nbsp; Yes. George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China? Condi: Yes, sir. George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East. Condi: That's correct. George: Then who is in China? Condi: Yes, sir. George: Yassir is in China? Condi: No, sir. George: Then who is? Condi: Yes, sir. George: Yassir? Condi: No, sir. George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone. Condi: Kofi? George: No, thanks. Condi: You want Kofi? George: No. Condi: You don't want Kofi. George: No But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N. Condi: Yes, sir. George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N. Condi: Kofi? George: Milk! Will you please make the call? Condi: And call who? George: Who is the guy at the U.N? Condi: Hu is the guy in China. George: Will you stay out of China?! Condi: Yes, sir. George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N. Condi: Kofi. George: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.

I just went and tried my KettleGrip one-handed, then my KB one-handed. The KB felt better. Gonna return the KG. Good to know.

I received my KettleGrip from IronCompany.com yesterday, and i'm not satisfied. The handle opening is a little narrower than a standard kb, so its a little cramped to get both hands (really, just 3 fingers of each hand - which is how its done w/ the standard kb, - still cramped at that) in for the two-handed swing. dang! Now i've got to mail it back, get a refund. I'm going to look around some more and see if i can find a kb handle that i like better. www.KettleStack.com is next on my list.

Sean, Read most of it, scanned through some of it. Exploring the pauses, at the apex of exhale and/or inhale - is a classic method. Key is to relax into it. Cool post. Keith